When Love Goes Wrong

Chapter 4: Three months later...London, England

It was nine o' clock in the evening. Adeen sat alone at a bar in an English pub. She took a sip of her beer as she watched the football game on the flat screen. A guy walked up to the bar and sat beside her on the next stool. Adeen glumpsed over at the guy then back at the screen. She took a quick second look back at the guy, almost choking on her beer. She swore he looked like Bruce for a moment. He had the curly brown hair she longed to run her hands through and tall stature but that was all. This guy didn't have those dazzling chestnut brown eyes or tan complexion or the light scruff on his face. He was rather pale and had blue eyes. Pain struck her in the chest for the longing of the one guy she loved. The guy looked at her and smiled.

"What's a pretty little lady like yourself doing in a bar?" he asked slyly. 

Adeen smiled a little then looked back at the screen.

"Tryin' to just forget everything." she answered, then took a swig of her beer.

"A guy?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yup." she answered, finishing her drink. 

Her phone started buzzing on the counter. Adeen looked down at it and saw Clint was calling. She picked up the phone and answered it then hung up, placing the phone back down on the counter.

"Is that the guy you're forgetting?" the guy asked.

"Yup...that's the guy..."

She put money on the bar, picked up her phone and walked out of the pub, giving the man a small smile before she walked out the door. As Adeen walked down the lighted sidewalks, her phone began buzzing in her pocket. She took it out and saw Tony was calling. She answered that call. 

"What do you want, Tony?"

"Hello to you too. What do you think you're doing running away like that?"

"I'm not running away." she answered.

"Escaping from a hospital, in my book, is running away." Tony explained.

"No, I call that, 'I was released earlier than planned'." 

"You know everyone's worried about you." Adeen remained silent. "You know it wasn't your fault."

"I let him in, Tony...I let him get to me. I destroyed half of the building, I hurt Steve and Clint. Ya'll probably think I'm a monster just like my father with a side of suicidal. If I hadn't been so stupid, this would have never happened.

"You can't blame yourself for all of this. This is all your father's doing and believe me, no one thinks you're a monster. They know what your dad is capable of."

"Are Steve and Clint all right?" she attempted to change the topic in fear she might get emotional. "I've been avoiding them both."

"Oh, they're fine. Just got banged up some, but they're fine now."

"Are they mad at me?" Adeen interrogated after taking a deep breath.

"No, not really. Steve understands what you are going through. Clint is more frustrated. He's been giving everyone a hard time, especially Bruce."

"I'm guessing Clint found out, huh?"

"Yea, someone sent him pictures of you two together."

"Wait, someone sent him photos?" 

"Yes, why?"

Adeen laughed a little realizing who did the sending.

"That's one of my father's tricks to ruin people's lives. He's so old school, it hurts. Can't believe it's taken me three months to finally realize it."

"Yet you still don't want anything to do with Clint?"

"Not anymore. He was keeping things from me anyways and... he was never there for me when I needed someone... whenever I needed him, he was always gone or had other things to do..."

"I see...May I ask where you are at the moment? Everyone would like to know where you are so we are reassured you are all right."

"Why do I have a feeling everyone already knows?" Adeen answered back with a question, laughing to herself. 

"Are you going to answer my question or not?"

"You figure it out yourself. Since everyone is so worried about me, tell them I'm fine and to stop worrying. Good-bye, Tony."

"Adeen, wait-"

Adeen ended the call.