Chapter Thirty

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

~ Cole ~

Cole hadn't known what to expect when Adam had texted him two nights ago saying he'd finally come up with a date idea. Cole pressed him for details but Adam wouldn't budge, offering only that it wouldn't be anything fancy and to dress casual; a fact for which Cole was grateful.

After having spent his entire childhood attending charity events and high society meetings, the idea of wearing anything beyond jeans and t-shirts was revolting. Still, Cole knew he'd wear a four-piece suit if Adam so much as asked.

Adam didn't work Sundays so it was easier to arrange a time they could go out. Where Cole had assumed he would meet Adam at his place, he received a text that morning that Adam was at Piper's house, having stayed the night when their study session ran late.

Cole parked the Nissan on the curb outside Piper's house. He received no looks from the neighbours this time, seeing how surburban and incredibly mundane the Nissan was. Cole scowled as he climbed out of the car and made his way up the front path. He wanted his baby back.

He knocked once on the front door and stepped back to wait. The resounding clump of heels on hardwood floors sounded from the other side of the door before it was flung open to reveal Piper.

Piper looked as perfectly put together as always. She wore a pair of black overalls with a striped tee underneath, her dark hair pulled into two braids that hung over each shoulder. Her makeup was immaculate as it was minimal with blue glitter tracing her lash line.

"Well, if it isn't the Devil's Incarnate." Piper grinned wickedly, leaning against the doorframe.

"If it isn't Hell's reigning Queen." Cole shot back easily.

"He tell you where you're going?"

"No, though I suppose you know."

Her grin extended into a cat's smile. "Maybe, maybe not."

"So, that's a yes."

She pushed off the doorframe and waved him in. "Come inside. He's still getting ready."

Cole stepped over the threshold, frowning. Adam didn't seem like the type of person to care about what others thought of him. It was one of the things Cole liked about him. So, what had him taking so long to get ready, if not overthinking?

Cole had been about to ask when panicked footsteps heralded the arrival of another person. "Piper! Have you seen my jac-Cole!"

Adam appeared then, barefoot on the staircase landing behind them. He wore only a pair of black boxers and grey Holland University sweatshirt. His hair stood at all angles, flattened on one side that he'd predictably slept on. He stared wide-eyed at Cole, visibly panting.

"Hey," Adam breathed.

"Hi." Cole said, gazing up at him from the entryway.

Adam scrubbed a hand over his face, flushing slightly. "Sorry, I didn't know you were here yet."

"He overslept." Piper told Cole. "He's been running around like a mad rabbit the past ten minutes trying to get ready."

"Piper," Adam groaned. "Don't tell him that."

Piper looked up at him. "Your jacket's hanging on the hook behind my bathroom door. I found it in Skye's room this morning. I think she was trying to do some sort of cleansing ritual with it."

Adam made a face. "Alright, thanks." He sent Cole an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, I'll be five minutes tops."

"Take all the time you need." Cole said easily.

Adam nodded slowly, looking like he was going to say something else but Piper beat him to it.

"Adam," she said, tone firmer than usual. "Take a breath, alright? Go and do what you need to. Cole and I will be here when you're done."

"Okay, yeah-" Adam sighed, "-yeah. Thanks." He turned and bounded back up the stairs.

When he was gone, Cole asked, "Cleansing ritual?"

Piper grinned, wholeheartedly amused. "Skye roped Adam into doing tarot card readings last night. I think he's still scarred by it."

Cole cringed, remembering his last encounter with Piper's roommate.

Piper gestured for Cole to follow. "Come on. Let's wait in the kitchen."

Cole made no argument. They passed through the living room and into the kitchen, the walls a deep green and benches made from sleek black granite.

Piper flipped the switch on the kettle, a soft bubbling sound filling the room within seconds. She took a pentacle-emblazoned teacup down from the overhead cupboard before offering another to Cole in invitation. He waved her off and she placed one cup down on the bench before turning back to him.

"You can ask." Piper said, correctly predicting Cole's thoughts within the comfortable silence that had fallen over them.

Cole tried to pass off a casual shrug but his frown made it hard. "Is he okay? You said he overslept."

"Believe it or not, that's a good thing." Piper said, rifling through a tea canister and pulling out a lavendar teabag. "That boy barely gets enough sleep as it is. He slept through his alarm by accident and now the stress of having his routine thrown off is making him think he's ruined your date."

"Ruined?" Cole asked.

"Adam likes things in order," Piper explained, "and when that order is thrown out of balance, he sometimes has a hard time coping with it."

The kettle finished boiling. Piper poured her tea before turning back to face him, both hands wrapped around the mug. "Adam would kill me if he knew I was telling you, but he's really looking forward to today. He's just putting too much pressure on himself to get it right."

"I can speak to hi-"

Piper cut him off with a shake of her head. "I already have. But with all the effort he's gone through to make this day perfect, you saying something would just humiliate him and-" She broke off with a sigh. "God, he needs this. I purposefully let him sleep in today because he doesn't listen when you tell him to take care of himself. If anyone in the world deserves some happiness, it's him."

Cole waited a beat. Then, "Why isn't he sleeping?"

Something fiery changed in Piper's expression then. Her eyes darkened, lips curling into a pronounced sneer. "His idiot neighbour doesn't understand noise restrictions."

"What do you mea-"

"Sorry, I'm here!"

Adam came skidding into the kitchen then and Cole felt his heart slam against his ribcage at the sight of him.

Adam had changed out of his sleepwear. He now wore a pair of light blue jeans and a white long-sleeved tee with black symbols running up each arm. His hair had been properly styled, made to fall artfully to one side with plenty of volume masking the severe bed-head he'd been sporting five minutes ago.

He stood in front of Cole, shifting from one foot to another. "Sorry I kept you waiting. I meant to get up early but then my alarm didn't go off and-"

"There's no rush." Cole leaned in and brushed a kiss against Adam's cheek, whispering, "You look beautiful."

A blush crept up Adam's cheeks but his voice was level as he said, "Thankyou. You look nice too."

Before Cole could reply, Adam turned to Piper. "Keys?"

Cole had almost forgotten she was in the room. Piper sipped her tea with a knowing smile, having watched their interaction from her place by the sink. She reached into the pocket of her overalls and produced a set of keys but refrained from actually dropping them into Adam's waiting hand.

Dangling them just above his palm, she looked at him closely and lowered her voice, "Remember to have fun, okay?"

Adam nodded. He took a step toward Piper and kissed her on the cheek, gently taking the keys from her as he whispered, "Thankyou."

"Anytime."

Adam turned to Cole, shrugging on his jacket. "You ready?"

Cole smirked. "Lead the way."

***

VOTE. COMMENT. SHARE

What did you guys think?

Sidebar: their first date!!!


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net