Tempting Adeline

20

ADELINE

I missed a note for the seventeenth time. The same f*****g note.

I slam my hands down on the table, the pain bursting through my veins. I do it again trying not to flinch. The room is still, everything paused except for my ragged breathing. I’m feeling agitated again.

I rise suddenly, the bench tipping over. I grab the sheet music and rip the pages from the stand. They fall to the ground around me. Tears burn my eyes and a lump forms in my throat. Before I knew it, the sob wrenched out of me.

“Adeline?”

I whirl around. Wesley stood at the door to my room, his face etched in concern. “Can I come in?”

I was still mad at him but I’m feeling frustrated this evening and for no apparent reason. I wiped my tears from my cheeks hurriedly and gave a nod. He walked in, helping me with the sheet music. “I know I messed up. And I’m sorry. I don’t want to lose you just yet.”

I sit down on the bench then pull my legs to my chest hugging it. I get these mood swings at times. It comes when I’m stressed and frustrated. I watched him with my eyes still wet stack up the papers and put them back in order.

“So are you still looking for a muse because I think I changed my mind?” My eyes widened. The look on his face was serious. But then Croix came to my mind.

His smile turned to a frown when he saw my brows furrowed. “Is there a problem?”

“Uh, well Croix is already filling in for the position.” I mumbled.

“So you couldn’t wait for my response? You just picked him and tossed me aside?” Wesley asked, his brows furrowed and his jaw clenched.

“No, Wesley. You made it clear that you didn’t support what I wanted. So now it’s my fault that I should risk my dreams for your selfish comfort?”

“I didn’t ask you to risk anything. I only said that...”

“It wasn’t important.” I finished. “The thing is Croix filled in and decided to help me, something you didn’t do.”

His face softened. “Right...you’re right. What matters is that you get what you want and that’s final. I’m sorry. I should have been more cooperative with you.” He took my hand in his. “I know you’re still annoyed with me but I promise to make it up to you. You want me to make dinner for you?”

I hesitate. I can’t look him in the eye. I just gave a nod and turned away. He gave me a forehead kiss before leaving. I turned to the wall. I opened my drawers, took out a banana flavoured gum and chewed on it to calm my nerves.

“Smells like bananas. Not your flavour though.”

I jolt out of bed, my pulse racing only to see Croix seated at the edge of my bed, his eyes studying the music sheets, running over the notes. My heart is going a million times a minute.

And then he moves away, flicking the overhead light then closes the door behind him, leaving us alone in the room. Wesley could come here at any moment. My stomach knots immediately.

“Why are you in my room?” My eyes narrowed. “And how did you get in if not the front door?” I know if he enters through the front door, I’ll hear him walk in. And the thought of him having access to my room other than the front door makes me overthink. “Are you stalking me?”

“Yes, I am stalking you, Adeline. And doing a pretty bad job at it too since you have caught me.” He pushes off the wall and steps into my space. “How about we discuss what happened in the studio?”

“You want nothing to do with me, Croix and I want distance between us too. The details of our contract say that; No s*x, our meetings should be held after nine and there should be no clinginess plus no one has to find out about this.” I hissed.

“Wesley and I have reconciled and him seeing you inside here, alone with me, in my space gives a lot of impression.”

“You make a lot of conditions, little Del.” He looked down at my lips. “Wait till you see my demands.” He pulled away, his jaw locked tight before he took out his cigarette stick.

“We are having a party. You should come. You look stressed anyway.” He lit the cigarette. “And another thing, I don’t share.”

With that he left. What just happened right now? What did he mean by that? I mean he has always shown how much he wants me but he never crosses the line before and he pulls away before anything happens. Yesterday at the studio showed that the line was thinning by the minute.

The thing is I like Wesley and I need him and we’re in a relationship so I can’t cross that line too. If Wesley breaks up with me, I’m screwed. My dating privileges will be cancelled. I won’t be able to perform anymore because apparently the conductor is Wesley’s Uncle.

I put on an oversized shirt and shorts, applied very little makeup and went downstairs. I heard the party was in the basement though. Truthfully, there was a party but people were few. First time, very few people compared to the crowd I met on my first night being here.

I took a shot of Vodka and dropped the cup on the counter. From the corner, I see Josiah licking a lollipop with Jules beside him doing the same. She’s talking so much and all he does is to nod and watch her. I could tell he’s listening even though it doesn’t look like it.

