The Everlasting Road

Chapter 6

"Cravings?" An angelic voice spoke from behind him causing Adrian to turn around from the lake he was staring at to see Sydney Sage walking towards him, the sun illuminating the sun screen on her body as she sat down next to him, the lit cigarette still in his hand as he fought the urge to flick it in the lake. For whatever reason he didn't want her to see him like this.

"You can say that. Do you mind? I know some girls hate the smell of smoke."

"Not at all. If anything, I might bum one of those off you later tonight."

"You smoke?"

"You sound surprised."

"It's because I am. A girl like you doesn't usually smoke or do anything remotely bad."

"So, you think I'm nothing more than just a stereotype?"

"No. I guess I just assumed. I'm sorry if that makes me sound like an asshole."

"It did a little bit, but if you give me a cigarette, I'll forgive you."

"Deal." He agreed sneaking it to her as she pocketed it smiling at him.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Go for it."

"Do you like being the pastor's daughter?"

"Sometimes it has it's perks, but sometimes it's a major pain in my ass."

"How so?"

"Because whenever I'm around my father I feel like I have to be the perfect daughter and I'm not that. Not by a long shot. I just wish he could see that. Maybe if he did this wouldn't be so damn hard for me."

"Do you want to piss him off?" Adrian questioned forming a new idea.

"You know I do. So, what's the plan?"

"You know when I said the rest of us were having a get together tonight, I didn't mean you could bring the preacher's daughter also." Lissa replied sitting down next to him as he watched Sydney interect with Mason seeming rather happy to be and about for once.

"What do you have against Sydney? I think she's pretty cool."

"She's a preacher's daughter Adrian. They're not the most accepting of sinners like us." Lissa answered putting a cigarette between her lips and inhaling in frustration.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you'll never get into that girls' panties, so why are you even bothering to try?"

"What makes you think that I want to have sex with her?"

"Easy. You're Adrian Ivashkov, you're never not trying to have sex with women." She answered taking a sip from her drink.

"Maybe my near fatal overdose has changed me. Did you ever consider that?" he questioned looking at Sydney who was laughing at one of Mason's jokes. Were they hitting it off?"

"We're drug addicts Adrian. We don't get people like that in the end. At least not without screwing them up in the process."

"Would it anger you if I think you're wrong?"

"It's your time to waste. Just remember what I said."

"Are you going somewhere?"

"Well your roommate Christian is looking mighty fine right now, so I think I'm going to talk to him. Have fun with the preacher's daughter."

"Oh, I plan to." He said as she smiled at him before walking away.

Sighing, Adrian gathered his courage and walked up to where Mason and Sydney were talking about college but stopped when Adrian walked up to them.

"Hey roomie, enjoying the party?" Mason smiled not seeming at all bothered by his interruption.

"As much as I can. It's not like the parties I'm used to." Adrian smiled.

"I get it. Being here and being sober isn't easy."

"It's not all bad." Adrian answered looking at Sydney while he said it.

"And to think the fun has just begun." Sydney said seeming excited.

"Well I can't wait to see what you and your father come up with. Now if you don't excuse me, I have to take a leak.." he said leaving Adrian and Sydney alone. Finally.

"How are you enjoying the party?" he asked running his hand through his hair.

"Would be better if I could trouble you for a smoke break."

"Are you stressed about something?"

"Just living in the moment and would like the pleasure of your company."

"Can't argue with that, come on, I think there's a nice place around here where we could smoke in peace."

Sydney followed Adrian to a cluster of trees surrounding the lake as he took the lighter out of his pocket passing a cigarette to her before lighting his own.

"What's it like?" she asked after a few moments making him confused.

"What's what like?"

"Losing control."

"There's a lot of ways to control. And I've probably done every single one of them, so I guess the answer to your question depends on what you ask."

"It's stupid really. I just think I'm curious because I've never done a bad thing in my life. I guess I just wonder what drives a person to that path."

"A lot of things. Mine was more about defiance then anything."

"So, you're like a normal teenager?"

"Yeah exactly." He smiled before asking. "Why would you want to lose control?"

"I guess I'm just tired of being the perfect preacher's daughter."

"There's nothing wrong with you."

"So, I've been told." She answered with an eye roll.

"Why are you in a hurry to change yourself?"

"Because I hate the way I am." She answered looking down at her palms.

"Well that's a shame, because I think you're pretty great."

"You hardly know me."

"Somethings I can just tell." He said before she caught him by surprise and kissed him.

The kiss between them got him higher than any drug as their mouths fought for dominance each demanding to be in charge as Adrian walked them far enough back to where her back hit the tree not breaking their kiss while his hands found her thighs slowly traveling up her skirt as she abruptly pulled away making him drop his hands as if her flesh had burned him.

"Shit. Sorry. I didn't mean to do that." She said pulling away and walking to the other side of him.

"It's all good."

"No. It's not. God. I'm so embarrassed. I-I have to go." She said feeling panicked.

"Sydney wait." Adrian started but she was already gone.