The Ministry Officials Summer Ball (All Ministry Personnel & Partners/Family Welcome!)

Guest

Summer almost considered going with Victoria to the bar, but she decided against it. Her glass of martini was still mostly full, and besides, the group looked like they needed someone who can keep the conversation going. Zander seemed a bit reserved, although perhaps that was just in comparison to Victoria, but the two other girls didn't look like the talkative sort as well.

'Congratulations on becoming an Auror,' she beamed at Zander. Before meeting him, Summer had feared that he would be one of those asshole types who only sounded nice when their girlfriends talked about them. However, despite not talking much, Summer could see that Zander was a good guy, and that he wasn't the sort who seemed like he only dated girls for their looks, bodies, or money. 'You must be excited to start working in the field.'

Turning to the other two girls, she asked Eun Soo, 'Are you a university student as well? Or an Auror?' The two girls both looked intimidating, but at least Eun Soo wasn't wearing a skull necklace. Still, she tried her best to not be too wigged out by the younger girl's choice of clothing. 'Lux... Your name sounds familiar,' she said, trying to think of where she would have heard it before. A newspaper, perhaps, but Summer wasn't sure—whenever she read the Prophet and the Quibbler, she mostly focused on how they did photojournalism.

Victoria was soon walking back towards them with a very colourful cocktail, which made Summer chuckle. No matter where they drank, Victoria only ordered those cocktail drinks with the really funky names. She tried not to laugh even harder as she remembered one particular incident involving Victoria and a terribly named cocktail drink.

She had been spacing out, overcome with fond memories of her friend and alcoholic drinks, when Victoria's voice interrupted her thoughts.

'... He's cute. Oh, and he has a real nice accent too, his name is Adrian, I think he said.'

Summer's heart started beating faster. The whole ballroom was a blur as she tried to focus on Victoria and what she had just said. Cute. A real nice accent. Adrian. Was her tolerance level so bad that she imagined Victoria to say those words? 'Victoria,' she said, her voice suddenly serious and full of urgency, 'Victoria. I want you to repeat what you just said. Cute. Nice accent. Adrian. You are not pulling a prank on me, are you?'

There was, however, no reason for Victoria to pull that prank. Despite her not-so-sober state, Summer can still recall how she almost told Victoria about Adrian one night over drinks, only to stop herself due to her fear of how Victoria would react. How her best friend would probably grab the nearest laptop and try to look him up, just to force her to contact him again. And even if Victoria did not find out about him from her, Summer never kept journals, and she wouldn't have told Adrian about anyone else if she couldn't even tell her best friend.

Without waiting for Victoria to answer her, Summer turned on her heels and walked towards the bar.

She didn't need to look for him. Clearly, he had seen her, and only Merlin knows how long he had been there, knowing she was around and yet not even bothering to come up to her. Summer smiled at him. Remembering the martini she was holding, she downed it all before turning around and looking for the nearest balcony, or any place where she could have air and some quiet to knock some sense back into her.

She was tipsy and lonely, and that's all this was. As she crossed the dance floor, a man stepped in front of her, asking for a dance. Before she could say no, the music started, and as she tried not to look back, she began to waltz to the music. It was one of those dances where people exchanged partners at some point, so once the exchanges began, she decided she would leave and apparate out of there. Immediately.

Guest

Adrian had watch Victoria take the drinks back to the group - that one seemed to be a social butterfly - which was a good calculation on Adrian's part. He watched the butterfly deliver (somewhat indirectly) the message he had subtly sent across the room. He watched as Summer split away from the group, and, for a moment, Adrian thought she was coming to him.

But she moved away from him - with a smile towards him, but away.

Downing the rest of his drink, Adrian stood up straight and followed where Summer was going. His heart was racing. The years he'd let her go believing she would not fit in to his world... He wanted to know how she had found Paris, what she had been doing since. Ask her how she was finding her photography course. If... she still remembered their time together...

As Summer moved in to the crowd, music warmed up, and she was taken in to the clutches of a male Adrian knew of. An Auror higher up than him - or something's - son. Waiting for a few bars of the song to go through, Adrian moved around the dance floor, trying to pick the right moment to work his way in. As they came near him, Adrian, excused himself and took over. Allowing Summer a moment to compose herself, Adrian battled for the right words.

"I... didn't think it was really you..." Adrian explained as they turned in the dance, giving her a small apologetic smile for bombarding her with his presence. "I hope I'm not overstepping by dancing with you... I just... had to speak to you again."

