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𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦
━━ ⌠ 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓 ⌡

CHAPTER TWO ₊˚.༄⋆❀⋆
⟡₊˚ ───（ 𝟬𝟬𝟮. 𝙲𝙰𝙳𝙰𝙻𝙸𝙴 𝙳𝙰𝚈 ）
╭ ·₊˚ 👨‍🎨🚌🎨
╰ ✦ 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗘╭ 🂱 ✦
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❛ 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. ❜

▎ 𝙰𝙼𝙸𝙳𝚂𝚃 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙿𝚁𝙰𝚆𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙱𝙴𝙰𝚄𝚃𝚈 of a ranch,
where vast stretches of land embraced the crestone model home, adalie's mornings unfolded against a backdrop of serene tranquility. the grandeur of the ranch, with its open spaces and the promise of boundless horizons, added an extra layer of magic to the crestone experience.

as she completed her morning routine, the sounds of nature outside her window accompanied her preparations. the view from her room extended far beyond the confines of traditional neighborhoods, offering glimpses of untamed beauty and the allures of the great outdoors. the ranch, a place where the earth met the sky in an endless embrace, was her canvas for the day's adventures.

when the unexpected honk echoed through the expansive landscape, adalie, curious and excited, made her way to the window door that opened to a small porch. the crisp air carried the essence of the ranch, and as she pushed aside the curtains, there he was—cole walter, a familiar figure against the backdrop of the vast ranch land.

"well, princess." his teasing voice reached her ears, blending seamlessly with the rustle of leaves and the distant sounds of the ranch. "do you need your royal chariot, or can you handle a regular car today?"

the nickname princess held a whimsical touch when it rolled off cole's tongue, a playful acknowledgement of the luxurious life that adalie lived on the expansive ranch. nestled with the grandeur of the crestone model home, the presely family enjoyed the fruits of their success, courtesy of jax presley's booming construction company.

jax, a shrewd businessman, had transformed his construction company into a force to be reckoned with. over the past seven years, their endeavors had reached heights beyond imagination, building hospitals, clinics, multiple ranch homes, stores, luxurious residences, and even venturing into the picturesque landscapes of aspen and vail, colorado. his dedication and expertise had propelled the family into a realm of financial prosperity.

sofia, adalie's mother, added her own touch of sweetness to their lives. the owner of a bakery in the charming town of silver falls, sofia's entrepreneurial spirit had flourished with the support of jax. the success was evident in the expansion of their bakery empire, with a second shop now gracing the streets of vail, colorado. despite their wealth, the presley's remained grounded and compassionate.

the deep-rooted friendship between the presleys and the walters, spanning back to their college days, showcased the genuine bonds that went beyond material success. katherine walter, george walter, sofia, and jax had forged connections that stood the test of time. after graduating, the presleys had briefly ventured to boston to raise their children, adalie and stefan. however, life's twists led them back to silver falls, colorado, when jax seized a significant construction opportunity that propelled their fortune even further.

the luxurious facade of the presley lifestyle was merely a backdrop to the genuine warmth and caring nature that defined family. the crestone model home, with its stunning features and breathtaking views of the ranch, symbolized not just a life of opulence but a testament to the resilience, hard work, and enduring friendships that shaped the presley family's journey.

adalie's expression shifted from confusion to surprise as she beheld cole outside her window. "cole? what are you doing here?" she questioned, a note of genuine bewilderment in her voice

his response was a teasing grin. "what, not happy to see me?" he bantered, his tone playful, masking a deeper purpose.

as the initial confusion lingered, cole revealed the true reason for his unexpected presence. "you get a boyfriend and suddenly you forget what today is?" he remarked, a twinkle of nostalgia in his eyes.

today was cadalie day— a tradition that had taken root two years ago during their sophomore year. it was the friday before thanksgiving break, and on cadalie day (which veronica came up with the name), cole would pick adalie up from school, much to her initial dismay given her own car, a black cadillac ct4. after school, he'd drive her back home so she could change, and together they'd head to his parents' ranch house, conveniently on the way to her parents' ranch.

the highlight of cadalie day was a journey to their secret place— the meadow field. a place where they had their first kiss at 10 years old and then at 15. they would spend the entire afternoon there, immersed in the beauty of the ranch, only returning for an early thanksgiving dinner. adalie usually spent thanksgiving in boston with the fishers, making this dinner a cherished prelude to the holiday.

