Post by Adrien | Adam on Feb 4, 2018 22:57:56 GMT -5
(Thanks to Mel who wrote her characters of Jessica Sears and Everalda Sears for this piece)
Date: Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018
Cameras: OFF
Tonight, Manhattan, New York is loud with love and support for the newly-crowned Spirit and Pride Champion, “The Paladin” Jessica Sears. Her celebration dinner at the Sake Bar Satsko with her family and friends was amazing. She was pleasantly surprised to know Zachary flew their mother Odelia to the city to watch the match from his penthouse on TV. To see her join them for dinner was one of the best feelings in the world. To have the Sears siblings united for the very first time since their fateful meeting was even better.
Having a few drinks rendered Jessica unable to drive safely. Zachary’s tendency to drink more in social situations didn’t help, especially with his boyfriend Gael influencing him. Even though Adrien doesn’t drink and Victor’s stable, Everalda volunteers to be the designated driver. A glass of rice wine with her meal doesn’t affect her in the slightest. She drops off her younger brother, Gael, and Odelia at the penthouse first. It was the closest to the Japanese restaurant. Jessica’s home in Marisol “MiMi” Cruz’s estate is next. She enters the gate code with ease and makes her way towards the front doors. She slows down the white 2017 Honda Pilot and parks next to the walkway.
Everalda: “Okay, we’re here!”
Victor looks through the window he’s sitting next to and nods. He glances over to his girlfriend who’s slightly clinging to his arm and holding her championship belt at the same time.
Victor: “Are you alright?”
Jessica: “Mmm, I feel nice, warm, and… sooo bubbly!”
Everalda can’t help but giggle softly. She looks back and nods to Victor.
Everalda: “Please take care of my baby sister tonight, okay?”
Victor: “I always do.”
Feeling a bit like an outsider on a bit of a family trip, Adrien reaches over to give a big hug to the person in the vehicle he’s known longer than three months. Jessica seems like she almost loses her balance as she hugs Adrien back.
Adrien: “Even if you don’t remember a word of what I’m telling you, please know that I’m very, very proud of you. I knew you could do it. Now get some rest. Everything changes starting now.”
Adrien gives a smile to Jessica, knowing she isn’t going to retain a single word of his speech.
Adrien: “Victor…”
Adrien shakes the hand of his partner’s boyfriend before they begin to exit the vehicle. And after all of these stops, there are only two people left in the car: Adrien and Everalda. She doesn’t move the vehicle just yet, making sure both Jessica and Victor are safely inside. Once they are, Everalda switches the gear to drive and slowly pulls away. She doesn’t live too far away from either of her siblings, all three of them within the isle of Manhattan. She exits the gated community of the estate and maneuvers her way through the back streets.
Everalda: “We’ll avoid heavy traffic this way. New York City never sleeps, so you have to figure out many alternative ways to go from Point A to Point B when you live here.”
Adrien simply shrugs his shoulders. He had no idea where they were, honestly, and was leaving everything up to Everalda to handle this. He nods his head.
Adrien: “I have no choice but to take your word for it, right?”
After all, she was driving. He was sitting in the passenger seat for a reason: he didn’t know Manhattan all that well. Fortunately, he was in the company of some New Yorkers. Or New Yorker now…
Everalda: “That is true.”
She smiles before she makes a left turn at the green light. A few strands of her golden blonde hair fall in front of her right ear as the mini-SUV makes the turn before straightening out on the lane. The beautiful sight of Times Square at night in the rearview mirrors slowly begins to fall behind them. She’s driving them towards the upper echelon of Manhattan.
Everalda: “I haven’t been this happy since my son’s birth. It’s so nice.”
Adrien’s eyes widened for a moment at the statement Everalda just gave.
Adrien: “Really? This is going THAT well for you?”
It took him by surprise. Everalda knew nothing about wrestling mere months ago. But she’s now declaring the night Jessica Sears finally captures a title the happiest she’s been since Klaus was born. Unless…
Adrien: “Are you talking about Jessica winning the match or...something else?”
