[A/N] Sorry for taking so long to update - things have been hectic. Hope you enjoy and please review! Reviews make my day awesome.
Spencer's POV
The classroom was already buzzing when I got there a little while after the bell went. When they saw me come in everyone went quiet. Obviously, unlike James, they knew that I was the one who found Adrian unconscious the previous day.
"Is he going to be alright, sir?" asked one girl, who looked genuinely worried.
Assuming she meant Adrian, I nodded. "No need to worry, Adrian's going to be fine. He won't be at school for the next week or so, however. He needs to recover a little."
I looked around the room and noticed that Noah wasn't there. My heart squeezed a little when I realized he would be with Adrian. He had the ability to go to Adrian's house whenever he pleased, regardless of who may see him. I didn't have that luxury, and I was jealous of that.
"I feel terrible for not speaking up last lesson," said one boy, and most of the class murmured in agreement.
"Well, let's put that behind us for now and just hope that Adrian makes a speedy recovery." I turned to the board and started to teach, trying to push thoughts of Adrian to the back o f my mind, at least for the hour.
At the end of the school day I sat in my car gripping the steering wheel. I had wrestled with the thought of seeing Adrian all day, to see if he was doing okay. I picked up my phone and before I could change my mind, I called him.
"'Ello?" He sounded groggy and I cursed myself. Of course he would be sleeping, resting. And I woke him up.
"Adrian, it's me... Spencer."
"Yeah, I know." I noticed his voice changed and I let out a quiet breath I hadn't even realised I was holding. His voice got softer, as if he were smiling. "What's up?"
"Nothing... is anyone else home?"
"No..."
I bit my lip. "Can I...come over? Nothing dirty," I said quickly, "I just wanted to see you. See how you were holding up, you know."
I heard him chuckle. "Sometimes I think you're about twelve years old. Yeah, you can come over. See you in a bit?"
I nodded. "Okay, I'll be there in about five minutes." I hung up and started the ignition. I remembered the way to his house perfectly, which for some strange reason both surprised and amused me.
I arrived there and knocked on the door, half expecting Adrian's dad to open it and question why I was there. Sure enough, though, Adrian opened the door, and to my amusement he was clad in a pair of boxer shorts, a jumper and Ugg boots.
"I thought you would have at least gotten dressed for my visit," I joked, stepping inside when he ushered me in.
He snorted. "You're lucky I'm even wearing this. Did you want a drink or something?"
I shook my head and licked my lips nervously. "No thanks, I just wanted to come to see how you were."
He ushered my in and then walked into the living room, where he gingerly sat down on the couch, wincing slightly. "Trying to sleep is hell but I'm not getting worse, if that's what you're wondering."
"Have you been icing your ribs?"
"I haven't gotten around to it today... no." He looked a little sheepish.
I rolled my eyes. "You're hopeless, you know that?" I stood up and walked to the kitchen, opened the freezer and took out some frozen peas and wrapped them in a tea towel.
"It's cold, though! I'm going to freeze my nipples off!"
I laughed loudly and then back down next to him. "Come on, jumper off."
He rolled his eyes back at me. "As you wish." He slowly lifted his shirt off and I heard him take a sharp intake of breath, most likely from pain. I winced in sympathy when I saw the purple and black bruises on his ribcage.
"I am so sorry," I said, pressing the peas gently against his torso.
"Why are you apologising?" He winced slightly at the cold.
"If I had gotten out earlier, you wouldn't have gotten hurt as badly..."
He reached down and squeezed my knee. "It's not your fault, okay? It's me and my big mouth's fault."
We sat in silence as I iced his chest, until I pointed out. "We don't really know anything about each other, you know."
Adrian was silent for a second. "I suppose we don't."
"I found out today you play guitar. I didn't know you did music?"
He smiled. "Oh yeah, I absolutely love it."
"What do you want to do when you leave school?" I asked.
He shrugged lightly. "I'm not really sure quite yet. Music's more of a hobby than something I actually want to do. I really like Biology, though. I might do something with that, but yeah, I don't know yet." He started playing with the fabric of my trousers absentmindedly. "When's your birthday?"
I paused, thinking for a moment. "Soon, actually, it's on the nineteenth of September."
"And you're going to be twenty-two?" I nodded. "We should have a class party," he grinned.
"Aren't you a bit old for class parties?" I asked, laughing softly.
"One thing you should know about me, Spence, is that I am never too old for a class party." His eyes sparkled.
His hand lightly ran up my side and stopped behind my neck. I leant forward unconsciously, as did he.
Our lips were barely touching, when my eyes swept over his face, memorising everything about it - his stormy grey eyes, his soft lips, everything.
"Take a photo," he breathed, smirking slightly, "It'll last longer."
I grinned back and then kissed him firmly on the lips, wrapping my arms around him and knotting my hands in his hair. I felt his tongue slide across my bottom lip and my lips parted in slight surprise and he took the opportunity to invade my mouth, caressing my tongue with his.
