Don't Spill the Coffee! (Craven)

[Adrianna Carstyn]

((Continuation of Spill it!

Adrianna had crushed on Craven when she was younger and they had first started hanging out, much like with Robbie. She still found him attractive and totally crush-able, but she had grown so close to him that she believed if anything more was to happen between them, everything would be lost. Of course she knew it could be different too, but she didn't want to risk it. They were unbelievably close and ruining that would crush her. He was her best friend. Maybe not as brotherly as she liked to think, or tell him, but still they were friends. (It didn't hurt having hot guy friends.)

She was always so happy with him. Even in her darkest moments he made her smile. He was always so good with words around her. Sure, he believed the word-vomit thing was a weakness, but it was how he felt and he never really slipped up with her. The only things he had blurted out to her were when he hated the guys she was into. He had seen through Talen's gentleman exterior and saw right into the whorish interior. He had warned her, but she didn't listen. She didn't want to believe it.

Adrian had told him everything about her life. How her mother was sick, how she never knew her biological father and how she felt like half of her was missing. He was one of the very few people she had told about her father and her feelings towards the situation. Most people knew about her mother, simply because she was always crying about it, especially at the most inopportune times (such as in the Student Lounge when she first met the infamous prick Zac). She trusted people whole-heartedly and most of the time it came back and bit her, but it hadn't with Craven. Not in the years that they had spent at Hammel together.

She smiled brightly at him when he agreed with the cute icicle part and again when his arms wrapped around her in the cab. Despite the friendliness between them, she couldn't help imagining more. She knew about Gia, even if he hadn't told her, and she would never get between them. Not when they were so good for each other. She was happy he had Gia, someone who understood him more than he understood himself. He needed someone like that, and she didn't see herself filling that position.

Adrianna leaned against him as the cab driver started driving towards Kali's Kafe. She looked up at him, "Crave, why don't you think you are a good person?" She asked randomly, but in a very serious, soft tone.

[Craven Grimley]

They were snuggled so close in the cab that he was perfectly certain that for now, there was not a single threat of Adri turning into an icicle. While they drove down town, Craven's fingers ran through Adri's hair, eyes fixed on the road ahead of them until she asked the question. For a moment Craven didn't react as his mind worked for a good excuse but knowing he couldn't lie to her he gave her a sigh. His eyes turned out the window and he stared off into the distance for a long time, his fingers having stilled from running through her hair.

Craven lowered his voice.
"You know the hero club Max is starting? I wanted to join. I didn't... I didn't because I'm a coward. Look up my name in the dictionary. It means cowardly. I'm cowardly because I'm scared of everything. Without Tanner or Robbie holding my friggin' hand like I'm twelve I'm just like... a coward. Can we change the subject now...? That was embarressing enough for one night please Adrian."
He half growled the last words to her.

Guilt settled in and he kinda rubbed at her shoulder in an attempt to gain forgiveness for his mean words.
"Me and Gia made up. Wanna know why we were fighting in the first place?"
He leaned back so he could see her face as the car came to a stop in front of Kali's.
Because I'm a coward....
"Because she kissed me. It was totally weird. I freaked I guess."
He tried his best attempt at a grin for her as he shifted to get cash out of his pocket for the cab driver allowing Adri to exit first.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrianna could have fallen asleep with as comfortable as she was with him. His fingers running through her hair lightly felt nice. He was always so gentle with her. It was like he thought she was so fragile that he'd break her if he wasn't as careful as possible. Which was partially true, when she got hurt by someone it took a while to recover. She was shattered every time because she put herself out there so much. It wasn't exactly fun getting hurt like that all the time, but sometimes she'd trust the right people and she loved that part of it.

Adrianna felt the tension set in after she asked her question and she frowned slightly at her own stupidity. She knew it was a bad question, but she wanted to know. Her innocent curiosity got the best of her and usually caused a lot of problems for her too. She looked back up at him and tried to read his expression. His features were dark and brooding. Not a good sign to say the least.