"thought you'd forget about it, seeing as erin doesn't like you hanging out with me." adalie remarked, a hint of skepticism in her tone.

cole, undeterred by the mention of erin, responded with playful teasing. "now why wouldn't she like you?" he inquired, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

meanwhile, adalie's thoughts echoed with a more profound truth. maybe because i was another one of your on-and-off again victims. she mused silently, the weight of their shared history casting a shadow over the banter.

but then, as if to dispel the lingering tension, cole continued with a statement that carried an unexpected sincerity. "nobody can keep me away or make me forget about my favorite girl. let's go, meadow." he declared, using the nickname that held a special place in adalie's heart.

she froze for a moment, caught off guard by the endearing nickname. meadow, he had called her, a name that symbolized their secret place and the moments they had shared there over the years. it was her favorite nickname, a reminder of a connection that transcended the complexities of their shared history.

as cole and adalie embarked on their journey to school, the familiar banter between them continued to dance in the air. adalie couldn't help but notice the absence of some familiar faces. "i can't help but notice we're missing a few passengers." she teased, a playful glint in her eyes. "are the boys not going to school today?" she inquired, referring to cole's three brothers and two cousins who always ride with him.

cole, in his usual nonchalant manner, eventually admitted to waking up extra early to leave them behind, making them take the bus to school. the revelation didn't sit well with adalie, and a shadow of concern crossed her features.

"the boys on the bus?" adalie's voice carried a tinge of disappointment. the walter and garcia boys held a special place in her heart, each relationship with them unique and cherished. nathan, in particular, was like the little brother she had always wished for, and parker, the little sister she had never had. the guilt settled in as she thought about them having to take the bus due to their tradition.

her connection with the walter family ran deep, and the thought of the boys missing out on their usual ride to school weighed on her. the laughter and camaraderie they shared during those rides had become a cherished part of their routine.

"cole—" as adalie tried to express her concern about the walter boys taking the bus, cole interrupted her with a reassurance that failed to fully ease her worried.

"look, they'll be fine. it's not the first time they've taken the bus. you should know that." he insisted, attempting to downplay the situation.

however, adalie's silence spoke volumes, signaling that the notion didn't sit right with her. cole, sensing her unease, sighed in acknowledgement. "fine, i'm sorry. they can ride back with us." he conceded, a genuine apology softening his words.

a smile graced the sixteen year old's lips at his concession, a smile that didn't go unnoticed by cole. he cherished her smile, a testament to the enduring connection they've shared. despite the complexities of their history and the undefined nature of their relationship, cole remained attuned to adalie's happiness. her smile had a magnetic pull on him, promoting him to do whatever it took to see it light up her face.

though adalie might not have realized the extent of her influence, the fact remained — she had cole walter wrapped around her finger.

as the landscape of the ranch unfolded before them, cole shifted the conversation, inquiring about stefan presley. "i didn't see stefan's car in the driveway; he leave already?" he asked, a note of curiosity in his voice.

adalie confirmed stefan's departure, explaining, "yeah, he had to talk to coach miller about something." coach miller, the basketball coach, held a significant role in stefan's life, especially when it came to matters related to the sport.

cole, in his usual caring manner, suggested, "why didn't you go with him? you could've talked to mr. choudry about—" his words trailed off as adalie swiftly cut him off, a warning in her voice.

theater was a touchy subject for adalie, just as football was for cole. though she hadn't suffered a drastic injury like cole, she had faced her own challenges. adalie had given up theater in september, a decision prompted by an ankle sprain and most importantly the disheartening news from conrad about his mother's medication not working as expected. both adalie and conrad starting to lose hope.

"cole." she uttered his name as warning, a signal for him to drop the topic. sensing the sensitivity surrounding the subject, cole respected her boundaries and let the matter rest. the air in the car held a quiet understanding, each respecting the unspoken complexities that lingered beneath the surface of their conversation.

the school grounds unfolded before them as cole expertly navigated his way to the parking lot. as they arrived, the familiar sight of veronica avery and leah jacobs sitting on the picnic tables caught adalie's attention. the duo watched with curious eyes as cole pulled into his usual parking spot, adalie in the passenger seat.

with the car engine turned off, cole turned to adalie, a playful glint in his eyes. "3:30 sharp. we'll be having a packed car, princess. hope you can handle that." he remarked.

adalie responded with a playful retort, "wouldn't want it any other way."

cole, being the first to step out of the truck, grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. he began making his way towards the passenger door, expecting to open it as he always did. however, to his surprise, adalie had already taken the initiative to open the door for herself.

he gave her a look, a subtle expression of amusement and familiarity. cole, despite adalie's protests, always made a point to open the door for her. it was a small gesture, a touch of chivalry in their dynamic. adalie claimed to dislike it, but cole knew there was a secret enjoyment she derived from this age-old courtesy.

