Chapter One
Summer had yet to start but if one looked at the calendar, it had started for Rowington High seniors nearly two months ago on May 25th at 5 pm. But Adrien was still waiting for it to start, still waiting for the excitement and promise he felt at Prom, at graduation, and at senior week, before he had fallen asleep on the beach for two hours. Somehow, he had lost that feeling when he slowly made his way back up to the room, his back, calves, and arms aching and feeling as if on fire. He had laid in bed at the hotel room for the last day of their trip, his friends alternately applying the Aloe Vera and partying their last night of freedom, at least until college, away. He had left it somewhere on the beach and he knew there was no hope in going down to look for it. He'd have to simply recreate the feeling later on.
It shouldn't have been hard, the fallowing week hanging out with friends, going to the movies, and sleeping over at friend's houses so that his parents didn't know how drunk he got. It should have been easy to feel that excitement while driving down Rt. 29 towards Columbia, speeding at 90 when it was a 55 mph zone, with the windows rolled down and music of the summer blaring. He should have felt that ecstasy of the wind in his shaggy, choppy brown hair. He should have felt that happiness from laughing as he and his friends sang horribly at the top of their lungs to Avril Lavigne's latest hit "Girlfriend". He should have been overly obsessed with the idea of not only the fifth Harry Potter movie but also with the idea of the seventh and final book being released only a week after each other. He should have felt something, but he didn't. He didn't feel anything.
He hadn't since the beginning of summer. He was beginning to wonder if he ever would.
Every morning, Adrien woke up at 6:55, went downstairs, ate a chewy bar, and sat down at his computer. He stayed on the computer until 7:40 at which he got up, went up stairs, changed, brushed his teeth and washed his face with Neutrogena’s Deep Cleansing Wash. And at 7:50, he grabbed his messenger bag, the current Harry Potter book he was reading, and a bottle of water before getting into his car and driving to his cousin's house. From 8:15 to 2:30, he watched his cousin, Daniel who was eight and hated to lose.
Daniel has been born about two months shy of the delivery date, being the miracle of the Black family. He was born, a bit underdeveloped and very small. At eight years old, he looked perfectly normal with jet-black straight hair and small smile except for his odd, oversized knobby knees. And his father worshiped the ground which he tip toed on. Daniel had one older brother, Derek who stood taller than Adrien at 6' to Adrien's 5'9" only being 15 years in age to Adrien's 17. At least until September, Adrien would be 18 then. Derek attended summer school even though he didn't need to until one o'clock in the afternoon at which he would come home and immediately go upstairs and into the bathroom where he stayed for a good half hour if not longer. Adrien suspected that his cousin had finally realized the wonder that were girls.
From 8:15 in the morning til 9, Adrien would sit and listen to Daniel talk about the game he was currently playing while mpt played on the T.V. in the background. At 9:05, Daniel would then head downstairs to play said game while Adrien slept on the couch until 12 at which he would wake up, get Daniel and himself some lunch and watch whatever movie Daniel put in until he tired of it and pulled out a game. Unfortunately for Daniel, he lost most of the time. Usually at this time, his aunt came home and Adrien was able to escape the pout on Daniel's face and drive back home, one hand on the steering wheel, the other hanging limply in his lap as he eyes shifted dully, checking his rear and side view mirrors.
Around 3 Adrien arrived home. Sometimes his friend Xander or Eileen called him and they would hang out for the rest of the night at Xander's house, Adrien later driving Eileen home before going home himself. Other times he stayed at home, watched T.V, played on the computer or on his Play Station 2. Either way, it all ended in the same place. At 11 pm, Adrien climbed the stairs, brushed his teeth, shed the day's clothes and went to bed. The cycle began again and that was how much of his last summer before college went. Until one day, in the middle of July.
It had started out innocent enough, a Saturday, meaning he could sleep in and cling to the soft pillows and inhale the scent of his own body, smoke, beer, and something muskier. He could open his eyes look at his clock and turn over to fall back to sleep if the time was unsatisfactory. He could sink back into the bliss that was sleep, desperately trying to recreate the dream he had been having before his internal alarm had woken him. He could lie there for hours on end until finally someone came up and prodded him out of bed. And sure enough, that's what he had planned to do.
However things rarely went as Adrien planned and soon enough he was tossing and turning in his bed, limbs sprawled, desperately trying to find that perfect spot where he could be comfortable and slip into a heavy, pleasant sleep. But needless to say the tossing and turning continued and gave way to a sore, tired, unsatisfied feeling that settled like lead in his stomach. He groaned, yawned, stretched, and scratched at the stubble of his chin before kicking the covers off of him and starring at the ceiling for another twenty minuets of silent anger and annoyance.