She tilts her head a little, slowing down to stop when there’s a red light before them. She turns her head to look at him and a gentle smile crosses her face.
Everalda: “It’s not just that. Jessica’s championship victory was just the beginning. I was surprised to see Zachary walk into the restaurant with their mother on his arm. Honestly, I may have been more surprised than Jessica was. The fact that he was actually willing to sit at the same table as me, talk to me with respect, and actually call me his sister… We were all together for the first time since that day…”
Surely Adrien knows she’s talking about January 10th. The fourth anniversary of their father’s death. It really was the last time the Sears siblings were in the same place at the same time.
Everalda: “I was so surprised… but I was also a little nervous, at least until he formally apologized to me. He was just shocked and afraid. I suspected as much, but to actually hear him say ‘I’m happy to be your brother’, I was… I don’t know how to explain it with words. I just felt so happy, Adrien.”
Adrien had almost forgotten that Zachary was resisting Everalda’s mere existence for a while. You would have never thought it of the way the siblings were all interacting with one another. All the Searses...there was so much love and joy between them. Sure, they had a reason to celebrate. It was a huge night for Jessica.
Adrien: “I’m glad things are beginning to look up for you all. You guys are family. You all deserve to feel like you matter to one another. I knew it was only a matter of time before things settled down.”
He glances out the window. He has no idea where they are.
Adrien: “We almost there or…?”
She nods and looks forward just as the light turns green. The drive home continues.
Everalda: “Just about.”
She exhales breathily.
Everalda: “I almost want to cry… because of how happy I am. Twenty-seven years and I’m finally reunited with my younger brother and our baby sister. This is everything our father wanted, of this I am certain.”
Her inhale is a little shaky, but she keeps her emotions in check as she drives. They stop before the gates of the upper echelon and she presses a button for her window to descend. She presents the security guard with her driver’s license and he nods. The automatic gates open and she proceeds to head in the direction of her penthouse apartment not too far away. Less than a minute later, she slows into her parking spot, presses a button to raise the window, and she shuts off the vehicle. She leans back against her driver’s seat with a soft sigh, those golden locks falling back to reveal the tears of joy on the corners of her eyes. Adrien acts on impulse when it comes to a pretty girl shedding tears, even if they are happy tears. He wipes them away with his index finger.
Adrien: “Well, you’ve gone from almost wanting to cry to actually crying.”
Adrien chuckles, and so does Everalda. He reaches to try to get tears on the far side of her cheek as well. This was something that seemed to happen between the two more than one would expect between two people who have only known each other a short while: a lot of touching each other’s faces.
Adrien: “Hey, I’m glad you’re happy. It sounds like some joy is just what the doctor ordered based on what you’ve told me you’ve been through.”
It’s almost instinctive, it seems natural, but after Adrien brushes the tears on the far side of her cheek, Everalda’s left hand moves up and settles over his. She holds it there, the palm of his hand against her cheek, and she turns her head to face him completely. Her sapphire eyes gaze into his bright blue eyes, and for a moment, neither of them moves. Any breath taken is quiet. Adrien then places his other hand on her other hand, neither of them breaking the eye contact. Was this what everyone kept talking about this entire time? Everyone kept making comments about the two of them...but was this the moment where it was starting to dawn on them?
Adrien tries to open his mouth, but words don’t escape him. They just keep looking at one another for a moment or two longer. Adrien then remembers that he is actually spending the night in her home, which makes this moment seem more intense, to him anyway. This realization dawns on Everalda as well and a sweet smile crosses her face. She draws her left hand away, but it feels… strange. Wrong? Shaking her head, she chuckles softly.
Everalda: “We should go inside. It’s cold out here.”
Adrien nods his head. His jacket could only do so much to keep him warm.
Adrien: “Yeah, we should. I’ll...get my bag.”
Adrien pulls his hand away from Everalda’s face and removes the one covering her other hand. He exits the vehicle, opening the trunk to retrieve his belongings, and even grabs Everalda’s bag for her.
