Fic: Story of a Lifetime 2/3 Adam/Kris
Part Two
"Seriously, Kris," Adam whined as he followed Kris up the small trail, ducking branches as they walked. "How much farther are we going? My feet are killing me."
"I told you we should stop at your place so you could change into tennis shoes," Kris said calmly, without looking back at Adam. "Those boots were a bad idea."
"These boots are awesome," Adam argued, glancing down at his expensive leather boots that were much more intended for dancing than hiking.
"Whatever, don't complain to me about the blisters later," Kris said as they reached a clearing. "Want to stop here?"
"Yes!" Adam said as he reached Kris' side. He felt like they'd been hiking forever, even though he was pretty sure it was more like a couple hours. He was hot, tired, and his feet were killing him. He pushed past Kris and into the clearing, already pulling out the blanket Kris had shoved into his backpack.
Kris smiled and followed Adam into the clearing. "We aren't going any farther than this today are we?"
"Nope," Adam answered, sitting down on the blanket and looking up at Kris. "This is perfect, quiet, and the trees are shading us from the worst of the sun and heat."
"And you don't have to walk anymore?" Kris smirked as he sat next to Adam, putting his own backpack aside.
"I walk plenty at home," Adam pouted.
"Fine, we'll stay here," Kris agreed. "You're right anyway. It is a nice spot. You hungry?"
"Not really," Adam admitted, laying back and sighing.
"Is this better than fishing?" Kris asked, lying back beside Adam. "Or is this another reason why vacationing here is a horrible idea?"
Adam turned his head to look at Kris. He hated to admit it but this trip wasn't as horrible as he thought it would be. He'd actually enjoyed most of it, although that may be due more to spending time with Kris than any of the activities they'd actually done. "Vacationing here isn't a horrible idea," Adam assured him. "Maybe not my thing, unless it always comes with you as a tour guide, but if you like outdoor stuff then it's a fabulous vacation."
"Ooh, maybe I could make that my new career," Kris said full of fake excitement. "I could hire myself out as a tour guide to city boys who have no idea what to do when there isn't a club or party nearby."
"It'd keep me coming back," Adam agreed. Deciding to, once again, try to get Kris to talk about his past, Adam asked. "Why did you decide to move out here? Was it for work?"
Kris turned and looked at Adam for several seconds before answering. Taking a deep breath he said "It was more about getting away from work."
"So, you went on a permanent vacation?" Adam asked, raising an eyebrow in question.
"In a way," Kris agreed. "How is your story going? I haven't seen you really working on it? Are you one of those people who plan it all in their head first?"
"I have plenty of time," Adam said, sitting up. Normally he'd have started writing about the Jet Ski incident as soon as it happened but he'd bypassed that to spend some time with Kris. "Lee would be fine with it if I wrote it all after I got back to Los Angeles. No reason to try writing it with a splitting headache."
Kris didn't respond but continued to stare at the sky, or what was visible of it through the tree cover, obviously lost in his own thoughts.
"Why so quiet?" Adam asked when Kris had been silent for several minutes.
"Sorry," Kris said sitting up and shaking his head. "Just thinking. These last two days may be the most I've talked to someone in two years. It's-different."
"Really?" Adam asked, surprised. "You seem like the type that would just get along with everyone."
"I am, I guess," Kris admitted. "I just haven't tried to make any friends. I moved here for privacy to get my life together and I just got stuck in the habit of being alone."
"If I ask why you had to get your life together, are you just going to change the subject again?"
"Yes," Kris said, with a small smirk when Adam frowned. "Let's have lunch, then if you think you can manage there's a small cove not far from here with a hidden part of the lake. We can go swimming."
"How did today do as an attraction to small town vacationing?" Kris asked as he slowed the car to a stop in Adam's driveway.
"No head injury and it wasn't mind numbingly boring," Adam said, considering the day. "Definitely not a first date I'd ever been on before."
"It wasn't a-"
"It so was," Adam argued. "Admit it. If this town had anything at all to do at night you would've asked me out."
"I was just trying to help you with your article," Kris sighed.
"I'm sure you were, and it just happened to also be a perfect afternoon date. The only thing missing was this…" Adam teased as he lowered his head to kiss Kris. When he pulled away he smirked and added. "See, perfect date. 'Night, Kris." Before Kris could respond Adam got out of the car and grabbed his bag from the backseat.