Adrian added nothing more. Just like in Barcelona, he would not force Summer to stay. Even though he wanted more than just one dance from her. Wanted to hear all about the couple of years he'd missed of her adventures. He wanted to apologise for not writing, never visiting. But he could never find the right way to do so.

But, if she were to tell him to go, to leave her be, he would.

And he would know, as he should of those few years ago, that the flame he had believed to be burning between them, was never real.

Guest

This night was just turning more and more into a social event and Zander didn't like it, at all. Especially not once the dancing started. However thankfully, Victoria had not yet asked for a dance and he had not had to figure out a reason why he could not dance with her. He knew it was only a matter of time, but until then he would try to enjoy the night and do something he didn't often do: make friends.

Zander, for the most part, was a loner and lacked a social circle except for Victoria. Between having been a student and holding a part time job he hadn't really had the time for social circles nor was he interested but now he knew as the time for him to propose and eventually become a married man with a family approached, having a few guy friends would be important because he couldn't spend all his time being with Victoria outside of working.

At some point, two girls had joined their group and absentmindedly he shook Summer's hand once introduced and then eventually, he could hear his girlfriend introduce him to the underage looking girl and the other girl, or woman. He was so thankful for his girlfriend being a social butterfly, it made things a lot easier on him in the least. He was surrounded by woman and found himself tugging on his tie. It was overwhelmingly hot as people surrounded them and introduced themselves. Zander tried not to be rude and he tried not to embarrass Victoria but quite frankly, he wasn't feeling himself.

When Victoria had walked away, he felt himself in a panic and started to run afterwards but then Summer began speaking to him. "Thanks," he replied, "yeah, can't wait." He let out a forced smile because truthfully, he grew more and more worried of becoming an Auror as the days passed. It was something he was now doubting he could accomplish but he didn't want to disappoint Victoria. Soon, Victoria was back with a drink for him and he thanked her with a kiss to the top of her head before he felt her arm slip into his. The touch of her caused him to relax a bit and he rose the drink to his lips. If Victoria expected dancing, he'd need several more of these.

When his attention returned from his drink back to the group, he noticed that Summer had left and while he was glad his girlfriend had a best friend, he was happy to see their group slowly getting smaller.

Guest

The man who pulled her into a dance was quite good-looking, but Summer wasn't paying attention to him. From where they danced, Summer could see that Adrian had entered the dance floor, and that he was watching her, perhaps waiting for the right moment to cut in. She nodded absently in response to the man's questions, waiting for the right moment to leave and disappear.

But before she could do that, she found herself holding on to Adrian, swaying automatically with him as they moved around the dance floor.

He couldn't be right in front of her. No, she was probably just projecting her drunkenness or loneliness, whichever was stronger. Adrian was a muggle law enforcer who occasionally did photography. Adrian lived in Barcelona, not London.

And yet there was no mistaking that Spanish accent the minute he started speaking, and the small mannerisms that Summer had become familiar with during the month she had known Adrian Fernandez Arellano in Spain. Unlike the Adrian she knew, though, this Adrian was uncertain, almost as if he considered himself an unwanted pest in her life.

She could only stare at him for a few moments, her brain lagging as she tried to figure out whether it was all just a dream.

Summer, too, was uncertain. With her tongue frozen into silence and her eyes locked on Adrian's, she felt like someone had cast Petrificus Totalus on her, except they were still dancing, and the world went on around them as if nothing extraordinary was happening in the dance floor.

The music ended, and the crowd dispersed as a much slower song replaced the previous one. Yet Summer remained rooted to where she stood, gazing up at Adrian as she tried to find the right words to say. She began with, 'Wow, I really am drunk.'

Laughing, she stepped away from Adrian, unable to stay calm and composed. She searched the dance floor for Victoria but did not find her there at all, and she couldn't even remember where she had put down her glass. Pulling Adrian away from the dance floor, she went back to the bar to order another glass of martini. Her fourth, or fifth, or sixth—it didn't matter anymore. She wasn't sober, and having another glass couldn't make a difference at this point. Remembering what Adrian liked to drink back in Barcelona, she ordered scotch for him. 'See? I still know your favourite drink,' she said as she turned to him with a bright smile.

'You're a wizard. I can't believe it. A wizard. Don't tell me you're a pureblood. Merlin, I don't know whether to laugh or cry.' As Summer spoke, the bartender placed their drinks on the bar. She handed Adrian his and took hers. 'A toast to being magical,' she said, raising her glass up.