Adrien: “Lead the way.”
She opens the driver’s side door and steps out. Her white high heels softly click on the ground as she reaches out to gently yet firmly close the trunk with a hand. Smiling at him, she leads the way to the entrance of her penthouse apartment and uses the house key to unlock the door. She steps inside, flips the light switch of the living room, and keeps the door open for him to enter. The light of the living slowly illuminates from dim to bright, allowing them time to adjust.
Everalda: “You remember where the guest room is, yes?”
Adrien glances around the home, trying to process where everything is. He smiles as he opens the door to the guest room in the hallway.
Adrien: “Evidently, I do.”
He laughs as he simply tosses his bag on the bed and closes the door. After that moment in the car, he just wants to see Everalda for a little while longer. He looks back at her, admiring her beauty for a moment. It’s almost like it’s the first time he’s truly appreciated it. The white long-sleeved v-neck blouse matches the color of her white high heels. The black long skirt that falls below her knees nicely hugs her curves. It’s such a simple look, but her beauty makes it work. She sees him looking and she giggles. She walks past him to quietly check on her grandmother and her son, both of them sleeping soundly with the baby monitors active. Smiling, she softly closes the door of her master bedroom before she makes her way back into the living room and approaches the kitchen.
Everalda: “Would you like anything to drink?”
Adrien: “No thanks, I’m fine.”
Between everyone at the celebration, there was enough drinking going on. Adrien simply followed Everalda into the kitchen. He’s wearing his black leather jacket that he occasionally wears on his walk down to the ring. But instead of a #Believe shirt underneath it, it’s a plaid button down, checkered in green and gray.
Adrien: “Your penthouse is lovely.”
At this point, he was just trying to make small talk. He didn’t really know what he was trying to talk to her about. But he’s feeling...something…
Everalda: “Thank you. Anza and I call it ‘paradise’... After Pretoria, it makes perfect sense.”
It was quite the move. She still remembers it clearly. Checking the refrigerator and the pantry, she retrieves a black dry erase marker and begins to take a couple notes on the whiteboard attached to the left fridge door. She jots down two-percent milk, whole wheat bread, and dark chocolate. Placing the cap back on the marker, she sets it on top of the refrigerator and turns to him with a smile.
Everalda: “Are you alright? You seem to be… contemplative.”
She walks by him again, this time their arms lightly brushing against each other, and she takes a seat on the loveseat in the spacious living room. Adrien takes a seat next to her, still with a lot of thoughts rushing through his head.
Adrien: “Did we have...a moment just now? Before we came inside in the car? I’m...not sure what that was.”
Adrien isn’t sure how to put what he was trying to ask properly into words. He just hopes Everalda can interpret the sentence that he did formulate and is able to figure out what Adrien is trying to ask. It has been so long since Adrien has felt a spark like that. Everalda takes a deep, quiet breath of air… and then she turns herself towards him. Taking his right hand, she brings it up to settle on her left cheek, then she placed her left hand over his. Her right hand settles over his left knee and she gives it a moment. A moment for him to place his free hand over hers. In the better light, they can look into each other’s eyes better, the blues of their eyes gazing deeply. Finally, she exhales slowly, having held her breath for that moment.
Everalda: “...I believe we did.”
Adrien keeps his hands where they are. One on her cheek, one on her knee. It felt comfortable to have them in this position. He smiles a little bit.
Adrien: “I think we did too. And I kinda think we’re having one now.”
He can feel his increased heart rate, pounding faster than it usually does when he is simply sitting down. Here he is, this breathtaking woman who just appeared in his life, and now...he feels like this adventure with Everalda is just starting.
Adrien: “It’s...been awhile since I had a moment like this one right now…”
Her heart is beating a little steadier than his, but it’s certainly not beating in a way someone completely relaxed and sitting down would be. She feels something… more. She knows it’s there. He knows this as well.
Everalda: “How long has it been…?”
Since the first time he spent time with Stacy Sterling. But he didn’t want to give her that response. Bringing up the ex-girlfriend seemed like a bad idea to him.
