After Tom admitted to having feelings for Ada:

When Ada killed the engine of her car next to her fathers truck and saw that her mothers car wasn't there, she noticed only a single light on in the living room. But when she went in, she noticed it wasn't her father waiting up for her or her mom, but her mom waiting up for her or her father.

"Busy night?" Her mother asked before taking a sip of what she assumed was tea based on the tag that dangled from the cup.

"Not really," Ada admitted before she dropped her purse in the doorway and joined her mom on the couch. "Where's dad?"

"Tom called for a ride. I guess he took a drive and ended up all the way in Whittenburg when his car broke down. That's going to be one hefty ass tow bill in the morning."

"Why didn't he take his truck?"

"He didn't?" Her mom asked, lifting herself off the couch enough to spot the truck outside. "Asshole took my car. You know, someday he's going to admit that he likes driving that thing." She shook her head and lowered herself back down on the cushion. "So what took you so long? You should have been home a while ago."

Ada ran her fingers through her hair and let out a small sigh. This wasn't something a girl should talk to a parent about, at least not with this particular situation, but Ada needed someone to talk to and Britt had been quiet enough where Ada more than got the hint.

"Can I talk to you about something without you telling dad?"

Her mom leaned against the cushion and the armrest, getting comfortable. "Is this about Tom? Please don't tell me you proposed to him. Men don't like that when you aren't dating them. They think it's creepy."

Ada looked down at her lap, uncertain of how to proceed.

"Oh, honey, please tell me you didn't propose to Tom."

"I didn't propose to Tom," Ada answered quickly. "But you know how I sort of told him I had a thing for him the other day."

Her mom nodded. "Yeah?"

Ada tucked her hair behind her ear, the words failing to come to her.

"If that asshole broke your heart, I'll break his fucking knee cap."

"He didn't break my heart, mom. I think he admitted to having feelings for me tonight."

"I'm gonna break that asshole's fucking knee cap!"

"Mom, please."

"What do you mean you think he admitted to having feelings for you?"

"I mean I kind of asked him how he felt about me and he sort of answered." Ada scrunched her nose and looked off into the distance, replaying it yet again in her mind in the hopes of finding a definitive answer where there wasn't one to be found.

"As deep as that conversation sounds, are you sure you aren't reading into it? Seeing what you want to see?"

"No, I'm not sure," Ada admitted. "But the way he said it... I dunno. It was like he was disappointed in himself or something, like he was scared to say it out loud. And then he just left and apparently took a road trip."

Her mom shook her head. "Well, considering he knows your dad would kill the crap out of him if he started dating you, I don't think he'd call him to pick him up after his car broke down."

"Well, the way we left things I don't think he'd call me and I don't think he has anyone else."

Headlights appeared through the window and Ada realized her father had returned home. At moved her attention back to her mother. "You can't tell dad. Please. Even if it's all in my head. He can't know about this." Desperation could be heard in Ada's voice and could be seen clearly on her face.

"Those are the first words you've said tonight that actually make sense." Her mom waved her hand. "And I'm not telling your dad. We don't even know if there's anything to tell."

"Would you if you did?"

Her mom only shrugged her shoulders as the front door opened and slammed closed. Ada wasn't sure where that left things, but she swallowed hard when her dad walked in the room and began choking on that saliva when Tom followed behind him.

Ada jerked forward and covered her mouth as she began hacking uncontrolably. With each violent intake of air, Ada closed in on comfort; but not before her face turned redder than it usually got around Tom, this time tears streaming down her cheeks. As she neared the end, Ada made sure to wipe her nose on her sleeve to avoid more embarrasement than was absolutely necessary.

"You good?" Her father asked.

Ada could only nod as a trail of smaller coughs continued to escape her, not nearly as intense as the previous ones.

Once she was able to get herself mostly under control, she noticed a very meek looking Tom was practically hugging the doorway, avoiding coming all the way in the room. When she looked over at her mom, she noticed her dissecting him with her eyes as if he were some sort of science project.

After a series of moments filled with uncomfortable silence, her father was the one to finally speak. "I was gonna lend Tom your car for a couple of days 'til his gets fixed."

Her moms eyes remained transfixed on Tom, who was becoming increasingly uncomfortable by it with every second that past.

"Have you ever driven a Subaru, Tom?"

"Not that I can remember. I'm more of a muscle car kind of guy."

Her mother crossed her arms. "Well, a Subaru isn't a muscle car. It isn't a party car that likes to jump into things without a second thought. It's a car that remains loyal to a single owner, not get passed around from person to person. It needs to be taken care of and appreciated.