He sat up and pulled at the shirt that clung to him like a second skin, cemented with sweat. As he flung the article of clothing into the clothes hamper, he briefly wondered if perhaps it was simply too hot to fall back to sleep but the cool air of the fan across his skin told him that he had slept in hotter weather and been perfectly content. He sighed, closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as another yawn traveled up his throat. He held it back, keeping his mouth closed and instead inhaling deeply through his nose as he pushed himself up off his bed and towards the door. He turned the knob, pulling it open and squinted his eyes at the on coming light, stumbling his way into the bathroom and slamming the door shut behind him.
He emerged a few minuets later, face and hands washed and dried, hair wet and slicked back wit a few stray strands that fell into his face. He shook out his legs and walked down the stairs, turning into the kitchen and immediately heading for the pantry where he pulled out a box of cereal and preceded to pour himself a bowl. Milk and box of cereal put away, Adrien dropped down into a chair at the table, bowl of cereal in hand, and began to eat. A few seconds into his first chew, he felt his mother's lips atop of his head, placing a gentle kiss as she gave a slight squeeze to his shoulders. He gave a closed lip smiled and returned to his cereal, his mind whirling with thoughts about the previous day and his plans for day in front of him. He went down the list in his mind, mentally checking off the things he planed to do and the others he would put off for another day, maybe the next.
His phone vibrated on the table, Adrien reaching over and grabbing it in his large hand, bringing it to his face to read the name there. "Gina," he mumbled, staring at the name in slight shock. His mother turned from her seat at the computer and raised an eyebrow at him.
"She's coming over later, remember? She's helping out over at the theater." Adrien nodded, quickly flipping the phone open and pressing it to his ear where he gave a mumbled "hullo" and preceded to eat his soggy cereal, earning a small, playful glare from his mother who shook her head and turned her attention back to the computer in front of her.
"Adrien, it's Gina." Adrien gave a muffled "I know" before shoving another spoonful into his mouth and chewing. He heard her groan and could almost see her shaking her shoulder length brown hair, her eyes closed, lips pursed in annoyance. "I need a favor. Ms. Frankie just called; she needs someone to go open the theater for her. She called me last night and I, being the idiot I am, agreed. Then when I woke up this morning, I realized I couldn't because I have work. I'm actually on my break right now." Adrien nodded though he knew she couldn't see him and swallowed the food in his mouth.
"Right then. What time do I gotta open up?" he asked agreeably, pushing his unfinished bowl of cereal away and standing up to stretch.
"10:30," she stated as Adrien glanced up at the clock before hitting his fist down on the table in annoyance, causing the table to shudder, the bowl to shake, and his hand to begin to swell with pain as he cursed loudly, his mother turning yet again from her seat and glaring at him, calling him his full name.
"Damn it Gina, do you realize it's already 10:26?" he growled as he scrambled up the stairs and into his room, grabbing at a shirt and tugging it on while pulling on a pair of shorts while holding the phone to his ear with his shoulder.
"Of course I realize that Adrien, I've been calling you since eight this morning but of course you keep your phone on silent."
"I was sleeping damn it, it's my fucking day off," he growled as he fell backwards on the bed, tangled in his clothes. He pulled the shorts all the way up to rest on his bony hips as he pushed his arm through the sleeve of his t-shirt, which seemed to have shrunk two sizes.
"Will you just get over there? I have to get back to work. Ms. Frankie will be there around eleven. Just start the class. You'll do fine." Adrien who had slipped on his sandals and bounded out his room and down the stairs came to a halt.
"Start what class? Gina, what the hell am I doing?" but before he got an answer, there was a click and a low tone, which told him she had hung up. Cursing loudly again, he grabbed his wallet and keys and headed out the door, calling back to his mother, "Going up to theater, be back soon!" He heard her call his name but by then he had already shut the door and started for his car.
He was two minutes late. He pulled into the parking spot in front of the small children's theater with dangerous speed, slamming on his breaks so that the car wouldn't jump onto the curb and crash into the front of the building. He gave a sheepish grin at the small gathering of parents and children who stood in front of the theater before he stepped out of the car, locking it, and fumbling with his keys as he tried to locate the correct key. After dropping them two times and trying five different keys, he finally opened the front door and swept the staring parents and children into the lobby of the theater.