Adrien: “A little more than a year. What about you?”
Adrien knew the who with her. But not the how long ago. Everalda takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.
Everalda: “At least two years.”
She still doesn’t move her hands. She keeps them where they are, nodding slowly.
Everalda: “This must be fate... Fate compelled you and my baby sister to become friends. Fate united me with my brother and sister. Fate drew us to her home at almost the same time. There’s no other way to explain all of this, is there?”
Adrien: “I can’t see any other way.”
He’s starting to get a bit more relaxed. His heart began stabilizing. He was beginning to feel more comfortable that this is something that might actually happen. The fact she is feeling whatever this is as well makes Adrien a bit less nervous.
Adrien: “Should we do something about how we are feeling? I mean…”
Everalda: “A date.”
She giggles, but she doesn’t do it out of rejection. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Everalda: “I know it’s cliché, but Valentine’s Day is coming up, and… it’s been a long time since I’ve been on a date. Perhaps you and I could…”
Now Adrien is the one giggling. He smiles.
Adrien: “And clearly neither of us have plans for that day otherwise.”
Adrien can tell Everalda was holding back laughing too loud to disturb the sleep of her son or grandmother.
Adrien: “Alright. A date. Valentine’s Day. Here or in my city?”
Everalda: “You’re going to laugh at me, but…”
Everalda giggles again, trying not to be too loud.
Everalda: “I’ve never been to New Orleans before. I’ll be your Valentine there.”
This made Adrien smile a little bit. After all, it was beginning to look like Valentine’s Day was going to consist of Netflix and a tub of ice cream. After a Lactaid anyway.
Adrien: “Alright. Wow. This is...exciting.”
And best of all, it will be on his turf. He knows exactly where to take her. Exactly when to take her there too. It’s so much easier for him to plan how to really make a day special when he has home field advantage. Unlike here, where he was certainly glad Everalda was driving because he did not know his way in Manhattan. But one thought did cross his mind.
Adrien: “You are aware the others are going to freak out, right? Jessica. Eddie. Even my sister.”
She tilts her head and considers their reactions in her mind. She speaks up as she pictures their expressions and smiles.
Everalda: “If I'm allowed to be honest, Eddie's reaction would be the most entertaining. His eccentric personality would make it lively. Our sisters would probably be very happy.”
With a giggle, she leans against him and sighs softly. A shiver runs through her body, perhaps still affected by the cold weather outside. Or perhaps it’s something else.
Adrien: “Perhaps it would be a good idea to keep everything going on between the two of us until we can figure out what exactly this…”
He points at himself and back at her.
Adrien: “...is.”
He looks back up towards her, curious if she thinks it’s a good idea as well. She nods without hesitation and gently nuzzles against him.
Everalda: “I agree…”
She doesn’t want to move. She just wants to stay here, right next to him, and be comfortable. She hasn’t felt this way in so long, she doesn’t know what to do. She doesn’t want to rush him or scare him away… Lifting her head up, she looks into his eyes and offers a warm smile. Adrien, figuring out what Everalda was wanting him to do, wraps both of his arms around her, pulling her into his chest. He rests his chin on her blonde hair.
Adrien: “When we figure that out...we can tell people.”
Her eyes widen in the slightest for only a brief moment before she wraps her arms around him and presses her ear against his chest. She takes a moment to simply listen to his heartbeat and she nods ever-so-gently.
Everalda: “It sounds like a drum… a drum I can dance to.”
Adrien chuckles as he lets Everalda continue to listen to his heartbeat. He strokes her hair a little bit.
Adrien: “Or perhaps I could put a melody over it.”
They remained in this embrace for a couple of minutes. It was like neither one of them wanted it to end. Of course, it was going to have to at some point since they were sleeping in separate beds tonight. Regardless, when they did finally let go, it was just the end of a long hug. Perhaps it was nothing more than the beginning of something entirely new.
