Hypnotize, Episode 1335

Mr. Yates is willing to help Tristan out with his writing and offers his help... if he comes to his apartment. Feelings start to get noticed, specifically Imogen's about Jack and Zoë's about Adam.

The scent of fresh grass filled his nose. Mix that with how early it was in the morning; it gave Adam a relaxed sense of state. Even after lacrosse practice and the jagged breathing coming out of his mouth.

Alone, he sat on the bleachers as his breathing started to calm down from the strenuous practice he had with the team. His helmet was dropped to the floor and he ran his fingers through his sweat filled hair. It was nice having this moment of silence after the hectic drills and energy he had just spent an hour doing.

His light eyes looked up to the cloudy sky as he heard footsteps from a distance, his head not needing to turn to know who it was. "Morning."

"Hello." The greeting was soft and sweet, unexpected from the strong persona it came from. "How was practice?" Zoë's dark eyes scanned him over before sitting next to him, a scowl on her face once close enough to see the sweat dripping down his side burns.

"You know, the usual." His smile betrays the strain in his voice and she already knows what he's trying to hide. "Hard."

Zoë can't help but smirk as she notes the scratches on his elbows and the bruise on the base of his neck, the ladder most likely not having to do with practice. "You're better than half the guys on the team, don't forget that."

"That's what Dallas tells me but doesn't keep it from being physically and mentally exhausted." It's been weeks since he joined the team and he's still having a rough time adapting to it all. The early hours, the coaches yelling, their teammates hesitance on treating him equally, and the separated changing room. As in he has to change in the handicap bathroom, since Simpson never took the bathroom restriction off. "Enough about me-"

"Adam, don't quit." She has a soft spot for him, and it grows more and more when he's the only one that treats her with respect. Especially when he wants to talk about her and hear what's been going on with her. Zoë gulps just the slightest and Adam misses it as his eyes are still up on the clouds.

He nods, no verbal promise or commitment, but she knows he's agreeing to it now. For this moment. She keeps his eyes on him, "Are you coming to the auditions for the fashion show?" She has this nerve at the pit of her stomach, not from the show but from something else; something she isn't going to admit to as she's always been a little scared of rejection.

"Of course," he begins to grin, "My two ladies are involved so of course I'm going." Adam doesn't miss that shy smile Zoë gives and he knows he's playing with fire with their friendship. Every practice in the morning they have this moment of privacy with each other, exchanging words that are meaningless or heartfelt. She's always here so early and it makes him wonder- "Why are you always at school at this time?"

Zoë can't help but roll her eyes, finding no desire to lie or cover the fact she comes to talk and support him. "You know why."

Playing with fire. That's exactly what he's doing and Adam doesn't know if he regrets it.

::

A knock on the door, he knows is a stranger. Two knocks, he knows someone really just needs to pee. Three knocks, he knows it's Becky and he smiles at the thought of her.

He opens the door and in walks his girlfriend with a wide smile, all his worries thrown out the metaphorical window. "Fancy meeting you here." Becky teases once the door is shut behind her and locked. He doesn't say anything as he stares at her with a grin and the happiness in his eyes throw her for a loop that makes her stomach flip.

Fingers find the base of his neck as she leans in to kiss the edge of his lips and his eyes flutter closed the instance her lips fully make contact with his. The bathroom restriction is definitely a benefit in this case, letting him enjoy something neither of their houses offer.

She pulls away just an inch before he latches onto her bottom lip with his own and she can't help the noise that passes through her lips. Their teeth clash together as the kiss gets messy and he grins before getting their lips to meet again but with his tongue slipping into her mouth. Another moan from Becky and his knees become weak but his desire rises. She drops her bag to the floor and finally wraps her arms around his neck as his hands run down her back to cup her ass.

In the back of her mind, she knows this isn't wholesome or graceful or something a girl of God should be doing in the middle of a dirty bathroom with her sweaty boyfriend, but the thought vanishes once her legs are wrapped fully around her boyfriend's waist. He's getting stronger as the months go by, and she fully appreciates it. Her finger nails dig into the back of his neck, just how he likes it, and the groan from his lips is the reaction she wanted.

Their lips finally separate, their eyes meeting and she notes how dark his eyes have gotten by the dilation of his pupils. She can only imagine how her eyes look. "Mmm..." She's only just noticed how her butt's been placed on the wall table the bathroom offers. "How was practice?"

