IMPORTANT AUTHORS NOTE AT THE END

Chapter 27

“Yes mom?” I questioned my mother as she sat on the edge of my bed. She crossed her legs quickly before turning to look at me.

“Your father and I are leaving again.” She informed me with a sigh. I slowly placed my hand under my leg while sighing loudly. I may have over exaggerated a bit.

“What?” I asked, feigning shock. I knew it was coming, I just didn’t know when.

“Later on tonight, we already purchased the plane tickets earlier today. We’re going to be gone for another week or two.” She told me and I nodded my head, giving her a sad look.

“Will Aunt Cherry be flying in?” I asked and she nodded, running a hand through her short brown hair.

“Yes, but not for another week, you’ll manage, right?” She asked me and I nodded my head. “I have a few rules, young lady. Since your latest rebellion, we need to set a few boundaries. I know about you and that handsome young boy next door. You are not to go over there unsupervised and he is not to come over here unsupervised. I expect you to follow whatever rules Aunt Cherry makes. You also need to go grocery shopping; I wasn’t able to do so I expect you to do it.” She explained.

Did my mother think that low of me? She thinks I’d sleep with Adrian? Or do anything for that matter? A few streaks in my hair and I’m the next Brielle?

“Mom; I wouldn’t do that! Adrian and I are just friends, okay?” I assured her and she shrugged, standing up and walking over to the door.

“Dinner is in 20 minutes, okay? I’m going to go pack.” She told me and I just nodded, running a hand through my hair. I packed away my bucket list before grabbing my empty binder that I’d meant to put to good use. I quickly cut off my bracelets from today and dropped them onto my bed.

Retrieving my scrapbook pages from a folder, I inserted them into the binder. I placed the bracelets into a section and smiled. I retrieved the picture from the Halloween dance and the ones from swimming at Trent’s. I was currently printing the one Adrian took on his phone of us. I also took the pictures of Jessie and I and put them into the binder. I smiled happily.

__

When my parents left, I walked upstairs and climbed into the shower. I decided to watch a few movies until I could fall asleep. Adrian had left and he was wearing his black clothes so I figured he was going to vandalize several properties.

At 12 o’clock, I finally managed to go to sleep. About 20 minutes into my dream, a loud noise that sounded like knocking woke me up. I fell out of my bed, frightened at the abrupt noise. I slowly got up, rubbing my hip. I’d hit it on the way to the floor.

I walked to the window, rubbing my eyes and patting down my hair. I saw Adrian leaning out of his window, dangerously close to mine. Again, scared, I jumped backwards and tripped over my bag, falling to the floor. I heard his laughing as I slowly got up.

“What?” I groaned with eyes half closed. He seemed amused by me as he smiled widely.

“I got it. Fio,” He declared as I gave him a confused look. What was he talking about? “Remember when I told you I was going to give you a nickname?” He asked me and I nodded my head, the memory faint in my brain.

“So you’re going to call me Fio?” I asked him and he nodded.

“Does anyone else call you Fio?” He asked me and I shook my head, ‘no.’ Nobody calls me Fio. “Then it’s Fio.” He told me.

“Anything else?” I asked as he shook his head. “So, let me get this straight? You woke me up at… 1 AM to announce your bright idea to me?” I asked him and he nodded, a large smile on his face. I nodded sleepily.

“Goodnight, Fio.” He said, smirking as I nodded, waving him off and closing my window. He tapped on it again, blowing a kiss as he laughed. I blushed and shut my curtains before heading back to bed in the dark room. Curse Adrian and his stupid looks.

__

I woke up extra early to go and get some coffee, seeing as Adrian made me lose 15 minutes of my precious sleeping time by waking me up to tell me about his amazing nickname for me.

On my way to Dunkin Donuts, I realized that I had Adrian’s jacket sitting in my backseat from when I drove my parents to the airport. I really hope they didn’t see that… or assumed it was one from my father’s old time. I needed to give that back to him.

