My head was pounding, my stomach empty, i struggled to flutter my eyes open.

I feel like death.

My feet hitting the floor, i needed a minute to catch my thoughts. Or lack thereof.

sluggishly walking to the bathroom, i caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, oh my god i slept with makeup on?

The blackness of the faded eyeliner were dragged through my cheek, melting mascara down the other. I looked like a coked up raccoon. I even scared myself there.

Those blissful moments of ignorance soon fade as i remembered the events from last night, fueling the pounding of my headache and my heart sink all the way to my feet.

Adam didn't come home last night.

I didn't even want to guess where he could be. 

My heart ached, trying to collect myself. Why couldn't this just be a fucking nightmare.

"There she is!" Rhiannon called out from the kitchen counter as the girls and Edward watched me struggle down the staircase, looking my absolute worse.

How did they even get in here? Never mind, i don't have the energy for this.

Giving them a defeated smile, i walked over to the counter, seating on a stool and placing my head on the counter.

The delicious smell of food engulfed the air, calming my aching body and soul. "I made casserole, eat" Erika pointed out, all three have found themselves comfortably around the kitchen counter, having their lunch and soundly conversing.

Meanwhile i look and feel shit.

"Liam told me what happened last night" Erika continued, her kind gaze looking to meet my eyes.

Liam.

I felt my heart ping, sudden bouts of his presence lighting inside my brain. He was... here? The warmth of his fingers on my cheek flood inside my head.

"He was sleeping on the couch when we got here, you've thrown up and finally passed out on the bed" She pursed her lips, clasping her hands together, "We got here around 9? you were like dead, we thought you weren't breathing at some point"

I sighed, god when did i become a colossal fucking mess. "Liam had to go, he had some things to do in the morning"

Oh my god i need to thank him and apologize.

"Not just him, Adam called us last night too" Rhi chimed in, her eyes shooting at Edward and back at me, "Told us to check on you and..."

she rolled her eyes, her hair in a high pony tail waving behind her back, "He hung up, typical"

"I'm so sorry about last night, i wish we were there for you" Erika sighed, the girls squeezing both my hands before forcing me to start eating and hydrate myself, presenting a plate of freshly made casserole and a tall glass of water like a nanny.

"I met with Adam this morning" I felt my body jerk at Edward's words, instantly turning to face him. shoving his mouth with a fork full of casserole, he spoke in between, "That guy who did that... to you last night? He's in the hospital"

I felt my body turn to stone, my eyes widened as i watched him speak. Both the girls kept their heads down, seems like they know everything already.

"W-wh-"

"There's a basement right? in Aces, like it's like a den i don't know" he shook his head, taking a gulp of soda. wait a minute, that's one of my cans.

"He beat the shit out of that guy, like i've seen him fight but not that fucking insane"

I couldn't bring myself to eat, staring at the counter, all i could picture was his face, his unrecognizable demeanor. How he pushed me away, he felt like a stranger. My heart yearned as it ached for him.

"Man i thought he was gonna kill him - dude almost died"

"Are you serious?" Quizzed rhiannon, equally shocked as i was. "YEAH! i had to send that guy to the hospital he could've fallen into a coma - it was literally all Adam, he's a fucking demon"

unable to move my body, i felt the warmth of Rhi's palm caressing my back as a way to comfort me. I do remember Adam ordering those bouncer's to take that guy 'downstairs' but i thought he meant to discreetly kick him out, not literally attempt to kill him. Was me not punching him a several times not enough.

"let me treat that" Erika pouted, pulling out some bandages and cream to apply on my reddened and bruised knuckles. I almost forgot about that.

"S- where is he right now?"

I could see they all shared a look with each other, silencing before turning to look at me in unison, "He's staying at the Belmont, donno for how long" Faltered Edward, a sympathetic look on his face. 

Words exchanged between us rang inside my head like a siren, my heart sinking deep within my chest, i wanted to collapse in a pool of my own tears.

"That fucking bitch, we're gonna get her on Monday" Rhi announced, her shoulder nudging at mine, "That is if Adam doesn't beat me to it"

I looked up to face her, more and more questions flood my head, unable to form a coherent sentence. 

She nodded to confirm her claims, "oh yeah he checked with me about everything that happened last night? Yeah he's pissed, like - really really pissed" twisting her lips to indicate worry. So much has happened within last night, I couldn't feel my body, just my heart and my pounding head.

But as of right now, Rachel is the least of my worries, sure, she's like the root of this mess, and to know Adam knows the truth is comforting, but all I want is to be in his presence.

"I should- i need to see him, i- i should go" i shuffled in my seat, ready to set foot from the stool.

"Sweetie are you sure about that - i mean" Erika walked over to me, concern washing over her face. "He hasn't cooled down yet"

All three of them have jumped on to their feet, watching me as if i was an erratic toddler. Maybe i am. My head is pounding, my body felt weak, i wanted to drop onto my knees and collapse, but my heart and my body yearned to see him. To be in his presence.

"I need to see him" I pleaded, a concerned yet sympathetic look in their eyes, Rhiannon nodded. Engulfing me into a tight hug.

                                       .•° ✿ °•.

The hotel was enormous, grandeur and victorian styled, my mouth was agape from the minute i entered. It felt like i transcended back in time. I don't think i can afford to stay here even if i sold all my insides on the black market.