He finally spoke and she winced at his harshness. Adri pulled away slightly and crossed her arms defiantly, "You aren't a coward. No matter what you think...you aren't." She said firmly. This side of Adrian was difficult to argue with, she was set in stone on her opinion and going through Hell would be easier than changing her mind at this point.

She saw his expression change to one of guilt and she leaned back into him when he rubbed her shoulder lightly. Adri was still irritated that he thought so badly of himself, but she had pushed him to snap, so she had to forgive him.

Adrianna looked up when he spoke again and she nodded slightly. She had heard that before, but not from Craven. Lucah was the same way. Always afraid of screwing things up with Belle and running from the problem before it became a problem. "Damn you and Lucah both I swear..." She muttered with a small returning smile as she got out of the cab.

Adrianna hugged the jacket around herself again before opening the door and holding it for him.

[Craven Grimley]

Craven gave her groan when she got all serious but he really didn't see the point in arguing about it. He followed her out the cab when he was all paid up and then into the cafe choosing a seat right near the window where he always liked to sit in case his crow showed up. Jet always seemed to now when to find him and where and he was always more then a little grateful for it. Sometimes he just needed her constant company and her mind pressing to his to make him feel like he wasn't alone. He just needed her there with him.

She was like his comfort zone and his safety blanket all rolled into one feathery ball. He knew she couldn't be there forever and she was nearing the 6 years now. He knew eventually she'd not be there anymore but for now, she was his best friend and companion so he kept her around. He loved her being around. Taking a seat Craven grabbed a menu and flattened it on a table between them leaning forward to peer at the menu all Hammel students knew off by heart since this place was frequented quite a lot.

"I think Imma go for coffee tonight. I'm sooo tired with all that's happened lately. It's exhausting returning stolen items of value to their owners."
Craven shot her a smile before glancing down at the menu.
"What you having? "
He asked. As silence fell between them, he gave a soft sigh and flicked his eyes up to meet hers again.
"I'm so scared of hurting her Adrianna. How do I NOT hurt her?"
He asked in a softer voice.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrian sat across from Craven and looked out the window. She was only half there. Part of her was thinking. Thinking about what Lucah went through and what Ash went through...and finally on what she went through. Being cheated on...twice, being left behind after things just started to get going. She had been through a lot, and combined with her other close guy friends, she had seen it all. She was more or less an expert at this point, but that wasn't something she took pride in.

It helped in some ways, being so experienced, but it also hurt to know that everyone she trusted was capable of hurting her. Robbie could. Izzy could. And even Craven, innocent harmless Craven, could do it. She had no way of knowing when she'd get hurt again. After her birthday party she was close to just not caring anymore. Zac was right on all accounts and it hurt to admit it. She was predictable and much too trusting.

Once Craven spoke she jumped slightly, coming back to the present. Adri looked down at the menu and decided to go for a simple iced coffee. She heard his comment, but didn't really react to it. She was too preoccupied to really understand what it meant. She leaned back in her chair, "Iced coffee." She answered quietly, then her gaze went back to the window.

Adrianna heard him sigh and as she looked back at him, their eyes met. She listened to his words more carefully this time and chewed on the inside of her cheek. Time for expert mode, "Crave, I know you're scared, but you have to believe that you won't. And if you do, you have to talk to her about it, you can't just push it back and let someone else deal with it at a later time. I'm sure she's scared too..." She replied as gently as she could, trying to help, though she doubted it would do much.

[Craven Grimley]

Craven didn't really understand how Adri was feeling at that particular moment. Hell, he hadn't even noticed how distant she was being with him if he hadn't heard the soft tone to her voice when she actually placed her order. It was then he noticed that something was off. He frowned when she gave him the advice he needed but slowly shook his head and reach out to tuck her hair behind her ear in an almost loving way.

