Chapter Twenty-Six: Finis

The sun didn't go supernova; the world didn't blow up. All in all, things stayed mostly the same even after Adrian made her official debut as Alex's girlfriend. She signed up for the drama club with Vaughn and went to one of the club's meetings. She did her homework and snuggled with Alex in bed. Sometimes they just talked and watched movies. Sometimes they did more.

Karen still raged and stormed, but after she'd tried to enroll Alex at a military school, his father put his foot down. That fight had been one of the biggest - and the worst arguments yet. When Mr. Montgomery wasn't around, Karen shouted at Alex instead.

Like right now.

"I don't understand you! Why do you have to be so disrespectful? Why can't you just show me some love, some kindness - stop that, Alex! Don't walk away from me! I am your mother and I expect you-"

Alex's voice was distinct. "You're so concerned about appearances, Mom. That's the only thing you care about."

"That is not true-"

"Right, like I made up the five times you tried to send me to military school?" he said. "I don't expect a lot, but as your son, I do think I'm entitled to some of that family love you're always preaching about."

Adrian lifted her eyes from her magazine. She'd opted to hang out in Alex's room, waiting for him to get back with their drinks, but clearly his mother had waylaid him. Sighing, she tossed her magazine aside and trooped over to the kitchen.

"Don't blame me for your fuck-ups," Alex was saying (or snarling, depending on one's interpretation) when she walked into the room. "Your lousy parents drove Dad away and now I barely see him as it is-"

Karen's face was red. "He's a malignant influence-"

He affected a semblance of mock horror. "Ooh, big word! Did you look that up in the dictionary?"

"That's enough, Alex," Adrian's father said from the kitchen table. He'd been so quiet that Adrian hadn't noticed him at first.

Alex was nearly pacing the kitchen. He was hungry and restless, and Adrian admired him. Even now, his gaze flickered towards his mother and her father, seeking another battle. And when they didn't offer him the fight he wanted, Alex turned the full force of his green eyes onto Adrian.

"There's that drink you wanted," he said, jerking his head at the counter.

She popped its tab, but offered it to him instead. "You must be thirsty," she said, her hand on his back. "Come on, let's get out of here."

Karen made a hissing sound.

Alex's gaze snapped up. "What the fuck do you want?"

"That girl is your stepsister. How can you carry on with her as if there's nothing wrong with it? I don't understand; I really don't." Karen had said the words so often that Adrian could have recited it from heart, but this time, she seemed truly tired.

Adrian cleared her throat. "Don't you think that Alex and I aren't aware of how challenging our relationship is?" she pointed out. "I know it's not roses and sunshine. I mean, real relationships aren't like that."

Karen just turned away, and Adrian sighed again. How easy it would be if things could be resolved with a nice conversation. But no, this was reality and Adrian had to live with her stepmother's resentment. It was hard to recognize the giggling woman Adrian's father had married not so long ago.

Still, Adrian had to try. "I know you hate us," she said to Karen, "but I hope you'll listen to us sometime soon."

Alex smiled down at her. "Baby, she'll just call you a whore anyway. You might as well as skip the conciliatory bullshit." He wrapped an arm around her. "She's always hated me."

"Now you're being foolish," Adrian's father said coolly. He'd risen to his feet, so that he matched his stepson's eye level. "Parents don't cut off their children that easily. You should never doubt your mother's love."

Alex's expression didn't change. "So why haven't you talked to Adrian in six days? She's your daughter."

Adrian tensed. She hadn't thought Alex would point that out, but of course, when he was angry, there was no sacred ground. What he had said was true, however. She hadn't exchanged a single word with her father lately.

Mr. Blake gave a slow nod. "Yes," he said quietly. "I love Adrian. She is my daughter and no matter what she does, she will always be my daughter. But that doesn't mean she always has my unqualified support."

Hurt swept over Adrian in waves. He'd spoken to Alex about her, right there in her presence, but he didn't even have the decency to address her directly. It was a passive-aggressive move that really... fucking pissed her off.

"How dare you?" she said angrily. "You should tell me that."

Alex pulled her closer, his hand sliding from her shoulders to the curve of her hip, but he never removed his cool gaze from her father. "You know what? You're a perfect match for my mother."

It made Adrian laugh. Alex would always go out, guns blazing even if the odds were against him. "Yeah, Alex is right," she said to her father. "You guys are punishing us because you think we made fools out of you. Well, guess what? You abandoned us, just so you could fuck in your room upstairs. Surprise! We decided to fuck downstairs."

That earned an indignant gasp from Karen, but all of a sudden, Adrian could hear Alex's delighted laughter.

"Baby, have I ever told you that I'm crazy about you?" he whispered into her ear, catching her earlobe between his teeth.

