When It Comes to Us - Frances (feat. Ritual)

     I don't really know how long I stood there, slouched against the front door, my eyes firmly shut.

The only sound audible was my rhythmic breathing. For a moment, I forgot Preston was still here with me. Standing feet away.

"Well...it looks like things are going to be a little more difficult to hide." He tried to humor me, but he only got a death glare sent back to him.

A wave of emotion flooded into my body, making my blood start to boil.

The smirk dropped from his face a second later, a dumbfounded look replacing it.

I gritted my teeth, trying to keep my anger at bay.

Raising a hand, I rub my forehead, aggravation rolling off of me in waves.

It felt like someone had just slapped the shit out of me with the way my whole body jerked up, my mouth falling open into a wide O.

"Oh my hell."

Preston starts to walk towards me, but he stops in his tracks when I hold my hand up.

"Ada.."

I shut my eyes, inhaling sharply.

Why the hell does he always say my name like that? So...helplessly.

I tell myself I'm okay, just upset that my best friend is on her way back to Texas, when she should be here still.

My stodgy giggle is what breaks the silence.

Another wave of my uncontrollable laughter makes Torez look at me like I'd just grown two heads.

"How fucking stupid could I have been?" The words come out between my fits of laughter which I could tell was starting to annoy Preston--hell it was annoying me too, but I couldn't stop it.

"Dolly, what the hell are you talking about?"

I huff expectantly before wiping the tears away from my eyes. "I've got a phone call to make."

I start to make my way towards my room, but a firm hand grips onto my forearm, causing me to jolt to a stop.

"Can't it wait?" He asks, his eyes scanning over my face before moving down my body.

Ignoring the chill racing through my body, I yank my arm from his grip and frown.

Talk about mood swings.

"Wait? I don't think Nic would appreciate me putting off another one of his calls." I didn't mean for my words to come out harshly, but when they did, I shrugged it off as if I didn't care.

Hurt flashed across his face so fast, I didn't bother wondering if it meant anything.

"Adalyn, are you aware that Katrina just left? Don't you get it? We don't have to hide anymore." The child like enthusiasm in his tone made me pity him.

Blinking, I take a step back, my arms crossing indistinctively.

Compassion surges through me when I absorb the boy standing in front of me. "Don't you get it, Torez?"

My face turns stone cold as I gulp.

"What we were doing--we did it because of the thrill. The thrill of being able to hide such a secret, which we were basically dangling in front of her face, hoping she wouldn't bite."

Cocking my head to the side, I press my lips into a firm line. "And she didn't."

The confusion that passed over his features made my heart beat furiously, as if telling me to stop toying with him.

Stop toying with myself.

"B-but she's gone," he ponders quietly.

"Now she's gone," I repeat slowly. "It's time to play a new game, Torez."

I saw the way he looked at me. The way he allowed his vulnerability to show, even if it was just for a second. I saw it, I understood it completely.

"So we were just sneaking around because we--you were bored, and wanted to play a game?" He was smirking now. His confidence radiated off of him, making me shift from one foot to the other.

Don't do it, Adalyn. Don't say it.

"That's right," I announce with so much assurance, I wondered if he realized it was fake.

"It's time to move on to the next game now, Torez."

Even though he was back to his old, arrogant, careless self, he didn't reply with a smartass remark like I had expected. He settled on silence.

I smiled innocently, putting all of my focus and energy into my actions in order to avoid the actual feelings swimming through me that were eager to escape.

Look where that got me last time. I can't. Not again.

Going against my better judgement like usual, I stroll towards the hallway like I've got all the time in the world.

My act crumbled just as I pass the threshold into my room.

"I've got a game for you now, Dolly Parton."

In that moment, I thanked the heavens that Preston couldn't see the worry on my face. Couldn't see that all of the poise I displayed to him was nowhere in sight.

I shut my door quietly, releasing a relieved sigh.

What the hell have I just done?

* * * *

     The conversation that Kat and I had in the early hours of the morning were flashing through my mind as I slipped into my bodycon dress.

It doesn't count tonight, I kept reminding myself ever since I made up my mind.

Don't use alcohol as your distraction.

I wasn't breaking that promise to her, even if I intended on getting so blackout drunk, I won't remember a single damn thing since the beginning of spring break.

I lean closer to the double wide mirror along the bathroom sink and countertop. My hair was curled to perfection, my scarlet red dress hugging my body in all of the right places.

Popping the lid off of my go-to lipstick, I apply the old flame colored matte lipstick to my lips with care and ease, not wanting to apply too much or too little.

Smacking my lips once, I lean back, admiring myself in the mirror.

It's been awhile since I've looked, let alone felt beautiful enough to want to flaunt it. It's refreshing, really.

Don't forget you still have a loyal boyfriend waiting for you back home.

My subconscience hissed at me, obviously not pleased with my recent choices.

That was something I could agree with.

Checking the time on my phone, I looked at my done up appearance one last time before grabbing my white Michael Kors clutch on the way out of my room.

I wasn't paying too much attention as I rummaged through my small clutch bag, searching for my key card so I wouldn't be locked out. I hadn't told Preston of my plan, and I wasn't planning on it.

