CHAPTER 7 : Come Fly With Me

The next morning, I woke up with a throbbing head and a scratchy throat. I groaned as I sat up on my bed. I felt horrible and I made a vow to never drink again. I could barely remember the events that had transpired last night or how I even got home, but I could briefly remember the scent of pine and cinnamon.

Had Adrian brought me home?

I remembered Paige and Adrian arguing but I couldn't remember what it was about. Everything was hazy, and trying to focus on the memories only made my head throb even more.

I got onto my wobbly legs making it downstairs without tripping. There had to be some aspirin somewhere in the kitchen. It didn't take long before I found the little box of pain relievers. I spent the rest of the day wallowing in bed. It was official, I hated hangovers.

Come Monday I was past it all and I was finally able to remember the happenings of Friday night however not to their fullest extent. There were bits and pieces that were still unclear. I walked into school like I'd done every other day for the past three weeks. My book bag hanging over one shoulder and my head kept down, my shoulders hunched to seem smaller. I headed straight for my locker. I retrieved my books for my first class.

"Marcus!" Lily literally came from nowhere then pulled me into a tight hug, wrapping her slim arms around my torso.

"Hi," I said shyly as I timidly returned her embrace.

"How are you?" She asked, wrapping her arm around mine.

"I'm fine," I said, "And you."

"I'm good, I wanted to talk about Friday," She said and my cheeks tinted pink as flashes of her and I dancing invaded my mind.

"Yeah," I said nervously rubbing the back of my neck.

"You promised you'd talk to Adrian for me," she bit her lip her big dark eyes looking up at mine expectantly as I gawked at her.

"I did?" I asked as we came to a halt in front of my class, "I'm really sorry, I don't remember much from Friday."

"I figured, you got really drunk," she said with a slight chuckle and I just nervously laughed along as my cheeks darkened. "You said you'd ask if he was dating someone or not. He's like really private, like literally no one knows anything about him."

I didn't know why I would have ever agreed to something like that, drunk or not. It was Adrian's personal business, I was ridiculously curious but there was no way in hell I was going to ask him. I think I would have actually instantly combusted if I even tried. I could barely have a normal conversation with him without stuttering, I would die if I attempted this awkward conversation. She was crazy if she thought I would do it.

"You promised," she pouted her bottom lip and gave me puppy dog eyes and under that intense level of cuteness I couldn't help but nod in compliance. I hated letting people down, the guilt would kill me more than the embarrassment. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Friends could ask questions like that all the time, right? Even though I hadn't confirmed if Adrian and I were indeed friends, I couldn't back out. A promise was a promise. No matter how much I dreaded going through with it, I couldn't break my word.

"Thanks!" She squealed "I have to get to class now, but I really appreciate it Mark," she learned up pressing a kiss on my cheek before she turned on her heels and went off in the opposite direction.

Oh fudge!

.......................

Abby and I shared one class together, Biology. We were even lab partners. We had a project due at the end of the week and we had agreed to work at my house after school. I sent Harrod a text informing him that a friend would be giving me a ride home. We went straight up to my room when we finally arrived at the house. I settled on my bed and Abby sat across from me.

"So let's get started," she said as she opened up her textbook.

I spent most of the time worrying my bottom lip. I kept going over scenarios in my head where I some how mustered enough courage and actually asked Adrian if he had a girlfriend, they all ended with him laughing in my face. Why did I agree to this?

"What's on your mind?" Abby said shoving off her notebook from her lap onto the bed.

"What do you mean?" I raised a brow.

"You're hardly focused on the project. What's bothering you?" I chewed the inside of my cheek. She stared at me expectantly and I contemplated my next move. Should I tell her? It would be so much easier to ask her than Adrian. They were best friends, if anyone knew if he was dating someone she'd surely be the one to know.

There was literally no way I had the courage to actually walk up to him and just flat out ask if he was dating someone. However asking Abby still meant I had to actually ask.

This was going to be an awkward conversation.

"So... Um, is Adrian like dating anyone?"

"No, why do you ask? You like him or something?" She said teasingly nudging my shoulder. I nervously cleared my throat.

"No!" I cried incredulously my cheeks burning up, "Lily—Lily wanted me to ask. She likes him."

"Relax Mark, I was joking." She chuckled as I shifted off the bed.

"I'm going to get us snacks," I said and before she could say anything else l hurried out of the room.

