Back Better Than Before

[6] Corny Pickup lines and Shirtless People

Same day, about 5 minutes later...

Stephen sat at the dining table devouring the chocolate cake as Adrianna sat beside him drinking coffee. She looked at him as he ate. Stephen truly was an attractive male. He had a strong jawline that sharpened his features. Stephen's long nose was slightly crooked as if someone had punched him and broke it. His dark brown hair shined in the sunlight that was coming from the windows behind him and his green eyes sparkled with excitement as he ate the chocolate cake with delight. Stephen chose that time to look up at Adrianna. He gave her a smile when he noticed her staring at him. Adrianna noticed that he had dimples. Stephen opened his mouth to ask Adrianna a question but Adrianna cut him off. "Don't talk with your mouth full. It's disgusting." She pulled a disgusted face before thinking of something. "But it's your choice. I mean it's your house and it's your choice. I didn't mean to try and boss you around. I don't know what I was thinking. I'm sorry. You probably think that I'm annoying and immature. God! I'm really, really sorry!" Adrianna continued to rambled as Stephen stared at her, amused. He swallowed and tried to speak but Adrianna still wasn't listening to him. Stephen could think of a few ways to make Adrianna quiet, but he decided to use the one that had less chances of him getting slapped in the face and rejected. Stephen grabbed a piece of chocolate cake and stuffed it into Adrianna's mouth, effectively making her quiet.

"I don't mind you bossing me around. It's been awhile since someone bossed me around. But I really don't mind. In fact, I encourage it. You know, so I don't do something embarrassing in front of someone important, like the President." He says making her smile, or at least try to with her mouth still full of the cake Stephen had stuffed in her mouth earlier. "Anyways, as I was going to say earlier, where did you learn acting from?" Stephen asked, referring to a couple of minutes ago. Adrianna's smile vanished as she realized what Stephen was talking about.

"I liked acting as a young girl. I took some classes a long time ago. I remembered some of the things I learned. It's a good thing I did, or you would have been in big trouble today." Adrianna lied efficiently. She felt bad for lying to Stephen who was helping her but she couldn't exactly say that her adoptive parents abused her and she had to act normal and happy in front of business associates and peers in school. Not that they cared about her anyways. "Anyways, what do you think about these new clothes? And my hair? Caroline said that it suits me. But it's your money so I should ask for your opinion as well." Stephen noticed how she avoided eye contact as she talked and how she changed the topic quickly before Stephen could ask anymore questions. But he decided to ignore that for now. Later, when Adrianna became more comfortable around him, then he would ask her and find out everything.

"On a scale of one to ten, I'd rate you as a nine." Stephen said answering her previous question.

"Nine?" Adrianna asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, because I'm the one you are missing." He winked but regretted it as soon as he said it. What if Adrianna thought that he was only a pervert who was trying to get in her pants. What if he crossed some sort of line? Then to his relief, Adrianna laughed.

"Well, in that case, I'm fine with a nine." She teased. Stephen laughed and pouted.

"Why? I'm no organ donor. But I'll be more than happy to give you my heart." Again, Adrianna laughed.

"That was actually pretty cute."

"Actually, I'm pretty cute. Although I prefer handsome, sexy, hot, or something along those lines."

Adrianna looked at Stephen. She couldn't disagree with him but she wasn't going to tell him that. "You're ... okay, i guess."

"Okay?" Stephen asked.

"Yeah." She said walking into the kitchen. Stephen followed her carrying the dishes. He started washing the dishes as Adrianna started cleaning the mess in the kitchen. "I mean there are better men out there. Men who are stronger with great bodies and what not." Adrianna teased. Stephen frowned. His pride was wounded.

"You haven't seen my body yet." Stephen said, realization hitting him.

"What?" Adrianna said, turning around. That turned out to be a bad idea because apparently, the words had taken a huge toll on Stephen's pride that he decided to take off his shirt to prove that he did have a really nice body. Adrianna squeaked and turned around quickly, but not before getting a glimpse of his muscular chest. "Okay, Okay! You have the best body! Now, can you please keep your shirt on?" She said, her hands covering her eyes. Stephen laughed. She was so innocent. He thought, smiling.

"My shirt is back on. You can turn around now." He said, going back to washing the dishes. Adrianna turned around and looked just to make sure he wasn't lying. After all, she hated liars.

***

Adrianna hanged her new clothes in the closet as she hummed a song. It had been 2 days since she escaped the prison called Montclair Mansion. And she never felt as free as she did today. She felt as if someone actually cared about her. Nobody had ever helped her in the kitchen like Stephen had. Afterwards, they sat down in the living room and talked. Well, Stephen did most of the talking. He told her about his mother, Angelina Collins, who lived alone in the house that his father had bought for her when they had gotten married. Stephen told her about how Caroline acted just like Angelina and Stephen like his father. He told her about his childhood stories making Adrianna laugh till her stomach started hurting. His stories made her wish that she could have had a childhood like Stephen's where her mother and father would spend time with her as a family. She wondered if she had a sibling or even if her parents were together. Maybe Adrianna was a mistake of a drunken night. Maybe they didn't want her back. That must be the reason why they left her on the doorsteps of the Montclairs.

No, I can't think about that now. Not when I am so close to finding them. Adrianna ignored the voice that was filling doubts in her mind. She wanted to see her parents with a clear mind. After all, if her mother hadn't wanted Adrianna, then they wouldn't have left the necklace with her. Adrianna sighed. She couldn't wait to see her parents again. And she was going to, with the help of the guy sleeping next door.

Adrianna usually didn't trust anyone so easily. Growing up, she had the people closest to her betray her. The house staff, the only people that talked to her, started ignoring her in the fear of losing their jobs. Nobody had cared about her. She grew up alone. But today, someone actually helped her. Stephen Collins helped her when she was alone. Adrianna knew that she probably would have died on the bench in a couple of days if Stephen hadn't helped her. She had thought that the world was full of selfish people. But Stephen proved her wrong. There were people who cared about others in the world. Adrianna knew that the person who will marry Stephen would be the luckiest person in the world. But, she thought with a sad smile on her face, that person won't be her. Adrianna would never ever make repeat the mistake of falling in love again.   

***

Happy New Years, guys! Sorry the update was late. If anyone hasn't noticed, I update once a month. I don't have an updating schedule. I just update when I get the chance. Anyways, thanks to everyone who commented, voted, added this to their reading list, and followed me!

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-R