I was right on time for school and I noticed Adrian’s car sitting in the ‘popular’ part of the driveway. I realized why Adrian was popular, he was handsome and charming. He was somewhat mysterious, too.

“Good morn- what’s that?” Jessie asked as I approached my locker with Adrian’s jacket in my hands. I rolled my eyes as I unlocked my locker and stuffed my coat in there and exchanged my bag for books.

“It’s a jacket.” I told her and she nodded stupidly.

“I’ve noticed that. But it’s of the male fashion. And last time I checked, your father didn’t wear sweaters like this.” She snapped with her hand on her hip and I just shrugged.

“I know, that’s because it’s Adrian’s.” I replied, closing my locker just in time to see Brielle sashaying down the hallway with her friends by her sides. Makeup was caked on her face. Peeta couldn’t even do a good enough job to hide that ugly, never mind a mediocre wannabe makeup artist.

“He let you use his jacket?” She asked me and I nodded, giving her a sigh. She over reacts more than I do. I placed a hand to my forehead. It wasn’t even 8 in the morning and I already felt the headache coming on.

“No, Jessie, I stole it.” I informed her, walking down the hallway with her trailing behind me, questions pouring out of her mouth like Niagara Falls.

“You have yet to tell me about your date yesterday!” She announced as we entered the classroom. A few people’s eyes turned to us and I tossed a glare at Jessie before I made my way to her seat.

“It wasn’t a date.” I hissed at her, placing my English book and notebook on the desk in front of me.

“Yes, it was!” She bickered and I waited until the teacher entered the classroom before responding.

“No, it wasn’t.” I snapped back, turning my full attention to the teacher. I couldn’t wait to give the darned jacket back to Adrian.

__

When lunch came around, I couldn’t take Jessie’s questioning anymore so I stormed to my locker and retrieved the jacket. I realized that I had no clue where Adrian’s locker was so I had only one option- give it to him at lunch.

Instead of giving it to him at our houses, I couldn’t because I had detention until 5 and he had football and baseball practice until 8. I would be shopping for food then and I’m sure he wouldn’t want to talk to me after he had 5 hours of intense sports practice.

“I’ll be right back.” I snapped to Jessie who was shooting questions at me faster than bullets. She nodded, watching as I got up and walked over to Jack’s table, where he was waving his hands around crazily. Adrian was sitting near Jack, making it obvious that he wasn’t listening to a word the blonde boy was saying.

“Adrian.” I announced once I reached the table. Silence settled over the room like frosting on cake, like the makeup on Brielle’s face. Her table was right beside Jack’s and she was glaring daggers into my face. I silently cursed myself. Why would I do this? What would compel me to do this? I’d rather sit through several hours of Jessie’s questioning than be publicly embarrassed.

“Hey Fio.” Adrian smiled, leaning halfway across the table to talk to me. Did he not realize that awkwardness throughout the cafeteria?  

“Uhm, here’s your… sweater.” I stuttered and he smiled at my extended hand before speaking words that made the situation much worse than it was.

“You can keep it.” He replied, his white smile glowing. I felt my face contort into one of confusion while the cheerleaders gasped loudly. What the- did he realize what he was doing?

“No, it’s fine. It’s yours.” I responded, shoving the sweaters back into his face. And just to make things worse, two boys hopped over to the table, their food tray in their hands. They acted as if nothing was wrong.

“Hey, Fiona!” Trent and Logan stated, smiling widely at me as they sat down next to Adrian. Chase was sitting casually, picking at his food. He was listening to this little scene break down.

“Hi Trent, Logan,” I nodded towards the boys before returning my attention to Adrian. “Take the sweater, Adrian.” I told him, holding it in my hand, pleading for him to take it.

“Hey, Adrian, isn’t that your favorite jacket?” Logan asked, nodding at the sweater as he sprayed ketchup onto his fries. Do these boys not have common sense? Don’t they feel the tension?