When I ended up colliding with a hard object, I mentally cursed myself as I started to tumble backwards, my white six inch gladiator stiletto heels not helping my attempts to catch myself.

Things couldn't have gotten any more cliche if a pair of strong arms reached out and saved me from my fall.

But they never came.

Groaning inwardly, I lean up, rubbing my sore head softly.

"I didn't see you there, my bad." The jackass muses, no trace of humanity in his tone.

After a few seconds, I take my time in standing to my feet, a deep scowl engraved in my facial features.

While I rub my wrists that took most of the fall, I scan over Preston's body.

He was no longer in his everyday clothes, instead they were replaced with a neat dress shirt and a pair of dark washed jeans.

"Oh, so what you're one of those people that have to change clothes before every meal?" The sarcasm was dripping from my tone, my disgust evident.

Why hide it, right?

He smirks, a thick eyebrow raised.

"I could say the same thing to you."

Deciding to ignore him, I zip up my clutch that I picked up from the floor and slipped past him. "Fuck off."

It was funny how quick we were to forget and throw away everything that had happened between us in the past few days. 

Just as I made a move to open the door, the sound of a lighter flaring made me whirl around to face him.

He had a cigarette between his lips, the lit lighter inflaming the end of the rolled up tobacco.

Scoffing softly, I step out into the hallway, about to slam the door dramatically, but I never get the chance.

Preston's standing beside me now, clicking the door shut softly.

"What the hell are you doing?" I hiss, immediately taking a step back.

He takes the cigarette from his lips and purposely leans closer, a large puff of smoke taking over my vision and smell.

"What, you didn't think you were gonna have all the fun tonight, did you?"

My eyes turned into slits as I crossed my arms. "That's not what I meant."

I pause, hoping to catch a glimpse of emotion cross his face, but nothing came. I was only stared back at with a blank stare.

"You can't smoke in here, it's illegal."

It was his turn to sass back by rolling his eyes.

Shoving his free hand into the front pocket of his jeans, he strolls down the hallway towards the elevators.

"You would know all about illegal activities, wouldn't you Dolly?" He fires back, not bothering to look back.

He leaves my sight when he turns left, disappearing into the lounge area by the elevators.

I have a moment of immaturity when I hear the ding of the elevator. I hurry down the hallway, stomping my feet theatrically.

The doors start to close when I wildly stick my hands in, making them stop and open back up.

When I slip in, I huff softly, glaring at Preston as I press myself flush against the left side of the elevator--as far from Torez as possible.

It's funny how you were doing the exact opposite just a twenty four hours ago...

Shut up, I think rigidly.

Why is it that I still feel the need to have silent conversations with myself?

"Where to?"

His question throws me off, causing me to gawk at him for longer than I realized.

The boyish smirk that grows on his lips is what snaps me out of it. "Firewater," I mumbled under my breath, a part of me hoping he doesn't hear.

My hopes are answered when he doesn't respond.

We stand in an uncomfortable silence while we watch the elevator pass floor after floor, until the steel doors finally open with a ding.

My pace is fast as I try to exit the building as quickly as possible, but I slow down when an unfamiliar voice speaks.

"Mr. Torez, pleasure seeing you again."

It's the clerk behind the counter.

I watch in a state of awe as Preston shares a quick glance with me before taking a large drag of his cigarette. "Vincent, how's it going?"

I don't even try to hide the shock evident on my face when the clerk--Vincent doesn't spare a second glance at the lit cigarette in between Preston's fingers.

With a firm nod, Preston strolls towards the front door of the hotel suite.

He brushes past me as if I'm not even there.

When the sound of the New York traffic fills my ears, I follow suit and step outside.

It's dark now, the city illuminated by the street lamps, the live billboards and the lights coming from the looming skyscrapers.

The sound of someone clearing their throat makes me snap my gaze away from my breathtaking surroundings.

Preston was leaning against a matte black Nissan Coupe a little ways down the street.

"Is that your..." I trail off as I watch him pull open the driver's side door and press a button on a car key. The low yet powerful rumbling of the car starting makes a few pedestrians stop and stare in awe at the car.

Biting my lower lip, I ignore the starstruck people and start to walk towards Preston, but make no move in stopping.

I've managed to make it a least ten feet away from him before his taunting voice fills my ears. "Dolly, arn't you gonna hope in?" Why would he ask unless...

I could practically hear his smirk.

I try to act as if his tone doesn't bother me, but there was no way he missed the way I glowered darkly at him when I slowly turned to face him.

His features seemed to get even brighter when he took in my clearly irked expression.

"Well?" He voices a second later.

I could either hail myself a cab, or spend the twenty minute car ride in the same proximety as the asshole.

Oh, what the hell.

I roll my eyes before huffing out a reply.

I'm marching towards his--what I assume, rental car, trying to make up a reasonable excuse for me agreeing to be anywhere near him.

I came to a conclusion the moment I slipped into the passenger seat and saw the cocky smirk on the boy's face.

I'm saving almost thirty bucks by riding with Preston Torez. That'll buy me at least an extra four much needed shots of tequila tonight.