Born to be Bad

ch. 2

Adele

I stared at him (more like his chest, actually) before I cleared my throat and snapped my gaze to his eyes (and I made sure it stayed there).

"Roy..." I started but trailed off, completely forgetting what I was about to say. "Um..."

Roy raised an eyebrow before leaning against his door frame, still very shirtless. "What are you doing here, Adele?"

My name sounded foreign coming from him. It wasn't like how my mom or dad, even my brother, called me. No. This was different. The way he said my name caused goosebumps to rise up my arms. Ugh, Adele. Snap out of it!

"Well, I..." I stuttered. Why the hell am I stuttering?

Get it together, Adele! a voice, that sounded a lot like my dad, encouraged me on.

With renewed confidence, I raised my chin and looked him in the eye. "I came to apologize about earlier. I know what I did was uncalled for but I was upset and you were in my way and I'm sorry for taking it all out on you." I started. "And... there's absolutely no explanation for my actions earlier. I'm not going to make excuses. But I am, however, going to apologize. So, I'm sorry. I really am." I finished.

His expression didn't change, which kind of scared the hell out of me.

"And... I'm sorry I was a b***h to you when you were only trying to be nice. It won't happen again." I assured but I wasn't looking at him. And, no.

I was not looking at his chest!

Instead, I was staring at my feet as if they were the most intriguing thing to ever grace this planet.

That's until I felt someone put their hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look up and the next thing I know, I was engulfed in a bone crushing hug by a very, very shirtless Roy.

My cheeks warmed up.

"I forgive you." He whispered, his lips right beside my ear making me blush even harder.

He pulled away and I was glad I could be able to breathe again.

He had a big grin on his face when he said, "So! Let's start this over, shall we?" He held out his hand. "Hi, my name is Roy Allister and you are?"

I stared at him in disbelief (Really? That fast?) before placing my hand over his. "Adele Diaz, pleased to meet you." I said carefully but Roy shook both our hands, oblivious to my hesitance.

"So, Adele, would you like to be my friend?" He said, suddenly.

I shrugged. "Depends. Are you somehow a secret psycho killer?" I joked.

He laughed and, I realized, it was something I liked to hear. "I'm not, fortunately. But, I am something better though."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

He nodded. "I'm a gentleman." Roy says almost proudly.

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, well, why don't I make you a deal. You go put a shirt on first and then maybe we can debate that over... coffee?"

He smirked and stepped closer. "Why? Is it bothering you?" He teased.

I was basically trying to ask this guy out and he goes ahead and says that.

I took a step back until my back hit the railings. His smirk grew wider when he realized I was already trapped, like a rat in a rat trap.

"Am I bothering you?" He said in a devilishly low voice that the signs in my head immediately screamed red alert.

But instead of backing down, I looked at him in the eye and gave him a smirk of my own.

My eyes swooped over his perfect figure, his toned chest, his perfectly sculpted jaw, to his luscious looking lips, to his perfectly pointed nose and, finally, to his deep blue eyes with flecks of green in it.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." His voice snapped me out of my trance state.

I smirked up at him before replying, "There's not much to see." Lie. A totally obvious lie. He wouldn't be a part of New York's most wanted bachelor if he didn't look as good as he did.

There's so much to see, it's hard to look at one place, much less the entire thing without my cheeks burning.

He smirked even wider. "Really, now?" He teased.

I rolled my eyes. "Just put a shirt on, Allister!" I said and pushed him away.

He didn't budge (damn him and his rock hard muscles) but he did back away laughing, much to my chagrin.

I was finally able to breathe properly as he went back to his room (without closing his door) and picked up a black t-shirt and putting it on, making his muscles and his pale skin stand out more and making him look extra... hot.

Yes, I called Roy Allister hot. Because, he is! Can't deny what's already there. Just don't tell him I said that.

I thought that was the end of this encounter and he was going to lead me out but he stepped too close for comfort once again and said, "Hello, new friend. I can't wait to spend the day with you." with genuine excitement.

And I knew, in that moment, that I was in for a long day.

~ * ~

It had been a week after since me and Roy went for coffee and during that one afternoon of spending time together, I learned one thing: Roy Allister is very very talkative. For the rest of the day, I ended up knowing about his likes and dislikes, I learned he was really into cars, he admired his dad a lot and his celebrity crushes were Amy Adams and Henry Cavill, who he met at the Man of Steel premiere. Also, apparently he also likes to read a lot of young adult fiction like Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson series. That was one thing we had in common so far.

It was currently Thursday and it was my annual "prank the  principal" day. I had everything planned; I paid some students to distract him from his office and then I asked a few friends to help me cover his entire office with bubble wrap and they were more than willing to. Last year, it was make him drink cement in front of the whole school. I ended up embarrassing him, not only in front of the whole student body, but in front of the school board as well. In my defense, I did not know we would have visitors that day. Suffice to say, I got one month of detention for that, much to my mom's approval. It was only supposed to be a week but my mom insisted I get a more severe punishment so it was one month of bathroom duty.