'So,' sliding closer to Adrian, she looked up at him with a smile, her eyes blinking more slowly than usual as she tried to focus on him and to ignore the dizziness she was beginning to feel. 'What... did you want to talk to me about? Can I lean on you just a bit? I'm sorry, I'm just slightly... dizzy.'

Guest

At the insistence that she was drunk, Adrian couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. "It would seem you are, Miss Wilhern." Adrian responded, testing the waters subconsciously to make sure nothing major had happened in the couple of years since he'd last seen the girl - woman, witch - before him.

Witch.

He would never have believed Summer was part of his world, and yet, here she was, in a very Magical setting, holding on to him just enough for him to understand that it was real.

Allowing himself to be lead from the dance floor by Summer, Adrian paid little mind to the people around them. He was still marvelling at the fact Summer was here. It didn't make any sense. How could neither of them have put two and two together whilst they had spent a month together? He knew hiding magic was a must, but... not knowing of others - it made Adrian want to kick himself for not realising.

All the distance between them, need not have been.

With the scotch handed to him, Adrian took it gratefully, sipping the liquid as he watched Summer drink hers. "Mine might not have changed, but yours certainly has." Adrian replied, letting out a small laugh. "It's good, though, so long as I'm not going to have to escort a drunken Summer home." He added, as his subtle way of telling her not to over do it. He didn't have any say in her drinking habits, of course, but he could worry for her safety.

"Shaken, or stirred?" Adrian asked, motioning to the martini in Summer's hand. If she knew his favourite, he would at least do the same for her.

The toast, Adrian joined, and when their glasses lowered, Adrian let out a small chuckle. "Perhaps Pureblood." He said casually, giving a small shrug of his shoulders. "But Spain are not so pompous on their beliefs, you know? My parents are both from the era of pompousness, but, they don't think it's the best idea to enforce such views. Why did you never tell me you were a witch - is that even the right word? Meant in the nicest of fashions, of course." Adrian responded, trying to work out how to phrase the question, seeing as it didn't come up in normal circumstances.

When Summer questioned what he wanted, before adding leaning, Adrian moved to put his arm around her, and allowed her to lean in to him. "Maybe you should slow down on the drinks?" Adrian said, amusement playing on his features. "But, I just wanted to ask how you've been doing? How was Paris? Is it true you've taken up a photography degree?" The last was said with a lot of pride in his tone - true he hadn't taught Summer everything she knew now, but he'd been the one who set her on her way, and he wanted to know all about that. About her and her life. And if, possibly, there was a way he could be part of that again.

Guest

The introduction by Summer was unnecessary. Lux had heard the other girl, the one stuck to the guy, Zander - call her by name and Lux was about to give her the sharp side of her tongue but managed to stop in time. Her precious scissors were at stake here and there was no way she would let Clarinet touch them. Forcing a polite smile on her face she commented, “Born in the summer then, I suppose.” It was on the tip of her her tongue to say ‘and your family members are Winter, Spring and Autumn?’ but she held back, guessing that Clarinet would consider that impolite behavior. Seriously, this behaving properly thing was a nuisance.

Lux rolled her mental eyes as Victoria introduced Summer - completely retarded since Summer had just introduced herself - and her boyfriend and endured the ramble that followed about what each one was doing. She found such small talk a waste of time, unless of course, the knowledge benefited her which it did not in this case. She smirked at the question. “First of all, I know a deaf kid but unlike him, my ears work just fine and I heard Summer’s introduction of herself loud and clear,” she said. “And yes, I’m here with my parents, although I don't think that term is fitting. They’re more like necessary annoyances and evils one has to tolerate,” Lux continued with a bright smile.

A woman joined their little group and Lux recognised her as The Asian. But that wasn’t the thing that caught her attention; it was the dress the woman was wearing. Why is she allowed to dress like that and not me? She was showing more skin than any of the previous dresses Lux picked out and she was sure that if Clarinet saw The Asian, she would be shaking her head and commenting that it wasn’t appropriate. Well, Clarinet was in for an earful when they got back to the house - Lux still refused to call it ‘home’. Angry and put off that the woman got to wear that kind of dress, Lux merely raised her eyebrow and nodded in greeting.

As Victoria commented about her and Eun Soo’s looks, Lux couldn’t help but feel smug. She didn’t respond the polite way by saying ‘thank you’ though, because that was too boring. “Well, keep on wishing!” she responded. “No harm in that, right? Oh, maybe dashed hopes if your wish doesn’t come true.”

