HEY GUYS! I AM SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SORRY! I was busy with school (ugh) but now it is the summer! YAY! (I'm Aussie BTW, so don't freak out going "But it's winter! Not summer, get it right!")

But here is the new update! Goodbye for now!

It was worse when Adrian arrived at my house to pick me up. Mom, of course, didn't know he was my teacher and was extremely excited.

Adrian was being his charming self to her and my sisters.

"So, how did you meet my daughter?" Mom asked.

"Sydney and I met in a café," Adrian lied smoothly, well half-lied. "She spilled coffee on my shirt; she pretended to be concerned about me but I'm pretty sure she was more worried about her coffee."

Mom laughed that laugh I'd heard her used on attractive cashiers. She was trying to flirt with him. Dad noticed this too but wasn't too bothered about this. His biggest inquiry was Adrian's matured looks.

"So, Adrian," Dad said, causally. "How old are you?"

His attention was brought to Jared Sage. They were both at about the same height, Dad being slightly shorter but as they were standing far apart you couldn't notice it.

"I'm 21, Mr Sage."

His voice was cool and crisp, unlike the teasing one he used with me or the respectful, charming one he used with the rest of my family. It was a tone that I didn't really think suited him and his attitude.

"Hmm. Adrian Ivashkov? Your name, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"Tell me, Ivashkov. Do you have a job?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you live with your parents?"

"No, sir."

All of Adrian's answers seemed mocking in a way. Like he was trying to send my father some kind of message that speaking to my father was merely a waste of his precious time and with the way dad's eyes narrowed at him, he understood as well.

Mom, not liking the silence, spoke up. "Well, I think it's time you two get off to your date."

I groaned. "It's not a date! It's dinner."

With my denial, Adrian's mood switched almost impossibly fast.

"Why, dear Sydney," he began, dramatically. "It's almost as if you feel spending time with myself is a mere chore rather than an honor of my presence."

My itch was to correct some of the grammar in his sentence but I decided that I would respond with something a little more fun.

"Dear sir," I started. "I'm terribly sorry I have made you doubt yourself in a way that is most devastating, as any sane person would of course love to dine with you and admire your comfortable presence."

He smiled at me. Mom stepped in. "You must flee, young lovers! If you don't, the lady's merciless father will persecute you for your love!"

Adrian chuckled as I supressed a smile for dad, who was scowling.

"Oh, dear," Mom said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I was joking."

After a small silence, Adrian spoke up. "Well, Sydney. Our reservations are at eight so we better go."

Finally, we were in the car and alone-

Not that I wanted to be alone with him because I don't; I just don't want him around my family. Going through a list of excuses about why I was happy to be in the car with him occupied my mind as he drove.

I was the one who tried to start a conversation. Bad idea.

"So… um, what's up?" I asked, very awkwardly. I cursed in my head.

Damn it, Sydney. Really?

A smile flickered across his face before he responded. "You don't have much experience with guys do you?"

I groaned. "How could you tell?"

"Well, for one: I feel like you didn't choose that outfit yourself."

I was wearing a lavender purple dress, it came down to mid-shin (despite Carly wanted to hike it up). Spaghetti straps were covered by a black cardigan. A brown rope belt around my waist and dark purple high heels finished it. My hair was left down as always.

"What? Are you saying that I couldn't pick out an outfit like this?"

"No, you could. It just wouldn't have colors in it."

Oh. I suppose it wouldn't.

When we got to the restaurant my stomach was pretty much stabbing itself with nerves. People and lines streamed out of the restaurant. Adrian, however, didn't lead me to where the people were queuing up. He led my around the other side where a smaller line was. Three couples stood there, one arguing, one making out and one were talking to a man that stood in front of the door with a book.

The couple who were making out stopped as Adrian and I approached.

"Adrian!" a small blond girl hugged him.

I wanted to rip out her hair and claw her green eyes out.

I shook the violent thoughts out of my head. The guy who had been attached to her walked over. His black hair and ice blue eyes seemed intimidating.

"Hey, Lissa," Adrian said with affection.

Not the kind he would use with a girlfriend but one he would use to a sister.

"Cousin, this is Sydney," Adrian said, pulling away from her hug. "She's my date tonight."

I flushed at him calling me his date.

The intimidating guy laughed. "Oh man, she had 'virgin' written all over her."

I went a deep red as the blond-Lissa-hit him on his arm. "Leave her alone!"

She turned to me. "Hi. My name is Lissa. This is Christian. Sorry he's being such a butt."

"Hey!" the guy who was standing at the door yelled. "Do you want in or not?"

Apparently we were back here because we had a reservation but this was one of the most popular restaurants in town, there would have been more people than that.

"Have fun on your date!" Christian yelled, winking.

My red cheeks returned.

"Oh, fuck off," Adrian muttered.

I stared at him.

He caught me. "Oh, I meant him, not you."

I had known that but it was his language that got me. He hadn't spoken in English, he had sworn in Romanian.

I didn't push it through the night, not wanting to ruin this time we spent together but one question I couldn't hold back. "How did you afford tonight?"

He looked at me surprised. "What?"

"I mean, it's really, really expensive to eat here. And you made the reservation today, which would have costed at least $300."

He sighed at set his fork on his plate and set his elbows on the table. "Sydney. Do you think that teaching is my only job?"

"You teach for fun?"

"Yes, I rather enjoy it."

"Why? So you can pick up teenage girls?" I had meant it sincerely but came out more of a jab at him.

He didn't look hurt or surprised. "No."

I took a deep breath before asking another question. "What's your other job?"

"I work at a business."

"As what?"

"Just in the office."

"You have an office job and can afford fancy dining?"

"Okay, maybe a little better than an office job."

"What do you work as?"

He took in a sharp breath in annoyance. "Do you have to know?"

"No, but I'd like to."

This argument continued through the car ride home until we reached my front door. I walked up the steps to my porch.

"I'm just saying, honesty is impeccable to building a relationship-"

"Sage," he interrupted. "Please just shut up."

"What? No! I'm trying to talk to you and-"

And then, his lips came crashing roughly down on mine.