“Yeah.” Adrian replied, nodding his head as he bit into an apple. As if on cue, people gasped loudly. Is this a reality television show? Because if so, I don’t remember signing up for this!

“See? It’s your favorite jacket, just take it.” I told him, holding it out to him. I would drop it (like its hot) onto the table, but food was in the way; food as in pasta, with pasta sauce, that was messy and would stain.

“It’s okay, you can keep it.” He told me and I grudgingly grunted, shaking my head stubbornly. Why couldn’t he just take the darn sweater?

“Take the darn jacket.” I snapped and he looked amused as he shook his head. I decided that enough was enough and I threw the sweater onto his face before walking back towards the table. I think my work there was done… or not.

The jacket flew above my head and landed in a heap directly in front of me. I let out a cry of frustration as I leaned down to pick it up. An apple skidded to a hall about ten feet away from me and I looked in the direction if came from. Brielle.

I realized that the girls aim was terrible and I couldn’t help but hold in a snort. It escaped when my eyes locked with Adrian’s, who looked like he was ready to collapse into laughter.

“Nice aim; you’re NFL ready.” I barked out, hunching over into laughter. Laughs erupted throughout the cafeteria and I couldn’t help but feel a sudden joy take over myself. Even though I was the target of a flaming (not so much) apple, it felt good to make them laugh.

When I looked up, I quickly clutched the sweater in my hands before turning my gaze to Brielle who was physically fuming. She decided it’d be a good idea to storm over to me in her five inch deathtraps.

“Where were you yesterday?” She snapped at me and I raised an eyebrow at her before pretending to smack my forehead, feigning confusion.

“I was suspended because of your little stunt.” I replied, crossing my arms, the sweater laced throughout them.

“What little stunt?” She pretended to act innocent. I saw right through it and scoffed.

“How you decided to get out of trouble by bursting into tears.” I replied, letting out a tired sigh as I spoke to her like she was a child.

“What were you doing yesterday?” She asked me and I smirked, biting my lip to try and retain my laughter.

“Stuff, Brielle, things.” I quoted The Walking Dead. Adrian snorted loudly at my reference before Brielle’s eyes turned into slits.

“Adrian was absent yesterday, too.” She snapped and my eyebrows rose slightly.

“You would know, wouldn’t you?” I retorted before I could think. Her nostrils flared.

“What are you trying to say?” She replied and I bit my lip from saying something rude.

“You know what I’m trying to say, Brielle.” I stated, blinking a few times before turning and grabbing my books before the bell rang. Sometimes they call me Raven Simone.

__

I was getting recognized as I made my way (downtown) throughout the corridors. When I reached the hall where detention, in house suspension, and the old health class used to be, I was stopped by someone grabbing my forearm.

“Fio?” Adrian asked and I turned to look at him, adjusting my hoodie and his jacket so they weren’t falling off of my shoulder. I raised an eyebrow, glancing at my cell phone.

“Yes, Easton?” I asked him, watching as the clock struck 2:54 AM.

“You have 6 minutes, don’t worry. I just wanted to say… I’m sorry.” He apologized, biting his lip and looking down. I had the sudden urge to kiss him, but instead of I furrowed my eyebrows.

“What? Why are you sorry?” I asked him and he looked up, his gaze smothering.

“For the lunchroom.” He told me and I shrugged.

“If anything, it was my fault. I should’ve waited for a better time to give you your jacket. Jessie was suffocating me with questions. I knew you had football and baseball practice today. Plus, I have detention and I have to go shopping for groceries. I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have approached you when you were with your friends.” I explained and he furrowed his eyebrows.

“You’re my friend, too. Like I stated several times before, and I don’t care about that. Jake was telling his lame story about his grandmother doing a wheelie in her wheelchair,” He informed me, smiling while waving a hand. Relief coursed through me. He furrowed his eyebrows and looked at me, a smug look on his face. “How’d you know I have baseball and football practice? And what was Jessie pestering you about?” He smirked and I slowly backed away, pointing both of my fingers at him before clicking my tongue.

