Let's get together {Adrianna}

[Adrianna Carstyn]

She wasn't trying to cry. It was just, the more she talked about Talen and all of the people that have done her wrong, the more she cried. Talen had made her feel different and special. He had looked like a prince out of a fairytale and acted like one. He was tall, dark and totally gorgeous. Long lashes, dark passionate eyes and lips that were soft and inviting. Talk about Prince Charming. And she'd lost him faster than she thought was possible. Call it first love, that's how she saw it and that's why it still hurt her so much.

Adrian felt bad every time she cried in front of him, but she was miserable and it all came to the surface when she got frustrated with him for downing himself. She knew he was used to it, but he didn't deserve having to deal with it. He was shaking his head in disagreement, and her fingers touched his skin after he stopped. His skin was soft and warm and she found herself being pulled forward unwillingly. She stopped though, she refused to get between him and his girlfriend. Besides, it wasn't like he wanted the same. (Clearly she was oblivious.)

His lips touched her cheek for a second time and his arms wrapped around her. She crumpled under his touch and wrapped her arms around his neck holding on for dear life. His words soothed her and the tears slowed. She rested her cheek against his neck and hugged him tighter, "You can't expect me to believe that you're so horrible when you always make me feel better. I hate when you talk like that Crave because you're so wrong." She said quietly into his shoulder.

Slowly, Adrianna pulled back and further resisted her urges to kiss him, though she very much wanted to. She wiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breathe, "You think you can go back in there? You've got several plans of action. Either tell your dad about Gia, and if you do decide to do that, you know I'm here for you. Or you can go with my story and we'll have to figure out a good lie as to why you ran out." She paused for a moment and looked down, "Or you could give him what he wants and tell him we're together. I wouldn't mind you using me for however long until you can tell him. Obviously we already act like one according to them so we wouldn't have to change anything." She shrugged and pushed her hair back as it fell into her eyes, still looking away from him.

It was a suggestion, one that she doubted was good and one that could cause a lot of problems.

[Craven Grimley]

Craven saw Gia in Adrianna. If Gia had choosen to dismiss him they both would have been miserable. He'd made an aweful mistake but he was willing to do whatever it took to make up for that. For now, that meant making Gia the only thing in his life that mattered. Of course Adrianna mattered but Gia had to be even more important to him. He totally and utterly adored both of them though because they were ever so similar in personality. He was sure if Gia was just a little more open to other people then she'd make a fantastic friend of Adrianna.

Sure Craven had been shy with each and ever one of his friends like he'd been shy with his new room mates and at first he either talked to much or didn't talk at all but that's what made people warm toward him apparently. If Gia would just let it happen... Craven's mind washed blank the moment Adrianna had moved her lips toward his at the same time he had moved his toward hers. It suddenly become aparent to him. He was a whore... but not that. Adrianna had feeling for him. But why?! He wasn't even her type. She was totally his though.

Silky dark hair. Baby features face and captivating eyes. Just like Gia. But he was NOT her type. Her type was tall, dark, handsome, a smooth talker with killer abs and the confidence that Craven was sorely lacking. Another thing.... This was the second time he'd confessed to having been with Romeo to a friend of his and they all kept saying it wasn't his fault? God if they had been in the room when he'd told Gee, they'd have slapped him. He deserved to be slapped. He deserved to be punished, not defended...Craven sighed against his best friend as she clung to him and lowered his eyes.

Just because he was a nice person didn't make the bad things he did excusable. Maybe he needed to bump into Odion at some point. Odion had a knack for making him feel like utter shit. Would do him good cause everyone else was being so damn supportive...'Craven, you're just a man and this Romeo dude, was totally egging you on.' 'No Craven you did nothing wrong. Don't talk like that. This is different.'

"Okay. I'll stop."
He whispered to her and gave a sigh. He'll just have to punish himself...well... himself and he would punish Romeo till forever was over. He wasn't going near that boy ever again, that was for certain. Craven let her pull back from him and listened to what she thought about the whole situation. When she gave her last suggestion his eyes widened then lit up. That was it! It would get his father off his case. Hell, it would get everyone off his case.

If it every got out to his dad that it was a lie he could always back it up with telling his father that, had he told the truth, he'd have been in more trouble for it. It was perfect.
"You're a genuis! That's it! "
Craven jumped to his feet making the crows around them scatter in protest before leaning in to pull his jacket from her. He quickly reached down and took her hands to help her up.
"That's just perfect! Let's do it! Let's get together."
Craven's eyebrow flicked up and he smirked at Adrianna.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrian was comfortable telling Craven all the things that she usually kept to herself. The way she felt about her father ditching, she'd told him. The pain it caused her seeing Amelia get worse, he'd seen clear on her face. And how often she felt like a toy, a play thing for the men in her life, he now knew. It was in her best interest to change the 'type' of guy she usually dated really. Izzy was a step in that direction and much as she wanted to deny it, so was Craven.

She knew how hard he was on himself. They were much the same when it came to punishing themselves for weeks while everyone else defended the reasons behind what they did wrong. She knew how he perceived himself. He saw a socially awkward, lame, unattractive boy that didn't deserve the attention of a pretty girl. She however, saw so much more in him. He was taller than her, had gorgeous blue eyes that she envied, he had a nice body, maybe not as sculpted as most of the guys she'd been with, but it didn't matter to her. He had a smile that brightened a room and her day, a personality that was to die for. He was funny and sweet, shy, but not around her, and he was her best friend. She loved him and cared about him and she would do anything for him. That was clear. But she never imagined going farther than friends because, in her eyes, he could and did find better.

