My social battery runs out at a rapid pace while standing there, and setting my entire will power into focusing on what Jeffry is saying. Every minute makes it harder to stay focused and stop myself from zoning out.

Eventually, I muster the courage to excuse myself and walk to the house.

My head pounds from being nearby the speakers on full blast volume, for hours on end. I enjoy music, but not to this extent. Not to mention, I don't even like electronic music!

I make my way to the living room and find my backpack, and fish out my phone, checking to see if I have any missed notifications.

As usual, the screen is empty.

With a sigh, I plop down on the loveseat and hug my bag to enjoy a few minutes of quiet. I lean into it and close my eyes, but hope not to fall asleep.

My mind replays the encounter Jeffry and Adrien had with each other, which was one of the most awkward moments I've ever third wheeled.

I wanted nothing more than the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

It's in men's instinct to fight in order to be the alpha in a crew, quite literally. I remember seeing this document where the doctor was examining a bunch of people who didn't know they were being studied, it was a solid proof of this behavior.

Adrien and Jeffery were playing the same game, challenging each other. Although I couldn't understand why they appeared to be threatened by one another, when they have nothing to compete over, and won't see each other again.

Men are weird.

Fifteen minutes later, I convince myself to stand up. Slipping my phone into my pocket before placing my bag on the sofa, I walk with slow steps.

I must ask if they are planning on staying tonight or not; I doubt it's a wrong thing to question.

My fingers fidgeting, I chew my bottom lip as I pause between the hallway and stairwell, contemplating my next move.

Arianna is outside and I try to spot her from where I am, and with a surprising amount of luck, I locate her giggling, standing with James.

She doesn't seem to be in a state that could answer my questions, and I don't want to interrupt her in whatever they are up to.

I rub my temples before pushing my hands through my hair. Arianna's off the list, I search for Dylan but he's nowhere to be seen.

That leaves me with one choice. I push my glasses up my nose and drag my feet to the other side of the villa, still unsure.

The thumping sound from the staircase causes me to halt, I look towards the source of it.

Sophia, with a deep scowl on her face, descends the remaining stairs. Just as her eyes land on me, they shoot daggers, and her expression shifts to sneer.

"Pathetic loser," she mutters, striding in front of me.

As she passes me, flipping her hair from left to the right side, halts midway, as if changing her mind, and turns to me.

"Who the fuck you think you are? Don't expect just because Adi pitied you and allowed you to spend an entire year with him, you're one of us," she states, pointing her index finger at me.

Too taken aback by her sudden outburst, I stand there, staring at her with my mouth agape.

I'll never be like them, neither do I want to be! Why would anybody in its right mind choose to be cruel for no reason?

She takes a step towards me, forcing me to crane my neck to meet her eyes. "You are a miserable bitch. No matter what, no one will ever spare a glance at you. You're gonna be lonely for the rest of your life and die alone, and nobody will give a fuck about it. That being said, if I ever see you hitting on Adrien, I'll fucking kill you with my bare hands. Are we clear, dumb slut?" she rests her elbow on her propped hip, her fingers curled, long red-colored nails on full display, holding my gaze as she spits the words out.

I stare at her, swallowing the lump forming in my throat.

Her remarks should not affect me, but there's truth to it.

I know I shouldn't pay attention to it, but it hurts.

In fact, I have to be happy that my death won't upset anyone, but... why is her so comment hurtful then?

She leans to me, anger sparking her blue eyes, identical to a psychopath thirsty for blood, and warns, "Stay away from Adrien," and spins and walks to the glass door. The sound of her heels clicking on the wooden floor echos in my head until she steps out into the backyard.

I blink a few times, struggling to gain back my posture. The surrounding returns into focus, the faint energetic music feels like a mocking background tune.

I must not care. My heart thunders in my chest. I am not that scared and hopeless teenage girl anymore.

Or maybe I still am?

With deep inhale, I try to calm my ragged breathing. Pushing my hands through my hair, I force myself to stop overthinking. As I regain my composure, I don't waste a second. I need to get out of here.

When we arrived, they gave us a quick tour, and if by saying the other side, Adrien was being literal, he should be in the lanai. Made of glass and decorated with dozens of flowers and plants, with sparse furniture.

I make my way to it, careful not to trip and break something in the dim lighting. My heartbeat fastens as I near it, I pause to steady myself.

I'm not asking for anything unusual, only if they are going to stay the night or not, and inform him of my egress. Two sentences, literally! Why doing simple actions is such a big deal for me?

Why am I not capable of talking like every other normal person!

