"Adelaide SinClaire I do not understand why you and Bob broke up. He was such a nice boy." Adelaide's mother commented at dinner. "He was cute and from a nice family and you two have been dating for years. Why call it quits?''
Adelaide pushed the food around her plate. "Mom, it just didn't work out."
"Why though?" Her mother pushed.
"Mom, just drop it. Please?"
"Adelaide I do not like this new attitude."
"Woe is you." Adelaide responded, eyes glued to her plate.
"Adelaide! Stop with the primadona nonsense or go to your room."
Adelaide abruptly stood up and pushed her chair in.
"Where are you going?"
"My room." She said blankly.
Adelaide's mother looked like she was about to say something when her father cut in "Emily, you told her to go to her room and that's what she's doing. Adelaide, go to your room please."
"Robert,"
"Emily, give her some space."
Adelaide let the sounds of her parents' argument fade as she went up to her room. She climbed out her window onto the awning. It wasn't enough, she could still hear her parents arguing. Their voices rising into one of their weekly screaming matches.
Desperately wanting to get away climbed down the trellis. She started to walk without any direction or purpose.
~
After some time she realized she was much farther than she had meant to go. She turned in a circle looking for something she might recognize when she heard a wolf whistle. She spun around looking for the source. She saw a group of guys in leather jackets leaning against the wall of an alleyway across the street.
Adelaide didn't like to judge based on appearances but the face tattoos made it difficult. She thought she recognized one as Curly Shepherd and based on his reputation she wasn't relieved.
One of them started walking toward her, "Hey there girlie, what's a pretty thing like you doing alone in this part of town." The way he walked reminded her of a predator stalking its prey, and she was a deer in headlights.
"She's not alone,"
Adelaide looked to see Dallas Winston walking toward her, he took a long drag from the cigarette dangling from his fingers.
The guy walking toward Adelaide froze, "Dallas,"
"Tim,"
"You owe me some tires,"
"Yeah yeah, you'll return the favor, I gotta get my girl home." Dallas stopped next to Adelaide and slung his arm around her shoulder.
Tim scoffed, "This your girl? She looks like she'd call the cops on your sorry ass for walking up her street."
Dally laughed, "See ya around Tim,"
They turned and started walking in the other direction.
When they were out of sight Dallas stoped, "What the fuck were you doing on this side of town, alone in the middle of the damn night, dont you have any snese?"
"I have sense okay, I just got a little turned around." She snapped.
"Why are you out so late?"
Adelaide rubbed her face, "I wanted to go for a walk to clear my head, not that it's any of your business,"
"You made it my business when I had to save your ass,"
"I did not need you to save my ass."
Dally scoffed, "Oh really? What was your plan?"
Adelaide stared at him, unable to form an answer. "Thank you," she said through clenched teeth.
Dally smirked, "Anytime dollface,"
Adelaide turned on her heel and started walking.
"Where are you going?"
"I dont know!" She barked.
Dallas laughed and started walking after her. "Where do you live? I'll take you home."
"You are not taking me home." She said as she kept walking.
"Then you aint gettin' home."
She sighed and listed her address.
"Damn Princess, you're a long way from home." Dallas slung his arm over her shoulder, "This way."
~
Dallas whistled, "I was kidding about the whole princess thing but god damn you live in a fuckin palace."
Adlaide looked up at the tall colonial that sat at the very top of the steep cul de sac. The tall pillars and lawn lights leading up the walkway to the large red door gave the house an air of grandness. She didn't quite know what to say, she knew she was privileged but didnt know what to say when someone called her on it. She cleared her throat, "Well I should sneak back in but thank you, for you did back there."
He shrugged,"Don't mention it doll, although I do think it's customary for the princess to thank her knight in shining armor with a kiss." He said with a smirk.
Adelaide scoffed and started walking around to the back of her house, "You're delusional if you think that is ever going to happen,"
Dally started to follow her, "Don't worry babe, I'll wear you down. "
She pushed the fence gate open, "Yeah cause that's a great love story, 'wearing someone down.'"
"Woah hon, I think its a bit early to say you love me,"
She stopped in her tracks and spun to face him, "That's not what I said and you know it,"
"Do I?"