"Sorry about that. Ms. Frankie got into a bit of an accident and asked me to open up for her," he lied, giving a bright smile as he opened the door that lead to the main room. The parents nodded, buying the excuse but still starred questioningly at the lanky seventeen year old. Adrien looked up at the ceiling as he walked into the room after the students, all who looked to be only four or five.
"Right then kids, take a seat on the edge of the stage please," he stated as he pointed at the stage. The kids rushed at it, climbing on to the top of it and jumping around once they got there. A few parents barked orders to sit while others seemed to slink backwards and out of sight. Adrien gave a strained smile and turned back to the small gathering of parents in front of him, all mothers except of one timid man who stood at the back of the group, his ash brown bangs falling into his eyes which were hidden by thick lensed glasses.
Adrien's smile softened at this, his green eyes meeting the ice blue of the man's for a second before the man's gaze shifted downwards, adverting his eyes from Adrien. Adrien sighed softly and let his eyes settle on the other parents, registering their expressions, some watching the group of children who had quieted and sat down on the stage, their legs swinging back and forth, their heels hitting at the black painted, wooden stage, while others stared at his with disdain, taking in his disheveled appearance with disgust. They did not want to leave their precious children with a teenager who looked so unfit, his shorts hanging dangerously low on his bony hips, his small shirt tight around his torso, ending just passed his navel, showing the body hair that had begun to grow to form what could be called a "happy trail".
Adrien forced a grin and clapped his hands as he looked at the parents in front of him. "I know Ms. Frankie has the parents fill out an emergency contact form so if you have those, I can take them," he stated softy and sure enough the mother's began digging in their purses, a few directing their child to pull out their form from a backpack or lunch box and hand it to Adrien. Soon, forms were being forced into his hands, crumpled and sloppy by what seemed to be unhappy mothers. Adrien knew that he didn't exactly look the part of an upstanding teen on the verge of college but he still didn't think it gave the women in front of him the right to be so uncivil. He gave a slight frown and turned to go put the forms of Frankie's desk in her office but was stopped by a soft voice and a gentle touch on his shoulder.
He turned around and gave a soft smile when he came face to face with the timid father who returned his smile and held out the neatly folded paper with shaky fingers. "Thanks," Adrien murmured with a genuine grin as he took the paper, his calloused fingertips brushing the father's, the father's hand recoiling from the touch quickly. The mothers had begun to murmur, about what Adrien wasn't sure, but sure enough they stopped when the father turned around to take his place at the back of the group. "Right then," Adrien frowned, nodding, as he turned quickly and deposited the forms on Frankie's desk only to return to find the theater in chaos. The mothers had begun to gossip loudly and the children had returned to jumping up and down on the stage.
Adrien gave a soft groan as pressed at his temples, willing the beginnings of a head ache to stop swelling and go away. He sighed, opened his eyes, and plastered another smile onto his lips as stepped to the front of the stage. He clapped his hands twice and began to class, making the kids sit in a circle and introduce themselves as the parents sat in the back of the theater, gossiping softly and watching the kids interact. Adrien glanced at the clock that hung over the door plenty of times but eleven came and passed and soon the class was over. Adrien had quickly used up his arsenal of children appropriate theater games, from Freeze Dance to Shakespeare, that by the time the class was over he had resorted to Duck Duck Goose and trying to explain the workings of Zip Zap Zop.
By twelve, Adrien was more than ready to head home, peel off his clothes and fall into bed with no intention of waking until the next day. Adrien watched the parents and their children leave, noticing that not only had the children bonded in the short amount of time but some of the mothers too. The timid father and his outgoing son were the last to leave, the father gripping his son's hand in his large hand, giving a soft smile, one that reached his eyes. He thanked Adrien softly while the boy crushed Adrien's legs with an excited hug before scampering out the door and into the parking lot, his father trailing closely behind.
Adrien watched the father help his son into his car seat before getting into the car and starting up the old green minivan. Adrien waved good-bye and walked into the office to leave Frankie a note, telling her that he expected some sort of compensation for his time spent with overly hyper children and their gossiping mothers. He then turned all the lights off in the theater and locked up before getting in his car. He sat there for a moment, his eyes closed, his head back, and the palm of his hands pressed at his temples as he held his breath. For the strangest reason, Adrien couldn't get those icy blue eyes out of his mind and he wondered briefly what made them so cold.
Finally after a few moments, he shook it off and started his car, pulling out of the parking spot and heading home where his soft warm bed was waiting for him.