"Exhausting." He exhales a breath once he feels her hands graze beneath his t-shirt, just above his jeans. Her eyes plead for him to continue and he knows very well what she wants to know. "I don't know, yet."

She gives him a sweet smile, clearly wanting to support him in whatever he decides. "Maybe you should wait until you have your first game...and see if the practice and the energy was worth it. It's only a few weeks away."

"I'll think about it." He licks his lips as his mind can't help but go elsewhere when your girlfriend has her legs wrapped around you and her fingers aren't doing anything holy. "You'll be there, right?" That makes her fingers stop and he quickly notices. "Becks?"

She looks up at him as he hovers over her by only an inch, "I will be." He opens his mouth to speak but she shakes her head, "Adam, I'll be there. The court case is getting closer but I'll be there. I'll be there for your afternoon practices and I'll be there for your games."

"Okay, but if you can't make it I'll understand." He gives her a reassuring smile and she feels so grateful to have someone who understands.

"I'm so lucky to have you..." Becky whispers as she leans up to peck his lips gently, to distract him as she pushes up his shirt. "Such a sweet, understanding, handsome guy." Adam perks a brow as she tugs up the rest of his shirt; not that he doesn't want to but he can't help but tease her. "We have ten minutes."

"You're so hot."

Becky grins as she tosses his shirt into the sink, leaving him in the sleeveless tank top he always wears underneath his shirts. "And you're sweaty."

"Don't act like you don't like it." His kisses her again with an open mouth and the ten minutes feel infinite. A single knock on the door gets ignored.

::

"Lovebirds."

Imogen smiles deviously as she plops down onto her chair next to Becky. Adam greets her with a small 'hello' as he begins to stand from his squatting position next to Becky. "I'll be over there." He tilts his head to signal the bleachers, Becky nods with a smile before he walks off.

"Surprised you aren't in the bathroom again." Imogen distracts her hands with the pile of paper in front of her but can feel Becky's eyes on her. She cracks into a giggle when her arm is smacked by her friend. "I didn't know you guys were so scandalous."

"Stooop, that's so embarrassing." Becky shook her head as she cheeks got red. Running into Imogen as her and Adam left the bathroom was anything but pleasant, especially with how her dress had been wrinkled and Adam's neck sporting a new bruise. "We can talk about this later if you're still obsessing."

The smirk on Imogen's lips give her answer away before diverting her attention to the crowd, "Okay guys, keep it chic and simple..." Imogen stands as addressing the group of girls, "Give us everything you got and we'll keep you posted." Becky calls a name out with a grin as she's first to step up to the plate.

As numerous girls get called up, she finds herself a little bored with some of their routines or walks in general. Her eyes drift to the general audience and find Adam and Zoë speaking in a hush whisper, a smile on the girl's lips as Adam seems to be talking aimlessly. Becky taps her pen on the table as she watches them interact. "Hey, Imogen...am I the only one or does that look flirty?"

She spoke so softly Imogen almost missed the question, and her eyes follow Becky's line of sight. "Hmm..." She watches them for a second, completely missing the ending of the walk for the recent girl, "Zoë's flirtatious with everyone if you think about it, and if you haven't noticed by now Adam's charming as hell, and cute." That gets her an eye roll from Becky and Imogen scoffs, "Your boyfriend is your boyfriend, Adam won't do anything."

"I know, but I don't know if Zoë won't try something." It's evident in her voice she's a little worried, especially since she knows Adam is one of Zoë's few friends.

"Let's test this out." Imogen quickly mumbles before Becky has a moment to process, "Next up, Zoë Rivas!"

The teen smirks as she approaches the stage, and it's easy to say for Becky she has one of the greatest walks thus far from start to finish. Imogen claps loudly as she finishes with a smile, immediately noting how Zoë directs her attention to Adam almost as if looking for approval. "Good job, Zoë." Becky offers with a sweet smile and the girl reciprocates.

"She likes him, for sure." Imogen mumbles as they both watch how Zoë approaches Adam with a smile, and speaks but not loud enough for them to hear. "We're not the only ones thinking it." She points out as Becky captures what she's talking about when she finds Frankie and another girl watching the odd duo from a distance.

