My eyes flutter open and the first thing that I see is the glistening light from through my windows.
I sit up on my bed and stretch while letting out a long yawn.
Unlike most days, I actually don't feel like shit today, maybe because it's the day of Lily's charity event. Libby and I went out yesterday and bought dresses for it, along with something a little extra.
She totally freaked out when she found out that I was going since every year she would always complain that it was always boring, especially in the same room as snobby rich people.
I lift my feet to let then drop limply on the ground. I then pick up my phone to check and see if I've received any messages.
8:49 AM
Adam: Morning, Beautiful ; )
A small smile creeps its way upon my lips as I read the message that Adam sent. I check the time and it reads 9:16 AM, which meant that it wasn't too long ago that this message was sent.
9:16 AM
Me: Good Morning : )
Adam: Can't wait to see your gorgeous face today...
He thinks he's slick, doesn't he?
Me: How long did it take you to come up with that line, huh?
Adam: About 2 minutes, I was looking for the right adjective to use ;)
I can't help but let a little laugh escape from my lips when I read his message. I decide against replying since I was going to head over there now anyway.
I stretch for one last time and push my lazy ass up off of the bed and head to the bathroom to let out my liquids, brush my teeth and take a shower.
Once I've finished, I step out of the shower and wrap the blue towel around my body and exit the bathroom.
I look around my closet, looking for something to wear. I don't feel like dressing up too much, especially since the charity event is only hours away and I'll have to change out of them anyways.
Looking around my closet, the clothes that are clearly visible aren't really as comfortable as I'd want them to. Searching a little further, I come across one of my old T-shirts and then soon after, my old pants and sneakers.
I pick out an outfit that was at the back of my closet and my face morphs into disgust. Looking at the outfit, I can't believe that I actually use to wear clothes this revolting.
No wonder Adam never gave me a second glance.
I push the outfit back where I took it from and then I continue to look.
"Knock knock." I hear a deep voice say from my doorway. I crane my neck to look in the direction of the voice and my eyes land on a smiling Adam who decided it would be a good idea to let himself in anyway.
He's wearing a simple black shirt that hugs his muscles and black jeans that hangs low on his hips. His hair is still messy as if he just woke up and ran his hand through it and left it that way.
"Adam? What are you doing here? I thought you knew I'd be coming over later." I say as continue to raid my closet, not even bothering that I'm in a towel since it's pretty big and doesn't really reveal much, if anything at all.
"Yeah, I did." He heads to my bed and lies down making himself comfortable. "I just thought you were taking too long and decided I'll just give you a ride to prevent your parents from doing it." He shrugs as he rests his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling....... "I only finished talking to you 30 minutes ago." I look at him incredulously.
"Still too long." He hums. "Anyways, what are you looking for that's taking so long?" He sits up.
"Something to wear..." I sigh frustratedly.
I didn't even realize he had made his way over until I felt his breath fanning my neck. He pulls out a boring plain beige sweater and a pair of the same baggy pants that I took out earlier, along with some out of season sneakers.
"What about this?" He questions.
"Ew. No thanks, I'll keep looking." I take the clothes from him and throw it on the bed.
"I don't see what's wrong with it." He says.
"It's ugly and hideous, that's what. How could you even think about letting me wear that?" A humorless chuckle escapes my lips.
"It's comfortable, Ariel... and you always use to like them." He tries to reason.
I search my closet more frantically, growing more agitated with the conversation as each second passes.
I turn to look at him annoyed, "What? You want me to wear them now so you can have a reason to ignore me again?" I blurt out before I can stop myself, also making sure not to let the towel drop.
I slam my closet doors and make my way to my bed. Adam looks surprised at my outburst but he quickly recovers and his face morphs into anger.
"You're seriously saying something like that?" He gets up into my face and I've never seen him so angry at me before.
"It's not a lie, right? Because obviously, you like your girls with tight skirts and tops, huh? Just like Elle. That's the only time you would have a proper conversation with me." I argue.
His hands ball into fists at his side and his knuckles turn white from squeezing them so hard.
"My feelings for you had nothing to do with the way you dressed and don't you dare bring Elle into this." He spits out.
My anger boils so high that I have no control over what flows out of my mouth.
"Okay, Adam. Let's not talk about her then. Let's talk about Leah or Jessica or even Rebecca." I shout at him, just adding fuel to the fire that I started by listing the names of the girls that he used to sleep with.
