Chapter Song: Thunder - Imagine Dragons

The following day, Kat and I met up outside of school that morning. It was currently Wednesday--three days until we leave for our trip. Our trip that we have yet to organize.

To be honest, I hadn't thought that far ahead, all I knew was that I wanted to get the hell out of my house for the long two week break.

Spring break usually lasts for one week, but for whatever reason the school board had extended it another week this year. I'm pretty sure none of us kids were complaining.

When Kat approaches me on the steps of Highland Academy, I offer her a small wave before standing to my feet.

The first thing she does when I'm in reaching distance is hand me a chilled plastic cup.

"Vanilla iced coffee frappe, your favorite."

I send her a grateful smile before accepting the coffee and taking a large gulp.

I open my mouth to say something, but Kat quickly beats me to it. "Don't be mad."

I cross my feet and narrow my eyes at her. "I need to have a reason in order to be mad. I don't."

Kat couldn't help but roll her eyes, her chocolate brown locks of hair whipping around wildly.

"Don't be a smartass, Ada. Seriously, please don't be mad, alright?"

I threw my head back with a deep inhale. "Kat, just say it already."

She bit down on her lower lip, looking uncertain.

"I-I kind of invited Preston..."

She leaned away slightly, panic rising in her features.

I took a moment to soak in her words, but when they did, nothing horrible happened. I just stood there for a few more seconds, a neutral expression etched on my face.

"Adalyn, you know I hate when you react like this! It's usually followed by--" She didn't even have time to finish her sentence.

"Are you fucking kidding me? You mean that douchebag Torez? You're telling me you invited him, out of all people Katrina!" I managed to keep my grip on my cup of iced coffee but I didn't realize a majority of the tan liquid began to pool at my feet seconds later.

Crushing is better than throwing, right?

"Out of all people?" Kat repeated, her right eyebrow shooting up.

Her nervous expression was wiped away and was replaced with a look of displeasure. "Ada, he's my boyfriend. I know you guys seemed to have a--rocky start, but I just want you guys to be civil! He hasn't really done anything to you, can't you just like, move on?"

A dry laugh escaped my lips a second later and I took a large step closer to her. "Are you kidding me right now? Let's see...he's managed to make me get detention almost seven times in the past two weeks--like I can't do that on my own, he tried to spread that rumor that I was dating Nicholas only because I needed someone to do my homework which ended up causing Nick and I to get into an argument, oh and we can't forget about the time he stole my actual clothes from my gym locker during class. Should I continue?"

Katrina rubbed her forehead with a pensive sigh. "Alright, alright. I get it. I just really want you guys to get along. Pres and I have been dating for three months now and I really like him, Ada." She looks at me with a desperate look in her eyes.

Tossing the now empty plastic cup to the side, I cross my arms and mumble under my breath. "You're abso fucking lutely crazy for liking the bastard."

"Adalyn," she scolded, not hesitating to point an implicate finger at me.

Shifting from one foot to the other, I slouch my shoulders and shrug. "Whatever."

"What was that?" Kat asks, the annoyance slowly melting away.

"I said, whatever. I don't give a shit as long as he doesn't bother me."

Kat rests her hands on her hips and quirks an eyebrow. "You're agreeing so easily, why?"

Finally locking my cerulean eyes with hers, I smile slightly. "I get to bring Nicholas."

Kat shakes her head playfully before pulling me into a hug. "Of course you can because I actually think he's a decent guy."

I gently push her away with a soft laugh. "He's great, yeah."

Kat throws on her backpack and nudges me in the direction of the school.

"Yeah, we better get to class. We have a lot of planning to do tonight after the shit ton of homework we're gonna get." I risked a quick glance at Kat, wondering if she had caught onto what I was saying.

As she pulled open one of the front doors of the school, she let out an unflattering snort. "So this whole trip is basically based on an impulse you had. I wouldn't expect anything else from you Ada."

* * * *

"Please? It'll be so much fun, I promise you!" I was currently attempting to convince my boyfriend to come with me to New York City, but so far I wasn't having much luck.

Nicholas ran a hand through his sandy brown hair, a small frown on his thin lips. "Adalyn, I don't think that's a good idea. I have a ton of studying to do over break and I have to keep an eye on my mom."

We were currently residing in the comfort of my bedroom, giving us enough privacy away from my nosy mother who always wants to have a long in depth conversation with my boyfriend--probably because his family is loaded far more than my family could ever comprehend.

Nicholas was stationed at the edge of my bed, standing directly above me.

I immediately frown, gripping his hands a little tighter. "Nic, come on. I'm sure your mother would love the idea of you getting out of the house for awhile. I know you probably don't want to leave her alone at home for days, but I'm sure she'll manage. Besides, your mother seems to be well know in town, all things considering, so I think she'll manage to keep herself busy." My response seemed to have put Nic on edge.

Taking his hands out of mine, he takes a few steps until he's seated beside me with a few unnecessary inches separating us.

