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Ada hadn't been looking forward to this dinner. Not at all. Getting dressed up to go out in public and eat around people? All things she didn't want to do. But now she'd admit to not hating the idea. Thought the short, red dress is bigger on her than she remembers, there's an off comfort in wearing it. She'd been discouraged by her hair at first. Wearing a beaning into any restaurant was just a no. But after many more minutes than she'd like to admit, she'd figured out a solution.

Sighing, the teenager checks her makeup - it doesn't completely cover the scar on her jaw but she's become used to it - and runs her fingers over the french braid in her hair. It's just long enough to do and pin back into a passable style. She looks down at her converse shoes and smiles a little sad smile.

Turning off the light, Ada exits the bathroom. She grabs her bag off her bed and walks out of her room. Pepper - also wearing a dress - and Tony - in a suit - are conversing in the living area. They both turn when she enters but don't say anything. Ada waits a moment, rubbing her arm self-consciously. "What?" She asks when their staring lasts a little too long.

"Nothing," Mr. Stark says with a shake of his head while Pepper steps forward.

"You look beautiful, sweetie," She tells her with a smile, and Ada blushes despite herself.

"It's a step up from jeans and sweats," The teenager jokes. She had thought about wearing pants to dinner but it's been so long since she's worn a dress. She thought she hated the clothing item but it turns out, not so much. Or maybe it's just nostalgia.

"I feel like I haven't really seen your face since you've been wearing that hat."

"Not much to see these days," Ada mumbles, smiling at Pepper when the woman gives her a disapproving look. "Kidding," She whispers weakly. "Are we leaving now?"

"Yup," Tony nods and steps towards them, wrapping an arm around Pepper's waist and the other around Ada's shoulders. They all load into the elevator and take it down. When she sees the car, Ada freezes.

She's gotten better with riding in cars but she avoids them best she can. But it's not just that. The last time she was going out to dinner with her...well, look where that got her. The thought that they were going to be driving hadn't even crossed her mind.

Luckily, Ada snaps back to the present before either Pepper or Tony notice her odd behavior. She feels bad for this, but she sees no other way. "Um, I forgot my jacket," Good excuse in the middle of summer? No, but hey, the restaurant could be cold. "I'm just gonna run and grab it, okay? Be right back." Without waiting for an answer, Ada spins on her heels and rushes back inside. She jumps into the elevator to their floor. Her feet carry her back and forth, hands wringing together harsher than necessary.

She's squeezing through the doors before they're even fully open. Before anything else, Ada kneels in front of her nightstand and pulls out the hat. She carries the whole thing into her bathroom and sets it out on the sink. Tony and Pepper waiting for her downstairs flash through her mind. She hates that that doesn't make her hesitate to swallow one of the tablets she got from Lexi. She doesn't even know what it is, all she does know is that she feels better when she takes them.

Sighing, the teenager looks herself over as if checking for any evidence for what she'd just done. She nods to herself and goes to leave her room, stopping last second to grab a jacket. Would not be good if she forgot that.

"Sorry, sorry," Ada apologizes when she rejoins the others but avoids their eyes. They don't know, she has to tell herself because it feels like they'll see right through her if she looks into their eyes.

"It's fine, you good now?" Pepper asks. Her question is innocent but Ada feels something turning inside of her and she gives a tight nod. Not very smoothly, Ada slides into the back seat of the car. She buckles her seatbelt, ignoring the way phantom pain flares in her chest at the memory of the injury the seatbelt gave her in the accident. Being in the back seat helps a little. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, relaxing. She wishes she could say she didn't have help doing that.

The restaurant is only a few minutes away. The small fam-group arrives in record time. Ada feels almost out of place in the fancy setting despite her dressy appearance. It's been so long since she's been somewhere like this, she's nearly forgotten what it's like.

Quiet conversation buzzes around them, low music filling any gaps. Ada looks at Ms. Potts and Mr. Stark while pretending to look over her menu. They make a great couple. Like, the best. They balance each other out well and Pepper's hair is so long a pretty. But do they really want a kid? Do they want her?

This entire thing was just sprung on them. They took her in - which she's immensely grateful for - because...well she's not a hundred percent sure why. They've never actually talked about it. What if they regret their decision? She hasn't been the best kid lately, even if they don't know what she's doing.

Nathan wasn't the most emotional person. He loved her, she knows he did but he rarely said it. Tony nor Pepper have ever said that. Not that she remembers and she's sure she would've remembered. And that may sound...winy? Or something. But it's true, they haven't. And she doesn't need them too, she doesn't. Does she? But-

"Ada?"

"Hmm?" The teenager hums in question to Pepper and the woman motions towards their waiter.

"Why would you like to drink?" The young man asks, pen positioned over his notepad.

