Chapter 15. Almost made it to hell.

With Adana now at the base of the stairs, he went back to his game. His body battled with the console without restraint but his mind was a thousand miles away. Thinking back to this weekend.

That boy knew Adana. He didn't know why he felt a twinge of jealousy that she knew another guy. He didn't have any control over her or her decisions.

They had all driven back in silence, the boy passed out immediately his head made contact with the leathery seats of his car.

Leilani gave him instructions to her place and exited the car after a short 'goodbye', exchanging meaningful gazes with her friend in the back seat through the rearview mirror. Making sure to adjust Sean so he was comfortable, Adana went to sit at the front.

After a two-minute silence which felt like a century to Storm, he asked, "so what do we do about him?"

She knew who he was referring to and she was clueless. "I don't know where he lives."

Storm nodded and stepped on the brakes bringing the car to a stop. That when Adana recognized the building outside and she had reached her destination.

"Goodnight," he whispered and turned to make eye contact. Even in the dim car light, her eyes held that shine that never failed to capture his attention for longer than intended.

Suddenly shy at his steady gaze, she lowered her eyes, darting it outside the closed window. The temperature in the car seemed to have increased but she couldn't leave without knowing what he was going to do about Sean.

"What are you going to do about Sean?"

Sean. So that was his name. Why did she care? Storm bit down the flow of questions and gulped before giving a reply.

"Since we both don't know his place, I'm taking him to my place," he said casting the now snoring body a skeptical glance, "and maybe he'll spend the night on the cushion bed?"

She nodded. "And by tomorrow, he'll go home," she paused, "with a good hangover and a bit of shock?"

"Serves him right for drinking on a school night like who the hell does that?"

They both chuckled and silence reigned between them. Those eyes were calling him, pulling him closer, and making him eager to know the untold stories behind them. There was this gut feeling he had that more than what was on the surface was going on. Something behind the scenes.

She was getting uncomfortable with the silence. "I guess I should go now."

Before he could say anything else, she was out, making her way to the front steps with hurried steps and a lowered head. She didn't look like she was happy to be home. Why wouldn't she be happy to come home?

That was a question for another day. He waited until she had disappeared behind her front door before revving up the engine and driving away, the image of her wide, round eyes lingering heavily in his mind.

Meanwhile, upstairs Lake invited her into his room holding the door open for her, silently praying that he didn't forget anything or didn't take out his laundry.

"Sorry about Storm."

She thanked him and entered the russet and cream themed room. Everything ranged from one shade of red to another and occasional cream to demarcate certain items.

Luckily, Lake had asked for a huge study table where he could write his story ideas and homework and do research when he got new ideas.

"No need to apologize for him," Adana dismissed, already setting her textbooks on the desk, "let's get started cause I have thirty minutes for this."

Soon they were buried neck-deep in the literary devices in the recommended prose and drama text for that semester.

Lake went to get drinks for them when Adana informed him that her time was up.

"Thanks for the help." He handed her a glass of cold orange juice and sat on the bean bag which he dragged beside her. "What're you doing after this?"

Biting a little on her lower lip, she started gathering her books into her bag wanting to avoid eye contact. "I'm going to work."

"You have a part-time job?" Now he was surprised. "And you didn't tell me?"

"It didn't come up until now." She shrugged making to stand. "I don't have any more time left, bye."

Lake's hands ran through his hair, gathering it in a bun. It was long enough for a small bun but he left it down. Why was she so secretive? Maybe not secretive but closed-off about herself.

A smooth hum of an engine he recognized brought him to his window in time to see Adana entering the passenger seat of his brothers' car and the boy in question not far behind, shirtless with a shirt in hand.

He turned away from the window when they disappeared behind the gate. It was him who was meant to be driving her to work but of course, it was Storm.

"You know not everyone wants to be tortured with that." She gestured to his upper body.

He grinned. "I'm sure they'll be more than pleased to be tortured by all this." He rolled shoulders and neck, flexing the muscles, a smug smirk in place when he took in her reaction.

Snapping her head back to look out the window, she said, "please just put on the shirt."

"To save your hormones, I'll do anything." He stopped the car at the side of the road and pulled his shirt over his head in the slightly awkward silence.

"Done," he announced already putting the car in motion. "What's with the long face?"

She jolted in her seat after his question. Diego and Lucas wouldn't be happy if she showed up late to work, she couldn't bear the thought of their mother. She would be disappointed if she came late to work.

As if on auto-reply, she replied, "I don't wanna be late."

"Why didn't you say so?" The car moved at the speed of sound, outrunning other cars and escaping collision by an hair.

Adana shut her eyelids and held onto the leather seat. "I didn't tell you to kill us!"

"Well guess what?" He was running his free hand through his hair. "We're not dead yet and we're here."

Releasing her hold on the chair, the feeling of floating and whirling around vanished but a little vibration of the immobile engine still reverberated through her, she peeled her eyes open to the view of the solid yet inviting bungalow that was her workplace.

She gave herself a moment to register the erratic beating of her heart against her ribs. "If I had known you were gonna get us killed, I wouldn't have said anything."

"A simple 'thank you' would've been more than okay you know?"

"Thank you?" she squeaked while trying to fix her messy afro. "You could've gotten a speed ticket!"

"For you, it would've been nothing."

For her? What did that even mean? No time to find out now. Lucas was giving the car a look while cleaning the glass wall close to the entrance door.

"Thanks for almost getting us to hell." She pulled on the handle, got out, and shut the door behind her.

He didn't give her a reply but waited until she was across the street, about to enter the cafe before sticking his head out the car to yell.

"Anything for you gorgeous!"

Eyes turned to look for the girl he was addressing and they focused on her. Adana ducked her head, and raised her left hand, flashing her middle finger. She shut the door behind her and placed her hands on her chest. She couldn't deny this feeling she got around him but she didn't hate it.

In fact, she was starting to like it.