Hey guys! Sorry about the delay! Me + heat = nothing gets done. >.< So sorry that it's late.

This song has been in my head the whole time I've been writing it, so... I hope you like it. =)

Next chapter is a big one! =D

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Adrianna stood near the window of the Starbucks, eagerly awaiting Tom's arrival. She had been standing by the door since she had gotten off the phone with him. There was no doubt about it; she was excited knowing she was only minutes away from her sanity being granted. When she saw his vehicle pull into the parking lot, she rushed outside. The second he was out of his car, Adrianna was jumping into his arms. The two stood there in an embrace for several moments until Adrianna heard what sounded like a camera's shutter shutting. She heard Tom sigh before pulling her inside the Starbucks.

"Paparazzi just can't catch a hint can they," he muttered, as they sat back down at the table with the rest of their friends.

Adrianna peaked around Tom to see out the tinted window. "Obviously not. They haven't been able to snap pictures of us in nearly two weeks. They're getting anxious."

Tom shook his head, placing his arm on the back of her chair as the rest of the group noticed he was finally back. "Ah well. So where's this guy who's been annoying you the past few days?"

Adrianna shrugged. "Hell if I know. I've been avoiding him since the night he called me. He's been trying to come over, and I just keep staying at your house or just out. Figure if he doesn't know where I am, he can't bug me."

"Good idea," Tom answered. "Though I'm sure eventually we'll have to deal with him."

Adrianna stared down at her now empty plastic cup. She hadn't realized she had finished her frappuccino. She noticed that she was not alone in the matter; her friends had all finished too. "Shall we head back home?"

"Probably be a good idea," Sam answered. "Where are we heading?"

"Well I think I'm going to run back to my place for a little bit," Tom admitted. "Got to drop my stuff off and what not. You're all free to follow if you want. Maybe we'll cook out or something?"

Everyone chorused in agreement. "Then what are we waiting for?" Rupert answered. "Let's go!"

On that note, all eight of them made their way back outside to the vehicles and soon were back at Tom's home after a brief stop at the store to pick up some food worth cooking. Once they had started cooking, or rather once Sam had started, Tom was able to pull Adrianna away from the group to spend some time alone. The couple sat down by the pond towards the back of his yard.

"I wasn't expecting you to be home today," Adrianna said quietly. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

"I wanted to surprise you," Tom admitted. "Besides, I can't have you here alone when your ex is bent on creating chaos."

Adrianna dipped her feet in the pond, scaring one of the goldfish in the process. "Yea, tell me about it. He's really going crazy. I don't know why he can't take a hint. I mean... I don't think I can make it any clearer than I did. He just keeps calling me."

"Did you tell him to stop?" Tom asked.

"Yea, I did," Adrianna answered. "He's starting to piss me off. Like seriously."

Tom pushed his hair back before answering, "So he's just being stupid now?"

Adrianna kicked at the water. "Pretty much! I don't know what else I can do without getting the police involved. Had we been at home, I would not hesitate in killing him. The cops in Detroit don't really seem to notice murders now. Surely they wouldn't notice him missing..."

Tom gave her a stern look. "We won't have to worry about the police. Next time he calls you, I'll take care of it, okay? I don't care if that means I'm not going to be able to leave your side for the next few days. I'm not going to let anything happen."

Adrianna smiled up at him. Tom always knew how to make her feel better. Admittedly, she was not used to having someone like him. She was so used to jerky guys it was unreal. Tom, however, was a much needed breath of fresh air. Adrianna was so glad she could call him hers; she only hoped she never had to live without him again. "Thanks sweetie. It means a lot to me..."

He placed his arm around her waist pulling her close to him. "Just don't let it bug you. This issue will resolve itself before you know it."

Tom was always so laidback, so carefree. Adrianna wondered how he managed to be like that all the time. In situations like this one, Adrianna had never been able to remain calm. She was usually the first one to stress out, the first one to jump to conclusions. She was trying her hardest not to freak out. Now that Tom was home, everything was going to be okay. She rested her head on his shoulder. Relaxing was the best thing for her right now. She closed her eyes, trying her hardest not to doze off as Tom began to run his fingers through her hair. He truly was one of the best things that had happened to her.

Hadn't Adrianna been hungry and ready for dinner, she probably would've allowed herself to fall asleep there in his arms. For the first time in several days, she was able to relax completely. For once, her mind wasn't focusing on all the junk that was going on; it was just thinking about how happy she was to have Tom home. Adrianna was the happiest girl on the planet right now, whether anyone realized it or not.

"Tom," she said quietly, "I'm really glad you came home."

He kissed the top of her head. "I'm glad I did too. California was terribly boring, especially without you and the guys there with me. Sucks going by yourself, you know?"

Adrianna nodded, moving her head from his shoulder. "Which reminds me... the other day I was thinking... and I wanted to bring an idea I had up to you."

"Well what is it?" he raised an eyebrow. It wasn't often Adrianna randomly brought up an idea out of the blue. It must've been important.

"I was thinking about my family, and a trip we always take the last full week of July... and I was wondering if you would be interested in going," she explained. "We go camping for a week up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and it's been a while since-"

Tom put a finger to her lips, causing her to stop talking. "Say no more. Just give me the dates and we'll go." He smiled. "Besides, I still need to meet your family anyhow, and I have never been there, so it sounds like we could kill two birds with one stone."

Adrianna clapped her hands together excitedly. She was definitely going to have to call her mom later and ask about the dates, arrangements, and so on. "Perhaps we could make this a group trip? Invite the guys and girls with us? Val's the only one who's been up there, so I mean... I'm sure Rupert and Matt would love it up there, and of course Marisa."

"Well why not? The more the merrier!" Tom exclaimed, a huge smile on his face.

Before Adrianna could speak again, she was interrupted by Valarie shouting, "Get up here love birds before we eat without you!"

Adrianna and Tom both began laughing; they knew their friends' eating habits. Surely if they didn't get some food now there wouldn't be any left for them later. The couple stood, hand-in-hand, and headed up towards the deck where everyone else was already digging into the food Sam had prepared. If there was one thing Adrianna knew, it was that Sam's cooking made everything better. She remembered the days when she was younger and Sam would wake up early and make her and Val breakfast unexpectedly. Something's never changed...

As Adrianna began to cover her plate in all sorts of food, Sam announced to everyone, "If you don't eat these, I'm going to be pissed."

Everyone giggled and Adrianna was sure her night was going to be on the up. At least until she felt her phone go off...