Chapter 66 The Only Way
Chapter 66 The Only Way
Adrian’s POV
Would you blame me?
For wanting to do what I actually thought was best?
This was the only way I could protect her.
This was the only way I could teach whoever had made her into a spectacle a lesson.
‘Inez’s viral video had been uploaded from a system in Gillian Lane.’
That was what Adonis revealed to me when he traced the origin of the video.
Inez’s words made it difficult for me to go close to her.
And it clutched at my chest like a nail kneading its way into my heart.
She wouldn’t even skip a glance at me.
Anytime I’d tried to come close to her, she would shuffle her steps back and literally ignore me.
Did she mean all that she had said to me by the staircase?
Because we were just getting started.
And all that was fallen to ruin.
Which drove me for answers.
How could I get Inez to look at me again without the questionable haze of ‘whose fault this had been?’
After Leo had gone over what had happened to Inez at the roof top-that was when I got the notification from Adonis.
“Everyone is admitting that no one actually knew Inez had a cousin..” Leo continued.
My gaze shifted towards the hallway. Inez was in the embrace of Irene, my sister. I’d been surprised to see Irene as well but it was much safer to have Irene here than to have me here.
“I think we’ve seen Lola trying to bully Inez in the past.” Leo put in.
“Yeah, I remember. Back by the bleachers.” I said as I paced back and forth.
“Do you want to go over there?”
I paused. “Nah. I don’t think Inez would want me there. I’d sent her a couple of messages but she just haven't seen them yet.”
‘Seen’ was the word inscribed there when we both knew how much Inez didn’t want me here. But Leo wasn’t spiting over that and it was soothing enough. I wouldn’t have him scathing over that to add to my displeasure.
“I have somewhere I need to be. I’ll ring you up once I am done.” I said, starting for the entrance.
“Where are you going?”
But I never responded to that. My hand shot up in a gesture, waving him over as I crossed over to the garage.
Once at the familiar place, I breathed in the mystic air of Gillian Lane. I didn’t want memories to blur out what was left of the strength in me.
This was the right thing to do.
I stepped out of my car, placed the car key to my side pocket then started towards the porch of the modest building before me.
The sun was already over the edge. And my eyes flashed as the golden sun was simply being swallowed by the earth.
Then I remembered.
Whenever I came to visit Irene- I always had the opportunity of watching the sunset in Sundale..
I sighed as I climbed up the stair leading to the front door. I shot a hand out and racked my knuckles on it.
A loud crash exploded from within.
“Get the fucking door!” The voice of an older woman cussed from within.
I startled out of my skin - only for second.
Do they throw cusses around here like they were stones?
Mum was never like that with Irene and I.
Mum would even punish any of us if we tried to say one of those irritable words. But as she separated from father- I think either of us must have culled it from the environment.
I could bet whoever that was was their mother.
Everything quietened.
And they seemed to have forgotten that someone was by the door.
I racked my knuckles again.
“Ivan! Get your ass from that seat or I would whip your fucking ass!”
A scoff slipped out from me.
In seconds, I heard the loud thudded footsteps of someone approaching the door. It jerked open and I was staring at the face of tussled haired boy who was still dressed in his school’s uniform.
He must be Ivan, I presumed.
“Hi,” he beamed his teeth at me.
“Hi. Is your brother in?” I tried one of the charming features about me.
“He stepped out for a bit. You look familiar. Who are you?”
“Your brother’s best friend.” I grinned.
His brows twitched. “Darien doesn’t have a bestfriend.”
Still, my smile didn’t falter. “Oh, you will be surprised he does.”
The door opened wider. Standing beside Ivan was a woman whose hair was covered with a head cap, her cheeks dusted with flour.
“Good evening, ma’am.” I greeted, steering my eyes to her.
“Good evening.”
“He said he is Darien’s friend but Darien has no friends.” Ivan relayed.
Despite the way my head kept telling me to turn around and simply leave. I knew how stubbornly aggressive that would make me. There was no way I would leave without achieving a quarter of what I came for.
“My name Adrian Anderson and I school at Hartville high,” I introduced and watched as their gazes shifted back to me.
Ivan’s mouth drop open. “Adrian Anderson? As in the Quarterback star? No way!”
The knot in my throat loosened a bit. “Yes. That’s me.” I nodded with a smile.
“I knew it!” He yelled. “I knew I’d seen you somewhere.”
His mum waggled her brows. “Now what’s a Quarterback?”
Ivan tugged at my arm, pulling me in before I could even give a suitable answer to his mother.
Ivan pulled me towards the couch. The whole sitting room was littered with clothes. And the room had a cold, stale air that I literally thought would make me throw up.
“Mum, you have no idea who he is. He is football biggest star! He plays the same sport as cousin Ethan.” Ivan explained as he widened his hands.
So it was true?
Ivan, Darien and Ethan were all related.
Ivan shoved out the clothes to the floor then led me to it. I replaced the disgust sketched on my face with a fake smile.
“If you are my brother’s best friend- you are welcome anytime!” Ivan’s eyes circled.
He threw me a game pad, “Please play the game with me.” His eyes gleamed.
My attention swirled to the plasma television stuck to the wall. He was playing a football game that had the Frost team in it and Rangers of Hartville.
And before I could muster up the courage to decline- he had already started the game- leaving me no choice.
Judging from the way the moon was obscured by the clouds, I knew that I needed to leave. My fingers ached from constant repeat of the game Ivan and I played.
This was certainly not the way I’d hoped things would happened.
Where had Darien skittered off to?
Maybe, it was time I leave before I totally get tired out to my bones.
“Ivan,” I called, “I think I should take my leave. That’s enough game for the day.”
I could hear chattering and laughter emanating from the hallway. His mother had been talking over the phone for over a hour- I couldn’t remember but it certainly was a long time.
Ivan groaned. “No, please. Don’t leave! My brother isn’t back yet. When he comes, you can leave- I promise.” He whined.
His pleas only tightened my chest.
“Mum, tell him not to leave!” Ivan shouted.
Ivan’s mother moved towards us - still on the phone.
“Are you leaving?” She mouthed at me.
“Yes, I am.” I nodded, entirely displeased at myself for stopping over at Darien’s house.
“Mum, stop him!” Ivan wailed.
His mom covered the mouth of her phone and snapped. “Ivan, you have had enough. Get up and clean up the mess already.”
“But the maid can do it when she drops by tomorrow.”
I scowled.
I didn’t want to be here another minute.
My stomach grunted.
My eyes scanned the bowl of chips and chicken Ivan’s mother had dropped on the stool before us. Ivan had eaten half-way through the bowl but I hadn’t brought myself to touch it.
Ivan’s hands wrapped around my legs. “You can spend the night here here after all.”
“Ivan, don’t force me to repeat myself again.” His mum threatened while she still had the phone over her ear.
“I’ll call you back.”
The moment she dropped the phone, Ivan let out a scream, unwrapped his hand and jumped out from where he sat.
I started out towards the door - unmindful of the cat and mouse game played by both Ivan and his mother.
“Ivan!!!” A masculine voice rented the air as the door pulled open.
Ivan who’d been jumping on the couch looked towards the door. “Darien, your best friend is here?”
“Who?” Darien asked.
Darien walked in but he froze when his eyes recognized me.
Both Ivan and their mother noted the disturbing air.
They stopped whatever they were doing and turned towards us.
Darien’s feet shuffled while mine moved.
Then he bolted out the way he came.