"You're incorrigible," She turned and reached up to try and climb back up to her bedroom but the trellis was just out of reach.
"Need some help?"
"No." She snapped but let out a little yelp as she felt a pair of hands close around her waist and lift her up. Nevertheless she grabbed on to the trellis and hauled herself up. She unceremoniously flopped onto the floor of her room.
Adelaide stood and smoothed out her skirt.
"Jesus christ, this looks like a room straight out of a barbie doll house."
Adelaide's heart jumped up into her throat. "Oh my god! What the hell are you doing in my room?!" She whisper yelled.
"I assumed you showing me the way was an invitation."
"It wasn't. And I didnt show you the way. You followed me like a creepy stalker."
"Agree to disagree."
"You really need to leave," She said, pushing him back towards the window. "If my parents catch you in here I'm dead."
Dallas started to talk but she clapped her hand to his mouth as she heard footsteps outside her door. "Get down." She said through gritted teeth, shoving him down and under her bed.
A knock sounded at the door. "Adelaide Larue. Why do I hear voices from your room?"
"Sorry Mom, I was listening to music and singing along. Was I too loud?"
"No you're fine. Can I come in?"
"Yeah," Adelaide said, adrenaline spiking as her door opened and her mom came in.
"I thought maybe you and Bob were working things out."
"Mom, why can't you just drop it? I'm done with him and I don't understand why you can't accept that." Adelaide said, sitting on the bench at the end of her bed.
Her mom joined her,"Honey, I just want what's best for you." She said tucking a lock of Adelaide's hair behind her ear. "Did you even try to make things work?" Adelaide rolled her eyes. "Honey, I'm just afraid you haven't thought this though. Now you know I think you're a very beautiful girl," She paused, "but... and I know this is going to sound harsh but... What if Bob was the best you could do." She said slowly.
"Mom!"
"Honey, Bob was from a good family and-"
"You mean he has money," Adelaide cut her off.
"Well when you put it like that."
"I don't care how you put it, I'm not going back to Bob no matter how much money his family has."
"Adelaide dont make me sound so cold. Just, just think about it."
"Fine mom," Her mother perked up. "Hey, do we still have those brownies from the bake sale? I was thinking about having one before bed."
Her mother tilted her head, "Oh honey, are you sure that's a good idea. Dinner had a lot of carbs." Adelaide's face fell, "Hey, hey, don't look like that. You're single now. You have to think about these things."
Adelaide nodded, "'Kay. I think I'll just go to bed."
"Good night sweetheart," Her mother kissed her forehead and started to walk out. Before she walked out she noticed the outfit hanging on the closet door, "Is that what you're going to wear tomorrow?"
"I was..."
"Maybe you should rethink the skirt. It makes your hips look wide."
"Oh okay,"
"Good" Her mother smiled and walked out without closing the door behind her.
Adelaide sighed and got up and closed the door softly. When she turned about she saw Dallas Winston standing in the middle of her room.
"Jesus." She said with a start. "I forgot you were in here."
"Awe Babydoll. I'm hurt." Adelaide rolled her eyes. She walked over to her closet and pulled out a matching pajama set. She looked over and noticed him looking at her with a bemused expression.
"What?"
"Larue?"
"What?"
"You're middle name. It's Larue?"
"It's French," she said, getting a little defensive. "What's yours?"
"Rather not say doll face."
"Oh sorry, I forgot this was an elementary school playground." She said, turning back to her closet.
"Tucker. My middle name."
She paused what she was doing and looked at him.
"Why ya lookin' at me like that?"
"I don't know, it's just so... fitting."
"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked, she just shrugged.
"Anyways, I'm going to bed." Dallas looked like he was about to say something. "Alone."
"Alright, alright. I Know when I'm not wanted." He said, walking to the window. Adelaide followed him.
Dallas stood half in half out of the window. "You know, you should wear that skirt tomorrow,"
"Oh yeah? And why is that?"
Dal leaned forward and placed his lips near her ear, "Cause it would make your ass look amazing." He said real low.
Adelaide didn't have time to respond before he slipped the rest of the way out the window and scaled his way down the terrace with an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth.
Adelaide watched him saunter into the night for a moment before slamming her window down and flipping the latch.