I went straight for the pantry, grabbing several packets of chips before returning back upstairs. I tried not to think of the giddy feeling I got from knowing that Adrian wasn't dating anyone. It didn't matter, as soon as I told Lily that he was single she'd be all over him.

That surely put a damper on my mood.

Abby was lying on my bed when I walked in. She patted the spot next to her when she heard me come in. I shut the door behind me and dropped the snacks on the bedside table. I laid on the bed next to her.

"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you," she said her eyes glued to the ceiling.

"It's okay," I assured her. It wasn't her fault I easily blushed.

"And it's okay if you do like him—"

"I don't," my cheeks were growing redder.

"But if you did, you know you could talk to me about it. I wouldn't tell him."

I didn't say anything, which was confirmation enough. She was too perspective. She knew I liked him. But I was extremely uncomfortable talking about this. It didn't matter if I liked him or not. He didn't like me, end of story. I sat up pulling my textbook from the edge of the bed onto my lap.

"Let's get back to work," I said flipped back to the right page, she didn't argue.

.....................

Adrian was in the parking lot when I stepped out of the school. He leaned against his bike as his eyes scanned the parking lot as if he was looking for someone. His eyes landed on me and I smiled shyly as I walked towards him.

"Hi," I said

"Looks like your butler isn't here to pick you up," he said straightening up. I scanned the parking lot for the black SUV but it was no way in sight. That was strange, Harrod was always on time.

"I could give you a ride home,"

"Um..." My eyes widened as they landed on his motorcycle. He wanted me to get on that! I examined the bike warily biting my bottom lip.

"C'mon, don't tell me you're afraid?" He mocked. "Promise I'll get you home safely," he said handing me his helmet.

"I'm not afraid," I said with a pout as I took the helmet with shaky hands.

I had never ridden on a bike before and honestly I was a little bit afraid of doing so now. Motorcycles could be dangerous, I didn't want to end up dead in a ditch, but Adrian didn't seem worried as he swung his leg over the bike. Plus I didn't feel like waiting in a parking lot alone.

I slid the helmet onto my head and fiddled with the strap, trying and failing to fasten it. Adrian took my hand and pulled me closer to him. He fastened the strap below my chin for me. As his fingers lingered on my chin and my cheeks flushed as he held me in his gaze.

His eyes were so green, so captivating. I wanted to get lost in them for days. Like wandering through a neverending forest, or running in a plush green meadow, there was something so carefree about his gaze. I wanted to stay in it for eons but reality was beckoning me back the moment I stepped closer into the abyss.

"Um..." I cleared my throat and he dropped his hands.

"Hop on," he commanded and I hoisted myself onto the bike, sitting behind him. "You might want to hold on," I blushed even more as I understood his meaning. I hesitantly wrapped my arms around his waist, this was so embarrassing.

But I held on tight to him, my face pressed against his back as his bike roared to life. I tightened my grip as he eased out of the parking lot.

The throttle roared and bike kicked into a higher gear as soon as we were out of town. We were speeding down the road. My grip on him tightened the faster the bike went. The wind whipped against my cheek as I raised my head. It was cold but I didn't mind because this was actually fun. Adrenaline was pumping through my veins and excitement filled my lungs as I laughed.

Trees and cars blurred as we passed them so fast it was like we were flying.

"Having fun?" He yelled over his shoulder and I nodded my head against his back. His hair whipped around as the wind thrashed against it and he laughed along with me.

The wind washed over us as we laughed hysterically, this was exhilarating. I felt alive. My heart was beating louder but unheard over the whooshing sound from the wind.

I was flying, and I never wanted to stop.

.....................

We slowed down as we approached my house. We came to a stop at the end of the long driveway. My body was still vibrating from the adrenaline as I got down from the bike. I smiled widely at Adrian as he swung off the bike and his whole face lit up as his gaze met mine.

"That was amazing!" I exclaimed ecstatically, stumbling back on my shaky legs. Adrian grabbed hold of my arm to keep me from toppling over.

"Yeah it was," his face was still beaming.

I unfastened the helmet taking it off my head. "Thanks," I said as I ran my hand through my helmet hair, "for the ride." His fingers brushed against mine as he took the helmet from me. We were standing mere inches away from each other.

"Anytime," he said leaning in closer to me, we were face to face. I could smell his pine and cinnamon scent, making my tummy do this odd flipping thing. He was so close, I could feel his breath against my lips. I wanted so badly to close the distance between us, to press my lips firmly against his.

