"Elijah? Is that you? I haven't seen you in ages!" Grace gasped dramatically when I slid into our cafe booth. I called it ours because Grace carved a tiny E+G into it on one of our recent dates after I joked that we sat there so much we should claim it as our own. Every time I looked at the teeny letters next to my cup of tea, my heart fluttered.

I scratched the back of my neck sheepishly and looked at the table. "I know. Sorry. I've been busy."

"Busy? With what?"

"Oh... you know... school."

She nodded, obviously unconvinced.

Without thinking, I reached over the sticky table top and put my hands in hers. I felt her stiffen up and her bright eyes widened a bit.

thatwassofuckingcheesyareyouinsaneletgobeforeshecalls999

But before I could yank my hands away and run, she grasped my hands lightly and smiled. Her toothy grin always made me melt, no matter how nervous I was feeling. In the back of my mind, I knew I was still as anxious as ever, but in those moments the butterflies in my stomach fluttered in a way that made me more excited than scared. It didn't really happen often or with too many people, so I was all the more delighted when I felt myself relax in my seat.

"I'm sorry. I know we should spend more time together and I'm all for it."

"I'm just worried about you, baby."

There it was again. The pet name I didn't quite understand. Were we proper dating? Was I just a friend? Probably not, considering we were holding hands and she kissed me that one time.

I knitted my brows together. "Worried?"

"Yeah. Some of your friends aren't very... good for you."

"I'm lost," I admitted, because I was. "My teammates aren't that bad. They just like to take the piss out of me sometimes."

"No, not them."

"Blake is actually pretty protective, if that's what you mean."

"Eli, don't worry about it," she told me before looking away and giving me a dramatic sigh.

I took my hands back and shoved them in the pockets of my trousers, my brows still drawn together. I wasn't sure what to do. She told me not to worry, but she looked like all she wanted was for me to do just that. "Um... please tell me?" I tried, hoping it was what she wanted me to say.

I decided it was, because turned back to me and leaned in close like she was about to tell me a juicy secret. "I'm worried about Adam."

I pulled my head back and scoffed. "Why? He's the nicest person I know." She frowned, and I stuttered out a: "W-well, besides you."

"Listen. I'm not trying to control you... but I've heard some weird things about that guy."

"Oh...?"

She leaned in again. "I heard this from that girl Hannah in my physics class, remember I told you about her?" I nodded, so she continued. "Well, she said that he's sort of... angry. She said that she saw him beat up a kid last year just because he was a year eight and then he got suspended."

My muscles tensed up and I clenched my jaw so it wouldn't fall open. "You're joking," I said through gritted teeth.

She shook her head sadly, even though she hadn't even met him. "She also said her and all of her friends have seen him just... snap. He'll freak out and hurt people whenever he wants and... I just want you safe, baby."

safe. I need to be safe. I like safe

I nodded, my eyes darting around the cafe as I thought back to every interaction I'd had with him. He seemed like such a calm, easygoing guy. I'd never expect Adam— the Adam that rushed to help me when I was pissed, or the Adam that trained me to ask Grace out— to hurt anyone, let alone injure an innocent kid. But then I thought about his knuckles were bruised a deep, ugly purple that time he held my hands.

"I'll cut him off."

"You don't need to-"

"It's safer that way," I assured the both of us.

<><><>

Yikes. What's Adams deal? Any predictions?

This is part 1 to a double update! Yay!

Thanks for reading and please comment and vote! I really appreciate all the love and support everyone has given this story. It means a lot <3

~Teddy