Adelaide's Protector

Adelaide (1)

    I would rather be fucked in the mouth than see Colton Haynes again. Colton and I were next door neighbors growing up and he was my brothers best friend so naturally, I developed a huge crush on him. This was before dad ever ran for presidency so we did not have a bunch of strangers trying to get to know us through their camera lenses that were being shoved through our living room windows. No this was when we were all in High School, Colton knew how I felt about him but he wanted nothing to do with me because he "didn't want to ruin his friendship with my brother" I could respect his decision if it hadn't had been for his sister snitching on him. My best friend Lizzie Haynes was the only reason I confessed my feelings to Colton in the first place. 

  It was the night of graduation and we were at Ronnie Smiths shitty party when I learned that Colton was joining the Navy. I should have known it was coming, Coltons dad was a marine who served for 20 years before he became a police officer. Colton often brought up the fact he wanted to make his dad proud even though he did not need too, his father loved all of his family and he was extremely proud to call his children his. What surprised me though was the fact he wanted to become a navy seal, this was the same boy who screamed bloody murder when a piece of kelp brushed against his leg when we went to Panama City Beach for our annual summer vacation trip. I giggle at the memory and look back at Colt playing beer pong. I have been trying to work up the nerve for the past 30 minutes to go talk to him when Lizzie came over. 

"Are you going to tell him before he leaves tomorrow?"

 I shrugged and looked down in my cup full of god awful jungle juice. I thought about chugging the contents for some liquid courage but then I thought against it. If I was going to confess my love to Colton I was not going to do it drunk as shit. I sink further against the doorframe that led to the back porch outside, listening to the football players cheer each other on in beer pong. Lizzie sighs and places her hand on my shoulder.

"Babe, you need to tell him before it is too late and god forbid something bad happens to him." 

 I knew she was telling the truth, but the thought of being rejected by the only guy that I ever loved was enough to keep my feet planted to the ground. Come on Adelaide you can do this, just go talk to him. Colt is not some stranger for gods sake. Giving myself a motivational pep talk I straightened my spine, handed Lizzie my drink,  and held my chin high. I took one step out the door making eye contact with Colton who was making his way into the house......and immediately turned around and ran right into my twin brother and partner in crime when Lizzie is busy, Caspian. 

"Oh shit Ads! I didn't mean to run into you. Wait, where are you going?" He tries to grab my arm before I can run back to our house across the street to avoid talking to Colton. I ripped my arm out of his grasp and took off through the front door. I was fully prepared to take off into a full sprint to my house when I stopped myself. I do this all the time when it comes to talking about my feelings I don't talk about them, I run from them. Frustrated with myself, I sucked in the cool summer air and leaned against the white banister on the front porch. You're such an idiot Adelaide why can't you just tell him?

"Tell who what?"

 My spine straightened up so fast that I smacked my head on one of Mrs.Smiths hanging plants on her porch. Nearly cracking the ceramic pot and my skull open. 

"Shit Addie! Are you okay?" 

 Colton gently grabbed my cheeks in his hands and maneuvered my head in different directions to make sure I was not bleeding from my pot injury. I hope he can't see or feel how hot and red my face is from peer embarrassment and the fact that he is holding my face in his thick hands. I gently grasp his wrists slightly holding him still so I could bask in this feeling a little longer. 

"Addie?"

 My god he doesn't even know how much I love it when he calls me Addie. No one has ever called me that except Colt, when we were kids he had a hard time saying Adelaide and all the other kids called me Ads but he didn't want to call me that he told me he only wanted to give me a nick name. He came up with Addie and that was the day I knew I would always need him in my life. With the courage of him calling me Addie and the advice of Lizzie ringing in my ears I took a deep breath.

"Colt, can we talk please?"