"You plan the next one then," Kris shouted out the window as Adam walked toward his porch.
Adam laughed and waved as Kris backed out of the driveway and drove away. He knew Kris was joking about a second date, but Adam was determined to find something for them to do. There had to be something interesting nearby, even if it wasn’t in Brookton. It wasn't like he was being held prisoner or that everything he did needed to pertain to his article, just stuff he wanted the magazine to pay for. The phone was ringing, so he dropped his bag next the stairs and grabbed the extension in the living room. Not many people had the number here. Just Lee, Brad, and the real estate woman as far as he knew, and if any of them were calling him now it was probably serious.
"Hello," Adam said, answering the phone, slightly breathless.
"Where the hell have you been?" Brad asked, irritated, the second he heard Adam's voice. "I've been trying to call you since yesterday."
"I was with Kris, you knew-" Adam snapped. "Fuck, I didn't tell you that I had to stay there two days, I’m sorry."
"No you didn't," Brad agreed. "I'm sure it wasn't a hardship for you, though."
Adam smirked. He'd try to deny it but Brad knew him too well for that. "Did you find out anything?"
"Oh right, let me spend two days worrying about your sorry ass and all you want to know is if I found out who your new boy is."
"I'm sorry, Brad," Adam repeated. "I forgot you didn't know and calling slipped my mind."
"Fine," Brad huffed. "Yes, I do know who Kris is. I can't believe you're sitting on a story this big and didn't know it. It's like you live under a rock."
"Brad," Adam said, cutting off what he was sure was going to become a long rant about his lack of knowledge about something Brad considered important and he did not. "Who is he?"
"Kris Allen." Brad said the name with the tone that clearly said Adam was an idiot for needing him to tell him that much.
"Kris Allen," Adam said slowly. He knew he should know that name, but he was still drawing a blank.
"Oh my God!" Brad shouted, "You have been living under a rock! Kris Allen. The singer?"
Adam's eyes widened as the name finally sunk in and he realized what he'd stumbled into. "The Kris Allen who disappeared two years ago after his divorce?"
"Yeah, that one," Brad agreed. "Your two weeks of exile have given you the exclusive on the biggest music story in years."
Adam was silent. Brad was right, the story was huge. It would put the magazine on the map and probably get his story picked up by other, bigger publications. It would make his career. Especially if he could get Kris to open up about the reason he disappeared. No one had any idea, his divorce had been amicable and his career was at a high point and he'd just left. But even without that information, just a story about where Kris was now would be huge.
On the other hand, Kris had disappeared for a reason. He was entitled to privacy, wasn't he? Adam also liked Kris, a lot. A story like this would ruin any chance he had of getting closer to Kris. He didn't want to hurt Kris, but at the same time he was going home to his career in a week and had little chance of a relationship with Kris, so maybe passing up the biggest story of his career for him wasn't the best idea.
"Adam?" Brad asked. "You're going to write this story, aren't you?"
"I- He moved here for a reason, Brad."
"What reason?" Brad asked. "This story means you could have your pick of jobs. You can't pass it up because you think he's cute."
"I'll write the story," Adam said hesitantly. "If I can get enough information to make it a story. I don't want to just out his location. That's just cruel."
"Fine," Brad said. "Call me if you need me to do any research on it for you."
Adam disconnected the call and fell back on the sofa with a sigh. He didn't want to write this story. He didn't want to hurt Kris. But if Brad told Lee about this then he'd have no choice. Right now, he needed a shower and time to think. He grabbed his bag and took it up to his bedroom where he grabbed fresh sweats and headed to the shower. Maybe that would make it all clearer.
Twenty minutes later, with no more idea what to do he sat down and tried to work on his vacation story but couldn’t get Kris out of his mind. He opened a new document and started to write about Kris. Who he was, how Adam had met him, the things Kris had told him about why he had moved to Brookton. He wrote for nearly two hours about Kris and how they'd spent the last couple days. It wasn't so much an exposé on Kris Allen as it was a story about Adam meeting someone he truly liked in this tiny town he'd expected to be miserable in.
He couldn't publish it though, not without exposing Kris, but he didn't want to do that. He was no closer to figuring out what he wanted to do, but right now he could barely keep his eyes open so he saved the file and closed his laptop.