He moved his lips to my ear and whispered, "see you tomorrow" before he kissed me on the cheek and backed away. My whole body tingled as my cheeks heated up.

I was left staring after him, dumbfounded, as he mounted his bike and rode away. I brought my fingers up to my cheek tracing the spot his lips had landed on.

Adrian kissed me?

My brain was malfunctioning, unable to fully comprehend what had just happened. It didn't seem real, it couldn't be. It felt like a dream. But what did it mean? Did it mean anything? Maybe he kissed all his friends on the cheek. Or maybe he liked me. Or maybe it meant absolutely nothing and I was freaking out over nothing.

After a few more minutes of standing dumbly in my driveway I forced myself to go inside. I closed the door behind me a smile making it's way onto my face again. I felt butterflies in my stomach at the very thought of Adrian kissing my cheek. His lips were soft as they brushed against my skin.

I floated through the house first getting a glass of water from the kitchen then going upstairs. I stopped atop the stairs when I heard Harrod's voice coming from my father's office. What was he doing in there? "We have no other choice, sir"

"I don't trust the council," I felt my heart dropped to my stomach as a familiar baritone sounded from the room. It couldn't be.

I crept closer to the room, setting my glass of water on a small table that held a vase in the hall. I pressed my ear against the door.

"It's in their best interest to keep him safe," Harrod spoke again.

"I suppose so," The voice was unmistakable. My heart sunk even further as I recognized my father's voice.

I hesitantly knocked onto the door. It was time to face the music. I knew this day was coming. It was the end of the month, he was due to come home soon but I thought I had a couple of days left.

"Master Marcus?" Harrod stood in front of me holding the door open. Inside the room my father stood next to his desk. He was tall, much taller than me. His hair dark but slowly greying was short, cropped close to his head.

Harrod moved out of the way to let me in. He was then dismissed leaving me alone with my father. He gestured for me to take a seat. I took a wary step towards the seat in front of him. The room fell silent as I shrunk under his gaze when his sea-green eyes landed on me. I was having difficulty breathing as the silence thickened the air.

"I wasn't aware that you'd be returning today," I broke the suffocating silence.

"My trip was cut short," he said and I squirmed under his scrutiny. He was watching me, I was already nervous, this was making it worse. I was overwhelmed with guilt as he stared me down. I knew what was coming. I had been dreading his return from day one. We fell into another silence and I fidgeted with my fingers until he spoke.

"I want to discuss your expulsion," he said and I gulped, sinking into my seat, "Can you explain to me what happened."

"I didn't mean for it to get so out of hand," I said but my voice was shaky. I couldn't explain exactly what had transpired.

"I expected more from you, Marcus. What could have warranted you to attack another student," I didn't like the disappointment in his voice. It stung like lemon juice poured onto a paper cut. As much as the relationship between my father and I was strained, I didn't like the guilt that settled inside me knowing I had let him down. I hadn't meant for my mistake to blow up in my face the way it did.

Everything had happened so fast, from me confronting Jack and then the fight and lastly being dragged to the headmistress' office where we were handed our sentences.

I had been so angry, which made me reckless.

It wasn't like me. I didn't start fights, I didn't fight. I was the quiet kid everyone just ignored. I was the kid who sat alone in the back of every class. Jack had been the only person to ever talk to me. But I was still that quiet kid around everyone else. I wasn't a trouble maker and my father knew that. How could I explain this to him? There were no words I could utter to make him understand.

"I—I'm sorry," I couldn't come up with a good enough excuse. I searched for something to say, anything but the truth. I couldn't tell him, I couldn't tell anyone.

He sighed exasperatedly, as if he didn't have the energy to pry the answers out of me. "You're not allowed to repeat your actions at your new school." I nodded numbly.

"I expect the best from you," he said "Am I understood?" His expression was stern.

"Yes, sir," my voice was barely above a whisper as bowed my head in submission.

"You can go up to your room now," I got to my feet and left his office without another a word.

That was it, the first conversation I had with my father in years and it left me feeling sick. The man abandoned me, sent me way and never sent so much as a letter. He took me away from my home and as much as I resented him for it, I couldn't hate him.

I couldn't hate my father.

He wasn't affectionate, he had never been. My mother's death didn't change that. I never expected a warm welcome home from him. He was who he was and there was no changing that. So hating him would be pointless. Why bother?

I went straight to my room where I plopped onto my bed, wrapped myself in my bedsheets and tried not to cry. It wasn't long before I fell asleep.