"Anyone who's ever owned a Subaru knows how precious they are and knows that an owner would do anything to keep their car safe. Do you understand what I mean, Tom?"

Tom looked back and forth between Ada and her mother, seeming to catch on to what her mother's words really meant.

Ada, on the other hand, couldn't bare to look at anyone. 'Mortified' didn't begin to describe how she felt in that moment.

"I think I do," Tom said finally. Ada didn't have to look anymore to know the expression that must have taken over his face.

"I know you must be used to driving cars that are a little faster, but this is a responsible kind of a car that's going to take its sweet ass time, and you need to respect that it has limitations and not push it to go faster than it's used to."

"The thing has a turbo in it," her dad interjected. "I don't think Tom's taking it to the racetrack, but it can handle a little speed."

Ada looked up just enough to see her mothers stare remain on Tom. "Pretend that it doesn't."

"Jesus, Rebecca," her dad chimed in, "It's just a fucking car. You'll have it back in two days."

"It isn't just a fucking car, Jeff, it's my car. And my car is my baby and if Tom doesn't treat it well, I will rain terror down on his ass."

Ada risked a glance at her father, who seemed completely flabbergasted by the turn of events. "Woman, you've gone bat shit crazy."

"I'm sorry if I'm making the room uncomfortable with my love of my car, but Tom needs to understand these things so that he takes care of it properly."

Her dad just shook his head. "Tom, just take my damn truck."

Another several moments of silence past and Ada could hear the crickets outside of the open window, which seemed incredibly fitting for the situation.

It was then that she finally looked toward Tom, who crossed his arms and allowed his eyes to fall on Ada only for a second before returning to her mother.

"No. I want the Subaru."

Her mother didn't miss a beat. "I want you to be absolutely positive before I hand over the keys."

"Truth is I've been curious about Subaru's for a while. I love my Charger, but the damn thing ends up in the shop every other month. I've heard Subaru's are a good, dependable drive. Maybe I'll get one and just use my Charger as a backup or somethin'."

"You sure?"

"That's something I'll need to figure out with the Subaru."

Alternate conversation with her sister about Tom

So she exhaled, remaining calm and composed and filled her soul with that belief. "I love him," Ada Admitted in the last moments of her breath. "That isn't something I can change, and even if it was, I wouldn't. Because even with all the shit that's happening in my life, I still can't remember ever being this happy."

A smile took over Ada as she played every memory she had of her and Tom these last few weeks. Every conversation, every look, every touch that filled her with every beautiful emotion in existence.

Those three words spoken aloud were absolute truth. She loved him as a friend and was falling hopelessly and undeniably in love.

She put her head against the wall and allowed it to sink in for a few silent moments before speaking, because she needed to feel that truth in order for the next to not feel as overwhelming. "This might all blow up in my face and I might get my heart broken. But I'm not going to run from from something this incredible just because it might fail. What I feel when I'm with him, I need that in my life for as long as I can have it. And fuck it all, I need him."

Her sister's gaze studied Ada, looking for some sign of bullshit where there was no bullshit to be found. Then her gaze dropped to the floor. "Love, huh?"

"I guess so."

Her sister let out a huff, allowing Ada's truth to sink into her as well. "Does he feel the same?"

"I don't know," Ada spoke quietly with a small shrug. "I don't know. But even if he doesn't-"

Ada's words stopped when she heard a creek in the stairway. Within moments, Tom appeared from the corner and it was very clear by the look on his face that he overheard her confession.

Ada shook her head and leaned against the wall, a small laugh escaping from her lips. "Your ability to magically appear every time I talk about you is incredibly impressive."

Tom shoved his hands into the pockets of his damp jeans and began walking toward her at an incredibly slow pace. "Guess you're not the only one who's fucking magical," Tom said with a slight smile.

It took a few moments for Ada to remember what that was in referrence to, then remembered the night of her fireside confession when she called herself 'fucking magical' after she wasn't sure what else to say.

After Ada continued to remain silent, Tom continued. "I thought you said you didn't need me."

"I don't need you to be strong or to get through things," Ada said finally, her voice so much smaller than she intended. "But I do need you in so many other ways that I can't explain."

Hearing him walk toward her, Ada risked looking at him to see him looking right back at her with a kindness in her eyes she, for some reason, did not expect. She knew he wouldn't give her grief about it, but she expected some sort of nervousness to be visible.

Yet he looked relaxed.

"I didn't freak you out," Ada noted aloud.