"Want some?" Will's question distracts me from my own thoughts.

The music is faint, their voices carry over it with ease. Adrien's back faces towards me, and I'm in a blind spot for Will.

He offers the bong to Adrien. He shakes his head as he stubs out his cigarette. "You know I don't do drugs," he mutters loud enough that even I hear him, as he draws out a new cig and lights it.

Laughter booms out of Will. He takes the lighter from Adrien and leans to the shelves filled with plants. Lighting it on, while holding his mouth on the top of the bong. Seconds after pulling away, a white cloud forms before his face as he exhales, and places his luxury water pipe on a shelf.

Adrien fans the air in front of him with one hand.

I want to laugh at the irony. If he doesn't like the smoke, then why is he smoking himself?

I shove aside the thought and decide it's the perfect chance to go inside.

With my first step, Will's voice cuts through the grey space, "Are you planning on fucking Eleanor?"

His words nail me to the ground, as I try to understand why would he suggest that.

Adrien's head snaps to him, his features not visible to me, but the expression he holds leads Will to shrug.

"Why would you hang out with that pain in the ass? I assumed you have a thing for virgins or whatever... Why are you guys spending an entire year with that uptight bitch, anyway?"

Adrien looks ahead, taking his time for the drag and then exhaling.

"She's a decent planer, and a dense yet good entertainment. Old habits die hard, can't say I don't enjoy pushing her around," he claims after a long moment of silence.

A half-hearted laugh stumbles out of Will, "So you're using her to plan your trip for free? And as a time-pass? No shit! That's fucking fantastic! And the retard she is, not able to see through these things. Not that she doesn't deserve it," he raises his fist for a fist bump.

Adrien complies, as their fists hit he says, "Why else would I put up with the headache, and it's not like she's useful for any other work."

Will picks his bong again, "I know right! You had all of us wondering why are you putting up with that insufferable bitch," he expresses before inhaling a deep breath from it.

"If I had a better alternative option, I never would have gone along with that annoying, good-for-nothing freak,"

The room spins around my head, their words swim before my eyes. I stumble, not believing my ears.

It makes no sense.

I take another step back, my bottom lip quivering, heart thundering.

I'm so stupid.

How can I be such an idiot?

Has Arianna been acting too? Or Dylan?

Convinced that they have begun considering me as their friend. My first friends after Jace. Everything's been fake.

My body trembles, my eyes burn as the realization crashes down.

They are using me.

They never stopped hating me. Adrien despises me even now. Still holds me accountable for Jace's death.

I spin as all sorts of thoughts rush in my brain.

I need to get away from them.

Rushing to the door, I flee out of this hellhole. The cool fresh air embraces me as I stride off, without a glance back.

I wrap my arms around myself, holding my head down as their conversation repeats in my mind, loud and clear.

This is what he gains from this trip, humiliating me.

Maybe I'm overreacting. Or making it a big deal. Perhaps it's what I deserve and the best I can ever hope for.

I was fool enough to believe that I am progressing, that I'll be good friends with Arianna and Dylan and for once not be alone. And stupid to accept Adrien is changing and becoming a better person, because his mood swings hadn't resulted in verbal attacks like prior years.

Fastening my pace, I try my best to rid myself of these thoughts; I reach my hand to my back to take out my headphone, and that's when it hits me.

I halt, my eyes widening, I forgot my bag.

My wallet. Shit.

I push my fingers through my hair. I won't return to that house. Not under any circumstances. I'll leave Amsterdam tomorrow first thing in the morning, before any of them discovers. And when they do, it'll be too late.

I look ahead and rub my forehead. The shortest route to my hotel will be to cut through Red Light District. The only area of this entire city advised not to visit at night, alone.

Great! Just fucking great.

I tug on my hair as frustration momentarily makes me stop functioning.

I can find a way. There must be a solution.

Uber doesn't work here properly. I don't know how to get a cab... but I have my phone.

It's a bad idea, but the only choice I have.

What's the worst that might happen?

I pull out my mobile and turn on my GPS, selecting the hotel I'm staying at as the destination. I proceed according to the given directions.

If I walk fast enough, along with luck, nothing should go wrong.

Not the most sensible rationalizing for this situation, but it's better than bupkis.

Without slowing down, I concentrate on the paths and my surrounding. If I'm going by foot, I might as well enjoy it. It is Amsterdam, after all.

Minutes blend in together as my legs carry me of their own accord, my mind void of any thought.

My phone vibrates, drawing my gaze to itself. Adrien's name on my screen causes me to roll my eyes, and wait for it to end. Not a minute later, he calls again.