FOR THE PROMO PORTION OF THIS PIECE, CLICK HERE
I always flirt with death
I could kill but I don't care about it
I can face your threats
Stand up tall and scream and shout about it
I think I'm on another world with you
I'm on another planet with you
Date: Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018
Cameras: OFF
Tonight, Manhattan, New York is loud with love and support for the newly-crowned Spirit and Pride Champion, “The Paladin” Jessica Sears. Her celebration dinner at the Sake Bar Satsko with her family and friends was amazing. She was pleasantly surprised to know Zachary flew their mother Odelia to the city to watch the match from his penthouse on TV. To see her join them for dinner was one of the best feelings in the world. To have the Sears siblings united for the very first time since their fateful meeting was even better.
Having a few drinks rendered Jessica unable to drive safely. Zachary’s tendency to drink more in social situations didn’t help, especially with his boyfriend Gael influencing him. Even though Adrien doesn’t drink and Victor’s stable, Everalda volunteers to be the designated driver. A glass of rice wine with her meal doesn’t affect her in the slightest. She drops off her younger brother, Gael, and Odelia at the penthouse first. It was the closest to the Japanese restaurant. Jessica’s home in Marisol “MiMi” Cruz’s estate is next. She enters the gate code with ease and makes her way towards the front doors. She slows down the white 2017 Honda Pilot and parks next to the walkway.
Everalda: “Okay, we’re here!”
Victor looks through the window he’s sitting next to and nods. He glances over to his girlfriend who’s slightly clinging to his arm and holding her championship belt at the same time.
Victor: “Are you alright?”
Jessica: “Mmm, I feel nice, warm, and… sooo bubbly!”
Everalda can’t help but giggle softly. She looks back and nods to Victor.
Everalda: “Please take care of my baby sister tonight, okay?”
Victor: “I always do.”
Feeling a bit like an outsider on a bit of a family trip, Adrien reaches over to give a big hug to the person in the vehicle he’s known longer than three months. Jessica seems like she almost loses her balance as she hugs Adrien back.
Adrien: “Even if you don’t remember a word of what I’m telling you, please know that I’m very, very proud of you. I knew you could do it. Now get some rest. Everything changes starting now.”
Adrien gives a smile to Jessica, knowing she isn’t going to retain a single word of his speech.
Adrien: “Victor…”
Adrien shakes the hand of his partner’s boyfriend before they begin to exit the vehicle. And after all of these stops, there are only two people left in the car: Adrien and Everalda. She doesn’t move the vehicle just yet, making sure both Jessica and Victor are safely inside. Once they are, Everalda switches the gear to drive and slowly pulls away. She doesn’t live too far away from either of her siblings, all three of them within the isle of Manhattan. She exits the gated community of the estate and maneuvers her way through the back streets.
Everalda: “We’ll avoid heavy traffic this way. New York City never sleeps, so you have to figure out many alternative ways to go from Point A to Point B when you live here.”
Adrien simply shrugs his shoulders. He had no idea where they were, honestly, and was leaving everything up to Everalda to handle this. He nods his head.
Adrien: “I have no choice but to take your word for it, right?”
After all, she was driving. He was sitting in the passenger seat for a reason: he didn’t know Manhattan all that well. Fortunately, he was in the company of some New Yorkers. Or New Yorker now…
Everalda: “That is true.”
She smiles before she makes a left turn at the green light. A few strands of her golden blonde hair fall in front of her right ear as the mini-SUV makes the turn before straightening out on the lane. The beautiful sight of Times Square at night in the rearview mirrors slowly begins to fall behind them. She’s driving them towards the upper echelon of Manhattan.
Everalda: “I haven’t been this happy since my son’s birth. It’s so nice.”
Adrien’s eyes widened for a moment at the statement Everalda just gave.
Adrien: “Really? This is going THAT well for you?”
It took him by surprise. Everalda knew nothing about wrestling mere months ago. But she’s now declaring the night Jessica Sears finally captures a title the happiest she’s been since Klaus was born. Unless…
Adrien: “Are you talking about Jessica winning the match or...something else?”