End Sample.
Summer had yet to start but if one looked at the calendar, it had started for Rowington High seniors nearly two months ago on May 25th at 5 pm. But Adrien was still waiting for it to start, still waiting for the excitement and promise he felt at Prom, at graduation, and at senior week, before he had fallen asleep on the beach for two hours. Somehow, he had lost that feeling when he slowly made his way back up to the room, his back, calves, and arms aching and feeling as if on fire. He had laid in bed at the hotel room for the last day of their trip, his friends alternately applying the Aloe Vera and partying their last night of freedom, at least until college, away. He had left it somewhere on the beach and he knew there was no hope in going down to look for it. He'd have to simply recreate the feeling later on.
It shouldn't have been hard, the fallowing week hanging out with friends, going to the movies, and sleeping over at friend's houses so that his parents didn't know how drunk he got. It should have been easy to feel that excitement while driving down Rt. 29 towards Columbia, speeding at 90 when it was a 55 mph zone, with the windows rolled down and music of the summer blaring. He should have felt that ecstasy of the wind in his shaggy, choppy brown hair. He should have felt that happiness from laughing as he and his friends sang horribly at the top of their lungs to Avril Lavigne's latest hit "Girlfriend". He should have been overly obsessed with the idea of not only the fifth Harry Potter movie but also with the idea of the seventh and final book being released only a week after each other. He should have felt something, but he didn't. He didn't feel anything.
He hadn't since the beginning of summer. He was beginning to wonder if he ever would.
Every morning, Adrien woke up at 6:55, went downstairs, ate a chewy bar, and sat down at his computer. He stayed on the computer until 7:40 at which he got up, went up stairs, changed, brushed his teeth and washed his face with Neutrogena’s Deep Cleansing Wash. And at 7:50, he grabbed his messenger bag, the current Harry Potter book he was reading, and a bottle of water before getting into his car and driving to his cousin's house. From 8:15 to 2:30, he watched his cousin, Daniel who was eight and hated to lose.
Daniel has been born about two months shy of the delivery date, being the miracle of the Black family. He was born, a bit underdeveloped and very small. At eight years old, he looked perfectly normal with jet-black straight hair and small smile except for his odd, oversized knobby knees. And his father worshiped the ground which he tip toed on. Daniel had one older brother, Derek who stood taller than Adrien at 6' to Adrien's 5'9" only being 15 years in age to Adrien's 17. At least until September, Adrien would be 18 then. Derek attended summer school even though he didn't need to until one o'clock in the afternoon at which he would come home and immediately go upstairs and into the bathroom where he stayed for a good half hour if not longer. Adrien suspected that his cousin had finally realized the wonder that were girls.
From 8:15 in the morning til 9, Adrien would sit and listen to Daniel talk about the game he was currently playing while mpt played on the T.V. in the background. At 9:05, Daniel would then head downstairs to play said game while Adrien slept on the couch until 12 at which he would wake up, get Daniel and himself some lunch and watch whatever movie Daniel put in until he tired of it and pulled out a game. Unfortunately for Daniel, he lost most of the time. Usually at this time, his aunt came home and Adrien was able to escape the pout on Daniel's face and drive back home, one hand on the steering wheel, the other hanging limply in his lap as he eyes shifted dully, checking his rear and side view mirrors.
Around 3 Adrien arrived home. Sometimes his friend Xander or Eileen called him and they would hang out for the rest of the night at Xander's house, Adrien later driving Eileen home before going home himself. Other times he stayed at home, watched T.V, played on the computer or on his Play Station 2. Either way, it all ended in the same place. At 11 pm, Adrien climbed the stairs, brushed his teeth, shed the day's clothes and went to bed. The cycle began again and that was how much of his last summer before college went. Until one day, in the middle of July.
It had started out innocent enough, a Saturday, meaning he could sleep in and cling to the soft pillows and inhale the scent of his own body, smoke, beer, and something muskier. He could open his eyes look at his clock and turn over to fall back to sleep if the time was unsatisfactory. He could sink back into the bliss that was sleep, desperately trying to recreate the dream he had been having before his internal alarm had woken him. He could lie there for hours on end until finally someone came up and prodded him out of bed. And sure enough, that's what he had planned to do.
However things rarely went as Adrien planned and soon enough he was tossing and turning in his bed, limbs sprawled, desperately trying to find that perfect spot where he could be comfortable and slip into a heavy, pleasant sleep. But needless to say the tossing and turning continued and gave way to a sore, tired, unsatisfied feeling that settled like lead in his stomach. He groaned, yawned, stretched, and scratched at the stubble of his chin before kicking the covers off of him and starring at the ceiling for another twenty minuets of silent anger and annoyance.
