"The One" – Part 82
Summary and additional notes in part 1.
Author's Note: Sorry this part is a little late! I got a bunch of writing done yesterday, including more chapters of this fic. Enjoy :D
This is not related to my Degrassi timeline fics. (See my Author's profile for details!)
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Degrassi!
-oOo-
Adam held Fiona close as they looked up at the marquee. "It's your choice, princess. Which one do you want to see?"
Fiona scrunched her nose. There were so many choices. She wasn't sure which one was good!
He looked at her with a small smile. Now she was speechless? "I mean it. Even if it's a chick flick."
This got a response, as she immediately frowned at him. Adam chuckled and kissed the side of her head.
They were standing outside a movie theater. After the workday was over, he met her at her job. Since they weren't going to the book launch, he suggested seeing a movie. Fiona still wasn't quite herself, but she seemed happy enough with the last minute plans.
"That reminds me, the last chick flick we watched we never got to finish," she playfully noted.
He smirked, recalling Saturday. "Would you like a similar interruption this time?"
She giggled. "I don't think we can do that in the theater!"
He shrugged. "Where there's a will, there's a way," he joked.
They both laughed.
Fiona grabbed his hand. "Let's go inside. We'll just pick whichever movie starts the soonest."
He smiled at her. "Sounds like a plan!"
-oOo-
"Are you sure you don't want popcorn?" Adam asked again as the previews ended.
Fiona shook her head. "I'm still full from the pizza."
She and Adam grabbed a quick bite to eat at a Pizzeria before coming here.
"Okay, let me know if you do later," he told her.
She smiled and leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Thanks!"
He grinned at her. "I'd do anything for you, princess." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
About twenty minutes into the movie she turned to him and whispered into his ear. "Let's step outside."
Adam looked at her confused. "Are you sure?"
She stood up and he quickly followed suit. Once they exited the door, he turned to her. He opened his mouth to speak but she beat him to it.
"I think we should go," Fiona told him.
"Go where?" he questioned, unsure of her meaning.
"To the book launch. I think we should just go," Fiona clarified.
Adam slowly smiled. "Alright, let's go then!" Though it was sudden, he fully supported her change of heart. "Do you want to stop by your office to grab a change of clothes?" She left the dress she had picked out for Gretchen's event.
"Are you trying to tell me something?" Fiona teased.
"What? No," he said quickly.
She laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "You're cute."
He gave her a look. "You're mean when you want to be!" he responded in jest.
She leaned in and they shared a lingering kiss. When they pulled apart she held his gaze.
"Right now I'm not wearing my usual attire for a night out, but I think we should go directly there. We're already late and… I don't want to second guess going. If we stop somewhere I might," she admitted.
He nodded with understanding and then reached for her hand. "Okay. We'll hail a cab to take us straight there." He smiled as their fingers entwined.
The two of them walked out of the theater.
-oOo-
Fiona stepped out onto the cobblestone street. Adam was right behind her, and slammed the cab door shut. They resumed holding hands as they walked to the sidewalk.
"This is it, right?" Adam asked her. The Meatpacking district was an interesting place. There were a number of warehouses and factory buildings. Quite a few had been converted into clubs or storefronts, but there were plenty of unlit and deserted buildings too. The streets were uneven, and unpaved in many areas. The cobblestone surface was 'old New York' originating from the 1800s.
Fiona nodded as they approached a club with a very modern style façade. She was certain this was the right place. Outside there were a number of people smoking. She could tell they were friends of Gretchen, but they weren't people she knew personally.
Adam slowed to stop and she gave him a questioning look. He smiled broadly. "I love you," he told her. "I think you made the right decision, being here for Gretchen."
They both leaned in and shared a short, yet passionate kiss.
Fiona grinned at him as she pulled away. "Thanks. I love you, too." She reached for his hand and they smiled at each other again before heading inside.
The first thing she noticed was that the interior was setup more like an art gallery than a traditional club. Fiona thought it was an excellent choice. Enlargements of Gretchen's photos were displayed on the walls. She recognized that many of the portraits were in the final edition of the book. The lighting was bright enough to admire the photography, but dim enough to give the space a warm, cozy feel. Several feet in was a wine bar. She turned to Adam with an excited smile.