He closes his eyes tightly and takes deep steady breaths.
"Can't take the truth huh, Adam? The only time you even acknowledged me was when I started dressing more like your little whores and now you want me to put on this- this disgrace of an outfit." I say as I point distastefully at the outfit there lying on the bed.
He's silent but I can still see the anger swarming in his eyes.
He closes them once again and a few seconds reopens them and his whole expression changed. His features show instant regret as he stares back at me.
"I didn't know I made you feel that way..." He whispers.
"Well, you did." I say just as softly and sit on my bed.
He hesitantly sits next to me and runs his hands tiredly down his face.
"It's not true, you know." He says after a while.
I want to believe him, I do, but I just can't. I just decide to nod my head as I fiddle with my fingers doubtfully.
All of a sudden, I feel Adam grip my chin tightly and forces my eyes to meet his, "Please believe me, Ariel." He begs. "I guess I just waited too long to admit my feelings and at the wrong time, so I don't blame you for thinking that." He says looking directly into my eyes...... I can't help but believe him now, especially when he hasn't done anything at all to prove to me that he doesn't care for me. I just let my insecurities get in the way and it doesn't help that he has dealt with girls that are even more attractive than me, with the perfect body and I'm just me. The girl with the boring green eyes and dark brown hair.
But if I let that stop me, this relationship will go nowhere and I'll just be drowning in a sea with my insecurities for the rest of my life, holding back Adam in the process.
I just have to trust him and believe that he likes me for me and not because of what I wear.
"We should get going..." I slowly pull away from his grip, not knowing how to reply to the information that I was just provided with.
He sighs and we both rise from my bed with him still looking at me. I train my eyes on the outfit that he had chosen on the bed, biting my lip nervously with my brain spiraling with questions on if to wear it or not.
In the end, I pick up the outfit and hesitantly decide that I'll put it on.
I look up and give Adam a small smile in which he returns with the biggest grin I've ever seen on his face as he pulls me in for a hug. I quickly tighten the towel around me and afterward wrap my arms around his waist, sighing in content.
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This is it. Tonight finally came. The night of the banquet. It's three hours away which means that if I start getting ready now, I'll be ready just in time.
Libby and I had originally decided to get ready together but decided against it, especially since Liam was invited also. So now it's just Adam and I in the house alone as per usual and Libby getting ready at Liam's place.
Mr. and Mrs. Haynes are already there at the destination, ensuring that everything is just perfect for tonight.
Adam and I are in his room getting ready at this very moment. Adam wanted me to get ready at his house but I told him that it wouldn't be possible since all of my makeup and everything is at home and I still wasn't sure what shoes I would wear yet and of course I couldn't bring all to his house.
He suggested that I just use Libby's items but I reminded him that of course, she had to take them with her.
No matter what I said, he wouldn't take no for an answer, insisting that I stay. So he put on that 'fuck it' attitude and just bought a whole makeup table with the most makeup I've ever seen in my life, along 8 new pairs of shoes for me to pick from.
Sometimes I forget that he's filthy fucking rich.
Now here we are, getting ready in absolute silence until I speak up, "Which colour shoes do you think I should wear." I say as I do my lipstick.
"Depends, what colour is the dress?" he asks as he puts a little gel in his hair, giving it a sorta bed head look but nonetheless, it makes him look even 10 times more attractive.
"It's red," I tell him. I didn't even realize that he was already standing behind me until I feel his hand on my shoulders and his breath on the nape of my neck making me stop all action. "Hmm... my favourite colour, I can't wait to see you in it." He whispers and plants small kisses all over my neck while his hand works expertly on my shoulders.
He stops his work for a while on my neck but his hands still keep working, "You're tense, Ariel. Are you worried about something?" He continues his assault on me soon after he finishes talking.
Indeed I was actually, I was really terrified of what people might think of me, especially as Adam's girlfriend. Not to mention what I knew I was planning after we get home........ "No, not at all..." I lie right through my teeth.
He ignores my comment as his fingers slow down immensely. "Silver. It'll compliment the red well." He whispers in my ear before heading to the bathroom.
I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding and afterward give my cheeks a light slap to get rid of my flustered state as I continue my makeup.
