My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}-Chapter 140: Searching For An Hamster
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Adrien pushed further into the party, dodging swaying bodies, spilled drinks, and loud clusters of students. The music thumped so hard that he felt it in his bones, but none of it could distract him from the one thought gnawing at him.
Where was he?
He had already circled the living room twice, checked the kitchen, and even the jacuzzi area where half the crowd was practically glued to each other. He opened a few doors downstairs, only to find drunk couples or empty rooms smelling of cheap perfume. Nothing, no sign of Noah’s quiet figure, his brown hair, or that anxious little frown and slight blush he got when he felt out of place.
His pulse was racing.
Noah wouldn’t just vanish like that, right? Maybe he just went home early? Maybe he was drunk somewhere...but, she wasn’t the type to get wasted in a corner or let herself be dragged off somewhere without saying a word.
That wasn’t his style and Noah hated alcohol for some unknown reason.
He pushed past a tall senior who was spilling beer down his shirt for some reason, ignoring the annoyed shout thrown his way, and raked a frustrated hand through his hair.
"Where are you, hamster..." he murmured under his breath, the nickname slipping out before he even thought about it.
He fished out his phone, the glow illuminating his face as he opened his messages. He hesitated, his thumb hovering over Noah’s name. He knew how it might come off, overprotective, nosy. Maybe he’d think Adrien was hovering again, trying to control him the way he had before. Maybe he’d be annoyed.
But not knowing made something twist tightly in his chest, a feeling he couldn’t stand.
"Forget it," he exhaled, starting to type, "I’m checking on him. I don’t care if he thinks I’m being a creep."
He frowned as he typed the first words. Where are—
But the message froze when another thought hit him like a punch.
Where was Ethan?
Wasn’t the guy supposed to be glued to Noah’s side like some lovesick guard dog tonight? Adrien hadn’t seen him at all. Not once. He scanned the room again, his jaw tightening.
"He’s his damn boyfriend," Adrien muttered, irritation bubbling inside him. "Shouldn’t he be with him? Watching over Noah? Making sure he’s okay?"
He shoved the phone back in his pocket, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. "Of course he’s not here," he scoffed quietly.
Adrien exhaled sharply, fighting the urge to shove someone again to release his rising panic.
He glanced through the backyard glass doors but only saw more students dancing on the deck, lights reflecting off the pool. No sign of Noah.
He turned away, jaw clenched, and paced toward the hallway.
Maybe he stepped outside for some fresh air. Maybe he felt overwhelmed. Maybe someone saw him. Maybe—
He cut off that thought with a harsh breath. He needed to calm down, but there was this strange feeling of dread. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
Scanning the room, he spotted a familiar face from the basketball team leaning against the wall with a soda can. Adrien walked over.
"Hey, Tyler," he said sharply, catching the boy’s attention. "You seen Noah?"
Tyler blinked. "Uh... Noah Valentine? Why?"
"Just answer the question," Adrien snapped, impatience seeping into his voice.
Tyler shrugged, wiping foam from his lip. "N-not really, man. Haven’t seen him since he walked in and shit. I think Jace was talking to him at the bar earlier."
Adrien felt his heart drop like a stone.
...Jace?
His hands clenched into fists at his sides, but he forced himself to relax. "Did you see him after that?"
Tyler shook his head. "Nope, sorry, dude."
Adrien didn’t hear anything else. His mind was already spiraling.
Jace was probably involved, Noah was missing.
And Ethan was nowhere to be found.
Adrien’s chest tightened painfully; the music felt suddenly too loud, the air too thick.
"Please don’t let anything stupid have happened," he muttered under his breath, pushing through the crowd with renewed urgency. "Please don’t let them mess with him again."
He didn’t care about looking calm or cool anymore, he would tear this whole damn house apart if he had to.
But one thing was clear—
Something was off.
And Adrien felt it again like a warning tingling under his skin, he wasn’t leaving without her.
He dropped onto the edge of a couch tucked away in the corner of the massive living room, the bass vibrating through his ribs as he fired off yet another message to Noah. His thumb lingered over the screen for just a moment before he hit send.
Adrien💀: Where are you? Did you go home? Text me back, now.
He stared at the screen, waiting...hoping, for those typing bubbles to appear. Nothing came.
His chest tightened. A cold pressure built beneath his sternum, growing heavier with every second of silence.
"No. Not yet," he muttered, shoving down the panic clawing at his throat. "Call him first."
His finger moved to Noah’s contact, ready to hit the call button when two drunk girls stumbled his way, giggling loudly. The smell of cheap vodka and strawberry lip gloss hit him before their voices did.
One of them, the brunette in a glittery bikini top plopped down beside him, practically draping herself over him.
"Adrien Hotshot Fell," she slurred, running a hand through her damp hair, "why are you sitting here all alone looking all hot, mysterious and miserable? Come dance with us."
"Yeah," the second girl chimed in, twirling a lock of dyed blue hair around her finger as she leaned in closer, "you look so sexy right now. Bet we could have some fun if you gave us a chance."
He didn’t even raise his head. His eyes were glued to the screen, still waiting for Noah’s name to appear in his contacts. "I’m busy."
The girls blinked at him like he’d spoken another language. Adrien Fell rejecting hot girls was unheard of, just a few months ago, he would’ve smirked and taken advantage of the moment without hesitation.
The girls exchanged confused looks before muttering something about "bad timing" and drifting back into the crowd. They weren’t like Vanessa...thank goodness, they took no for an answer and left him be.
Adrien exhaled shakily, running a trembling hand over his face.
He’d texted her four times now, still nothing.
He swallowed hard and finally hit call.
But before the line even connected, someone’s shadow shifted in front of him, blocking the light from the chandelier overhead. Adrien tensed and looked up sharply.
Kris.
She was in a tiny pink bikini, her ponytail dripping pool water onto the floor, two drinks in her hands, and a suspiciously sweet smile on her face. Her eyes glimmered with something that set him on edge.
"Thought you might want one," she purred, offering a red Solo cup.
He didn’t move. "I don’t want a drink."
Kris blinked slowly, her smile faltering for a moment. Adrien stood to leave, still clutching his phone, but Kris stepped into his path quickly.
"Wait."
Adrien glared at her, irritation prickling. "Move."
Then her smirk returned, slow, smug, almost triumphant as she fiddled with the rim of her cup.
"You’re looking for Noah, right?" Kris began, "I know where he is."
Adrien froze.
His heart pounded violently against his ribs. He turned to her fully, eyes narrowing, posture going rigid like he’d just been shocked.
"...Where?" His voice was low, dangerous. Barely controlled.
Kris giggled softly, twisting a wet strand of hair around her finger like she was relishing every second of this. "I’ll tell you," she said, tilting her head coyly, "but there’s a condition."
Adrien’s jaw tightened, a pulse thrumming just below his skin.
"What condition?"
Kris stepped closer, close enough for him to smell the chlorine in her hair and the sweet alcohol on her breath. "I want something from you first."
Adrien’s fingers tightened around his phone, his knuckles whitening.
"I swear to God, Kris," he murmured, his voice trembling with barely contained rage, "if you’re messing with me right now..."
Her grin widened, fearless, practically delighted by his shift in tone.
"Relax," she said lightly, brushing an invisible piece of lint off his shirt. "Just hear my offer. How about we go somewhere we can talk with no interruptions, hm?"