"you know i hate that." she rolls her eyes, yet a smile threatened to make its way on to her lips.

"you love it." he teased. his words were accompanied by a casual yet familiar gesture—his hand finding its way around adalie's shoulder, pulling her closer to him. adalie responded with a distinct 'i have a boyfriend' look, a silent reminder of the boundaries that defined their relationship.

undeterred, cole met her gaze with a smirk, brushing off her unspoken objection. "like i said, you love it." he declared, their banter continuing as they made their way towards adalie's friends, veronica and leah.

"well, well, look who we have here." leah's suspicious eyebrow raised as she observed the arrival of cole walter. her tone carried a subtle edge, betraying the disdain she harbored for him. if there was one person leah jacobs hated, it was cole walter. there was a time when leah used to like him, but that changed when he broke her friend's heart. she had been there for adalie during those heart-wrenching moments, providing comfort as adalie navigated through the pain of a shattered romance.

sensing the tension in leah's voice, cole, ever attuned to the dynamics at play, decided to step back. "it's good to see you too, leah." he replied with a forced smile. he turned to look down at adalie, acknowledging the height difference between them— adalie at 4'11 and cole at 5'10.

"i'll see you in a bit, meadow." he informed adalie, aware that they shared first and second period together. before he left, cole casually planted a kiss on her temple, a gesture that spoke volumes of their shared history.

as cole walked away, adalie remained with her friends, the unspoken tension lingering in the air.

veronica couldn't help but wear a sly grin on her face as she questioned adalie about the interaction with cole. the hope for 'cadalie' still lingered in veronica's eyes. "what was that?" she probed.

adalie, with an eye role, responded nonchalantly. "that was cole being cole."

veronica, undeterred, chimed in with a teasing remark. "he totally still likes you."

leah, who harbored no fondness for cole due to the pain he had caused adalie in the past, added her perspective. "yeah, but it's good thing that adalie here doesn't. cole is an ass, and addie has conrad now."

veronica with a raised eyebrow and a challenging tone, pointed out adalie's participation in 'cadalie' day. "if she doesn't like him, why did she agree to do 'cadalie' day today?"

adalie, feeling a bit caught in the crossfire, interjected with a bemused expression. "you guys do realize i'm right here?" her question hung in the air, a reminder that the subject of their discussion was present and privy to their conversation.

leah, with a directness in her question, inquired, "why are you doing cadalie day?" the air around the picnic tables seemed to pause for a moment as the question hung in the air, inviting adalie to share her perspective on the tradition and her interactions with cole.

the timely ring of the bell provided adalie with a convenient exit from the current conversation. "i don't have time for this; i'm going to class. see you two at lunch." she declared, swiftly making her way towards the entrance of the school. the bustling energy of students entering the building enveloped her, and she disappeared into the flow, leaving behind the picnic tables, the courtyard, and the unspoken tensions that lingered among friends.

as the bell rang, signaling the start of class, adalie took her seat towards the back rows. she soon found cole settling into the seat to her left.

"what did leah say about me? that i'm an ass?" cole questioned, fully aware of leah jacobs' sentiments towards him. adalie couldn't help but grin, holding back a laugh.

"no." she replied, shaking her head. "she actually said that everyone should praise the floor you walk on." adalie joked, adding a touch of humor to diffuse any tension that might linger between them.

as mrs. tuff passed out the math tests, meant to showcase the students' learning in 11th grade, adalie couldn't help but sigh in relief upon seeing her test grade— a solid 90%. mrs. tuff, noticing adalie's achievement, leaned in with a smile and whispered, "i'm proud of you, adalie."

however, when it came to handing out cole's test, mrs. tuff remained silent. the absence of words spoke louder than any comments, and adalie couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. she was well aware that cole had been letting his grades decline, a consequence of his injury and the shattering realization that he could no longer play football.

adalie, concerned by the silence surrounding cole's test, softly asked, "that bad?" cole, without saying a word, turned his test so she could see it. a 21%, a D-, was scrawled on the paper, accompanied by a stern "SEE ME!" comment from mrs. tuff.

as cole left the classroom, clearly upset, adalie noticed his swift departure. meanwhile, danny walter, cole's fraternal twin, approached her with concern. "how's he doing?" he inquired. adalie sighed heavily, reflecting the uncertainty that surrounded cole's current state of mind.