When he doesn't make a move to answer, I sigh deeply and try again. "Nic, please? You don't want your girlfriend to be a pessimistic and uncomfortable because she's third wheeling, do you?"

He looks at me, his captivating blue eyes meeting mine for a split second before he rolls them. "Pessimistic? That's a big word, Ada."

His teasing only made me laugh lightly. "Shut up," I responded, bumping my shoulder against his.

We sat there for a few minutes, reeling in the profound silence.

I quickly looked over at Nicholas when he took a hold of my hand.

He stroked small circles between my thumb and forefinger before parting his lips to speak. "I can't go Ada. There's just too much I have to take care of." His response was soft, like he was speaking to a toddler.

Sadness washed over me for a mere second before it was drowned out by anger.

Standing up, I throw my hands up into the air. "Of course you don't want to go! I mean, why would you want to go when you have everything you could possibly need right here in fucking Texas!"

Nicholas didn't seem fazed by my outburst, he only stood up and approached me, his shoulders squared. "Don't be so dramatic Adalyn. It's not that big of a deal."

The way he shrugged it off like it really was no big deal made me bite down the bile in my throat. "Whatever."

He made a move to grab my hand again, but I childishly turned my back on him. "Just go, Nic."

I didn't know why I had said it, but I just needed to be left alone. Yes, this wasn't something I should be so furious about, but everyone who knows me knows my emotions wear thin all the time, especially when someone tells me no.

The shuffling behind me indicated that Nicholas was indeed leaving.

I wanted to turn around so badly and tell him to stay but the bitter, larger part of me refused.

I almost jumped out of my skin when I felt his hands clamp down on my waist and forcefully turn me to face him.

Without a word, he leans down and places a harsh kiss on my lips, seeming to have just as much anger in his actions as I felt. The good boy had a dominant side. I love it.

He seemed to pull away all too soon, his eyes shining. "I'll see you tomorrow."

And with that, he strode over to my bedroom door, flinging open my door carelessly before leaving my sight. 

An all too familiar sigh liberated out of my lips before I tossed myself onto my bed.

That went fucking great.

* * * *

It was nearing 10:30 PM when Kat finally left. We had spent four hours planning and organizing our trip that I was growing weary about. If Nicholas wasn't going, I wasn't too sure if I wanted to go, seeing as I would indeed be the third wheel the whole time.

Nonetheless, I still spent hours researching different routes to New York considering this was a road trip.

It would take a little over 30 hours to get there, including pit stops and nap breaks.

We spent another hour figuring out money calculations. Anyone who goes must pitch in at least two hundred dollars for the journey and we will all need the minimum of two grand for the costs of hotel rooms, food, tourist locations and just in case any of us get the unforeseen urge to go on a shopping spree.

Kat and I had applied for a rental car in my moms name because none of our cars were large enough for the shit ton of suitcases that we would be bringing, and quite frankly, we were both too greedy to offer up the idea to bring our car on the long torturous trip ahead.

For the last few minutes leading up to Kat's departure, we researched some of the locations we want to visit while we're there and attempted to get more educated on the behavior of New Yorkers.

So far we've read that New Yorkers are fast paced so you have to keep up, they're always, always on top of the fashion trends, public transportation is recommended, tourist traps are common, and definitely check out the nightclubs. I heard they're pretty sick.

After getting ready for bed, I climb into the comfort of my plush comforter with a content sigh.

Closing my eyes, I try to rid my head of today's events with Nicholas.

Luckily, my swarming thoughts were cut short when the ringing of my phone made me snap my eyes open. "Who the hell...?"

I didn't even think about the fact that I was supposed to be mad before I hit answer and put the phone to my ear.

"Hello?" My voice was groggy, the sleep deprivation evident.

All I could hear were the soft sounds of his breathing for a few seconds.

"I'll come."

I'm sitting up a moment later, a lopsided grin plastered on my lips. "You will?"

He sighed, like he didn't believe what he was agreeing to. "Yes. But only for a few days, a week at most. It's bad enough that I'll be behind schedule because I can't say no to you. It's pathetic, really."

Biting my lower lip, I roll my head back and look up at the darkness. "It's not pathetic, Nic. It just shows how much you love me, you big teddy bear."

He must have not understood--or cared that I was teasing because he didn't say anything for a few seconds.

"Yeah, well. I guess I should have known you'd have this kind of effect on me."

Oh. He wasn't joking.

We've been dating for seven months now, our relationship has been surprisingly innocent but we haven't said those three words yet. Was this it? Did he just tell me he loves me?

I must have zoned out because a moment later he was saying my name.

"Yeah, sorry," I mutter softly, laying back down once again.

"Get some sleep. I'll see you at school tomorrow, alright?"

I smiled at his words, a fuzzy feeling taking over me. I didn't know if I should welcome it or be on alert. In the end, I settled for the previous, at least for now.

"Okay. Goodnight Nic."

"Night, love."

A second later, the line went dead.

* * * *