The Princess of the Streets

Twenty-Two - Oh, No

When I came home, I couldn't keep the smile off of my face. I was dating Chace Collins... My heart fluttered and I beamed even further as I came in through the door. "I'm home!" I shouted, tossing my bag on the floor by the front door. 

"In here, my baby," Cara called from the kitchen. I walked into the kitchen with a visible bounce in my step despite how sore my body already was and how dizzy I felt. 

"How was practice? You didn't show off too much did you?" Dad asked from the table. Cara who was facing him and sitting on the counter turned to look at me with visible curiosity.

"I passed out, actually," I informed them as I opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water from the bottom shelf. 

"What?" they both exclaimed in unison.

I just shrugged. "Yeah. I was going to ask if you could maybe consider not sending me to track. I'm not sure how well I could handle it..."

"Absolutely no track if you're going to be passing out," Cara said immediately. "Did you hit your head?" she asked, hopping down from the counter with her hand already reaching toward me as she crossed the room.

"She had to have," Dad said, also getting up from his chair. "She hasn't stopped smiling like a psychopath since she got home."

I pursed my lips together, but that only made it worse. I figured I might as well give them the reason so they didn't try to commit me to the local mental hospital. "That's actually not from hitting my head, I think that might be what my headache is from. I just managed to score a boyfriend, if you were wondering."

Cara's hands stopped moving around my head, and Dad's eyes widened in surprise. Was that too much information for him? Oh, well.

"Boyfriend?! Who is it?" Cara squealed. "Is it that boy you went out with this weekend?"

"Yep. Chace. Remember we went to his house not too long ago?"

Dad cleared his throat, his fists clenched to his sides. "Paul Collins's boy? You did think to tell me about it? Wait, didn't you go up to his room when we were there...?" It was impossible not to notice the upset note in his voice. Uh oh.

"Well, yeah, but we weren't dating yet. I promise we didn't do anything, Dad."

"Calm down, Adrien. Chase obviously isn't in the lying sort of mood. Actually I think she might have a bit of a concussion. That's probably why she's not thinking about anything that's coming out of her mouth," Cara said, lightly bumping her hip into mine while giving me a warning look.

Dad scoffed. "That's not a concussion, that's just Chase."

I snorted. "I think I might actually have a concussion. I'm not feeling exactly right. Should I just go lay down?"

"Do not  lie down, Chase! That's exactly what you're not supposed to do."

"Oh. I knew that, too," I said, smacking my hand to my head. 

"Go get changed, princess," Dad said, coming forward and pulling my head up a little so he could look into my eyes. "We're taking you to the emergency room." 

I went to turn and go in the direction of my room, but suddenly I was pulled back by my elbow. "Whoa." I stumbled back, nearly hitting the fridge. 

"Wait, one more question since you lost what little filter you had. Are you sure you wanna be with someone who isn't afraid to beat you to a pulp in the ring?" Dad asked, touching the little scar at the bottom of my lip. "I don't think that boy is good enough for you."

"Adrien!" Cara chastised.

I didn't mind that question as much as I should have. I tilted my head slightly. "I'm not afraid to beat him up, either, Dad. And he wouldn't do it if he didn't think I could handle myself."