~~~**~~~
Adam woke in the morning no closer to knowing what he was going to do about Kris and his article than he did when he went to bed. He'd reread the article and what he'd written would make a great article about what made this vacation perfect, which was what Lee wanted. Well, not exactly what he wanted, it wasn't what makes it a perfect getaway for everyone. But it would make a wonderful piece. Except that it exposed Kris.
He'd figure it out later, right now he needed to plan that date. Not that Kris really expected him to do it, but he never backed out of a challenge, and it meant more time with the one enjoyable part of this trip. Finding an interesting idea for a date couldn't be that hard. He'd been all over Brookton and there was nothing here, but there were other towns not too far away. He opened his browser and started searching for something to do at night. He wasn't having much luck finding anything, and had even missed Kris' morning swim, again. When the phone rang he picked it up relieved for a break in his search.
"Did you write the article yet?" Brad asked before Adam even had a chance to speak.
"Yes," Adam admitted with a sigh, "and no."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"It means I don't want to expose him," Adam explained. "I like him and I don't want to that to him."
"So what did you write then?" Brad demanded. "You wrote an article you don't intend to publish? Why waste the time?"
"I started to write what you wanted," Adam offered, "But it turned into more of an article about what's made this vacation perfect for me."
"And that's Kris?"
"Yeah," Adam admitted. "I really like him, which I know is pointless because I'm going back to the one place he really can't go if he wants to stay hidden, but it doesn't change anything."
"You are such a sap," Brad said with a sigh. "And lucky I assumed you'd back out and didn’t say anything to Lee."
"Thanks," Adam said, smiling slightly. "I miss having your ability to Google anything at my beck and call. I need to plan a date tonight. One that doesn't involve outdoor activities that I normally go out of my way to avoid."
"Dinner and a movie?" Brad suggested. "Or dinner and a club?"
"Both great ideas," Adam agreed. "But this is Brookton not L.A. No movie theater or club. And I don't really count the diner on Main Street as 'date material'."
"So look outside Brookton," Brad suggested. "There must be a bigger city nearby. The locals can't spend all their time stuck in tourist hell."
"I tried but I can't find anything," Adam said, frowning at the computer. "I don't know enough about this area."
"So go into town and ask."
"What?"
"Get dressed, drive down to Main Street, which I'm guessing is the only non residential street," Brad said slowly. "And talk to people. Ask about clubs and restaurants and movies, or whatever else you might want to do. Hell, ask about where to take a date. I'm sure someone can give you an idea or two."
~~~**~~~
"Hey, Kris," Adam said cheerfully as soon as he heard Kris' voice. "Are you busy tonight?"
"Umm, no," Kris said suspiciously. "Why?"
"Because I planned our date, but it has to be tonight," Adam said smiling widely as he pulled a bottle of water from the refrigerator and went out on the deck.
"Why does it have to be tonight?" Kris asked. "Are you leaving early?"
"Oh no, no," Adam corrected quickly. "The club is only open on Friday and Saturday though. And if I'm going to go to that festival next Friday…"
"What club? We don’t have one here."
"Yeah, I know," Adam sighed. "It's like two hours away so we need to leave early to get dinner first."
"How did you even find this place?" Kris asked.
"Asked in town."
"Asked what?"
"Said I needed to plan a date and wasn't sure where to go," Adam explained. "A girl named Allison at the market was very helpful."
"Allison's always so helpful," Kris muttered. "What time are we leaving?"
"Reservations are for seven," Adam said, "So I was thinking we should leave around four. It's usually best to assume I'll get lost at least once."
"I could drive…"
"Nope, I planned it, I drive."
"But I know the area better," Kris pointed out.
"Where's your adventurous spirit?" Adam teased. "It'll be fun."
"So you're picking me up?"
"Yep." Adam agreed. "And now I need to go get ready."
"It's only two."
"I know, it's really cutting it close if I'm going to be ready at four."
"Bye!" Kris said, Adam could practically hear him shaking his head in confusion as he hung up the phone.
~~~**~~~
"This really isn't my thing," Kris said gesturing to the crowded dance floor as he followed Adam toward the empty booth Adam had spotted near the back. "I don't dance."
"And I don't fish or hike," Adam pointed out as slid into the booth, pulling Kris in next to him. "I tried it though."
"You had to for your article," Kris pointed out, shouting to be heard over the music. "It doesn't count."
