Chapter 20
I Stole A Chicken
“You’ve been arrested?” I sound shocked, but I don’t know why.
"Only three times,” he says with a shrug.
Only three times. Wow. “And what exactly were those three times for?" I need to know. I mean, this has to be good.
"Two of them were drunk and disorderly. You know every college kids has a couple of those." He waves it off.
"Sure, absolutely.” My voice sounds slightly patronizing, but I’m trying here.
"And the third one, well that was a misunderstanding."
I’ll bet. “And what was that charge?" I ask, slightly terrified to hear the answer.
"Solicitation."
Didn't see that one coming. "And how exactly, does a twenty-year-old guy—”
He cringes again, holding up a hand to stop me. “Nineteen. It happened when I was nineteen.”
“Okay then, how exactly does a nineteen-year-old guy get picked up on solicitation charges?” I ask, but then I think better. I hold up a finger. “Wait, never mind, let’s keep moving. So, that's your official criminal history, what’s your history with trouble here on campus?”
Again, I’m not at all entertaining the idea of spending all my free time with him. No, not at all interested in that, but I’m not sure I’ve ever been this entertained by one conversation so there’s no way in hell I’m walking away yet.
Adrian, now leaning on my desk, holds up his fingers and starts ticking off the offenses. "There were two incidents, wait, no three incidents of being in the girls dorms after hours. I’ve gotten kicked out of the cafeteria at least once a year, for standing on the tables. There was the one time I got caught stealing a chicken from the school farm, and then there was the time I tried to climb through a window at the president’s house."
Where do I start… with the chicken because obviously I need to know why. And really, we have a campus farm? As tempting as that one is, I need to know how he did not get arrested for breaking into the president’s house, making criminal act number four.
"Please." I gesture for him to continue. "Do tell this story of the president’s house."
Adrian shakes his head and waves as if he’s brushing me off. "Nah, you’d be bored. Besides I think we're getting off track here don't you? And you accuse me of getting distracted." He shakes his head, giving me a disappointed look.
I'm tempted to point out that me being intrigued by his story of crawling through windows, and being arrested for prostitution, is slightly different then when he smells pizza and completely forgets what we're talking about, but that would only side track him further.
"Okay,” I begin, trying to get somewhere with this conversation. “You want me to lock you in your room at night so you don't go out drinking. Be your alarm clock every morning, and keep you from committing any type of criminal activity." After I list all these, I ask, “Did I get all that right?"
He smiles, and it engulfs his face. ”I knew you were the girl for the job. You totally get me."
"Oh no,” I say, shaking a finger at him. “I can assure you, I do not get you. I can also assure you, that I do not have time to be your personal babysitter."
I don’t mention that spending more time with him would seriously screw with my mental stability. I’m honest, but I’m not stupid.
He purses his lips looking thoughtful, then nods. “You should probably pretend to be my girlfriend.”
I choke on my laugh. “I’m sorry, did you say I should tie a rope around your penis and the other end to a rabid dog?”
He squeezes his thighs together. “Damn woman, you’re so violent.”
I smile sweetly.
“I think you're missing the point,” he says with a frustrated shake of his head.
“Oh, I guarantee I am.”
He sighs, then walks back over to sit on the bed, spinning me to face him. Taking my hands again, his expression shifts, and he looks pleading.
“I need you. It’s not about my dad anymore. It’s about my aunt and brothers. I don’t want to disappoint her and I need to be a good role model for them.”
That reminds me I wanted to ask him about his family, but every time we’re together he throws me off and I get nowhere.
“Your aunt is raising your brothers?” He nods. “Will you tell me about them?” I ask, honestly curious. He’s only mentioned his dad and brothers in this conversation but not given me any real information.
“Will you be my girlfriend?” he asks with a devilish smile.