As Victoria went away to get a drink, Lux hailed a waiter and plucked a flute of champagne from the tray he was carrying. She took a sip and relished the taste of good alcohol. Although disappointed that they did not serve anything that looked like blood - she’d had drinks the consistency and colour of which was exactly like blood but tasted fantastically delicious, she was determined to drink as much as she was allowed to.

Turning her attention back as Summer gave her congratulations to Zander, Lux gave the guy a once-over glance and completely lost interest in him. She didn’t bother answering the question Summer directed to Eun Soo and instead scoffed slightly at the part that was directed towards her. “Does it? Because it should,” she replied. She was actually surprised how so few people knew about her. She’d expected it to be more well-known that the Minister of Magic had adopted an orphan because...well, he’s the Minister of Magic. But apparently the news hadn’t gotten out yet, or if it did, people just didn’t care about his personal life, which would be surprising since people did love to gossip.

When Victoria came back and spoke about the guy at the bar, Lux turned her gaze there and managed to pick him out. Her took in his handsome features but before she could say anything, Summer was talking and what she said surprised Lux. “Why would Victoria pull a prank on you?” she asked, her eyebrows raised. Victoria seemed to be the bubbly cheerful kind of person, much like that pesky brat, Kayleigh and Lux didn’t think her capable of pulling pranks.

But before Victoria, or anyone else, could reply, Summer walked off. “Rude much!” Lux commented, her tone hinting at disgust. Why were other people allowed to be rude and not her? It wasn’t fair! She’d been cornered into behaving well at this stupid ball and yet this girl could just walk off without so much as a ‘goodbye’ or ‘excuse me’. The Couple was really in for it now. There was no way she was letting this go.

Guest

Though she could tell that Adrian was subtly warning her against drinking too much, she couldn't help but smile at the idea of him escorting her home. Back in Barcelona, Summer never got drunk around Adrian, mostly because she feared what she might let slip around him. However, now that she didn't really need to worry about him being a muggle, Summer could drink as much as she wanted.

What Summer had failed to realise was that there were other things she wanted to tell him, things she didn't have a chance to say back in Barcelona. And now, after way too many glasses of martini, she found that she didn't care much what she told him. The music was loud and quite nice, even for wizarding music. 'Why wouldn't you want to escort me home?' She smiled sweetly up at Adrian, leaning in a bit closer than she normally would. 'Afraid you might take advantage of a young, drunken woman, who probably finds you really attractive?'

Adrian's question made her pause for a moment, wondering if it was a James Bond reference. He was an Auror, after all, so it was possible that he at some point was in love with the idea of being 007. 'Shaken, not stirred, James Bond,' she replied with a sly smile, though she inwardly hoped she had not just made a complete geek out of herself.

Summer listened closely as Adrian talked. She tried to focus on his words—about coming from a pureblood family, and about his parents not being snobs like some other families she knew (not that she could hold it against her friend, they just couldn't manage to get with the times, Summer supposed)—but she was starting to feel even warmer, and the crowds around them did not help. After allowing herself to lean on Adrian for a while, she stepped away and looked around. 'Let's move somewhere quieter,' she said as she took his hand. 'There's so much going on here.'

She looked around the ballroom to look for the door leading to the gardens. She turned to Adrian again. 'Shall we go outside? I'm... ah, Merlin, I'm supposed to be taking photos. Nevermind, I'll do that later.

'Paris was wonderful. Not as fun as Barcelona, but that's probably 'cause I don't speak French, and you weren't there to guide me, so I ended up lost so many times,' she chuckled lightly as she remembered asking around 'parlez-vous anglais' and only half-understanding what some of the strangers tried to tell her. 'But yes, I'm now studying Photography in uni. I'd love to show you my works sometime. What about you? How have you been lately? And what are you doing here in London? I mean, I'm glad you're here, but this is really... unexpected.'

Words were rapidly coming out of her mouth, but as she spoke, Summer slowly realised how overly friendly she was acting towards Adrian. She had been upset just a few minutes ago, mostly because he thought she didn't care, and now that he was probably just being polite, she was acting as if nothing had happened.

As if, after all this time, she didn't feel hurt when Adrian never looked her up in Paris. Even after he kissed her so passionately before she left Barcelona.