"i wish i knew." adalie replied honestly.

danny, expressing his worry for his twin, made a request. "if you get a chance, talk to him for me? i'm worried about him, and he doesn't really open up to me like he does to you." he admitted. danny understood the unique connection that existed between adalie and cole—the kind that allowed cole to reveal a more vulnerable side of himself. danny couldn't help but feel perplexed by how cole had let that slip away during the time adalie and cole were dating, at least from his perspective.

the school hallway, with its bustling students and echoing footsteps, became the backdrop to a silent plea for understanding and connection.

once lunch rolled around, adalie found herself waiting in line to get her lunch, while cole was already perched in his usual booth with his group of friends, including erin, olivia, and a few others.

meanwhile, erin and olivia were engrossed in conversation about dylan's lake-house weekend plans. bored out of his mind, cole started scanning the cafeteria for adalie, the one person whose voice he could listen for hours without getting bored. spotting the familiar blonde standing in the long line, something didn't sit right with him.

adalie wasn't the most popular girl in school, nor did she have boys lining up to date her. she used to be a theater kid before things started to get tough. jocks typically didn't go for theater girls, but cole was different. he was aware of his good looks and relied on his charm to navigate social situations. unlike most, cole wasn't embarrassed to be seen with adalie. she wasn't just another theater kid; she was unique, and her smile was cole's favorite feature. that infectious smile had the power to brighten even his darkest days.

unable to shake the feeling that it wasn't right for adalie to wait in that long line for lunch, cole decided to put his charm into action. leaving his group of friends, including his on-and-off again girlfriend erin, he sneaked up behind adalie, leaning towards her.

"hey. what are you doing?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness.

adalie turned, "getting lunch?"

with a mischievous grin, cole offered, "let me help you." guiding adalie to the front of the line.

adalie, familiar with his tactics of skipping lines, began to decline, cautioning, "cole, stop—"

however, he cut her off with assurance, "it's okay. i got you."

putting his good looks and charm into action, cole turned to the girl in front of the line. with his signature smile, he said, "excuse me. do you mind if i slide ahead?"

the girl, struck by awe that cole walter was speaking to her, looked as if she were talking to a greek god. flustered, she stammered, "yeah— yeah, of course. go ahead."

cole's charm proved effective once again, allowing them to bypass the line. he grabbed her tray, and began to pick out adalie's favorites.

"i hate when you do that." she said, her disapproval evident, although cole was well aware of it. "it's not fair. she was in line first." adalie insisted, expressing her discomfort with the special treatment

cole, maintaining his nonchalant demeanor, offered a light shrug. "fair's overrated, and besides, you shouldn't have to wait in line like everyone else." his justification, though lighthearted, revealed a desire to make things easier for adalie, even if it meant bending the rules a bit.

adalie, with a challenging glint in her eyes, questioned, "and what makes me so special, hmm?" her inquiry hung in the air, a playful challenge that sought to unravel the mystery behind cole's actions.

cole, with an honest smile, responded with, "well, for starters, you've got the kind of smile that can brighten up even the dullest of times. and let's not forget that you're the only one who can put up with my charm without rolling their eyes. well actually i did make your eyes ro—" adalie was quick to cut him off with a slap to his forearm, making cole snicker. "that's pretty special, don't you think?" he finished.

unbeknownst to adalie and cole, the entire cafeteria had their eyes glued to them. the subtle dance of banter between adalie presley and cole walter had become a spectacle, drawing the attention of the entire school. now, the whole student body knew the history between them.

ask anyone in the school about adalie and cole, and you'd get a consistent response: "adalie presley is the only girl cole walter truly ever seemed to love." despite their breakup, the sentiment echoed in hushed conversations and knowing glances. much like veronica avery, everyone seemed to be secretly rooting for them, silently wondering why cole walter would give up adalie presely— the only girl who could make him smile genuinely, not the forced one he often puts up with erin.

after he picked out her lunch, adalie took hold of her tray and made her way towards the cashier. as she placed her tray onto the counter, ready to pull out her debit card, cole beat her to it. "cole, i have money." she sighed.

he looked over at her with a teasing smile, "oh, i know, princess. have you seen your mansion?" he teasingly joked, referring to her luxurious ranch house as he likes to call it.

turning to the lunch lady, cole gracefully smiled, handling the transaction. he then went to guide adalie to his table, but upon seeing her stop midway, he turned, confused. "i'm not sitting with you, cole."