Tom gave her a small smile and shook his head and took another step toward her. "No. You didn't freak me out. A guy likes feeling needed."

"I meant with that other thing." Ada dipped her chin toward her chest when she spoke the words, two afraid to look in his eyes.

"What other thing?"

For a moment she felt relief, thinking that he may have missed that part of the conversation. But realization kicked in and she knew he couldn't have possibly missed that part. That, and his voice going an octave or two higher proved he was toying with her.

Normally, she'd accept him teasing her. But her confession was anything but normally considering he hadn't even yet taken her out on a date. "Tom-"

"You didn't freak me out, Ada," Tom said, cutting her off. He walked over to her, closing the distance between them, and placed his hand on her cheek. 

Monday After The Kiss:

"Why are you driving your mom's car? What happened to yours?" Britt asked as Ada locked her mom's car behind her.

The memory made Ada cringe. Saturday seemed like a lifetime ago, considering everything that had happened since. It seemed like everytime Britt left town for the weekend, she missed some major event in Ada's life.

"It's in the shop," Ada said simply, not really wanting to get into why.

Britt linked their arms together and looked around to see if prying ears or taunting eyes were on them. But it appeared their classmates were in the 'final week bliss' and Britt and Ada were last weeks news and weren't nearly as exciting to talk about as summer plans.

"So," Britt said once she was sure no one was close enough to overhear, "how's that loverboy of yours."

It was tempting to not even tell her about some of it, but Ada couldn't reveal the happy parts without revealing it all. So she sucked in a long breath and released it in preparation. "Tom broke it off with me on Saturday."

Britt jumped in front of Ada and screeched to a halt, a gasp escaping from her lips. "I'm sorry, he what? Why?"

"He didn't tell me at first. I didn't find out why until last night."

"I'm going to kick his ass," Britt said before seeming to notice Ada's calm demeanor. "Something tells me I'm going to need you to start from the beginning."

Ada remembered how Britt had compared her life to a bad soap opera. "Well, here's what you missed on 'The Young and The Stupid'. Tom got a visit from an old friend, who got in his head after finding out about Tom's relationship with a certain barista who works across the street from his apartment. Thinking that their relationship would cause trouble in her family, Tom called it off, but didn't tell her why. Ada and Tom fought, which caused Ada to leave his house in tears, and lost control of her car. When she got home, she confided in her mom about how she'd fallen for Tom and admitted they'd kissed the night before. Then she told her mom about how Tom had just broken her heart. When her dad overheard from upstairs, he went over to Tom's. She still doesn't know everything they talked about, but her dad told Tom that he would have to ask for his permission after graduation if he wanted to date Ada. Tom went over to Ada's house late Sunday night to apologize for messing up. The two made up and fell asleep next to each other. And that's what you missed on 'The Young and the Stupid'."

Britt's mouth fell open, then quickly closed before she started looking in the air as if she was rereading everything Ada had just said.

"Oh," Ada added, and Ada's sister came home and found out about their mom and was also the one who answered the door when Tom came over, a situation she was never told anything about and a conversation that Ada is not looking forward to having in the next episode."

"I think you're going to have to say all of that slower, because I heard things in there that couldn't possibly be true."

It didn't take a genius to figure out which part that was, the part that still baffled Ada. "My dad knowing about Tom and letting him live."

"So that actually happened?"

Ada nodded. "He's still alive. I'm pretty sure he's got some mental and possibly physical torture planned for him though. I guess he's already told Tom that he's going to kick him in the balls when he asks to date me."

"I mean, seems only fair. So, your parents know and they're okay with it?"

Ada linked her arm with Britt's as they were before and continued walking. "My dad and I talked Sunday morning and he's definitely not thrilled, but he also knows that if it wasn't for the age difference and how we know each other, we'd be great together. My mom seems a little weird about it, which surprised me.

Alternate Quitting Confession:

 The students of Kennedy High had taken over the coffee shop that day after school. There were tears, reminiscing and yearbooks getting past around constantly. Suddenly everyone was sentimental, even for the people they hadn't given two shits about the week before, including Brianna (Now Rayna).

Ada couldn't help but hope that for some of them, their best years were about to be behind them. They had no idea the sort of damage they'd done to people's psyches or lives. In their minds, they were perfect, maybe even a bit misunderstood. They saw themselves the way their families and friends saw them rather through the eyes of the people they'd spent the last four year's reining emotional terror on.

It pissed Ada off that they'd chosen her sanctuary to congregate. They used to come here all the time under the guise of friendship, mostly to get discounts or free drinks. But she was never their friend. She was Britt's friend who they'd kept in the background.