Several minutes later, Adam exits the bathroom in a tuxedo and boy was it an incredible sight. He stands in front on his full-length mirror and secures the cufflinks on the sleeves of his dress shirt. Although his suit isn't extremely tight, it doesn't help that his muscles are still clearly evident through the material.
I can't help but stare as he adjusts his suit on his shoulders and buttons up the buttons that were undone, totally unaware of the effect that he had on me. He wears a monotone expression while doing this and I think to myself that I shouldn't be reacting this way just because he's wearing a tux right?
I've never seen him in one before and I never really thought that him wearing one would have affected me to this extent. My throat is as dry as the Sahara Dessert and my eyes follow him as he sits on his bed and puts on his shiny black dress shoes.
"Shouldn't you put on your dress, Ariel?" He says snapping me out of my fantasy. I look at his face and see the little smirk that he is trying so hard to suppress.
The slick bastard knows what he's doing to me.
I roll my eyes with a huff and head to his bathroom. I take the dress that I bought out of the bag and admire every detail of it. While pulling it out, the other article of clothing drops on the ground and I can't help but blush deeply and push it back into the bag.
The dress that I bought looks rather simple and it's an off the shoulder dress. It outlines my body to the curve of my waist and from there it flows down directly to my ankle in pleats, probably touching the ground if it not for the five-inch silver heels that I'll be wearing.
I had already taken a shower earlier, did my makeup and my hair which meant all I had to do was put on the dress. I pulled it up on my body and it fitted perfectly, just like in the store.
The only thing Libby had to help me with was the zip at the back which meant that Adam would have to help me.
I unlocked the door, making sure that the dress was secured on my body until it was properly zipped up, before exiting.
"Adam? Can help me please?" I asked politely to his back since he was not facing me.
"Sure, with wh-" He started but paused when he saw me, his eyes raking over every inch of my body. I could have sworn I saw his tongue swipe over his bottom lip swiftly but maybe it was just my imagination.
"With the zip. I can't reach it." I say and afterward, I turn to back him as I lift my hair, making sure not to get it caught in the zip. I did my hair in a nice updo but with some left open in the back...... I didn't feel anything being done for a while but shortly after, I feel Adam's cold hand grip the zipper, also sending a shiver down my back, and slowly pull it up. "Thank you," I whisper once he's finished.
I fix the front of my dress so that it properly fits me before turning around to find my shoes but to my surprise, Adam was still standing in the same position, making me bump into his chest and losing balance a little.
He grabs a hold on my waist and I hold his shoulders just to make sure that I don't fall. Once I've regained balance, I look up at him, waiting for him to let go of me, but he doesn't. Instead, he looks at me with a look that I've never seen in his eyes, his eyes twinkling with an emotion that I can't quite make out.
"You're so beautiful." He whispers suddenly.
I mentally curse myself since I don't have any hair to hide behind since I did it up already.
I mutter a small thanks, not really sure what else to say.
I then try to escape his grasp again but to no avail. "Absolutely gorgeous..." He compliments me once again but this time, he speaks to himself as if he's unaware of what he just said.
I try not to make eye contact since I'm a flustered mess right now. As I look down, I can't help but realize that his tie wasn't tied yet.
I lift my hands to around his neck before I can stop myself, and bring them slowly around his neck and lift his collar up to properly adjust the tie around his neck before I begin to tie it with his eyes still on me.
"Perfect..." I say but more to myself as I admire my work.
Adam leans down slowly to kiss me but we're interrupted by the phone ringing, causing me to quickly jump out of Adam's hold as if I've been caught stealing a cookie out of the cookie jar.
I quickly grab the phone that was lying on the bed, "Hello," I answer breathlessly.
"Hey, babe! I hope you and Adam are ready, the limo will be there in 5." Libby chirps through the other end of the phone.
"Yeah, yeah. We'll be down in a minute." I say trying to force a smile although I know she can't see it.
"Coolio." She says and then hangs up.
I release a breath and then I go and sit on my bed, ready to put on my shoes. Just as I'm about to slip on the shoe, Adam takes it from me and puts it on my foot himself.
His touch alone sends chills down my leg as he hooks the shoes around my ankles, "That good?" He whispers once he tightened the shoes.
"Yeah, it's good," I say just as softly.
He rises to his full length and puts his hand out for me to take. "Shall we?" He asks with a playful glint in his eyes. I couldn't help but smile and grab his hand as he leads me out of the house and outside to wait for the limousine.
