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Adrian trudged out of the school building. Her hand was cramped from the exertion of writing furiously for the last two hours. She couldn't remember if she'd managed to answer the last five questions properly, but hell, she'd answered them all.
She wasn't the only tired one. Everywhere she looked, she saw fellow students drooping, double bags under their eyes, coffee cups glued permanently to their hands, and a jittery exam anxiety clinging to them. They'd crowded the main library and the campus cafe to study for the final exams, and now it was over.
She wrapped her scarf around her neck. It protected her a little from the wind, but the wind managed to cut through her bones. Not for the first time, she wondered why she even put up with the weather here. Florida was sounding good right now.
The campus kept the sidewalks plowed, but Adrian's shoes were still wet when she finally entered her dorm. It had been too cold outside, but now it was a furnace inside. Unwrapping her scarf and unzipping her coat, she went upstairs to her dorm room.
And then she stopped dead.
Alex was sprawled in her desk chair. Her laptop was in front of him, the ESPN website pulled up, but when she drew closer, he stood. The room was small - which dorm room wasn't? - but with Alex here, it seemed even smaller.
"Alex?" she breathed. "How did you..."
There was that devastating smile she knew so well. "I seduced your roommate. Five minutes and she let me in."
A giggle broke from Adrian. She wasn't hallucinating at all, and oh God, he looked wonderful. Normally they tried to see each other every week, but with the final exams coming up, she hadn't seen him for the last two weeks.
"Silly me," she said finally. "And I thought you were sleeping only with me."
Alex pulled her close. "Don't worry. You're my number one concubine." He laughed then, and she hit his shoulder. "Did you miss me?" He didn't give her a chance to reply because he kissed her and of course she kissed him back.
It left her gasping and breathless, but if she was affected, so was he. Intellectually she knew what Alex's kisses were like, but her knowledge always crumbled under the weight of reality. She was in his arms, and the sensation was so great that she closed her eyes and smiled. All thoughts of school were forgotten.
"Mm. You know I missed you," she said, inhaling the scent of his shampoo. She collapsed on the narrow bed with him. "So did you miss me?"
Alex's gaze was heavy under his eyelids. "A lot," he said, with a flash of gleaming teeth. "Is there any other answer?"
Adrian just smiled at him. He looked so tired that she wondered if he'd even slept before packing up and coming to get her. He also looked feverish and impatient, and she felt the same. Cooped up in the dry, dusty world of academia without a breather was enough to drive someone crazy.
"How about we get out of here?" she said.
His laugh was muffled against her neck. "Yeah, let's go. I actually want to be home, and I can't believe I just said that."
Adrian wrinkled her nose. They had gone home for the Thanksgiving break, their first major family function after heading off to college, and needless to say, it hadn't gone over too well. Alex and his mother had torn into each other before the turkey had been carved up. The only saving grace was that Alex's father had finally moved to Chicago, so Alex had been able to stay with him.
"Maybe things will go better this time," Adrian offered. "Dad did ask you to celebrate Christmas with us, so maybe..."
"Maybe," Alex conceded.
He sounded skeptical, and she couldn't blame him. From the family's grapevine, she'd heard how Alex's grandparents were still interfering. And even if Adrian's father was civil towards Alex, he plainly didn't like him any better.
And yet things were improving, Adrian couldn't deny that. Nicky was talking to her now, and they called each other regularly. Adrian had even heard from Jason - he was doing all right. Not great, but hanging on in there. He'd said that Stephanie's parents had indeed thrown her out, but that Pastor Holt had visited Stephanie and talked to her. And even Isaac seemed okay. He hadn't undertaken any grand revenge scheme recently, or so Adrian had heard.
But there was always something popping up...
Alex's thumb traced a pattern over her cheekbone. "Stop worrying, Adrian. It'll work out by itself. If it doesn't-"
"You'll just tell them to go to hell," she finished. She leaned her head against his chest and stayed in the warmth of his arms. After a few months of dating Alex, she had become used to his devil-may-care attitude, even if she didn't always like it.
"And you'll just yell at me and try to placate the family," Alex said, with that quick smile she knew so well. "Let's get out of here. I want to leave before it starts snowing again."
Even though she'd packed before her last exam, it still took her a while. There was her laptop to take, the food to throw out, the laundry, and so on. Alex was no help because he kept kissing her neck and distracting her. But finally, they locked up Adrian's room - her roommate had already left - and walked out.
She was suddenly glad she'd left her car behind at home for the Thanksgiving break because it meant that she could ride with Alex. She dumped her bags into his car's trunk, and climbed into the car with him.