Now they were paying full price and it was the only 'fuck you' Ada could send their way while keeping her job.

Ada dropped off their drinks and watched as they got all blubbery about photos half of them were probably too drunk or stoned to remember taking.

'Do you guys remember' would be the motto of the final week of school and it was already like nails on a chalkboard to Ada.

"God," Britt said before dropping herself into a vacant table Ada was bussing. "I feel like I haven't seen you all damn day. Have you seen the article?"

Ada kept wiping it off. "Tom looked crazy busy all day, so I did not. Are you going to tell me what it says?"

Britt grinned up at her and shook her head. "Nope."

Even though Ada was already fairly certain that would be Britt's reply, she still shot her a lazy glare.

Not knowing what the article said bugged the crap out of her all day. As Editor-In-Chief, she was used to knowing everything that went into each paper. But her name was no where on this edition, the final edition of her high school career. The more she thought about it, the more saddened she became.

Still, she was happy that Britt showed her full potential at the end.

They'd seen each other, but never for long enough to talk about anything.

"This is bullshit," Britt said, breaking Ada from her thoughts. Britt's eyes were fully focused on the table that held Brianna and the rest of her former friends. "They haven't been here in weeks, now they're all back to relive their glory days. Twatty bitches."

Ada swallowed her spit and covered her mouth to muffle the sound of a hacking fit that seemed to never end. "Jesus, Britt."

Britt only shrugged before her gaze shifted from Ada to the door and Ada turned around to see a gorgeous looking, soon-to-be English teacher of hers.

He'd left his ascot hat and glasses at home. There was a few days worth of a stubble on his face, which for some reason made Ada melt. His black button up shirt with rolled up sleeves fit him like it was hand tailored to accentuate every part of him and his dark jeans hugged every aspect of the lower part of his body. He had that look of perfection without trying tonight.

"Is it weird that I'm starting to get a hard on for the guy?" Britt questioned quietly.

By the looks on her former friends faces, she could see they thought the same. There was something about Tom that demanded attention and brought out desire. In the past, most of the people had only seen him as the quiet and gentle English teacher who'd been their mentor and confidant the last four years. The man who wore clothing one size too large and never wanted to be noticed.

But this wasn't 'Tom the teacher', this was 'Tom the man', and an incredibly attractive one at that.

"It's weird that you've grown a dick," Ada said finally as her gaze followed Tom as he walked past and gave her a smile. "Not so weird that it's hard right now."

She was pretty sure every straight woman and gay man in the room had turned to see Tom's ass walk past.

Ada shook herself out of the Bennet Trance and went behind the counter to make Britt's frappuccino and Tom's peppermint mocha. Ada barely glanced at Britt as she set her drink on the table before going over to Tom's table in the back to give him his.

Tom liked this table because it was secluded from the others. Still, Ada kept her voice quiet, not wanting to risk anyone overhearing. "So, why are you all dolled up tonight?"

"Dolled up?" Tom questioned with narrowed eyes.

"You know you look hot tonight."

Tom grinned bashfully then as he turned his mocha around and around between his hands. "I was going for a casual confidence."

"So, who's it for, me or the wife?" Ada hoped that it didn't come off sounding catty, as she didn't mean it that way.

Tom's smile faded a bit and he looked over at the chair across from him. "Sit down."

Something was wrong. She could feel it. He wouldn't have told her to sit down in a room full of people who would immediately start talking about it unless something was wrong.

Slowly, Ada sat. "Please don't tell me you're going on a date tonight."

Tom's eyes narrowed on her and his brows pinched together. "What? No."

Ada let out a sigh of relief. She wasn't sure why she thought that was a possibility, but Tom didn't normally allow himself to look this good in public, not in a room full of his students.

"I turned in my resignation today," he said quietly.

"I'm sorry. You what?"

For a second, time seemed to freeze. Ada blinked several times, thinking for a moment she heard him wrong. But by the look on his face, she heard everything exactly right.

Tom sucked in a breath and leaned back. "On the drive to school I was thinking about what I said to your dad this morning about fucking with my employment and then I get there, and..." he paused for a moment, looking lost, "and then I realized I didn't care."

"But you love teaching."

"If I stay there, I won't love it anymore. And that's not what I want." There was sadness in his voice then, one she just could not deny or ignore.

"So you quit?"

Tom nodded.

"Just like that?"

"Just like that," Tom answered quietly. "I fell for a student, Ada. It wouldn't be right for me to keep working there."