"We have eyes on the target." Andy's voice could be heard from the walkie talkie in my hand.

Andy Sanders was a junior who got caught into my schemes one day when he saw me pull a prank on one of the football players who bullied a group of disabled kids. That prank involved an entire box of pizza and some red hot chili peppers. I pulled off that scheme by pretending to be the pizza delivery guy and told the original deliverer that I was the coach's assistant. Andy saw me pull that off and has clung to me like how a servant would follow around his master.

"Copy that. Alert me for the green light, beta squad."

"Copy."

I was in the hall, a walkie talkie on my hands, waiting for my minions to give me the go signal when someone came up behind me.

"Adele?"

I jumped, startled and whirled around seeing Roy with the school uniform looking perfect on him. He was looking at me, an obvious question in his eyes. "Roy. What are you doing here?"

Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. He just caught me red handed.

"I was on my way to the school yard when I saw you here. Everything okay?" He asked.

"Um, yeah. Everything's great" I said, subtly hiding the walkie talkie behind me.

"Why do you look like a deer caught in headlights or something." Roy said.

I started to slightly panic. The signal could arrive any minute now. "A metaphor. How nice. Smart, too. Did you think of that by yourself?"

"It's an idiom actually but thank you. As I was saying, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, you know. Just doing totally legal stuff. Nothing to worry about. Anyway, I have to-"

Just then, the walkie talkie made a weird sound and then I heard one of my minions voice, Andy, in the speaker. "Red leader, the vulture has left the nest. I repeat, the vulture has left the nest."

"Uh..." I trailed off, watching Roy's expression turn from curious to confused until it looked like he was about to burst into laughter.

"Red leader? Adele? Are you there?"

"Are you gonna answer that?" Roy said, an amused look on his face.

I laughed nervously before whirling around just in time to see our principal, Principal Matthew, close the door to his office. I put on my serious face before answering, "Copy that, beta squad. Alpha squad, you're up. You have five minutes."

"Already on it, red leader." Nina's voice replied and that's when I see two shadowy figures pick the lock to Principal M's office.

Nina Cortes has been my closest friends since we could walk. Our mothers we best friends who went through poverty together and rose to be one of the most hard working women this city has ever known. Her mom owned a realty agency and my mom was in the fashion industry and was married to one of the richest men in New York.

"So this is how it happens." An impressed voice comes from behind me and I jump again.

Holy smokes. I forgot Roy was still behind me.

When I turned around to look at him, I was face to face with his broad chest. I didn't notice him come near me at all. I looked up at him, ignoring the fact that I could smell his minty aftershave and cologne and the fact that he had a small dimple on his cheek when he smiled even just a little, and saw that he was looking at the sight before him that was Operation Bubble Wrap. Yeah, we probably should've come up with a better name than that but we didn't have time. Anyway, Roy was looking at my team work quietly and stealthily as they tried to pick the lock. Nina was on the lookout while Casper was the one doing the lock picking. When the door opened, Nina's voice spoke over the speaker.

Casper Hayes was the third member of our little group. He was Nina's boyfriend and was in the same year as us. He had a pretty dark past; drug addiction, juvie, excessive smoking, drinking, partying and skipping class up until he met Nina and she helped him get back on track.

"Red leader, we're in. You're up."

Hearing Nina's voice over the walkie talkie, Roy turned his head to look at me only to find me already looking at him. His blue eyes met mine and I hate to admit it but I couldn't help but swoon a little bit. Why did he have to look so damn attractive? With how close we were, the color of his eyes never ceases to amaze me; how deep blue they were, it was almost like staring into the ocean on a warm summer day. My eyes ran over his face until it landed on the small dimple on the right side of his face. Being around Roy was intoxicating. I simply forgot where I was or who I am or what I'm doing. It's surprising. I'm never this distracted, ever.

"Red leader? Our time's almost up. Where are you?" Nina's voice sounded again, more urgent this time. That snapped me out of whatever trance-like state I was in.

"I... I have to go." My words sounded quiet for some reason, like I was out of breath.

He looked at me, a small smile playing on his lips. "Okay, red leader." was his playful reply.

I blushed and looked away before he could see it. "See you around," and without looking back at him, I walked to where my minions were, holding the bubble wrap for me. "Okay, kids. Let's do this."

~ * ~

The prank was a success, obviously. We had Principal M's reaction on tape using the hidden cameras we installed before the prank. This really was an A grade operation that would put detectives of the NYPD to shame. We were laughing at it in an isolated part of the cafeteria where me and my team hang out every after a successful prank. It's the only time I don't actually feel so alone.

Sad, I know.

After we got over our fits of giggles, Casper turned to me. "Hey, Adele, what took you so long to get in position?" He asked.

I stared at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, yeah. Before we got into the principal's office. One second more and we would've been caught. Where were you?" Nina chimed in.

They were all looking at me now, expecting an answer.

I gave them a confused look before realization dawned on me; Roy's blue flecked with green eyes, his aftershave and cologne, the small dimple on both sides of his cheeks. Thinking about it made me flush but I tried my best not to seem affected and tried my very best not to show them I was blushing before answering, "I was in the restroom, putting on some lip gloss."