"You are such a bad influence," she whispered back. Then because they were still with the parents, she raised her voice. "I really don't want to talk to you anymore," she said to the adults. "You guys won't change your minds. And I won't change mine. So if we agree to ignore each other, I think we'll be fine."

"Works for me," Alex muttered.

Nicky caught up with them in the hallway. "I got you guys something," she said, a bag in her hand. "I thought you'd need those."

Adrian laughed when she saw the earplugs. "Cute. Thanks." Nicky had even bought a jazzy pair of earmuffs for her. "I'll take that too."

"It was Owen's idea," her sister offered. "We all got them."

Smart kid, Adrian thought. He'd stayed upbeat, even with his parents engaged in a bitter ongoing fight. Actually, it was pretty remarkable how unaffected the siblings were. Adrian had wondered if they'd get harassed at school, but so far, they'd survived just fine.

When she sat down for dinner, she discovered almost everyone wearing earplugs and earmuffs. Alex winked at her, and she grinned.

Mr. Blake glanced around at the kitchen table. And just for a fleeting second, Adrian thought she glimpsed amusement in those eyes. It was hard to tell, but then again, they didn't talk those days.

Karen put her hands on her hips. She said something that Adrian couldn't quite catch, but clearly she didn't find it funny. She tugged on Owen's earmuffs, but he moved his head out of the way and batted at her hand.

Adrian's father mouthed her name. He caught her wrist and tugged her down to her seat, and they all ate in blessed silence. Just when Adrian thought she could finish her meal, he reached over and tapped her shoulder. Cautious, she removed an earplug.

"I've had enough," he said without preamble.

"What?" she said.

Meg's face brightened. "Don't tell me you're divorcing that harridan?" she said, her earplug lying on the table.

Their father shot her a wry glance. "Sorry to disappoint you, Margaret." He patted Karen's hand. "We're staying married." He rubbed his eyes. "I've had enough of this shrieking and screaming and whatever. So, for once, can we have a nice, normal dinner?"

"This is as normal as things ever get," Isaac said sourly.

Adrian's father tilted his head. "Yes... I suppose so." Sighing, he shook his head a bit. "Do you guys have any extra earplugs?"

"Here," Nicky said, handing him a pair.

He looked at his wife and shrugged. "If you can't beat them, you might as well join them." He jammed his earplugs in and resumed eating.

Her father was already up when she dressed for school the next morning. He was in the kitchen making some coffee and when she got some cereal, he handed her a bowl and a spoon. She nodded her thanks and poured milk.

"It's almost Thanksgiving," he said suddenly.

She hadn't even thought of that, but yes, he was right. "Yeah," she said, stirring the cereal flakes. "Are you going to send me back to Chicago?"

"No. Are you going to stay with Alex?"

"Yes."

"Why?" he said. "Why, Adrian?"

Fragments swirled in her mind like torn pieces of paper. Alex leaning on an elbow, his eyes alight, his mouth curving. She liked how his mouth softened, how his voice lost that hard edge. She also liked his edgy humor, his arrogance. But that wasn't the only thing she liked. He was just different, that was what.

"Because," she said, "I like Alex."

Her father shook his head. "It's not enough."

She shrugged. "It's enough for me." She dipped her spoon in the milk. "I don't understand why you married Karen."

Even now, she still had issues with that marriage. He'd dated Karen for a year, even though she'd lived in another state, and then all of a sudden, they'd announced they were engaged. Then he'd said they were moving. Why couldn't they have waited until after she'd graduated? But if they had, she would never have dated Alex. Some good had come out of that mess after all.

"Because I like her," Mr. Blake said dryly, echoing her words. "It's enough for me, Adrian."

Maybe it was, she thought. She still didn't like Alex's mother any better than she did three months ago, but in spite of that, her father seemed content with his new marriage. Adrian had never heard them argue the way Karen did with her former husband.

Her father was searching her eyes. "I don't understand why you stay with Alex."

"No, I guess not," she said finally. Strange how she could be so like him, but on this matter, they diverged. Sometimes there were just things that you couldn't explain to your parents. Even if she explained until she was blue in face, she knew her father still wouldn't get it. "I love you, Dad."

He looked taken aback, but his mouth abruptly softened. "I love you too, Adrian." He poured himself a cup of coffee and they sat at the table.

And that was all they needed to say.

---

The letting-go part was harder than Adrian had expected. She'd initially despised the fact that Alex's bedroom was right next to hers. She'd hated hearing Mandy Fitzpatrick in his room. Even later, when she'd slept with Alex, she'd wanted a stack of bricks to fall upon his head. Only at the end did she realize she wanted him to stay here. But for once, she agreed with her father.

"If Alex continues to live here, it'll be a nightmare," Mr. Blake had said when they were alone. "He has to go, Adrian."

So they'd all made the decision of sending Alex to live with his father. Alex, of course, had been ecstatic. It was what he'd wanted for four years now. Now at last he'd achieved his long-awaited desire.