---------------------------------
"Oh my God. This place is huge." I say once I get a glimpse of our destination. It was enormous and people dressed up very elegantly were already entering the ball room with their dates.
The driver opens both of the doors and Liam and Adam both get out first before taking our hands and helping us get out.
Libby looked stunning as usual and Liam cleaned up nice as he's wearing a suit just like Adam. "Extremely," Liam says as he looks at the place with the same admiration as I.
Libby and Liam walk ahead, hand in hand, and soon my nervousness begins to get the best of me.
I would absolutely hate to embarrass myself or more even, Adam. I'm sure that there are a lot of people here from his father's company and also their friends. What would it look like if I make a bad impression? They'll think that I don't deserve Adam. "Is my dress okay?" I begin to dust off imaginary dirt from off of it..... "Ariel, relax. you look stunning." He chuckles lowly and wraps his hands around my waist. "You sure?" I couldn't help but ask again as I fix the pleats on my dress.
Adam's smile suddenly turns to a frown, "You really don't know that you're beautiful, do you?"
I look down embarrassed and he grabs my chin in a firm hold, "You love lovely, okay?" He reassures me. I smile brightly at him and he slightly extends his elbow in which I take, keeping close to his body.
We entire and my eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets. The inside is absolutely divine. Tables and chairs are set up perfectly and I'm almost sure that their distance apart was measured to ensure accuracy. A large glass chandelier illuminates the ballroom, giving it a bright yellow lighting.
Guests walk around, holding champagne glasses in their hand and interacting with their colleagues. It's quite a sight to see, to say the least.
I'm ripped from my frame of mind when Lily comes rushing over to us. She's wearing an elegant white dress that is about the same length as mine, along with white heels to match. Her hair is done perfectly in a nice bun on top of her head and a few braids.
"Adam Darling, you made it!" She gushes as she kisses him on both cheeks. She then turns her attention to me, "Ariel! Oh my! You're just stunning!" She hugs me tightly and then clasps her hands together admiring the two of us.
"Well, don't just stand there! Come, come." She pushes us along. "You have to meet someone!"
I can't help but smile at her niceness. She leads us over to a group of people that Adam's father is talking to, "David, look who's here!" Lily gushes once again to her husband as she goes my his side which earns her a kiss on the cheek from him.
"Ah, Adam my boy." David comes and gives his son a small hug. "Nice to see you father, seems like forever." Adam teases since he doesn't get to see his parents as much anymore due to work.
David smiles sheepishly at him and then gives me a wide grin in which I return one to him. Mr. Haynes isn't a man of much words so when he talks, you should immediately listen, "Gentleman, please meet my son Adam." He introduces Adam to the two men standing in front of us.
Adam lets go of my waist momentarily to shake hands with the two men standing in front of us and soon after places it directly where it was before. One seems to be in his late fifties and the other looks to be around in his early twenties.
"Adam, this is Paul and Dexter Hamington," David says. "Paul is my college best friend and this is his son." Mr. Haynes clarifies.
They all exchange a firm nod and then Adam looks down at me at and smiles, "This is-" He starts but was soon cut off by Dexter, "And who is this lovely lady?" Dexter compliments. I'd be lying if I said that he wasn't attractive but I only had eyes for Adam. I don't miss how his arm immediately tenses around me.
I smile politely at him and step forward to outstretch my hand to him. "Hey, I'm Ariel Bradshaw," I say trying to sound confident. He takes my outstretched hand and turns it, placing a kiss at the back of it, all while keeping eye contact. He keeps his lips there for a second too long and I pull back my hand and send him a kind smile.
It was currently only the four men and I since somewhere in the middle of the conversation Lily said that she had to go and entertain the guests.
Adam pulls me tightly to his waist and I don't dare look up at him, "Ah, now if I were you, I'd watch what I was saying in front of Adam, Dexter." David chuckles. "He does not like sharing, especially when it comes to his Ariel. Isn't that right, son?" David questions Adam but doesn't get a reply since Adam's literally sending daggers through Dexter's head..... This just makes both Paul and David laugh and then afterward they leave saying that they have some catching up to do. Dexter grabs a glass of champagne from a tray that was passing and turns his attention back to us, "Is that so? I've heard quite a few things about you Adam and you don't sound like one to pin a girl down." He takes a sip.
"Well I suggest you not listen to all the shit that comes out of people's mouth." He says somewhat nonchalantly.
