-June 24th, 2022
"What age do you want me to be?" she says,
I freeze.
I'm sure my face is as red as a tomato, but i just smile and look away.
"sorry, i didn't-" she starts, but i cut her off.
"it's okay, no worries. you look young, maybe 17?" i say to her, trying to diffuse the awkwardness of the situation.
"add two years, and then yes." she says with an awkward smile, her cheeks pinker than before.
"19, huh?" i say. "i'm a little bit too old for-" i start, but im interrupted.
"it's time to go!" marie yells from the back porch.
Adeline shoots up instantly.
"it's time to go" she repeats quietly.
- The ride to the recording studio is quiet. I'm driving a car i've never even thought i would be in, a car way too expensive to feel comfortable in. Adeline's in the backseat, scrolling on her phone. I can't help stealing small glances at her in the rear view mirror. god. that girl is gorgeous.
I don't know if it's how she carries herself, or her actual face. Her actual perfectly round babydoll face.
Her mom, marie, is sitting in the passenger seat beside me. she's sending paragraphs to a random number, not that i'm really interested in that.
Talking to Adeline feels wrong around her mom, i feel like it's an unspoken rule that i'm not allowed to interact with her.
For some reason, I find myself wanting to know every single thing about Adeline. From her favorite color, to the secrets she's never told anyone. I find myself wanting to listen to her speak about nothing for hours on end, and sit with her in silence on the days she doesn't want to talk. I've known this beautiful girl for less than 2 hours, and I am completely enamored by her.
I'm too caught up in my thoughts to realize that we're here.
"here! turn!" marie snaps at me.
i quickly snatch the wheel of the car to the right, and turn the car into the parking lot of the recording studio.
Small cuss words come out of Marie's mouth. i sigh.
-the rest of the time in the car is painfully awkward and silent. Everyone gets out of the car, and i stay a couple feet away from Adeline at all times. my eyes glance around the parking lot, making sure nothing looks sketchy.
We eventually make it into a silent room of the recording studio, and she gets started immediately. i stand in the corner, not really knowing what to do with myself. i feel like a lamp.
She sings for about two hours, her mom and a random asshole pressing buttons are correcting every single little thing she does. I think it sounds beautiful. I think she's beautiful. I just listen. At one point I fell think I fell asleep.
Her voice is like a lullaby.
-We take the ride home shortly after. The car ride is awkward, but this time it's not silent.. Her mom is talking very obnoxiously on the phone. It's like that the whole ride.
"Stop here" her mom commands, pointing at a convenience store. I pull over, this time a lot less suddenly.
Marie gets out of the car and walks into the small, run down, convenience store.
It's just Adeline and I in the car, and I haven't spoken to her since we left the house at 8:30am.
"The people are right. That voice of yours.. it's something different" I say quietly from the drivers seat, glancing at her in the back.
"you think so?" she murmurs back to me. I feel myself melting at her voice one again.
I nod and glance at her over my shoulder.
"really good, Blondie"
She shoots me a soft smile, which I'm starting to really like seeing.
Before I know it, her mother's walking back out of the store, and our moment is ruined. Again.
-The rest of the ride home is silent. and boring.
We finally make it there, and both of the girls get out of the car without a word to each other.
-The rest of the day is eerily quiet. I sit in my assigned room unpacking my bags for most of the day.
That's until 7 pm comes around, and i've just gotten out of a hot shower. i just threw on a pair of black sweatpants and some socks, a black shirt next to my bed incase i need it later.
My hair curls when it's wet and not styled, so it's curled up a bit right now and falling over my forehead.
There's a soft knock on my door.
"yeah?" i say, grabbing my shirt and sliding it over my head.
Before i can slide it down all the way over my stomach, Adeline steps in my room. I can feel her eyes trail over me but I try not to acknowledge it.
"everything okay?" I follow up with.
She nods,
"i just wanted to say good night." she says to me, her eyes finally meeting mine.
"night, blondie" i say back, sitting on the side of my bed. "see you tomorrow. don't go sneaking out. i will be checking." i mumble quietly
"Don't come in my room when im sleeping, weirdo." she smiles at me.
I throw my hands up in a mock surrender, "gotta make sure you're safe. my job, y'know?" i say sarcastically, smiling back at her
"Mhmmmm" she says as she shuts my door.
I let out a shaky sigh from forcing nonchalance, and lean back on the bed. This is going to be hard.
- 2 hours pass, and before i go to sleep, i decide to just go check on her.
I take slow and soft steps closer to her door, and slowly push it open.
"beautiful" is the only word that comes to my mind when i look at that girl laying in her bed, snuggled up in the covers. her hair is falling over her face and her lips are parted slightly. I take a few steps closer.
i gently lean down, and swipe some hair out of her face, gently tucking it behind her ear.
She's so beautiful that it's painful.
I force myself out of that room. If i didn't, i would've been in that bed and under those covers with her.
First day down.
YOU ARE READING
Bound by Duty; Chained by Desire
RomanceA Body Guard, Archer, finds himself battling his feelings for the woman he sworn to protect. Adeline miller was a country music star, she was one of the sweetest girls you'd ever meet. She was quiet, and way too hard on herself. Adeline is naive...