This was ridiculous. Clearly, she shouldn't have drunk that much, but that epiphany was too late. Besides, what did it matter? She had heard about how people often got drunk and sometimes did mortifying things during the Ministry Ball. Maybe she was just one of those people born for everyone else's entertainment, even at the expense of her own feelings. Feelings were unnecessary, anyway. She'd throw them away if she could, especially now that Adrian was right in front of her, back in her life even if she was certain in that moment that he never truly did leave her heart.

Or maybe she just left her heart in Barcelona, and he was here to return it, but not before smashing it into tiny, pathetic pieces.

Guest

Sober Summer was beautiful, great fun to be around, and a woman Adrian had a lot of feelings for. Drunk Summer was even more than that, she was beautiful, very amusing, someone Adrian still liked a lot, but she was also more honest than anyone could ever be when they were sober. And, in a manner, this made Summer much more alluring that evening than he'd known her before.

Even if he might worry about her safety from being in such a state.

The comment on taking her home and 'taking advantage' made Adrian shake his head, amusement playing on his lips. "I wouldn't allow something like that to happen. Not when you're like this." Adrian responded, and he meant it. "If I have to escort you home, though, I'm going to be awake until the morning making sure you don't choke on your vomit." He replied - no, it was not at all flirting in that moment, Adrian was sincere. When people got very drunk, they got in messes, and he would not allow Summer to be a victim of a night of stupidity. Yes, he'd only just walked back in to her life, but he was not going to let her slip away from him again.

At the joke of 007, Adrian shook his head. He had, of course, played her in to the cliche of the Muggle films, and he was glad she knew it. "Duly noted, for next time." He responded, making sure to try to make her agree to another drink, at another time.

With Summer insisting on somewhere quiet, Adrian allowed himself to be led by her (after picking up his drink), through the crowd, listening to what she was saying about Paris, and her course. But, Adrian didn't try to fight the noise of the room, instead waiting until they were out on a balcony in the cool evening air.

"I'm really glad that Paris was fun." Adrian replied - and he was sincere in that. He did want Summer to have fun. "And, I am sorry I didn't keep my promise to come and see you. I... well, to be honest, I didn't know whether you wanted me to come, truth be told. And... well, Paris is the city of love, I knew you wouldn't need me there." He mused, shaking his head as he spoke, a soft smile lingering on his lips.

"I'm really glad you kept up with the photography, Summer. I-" He cut off with a sigh, stealing a glance at the witch before looking out across the exquisite grounds of the venue. "I would love to see how you've developed with your photography. I want to see the style you've gone for. Which angles you use. I want to see it all. So, please give me a time, a date, I will be there."

And he would, Adrian loved photography. Summer had been his first, and only student. He wanted to see the wonders she'd captured. To discuss them late in to the night to find the background of every shot. Weird as that might be to some, it was how their friendship had blossomed, and he missed the intimacy of their street photoshoots. The late night discussions on the visions they'd seen in the moment they clicked the camera.

Everything, he wanted back.

"I'm still working in law enforcement. The Auror division." Adrian explained, filling in the gaps - though Summer had likely worked that out already. "I recently transferred from the Barcelona office to the London one. Trying to capture one of the biggest Spanish criminal masterminds. But, I'm here, playing at having a Ball." He explained, motioning to the ball behind them, taking a sip of his scotch and savouring it before he swallowed.

"I thought tonight was going to be a waste of time. Then... I saw you across the room. I thought I had gone mad. But your friend, Victoria, when she told me it was really you... I couldn't help but think the move to London was... meant to be.

"I'm waffling..." Adrian added with a laugh, shaking his head and downing his drink. "Means I've had too much to drink, but, at least that makes two of us, right?"

All the things Adrian had ever wanted to tell Summer had left his mind in that moment. He had thought it for hours on end. But, in that moment, stood before the woman who had left him back at Barcelona airport as she went off on her next adventure, they'd all slipped from his mind, and Adrian stood, simply looking at the witch before him, waiting for her to disappear in to thin air, because there was simply no way on this earth that this could be real.

Guest

Summer let Adrian's words swim around her head as she took him in. In the garden, under the pale moonlight and the glow of the lanterns hanging from the trees, Summer wondered if this perhaps was what true magic was. Though her heart ached a bit due to Adrian's apology about Paris, she couldn't help but smile as he talked about being an Auror, and how he had thought the ball would be a waste of time until he saw her. And how he thought the move to London was meant to be.

Despite the cool night air, Summer felt warmer than ever. Perhaps it was just the numerous glasses of martini she had, but perhaps it was Adrian. Adrian and his Spanish accent. Adrian and the way he looked at her. Adrian and his lips, which she found herself stealing a glance at before she shifted her gaze to the white peonies in the garden.