Finding out that Adam has the most biggest and the most expensive suite for himself is not in the least surprising, considering that it's closed off and almost the size of an entire floor, it's just, what could one person need with that much space?

The girls walked alongside with me like my own bodyguards.

"uh Ma'am we can't allow you on that floor, we're told to not let anyone through" the receptionist, hurriedly spoke as the girls lead me towards the elevator, upon asking for Adam's suite.

Of course he's barred people from entering. I felt my heart close up, my breathing tremble, he's never done this before, he's never been like this. I shut my eyes tightly, willing away my sinking heart.

Lowering her shades to the bridge of her nose, Rhi studied the man standing before her, acting as a barrier between us and the elevator.

"Do you know who i am?"

Uh oh

The man was stuttering, awestruck by her presence, "Ma'am i stil-"

"I'm Rhiannon Aster" She swore, tilting her head, her high pony tail animatedly move with her, "That stupid fucking man up there is having a crisis - he needs his woman right now which we're here to deliver"

I couldn't help but conceal my smile, always going over the top.

"Now if you don't let us through, i'll have this place shut down in five minutes. Is that what you want? Each and every guest thrown to the streets?"

The man's eyes widened, his mouth agape, furiously shaking his head as a response. "Good, now move"

Brushing past him, she lead me and Erika through. I gave him a sheepish, apologetic smile, it's not fun getting approached by the Kings' like that.

my nerves were going haywire, my heart pounding within my chest, i felt my legs weaken. "It's okay, we'll be here waiting okay?" Erika comforted me as the elevator doors open, stepping onto his suite floor, my heart has never beat so much to the point of incapacitating me.

The girls waiting by a lounge area on the floor, i headed towards his suite, the large wooden door greeting me.

I couldn't think anymore, my body moved on it's own. Finding all of the courage within me to knock on the door,

Silence.

I knocked again.

"I SAID NOT TO COME UP HERE"

His voice boomed from the other side, sending chills down my spine. i've never heard of him like this. Little by little, i recognize him less.

"Adam it's me" I called out, my voice barely audible, i felt a lump form in my throat.

A long pause.

Did he hear me?

Sounds of footsteps grew louder as it neared the door, the shuffling of the door handle clicked.

I felt my body completely weaken, seeing him stand before me.

His buttoned shirt was pulled almost entirely open, his chest in bare display, his hair a mess and his expression was cold, emotionless. I searched his chocolate brown eyes for any sort of familiarity, but i was met with nothing.

His jaws clenched as he stared back at me. "What are you doing here Antheia?" he was pushing me away, word by word, a barrier between us.

I felt tears pool in my eyes, "I- i came to talk to you I'm so-"

His arm reached out to grab my wrist tightly, pulling me inside the suite.

It was dark and empty, even in broad daylight it felt as if it was night time. The blinds halfway shut, it doesn't even look as if the suite is occupied. What the fuck is he doing in here?

He eyed me from head to toe, jaws still clenched, he waited for me to speak. "I'm so sorry for what i said, i- i just"

"No" he intercepted, his voice monotonous. He walked over to sit on the arm of the couch in the living room, his gaze still studying mine. What is this? His lair?

"I'm sorry" His words caught me off guard, my eyes widening. "for leaving you alone last night, for all that to happen" His tone was cold, he was like a stranger standing before me.

"For bringing you into this mess -"

"Adam - "

"For involving you in my life"

I felt my breath knocked out of me, my body sink in to the floor as i watched him in disbelief, trying to make sense of what he said. "W-what are you saying?" my voice was desperate.

He huffed, his gaze falling on to the floor before looking up to face me, "You were right, maybe we weren't meant to happen"

There were no emotion in his voice, i studied his gaze, seeing no hope in return, "I can't keep doing this to you" he shook his head, "this can't work"

"Adam stop - w-what are you saying?" i inched closer, my hands reaching out for his.

He shut his eyes tightly, inhaling deeply, before his eyes fell on mine, "We can't do this Antheia"

"Yes we can"

"No" he shut me down, his gaze watching me grab ahold of his warm hand. What used to comfort me, felt foreign to my touch.

"You were right, i'm just like him" Jaws clenching, his slid his hand away from mine, gently pushing me away.

I caught a glimpse of his knuckles, even more bruised than mine, he's done an awful job in bandaging it.  "So leave Antheia, all i do is hurt you" his fingers gently reached over to caress my face, my skin yearning for his touch, "That's all i've ever done" his gaze fell on my hands, his darkened eyes scan atop my knuckles. Adam softly traced the bruises, his jaws clenched as he exhaled deeply, finally pulling away from my skin.

"I can't do this to you - leave before i damage us even more"

"ADAM" i croaked, trying to find some reasoning within him, leaning closer to his face until the tip of our noses touched, my hand clinging on to his shirt. He shut his eyes, trying to conceal himself, fighting off the urge to hold me. "I can't do this" he whispered.

"Leave"

Pulling away from me completely he stood up from the arm of the couch, his body stiffened, he looked at me as if i were unfamiliar. As if we didn't share our life together, didn't wake up and go to bed next to each other. All those days and memories, fade in an instant.

Brushing past me, he aggressively opened the door, gesturing that i leave. "Please don't do this" I sniveled, my voice barely audible, my heart was tearing up, making it impossible for me to speak further.

Refusing to look at me, jaws clenching, his eyes were on the floor, waiting for me to exit the suite.

It can't be over.

Can it?