Stolen by Fate

Chapter 17: Meeting Mr. Progressed

Chapter 17: Meeting Mr. Progressed

The next day, I texted Alyssa to let her know that she could officially meet Adrian. She was over the moon, firing off excited emojis and promising she wouldn't be too hard on him—though I knew better than to believe that. Alyssa had a way of grilling people in the most innocent-seeming way, and I had a feeling Adrian wasn't ready for the full interrogation that was about to come his way.

When Alyssa showed up at the door, dressed in her usual laid-back but stylish outfit, I gave her a quick hug and shot her a warning look.

"Please don't embarrass me," I begged, already feeling the nerves creeping up.

Alyssa grinned wickedly. "No promises. But I'll try to behave."

I led her into the living room, where Adrian was sitting on the couch, flipping through a magazine. When he saw us walk in, he stood up, offering Alyssa a polite smile.

"Hey, nice to finally meet you... officially," Adrian said, extending a hand to her.

Alyssa shook his hand but didn't let go immediately, narrowing her eyes as if she were sizing him up. "So you're the famous Adrian," she said, her tone teasing but with an edge of curiosity.

Adrian chuckled, glancing at me with an amused expression. "I guess so. And you must be the best friend who knows all the secrets."

"That's right," Alyssa said, finally letting go of his hand and crossing her arms. "I've been hearing a lot about you. You've been keeping my girl busy, huh?"

I groaned inwardly. Here we go.

Adrian smirked, clearly enjoying the banter. "I guess you could say that. But in my defense, she's been keeping me just as busy."

Alyssa's eyes sparkled with amusement, but she nodded approvingly. "Alright, you pass for now. But don't think I'm done with my questions."

I quickly stepped in before Alyssa could launch into full interrogation mode. "Okay, we can save the grilling for later. How about we grab something to eat first?"

Alyssa agreed, and we spent the next hour having lunch together. It was actually nice—Adrian handled Alyssa's questions like a pro, answering without getting flustered, and she seemed to warm up to him more and more as the conversation went on.

Afterward, as Adrian left to take care of some work, Alyssa and I made plans for later that night. There was a party happening at one of her friend's places, and she insisted we go. I hadn't been out to a party in forever, so I agreed, figuring it would be a good chance to let loose.

Later that night, we got ready for the party. I dressed in a casual but cute outfit—jeans and a crop top—and Alyssa, always the fashionista, looked amazing in a sleek dress that hugged her curves. We took a few mirror selfies before heading out, and as usual, Alyssa was buzzing with energy, hyping me up.

When we arrived at the party, the place was already packed. Music blared from inside, and people were spilling out onto the front lawn, laughing and drinking. Alyssa immediately pulled me toward the kitchen, where we grabbed some drinks. She handed me a cup with a mischievous smile.

"Drink up, girl! Tonight's about having fun."

I took a sip, feeling the burn of alcohol as it went down, but I wasn't complaining. It had been a while since I'd let loose like this. We made our way through the party, dancing and chatting with people. The drinks kept coming, and soon enough, I was feeling the effects—my head buzzing, my limbs light as I danced to the music.

Alyssa was in her element, dragging me onto the dance floor with her. We laughed, spun around, and danced like no one was watching. I could feel the alcohol loosening me up, making me more carefree than usual.

But after a few more drinks, things started to blur. The room spun a little, and I giggled at the sensation, though part of me knew I was probably overdoing it.

"Alyssa!" I called out, stumbling a bit as I tried to find her. She was somewhere nearby, chatting up some guy, but my focus wasn't great. "I think I'm a little drunk..."

She laughed, coming over to steady me. "That's the point, babe! Let's just have fun tonight, no worries."

I nodded, leaning into her for support as we made our way back to the kitchen for more drinks. Everything felt surreal—the music, the lights, the people around us. I felt invincible and carefree, something I hadn't felt in a long time.

But as the night wore on, the alcohol hit me harder. My vision blurred even more, and I started to feel dizzy. I tried to keep up with Alyssa, but my legs weren't cooperating, and I stumbled.

"Hey, you okay?" Alyssa asked, her voice sounding distant as she caught me before I could fall.

I nodded, though everything felt hazy. "Yeah... just a little too much, I think."

Alyssa frowned, glancing around. "Alright, maybe we should get you some water and sit down for a bit."

I barely registered her words as she led me to a couch in the corner of the room, where I collapsed in a heap. The world was spinning, and I couldn't stop giggling at how ridiculous everything felt.

Alyssa crouched down in front of me, holding a cup of water to my lips. "Here, drink this. You'll feel better."

I took a sip, though it did little to clear the fog in my head. I was so far gone that I couldn't even think straight.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew Adrian would probably be worried if he saw me like this. But right now, it was just me, Alyssa, and the party—and I was too drunk to care.