Always Adam

Chapter 11

Monday while walking to lunch I'm thinking about Adam. I haven't seen him yet today. I am dying to ask Ava about Adam at lunch but won't. I don't want to put her in the middle of anything. I like her as a friend and I refuse to do that to her. I think maybe I can talk to Janae at some point and find out more information about Adam. I'm not sure where her loyalty lies though. After all she has only known me a couple weeks. I am shocked when I reach my lunch seat to find Adam sitting next to my seat. What is Adam doing at our lunch I wonder.

I sit down and look over at him. The sexy smile he gives me makes my stomach flutter. "What are you doing here," I ask drowning in his smile. I wonder how he chipped his tooth. One day I will know I tell myself. One day I will know everything there is to know about Adam Gallo. I decide right then and there that he is the boy I want. I want him more than I have ever wanted Mike. I want to know everything there is to know about Adam. I want to know what his lips feel like on mine. I want to know what his arms feel like around me. I want to know ... My thoughts are interrupted by his answer.

"This is my lunch," he tells me taking a bite of his pizza. "Since when," I ask. "Since the first day of school." I look at him trying to figure out if he is serious or pulling my leg. "He's been getting tutored in the library for the last three weeks," Nat says taking a bite of my cookie and putting back on my tray. "Oh," is all I say as I pick up the cookie Nat took a bit of. I look at her stuff the entire cookie in my mouth. She laughs. While I'm chewing, I briefly wonder about why Adam is being tutored. When I finish chewing and swallow, I say, "Now that's how you eat a cookie Nat." She sticks her tongue out at me.

Lunch has officially become the favorite part of my day. All of us are together just laughing and having fun. My new friends. I can't help but look around and smile. Who would have thought several weeks ago this is where I would be. These people who were complete strangers are now a huge part of my life. I look over at Adam. He must feel me staring. He turns to me and smiles. I smile back at him. Out of the corner of my eye I see Ava poke Nat and she looks over at us. They smile.

I fall into an easy pattern at East Riverside. I don't have classes with any of my friends other than first period with Janae. My classes are all geared towards business since that is what I am planning to major in when going to college. It was my plan to take my rightful place in my parent's company one day. Between classes I would find either Donnie or Adam waiting at my locker. Donnie would walk me to class sometimes, but Adam would just show up as if he was just passing by. The new man in my life was Carlos Martinez. My business management project partner. We spend the first week of class rolling around ideas for our mock business venture. Mr. Halowickie gave us ten minutes at the end of each period to work on our ideas.

It was easy to see during that first week that the two us had completely different ideas on what business we should go into. Carlos wanted to open a small neighborhood cafe. I wanted to open a small investment firm. In the end we both agreed we didn't know enough about investment. I tried to convince Carlos I could find out a lot from Gary at my dad's company, but he wasn't thrilled it was located out of state. "We can't do first hand or on sight research if it's out of state," he argued. I finally agreed. "I know a cute cafe not far from where I live that we can do research at," Carlos says. "I know the owners."

"How about we ask for a pass out of here tomorrow for lunch. I'll take you to the Cafe. You can see it firsthand and make a final decision on our project." I stare at Carlos thinking about his plan. "Alright let's go check it out," I say slightly excited. He smiles. "I'll set it up. Just meet me by the front door at lunch. Oh wait," he says looking at me. "We don't have lunch the same period. I'm in first lunch so that means your in second lunch. Can you get out of the class before your lunch," he asks me. I think about it for a minute and realize I'll be fine missing my Spanish class. "Sure. What class will you miss," I ask. "I have gym, so I won't be missing much." Carlos says he'll handle everything and for me to meet him by the front door before my Spanish class.

When I arrive at school this morning, Carlos is waiting at my locker. He smiles when he sees me. "Hey," I say when I reach him. "Good morning," he says cheerfully. I wait to see what else he has to say. Standing next to him I can't help but check him out. He's not as tall as Donnie, but taller than Adam. He's more filled out than Donnie but not as broad as Adam. I see Donnie heading my way from his locker. He stops when sees me talking to Carlos. "I have the plans all set for today. You'll need to stop by your Spanish class to grab your assignment before you meet me at the front door." I see Adam has joined Donnie and the two of them are both staring my way. I thank Carlos and tell him I'll see him then. I watch Carlos walk off and can feel Donnie and Adam behind me.

I turn to find two very irritated guys. "What was that about," Adam asks first. He seems mad. I'm taken back by both their evident hostility towards Carlos. I stare at them unsure what to say. I'm now annoyed with them. I gently make my way between the two of them saying nothing as I open my locker. "Carly. Seriously what did Carlos want with you," Adam says in a demanding tone. I ignore him. Donnie moves Adam aside and turns me towards him. "There's some history between the two,' he says. I look over at Adam and can tell his seriously upset. "We're partners on a business project. He was talking about the project." I can see Adam relax. Then he turns and walks away.

I turn to Donnie. "What the hell was that all about," I ask him as I slam my locker shut. We begin the walk to my first class. "It's not my place to air Adam's issues Carly. Let's just say he has a problem with Carlos and was being protective over you." I stop and look up at Donnie. "Should I be worried about Carlos? I am going to be spending time with him working on this project." Donnie shakes his head no. "Carlos is a good guy. You have nothing to worry about. He used to be Adam's best friend. Then something happened." We reach my class and I realize Donnie isn't going to tell me more. The bell rings and I watch as he hurries down the hall.

I mention to Janae that I won't be at lunch. I fill her in on my project with Carlos as we leave the classroom. I hold back from pumping her for information. I try to pay attention in the rest of my classes until Spanish. My thoughts are all over the place. I realize I have more boy drama in the few weeks I've been here than I had my entire life at West Riverside. I can't say that I'm enjoying it. It's slightly stressful and very confusing.

I tuck my Spanish assignment into my backpack and stuff it in my locker. I see Carlos waiting as I walk towards the door. Carlos hands our excuses to the door monitor and they buzz us out. Carlos holds the door for me. I follow next to him to his car. It's a small ford of some type. It's pretty old. He opens the door for me. Once I'm safely inside he closes the door and hurries around to his side. I put my seat belt while he starts the car. "So how far are we going," I ask him. "It's about a ten minute drive. "How do you know the owners of the cafe." Our conversation flows effortlessly since it's all about the project. His cousin is the manager of the cafe.