The final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Gianna grabbed her bag, her heart fluttering with a mix of nervousness and anticipation. She still wasn't entirely sure what Adrian wanted, but she knew she had to find out. As she walked toward the school's main entrance, she spotted him waiting near the gate, his hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie.
Adrian looked relaxed, leaning against the stone pillar by the gate, his dark hair slightly tousled by the breeze. His eyes, however, gave him away—there was something guarded about him, a tension that simmered just below the surface.
Gianna approached, and when he saw her, he pushed off the pillar with a casual ease. "You ready?" he asked.
"Yeah," she replied, giving a small nod. "Where are we going?"
Adrian gestured down the street. "There's this diner a few blocks from here. Quiet. Good food. Figured it'd be a nice place to talk."
Gianna wasn't sure what they were supposed to talk about, but she fell in step beside him, the two of them walking down the sidewalk together. The streets around the school were busy with students heading home or meeting friends, but as they walked, the noise gradually faded into the background.
The diner Adrian had mentioned was tucked away on a side street, small and unassuming, with neon signs flickering in the windows. It wasn't the kind of place Gianna usually went to, but it had a cozy vibe to it, a perfect hideaway from the outside world.
They slipped into a booth in the back corner, and a waitress soon came by to take their orders. Gianna ordered a milkshake, while Adrian settled for a black coffee.
For a moment, they sat in silence, the hum of conversation and clinking silverware around them filling the gaps. Gianna fiddled with a straw wrapper, trying to think of how to start the conversation. There were so many questions swirling in her mind, but she didn't want to come off too pushy.
Adrian beat her to it.
"I'm sorry for disappearing," he said, his voice low, his gaze fixed on the table. "I didn't mean to worry you."
Gianna looked at him, surprised by his sudden admission. "It's… fine. I mean, I was worried, but you don't have to explain if you're not ready."
Adrian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I feel like I owe you at least some explanation. You've been nice to me, and you didn't have to be."
Gianna stayed quiet, giving him the space to continue.
"I've got some stuff going on," he started, his voice tense. "Complicated stuff. The kind of things I can't really talk about." He glanced up at her, and for the first time, Gianna saw the exhaustion in his eyes, like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. "But… I don't want to pull you into it. It's not your problem."
Gianna frowned, leaning forward slightly. "You don't have to protect me from whatever's happening, Adrian. I can handle myself."
Adrian's lips twitched into a brief smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, I know. I saw you take down those guys, remember?" He paused, his expression growing serious again. "But this is different. There are people… dangerous people, involved."
Gianna bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. She wanted to help him, but how could she if he wouldn't tell her what was going on?
"Look," she said, choosing her words carefully, "I get that you don't want to drag me into whatever mess you're dealing with. But you're already involved with me. You showed up at the café, and now you're here. If something's wrong, I want to know. I don't want to just sit on the sidelines, pretending like everything's fine."
Adrian's jaw tightened, and for a moment, it looked like he was about to push back. But then, something in his expression softened, and he let out a long breath.
"I can't tell you everything," he admitted, "but… I'm in trouble. There are people looking for me. I thought I could handle it on my own, but—" He broke off, shaking his head. "I didn't expect to meet someone like you."
Gianna blinked, unsure of what to say. There was a vulnerability in his voice that made her chest tighten.
She wasn't sure what she'd gotten herself into, but she knew one thing—Adrian was in way deeper than he was letting on.
Before she could respond, the waitress returned with their drinks, breaking the tension for a moment. Adrian thanked her quietly, taking a sip of his coffee. Gianna watched him carefully, trying to piece together the puzzle that was Adrian.
After a few moments, Adrian set his cup down and looked her straight in the eye. "I don't want to put you in danger, Gianna. But if you're serious about this—about wanting to be part of whatever this is—you have to understand it's not going to be easy. It's… messy."
Gianna felt a strange mix of fear and excitement swirl inside her. She didn't know exactly what Adrian was dealing with, but something told her it was bigger than anything she had imagined. And yet, despite that, she couldn't just walk away.
"I can handle messy," she said, her voice steady.
Adrian studied her for a moment, as if weighing her words, before finally nodding. "Okay. But if things get too dangerous, I need you to promise you'll walk away."
Gianna held his gaze, the gravity of his words sinking in. "I promise," she said, though she wasn't sure if she could keep it.
For now, that would have to be enough