"Wine?" she asked.
He grinned at her. "As long as there's cheese and crackers," he joked.
They laughed as they made their way to the bar.
"Fiona?" a voice called out.
The couple stopped and turned around. Standing before them were Nona and Raul. Both were dressed up. Nona was wearing a knee length white strapless dress, with a maroon band around the middle. Raul wore a black and gray striped shirt with black slacks and dress shoes. Again, his hair was slicked back.
Nona smiled at them. "We didn't think you were coming!"
They exchanged hugs.
"I didn't want to miss this," Fiona simply stated.
"Gretchen will be thrilled!" Raul assured her. Nona nodded in agreement.
"You have great timing. We're going to do the cake in twenty minutes," Nona revealed.
"Cake?" Fiona questioned.
Raul and Nona nodded with matching grins.
"Gretchen's Mom insisted. Debbie and Tomás found this awesome cake shop last week. Their cupcakes were like perfect, so we can't wait to try the cake!" Raul explained.
Fiona and Adam chuckled.
"Sounds awesome," Adam remarked.
"You came!" a voice exclaimed loudly.
Pete walked over excitedly with his boyfriend not far behind. He quickly gave Fiona a hug.
"Gretchen's going to be happy one of you came," he said as he pulled away. He suddenly furrowed his brows. "What are you wearing?"
Nona, Raul, and Tomás immediately laughed as Fiona gave him a pointed look.
"No! I don't mean that in the bad way!" Pete backtracked embarrassed. "I was just expecting couture," he explained.
"Hey! I think she looks lovely," Adam asserted.
Fiona smiled at her boyfriend appreciatively. "Thank you."
"You do!" Pete insisted.
Nona shook her head. "Just stop trying," she laughed. The damage was already done!
"Nice to know what you really think," Fiona joked.
They all laughed.
From across the room, Tami frowned. Simone raised an eyebrow at her and she switched to a neutral expression. "What?" she said innocently.
Simone took a sip of her red wine. "We're going over there to say 'hi'," she decreed.
Tami shook her head. "I have nothing to say to her."
Simone snorted. "Did Fiona break up with you?" She still didn't know why her friend was so hostile towards Fiona. Clearly she chose to take Beth's side, but there had to be more to it.
Tami sighed. "If I go over there all chipper after not speaking to her for a month, it will come off as fake," she pointed out.
"I'll be there with you. It's called having good social graces!" Simone countered. "Besides, if it bugs you that much, you can pull her aside for a chat."
Tami took a long sip of her white wine. She was nearly out. "I don't have a problem with Fiona."
"Oh?" Simone said unconvinced. She could have fooled her!
"I just don't like girls like her," Tami continued. Simone looked at her confused. "It's just annoying when people don't know what they want."
Simone frowned a little when she realized what she was getting at. "This isn't a case of someone suddenly switching teams. Fiona has dated more women than men, but she's always been upfront about being pansexual."
"I know that," Tami responded. "But I still find it strange that she's only dated women since college, yet now that she's ready to settle down she's with a man! I've seen so many so-called 'bi' girls do that and it's annoying."
"Nice little biphobic rant," Simone retorted with heavy sarcasm. She identified as a lesbian, but she had heard plenty of people both gay and straight express similar views. It didn't sit well with her.
"I just don't think it's fair," Tami replied.
"There's a lot that happens in the world that isn't 'fair'," Simone told her. "Like the assumptions you made about Fiona and her relationship with Adam. I don't think that's fair."
"Like I said. Going over to say 'hi' would be fake," Tami reiterated and took one last sip of her wine.
.
tbc
A/N: The next chapter will be posted on Wednesday! Simone and Tami continue their conversation – that ended on a tense note, right? – and there's more Fadam interaction!
Happy 4th July to US readers! Happy Monday all around, lol :D
Off topic: I'm updating "The Wedding" today too!