"I did not need to sit on that boat long enough to burn to a crisp to write my article," Adam argued. "And Lee never would've known there was hiking here. It's not like it's advertised. It was all about the company."
Kris sighed, defeated. "Fine, one dance."
Adam grinned and pulled Kris closer, wrapping an arm around him. "Try not to look like you're facing a firing squad," he said kissing him quickly. "Dinner was good, right? And I didn't get lost, so maybe I actually do know what I'm doing."
Kris nodded and leaned against Adam. He could feel Kris relax as he pulled him closer. Kris trusted him. Kris could've pushed him away the second he found out Adam was a reporter but he didn't. He trusted him to not betray him. He may not know that Adam had figured out who he was but letting a reporter close was still a danger. Kris couldn't even be sure Adam was telling the truth about being here to write about the perfect vacation. All of this, of course, only made Adam feel guilty about the article sitting on his laptop. The article he thought was the perfect story about a dream vacation if it didn't out Kris. They sat and talked, as much as they could in a noisy club, through several drinks. Well, several for Kris, Adam was drinking much slower since one of them had to get them all the way back to Brookton.
"Are you buzzed enough to dance yet?" Adam asked, leaning close to speak into Kris' ear as Kris finished his drink.
"If I say no, can we skip the dancing thing?" Kris asked hopefully. Adam laughed and nudged Kris from the booth, following behind closely. Adam took Kris' hand and pulled him reluctantly onto the dance floor.
"Relax," Adam said into Kris' ear as he put his hands on Kris hips and started guiding him into the slow movement to the song. He felt Kris start to relax as they moved to the music. Adam continued to move to the music, grinding his hips against Kris as the song changed and a faster song started to play, pulling Kris back in when he started to move away.
"You said one dance," Kris pointed out. "Song's over."
"I like this song," Adam pouted. "Just one more?"
Kris sighed and leaned up to kiss Adam. "Fine." Kris let Adam use the same excuse through two more songs. When he tried to use it one last time Adam couldn’t even pretend shock that Kris wasn't buying it again.
"It's late," Kris said, raising himself up to speak into Adam's ear rather than shouting so that everyone on the dance floor could hear him. "It's a long drive back. The longer we stay here, the longer it is before we're home and this date can….progress," he said, moving to kiss Adam quickly before pulling away from Adam, laughing at the surprised look on his face and making his way toward the exit.
~~~**~~~
Adam woke up to the smell of bacon and coffee again. It really was something he could get used to, even if it would be a lot of extra gym time. The real question really was where the hell Kris found bacon here. He stood in the doorway of the small kitchen watching Kris cook for several moments without saying anything. Kris was fully dressed and standing at the stove.
"Not that I'm complaining, but where did the bacon and eggs come from?" Adam asked wrapping his arms around Kris' waist and kissing his neck. "I know you didn't find them here, and the stores are still closed."
"My place," Kris admitted, turning his end to kiss Adam quickly before going back to watching the last of the bacon and eggs cook. "I woke up early so I drove over and got them. Hope you don't mind that I borrowed your car."
Adam let go of Kris and pulled two mugs from the cupboard and filled them with coffee as Kris scooped eggs and bacon onto plates and they both carried everything to the table. "You really have to stop feeding me like this. I don't have time at home to spend in the gym to work this off."
"Okay," Kris said thoughtfully. "Next time I'll make me bacon and eggs and you can have fruit and yogurt." Adam pouted until Kris laughed and said, "We can probably find ways to work off the extra calories."
~~~**~~~
Adam waited for his laptop to boot up, using the time to enjoy the view of Kris doing laps and once again appreciating the fact that this place had a deck so he could have an unobstructed view. A view that was even better today since Kris was swimming on this side of the lake instead of in front of his own home. He'd turned down the suggestion of swimming in favor of catching a little bit of time to work on his story again.
He opened his article and reread what he wrote again. It wasn't exactly what Lee had asked for, but Lee also liked the occasional human interest story so he might go for the story. The problem he had yet to solve was how Adam could give him this story, the one that he'd written, without outing Kris. He had decided that there was no way he could out Kris, even if he did find out why Kris left his career behind to move to Brookton. He was still staring at the article trying to find a way for it to work without betraying Kris when he heard the phone ring in the house. Sighing he went into the house to answer it. It was probably Brad again. Adam had once again forgotten to check in with him.