I wasn't expecting him to find out I'm not there this soon.

The call ends. Thereafter my iPhone buzzes and I glance down, reading the message.

'Where're you?'

I stare at it blankly for a beat before focusing back on the directions. The watch on top of the screen tells me it's been about twenty minutes since I've left.

My mobile goes off again and I'm tempted to throw it at the river. Afterward, one more iMessage pops up.

'Eleanor! Where are you?!'

I shake my head and continue walking. Another buzz for a new text notification.

'Answer me!'

I can almost picture him in my mind, looking angry and frustrated, being the control freak he is. Can't stand not knowing what's happening or what others around him are up to.

'Have you left??'

I huff.

For a moment I consider switching off my phone or putting it on airplane mode, but then I'll risk getting lost, and that's the last thing I need for tonight.

The vibration starts anew, but this time Arianna's caller ID appears.

I ponder answering, my thumb hovers over the answer bar for a second before I decide against it.

Again Adrien calls and I ignore it.

I move nearer the Red Light District. The streets illuminated by red flashing lights. I keep my focus on the ground, avoiding the windows of the shops. Not able to stop wondering how different this experience would have been, if I was a guy.

I notice a few by-passers lingering gazes on me, and I scurry.

I can't even imagine how difficult it must be for these girls. Or how they stand and pose for hours.

I wonder if they ever feel self-conscious. If they have gotten used to standing only in their lingerie. Or they just detach themselves from their bodies.

My heart clenches, my pace slows as I urge myself to look up.

They have such hard lives.

I puzzle about what brought them to this path. Did someone force them into it? Or an unlucky event that led to being a part of human trafficking. Who knows how broken each of them is and hides it behind a painted face.

The red lights hurt my eyes as I speed up, but it's too late. A man reeking of alcohol, four times bigger than me, stumbles in front of me, making me halt.

My heart's rate picks up as he slurs something incomprehensible. As if being glued to the spot in that instant, my legs ignore my brain's shout at them to move. My entire body trembles. Everything converts into a slow-motion video, but nothing processes in my head. His rough palm grips my arm, slurring nonsense words, pulling me towards himself. I lose the ability of blinking and breathing.

Please don't rape me.

I think I'm passing out.

The guy's other hand raises and I embrace myself for the worst, but it never comes.

I blink, trying to clear my mind and understand what's happening. My gaze lands on his wrist, still held high, familiar fingers wrapped around it.

I look at my side, my eyes widening further as I take in Adrien's flushed face. His chest rising and falling rapidly.

As much as I hate to admit it, relief washes through me as the engines in my brain begin to turn and comprehend with higher speed.

Adrien throws the man's hand aside and places himself in front of me. Even though he looks half of the guy's size, he pushes the man away and, to my amazement, he stumbles a step back.

He yells and launches himself at Adrien, everything turning into a blur of commotion. When I'm able to make sense of my surroundings, Adrien punches him with a surprising amount of force. The drunk loses his balance and hits the ground.

Adrien turns, his green-blue eyes ablaze. He appears similar to a horror movie antagonist seconds before going for the kill, with his jaw set, the red lights flashing on his features. His eyebrow arches, as one of his hands finds and grasps mine. His Adam's apple bobs. Not for a second, his stare breaks away from me.

After what seems like forever, he snaps out of it and walks, dragging me with him.

"The fuck are you doing here?" he asks in an icy rage, watching ahead.

Ashamed, I scan our surroundings. I should have taken the long way.

"Why the hell didn't you answer my calls?" he questions.

I'm starting to feel he's a ticking bomb, and any moment he'll blow up. Not that I blame him.

"Why the fuck did you leave the house?" he barks. Daring myself, I glance up, meeting his death glare.

I chew my bottom lip, struggling to put the right words together. He just saved me from whatever that it was going to happen to me. I can't tell him the truth. Therefore, the cracks in the pavement are more interesting.

"I'm getting a cab and we'll to talk about it tomorrow morning," he states.

I study him. For all these years I've known him, never had I seen him in this state. Plain fury is smeared over his face, making me wonder if this is the first time he has actually gotten mad at me. And the past times were a mock act of his current anger.

+++

(( Can I just say how grateful I am from you for reading up to this point! <3

Movin' on, what do you think about this chapter? Most importantly, what do you think about Adrien? =)) man I love flawed characters XD

Well, next chapter is going to be dramatic, duh.  So stay tuned for it, cause I'll be uploading it probably on 1st September.

Hope you enjoyed it, thanks for reading! ^.^ ))