It's only a few moments later, when Becky is writing down notes from another walk, that Adam approaches; crouching down next to the blonde. "I have class, so I have to get going." She briefly glances at him and nods, trying to keep her focus on her notes.

"I'll see you at lunch?" Becky sees his head nod once and she smiles when she feels a kiss pressed to her temple. Her eyes wander to his backside while Frankie gets called up next.

::

The clicking of heels caught Adam's attention, stepping back from his locker for a step before catching eye of the trio of tenners. Zoë walked in the center between Frankie and some other girl he wasn't aware of. Quickly, he shut his locker hoping they weren't headed in his direction.

He had an itch of what they would want so before they can do such thing, he begins to walk to the student council room.

Clare (10:43 AM)

Have you died? Haven't seen you in foreverrrrrr.

Adam chuckled as he stopped to respond to his text, the clicking echoing behind him. He instantly felt regret of pausing as his arm was pulled back and he instantly met Zoe's brown eyes. "Running away, are we?"

"I have somewhere to be." His grin didn't keep her from narrowing her eyes and he glanced between the three of them. "What do you need?" As friendly as Zoë and him were, they kept their interactions minimal to when they weren't surrounding by her friends-mostly because he had nothing in common with them. But then again, he had nothing in common with the girl right in front of him.

Frankie was quick to speak up, giving Adam a second to end his thoughts. "Why didn't Becky choose me to be in the show?" Oh, that's what they wanted to know. "I was great, even you would agree."

"I actually wasn't there..." Adam corrected and saw the knowing smirk forming on Zoe's lips. "And I wouldn't know, this is Becky's thing. Not mine."

"So? Wouldn't she tell you or something, you are dating." Frankie's puppy eyes go from Adam to Zoë in a quick flash, Adam would have missed that glance if he wasn't looking. "Right?"

Adam quickly looked to Zoë with a perked brow, waiting for her to end this interrogation, especially with that question indirectly asking another. Everyone seems to notice the dynamic between Adam and Zoë. "I told you he wouldn't know." She directed towards Frankie and Adam shrugged in further response. "Thanks, anyways." It was a rough thank you, but sweet nonetheless- Adam grew used to recognizing her sincerity.

"I'll text you." He couldn't help himself. It was a weird necessity running through him as he hadn't spoken to her since yesterday, and he didn't have practice this morning.

Her friends gave her a curious look, "You do that." She teased before he walked away.

It only took a minute later to reach his destination and found who he was looking for in less than a second, "See, I am not dead." Clare's eyes looked up and he laughed at her eye roll. "I got held up with Zoë."

The girl squinted her eyes as he settled in the seat adjacent to hers, watching him pull an apple out of his bag. "You know she has a major crush on you." She couldn't help herself and saw the smirk before he bit into his apple. "Be careful."

There was a pause as he chewed and swallowed the bite of his apple, he always had manners. "I know she does." Her eyebrows rose up as she waited for him to continue, her attention off her binder now. "She's like a sister to me, though."

"Does she know that? Or better yet, does Becky know that?"

"I mean; you were able to figure it out so it's probably obvious." Adam inquired as he took another bite. Becky had to know since she always witnessed them talking together. "Right?"

Clare shrugged her shoulders and closed her binder, sighing in relief from the break of her vice presidential duties. "As long as she's only a sister to you, it shouldn't matter." Her eyes caught sight of someone walking towards the room and she smirked, Adam following her gaze. "Speak of the devil... Hi, Becky."

"Hi, didn't know you guys would be here." Becky huffed out a breath as she sat in the seat across from Clare, adjacent to Adam's. She snatched the apple out of Adam's hand, taking a bite. "What's the hot goss?" The table they sat at had practically become their senior table of dramatics, always settling in here at least once a week to talk about whatever was happening in the school

"Just Zoe's crush on Adam." Adam's breathe nearly caught in his throat as he watched Becky react, confusion and relief hitting at once with the grin on her face. "I know, it's so cute."

"Right? First Drew, now you." Clare pointed a finger at him with a smile, "Oh the Torres brothers, always the charmers."

"Har, har."

Becky slowly smiled at Adam, warmth filling her as she felt his knee tap on hers; a habit of his whenever at a table. "I have nothing to worry about, right?" Adam noted the small concern in her voice and his blue eyes never looked so clear before as she waited for his answer. "No, you're the one eating my apple, aren't you?"