"So you quit because of me?"

"I quit because of my feelings for you, not because you share those feelings. But I do intend on dating you, which will most definitely cause suspicion with the school board and there's a good chance that will lead to my termination. But my main reason is that I haven't been happy there for a while. Sometimes I've been damn miserable. I didn't work there because of the paycheck, I worked there because I enjoyed it and I don't enjoy it anymore."

"And you got dressed up to celebrate?"

"It was actually a pretty incredible coincidence. I have a friend who works at the tech college in Edison. I talked to him last week and he called me up a couple of hours ago and said that one of their teachers is leaving for a job at a university and that one of the members of the board would be passing through town on his way to a conference and would stop to meet with me if I wanted."

"So you have a job interview?"

"More like a job inquiry," Tom corrected. "He knows about the rumor and that I was cleared. It would only be a few classes a couple of times a week to start with. If he likes me, he'll arrange for a formal interview and then fingers crossed."

Ada remained quiet, letting it all sink in.

He would no longer be a teacher at Kennedy High School. It was such an odd notion that made Ada feel surprisingly sad. But by the sound of Tom's voice, this was a choice he needed to make.

"You okay?" Tom asked after she remained quiet for too long.

"Just in shock, I guess. But if it's what you need to do-"

"It is."

Ada nodded. "Okay."

The door chimed and Ada turned around to see a man in black slacks and a white button up shirt. He looked to be in his fifties, with salt and pepper hair, and glasses. As the man began to look around, Ada stood. "I'm going to go ahead and guess that's your guy."

"Fair assumption." Tom stood as well and locked eyes with the man, who gave a short wave before coming over.

He looked pleasant enough, not that you could really tell someone's personality in a few short moments. Still, he had a warm smile and didn't appear to be put off by having to make the extra stop. "I take it you're Tom Bennet, Adam's friend."

"I am. And you're Richard Lawson."

"Guilty," he said in a light tone before sitting down.

The man accepted Tom's hand with a small smile. "Adam speaks very highly of you."

"What can I get you to drink, sir," Ada spoke up after a few seconds of silence had past between the two. "Whatever you want, on the house."

The man's small smile grew a bit. "How kind of you. I'll just take a tea, if you don't mind. It's getting a bit late for coffee."

An entire business full of people could have argued against that statement. "Coming right up."

Ada filled a small carafe with hot water and placed it on a round tray, along with a wedge of lemon, a small bowl of sugars and a small porcelain jug of milk. After placing the box of tea options on the tray, Ada went back to the table and set it all down in silence as the two men spoke.

"Thank you, miss," he said as he broke the conversation to look up at her.

"You are very welcome. Did you need anything else, Mr. B?"

Tom gave her a warm smile. "I'm good. Thanks, Ada."

She returned his smile before leaving the table and going back to her post behind the counter. She kept busy with customers, but her eyes kept moving back to Tom as he appeared to charm the man across from him.

She wasn't the only one who was curious. Ada caught other students watching him, but wasn't sure if it was because of his attractive appearence or curiousity about the man he was talking to. But there were many eyes falling on Tom throughout his conversation and Ada noticed he was very much concious of it as his stare would occasionally leave the man across from him to catch everyone in the act.

Ada kept herself busy at the register and bussing tables. Britt tried getting her attention a few times, but Ada just shook her head. She knew Britt wanted to know about the mystery man, as Tom always sat alone. But Ada wasn't about to divulge what she knew without Tom's permission.

"I can't believe your dad didn't kill him," Crystal said as she appeared by Ada's side. "Even I'm tempted to do it myself."

"Please don't."

Crystal didn't know Tom very well. She knew him as a customer and as Ada's teacher, but not really as a person. So it didn't surprise Ada that Crystal was less than accepting about the relationship. Being Ada's godmother, she'd be surprised if Crystal wasn't at least a little pissed off about the whole thing.

"You sure you want to do this thing?" Crystal pushed as she pulled up her short hair. "It isn't too late to turn back, you know."

"We aren't getting married, Crystal," Ada said with a smile. "We're just going to date. And yes, I'm very sure."

Crystal just shook her head and turned away to begin cleaning glasses. "I don't like it."

"You don't have to," Ada calmly reminded her. "You just have to accept it."

Crystal snorted. "Not sure if I can do that either."

"Well tough shit," Ada said with a shrug, "because it's happening either way."

The bell rang and Ada perked her head up to smile at the new customer. But her smile faded when she saw the gorgeous woman who opened the door.