Adam has a twin sister?
I stood there shocked, while the girl's eyes trailed over me from head to toe. Breaking out of my surprised state, I finally mustered up some courage and pulled out my hand for a shake, whispering a "Hi".
She looked between my hand and my face, a wave of sadness passed through her face which she hid with a sweet smile.
She's paraplegic dimwit!
Realizing what I just did, I pulled my hand back and stuttered, "Um.. I'm.. I'm really sorry. I didn't.."
"It's okay." she smiled and moved her eyes back to her brother. "Who is she Adam?"
Adam's eyes flickered to me and an awkward smile graced his lips. "She's Alicia.. She's a..umm... Friend. Yeah, friend."
"Just friend?" she raised her eyebrows and smirked. "You don't introduce me to your just friends."
I chuckled when Adam rubbed the back of her head nervously. Not everyone has that kind of hold over him.
"Tell me something Alicia. Does my brother has any friends or he is still the same lone wolf?"
"Well, not everyone can tolerate his mood swings." I said and he rolled his eyes. "I swear he is worse than a woman on her periods."
She grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Though they both looked almost same, there were many differences between them and I had figured it out in just five minutes of meeting her. She had a hint of mischief in her grey eyes unlike him.
"I like you." she said in an happy voice. "You have Adaline McArdle's stamp of approval."
I laughed at her words. "Well, you are officially my favorite McArdle now."
"Well, who knows. You might be a McArdle yourself one day." she said in a serious tone and Adam and I, both choked on the air.
"Adaline!" Adam scolded, glaring at her.
Surprisingly, she didn't avert her eyes like most of us do. Instead, she matched his glare with her own grey orbs, both identical pairs glowered at each other, like a predator watching his prey. The nurse intervened in time before both could kill each other with their looks, asking us to leave as it was time of her physiotherapy.
But while we were exiting her room, Adaline stopped Adam to tell him something. He asked me to go forwards while he talk to her and even though I didn't want to eavesdrop, I caught her words that were "He came to meet me last night."
Curiosity peeked inside me but I preferred not to listen further and walked out of the corridor to the reception. After few minutes, Adam joined me too and we both walked out of this centre, with I following him silently.
There were many questions in my mind, many ambiguities that I wanted to clear. He must have noticed my confusion because instead of making his way to the bike, he took a turn around the corner of the building.
"Where are we going?" I asked, looking around but he didn't answer. I got my response when he sat down on a wooden bench in the deserted area behind the rehabilitation centre.
"You must have many questions in your mind?" he said and patted the space beside him. I nodded and walked to him, sitting down beside him.
"What happened to her?" I asked, my voice cautious because I didn't know if it was okay for me to ask about it.
"Spinal cord injury. We were eleven that time, when she got injured in a car accident." he told me and I listened silently, my heart felt heavy due to the sadness. How difficult it must be for her!
"I was in the car too. But I got lucky while she... She lost her ability to move her limbs." he whispered, his voice barely audible.
"Who was driving?" I asked.
"My mother." he sighed, his voice breaking at her mention. "She died on spot."
A tear left my eyes as I looked at the small hint of moisture appearing in his eyes. Listening to him while he told me a bit of his past felt so intimate, so sacred that I couldn't help but scoot closer to him. I knew how difficult it is to lose your mother so I couldn't speak for a minute.
"Adam!" I spoke after a while, placing my hand on top of his.
His eyes flickered to me and he smiled. Grasping my hand in his own, he stood up and led me towards his bike without speaking anything further.
"Come on." he hopped on it and I settled behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. He started the bike, surprisingly on his first attempt, and we were soon away from this place.
There were many questions in my mind. What happened to him after the accident? Where was his Dad at that time? Is his Dad even alive? But I knew not to ask any further questions for now. So I just rested my head against his warm back and felt his abs clench under my grip.
Lost in my thoughts, I hadn't even realized when he stopped the bike in front of our houses. Pulling away from his warm back, I stepped down from his bike and looked around.
"So.." I trailed off.
"So?" he asked.
"Wanna come in?" I offered. He contemplated for a minute and then finally agreed.
Unlocking the door, I stepped inside, followed by Adam. Taking two cans of juice from fridge, I made my way towards my room. He stayed behind me silently and made himself comfortable on the bed once we were inside my room.
