Hammer To Fall // Ben Hardy ✔️

FORTY-SIX» A DAY AT THE RACES

Adrienne sat contently by herself in the back of the car that was taking her to the premiere, texting Joey to give him an approximate ETA on her arrival back to his house so he could let her in quietly. Charlotte's stylist and makeup artist had graciously helped Adrienne get ready for the night, and the young woman sat confidently in A simple black dress with pockets and pink heels. As the car came to a stop, she thanked her driver with a squeeze on the shoulder and he got out to politely let Adrienne out of the car.

Adrienne put on a smile and stood a little taller than normal as she stepped out of the vehicle, bidding the driver goodbye one more time and heading towards the chaos of the carpet. She perused the masses of people slowly and without much care in the world, the flashes and words all around her something she had become accustomed to in her years of acting. The extra confidence she had stored away was fueled by sheer adrenaline and anticipation for the night's antics. She approached the biggest crowd of cameras and people, seeing that most of the cast were taking pictures for the press. The first person Adrienne recognized that was not with them was Joe's mother, Virginia.

"Hey Vee!" The woman she had her sights on turned around and brightened up.

"Adrienne!" Virginia greeted her with a warm hug that no one in the world could replicate in her eyes. Adrienne hugged the woman back fiercely, the last time seeing each other earlier in the year being much more somber and upsetting. "How are you honey?"

"I feel fantastic!" Life is busy as always but I have to have a little fun. I'll go crazy if I don't.

"How's that crazy boy of yours?"

Out of the corner of Adrienne's eye, she saw a flash of brown, blond, and red in a huge frenzy. "Elias could not be better. He started preschool in March, and he's taken to it much better than I anticipated."

Virginia touched Adrienne's arm as she spoke. "I think you have incoming. I'll talk to you soon." With a blink of an eye, Virginia left her with a kiss on the cheek and pointed in the opposite direction she was leaving. Adrienne turned to see Ben eying her down in a confused state, almost as if he didn't believe his eyes. On either side of him was Joe and Gwilym, each saying something snarky to the other. Adrienne smiled coyly and began to make her way towards the hyperactive group.

"A-Adrienne?" Ben could barely form words as he saw the young woman coming towards him.

"Surprise!" She extended her arms out to Ben and he took that as a cue to meet her in the middle.

Adrienne was met with a lopsided smile just before Ben swept her off her feet into a bear hug. The two of them collectively laughed as Ben spun the two of them around. Adrienne smiled widely as he set her back down on the ground, holding on tightly. He still couldn't believe his eyes.

"You came?"

"Of course I came!" Adrienne smoothed Ben's jacket out, staring right at the sheer dress shirt that was underneath his suit jacket. "I-"

Adrienne was cut off when a second pair of arms flung themselves around her, and she stumbled around to see Joe and Gwilym behind her.

"Hold on a second now, mate. You said I would get to properly meet her too."

"Boys! There's plenty of me to go around!" Adrienne pried Joe's hand off of her head and stared up at him with hands on her hips. "Unless someone messes up my hair."

"I'm so happy you're here." Joe stared back with a goofy smile and slung an arm around Adrienne, who eyed Gwilym with wide eyes.

"Hi-Holy shit you're taller than I anticipated."

"We can keep her." Gwilym nodded and smiled.

"No I'm serious," Adrienne looked at Joe as she pointed to the Welshman. Looking back up to speak to Gwilym, Joe interrupted her one more time.

"Allen!"

Joe's grin was dubious as Adrienne turned around from talking to Gwilym to look to where Joe was gesturing. She turned beet red and backed up into Ben, suddenly not knowing where to go. Joe eyed Ben and then an approaching Allen once more. Ben caught on quickly to what was going on. Adrienne lifted her hands to cover her face but Ben was quick to entwine his fingers with hers and wrap their arms around her to trap her in the moment.

"Mate! Come meet Adrienne!"

Adrienne yelped as she saw Allen come towards them. He raised an eyebrow before realizing that Adrienne had been the girl Joe had talked about inviting and surprising Ben.  She twisted in his arms to try to escape Ben's grasp as Joe caught up to Allen. The two men laughed as they approached Ben and a squirming Adrienne.

"I'm going to kill you both for this." Adrienne whispered to Ben, pouting and giving up the fight as Joe and Allen were within a few feet of them. "God, it's like you two are telepathically connected or something."

"Almost two years on the same project will do that to you." Joe clapped a very confused Allen on the shoulder and nudged him forward towards Adrienne. "Have at it you two."

Ben copied Joe's actions and nudged Adrienne forward as well. Adrienne and Allen stopped right in front of each other as the boys left them to it.

"They explained everything to me so you don't have to worry." Allen looked around as if someone was watching them and Adrienne exhaled deeply. "You and Ben..?" Allen pointed his finger between Adrienne and Ben, who was in the distance, and Adrienne frantically shook her head and laughed.

"Oh, gosh no. Just excited to see the other." Adrienne's cheeks not growing hot because of being in the presence of her celebrity crush.

—

"Now that wasn't so bad, was it?" He slung his arm around Adrienne's shoulder as she folded her arms, Joe and Allen leaving the two of them to themselves almost purposefully. Adrienne elbowed Ben in the ribs lightly and looked up at him, trying her hardest not to crack a grin.

"You're annoying sometimes."

Ben raised an eyebrow playfully and his arm dropped to her waist. "What was that?"

"I said you're annoying." Adrienne's voice broke into laughter. Ben pulled her closer to him so he could wrap his arms around her waist again and squeezed her sides, earning a shriek of laughter from Adrienne. Ben hugged her tightly and buried his face into her neck, laughing along with her and whispering into her ear.

"Still can't hear you, sweets."

Adrienne laughed even more and as his breath tickled her ear. She smacked Ben on the chest as he stole a kiss under her ear. "Fucking cheeky bastard."

"What are you going to do about it?" Ben looked back down at Adrienne, whose breath hitched as his eyes laid on her.

"Absolutely nothing, just yet." Adrienne deadpanned, her grip on his suit coat becoming unmatched.

Ben blushed furiously and grabbed Adrienne's hand and pulled her back towards the carpet.

—

Lmao I hope this somewhat makes up for the interview chapter😂