She tilts her head a little, slowing down to stop when there’s a red light before them. She turns her head to look at him and a gentle smile crosses her face.
Everalda: “It’s not just that. Jessica’s championship victory was just the beginning. I was surprised to see Zachary walk into the restaurant with their mother on his arm. Honestly, I may have been more surprised than Jessica was. The fact that he was actually willing to sit at the same table as me, talk to me with respect, and actually call me his sister… We were all together for the first time since that day…”
Surely Adrien knows she’s talking about January 10th. The fourth anniversary of their father’s death. It really was the last time the Sears siblings were in the same place at the same time.
Everalda: “I was so surprised… but I was also a little nervous, at least until he formally apologized to me. He was just shocked and afraid. I suspected as much, but to actually hear him say ‘I’m happy to be your brother’, I was… I don’t know how to explain it with words. I just felt so happy, Adrien.”
Adrien had almost forgotten that Zachary was resisting Everalda’s mere existence for a while. You would have never thought it of the way the siblings were all interacting with one another. All the Searses...there was so much love and joy between them. Sure, they had a reason to celebrate. It was a huge night for Jessica.
Adrien: “I’m glad things are beginning to look up for you all. You guys are family. You all deserve to feel like you matter to one another. I knew it was only a matter of time before things settled down.”
He glances out the window. He has no idea where they are.
Adrien: “We almost there or…?”
She nods and looks forward just as the light turns green. The drive home continues.
Everalda: “Just about.”
She exhales breathily.
Everalda: “I almost want to cry… because of how happy I am. Twenty-seven years and I’m finally reunited with my younger brother and our baby sister. This is everything our father wanted, of this I am certain.”
Her inhale is a little shaky, but she keeps her emotions in check as she drives. They stop before the gates of the upper echelon and she presses a button for her window to descend. She presents the security guard with her driver’s license and he nods. The automatic gates open and she proceeds to head in the direction of her penthouse apartment not too far away. Less than a minute later, she slows into her parking spot, presses a button to raise the window, and she shuts off the vehicle. She leans back against her driver’s seat with a soft sigh, those golden locks falling back to reveal the tears of joy on the corners of her eyes. Adrien acts on impulse when it comes to a pretty girl shedding tears, even if they are happy tears. He wipes them away with his index finger.
Adrien: “Well, you’ve gone from almost wanting to cry to actually crying.”
Adrien chuckles, and so does Everalda. He reaches to try to get tears on the far side of her cheek as well. This was something that seemed to happen between the two more than one would expect between two people who have only known each other a short while: a lot of touching each other’s faces.
Adrien: “Hey, I’m glad you’re happy. It sounds like some joy is just what the doctor ordered based on what you’ve told me you’ve been through.”
It’s almost instinctive, it seems natural, but after Adrien brushes the tears on the far side of her cheek, Everalda’s left hand moves up and settles over his. She holds it there, the palm of his hand against her cheek, and she turns her head to face him completely. Her sapphire eyes gaze into his bright blue eyes, and for a moment, neither of them moves. Any breath taken is quiet. Adrien then places his other hand on her other hand, neither of them breaking the eye contact. Was this what everyone kept talking about this entire time? Everyone kept making comments about the two of them...but was this the moment where it was starting to dawn on them?
Adrien tries to open his mouth, but words don’t escape him. They just keep looking at one another for a moment or two longer. Adrien then remembers that he is actually spending the night in her home, which makes this moment seem more intense, to him anyway. This realization dawns on Everalda as well and a sweet smile crosses her face. She draws her left hand away, but it feels… strange. Wrong? Shaking her head, she chuckles softly.
Everalda: “We should go inside. It’s cold out here.”
Adrien nods his head. His jacket could only do so much to keep him warm.
Adrien: “Yeah, we should. I’ll...get my bag.”
Adrien pulls his hand away from Everalda’s face and removes the one covering her other hand. He exits the vehicle, opening the trunk to retrieve his belongings, and even grabs Everalda’s bag for her.
Adrien: “Lead the way.”