The road was slippery with ice, so the drive was slow. Alex didn't say a word, as he tried to concentrate, but he reached out and squeezed Adrian's hand. She returned it and smiled. Even though Alex was quiet, the silence was comfortable.
They did speak later, but in soft, hushed tones. They discussed the possibility of Adrian transferring to Alex's school. They were only a few hours' drive apart, but even so, it would still be easier if they went to the same school.
"You think Lincoln would spring for the idea?" Alex said.
"I don't know how he'd feel," Adrian admitted, "but Georgia thinks he's changed a bit, so maybe he'll say yes."
It was true, she thought. Her father hadn't really changed his mind about Alex, but he'd told her a little about her mother. Adrian couldn't ever recall them talking about Marissa Blake before. Instead of condemning Marissa outright, Mr. Blake had insisted he'd loved her very much. He had sounded sincere, and it had stirred Adrian's doubts. Maybe there had been more to their marriage than she'd known. Maybe life was like that, always in multi-faceted layers instead of black and white.
"I think I might go visit my mother's grave," she said abruptly, cutting off her train of thought. "I've never been there."
Alex glanced at her sideways. Even in profile, she could sense his genuine surprise. "You mean you've never seen it? But what about the funeral-"
Adrian shook her head. "No, my father thought I was too young, so he didn't let me go. Actually...I didn't want to go."
A mistake, she privately admitted. She'd never properly laid Marissa Blake to rest, and her mother's ghost had haunted her these years. But if she could fight the family for Alex's sake, she could also do this.
Alex was quiet for a while, and then he said, "Do you want me to come with you?"
His offer astounded and relieved and touched her. "Yes, that'd be nice," she said softly. And perhaps Alex sensed she didn't want to talk any further. They listened to the music he selected, and settled in for the three-hour drive.
It turned into a six-hour drive because of the snow and traffic. Adrian woke up to the sound of Alex's swearing, and she asked him if they wanted to switch, but Alex refused until they had a short argument. Just like good old times, Adrian thought with a wry amusement. She bought them coffee and then she drove.
Alex fell asleep, and Adrian glanced at him. She'd doubted that they'd make it through the first semester, but here they were. Alex, of course, had never doubted.
Her eyes were gritty from the lack of sleep, and her shoulders tight as she navigated through a never-ending maze of cars, but when she saw her house, she broke into a smile. She reached over and shook Alex awake.
The house was lit from inside. Someone had drawn the curtains tight, but Adrian could still see slivers of light from the living room. It was past dinner time, so they'd missed the meal, but everyone was probably home. The word 'home' had never sounded so good. In spite of the ever-present tension, Adrian was content.
She killed the engine and got her bags. Refreshed by his nap, Alex got his bags too, but as usual, he had that gleam in his eyes, as if searching for prey. And then there were people spilling from the house: their siblings. Presumably they'd been waiting for Adrian and Alex to arrive.
Meg stamped on the sidewalk, her breath coming out in puffs. "Let me have that," she said, grabbing one of Adrian's bags. "Isaac, you grab that one."
Isaac gave Adrian a slight nod. He'd traded his glasses for contact lenses, and Adrian thought it made him appear older. If anything, it had made him seem more reserved. She still hadn't won his forgiveness, but she'd be home for a month. She had time and hell, there was always the future. And he was saying hello to Alex. That was a good start.
Nicky was babbling into Adrian's ear about her makeup or some nonsense, but Adrian just smiled and hugged her back. Owen-Xiron was already straggling back to the house with Alex's bag in tow.
Adrian's father took one of her bags. He had never been much for demonstration, but he hugged her and kissed her cheek. He didn't hug Alex; of course, he wouldn't, but he did shake hands with Alex cordially.
"Come inside, both of you," he said.
Adrian linked hands with Alex and they went inside the house with their family.
Fin.
I've removed the last sentence from the last chapter. It was intended as a homage to Adrian's early thoughts about Alex's attitude, and how he acted as if he wanted to conquer the world, but I think I didn't do the homage well, so off the sentence goes.
As for what I'm working on next, I have one unfinished story (Rome) to do, so that's my current project. As for future FP projects, I have ideas, but right now, I'm frankly happy just to be on writing vacation. See you guys around.
Q: Will we see more of Isaac in the future?
A: Maybe. Lord Iron-Balls has been urging me to write Isaac's story, and I do think Isaac has a story to tell, but not right now. There's no denying that Isaac is quite interesting.
Q: What are you working on next?
A: Read the author's note.