"Marlo," She says immediately, snorting at the look Mr. Stark gives her. "Kidding. Uh, water is fine, thank you." The waiter himself smiles as the leaves to get their order. She should probably stop with the drinking jokes for obvious reasons.

They keep the conversation light. Ada does her best to keep herself there and talk with them. It isn't as hard as it would normally be if she didn't have drugs running through her system. Drug, single drug, Ada would like to point that out.

It's when she's pulling her hand back towards herself, having just set her cup down, that she notices it shaking. Tony and Pepper are laughing quietly about something. Ada remembers that she'd been smiling but can't remember why. It's gone now anyway.

Excusing herself to the bathroom, Ada stands carefully, ignoring her near loss of balance and navigates her way around the room. A lady is washing her hands when she enters. Ada moves past her and into one of the stalls, closing the door behind her. It's a full closed stall, the walls going from floor to ceiling with a door. That might have made her feel comfortable at one point, but now all she fills is trapped. Since when is she claustrophobic?

When all noise other than her breathing and the very faint music ceases, Ada lets herself out of the tiny room and marches over to the mirror. She braces her hands on the counter and takes a few measured breaths. She'd splash her face with water if she wasn't wearing makeup.

Lifting her right hand in front of her, Ada watches it shake and grabs her wrist in her other hand. She realizes she left her purse at the table but the only thing she has in there is ibuprofen and what good would that do? Clenching her jaw shut tight and her hands into fists, Ada brings them down onto the counter, letting the pain wash up through her arms.

"I should hit things more often," The teenager mumbles to herself right before the door opens. Another woman walks in, sending her a smile when she catches her eye in the mirror before moving into one of the stalls.

Checking her reflection one last time, Ada leaves the bathroom. She turns the corner that leads back to the dining area, head down. That was her mistake. Hands land on her shoulders, stopping her from colliding with the person who also speaks. "Woah," Looking up, Ada is greeted with the face of their waiter. "Sorry." He apologizes and pulls his arms back to his side.

"No, it's my fault," Ada says quietly, closing her eyes while she shakes her head. "Or whoever controls the lighting in this place." Why are fancy restaurants always so dark?

"Ha, yeah," The waiter - Ada hadn't gotten his name - laughs a little and looks around as if noticing the dim lights for the first time. "Is everything okay at your table?"

"Yeah, it's fine, thank you," Ada nods, pursing her lips and pointing in the general direction of said table. "I should get back."

"Right, yes," He moves aside, allowing her the room to move. "Have a good night."

"Thank you," Ada says again as she passes him. She rejoins Mr. Stark and Ms. Potts, smiling the best she can at them.

"We were talking about dessert," Pepper tells her. For some reason that makes Ada feel bad.

"Uh, you guys go ahead, I'm full." Honestly, she's starting to feel sick from what she's already eaten. A stomach ache is not something she wants to deal with, now or ever.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, and I was wondering if I could go see a friend after we leave, just for a bit."

"Friend?" Mr. Stark questions. Ada thinks she hears suspicion in his voice and tries not to let her thoughts go crazy. Maybe she was only hearing things.

"Yeah, you don't know her," She meets his eyes but looks away, turning back to Pepper to disguise how quickly she did so. "She doesn't live far, actually." Lexi's not home though, she's at a party. Ada has no idea where the party is but they don't need to know that's where she's really going.

"So this friend's a girl?"

"Tony," Pepper sends her fiancé a scathing look and the man holds his hands up in surrender. "Do you want us to drop you off?" Should she ask more questions? Meet this friend first? Not let her go? Pepper had thought that after taking care of Tony for so long, a kid couldn't be much more difficult. But with every decision she makes, she questions every little detail about every little thing. It always comes down to, 'Am I doing the right thing?'.

"No, it's fine," Ada tries to sound relaxed and calm. She shakes her head slowly and looks between the two adults with questioning eyes. "So, I can go?"

Tony shrugs to his fiancée, just as helpless as she is in this situation. "Yeah, you can go," She nods to Ada, feeling a little better about the decision when the girl smiles. "Just, you know, text us, let us know you're okay and when you're coming home." Should she set a time for her to be home? "Well, if you're not spending the night, maybe don't be out too late."

"Um, yeah, okay," That's reasonable, Ada guesses. It's just odd, asking their permission and following their rules. If she didn't know any better, she'd say it was just as odd for them to be giving those rules.

"We're gonna drop you off," Tony suddenly says. He hates that that hadn't occurred to him at first. "Don't want you walking alone."

"I've done it before," Ada thinks that's better to say that 'I do it all the time'.

"I know," Mr. Stark nods. "But this isn't a debate."

"Okay," She's too tired to argue. And that would probably make them change their minds about letting her go in the first place. Ada text Lexi under the table in a non-suspicious way. She gets the location of the party then tells the girl her plan to get there. Typos are common with Lexi but not as many as Ada is seeing now. She must already be drunk. Or high. Possibly both.