All three of them, Andy, Nina and Casper exchanged glances before settling their confused gazes on me.

I shrugged, nonchalantly. "You know what I always say; no matter the occasion, you always gotta look good." I said.

They all rolled their eyes and shook their heads as if it they already expected me to do something like that.

"Classic Adele," says Casper.

"Make up? Really?" says Andy, his eyebrows furrowing together.

Nina shook her head and patted my shoulder as if to console me. "It's okay. I totally get it. That's just the price of beauty. Sorry, boys. You wouldn't understand," she said and I laughed.

"Exactly," I answered. In desperation to change the subject, I said to them, "Who's down for some burgers? Since the prank today was successful, it'll be my treat."

A chorus of cheers echoed around the table.

~ * ~

Suffice to say, we did not just end up getting burgers but we went and got wasted right after. We decided to go home at around midnight cause Nina and Casper had to be somewhere early tomorrow and Andy was wasted as hell. We had to bring him home to his dorm room and have his room mate take care of him.

"Hey, now that I think about it, I saw Roy Allister at the scene of the crime earlier." Nina slurred as we walked.

"What do you mean?" I asked, equally as tipsy as her.

"I saw him in the hallway while we were executing our plan. I didn't think anything of it until," she paused before training her electric green eyes at me. "Is something going on between you two?" She asked with narrowed eyes.

Oh, boi. I was way too intoxicated for that conversation.

"Heh. Funny story. So, like... Roy's kind of my.... fiancé." I said, hesitantly.

Nina stopped dead in her tracks and looked at me even more now, as if my news just sobered her up. "What?!" She yelled in the middle of the street.

"Shh. You're gonna wake the entire neighborhood!" I pleaded.

"Screw the entire f*****g neighborhood. Besides, this is New York. Everyone is still awake at this hour. Anyways, stop changing the subject and tell me how did this happen? When were you planning on telling me?! Why wasn't I informed about this?!" Nina fired at me.

"Look, Nina, I'm really sorry I wasn't able to tell you. It's just that so many things happened and it all happened so quickly too. I-" I stopped when I felt a bile coming up my throat. "Oh, no."

"What?" Nina asked.

Before I could answer her, I threw up in the middle of the street.

~ * ~

Ben opened the door for me or rather, Ben opened the door for Nina since she was the one who knocked on the door of my penthouse cause I was too out of it to do anything. When Ben saw me, his eyes widened and he looked like he had seen a ghost. I could hear murmuring in the living room.

"Oh, come on, Ben. I don't look that bad, do I?" I giggled and entered the threshold, stumbling blindly and almost knocking over a vase. I mean, who even puts a vase by the door?

Ben looked at Nina in question. "She's had a lot to drink." Nina said with a grimace.

"No, I haven't!" I protested which led me to stumbling again and, this time, really knocking over a white vase that I'm pretty sure my mom got in an auction about Greek ceramics or something. Long story short, that vase was expensive. The sound of broken ceramics halted all the conversation in the living room.

"You don't say, Ms. Cortes," Ben said, taking hold of my arm as Nina took hold of the other. "Now is actually not the very best time, you see. Her parents are in the living room and-"

"What is going on here?" It sounded like my mom's voice.

"Oh, crap." Nina mumbled beside me.

Footsteps could be heard approaching us and when I looked up, standing there was my mom, my dad, Roy's parents and Nina's mom. What is she doing here?

"Hey, mom." Nina said, hesitantly.

"Nina, what happened here?" My mom asked.

"Well, um..."

"We were partying! So fun! Soooo fun!"  I exclaimed and nearly stumbled again if Nina hadn't caught me.

"Adele, I don't think you should be talking right now," Nina hissed at me.

"Shhh. Don't be so loud. Someone's in the other room!" I hissed back at her, covering her mouth.

"Okay. I can't handle this right now. Ben, take her upstairs." My mom ordered.

"I can take her." Someone at the back of the crowd volunteered.

Everyone turned to look at the voice and I squinted my eyes to see if it was who I thought it was. I tried to focus but my head was starting to ache and my vision was getting blurry. I probably needed to wear glasses or something. As I was in the middle of processing why I was slowly losing my eyesight, the smell of mint aftershave and cologne enveloped all my senses and I wasn't able to think straight even more. Someone stepped in front of me and when I trained my eyes to look who it was, I was met with blue flecked with green eyes smiling down at me, those dimples more prominent than ever.

"Hi, Adele." The angelic face even had an angelic voice. Life is so unfair.

"You look familiar," I said, furrowing my eyebrows. "Have we met before?"

At the side of my eye, I could kind of make out my mom face palming herself and Nina shaking her head. What? There is a beautiful boy in front of me that I don't recognize.

Said beautiful boy did not seem fazed at all. He merely smiled. "You've already forgotten who I am? I thought-"

I shot out my hand in front of him to get him to stop talking. "Hold that thought," I said before puking for the second time that night, all over his designer shoes.