Adrianna smiled when he said he'd stop and she hugged him tighter before letting go. She knew his mind hadn't been changed, but she wouldn't try to change him. As long as she'd made it perfectly clear that she didn't believe it, there was nothing else she could do.

Her eyes traveled up when he leaped into the air. He agreed with her crazy suggestion?! But why?! There was no logical explanation behind it. She tried to control her heart beat, keeping her heart firmly in her chest. He pulled her up and she smiled at his excitement. His words sent a shot of electricity up her spine, but on the outside, she kept calm and set a nonchalant 'it's no big deal' smile on her lips.

This could be fun. She'd get to experience him as a 'boyfriend' and not have to worry about getting between him and Gia. Everything would be fine. She wouldn't have to kiss him at all and she'd only be pretending for a little while, nothing bad could happen. (Ah how naive she was.)

She reached for his hand, merely out of habit, and walked with him back to the restaurant. Adrian could just imagine the look on her mother's face. Amelia wouldn't be happy that they were lying, but surely she would understand that they couldn't possibly tell Cooper the truth. It would just make things worse. Amelia would however love seeing the two act like a couple. At the thought Adri smiled, "You sure you can handle all this Crave?" She winked at him and laughed as she motioned to her body with her free hand.

[Craven Grimley]

Craven crossed the street holding her hand tightly in his, fingers intertwined as they went to the entrance of the restaurant. While they walked, he thought of the precise words to use in order to get his dad to believe that he and Adrianna were together. His thoughts were quickly interupted though when she asked him if he could handle her body. He stopped and eyed her for a moment and a blush did color his cheeks most reluctantly.

"Uh absolutely not but I'll try."
He murmured at her before opening the doorway to let her in. Cooper's face was twisted in confusion when they came back to the table and when they were both seated his eyes flashed between Adrianna and Craven curiously.
"Did you wanna explain to me what that was?"
Time for a fantastic amount of acting... aaaaaaannnnndddd Take one.

Craven lifted his hand up to his head resting his forehead in it as he scooped some cooled lasagne into his mouth which had come out with the rest of the food while he and Adrianna had been outside.
"Craven..."
His father insisted cutting up a piece of his steak.
"You keep hassling us. Me and Adrianna and Gia and well... it's upsetting me. Look. She's my first real girlfriend and Gia's our friend so... the last thing I need is outside interference."

Cooper's eyes flicked up from his meat, chewing really slowly as he eyed the two for a long time. Once he swallowed his meat down with a sip of wine he cleared his throat.
"Okay... no outside interferance... Right Amelia? Trinity?"
Trinity looked up quickly when Cooper spoke then at Craven and Adrianna.
"Sorry?"
Craven's nose wrinkled in a mixture of disgust and annoyance.

"Okay, when you're trying to seduce a guy the best way to get at him is through his family..."
Cooper's eyes turned shocked as they fixed on Craven then flicked to Trinity and then back to Craven when he heard the words from Craven's mouth meant to be a jab at Trinity.
"Craven, That wasn't necessary..."
"Sorry..."
Craven dropped his eyes and popped a new mouth full between his lips.

"So uh... Amelia... did you know about them? My son never tells me anything it seems..."
Craven's eyes slowly skimmed across the table to Amelia.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrianna wasn't sure what she was going to do. She knew what she was doing would only end badly. Not for him, but for her. She'd end up getting to far in and she wouldn't be able to turn it off. This fake relationship would end up hurting her more than she knew. But for now, she was content with her decision to allow it. She'd suggested it and it made him happy that he could finally make his father happy in some way. Her mind focused on that as she walked hand in hand with him. She wouldn't even have to fake the feelings behind it like he would.

She nudged him for his comment, "It's nothing compared to what you already have Crave." She said softly half hoping he wouldn't hear her. In her eyes, Gia was an angel. Beautiful, smart and incredibly innocent it seemed. Adrian had looks, but not the sort of looks that were referred to as beautiful, more along the lines of 'hot' and 'smokin' which were degrading, but she still took them as they were intended. She wasn't exactly 'smart' either. She got good grades and studied when need be, but she didn't stand out from the rest of the class. And she wasn't innocent. She'd lost her purity over a few summers ago with a guy that had ended up treating her worse than Talen. She was nothing compared to Gia.

Adrian took her seat and focused her eyes on the plate in front of her, feeling her mother's eyes on her and Cooper's eyes also. She chewed on the inside of her cheek and looked at Craven before looking back down. She heard Cooper's insistent words and she met eyes with her mother, instantly regretting it.

Her heart lurched when Craven spoke and she forced back a frown. That never would get better and she really was starting to hate it. She glanced at Cooper to see if he was buying it and then her eyes focused on Craven. Her mother nodded in agreement, but Trinity seemed lost. To no end it irritated Adrian that she was even here. She didn't deserve to be. She didn't understand what made her so special. Craven and her both had the same feelings about it and she rolled her eyes when the girl came back to the conversation. She saw Amelia frown for a second, but it evaporated before anyone else saw.

Adrian tried so hard not to laugh when Craven spoke in disgust. She agreed and Trinity really was doing a horrible job. She looked down to hide the smirk and she squeezed his hand under the table as a sign of agreeing. The next question made Adrian's eyes shoot up and held her mother's eyes yet again. She begged with the full intensity of her dark brown eyes that Amelia say no. That wouldn't be a lie and it would stop questions. As long as Amelia played clueless, it could work.

Amelia looked at her daughter and then at the boy beside her with a knowing look. She smiled warmly at the two of them and nodded in Adrian's direction to say that she understood, "It would seem I'm as in the dark as you are. But it's great! I'm so happy for you two. And I promise there will be no interference from me at all." She nodded enthusiastically and Adrian was instantly relieved.