Dexter's face changes incredibly to anger and I try to come up with something so that we wouldn't create a scene, "Um, Adam, can we go and get a drink?" I look up at him while cutting off what Dexter was going to say at the same time.
He doesn't move so I tighten my grip around my arm, "Please." I beg which makes him look down at me. I'm hoping that he can see the desperation in my eyes.
He gives me a small smile, "It was nice meeting you, Mr. Hamington." I say. "As to you, Ms. Bradshaw." He raises his glass in the air slightly.
"I'm sorry." Adam says once we've walked away. "It's okay, I'm just glad that you didn't lose your temper." I smile up at him. He grins happily and then leans down but then slightly jumps back when we hear Libby's voice.
"Hey guys! Can I borrow her for a minute? Thanks!" She says and then drags me along, leaving both Adam and a slightly heavier breathing Liam since he probably had to follow her about the entire night.
"What's up?"I ask once we've distanced ourselves. "I'm getting nervous." She whisper yells. "It's almost time for us to leave. I mean what if I do something wrong?" She starts freaking out.
I rest my hands on her shoulders, "Hey, breathe. Look, you bought blue- he loves blue. Plus you're gorgeous. Trust me, he'll love it." I try to reassure her but I myself, am terrified for tonight.
"You bet your ass he better love it, that shit was expensive." She steals a glass of champagne and downs it in one whole swallow.
"What about you?"
I sigh and then turn my attention to Adam and Liam where they are talking, "I don't know..." I trail off. "I'll be so- so new to this and I just want everything to be perfect." I couldn't help but send a sad smile in Adam's direction even though he isn't looking at me.
"All I can tell you is that Adam really cares for you, maybe even loves you." She tells me making my eyes snap to her.
"What? No..." I try to play it off.
She shrugs in reply, chowing down a piece of cake, that wasn't even there before, as if it were her drug.
"I'm serious girl. It wouldn't be a surprise to me." She responds with a mouth full of cake.
Adam loves me?
No... He couldn't. I mean, of course I know that he cares for me but I wouldn't go to the extent of saying that he loves me.
Although the real question is...
Do I love him?
"Ladies." Liam comes up to us. "May I have this dance?" He extends a hand out for Libby to take.
Libby looks like she's on Cloud 9 and opens her mouth to speak but instead crumbs fall out from the cake that her mouth is full with.
How attractive.
She swallows it quickly and squeaks out, "Yes." And takes his hand.
Liam gives me a smile and then leads Libby away. She looks back at me and rests one of her hands on her chest, over her heart and the other fanning her face.
I laugh at her and soon find myself looking around at the many people slow dancing on the dance floor for a while.
I suddenly feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn and find a smiling Adam, "May I?" He asks gesturing to the dance floor.
"You may." I smile and take his hand.
"You didn't tell me you could dance." I ask him shocked once he rests a hand on the small of my back and grabs my hand with the other.
"You never asked." He shoots back with a small smirk gracing his lips.
I wrapped my arms around his neck as we start to sway to the music.
"Has anyone told you that you're the most beautiful girl at this event?" He asks after a while.
"In fact, no." I smile up at him.
"Well, you are." He grins.
I'm about to reply but soon the music comes to a slow end and Lily comes up to us, "Aren't you two the cutest?" She gushes once we break apart.
"Anyways, Adam, I just came to let you know that your father and I won't be coning home tonight. We're spending the night at an hotel." She tells him.
"Why- Oh." He says which earns Lily to smile at him shyly.
They haven't been able to spend much time together lately because of work and they thought they would 'catch up' together at a hotel, alone.
"Okay well, it's getting late already and I'm sure that Ariel is getting tired so would you say goodnight to father for us?" He asks his mother.
"Of course darling." She smiles even brighter when Adam places a kiss on her cheeks.
"It was nice seeing you again, Ariel sweetie." She hugs me.
"You too, Mrs. Ha- Lily." I correct myself when she sends me a disapproving look.
After saying our goodbyes to everyone, we all, including Libby and Liam, got in the limousine and drove back home for the night.......
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ooopppsss!!!...... Oh. My. God. I've been working on this episode for 2 days straight,.... ugh!!! This is the longest episode I've ever written..... hope you guys really enjoy it.....
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thanks!!! and don't forget to like and comment.... yeah!!!! ✌?✌?