"What ever you were just thinking to make you this upset, stop. You're with me now. I never wanna see you sad."
It didn't really occur to him that she was sad because of him and his outburst in the car. He didn't really think he was ever capable of hurting Adri and for the same matter, Gia. He leaned in and kissed her temple before he got to his feet and moved to the counter to place their order. He waited for the drinks to be made, glancing over at Adri to reassure himself that she was okay.

The whole Gia problem could wait a little. He'd take her advice to heart though. What ever advice she had for him, he'd take it to heart. Craven paid for the drinks and took them over to the table avoiding a few bustling people he'd hardly noticed before when he'd entered with Adrianna. Since they'd first met it was always suprising how little mattered when he and Adrianna were together. It was like the world faded away and it was always just Adri and him. He sat down agian and placed her drink before he before adding sugar to his own.

"Adrianna? Are you okay?"
Craven asked uncertainly while he stirred at his piping hot drink infront of him, eyes flicking to her every now and then to make sure she was not about to burst into tears at some point.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrianna relaxed a little at his touch. Something that had always comforted her when she was stressed or upset. His gentleness and carefulness was nice. Better than the way most guys were rough with her, for lustful purposes only. That was what happened to girls that were deemed 'smokin' and 'babe-liscious' by most of the male population. She was always getting her ass smacked by perverted pigs and dicks. It was irritating, but she never did anything about it. Usually she just smirked and made a flirty comment back. Not that she really enjoyed it, she just didn't want to get hurt. Last time she'd tried doing something about it, she had gotten smacked across the face and that was something she hadn't wanted repeated.

Adri closed her eyes briefly when his lips toughed the side of her head, forcing every upsetting thought out, if only for a quick second. Then he walked away and she looked down. Feelings like this weren't permitted. She didn't want to start falling for him, not when he had Gia, who deserved him more than she did. It wasn't right and it would only cause more problems. She loved his company and the way he made her feel like more than just a piece of ass, but Robbie was the same way and she didn't have feelings for him.

Then again, all feelings like that had vanished when she started hanging out with him. He was just too brotherly.

Adri looked back up when he came back and put on a small smile, "I'm fine Crave. Now keep talking, we aren't changing this subject. What else are you worried about with Gia?" She asked, trying to find her upbeat and positive vibe again. She didn't want him worrying about her. At least not tonight. This was supposed to be about him and his feelings and problems.

[Craven Grimley]

Craven gave a slight frown at his friend. She wasn't fooling him in the slightest but if she insisted on keeping to the subject of him and Gia he'd go with it, too frightened to flip out at her again. He cared about her too much for them to even be fighting about anything. He was too protective of her to want to push things but maybe one day he'd corner her about her when he was sure she was feeling stronger to confess what was bothering her so much. Craven sighed and looked down into his drink before he replied.

"It's just gonna be hard to be back home with recent developments between myself and Miss Elliott. As you know, her mom works on staff at the mansion so I can basically imagine the conversation my dad will have in the drawing room with me about it."
Craven put on his best Cooper impression making eyecontact and shaking his head.
"This is very disappointing, son. You can do better then this. You're not even trying to have a successful relationship with a woman of your stature."

Craven rolled his eyes and sipped at his drink.
"One major road block doncha think? Though with my luck he won't even be there for two hours during thanks giving and it will just be me, Tan and the staff of the mansion as usual."
OOOO Coffee felt good right then.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrianna wasn't even really paying much attention to his expressions. That wasn't going to help. At all. No, she'd focus on Izzy. Izzy was cute, and sweet. He had helped her deal with Zac, though it was sort of a feeble attempt. Izzy was good. Well, good enough for now. She may grow to like him. More. Like him more, because she already did. Who exactly was she trying to convince? Ugh.

"Don't worry about what your dad thinks. He'll come around eventually, even if he doesn't, that shouldn't matter," Adri said quietly as she traced her finger around the rim of her cup. Thinking and giving advice at the same time would be difficult for anyone else, but she was an expert. She hadn't met his dad ever, but based off of the stories, she could assume what he was like. Like Lucah's dad except, well a little nicer maybe.