She opens the driver’s side door and steps out. Her white high heels softly click on the ground as she reaches out to gently yet firmly close the trunk with a hand. Smiling at him, she leads the way to the entrance of her penthouse apartment and uses the house key to unlock the door. She steps inside, flips the light switch of the living room, and keeps the door open for him to enter. The light of the living slowly illuminates from dim to bright, allowing them time to adjust.
Everalda: “You remember where the guest room is, yes?”
Adrien glances around the home, trying to process where everything is. He smiles as he opens the door to the guest room in the hallway.
Adrien: “Evidently, I do.”
He laughs as he simply tosses his bag on the bed and closes the door. After that moment in the car, he just wants to see Everalda for a little while longer. He looks back at her, admiring her beauty for a moment. It’s almost like it’s the first time he’s truly appreciated it. The white long-sleeved v-neck blouse matches the color of her white high heels. The black long skirt that falls below her knees nicely hugs her curves. It’s such a simple look, but her beauty makes it work. She sees him looking and she giggles. She walks past him to quietly check on her grandmother and her son, both of them sleeping soundly with the baby monitors active. Smiling, she softly closes the door of her master bedroom before she makes her way back into the living room and approaches the kitchen.
Everalda: “Would you like anything to drink?”
Adrien: “No thanks, I’m fine.”
Between everyone at the celebration, there was enough drinking going on. Adrien simply followed Everalda into the kitchen. He’s wearing his black leather jacket that he occasionally wears on his walk down to the ring. But instead of a #Believe shirt underneath it, it’s a plaid button down, checkered in green and gray.
Adrien: “Your penthouse is lovely.”
At this point, he was just trying to make small talk. He didn’t really know what he was trying to talk to her about. But he’s feeling...something…
Everalda: “Thank you. Anza and I call it ‘paradise’... After Pretoria, it makes perfect sense.”
It was quite the move. She still remembers it clearly. Checking the refrigerator and the pantry, she retrieves a black dry erase marker and begins to take a couple notes on the whiteboard attached to the left fridge door. She jots down two-percent milk, whole wheat bread, and dark chocolate. Placing the cap back on the marker, she sets it on top of the refrigerator and turns to him with a smile.
Everalda: “Are you alright? You seem to be… contemplative.”
She walks by him again, this time their arms lightly brushing against each other, and she takes a seat on the loveseat in the spacious living room. Adrien takes a seat next to her, still with a lot of thoughts rushing through his head.
Adrien: “Did we have...a moment just now? Before we came inside in the car? I’m...not sure what that was.”
Adrien isn’t sure how to put what he was trying to ask properly into words. He just hopes Everalda can interpret the sentence that he did formulate and is able to figure out what Adrien is trying to ask. It has been so long since Adrien has felt a spark like that. Everalda takes a deep, quiet breath of air… and then she turns herself towards him. Taking his right hand, she brings it up to settle on her left cheek, then she placed her left hand over his. Her right hand settles over his left knee and she gives it a moment. A moment for him to place his free hand over hers. In the better light, they can look into each other’s eyes better, the blues of their eyes gazing deeply. Finally, she exhales slowly, having held her breath for that moment.
Everalda: “...I believe we did.”
Adrien keeps his hands where they are. One on her cheek, one on her knee. It felt comfortable to have them in this position. He smiles a little bit.
Adrien: “I think we did too. And I kinda think we’re having one now.”
He can feel his increased heart rate, pounding faster than it usually does when he is simply sitting down. Here he is, this breathtaking woman who just appeared in his life, and now...he feels like this adventure with Everalda is just starting.
Adrien: “It’s...been awhile since I had a moment like this one right now…”
Her heart is beating a little steadier than his, but it’s certainly not beating in a way someone completely relaxed and sitting down would be. She feels something… more. She knows it’s there. He knows this as well.
Everalda: “How long has it been…?”
Since the first time he spent time with Stacy Sterling. But he didn’t want to give her that response. Bringing up the ex-girlfriend seemed like a bad idea to him.
Adrien: “A little more than a year. What about you?”