Adrian played the doting girlfriend and helped him pack his stuff. She folded his clothes and placed his trophies in his duffel bags. It was funny in a way, if she stopped to think about it. Her father had threatened to exile her to Chicago, but now it was Alex who was moving out instead of her.

Quentin and Grant burst into Alex's room. "Damn!" Quentin said when he saw her and Alex still packing. "We were hoping to catch you in flagrante delicto."

Adrian rolled her eyes. "Don't you ever grow up?" she demanded.

"Nope!" He caught her around the waist and planted a smacking kiss on the lips. "If you're having a hard time with Alex moving out, let me console you..."

Alex looked up. "Hey! Hands off my girlfriend."

Quentin waggled his eyebrows. "Why am I getting the distinct impression I'm not welcome?"

"Because you aren't."

Grant chuffed Quentin on the back of his head. "Shut up, Q," he said mildly. He grabbed two bags and slapped Quentin's chest with them. "Get to work."

They all staggered to the garage with their arms full. Alex's friends had agreed to come over to help him move, but just the same, their presence boosted Adrian's spirits. She could always count on Quentin for a good laugh, at least.

Quentin had borrowed an SUV from his gigantic garage, so they filled that one first. Alex's clothes and DVDs and trophies went in.

"The desk is going to be a bitch to move," Grant said when they surveyed the room. "Sure you need it?"

"I sure as hell don't plan on living here again," Alex said.

Grant sighed. "Yeah." He glanced at the narrow doorway and then back at the desk. "We need to turn it sideways. And no offense, Adrian, but you can't hack it."

"Just because I'm a girl?" she said.

"A gorgeous one," Alex said with a grin, "but still a girl."

"Suddenly I don't want you to live here anymore."

He kissed her cheek. "Aw, baby. You know I'm cute." After a final squeeze, he turned back to their friends. "Let's go."

The desk was an immense L-shaped computer table with cabinets, but it didn't have any roll-ons at the bottom, so the guys had to carry it by hand. So with much swearing, they turned it over on its side with some help from Adrian. But when it was time to lift the thing, they staggered.

Quentin was panting. "Why don't I just call home and get some help?" he said, referring to his hired servants. "I pay them for this kind of stuff, you know."

Grant shot him a look. "Hell no," he said, his hands on his knees. "Don't be a wimp, Q."

"Need some help?" Justin said from the doorway.

By now, Adrian knew Alex enough to see the way his eyes lit up, but as usual, Alex didn't display his feelings outwardly. "Sure. Grab that end. Oh, and you're paying for the pizza."

Justin laughed. "That was supposed to be my line, man." He gave Adrian a half-hug before picking up the end with Alex. "One... two... three!"

This time, they got the desk to the garage before collapsing. Adrian carried the computer in her arms and put it in her car. "Still sure you don't need my help?" she mocked, as she took the printer and the laptop next. "Oh wait, I'm just a girl."

"Gorgeous girl," Alex amended.

In the end, it was Adrian's father who proved to be the decisive factor. He'd observed the guys with a polite interest, but he finally came over and helped them haul the table into the back of Grant's pickup truck. Wonder of wonders, it fit. And when Mr. Blake provided rope, they latched it in.

"Thanks," Alex said, managing to sound civil.

Adrian's father just shrugged.

"You need the bed and the dresser too?" Grant said, breaking up the awkward silence.

"No, I have them at my dad's home," Alex said. "I just need the bookcases and then we're all good."

Again with Mr. Blake's help, they latched the bookcases to the tops of Justin and Quentin's SUVs. They moved the last of Alex's books and equipment before pulling out of the driveway for Alex's father's home.

Adrian had never been there before, but it was only ten minutes away. The house was smaller than the one she'd just left, but of course it made sense since Mr. Montgomery lived alone most of the time.

Mr. Montgomery was already home when they arrived. He had the garage open, so they just parked and brought the stuff in. As it turned out, Alex's bedroom was upstairs, so they had to carry the desk. And this time, Adrian finally got to pitch in. As loath as she was to admit it, she was gasping when she shoved the desk upstairs.

"Don't even say it," she warned when she caught Alex's eye.

He just grinned. "Say what?"

"You're scum."

Grant's voice rumbled. "Yeah, Alex's an ass." And now Adrian couldn't miss the wry laughter in his eyes.

Alex's father took her aside after they'd set up the desk. "How are you doing, Adrian?" he said. "The fascists get you down yet?"

She laughed. "Actually, they're pretty decent." It wasn't even a lie, really. She talked to her father amiably those days and ignored Karen for the most part. "Karen hasn't accepted us, but I expected that, so..."

"As much as I love to vilify my ex-wife, she does have her good points. Otherwise I wouldn't have married her." He cocked an eyebrow. "But let's be realistic here. She'll fight you two because it's how she is."