"He could surprise you Crave. Don't underestimate people. Especially your parents. And Tanner will be happy for you don't you think?" She asked looking up once at him, quickly before looking back down at the table.

Just focus on Izzy. Yeah, like that'll happen.

[Craven Grimley]

Craven frowned at her muttering. She wasn't even listening. She was on replay it seemed. People could surprise you?! What the f*ck was that all about? His father wasn't a person. He was a business men and business men were heartless and worse, he was a perfectionist. Craven sipped more at his coffee and stared as she asked the question about Tanner. NO, Tanner would not be happy about it. He'd find a hot blonde for him to date instead and insist on keeping up appearances just like Cooper. Tanner would do his best to make sure he and Gia broke up asap.

But the Gia discussion had just taken a turn for the worst. She couldn't even look at him. What was up with this?! What did he do to deserve this? Was it cause she was jealous that finally he had someone and she didn't? He'd always had to watch Tal kissing her, holding her hand, hugging her and he sat there alone and awkward like a bee among flies.

"What did I do?! I told you I'm sorry for snapping. Geez, you won't even look at me. I won't put you through it anymore though."
Craven got to his feet and pulled out the amount it would cost her for a taxi home and put it on the table in front of her.
"I'm walking. Good Night Adrianna."
He said in a hurt voice as he headed for the door.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrian looked up when he frowned and she knew she'd been caught. He knew her mind was elsewhere and she felt horrible for not fully being there. She was just about to say something more, but he'd beaten her to it. Her eyes widened slightly and she shook her head. He thought she was still upset about him snapping at her?

"No. Crave please don't." She stood up and pushed the chair back, and went after him. How could he have thought she was upset with him? Sure, she hadn't been focused really, but it wasn't for that reason. It was about him, but not because of him. She was beyond confused and she just didn't want the night to end like that, not after things were going so well before they'd gotten in the damn cab.

"I'm not mad at you. I promise, I'm just thinking. I know, it's rude and self-centered and well bitchy of me, but I'm not mad at you. Don't go..." She said quietly as she reached for his hand. No matter how she felt, she didn't want to lose him due to her feelings getting in the way. She refused to let that happen. Adrian didn't think she'd be able to handle it. Not like she'd handled everything else that had been pushed onto her before. She'd been through a lot and it made her stronger, but she'd gotten through it because of her best friends. Craven being one of them. The main one.

She couldn't lose someone else.

[Craven Grimley]

Craven knew she was hiding something from him and it was practically driving him insane. He couldn't take it. The more she pushed it back and pretended, the more he wanted to know. He could tell that she didn't want to tell him but why?! She didn't trust him? She didn't think he could handle her burden when he'd handled so many others in the past? She didn't think she could trust him with it? The more he tried to find excused for her, the angrier he got with her. She stopped him by the door and her hand reached for his but he knew what would happen the moment their hands touched.

He'd fall under her spell and his anger would fade into nothing. He yanked his hand out of her reach and stepped away from her half glaring.
"Adrianna. I never said you were selfish or bitchy. You expect me to share my darkest worries with you and yet you're keeping something from me. Ever since we got out of the car. If it's not that you're still angry with me then what is it? What is the matter? I need to know..."
Craven gripped at his brown curls and crouched down pulling a crazy face as he spoke through gritted teeth.

"You're driving me insane..."
Twitch. Twitch. Craven dropped the act and sighed then watched her with a quirked eyebrow.
"I'm not speaking to you till you tell me the truth so don't come after me till you tell me the truth. What ever it is that's making you so sad, I wanna know cause I'm almost ninety nine point ninety nine trillian percent sure I can fix it. So... in your words. Spill it."
The last two words came out in Craven's attempt at a seductive purr... which sounded slight weird by the way.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrianna didn't know what to do. Tell him and she'd get hurt. Don't tell him and he'd leave mad at her. She just wanted to stop thinking about everything. She wanted to be back at the pond, curled up and freezing. At least she had been happier out in the cold. Everything was just so complicated now. She was forcing back tears at this point. Sulking wasn't something she did often, but she couldn't help it.

