Chapter 69 These Two

Chapter 69 These Two
Adrian’s POV

Inez hadn’t realized that she had hit on the video button on Instagram just when Darien and I pulled up towards Ethan’s house.

Even after the bickering between my sister and Leo- I couldn’t bring myself to finish off what I initially thought was best.

“I don’t think Ethan would be home…” Darien chipped in, obviously trying to distract me from listening to the quiet breathing of Inez.

“Get out,” I get to Darien, finally coming to terms that it was to face Ethan right on the football field. That was the best way for me to get back at him for hurting Inez.

I’d inhaled deeply, watching as Darien scrambled out from the backseat in a wild state of disbelief.

“Tell Ethan that we would meet on Thursday in Sundale’s stadium.” I’d snapped my face to Darien.

Darien stood still, trying on a shaky nod. “Do I still have to render an apology in the school’s media?”

I arched a brow and he jumped backwards. “I’ll be watching out for that.”

I swerved into a curve and drove into the main road. Right now, Inez needed me. No matter how angry she was, how angered by the fact that she didn’t want me anywhere near her - I needed to be there for her.

She had been way too much already which had forced her into bottling up her emotions. Staying apart from her would not be the wisest thing to do.

And whatever notions she had about me pitying her or taking advantage of her situation- she was damn wrong.

Would it be wrong to bet on the fact that she was probably the only girl that I was ready to go all in for?

I wasn’t sure if this was what it meant to be for one to fall desperately in love with someone. But analyzing Reilly’s own love story was clearly what was surging me on.

Reilly was just 15 yet she would let nothing even her mother halt her into accepting her love interest.

Minutes later, I arrived at Kiway then drove towards Leo, Irene, and Inez who stood outside the hospital’s building.

I stepped out of the car when I noticed how hesitancy tied both Inez’s feet and wouldn’t make her climb into the car with the rest of us.

That pushed me to step out of the car.

“Perhaps, you need me to guide you into the car.” I said as I neared her.
I noticed the way her feet shuffled.

Before she could bring herself to halt me, I scooped her up and placed her into the seat beside the wheeling wheel. Her eyes widened with shock.

My breath caught in my throat. Hairs stood out at the back of my neck - not out of shock but at the mere contact of her.

Goosebumps washed over me. It brought to mind that familiarized close proximity. There was a way it messes up with my mind up - distracting yet comforting. 

Her eyes glued to my eyes as her breath hitched. Shifting my gaze to her plump lips, I wanted a taste of her once more. Somehow, Inez being here in the car with me made me want to pull her into the safe part of my arms without she going anyway_

“Adrian, let’s keep it moving.” Irene’s voice snapped me out of whatever I was thinking.

I cleared my throat and pulled out. Good thing Irene hadn’t noticed whatever had happened between Inez and I. She was too engrossed about what she was saying to Leo.

I pulled up at the other side of the car, got in but I was a bit tensed with the knowledge that Inez was sitting here beside me.

So to relief myself of this jittery feeling that kept shooting up my spine, I snapped a smile at Irene. “What stories are you sprouting, Irene?” Turning my eyes to Leo.. “What’s in the bag you’re holding, Leo?”

“She’s telling me how she made the mutton soup. Bro, you need to try it.” Leo bend over to place a brotherly tap on my shoulder.

I thought I heard Inez trying to muffle a laugh.

Irene’s eyes rounded.

“I hate you, Leo!” Irene barked. “You said you wouldn’t tell.”

“Irene? You cooked?” I scoffed.

“Come on, he had to know,” Leo turned to face Irene.

“I still hate you.” Irene shot an index finger to Leo’s face.

Still, I stretched a hand out. “I will like to taste it- is it for me?”

Irene snatched the leather bag from Leo before I could reach for it.

A soft laugh emanated from me. I tried to reach for it again, whatever game Irene was playing at - I wanted to see the end of it.

Inez turned, pulling her knees to the seat and grabbed the leather bag from Irene.

“It was meant for me.”

The whole place quietened.
Irene let go of the bag.

The strumming which I thought had been quelled fluttered again when Inez and I shared a glance.

“Irene was kind enough to bring this to me.” Inez said.

Irene had a triumphant look on her face.

“That must be so sweet, Irene. I almost thought you made that for me which I believed would never happen.” I put in.

Irene shot a gnarl at Leo.

Leo’s brows twitched.

He tried to reach for her but she shifted- creating a space between them.

The car roared in life as I turned it on.

“It’s good to note that you are smiling.” I said to Inez, ignoring the bickering going on behind us.

Inez nodded, placing her handphone on the console while she hugged the leather bag.

“Has your aunt noticed the phone?” I was trying to make a reasonable conversation.

“I was planning to let her know about it. I think now is not a good time.” Inez’s gaze flicked to me.

“Okay. Right now, you need to rest. Whatever happened here will finally be settled tomorrow. Your aunt wouldn’t realize that you spent the night with_Irene.” I quipped.

I was trying to be careful with my words. If I dared uttered that she would probably be spending the night with me- it may place her on an icy edge. It was much better that Irene was here with us.

“Adrian, we’re going to your place.” Irene said.

“I thought Leo’s house was the plan.” I looked up to their stunned expressions.

“How did you know? Leo leaked that to you as well?” Irene asked.

Appalled, Leo turned to Irene. “Come on, what do you take me for?”

“A rat!” Irene shrieked.

“Take it back, Irene.”

“I will not!”

I let out a laugh as the two continued to bicker. The two had always been like that - like cat and dog - bickering was their way to cool off things.

Somehow, I envied them. They weren’t compressed by uneasy, assailing, and conflicting feelings which was sure to make conversations uncomfortable.
Leo would never like someone like Irene. She was so not his type. She was too carefree, did things that make one’s eyes go wild with shock. And Leo was just a guy in his own world yet his friendship with Irene was remarkable.

They’d both been able to stay afloat even after the years they just haven’t seen each other.

I on the other hand had never been equally close to Inez. She was someone who watched me from the bleachers or beside my sister - even that itself was way too creepy for me to digest.

Inez was just too boring for my taste. She doesn’t party, she could literally find mere joy in reading books. Yeah, she was a total nerd. But all that changed after she she lap-danced me back in Sundale.

It made me look twice at her.

Even watching her sweep her face to the blurred roads as I drove on, I still couldn’t believe that I was able to come this far with her.

Even though we had not made up entirely - yet but I was sure as hell not giving up on her.

“Are you okay with that?” I asked.

“With what?” She turned her head to me.

“Staying over at Leo’s?”