“Would you look at the time? 2:59? Hey, that rhymed! Got to go!” I announced, quickly fleeing and running to the detention room.

__

Detention went terribly, as expected. Some goth girl kept asking to borrow my Sharpie markers and I lied to her, so she asked to borrow my pens and I told her I was using the only one I had and then she got angry and told me to ‘shove it.’

I also was harassed by a few jocks who were teasing me because I wasn’t a ‘regular’ I was proud that I wasn’t because those guys were jerks.

I was hungry and realized that it was already 5:15 PM as I traveled the hallways. I came to the exit near the gym and I realized that I’d get a glimpse at the football practice. I exited through that door, crossing the edge of the field before watching as the guys in their tight black pants were chugging water.

Crap, I came at a water break. Good job, smart one. I noticed one of the players watching me. I awkwardly continued walking. He made his way across the field, jogging over towards me. I would’ve started running away but a drizzle of rain started making its way to the ground. I can’t run in rain, I’d slip and fall, breaking every single bone in my body.

The football player’s number was 1… like pee. When he approached me, he took his helmet off of his head and I looked at him in confusion for a moment. His brown hair was matted to his head as he ran his hand repeatedly throughout it, his blue- green eyes locked with mine as he came to a halt a few feet away from me.

“Hey, creep.” Adrian mocked and I glared at him.

“I’m not a creep.” I snapped, still walking towards the large exit.

“Please, you purposely came out of that exit to see us guys tackling each other in the rain.” He snorted and I rolled my eyes, shaking my head.

“I couldn’t find another exit.” I replied, placing my hands on my hips. It wasn’t that much of a lie.

“Yeah, right; anyway, where are you going?” He asked me, walking beside me.

“I’m going home and then going grocery shopping.” I replied and he nodded his head, looking at me for a moment before staring at the damp ground.

“Which grocery store?” He asked and I shrugged. That was an odd question.

“Not the same one we went to last time, that’s for sure.” I replied, laughing as he smiled at the memory.

“How about I go with you?” He asked me and I furrowed my eyebrows before shaking my head.

“I’m not waiting until 9 o’clock.” I told him and he shook his head, rolling his eyes.

“Baseball practice is cancelled. It’s going to be raining and we can’t play in the rain. We don’t have much protective gear and the new bases they bought are harder; if you hit your arm or leg hard enough, it’ll break.” He responded, swinging his helmet in his hand.

“So what time are you going to be at your house?” I asked him. He thought for a moment.

“Maybe in 45 minutes, can you wait?” He asked me with a childish smile and I nodded, looking down at the ground. I felt my face warm up. Curse you, blush queen.

“Sure.” I replied and he smiled.

“Great, I’ll actually be home in 30 minutes, but I’m going to have to shower.” He told me and I rolled my eyes. Like I needed to know that.

“Well, I’ve got to go.” I told him as we reached the exit. He grabbed my upper arm for a moment, swinging me around.

“Wait a second, put this on.” He told me and I furrowed my eyebrows. He placed the football helmet onto my head and I stared at him through the bars and he smiled at me, awkwardly.

“EASTON!” His coach shouted loudly. Did his voice travel or is he just that loud? I pulled the helmet off of my head before handing it back to Adrian.

“Go before you get in trouble.” I told him and he nodded, waving to me before running off to his coach.

Man, does his butt look good in those pants? Yes, they did.

I smirked as I walked back towards my car, fist pumping as I got into the front seat. I was going shopping again with Adrian. Shouldn’t this be a fun trip? 

__IMPORTANT_
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-istolethecookiez

Just in case you were wonder how Fio was pronounced its: Fee- Oh. Like Leo, but with with an F. F-i-o.