"why not?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"because i don't need erin giving me the death stare the whole time i'm eating my sandwich." she replied, her expression conveying a mix of amusement and caution. adalie looked around the cafeteria, but she didn't spot veronica or leah. however, she did see nathan and alex, cole's younger brothers. "i'm gonna go sit with nathan and alex." she insisted.

"meadow—" cole sighed, attempting to persuade her otherwise.

"i'm sitting with nathan and alex." she declared, her expression firm and resolute.

defeatedly, cole said, "fine. go sit with nathan and alex."

adalie smiled victoriously, responding with a teasing tone, "i'll see you in 7th period." with that, she turned away, navigating through the bustling cafeteria to join nathan and alex, leaving cole.

he watched as she walked away, shaking his head with a wistful grin. god, the things adalie presley made him feel. the authenticity of his emotions lingered in the air, a mix of fondness, frustration, and perhaps a hint of longing.

as he took his seat in the booth, erin held a clearly upset look on her face. "why didn't adalie sit with us?" olivia, erin's best friend, innocently asked. it looks could kill, olivia would be dead with the glare she received from erin's

adalie walked over to nathan and alex's table with a warm smile. "there's my favorite walter boy." she greeted, exchanging a smile with nathan before acknowledging alex. "it's good to see you too, alex." she teased.

however, as adalie took her seat beside alex, she couldn't help but notice his jacket, covered in dry paint. "did you decide to take up painting, or did the art class revolt against you?" she asked with a light tone.

alex responded bitterly, unable to contain his frustration. "yeah, blame it on cole's brilliant idea to leave us stranded this morning. some girl ended up dropping her wet painting on me in the bus." his words carried a tone of resentment, unfairly placing the blame of adalie for an incident she had no control over.

feeling responsible for the unexpected hostility, adalie attempted to defuse the situation. "alex, i didn't know cole was going to pick me up, let alone ditch you guys." she clarified, hoping to convey her innocence in the situation.

but alex, still caught up in his frustration, continued to place blame on her. "well, maybe you should've told him not to ditch us, huh? or is that too much for perfect little addie to handle?"

as alex's voice grew louder, it caught cole's attention from across the cafeteria. the hurt and embarrassed look on adalie's face signaled that something was amiss.

alex abruptly got up from the table, taking his tray and leaving without another word. adalie was left there to feel the weight of guilt, and nathan sent her an apologetic look as he followed his brother to check on him.

alone at the table, the sixteen year old signed heavily, aware of the curious stares directed her way. as the atmosphere hung with tension, cole, leaving his own table, made his way over. erin tried to stop him, asking, "where are you going?" but cole ignored her and approached adalie's table.

"hey, what happened?" he asked, reaching out to take adalie's hand. however, she snatched it away.

"nothing." she replied, standing up and walking over to throw her untouched food away.

"addie, you didn't even eat." cole insisted, concern etched on his face as he tried to understand the source of the tension.

as adalie threw her food away and placed her tray on the cart, she made her way to the courtyard, with cole following right behind her. once they exited the doors, cole grabbed ahold of her hand and turned her to face him.

"what did alex do?" cole asked, frustration evident in his voice, not directed at adalie, but at the situation.

as cole and adalie stood in the courtyard, the tension thick between them, adalie vented her frustration about the situation with alex. "why'd you have to ditch them? now, alex is upset with me because he got fucking paint on his stupid jacket on the bus."she expressed with exasperation.

cole, sensing the complexity of the matter, took a deep breath. "this isn't your fault, addie. i'll handle alex." he assured her, realizing the deeper roots of their ongoing feud. the history with paige and the unresolved issues between the two brothers weighed heavily on the present moment.

adalie, concerned about the potential escalation of tension between cole and alex, stressed, "you better not do anything stupid, cole." she recognized the volatile history between the two brothers and hoped to avoid any further complications.

cole, wanting to make it clear to alex that adalie was not to be dragged into their feud, responded, "i'll handle it addie."

-ˋˏ -ETERNALLYSATURN SPEAKS ! ˎˊ-
⋆⛰️·˚ this was a long one, oops!

important note 🪴 —— i now know that cole is supposed to be 16 and probably a sophomore/junior, but for the sake of my story and my planned timeline, he'll be 17 and in senior year.