He pulled away and she couldn't take it. All she wanted was for him to just comfort her, but she knew that unless she told him, he wouldn't. He'd continue asking or he'd just leave her there to cry. Her lip trembled and she looked down trying to push back the tears. Why was she acting like this?

Answer: She was desperate for someone to love her. Someone who actually wanted to be with her and no one else, but she knew she wouldn't find that in him. He cared, yes, but he didn't love her the way she needed. She was desperate, not because of Talen, but because growing up with out any man loving her, whether it be father figure or otherwise had made her cling to men. That was why she'd forced herself into relationships so much and she didn't want to do it again.

Adri didn't care if he pushed her away again. Her heart couldn't break any further, when she'd never had a full heart to begin with. She looked up at him with her wide brown eyes filled with tears and she told him the truth. Not what she'd been thinking about maybe, but what it was all about, "I was thinking about my dad, or lack there of. How I've grown up without a male figure in my life who's actually loved me. I didn't have a dad or a best friend or anyone. I don't know why it's hitting me now, but it is. And I'm sorry I ruined our catch up day."

She didn't know how he'd react and she didn't know if she wanted to see his reaction. So she started walking back to the table where her barely touched coffee was. Sulking as a loner in a coffee shop. Quite the tortured soul she turned out to be. Bubbly exterior, broken interior.

[Craven Grimley]

Craven had never seen so much emotions on Adrianna's face and it both suprised and horrified him to the extreme. He was so nervous about all of it. What if she started crying? He really did want to wrap his arms around her right then and just hold her. Make sure she was okay and safe and well. He didn't want her to hurt like she currently seemed to be. Craven became slightly flustered, not knowing what to do and how to do it and where to go and how to go about it. He really felt bad that she was hurting but he couldn't fix it if she didn't tell him why she was hurting.

Craven listened to her speaking and his frown instantly came to his features. Damn. We're they a good pair. His father hadn't been in his life either for a lot of the time but at least he'd had Tanner and he'd clung to that fact come hell or high water. Tanner had managed to become everything to him. Naturally it would. He loved and missed Tanner when they were apart so Daddy issues for Craven didn't much exist mainly because Tanner was there. Craven followed shiftly when she started walking away and grabbed her arm.

He pulled her close to him. His arms wrapped around Adrianna and he held her against him, kissing the top of her head and cupping it in his hand as he held her against him.

"I love you Adrianna. I'll be your best friend and I'll be your brother and I'll try and be everything else you need and you have Robbie too and he's far more of a man then I am."
Craven gave a little bit of a chuckle at his own joke hoping it would be infectious enough to get her to laugh as well.
"Don't cry, little dove."
Craven whispered stroking through her hair and along her back.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrian hadn't gotten very far, when she felt his hand on her arm. She looked back at him, a few tears having escaped. His arms went around her and she felt slightly better within moments. She wrapped her arms around his torso and buried her face in his chest. This was what she needed from Craven. Nothing more than a hug and calming words. He was just that good at making her feel better.

She let the tears fall from her eyes as she listened to him. He loved her, maybe not in the way she wanted, but in a way that she needed. She was so glad she was able to be so close to him without the pain and responsibility of a relationship. She was glad he could make her smile and laugh even when she was hurting so bad.

His joke had helped a little and she laughed once and hugged him tighter. This was the moment Adrianna didn't want to let go of. She actually felt like someone cared for her and she felt like Craven would never hurt her, not intentionally at least. He'd always be there to apologize for his mistakes and he even apologized for mistakes that weren't his to apologize for. He was her best friend and she would always need him.

"You have more than enough masculinity Craven and I'm happy I have you," Adri said quietly into his chest. She sighed deeply and pulled back slightly, "Sorry for all of this. This was supposed to be about you and what's been going on with you and I kind of ruined that." She frowned slightly as she looked up at him.