I settled on the space beside me and watched him as he rubbed his temples lightly. I knew how difficult it must be for him to tell me about his family. Even after five years, I still don't talk about Mom's death because it feels like I am living those days again.
"Adam!" I placed my hand over his palm. He lifted his head and looked towards me, the intensity in his eyes made my breath hitch. "Are you fine?"
He nodded and smiled but there was nothing genuine about his smile, it looked forced.
"Just remember one thing, I'm there for you. Always." I told him, scooting closer to him.
"I'm fine Alicia. Just.. Let's not talk about it." he said.
Nodding, I pulled my laptop from the side table and opened it. "Wanna watch a movie?" It felt like the only option to change his mood. I never thought I'd say this but I preferred rude Adam over this sad one.
"I don't watch movies." he said in a bored voice.
"You are such an old soul Adam." I teased and played "A walk to remember" that I had downloaded earlier.
"I've read the novel. Time for the movie now." I said and made myself comfortable.
"Nicholas Spark?" his eyebrows drew closer. "I didn't know you are such a girl."
"Well, news flash, I am a girl." I crossed my arms in front of my chest and whined. His eyes flickered to my chest for a second before he smirked.
"No doubt in that." he commented and my cheeks grew hotter. I gulped before rolling my eyes and turning my attention back to the movie.
Halfway through the movie, I realized that I was resting half of my body on Adam, not that I mind. My back was almost leaning against his side and his arm was somehow wrapped around mine. A warm, fuzzy feeling erupted in my chest and I smiled at our position.
When the movie ended, we both were totally lying over each others. I didn't think I would have left the comfortable position if it was not for my cell which had now started ringing.
Groaning in irritation, I left the bed and picked up the call by Dad. He had called me to inform me that he had to go to a nearby town for a meeting and he would possibly spend the night in a hotel. For almost five minutes, he kept giving me instructions about how to lock the door and what to do if someone break in, even though it wasn't the first time I was staying at home alone.
"What happened?" Adam asked after I cut the call.
I told him what Dad had said and he nodded in understanding. "Do you want to spend the night at our home?" he offered and I coughed awkwardly at the possibility of spending the night with Adam.
"I meant in the guest room." he cleared and I blushed again at my dirty thinking.
"No thanks. It won't be the first time I'll be staying alone." I told him.
"Oh. Okay. Do you need something? Like anything to eat?" he asked and I smiled at the concern in his voice. It was quite a rare event, watching Mr. Tall Dark and Arrogant talking in a sweet and concerned voice.
"Um.. What about the pancakes that you made once?" I took the benefit of the situation and he looked at me with confusion.
"Pancake for dinner?" he asked.
"Why not?" I shrugged.
"Fine. Meet me downstairs." he said. Making a weird face at my choice of food, he left the room and I made my way to the bathroom to take a shower. It had been two days since I last showered and I must be stinking by now.
Hopping in the shower, I let the water clean the dirt off my body and wash away my exhaustion. After I was satisfied with the way I smelled, I dried my hair with the towel and wrapped it around my head.
Wearing a clean pair of black undergarments, I searched for my night dress and realized that I had forgotten it on the bed. Cursing myself for being so irresponsible, I peeped out of the door into my room which was empty.
Slowly opening the door, making sure there was no sound of any footsteps, I dashed towards my bed and picked up my night dress. But while I was halfway towards the bathroom, the door to my room opened and Adam walked in, asking me whether I'd like chocolate syrup or maple one.
His voice got caught in his throat when his eyes zoomed in on me. My own legs froze at the spot so I couldn't even run back to the bathroom. That explained why I stood there still, while his eyes slowly travelled from my head to toe.
His gaze started from my wet hair which were tied on top of my head in a loose knot, to my face which was redder than the tomato, down to my chest which was covered with a cute, black Minnie mouse bra and stopped right at my legs which felt like wobbling under his gaze.
His mouth opened, and then closed, and then opened, and then he finally gulped, his Adam's apple bobbed up and down. The tension in the air became too thich that it became unbearable for me to breathe.
After a minute or so, he started walking towards me, but didn't stop even when he reached me. I take a step back, feeling hot all of sudden. He took another step forwards and before I could take one back, his hand snaked around my naked torso and he pulled me towards himself, claiming my lips with his own soft ones.
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