I spot Wesley by the sofa too talking and chilling with some guys I suspect were in his football team. I shrugged, taking some sips of water as well. I don’t want to be tipsy enough. Croix hasn’t said anything yet about our meeting so I’m guessing it’s not holding tonight.

CROIX

Eventually, though, the light goes off. The soft click of the switch of the bedside lamp signals that she’s leaving her room already. I catch her shadow as she passes the door to my room towards the living room. Copies of her keys are burning a hole in my pocket, connected to the ring that holds my own.

I plan on using them often which is why I add them to my ring. I stepped into her dark room. I don’t need a flashlight. I already know the entire place by heart. I go to her phone that she left on the counter and install spyware. I already made it clear to her that I don’t share and I plan to prove that.

I used the door separating her room from mine that she doesn’t know about because it looks like wallpaper. I’m the only person who knows where it is. I then stepped out of the room like nothing ever happened.

I’m going to mark her as mine. Soon.

I adjust my position in my chair by the window, exhaling smoke.

The door cracks open, and Finch sticks his head in. “Erik wanted me to round everybody up for the game.”

I raise my eyebrows, unmoving. Finch is one of the regulars at my tattoo parlour. We weren’t close but he had potential use in the future so I kept him around. He’s a good guy. Which is why we don’t hang out much.

“So...” He shifts on his feet stepping further into the room. “I don’t normally stay when Erik starts rounding everyone for his sick games. Is it worth it? To stay?”

I focus on him, lips pressing into a thin line. Erik organises afterparties and games. There are rumours that he creates nightmares and twists them into fantasies. But then again, they are just rumours.

“Do whatever the f**k you want, Hudson. But if you decide to stay, don’t chicken out halfway through.” I have never called him by his first name before, and it startles him to move from my way.

I open the door wide, letting light enter the dark room. The music is ten times louder in the hall, but I ignore the way the bass vibrates my chest and assaults my eardrums.

Finch follows behind me to the basement where the party was taking place and Erik stands amongst a relatively even split number of girls and guys.

My eyes zeroes in on Adeline instantly. She’s so noticeable even in the midst of the crowd and she doesn’t f*****g know it.

Her gaze slams into mine and we just hold our stare. My heart beats uncomfortably hard. I move towards her like I’m being drawn in, almost against my will until I stop just in front of her.

“What do you want, Croix?” Her voice is raspy even as she’s frowning and keeping distance, hyperaware of what people are thinking or whether they are watching. Her tongue peeks out, licking her dry lips, making me want to...

I fight my thoughts. “Pick me for the game.”

Her eyebrows rose, then she looked around, maybe for Wesley then back at me. “Sure. If I know what we’re playing.”

I can't stand her doing whatever sick game Erik had in mind with some random guy because in Erik’s game, relationships don’t matter.

“Tonight’s game is all about dark desires.” Erik announces. “Guys have already drawn a card...Ladies it’s your turn.”

The ladies there took their cards and he shuffled them. The card he made me pick is burning a hole at the back of my pocket. The need to pull it out and show it to her for her to pick me is strong but it’s not allowed in the game. It’s just a random guess and the guys match with the girls according to the cards.

She hasn’t shifted yet so I’m thinking maybe she’s having second doubts about this. She looks over at Wesley who doesn’t even pay any mind to her, his fingers clutching his card hard. To him, it’s just a game.

“Having second thoughts?” I whisper in her ear.

She shakes her head, her jaw set. “Hardly.”

“Ready?” Erik calls. “Show your cards and find your partner.”

He flips his own card, grinning at the king of spades in his grasp. My heart skips as I try to find out her own too. The girl beside me shows me the seven of spades, her scowl lodged in place that I didn’t have too.

“What did you choose?” she asked me. I show her my card and her eyes go wide. I smirk and she moves away from me, her cheeks flushed.

“Anyone without a partner has to leave or redraw.” Erik said, a girl l already looped under his arm. Across the room, Josiah is paired with Jules and Finch to some girl. I’m surprised he stayed for the game.

My eyes fell on Adeline.

“Let me see it.” I murmured.

She shows me her card, a small smile on her lips. The red joker stares at me. I show my first true smile, revealing the other joker.

“What does that mean to you?” Her throat moves as she swallows.

“I’m going to take what I need from you.” I tell her in a low voice. “And then we’ll focus on the twisted s**t you crave.”