#adrianmatthews

Darby sat absent-mindedly on her couch in her new apartment. She’d only been living in it for a few days when Adrian had come to visit with bad news. He was needed in New York - immediately - and he had to go. Darby asked him what that meant for them and Adrian asked her to go with him. Darby refused. Her family was here, her few friends were here, and her job was here. She’d left once and it hadn’t done anything for her.

“We can’t do long-distance, Darby.” Adrian said, quietly, painfully. Darby’s eyes welled up, but she nodded. “I know.” He wasn’t the type of man who begged, and he respected her choice to stay. They stood in the doorway of the apartment she’d moved to because of him and she knew that this place was going to seep with his presence long after he left. Darby and Adrian were wrapped up in each other’s arms, but she couldn’t look at him. Instead, her eyes closed, Darby brought herself up on her toes and kissed him. Every kiss they’d shared - none of them were like this. It was sad and it was painful; it wasn’t a kiss she enjoyed. They rested their foreheads together for only a moment. Adrian whispered something that would haunt Darby forever.

“I love you,”

She opened her eyes and stared at him, tears falling down her cheeks now. Darby’s eyebrows furrowed and she said, “I love you,” back, her voice breaking as she did so.

Then, Darby walked Adrian to the door. There were many things to say but none of them were right, so neither of the said anything. Darby simply watched him walk to the elevator, staring into his eyes until the doors closed, separating them possibly forever.

Darby leaned against Hannah’s truck, still thinking about the events of the day. Her backpack sat on the ground near her feet, uneaten snacks inside. It was sad. All of this was terrible. Hannah’s backpack was in her truck where Darby had put it after they’d taken her to the ambulance. They wouldn’t let Darby go with Hannah, but she did give them cookies, like Hannah wanted.

Darby’s eyes widened, hand in Adrian’s, as she looked at the rather extravagant boat before them. “This is beautiful... We aren’t going to be racing, are we?” She looked up at Adrian.

mradrianmatthews

Darby took sharp breaths in, pain and anger combining into an attack. She lashed out against the two glasses on her bar, left there from an evening with Adrian. She didn’t hear that Adrian had actually just entered the room, all she could focus on was how angry she was - and the blood seeping out of her hand. Hot tears ran down her face and she brought a closed fist to rest on her temple, fighting the urge to break more things - since the only things available now were pots with plants in them.

mradrianmatthews

Darby paced up and down her living room floor. The egging wasn’t so bad, but she was still uneasy. What if that wasn’t the end of it? She slid her phone out of her pocket and stared at it. She could stay at her parents’ house but that wouldn’t benefit anyone would it? It was be just as easy to do something to her parents’ place.

She didn’t want to burden anyone with this. She thought about Natalia, but knew that she was probably busy, maybe asleep even. Who else was there? Well, Darby knew who else there was but she was embarrassed to have to call him. Still, she’d feel so much safer.

Her fingers scrolled and found Adrian’s number. She hit Call.

mradrianmatthews

Darby’s hand was in Adrian’s as they exited the terminal. It was fairly crowded, but Darby felt less uncomfortable than usual. Her mind flickered from her parents’ flight plan to the past half-week, back to her parents, then to Adrian who she was following through the crowds.

Their time in Florida was rejuvenating in a way, despite the circumstances. Adrian’s arrival seemed to have reminded Darby’s mom that life was still happening around her, that she shouldn’t miss it. Sure, she didn’t seem to like him all that much yet - but Darby’s dad absolutely loved him. It was obvious. Darby was more comfortable in her feelings for Adrian, although now she had a whole new bundle of worries working at her. Right now, though, she was okay.

mradrianmatthews

Darby set down her phone and sprinted to the nearest mirror. She was dressed in a loose t-shirt and sleeping shorts; not the most snazzy outfit in the world. At least her teeth were brushed and her hair was tame.

She then sprinted, silent-footed, to her front door and caught her breath as she looked through the peep-hole.