"Apples, the signifiers of love." Clare added in a teasing tone, followed by a giggle joined with Becky. Teasing Adam was something they definitely had in common.

::

"Adaaaaam, stop playing for like a second and listen." His eyes wouldn't leave the screen as he aimed his gun to the last zombie left to shoot. He was close to beating Drew's score, only this one shot and he would pass to the next level and- "Adam!"

The television turned pitch black and he groaned in agony. "Becks, I was so close!" He ran his fingers through his hair and got no reaction out of her until he met her eyes, filled with nothing but amusement. Grabbing his ears and stretching them, "I'm all ears now."

"Don't sound so enthusiastic to hear me talk." Becky adjusted herself to the furthest end of the couch, as Adam was on the other. Her phone chimed and she saw the time, pouting her lip as she realized how late it had become watching Adam play and sending texts to Imogen, approving or not approving designs.

"Who is it?" Becky set the phone down, propping her legs onto the couch and Adam found himself with her feet in his lap. "Your dad?"

She shook her head before tying her hair up into a sloppy bun, "Luke, but whatever. I don't have time for that." Adam nodded and began to run his fingers up the length of Becky's legs, soothing letting his massage her calf. "Have you taken drugs before?"

His head shot up at her question and he shot his head, "Nope. Drew has, actually... With Bianca a few years back. Why?"

"Imogen smoked weed with Jack."

"Was it her first time?"

Becky nods and closes her eyes briefly as the warmth of Adam's hand soothe the ache in her feet. "I told her hugs not drugs." Adam cracked into laughter and she made a face towards him, her feet gently kicking his leg to get him to stop. "What? It's true!"

"It is but," A shrug in between as he collects his thoughts, "it's a choice, you know? And weed isn't really addictive."

"Are you interested in trying?" She asks with curiosity in her tone and he shakes his head, not having to think twice. "Neither do I, it doesn't peak my interest. But it concerns me because she did it because Jack did. You shouldn't fall into peer pressure, especially if you're only trying to please or impress a crush. You have to be honest!"

Adam couldn't help but smirk, thinking back to the honesty that has been consistent throughout his relationship with Becky. He stays silent, letting only the small buzz of the refrigerator fill the basement as he focuses on the soles of her feet. He should of have lotion down here, would of made an easier massage. "Are you being honest with me?" Becky's voice was small and almost shy, that when he met her gaze it was the first time he had ever seen doubt directed right to him. "About Zoë."

"I am; I don't like her romantically-"

"Sexually?" That question really caught him off guard that his hands paused for a second, her gaze shifted from his eyes to his hands and she shifted to have her knees to her chest. "I know we haven't reached that phase in our relationship, so I'm scared you'll seek it somewhere else especially since she just leaks confidence."

Adam scooted closer, his silence giving Becky second doubts on her question as he settles right across from her on the couch; a few inches away from her. "She's attractive, appealing to the eyes, but would I have sex with her, no."

"Because she's a minor-"

"No, because I only trust you in that way." His voice was sincere and matched her earlier tone, almost childlike. "And even if I trusted her in that way, she's like a sister to me honestly. It's weird thinking about it, you know?"

Instead of answering, she stretches her legs outwards and finds her knees on either side of his hips as he is so close to her. A wave of confidence hits her as she moves up to shift her lap onto his, straddling him and his breathe hitches just the slightest as her fingers run along his biceps. "You're the only one I want, sexually as you put it." She cracks a smile with a small chuckle and he grins in delight. "Whenever you're ready, we'll talk about it and how we'll go about it."

It's just a whisper as their faces are so close, there's no need for anyone else to hear. Her mind floods out all the worries of Zoë, Imogen, Luke, and her parents as she caresses her thumb over the freckles that sprinkle his cheeks. "I love you." Her voice is so smooth and her nerves are calm, even as his hands run down the length of her back; knowing very well were they're going to rest and caress. "I'll share my apples with you."

His laughter brings the widest smile onto her face and that's exactly how she wishes to end her day, everyday. The taste of his lips and hint of a smile as they kiss like they have all the time in the world, and the feeling in the pit of her stomach making her ache for more yet feeling just enough.

pretty long chapter. hope you enjoy. x