Pepper and Tony decide against dessert. Well, Tony pouts like a child until Pepper agrees to get ice cream on the way home. But before they get the chance to leave, the manager approaches them.

"I am so sorry Mr. Stark, I don't know how they found out, but the press is outside."

Tony sighs, sharing a look with Pepper. "Not your fault, Henry," He tells the older man. Ada feels an uncomfortable pressure on her chest.

"I can have someone bring your car around the back if you'd like."

"Yes, thank you," Pepper says to the man, smiling as he nods and walks away from them. She looks over to Ada and places her hand over the teenagers.

When Henry returns, he leads them to the back door, letting them out unscathed by the press. Ada climbs into the car much easier than before and gives directions to Lexi's apartment. She tells her guardians goodbye, promising to text before entering the building. She waits a few minutes before looking outside to see the car gone.

Her hand twitches when she pushes the door open but it doesn't stop her from walking down the street. She's so glad she didn't wear heels.

Ada finds the part easy-ish enough. There has to be some kind of soundproofing. The music is too loud for there not to be. She texts Lexi without high hopes that the girl would get back to her. She thinks she'll spot the blue-haired girl quickly enough.

But the skinny girl is not the first familiar face she sees. "Mike?" She raises her voice just enough to be heard over the music. "Where's Lexi?"

"Oh," Mike says, holding one cup in his hand. "Come on, this is for her." Ada turns and follows the boy through the crowd of people. She thinks she might have shoved someone over at one point but eh, no one said anything.

They reach Lexi soon enough, the girl is leaning heavily against a window seal. Ada moves a little faster, placing a hand on her shoulder when she starts to sway. "Oh, okay," Ada mumbles and pushes the girl upright. Mike offers her the cup and Ada raises a single brow at him.

"It's water," He tells her, and she allows Lexi to take it.

"You don't seem drunk," She observes while Lexi 'drinks' the clear liquid.

"Oh, no, I am," Mike nods and Ada finally notices the little things. His balance is good but he keeps moving his feet to keep it that way. His eyes are wider than normal like he's trying to keep them open. And other things, Ada doesn't care to point them all out. "Yeah, just, not as much as she is."

"No one is as drunk as she is," Ada mumbles but just as the words escape her mouth, someone falls behind her. She looks over her shoulder, raising both her brows this time as a girl helps a boy stand up again.

"I think you might be wrong about that."

"Yeah," She whispers before Lexi gains her attention again. "Hey, girly, we're gonna go home." Had Ada wanted to get at least a little drunk as well? Yes, but Lexi is a drink away from alcohol poisoning, and if Ada knows her well enough, and she does, she'll be puking her guts out soon enough.

"Hey," Lexi draws out the words, slurring the single syllable. "You're here."

"Yes, now we're leaving."

"We are?"

"Yup," Ada throws Lexi's arm over her shoulders, taking most of the girl's weight.

"Want some help?" Mike asks. Ada pauses and looks him up and down before meeting his eye. Sorry if she doesn't trust anyone who used to hang out with Chris, but Mike hadn't really interacted with him and he does seem like he only wants to help.

"Fine, sure," The boy nods and takes Lexi's other side, and together, they manage to get the girl outside and back to her apartment. Ada has never met Lexi's parents, they never seem to be there when she is. And now, she's very grateful for that fact.

They make it just in time. As soon as they're through the door, Ada finds herself on her friend's bathroom floor, holding her hair back as she empties her stomach into the toilet. Mike brings her another cup of water, and disappears. Ada has no time to wonder what he's doing.

After cleaning Lexi's face, Ada takes her shoes off and helps her change before exiting the bathroom. "Huh," She hums and cocks her head to the side at the sight that greets her. Struggling with the half-asleep girl, Ada moves her over and drops her on the bed next to an already sleeping Mike. So that's why he didn't come back.

After throwing different blankets over both teenager's shoulders, Ada looks around helplessly. "Now what?" Her phone vibrating is her answer. She ignores the notification and instead opens her messages. She text's Mr. Stark, asking/telling him that she's staying the night.

"Great," Plopping down into the bean bag chair she's claimed as her own, Ada drinks her own drink she got from Lexi's stash. Just enough to keep her awake, she tells herself. Not that she needs it, her insomnia is no better. That's just her excuse.

She sits there until the sun rises.

Well, then. Mike might be a good egg. Just because you know bad people, it doesn't make you a bad person. Despite Ada's own problems, she's becoming a mother hen for Lexi, it's great, I love it. These girls will go through a lot more together in the near future. I shall say no more than that.

Thanks for reading! I would love to know what you guys think of this chapter!

Teasers: "It's best this way," / "I am so sorry." / She can't bring herself to ask him to forgive her. / "I don't know what I want either,"

You guys still like the teasers?

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