Broken

• Chapter 78 •

"I'm gonna get us some drinks," he tells me when we walk into his house.

The entire class and a few people I don't recognize are crowded around his flat, listening to music and drinking. I scan the crowd and see Ashton and Kate at the other end of the room. They seem to be arguing, both their faces are contorted into frowns.

I will my gaze away from them to an approaching Eric. The tension is awful, why does he have to ruin everything? We were doing just fine before he decided to give me shit about Adrien. What's his problem with him, anyway?

I clench my jaw when he offers me a sheepish smile.

"You didn't answer my calls or texts... I'm sorry. I hate this... Talk to me," he pleads.

I'm just inviting apologies in, today.

"About what?" I fold my arms across my chest.

He sighs, "Don't be like that..."

"Like what? You were totally out of line!" I hiss.

He groans. "I'm sorry, Minty... Please. I know I was out of line, but I'm just trying to look out for you. You could do a lot better than balls for brains," he nods his head towards Adrien, who's laughing with Ashu and Arin.

"With who?"

Silence.

I blow out a breath, "Yeah... I thought so."

I frown, I can't let Eric talk shit about Adrien. I have to protect him, cause he's my boyfriend. Right?

"Look. Adrien's not a bad guy, okay? It's perfectly normal for a guy to get upset at his girlfriend for hanging out with guys who aren't him. And Adrien's been cool about it until the gathering. So what, he had a moment of weakness when he let alcohol and jealousy get the best of him? It's not like he did anything to purposely hurt me, Eric. He's not like that."

Eric just stares at me with a stubborn look on his stupid face. I roll my eyes, "He's not a bad guy. And it's no reason to hate on him! Adrien's sweet and caring, leave him alone. He just likes me and wants to spend time with me—"

Eric rolls his eyes, "Yeah, Clementine, he's head over heels for you and I don't think it's healthy."

I clench my jaw, "So it's okay for you to be head over heels and Isabella to be head over heels, but it's not okay when my boyfriend—Adrien—is?"

I can feel the anger seeping through my veins, he remains quiet.

"Eric. I'm going to say this one last time: it's none of your fucking business. So leave him alone."

He studies me for a while, "You really like him?"

I sigh, "Yeah. I do."

He nods slowly, "Okay. I just want you to be happy."

I give him a reassuring smile, "I am."

He squeezes my hand lightly, "Okay. So, are we good? Am I forgiven?"

I roll my eyes, "I guess so."

He laughs as Adrien walks up to us, "Hey guys."

"Hi," I tell him with a smile. Eric greets him with their weird dude-nods and leaves us to go hang out with Isabella.

Adrien turns towards me and hands me a drink, we chat and drink for a while, and I notice that Aya's about to make a move on Dustin. I pat Adrien on the shoulder and point excitedly. Dustin and Aya kiss and I clap and cheer for them, embarrassing the hell out of her.

I laugh when they both pull apart and blush. Adrien faces me and smirks, "Come on. Let's get more drinks."

We walk over to the drinks table, Adrien walks off to Arin and I walk up to Ashu, who's drowning herself in whatever it is she's drinking. Underage drinking is definitely illegal for a reason. I can't help but think how moronic the behavior of most of my classmates under the influence is.

"Hey, Ashu."

"Hey girl!"

"How's it going?"

"Pretty good, you?"

I smirk, "Nice hickey."

She blushes, "Whaaaaaat?"

I laugh and waggle my eyebrows, finding an opening to ask about Arin. "Did Arin give it to you?"

She scrunches up her eyebrows in confusion, "Huh? No! Of course not! We're just friends!"

I study her. "That sounds like bullshit, but okay. Your business," I lift my hands in surrender.

She flushes even harder, "Shut up!"

I laugh, "I knew it!"

She groans, "He's not the one who gave me this hickey, though..."

"Kay. How does Arin feel about it?"

She shrugs, "He saw it earlier, but he's been acting weird and pissy since!"

I roll my eyes, "You are not that clueless. Come on. He's obviously upset about it."

She shuts her mouth, as though she's in deep thought. Something clicks for her as her eyes grow wide, "Man... I'm way too sober for this conversation."

I laugh as she stalks off to find the hard-liquor. Adrien spins me around to face him, "Dance with me."

"I don't dance," I tell him. He approaches me, and I step back, "Don't even try."

"Come on," he laughs. "You honestly can't be shitter than me."

"Trust. I can."

He pulls me into his arms anyway. And instead of dancing like normal people at a party, this boy decides we should slow-dance to Cardi B's Bodak Yellow.

I look up at him to find him staring me dead in the eyes. His mouth is curved into an adorable smile, causing me to smile back at his idiocy. "So, this his how you woo all your victims?"

"Yes, yes it is."

"Clever," I nod.

"I try," he shrugs and leans in, his mouth is only a few centimeters from mine. His hand slips down to my lower back, causing goosebumps to erupt throughout my body. His other hand is warm in mine, our fingers interlock.

He leans in even more, planting soft kisses on my neck. My insides flutter as he continues to pepper kisses across my face, leaving a trail from my neck to my forehead, then back down to my lips again. His arms wrap around my waist, and I realize we've completely stopped dancing.

My arms press against his chest as he sucks on my neck, probably determined to leave hickeys and claim his territory. I pull back, meeting his lips with mine. Hunger takes over as I push him up against the wall. His eyebrows fly up in surprise.

I press myself against him, kissing him like my life depends on it. I'm unzipping his jacket, I want to feel him, touch him. All I can feel is Adrien, and my desire to be tangled up in his touch.

It's as though I've forgotten we're in public. At a party. Filled with all my fucking classmates.

"GET A ROOM!" Arin shouts.

I hear Dustin laugh, "Damn, Clementine. I didn't know you were so wild!"

Blood rushes to my cheeks. I step back and stumble, running a hand through my hair. Adrien looks just as flustered and light-headed as I feel. His lips are plump and pink, hair disheveled. We are fucking animals.

"Wanna go to my room?" his voice is low and sultry.

A chill runs down my spine, and even though I'm not completely sure what my response would be with a clear mind, I know what it is now. I feel light-headed, and that... Annoying feeling is there again. All I want to do is be with Adrien.

Maybe Emoni is right. Maybe it is just sex? And there is no right time? I don't think I'd regret it, right?

"Okay."