'I can't believe it,' she muttered as she looked back at Adrian. 'If Paris is the city of love, of course I would need you there.' Upon realising what she had just said, Summer chuckled. 'Well, I mean, you've got a lot of love and passion for life. But, hey, you're forgiven, as long as you don't ditch me next time.'

What she wanted to tell him was that, no Paris was not the city of love. Barcelona was. But even in her drunken state, Summer knew that saying such a thing was too forward, that such a declaration would only scare Adrian away. If the kisses at the airport were enough for Adrian to not look her up, then putting love into the equation would only make things worse. Swatting her feelings away, she tried to repeat the mantra her Hogwarts friends had told her whenever she needed to sober up. Mind over matter, mind over matter. Except in this case, it was mind over heart.

Not that she was particularly good at ignoring her heart, anyway. But tonight, she would try.

Her heart, however, was stubborn, refusing to let Summer ignore what Adrian had said about his move to London. She had always pegged Adrian as the sort who did not believe in destiny, but hearing that from him made her rethink her assumptions. Her mind, which kept shouting 'mind over matter', was telling her that Adrian was merely being polite, that it was just a comment on how they were probably meant to be friends after all. But her heart whispered otherwise, and whispers were always more convincing than shouts.

'Do you truly believe that?' She spoke softly, as if trying to match the cool night breeze. 'Do you truly believe that there is no such thing as coincidence?' Before she could have second thoughts, she put her arms around him and looked him in the eyes. 'It's a garden. Under the moonlight. Why are we not dancing?'

Humming along to the music, she closed her eyes and smiled. The world was still quite blurry, but at least there was Adrian to hold on to. At least he was here now. When her eyes fluttered open, she tried to fix her gaze at him, though she could feel herself slightly wobbling. 'I thought about you in Paris,' she whispered. 'I saw so many things, and I thought about how you'd love to take those photos. The cafes, the people, the musicians on the streets... it's mental, I know. But even when I knew you weren't coming, I still thought of you anyway.'

Guest

The idea of Summer needing him - in the city of love - made Adrian smile back at her. She was drunk, more than a little bit drunk, so he wasn't holding anything she said as completely serious. Sometimes people spoke great truths when drunk, other times they made little to no sense at all. This was the first time Adrian had seen Summer drunk (and he wasn't one hundred percent sober either) so he let her words carry their meaning, but he didn't hang on them.

"I won't ditch you next time, I promise. I know I can send an owl to apologise next time without looking like a lunatic." He responded with a smile. That had been part of the reason he'd stayed away - his magical abilities and the idea that Summer was a Muggle and the complication of them being together. The other, because he didn't want to show up to find her in the arms of another man. No, that would have torn him in two, truth be told, and he was not brave enough to face such an uncertainty.

Being pulled in to a dance whilst he thought over Summer's question of whether he truly believed this moment had meant to be, and wasn't just a coincidence made Adrian pause for a moment, simply swaying with the witch in his arms - making sure to keep her from wobbling over. "I think... for us to meet again, after a year apart, when we left absolutely no way to contact one another behind... to find each other again... is either a very, very big coincidence, or fate. I don't think it much matters what you label it.

"You can't change the fact it has happened, and left me trying to work out how, and why it had happened today." He responded. Whether that made sense, he wasn't sure, but Adrian was not going to let it slip as a mere coincidence that they had been connected once more.

The softly spoken words about Paris, and Summer's thoughts moving to him on occasion made Adrian smile to himself. She had her eyes closed and she was leaning in to him more than when they had started dancing (not that he minded). "Did you take the pictures?" Adrian asked, his voice as soft as Summer's in that moment. "Because if you did, I can still fall in love with all of it - I will just see the beauty from your perspective instead."

It might have been a long shot, but Adrian was genuinely interested in the photos, in Summer's experiences. But... even though he wasn't quite so drunk as Summer, he knew he could tell her something similar.

"Barcelona was never the same without you, you know. The... beauty of the city left when you did..." Adrian whispered, stealing himself for reality to hit, and Summer to leave, or simply have been a dream in which he had wished her back. It was stupid, yes, but it was the truth of the situation. Barcelona was not the same without the woman you had fallen in love with.

» Summer's Love Interest & Family
» Meeting with the Family (Byrnes Family/Prim)
» Cole's Family ( Family Request )
» Grant Family ( Family Request )
» Partners (Eun Soo)