Adrien knew the who with her. But not the how long ago. Everalda takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.
Everalda: “At least two years.”
She still doesn’t move her hands. She keeps them where they are, nodding slowly.
Everalda: “This must be fate... Fate compelled you and my baby sister to become friends. Fate united me with my brother and sister. Fate drew us to her home at almost the same time. There’s no other way to explain all of this, is there?”
Adrien: “I can’t see any other way.”
He’s starting to get a bit more relaxed. His heart began stabilizing. He was beginning to feel more comfortable that this is something that might actually happen. The fact she is feeling whatever this is as well makes Adrien a bit less nervous.
Adrien: “Should we do something about how we are feeling? I mean…”
Everalda: “A date.”
She giggles, but she doesn’t do it out of rejection. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Everalda: “I know it’s cliché, but Valentine’s Day is coming up, and… it’s been a long time since I’ve been on a date. Perhaps you and I could…”
Now Adrien is the one giggling. He smiles.
Adrien: “And clearly neither of us have plans for that day otherwise.”
Adrien can tell Everalda was holding back laughing too loud to disturb the sleep of her son or grandmother.
Adrien: “Alright. A date. Valentine’s Day. Here or in my city?”
Everalda: “You’re going to laugh at me, but…”
Everalda giggles again, trying not to be too loud.
Everalda: “I’ve never been to New Orleans before. I’ll be your Valentine there.”
This made Adrien smile a little bit. After all, it was beginning to look like Valentine’s Day was going to consist of Netflix and a tub of ice cream. After a Lactaid anyway.
Adrien: “Alright. Wow. This is...exciting.”
And best of all, it will be on his turf. He knows exactly where to take her. Exactly when to take her there too. It’s so much easier for him to plan how to really make a day special when he has home field advantage. Unlike here, where he was certainly glad Everalda was driving because he did not know his way in Manhattan. But one thought did cross his mind.
Adrien: “You are aware the others are going to freak out, right? Jessica. Eddie. Even my sister.”
She tilts her head and considers their reactions in her mind. She speaks up as she pictures their expressions and smiles.
Everalda: “If I'm allowed to be honest, Eddie's reaction would be the most entertaining. His eccentric personality would make it lively. Our sisters would probably be very happy.”
With a giggle, she leans against him and sighs softly. A shiver runs through her body, perhaps still affected by the cold weather outside. Or perhaps it’s something else.
Adrien: “Perhaps it would be a good idea to keep everything going on between the two of us until we can figure out what exactly this…”
He points at himself and back at her.
Adrien: “...is.”
He looks back up towards her, curious if she thinks it’s a good idea as well. She nods without hesitation and gently nuzzles against him.
Everalda: “I agree…”
She doesn’t want to move. She just wants to stay here, right next to him, and be comfortable. She hasn’t felt this way in so long, she doesn’t know what to do. She doesn’t want to rush him or scare him away… Lifting her head up, she looks into his eyes and offers a warm smile. Adrien, figuring out what Everalda was wanting him to do, wraps both of his arms around her, pulling her into his chest. He rests his chin on her blonde hair.
Adrien: “When we figure that out...we can tell people.”
Her eyes widen in the slightest for only a brief moment before she wraps her arms around him and presses her ear against his chest. She takes a moment to simply listen to his heartbeat and she nods ever-so-gently.
Everalda: “It sounds like a drum… a drum I can dance to.”
Adrien chuckles as he lets Everalda continue to listen to his heartbeat. He strokes her hair a little bit.
Adrien: “Or perhaps I could put a melody over it.”
They remained in this embrace for a couple of minutes. It was like neither one of them wanted it to end. Of course, it was going to have to at some point since they were sleeping in separate beds tonight. Regardless, when they did finally let go, it was just the end of a long hug. Perhaps it was nothing more than the beginning of something entirely new.
You always get under my skin
I don't find it irritating
You always play to win
I don't need rehabilitating
I think I'm on another world with you
I'm on another planet with you
Another girl, another planet
Another girl, another planet
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