Released from the Cages (Adrianna)

[Lani Hunter]

Lani had been watching his phone for hours now. Adrianna had been away and he understood but god if he didn’t need his best friend right now. Things with Odion were… confusing. Things were great, and that was precisely what made it confusing. They were getting to the point where looking into the memories of the day they broke up and Lani was avoiding that like the plague. It was the last thing Lani wanted to face right now and so far with Odion being sick recently and then Lani himself getting ill, he’d been unusually lucky at avoiding the situation but it was looming. It’s looming was hard, it was a necessary evil for them to see but Lani was so afraid, because things were going well, they weren’t together but the times they spent together felt natural and wonderful. He knew Adrianna had come back into town this weekend and he’d suggested they get lunch.

So he was here pacing like a caged lion waiting for the time that would get him there just a minute or two early. He knew this time had been hard for her and despite his desire to be with her during the time her mother had passed, he understood she needed this time for herself. He swallowed anxious to know how his friend was doing. He couldn’t dump his problems on her, as much as he wanted to talk about it with her, she was under enough stress as it was with Venn swiping her heart out from under her and wrecking her all over again, and with her mother a year gone now. He closed his eyes and smiled softly. Wherever Amelia was he was sure she was looking out for her daughter.

He shot her a text that he was heading over to the café and smiled brightly toeing the cats away from the door as he slipped out. It was mercifully cool, and starting to get hard to remember it was summer. He was dressed in jeans and a plain black tee the compass he kept with him in his pocket. He watched his sneakers as he trotted down the stairs and started his way toward the café. Humming absently to himself as he walked he was finding this weather pleasant. He might have to see if Adrianna wanted to run with him sometime. Maybe they could start training together or something. There had to be some races around here somewhere, he would have to work on not sprinting, he was terrible at long distances.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrianna wasn't sure she was ready to be back in Vermont. Leaving Mags had been harder this time around than any other time, including after the funeral itself. She'd been more of a mess this time last year than she was now, but the memories of what she'd done haunted her and made her physically ill whenever she remembered. All of the things she tried to do to get her back to her mother, all failed which looking back was probably for the best, but she still wondered if she would have been happier had she succeeded. Maybe things would be different. Of course she knew things would be different for sure, but she didn't think of how different. She didn't think of the few people who would miss her because she knew if she did, she'd feel guilty just like she did when she woke up in the hospital.

When Lani suggested meeting up for lunch, Adrian had been reluctant in agreeing. Not that he would have noticed because it was an internal struggle that didn't show externally. It wasn't even that she didn't want to see him, she did, but honestly, she knew what was going to come of it. And being in public was something she still feared. It had been over a year since she'd been comfortable spending time outside of her dorm or Lani's apartment. She could get through it though. It was one lunch date with her best friend, how bad could it be? And so what if she knew the things that would be discussed? Who's to say it would be all bad? Okay, parts of it were bound to be bad for her, but as long as Lani was happy, she could fake a smile. All she wanted was for the people she loved to be happy with their lives even if she wasn't currently happy with her own. Without struggle there would be no progress to be made. That was her motto now.

One of the things that she'd been doing recently to aid her in thinking positively was dressing in a way that made her feel confident, just like she used to be. Today was no different, especially going out in public. She bought her dress in California and it was the first time she decided to wear it. What better place to wear it than on her lunch date with Lani? God she felt sick. She was walking down the street towards the cafe he'd told her to meet at and she was just hoping that she didn't trip or do anything that would embarrass her. She was definitely not on her game. Walking in, she glanced around for him and half-hoped he wasn't going to show up, however the text she received shortly thereafter would say otherwise. Adrianna sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. This was just Lani, she could do this.

[Lani Hunter]

Glad she was willing to meet him for lunch, Lani had already decided they were going to talk about everything and nothing. They were not going to talk about her mother, they were not going to talk about cancer, they were not going to talk about Venn and they were not going to talk about Odion. Lani knew those were tense subjects between them and he really wanted to see if they could figure out how to just be best friends again. She had been there for him through everything and he felt like he was falling horribly short. He kept up with her as best he could and made sure to give her her space when she needed it, but he missed her and as soon as he’d gotten word that she was headed back he’d demanded this lunch date.

It was different, they usually didn’t hang out in public, but Lani’d never really given much thought to it before now. It was almost like how he hadn’t given much thought to how he and Odion had never gone to the movies. All in all, it didn’t really matter, what mattered was that he was looking to hang out with Adrianna. Here’s to hoping for a fun day with no tears and no fighting. Honestly, Adrianna’s opinion mattered to Lani, he knew she didn’t like Odion, but she was perhaps the only person who could talk sense into him. Lani was stuck between a rock and a hard place, unwilling to come closer to Odion but also unable move away from him. But that was off limits, if Adrianna asked he’d tell her they were speaking and hanging out, but they weren’t together. There was still far too much baggage for that.