It was the truth, and Adrian nodded. She thought she could come to like Karen in the future, but right now, it wasn't time.

"Hey, Ad!" Quentin shouted from Alex's room. "Even if you've got tits, it doesn't give you an excuse to laze around!"

"Charming!" she shouted back.

She heard him yelp suddenly and then she heard Alex's voice. From the sounds of it, Alex had punched him for her. Smiling, Adrian shook her head and picked up Alex's TV to take it upstairs.

After they'd stowed all the things, Adrian helped Alex unpack. The other guys went downstairs to order pizza, so it left her alone with him. She was putting his books in order when he pulled her into his arms.

"You all right?" he said.

She leaned her head against him. "Mm, yeah, I am." She smiled into his eyes. "I can finally have some peace at home. Be unmolested..."

Alex's laugh was low. "Admit it, baby. You'll miss me."

"No, I won't."

He kissed her neck deliberately. "Damn. The romance's gone out of our relationship already." He shifted his weight and then dangled a key in front of her eyes. "Tell me you'll miss me; otherwise you aren't getting this."

Her heart leapt, but she only raised her eyebrows. "Oh? And what am I supposed to do with that key?"

"I made you a spare, so you can come visit me anytime." His hands slid low on her hips. "Am I a great boyfriend or what?"

It was so like Alex that she had to laugh. She reached for the key, but he yanked it out of range. "Yeah, yeah. Now kiss me, you manipulative bastard." And before he could complain, she pulled his head down.

Their lips met with a practiced familiarity, but as usual, he always made her knees weaken. She wound her arms around his neck, and he pressed her closer. And when he was distracted, she plucked the key from his hand.

"Say I'm a great girlfriend," she demanded.

Alex's mouth quirked. "You're just as manipulative as I am, Adrian."

"And don't you forget it."

"Do I ever?" His thumb traced a pattern over her cheekbone. "You don't have to worry, baby. It'll work out."

Coming from him, that was as good as a promise. Adrian kissed him again and to her pleasure, he held her hand as they went downstairs to rejoin their friends. Sometime in the interval, Travis and Vaughn had arrived with refreshments. She hadn't called them, but apparently Justin had, which was a thoughtful gesture on his part.

"Hey!" Travis said to Adrian. "We thought we'd help you guys out."

"Oh? Is that why you came after we finished moving?" she teased him.

He grinned. "Exactly."

Vaughn waved her hand. "Never mind that," she said to Adrian. "Just wait until you've heard what gossip I've got..."

They all hung out in the family room until Mr. Montgomery brought the pizza. "You're all welcome to come back. The house's never been this full."

He looked pleased when he said it, and Adrian wondered if he'd been lonely living by himself. This situation was ideal for Alex, but also for his father. Maybe Karen would even agree to send Isaac and Owen here more often. And when Adrian glanced around at her friends, she knew she'd found an odd kind of perfection in this imperfect situation. Right boyfriend, right friends, right home. Her father and Karen still didn't accept her relationship with Alex, true, but she could afford to be patient. Hell, she'd come this far, hadn't she?

And there was Alex...

She was sitting with him, his arm around her, and with a casual gesture, he got her a slice of pizza and a drink. He was absent-mindedly toying with her hair as he listened intently to whatever Quentin was saying. And with a spark of hope, Adrian looked up at Alex and smiled. Maybe life was like that, always in multi-faceted layers instead of black and white. And she promptly forgot such philosophical thoughts when he smiled at her. His eyes were a beautiful, translucent green, and what she saw in them made her blush. This was the way they should be. And it was how they were. And that was more than enough.

Fin.

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AUTHOR NOTE: The story is done! The story is done! The story is done! Yes, really! I decided to merge the last chapter and the epilogue, and in my opinion, it works well here :)

A huge thank-you to you guys who joined me for this ride. I knew this rewrite would be a huge gamble, but I felt compelled to do it, and I'm more than grateful that you guys were so supportive :)

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QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SEQUEL: (THE INFORMATION BELOW IS NOW OUTDATED)

Q: What is the story's plot?

A: Isabella Park is a typical Asian overachiever. Quentin Maxwell is a typical rich, white playboy. They almost dated once, but Bella's mother interfered and sent her to Korea for the summer. Now, more than a year later, Quentin's running a girlfriend (read: bimbo) contest, and Bella's reporting on it for the school newspaper blog she's started with her friends. And when sparks fly, that's just the least of Bella's problems. He's white. He can't take anything seriously. Her mother still hates him. And he's just too charming for his own good...

Q: Will it be from Quentin's POV? Will Adrian, Alex, Travis, Vaughn, Grant, and Justin be back?

A: It's from Bella's POV, first person. And yes for the characters returning. The story takes place right after Redux, so relax :)

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EXPERIMENTAL SNIPPETS FOR THE SEQUEL:

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