I don't know what it was about Adrian in particular, but I had never felt this strongly about anybody so quickly. My heart pounded in my ribcage and my hands were shaking.
I pulled away slightly, "we really-" I was interrupted by Adrian's lips once again pressing against mine.
"Shouldn't," I pulled away again, finishing my sentence. "Your dad could come in at any moment."
He smiled. "True. And while that was awesome, I do slightly regret it in the sense that I now have to catch my breath, which is painful as all hell."
I winced in sympathy. "I really am sorry."
He leant forward and gave me a quick peck on the lips. "How many times do I have to say it? It's not your fault."
"What made him beat you that badly anyway?" I linked my fingers with his. "I think he's going to be expelled, by the way," I said as an afterthought.
I noticed he looked a tad guilty when I said that.
"I may have, sort of, provoked him."
"How?" I questioned.
"Well, he kept on saying 'fuck you, Adrian', and I may have answered that with something along the lines of 'I'd rather you take me out for a nice dinner first'."
My boyfriend was an idiot. "You're an idiot."
He grinned sheepishly. "I realise that."
I had forgotten about the peas, which were then thawing out on the coffee table.
I looked down at them. "We need more peas."
"No more peas. My chest feels fine."
"Are you sure? I want to do what I can to help."
He smiled, leaning back on the couch. "Distract me. Has anything interesting happened at school?"
I shrugged. "Everybody's talking about you. At the moment you're the prime piece of gossip."
"Interesting." He was silent for a few seconds and then he suddenly asked, "Are you a cat or dog person?"
"Dogs," I answered straight away. "I don't have anything against cats but I've always thought dogs were more huggable and they can be your best friend. I've also always found it endearing how they lick away your tears. Even if it is only because they're salty and most people find it gross."
"You really are a child at heart, aren't you?"
I shrugged, grinning slightly. "I try. What about you? Are you dog or cat person?"
"Either," he answered. "I have a cat, Sherlock, but I don't know where he is at the moment. He's probably hiding from you."
"I should probably head off then," I smiled, giving him one last kiss. "I'll see you in a week."
"The sports carnival is this Friday, right?"
I nodded, "Yeah, why?"
He grinned mysteriously, giving me a quick wink. "You might see me before that."
"Don't strain yourself," I said, putting on my best 'teacher' voice.
"Oh don't worry Mr Cardell," he rolled his eyes, "I won't."
The week couldn't go quicker. I missed having Adrian there, even if I couldn't actually kiss him, or even talk to him properly. Just having him at school, in the same vicinity was somewhat comforting and for those couple of days I didn't even have that. When Friday arrived, it was like I had a mantra going on in my head.
Only two more days, I thought to myself, only two more days until I got to see Adrian again. I had gotten to school early because I wanted to get some work done before the carnival began. Little did I know that somebody had already beaten me there.
"What's cooking, good looking?"
I turned around to see Adrian leaning against a light post at the end of the car park.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I queried, walking up to him, grinning.
"Well I figured that no actual school work would be happening today so perhaps I could come along and help out."
"So why are you here so early?" I gestured for him to walk with me.
"Dad didn't want me driving 'in my condition' so he dropped me off on the way to work."
I nodded in understanding. "So how are you feeling, anyway?"
"Well, my bruises are fading to a less sickening shade of yellow, but my ribs still hurt like fuck."
I raised an eyebrow at that, opening the door to my homeroom and beckoning Adrian inside. "And how much is a 'fuck'?"
He grinned, as if I had taken his bait - which I wouldn't have put past him. "For you, darling, free of charge."
I rolled my eyes at that, tutting sarcastically. "Teenagers."
"Hey, you were my age once, so you should know how I'm feeling."
"Oh, I know exactly how you're feeling." I glanced quickly around, making sure there was nobody in close proximity before I said, "come here," and gently put my right hand on the back of his neck and pulling him forward to land a kiss on his lips.
Suddenly I heard the roll of wheels and stepped back and away from Adrian quickly, turning towards the person that had entered the building. I willed myself not to go red.
"Good morning, Spencer!" Harriet smiled in greeting. "And Adrian! How are you feeling my dear?"
"Better, thanks Mrs Gallagher. I had just asked Mr Cardell if there was anything I could help with today but he said he didn't know."
Harriet looked at Adrian with a surprised expression. "Well, I suppose you can help Mr Cardell today, seeing as it's his first time at one of our Carnivals."
My eyes widened ever so slightly. "I'm sure I would be fine by myself."
Harriet waved her hand at me, dismissing my comment. "Oh, Spencer, let the boy help you. I'm sure he won't be a nuisance."
I wasn't worried about him being a nuisance - not the way Harriet thought anyway. I was worried about spending all day with him but not being able to show any emotions towards him.
I sighed. "Yeah, of course, sorry. He can come with me."
I was worried about being around him for an entire day when I could even show any emotion towards him. And knowing Adrian, he would make it hell for me. Looking back at Adrian, I saw he was grinning. Today would be interesting.