He sat up and pulled at the shirt that clung to him like a second skin, cemented with sweat. As he flung the article of clothing into the clothes hamper, he briefly wondered if perhaps it was simply too hot to fall back to sleep but the cool air of the fan across his skin told him that he had slept in hotter weather and been perfectly content. He sighed, closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as another yawn traveled up his throat. He held it back, keeping his mouth closed and instead inhaling deeply through his nose as he pushed himself up off his bed and towards the door. He turned the knob, pulling it open and squinted his eyes at the on coming light, stumbling his way into the bathroom and slamming the door shut behind him.
He emerged a few minuets later, face and hands washed and dried, hair wet and slicked back wit a few stray strands that fell into his face. He shook out his legs and walked down the stairs, turning into the kitchen and immediately heading for the pantry where he pulled out a box of cereal and preceded to pour himself a bowl. Milk and box of cereal put away, Adrien dropped down into a chair at the table, bowl of cereal in hand, and began to eat. A few seconds into his first chew, he felt his mother's lips atop of his head, placing a gentle kiss as she gave a slight squeeze to his shoulders. He gave a closed lip smiled and returned to his cereal, his mind whirling with thoughts about the previous day and his plans for day in front of him. He went down the list in his mind, mentally checking off the things he planed to do and the others he would put off for another day, maybe the next.
His phone vibrated on the table, Adrien reaching over and grabbing it in his large hand, bringing it to his face to read the name there. "Gina," he mumbled, staring at the name in slight shock. His mother turned from her seat at the computer and raised an eyebrow at him.
"She's coming over later, remember? She's helping out over at the theater." Adrien nodded, quickly flipping the phone open and pressing it to his ear where he gave a mumbled "hullo" and preceded to eat his soggy cereal, earning a small, playful glare from his mother who shook her head and turned her attention back to the computer in front of her.
"Adrien, it's Gina." Adrien gave a muffled "I know" before shoving another spoonful into his mouth and chewing. He heard her groan and could almost see her shaking her shoulder length brown hair, her eyes closed, lips pursed in annoyance. "I need a favor. Ms. Frankie just called; she needs someone to go open the theater for her. She called me last night and I, being the idiot I am, agreed. Then when I woke up this morning, I realized I couldn't because I have work. I'm actually on my break right now." Adrien nodded though he knew she couldn't see him and swallowed the food in his mouth.
"Right then. What time do I gotta open up?" he asked agreeably, pushing his unfinished bowl of cereal away and standing up to stretch.
"10:30," she stated as Adrien glanced up at the clock before hitting his fist down on the table in annoyance, causing the table to shudder, the bowl to shake, and his hand to begin to swell with pain as he cursed loudly, his mother turning yet again from her seat and glaring at him, calling him his full name.
"Damn it Gina, do you realize it's already 10:26?" he growled as he scrambled up the stairs and into his room, grabbing at a shirt and tugging it on while pulling on a pair of shorts while holding the phone to his ear with his shoulder.
"Of course I realize that Adrien, I've been calling you since eight this morning but of course you keep your phone on silent."
"I was sleeping damn it, it's my fucking day off," he growled as he fell backwards on the bed, tangled in his clothes. He pulled the shorts all the way up to rest on his bony hips as he pushed his arm through the sleeve of his t-shirt, which seemed to have shrunk two sizes.
"Will you just get over there? I have to get back to work. Ms. Frankie will be there around eleven. Just start the class. You'll do fine." Adrien who had slipped on his sandals and bounded out his room and down the stairs came to a halt.
"Start what class? Gina, what the hell am I doing?" but before he got an answer, there was a click and a low tone, which told him she had hung up. Cursing loudly again, he grabbed his wallet and keys and headed out the door, calling back to his mother, "Going up to theater, be back soon!" He heard her call his name but by then he had already shut the door and started for his car.
He was two minutes late. He pulled into the parking spot in front of the small children's theater with dangerous speed, slamming on his breaks so that the car wouldn't jump onto the curb and crash into the front of the building. He gave a sheepish grin at the small gathering of parents and children who stood in front of the theater before he stepped out of the car, locking it, and fumbling with his keys as he tried to locate the correct key. After dropping them two times and trying five different keys, he finally opened the front door and swept the staring parents and children into the lobby of the theater.