Adrianna had beaten him there and as he walked in the door he caught sight of her. She looked just as radiant as she always did and Lani smiled. She looked better, much better. She looked like she might be starting to get herself back into something that resembled the happiness and bliss she’d known before. Lani was not so foolish as to imagine that it would come back for her, but he could wish it for her. She had been through so much, a lot by his own hand. She deserved better than a flakey thief for an ex turn best friend and a marine jarhead who came around only when he felt like it. “Adrianna!” He called and gave a smile as he moved closer. He wanted to tell her how radiant she looked, but he didn’t feel like he had that right anymore. If he said something would she get upset because he used to say things like that when they were dating? Oh this was more complicated than he thought. He did go in for a hug and hoped she wouldn’t bristle at that.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

With Lani she pretty much couldn't say no. It didn't matter how much she didn't want to do something, she would if Lani asked. He was her person, the one person that she latched onto after her mother's death. Heck, ever since they'd met she had been attached to him. He demanded a lunch date and there she was, on her way just to see him. But that was a good thing..it had to be a good thing. She couldn't handle this turning out to be bad, something she'd regret later. She had plenty of experiences with him like that, but that was shortly after they broke up. It had been..a year? Longer? Since they'd broken up. She could handle it now. She was in a better place. She was getting her life on track.

As long as there was no serious subjects, Adrian knew she'd be okay. No talk of her father, her failed relationship with Venn, or he who she'd rather not name. Thinking back, she could almost feel the smack against her cheek. It had been shortly before she left for California and she had avoided telling Lani...even if it hadn't gone over as well as she hoped. After all, it probably didn't change how Lani felt about him. She wanted to say that it would be the same for her, if Venn were to come back and pick a fight with Lani, she wanted to think she wouldn't hate him. But the fact of the matter was that if ANYONE touched Lani, she'd probably want to hurt them back. Lani had become that person in her life that she felt she needed to protect. With Amelia gone and her reckless attitude gone with her, she only had one other person that was similar. And that was her best friend.

Standing in the coffee shop awkwardly and in extreme discomfort, she waited for him to show. Would he bring Odion with him? Were they dating again? God she felt like puking. Was this the same coffee shop she'd last seen Venn in? It was a rush of thoughts that started flooding her mind and she wanted to pull her hair out, but instead she just clasped her shaking hands tightly in front of her. He'd be here soon. And everything would go away. Her name caught her attention and she glanced over her shoulder to find those gray blue eyes and that ridiculous smile that only her best friend could give her. Part of her wanted to run, another wanted to burst into tears, but the stronger side won out and she just turned towards him and closed the distance when he reached out to hug her. "Lani," She said quietly as she wrapped her arms around him. Her thoughts subsided and she just stood there clinging to her best friend, like she hadn't seen him in years.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani had a very protective attitude over Adrianna as well. Lani hadn't told Adrianna that he knew that Odion had slapped her. It had come out and well, he and Odion had already fought, physically and mentally, terribly so. It seemed like he'd repaid the redhead more than enough for that. As sickening as it was, it had released anger that Lani had pent up to attack Odion, but as it released his anger there was nothing to hold him together anymore, nothing to keep him from falling right where he’d been in the first place. He knew if he asked Adrianna would tell him he was being stupid. Odion was to Lani as Venn was to Adrianna. The problem was that Lani was either stupid enough to think about giving Odion anther chance or he was too weak to tell Odion to get lost. Probably a mixture of both.

The horrifying thought, he was starting to realize, was that he falling back in love with Odion. Effortlessly. Being with Odion was so easy, so right. He knew he should be furious, and he was, but when he was with Odion it was like nothing had changed. Lani had told Odion that things couldn’t be as they once were, because he thought he’d changed. He clenched his jaw as he thought about it. He supposed he hadn’t grown as much as he thought he had. Distance was Odion wasn’t something he wanted but perhaps it was something he needed. But Lani wasn’t really good at putting his needs before his wants. He and Odion hadn’t tackled the actual action of their breakup, they had forgiven but they had not moved past it yet and honestly the idea of doing so was terrifying and therefore Lani was avoiding it as best he could. He saw Adrianna and his smile came so easy.

“Hi,” he replied, holding her tightly in his strong arms. “How are you, Adrianna? I feel like it’s been so long.” He took his time letting her go. He’d failed on his promises to her in the past but he made a vow to always be there for her and he would do that even if it killed him. Lani’d just told Odion that he was busy today, best friend time. Adrianna couldn’t think that Lani would bring Odion, he wasn’t that stupid. He gave her a squeeze before he drew back from her. “Are you ready for the new semester to start up?” He asked causally laying his arm around her shoulder as they got in line to order something to eat.