"Hello?" Adam said grabbing the phone next to the couch hoping he wasn't too late. It was bad enough he'd forgotten to call, if he also didn't answer the phone he wasn’t sure Brad wouldn't still kill him with a letter open as he'd threatened the last time he'd seen him.
"Took you long enough," Brad huffed. Adam could practically picture the irritated look on Brad's face.
"I'm sorry," Adam said immediately. "I was going to call you. I just had a late start and I was just coming in to call when the phone rang."
"The date went well, then?" Brad asked, tone changing instantly from irritation to amusement.
"It did," Adam agreed. "And I'm so not talking about it with you."
"Can I assume the story isn't happening then?"
"Not the story you think I should write," Adam admitted with a sigh. He didn't need a lecture about keeping his feelings out of his work. Not this time. "I have a story though, about Kris but I’m not going to turn it in if I can't figure out how to do it without saying who it is, and that includes hinting so heavily anyone could figure it out."
Brad was quite for few seconds, long enough that Adam was beginning to wonder if Brad had hung up on him. "Tell me about your story?"
Adam glanced out the window and saw Kris still in the water and quickly went into the bedroom and pushed the door closed behind him. It was the closest he could get to being sure Kris didn't hear the conversation without resorting to teenage tactics of locking himself in a bathroom or closet. Once he assured himself that Kris was still swimming he flopped back on his bed and started telling Brad what he'd written.
"You're right," Brad said when he'd finished. "You wrote one hell of a human interest story. People will love the whole cheesy romance novel feel to it. And since Lee really just wanted you gone so you'd relax and stop snapping at everyone in the office, he probably isn't too set on a vacation spot story."
"That's what I was thinking too," Adam said. "He didn't want the article as much as he wanted me to relax and lighten up a little. And it isn't like I didn't write a story."
"But, you're also right," Brad continued, ignoring everything Adam had said. "That story totally outs your boyfriend."
"He's not my-"
"Whatever," Brad said, Adam could picture him waving away his objection like he would a fly. "You turn in that story, you not only publish a sappy romance but you also tell the world where Kris Allen is."
"So what do I do?" Adam asked. "I have to give Lee something and I don't want to hurt Kris."
Brad was quiet again. Adam waited patiently, he knew that Brad was thinking. Brad had been hired as Adam's assistant but it wasn't going to be long before he was writing his own articles and probably be better than Adam. "Rewrite it," he finally said.
"What do you mean rewrite it?"
"I mean your story is good, just remove Kris' name and all references to him having been a singer. Just use the vague information Kris gave you. He left to get away from work, if you want to use other stuff, you can mention him moving to Brookton to start over after a divorce. Just take all the references to what his career was before he moved."
"That could work, I can use a fake name for him," Adam said, sitting up and smiling. "You're a genius, Brad."
"I am," Brad agreed. "But I'd leave out a name all together. Make it vague. It'll give the story that element of mystery."
"Remind me to ask Lee for a raise for you when I get back," Adam said.
"You also owe me something really expensive," Brad agreed. "Now go fix your article, and enjoy the rest of your week."
Adam went back to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water before heading back outside to watch Kris finish his swim. Kris was standing in the foyer pulling a t-shirt over his head. "Hey," Adam said, detouring toward Kris. "I missed your swim."
"Yeah," Kris said, angrily. "Looks like you did."
"Is something wrong?" Adam asked, frowning. His good mood from a few minutes ago fading fast. He couldn’t imagine what had happened that made Kris angry. He reached a hand out to pull Kris closer and Adam's frown deepened.
"I-" Kris began, then hesitated. "I just have to go now. I need to be alone."
"Okay," Adam said, still confused, but willing to do whatever Kris wanted. "Just let me throw on some jeans and I'll-"
"No," Kris said quickly, reaching for the door to leave. "Allison only lives a couple doors down. I'll ask her for a ride."
"Kris, what's-"
Kris turned and faced him again. There was so much anger there, but hurt too, and Adam had no idea what had happened. "Just don't. Not now."
Before Adam could say anything else Kris walked out, slamming the door behind him. "What the hell?" Adam said, anger now building up in him. He had no idea what was going on or why Kris seemed so angry with him. They hadn't even talked to each other since Kris went out to swim. Why would he come in so-? Adam's cut off his own thoughts as he walked onto his deck again and saw his open laptop. "Fuck!"
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