"Sorry about that. Ms. Frankie got into a bit of an accident and asked me to open up for her," he lied, giving a bright smile as he opened the door that lead to the main room. The parents nodded, buying the excuse but still starred questioningly at the lanky seventeen year old. Adrien looked up at the ceiling as he walked into the room after the students, all who looked to be only four or five.
"Right then kids, take a seat on the edge of the stage please," he stated as he pointed at the stage. The kids rushed at it, climbing on to the top of it and jumping around once they got there. A few parents barked orders to sit while others seemed to slink backwards and out of sight. Adrien gave a strained smile and turned back to the small gathering of parents in front of him, all mothers except of one timid man who stood at the back of the group, his ash brown bangs falling into his eyes which were hidden by thick lensed glasses.
Adrien's smile softened at this, his green eyes meeting the ice blue of the man's for a second before the man's gaze shifted downwards, adverting his eyes from Adrien. Adrien sighed softly and let his eyes settle on the other parents, registering their expressions, some watching the group of children who had quieted and sat down on the stage, their legs swinging back and forth, their heels hitting at the black painted, wooden stage, while others stared at his with disdain, taking in his disheveled appearance with disgust. They did not want to leave their precious children with a teenager who looked so unfit, his shorts hanging dangerously low on his bony hips, his small shirt tight around his torso, ending just passed his navel, showing the body hair that had begun to grow to form what could be called a "happy trail".
Adrien forced a grin and clapped his hands as he looked at the parents in front of him. "I know Ms. Frankie has the parents fill out an emergency contact form so if you have those, I can take them," he stated softy and sure enough the mother's began digging in their purses, a few directing their child to pull out their form from a backpack or lunch box and hand it to Adrien. Soon, forms were being forced into his hands, crumpled and sloppy by what seemed to be unhappy mothers. Adrien knew that he didn't exactly look the part of an upstanding teen on the verge of college but he still didn't think it gave the women in front of him the right to be so uncivil. He gave a slight frown and turned to go put the forms of Frankie's desk in her office but was stopped by a soft voice and a gentle touch on his shoulder.
He turned around and gave a soft smile when he came face to face with the timid father who returned his smile and held out the neatly folded paper with shaky fingers. "Thanks," Adrien murmured with a genuine grin as he took the paper, his calloused fingertips brushing the father's, the father's hand recoiling from the touch quickly. The mothers had begun to murmur, about what Adrien wasn't sure, but sure enough they stopped when the father turned around to take his place at the back of the group. "Right then," Adrien frowned, nodding, as he turned quickly and deposited the forms on Frankie's desk only to return to find the theater in chaos. The mothers had begun to gossip loudly and the children had returned to jumping up and down on the stage.
Adrien gave a soft groan as pressed at his temples, willing the beginnings of a head ache to stop swelling and go away. He sighed, opened his eyes, and plastered another smile onto his lips as stepped to the front of the stage. He clapped his hands twice and began to class, making the kids sit in a circle and introduce themselves as the parents sat in the back of the theater, gossiping softly and watching the kids interact. Adrien glanced at the clock that hung over the door plenty of times but eleven came and passed and soon the class was over. Adrien had quickly used up his arsenal of children appropriate theater games, from Freeze Dance to Shakespeare, that by the time the class was over he had resorted to Duck Duck Goose and trying to explain the workings of Zip Zap Zop.
By twelve, Adrien was more than ready to head home, peel off his clothes and fall into bed with no intention of waking until the next day. Adrien watched the parents and their children leave, noticing that not only had the children bonded in the short amount of time but some of the mothers too. The timid father and his outgoing son were the last to leave, the father gripping his son's hand in his large hand, giving a soft smile, one that reached his eyes. He thanked Adrien softly while the boy crushed Adrien's legs with an excited hug before scampering out the door and into the parking lot, his father trailing closely behind.
Adrien watched the father help his son into his car seat before getting into the car and starting up the old green minivan. Adrien waved good-bye and walked into the office to leave Frankie a note, telling her that he expected some sort of compensation for his time spent with overly hyper children and their gossiping mothers. He then turned all the lights off in the theater and locked up before getting in his car. He sat there for a moment, his eyes closed, his head back, and the palm of his hands pressed at his temples as he held his breath. For the strangest reason, Adrien couldn't get those icy blue eyes out of his mind and he wondered briefly what made them so cold.
Finally after a few moments, he shook it off and started his car, pulling out of the parking spot and heading home where his soft warm bed was waiting for him.
End Sample.