"Hi. Is Thomas here today?" I say to Billy, the front receptionist of the residence halls.

"Of course, when is he not?" Billy laughs, placing down his donut and I smile. I have to spend the morning of my birthday getting a new key for my dorm room, which Chloe said was potentially God's birthday gift to me.

I flipped her off when she said that.

Thomas appears a few moments later. He's a nice man around 50, tall, and skinny with glasses. He helped me find my dorm and move some of my stuff in when I arrived here.

"Mandy! How are you?" He exclaims as he walks over to the desk blocking us.

"I'm doing well," I greet, "how's the family?"

He smiles, "fine, fine. What can I help you with?"

I explain my story and he laughs when I'm finished. "Don't worry we can get that taken care of for you. You know about the fee, correct?"

I nod my head. If you lose or break your key, you have to pay $20 to get a new one. So fucking stupid but welcome to NYU.

"Dorm number?" Thomas asks me. I open my mouth and just as I am about to tell him my number, I hear that same fucking voice behind me.

"I was wondering the same thing," Carter says. From the tone of his voice, I can tell he has that charming smile on his face.

"Osteen. Nice to see you," Thomas reaches his hand out to shake Carters.

What is with this guy? Every fucking person know him. I wouldn't be shocked if the fucking president walked up to him and starting playing poker.

I spin around and look right at his attractive face, "can I help you?" I ask, but I realize he's holding a very large bouquet of flowers.

A dozen white roses with intricate small babies breath flowers completely fill the grey wrapping of the bouquet. It's easily the most beautiful arrangement I have ever seen. That's when it hits me that he said he would deliver flowers to my dorm for my birthday yesterday.

At least he doesn't break a promise?

"221" I mumble under my breath to Thomas who looks at me with a confused face. I really don't want to say my dorm number in front of Carter. Who knows what shit he'll send to my door.

"Sorry?" Thomas says, waiting for me. "221," I day aloud and immediately dread it.

"Happy Birthday," Carter says in my ear and I look over at him. "Thanks. Again what do you need?" He doesn't respond, he only pushes the bouquet towards me with childish smile that shows his teeth.

I hesitate, but eventually take them out of decency. They are pretty and I guess it gives me something to take care of.

"Got it," Thomas continues, "I'll have someone go and replace the lock for you by today and your new key should be here soon."

I nod in thanks and head back towards the elevator. Chloe said she had to go "shopping for something that definitely wasn't for my birthday," Abby is at the fundraiser wearing Chloe's borrowed clothes like me, so I am spending time by myself in Chloe's dorm until they both get back and we have to get ready for another dinner.

"Stressful morning?" Carter asks, following behind me.

"Why are you following me?" I ask already irritated.

"Because I can," Carter says nonchalantly.

I roll my eyes. I'm starting to realize I do that a lot. Specifically around him.

"I don't want you here, so leave," I say. He's really getting on my nerves, and I've barley known him over a week.

"Your in quite the mood this morning. Is this how you always act on your birthday?" He asks as we both step into the elevator.

"No. Just when your around."

He crosses his veiny hands in front of him, making his rings shine on his fingers. "Well, I have one question and then possibly, I'll leave you alone."

I close my eyes, "what now?"

The elevator opens quickly when we arrive on my floor and I practically sprint away from him and his really good smelling cologne.

"Do you like silver or gold better?" Carter asks from behind me. I turn to him, confused by his question, "Huh?"

His hands sit comfortably in the pockets of his black jeans, his silver watch visible. He's wearing a black hoodie that defines his chest and a grey coat, long enough to reach the middle of his thighs, over that. New York is extremely cold this time of year, but I didn't realize that Carter possibly had a thing for male fashion. He always looks gracefully comfortable, as if the clothes he wears are the least of his problems. Maybe he doesn't realize the wealth that radiates off of them to people like me.

Whatever the case is, he makes the clothes look good.

"Silver or gold?" Carter asks again, interrupting my thoughts, "I feel like your a gold type of woman."

I shake my head, "and you need to know this because...?"

He shrugs his shoulders, "I'd like to know."

I open Chloe's door, Carter following close behind. At this point, I would have no luck of him leaving, even if I politely ask him to or physically push him down the elevator.

"Gold, I guess," I confess. I lay the flowers on her tidy desk and search for a vase somewhere in her cabinets. She says that flowers "lighten up her mood" so I am more than positive she has a vase somewhere.

As I am searching, I catch Carter lean against a wall out of the corner of my eye. I try push away his stare, but something makes me oddly nervous around him when he stares at me for too long. "Got it," he says.

"What are you up to later?" he asks me. I debate on not telling him but do it anyway,

"going to dinner with friends," I say as I reach and find a red, glass vase in the back of her cabinets.

"That sounds fun. You don't seem very excited," he teases.

"I've been stressed out lately," I confess. Why am I telling him that?

"Are you okay?" He asks.

I don't respond. It's weird talking to him about myself, let alone my issues and problems.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," he reassures.

"It's not that-" I stop myself before continuing, "I just-"

"You just can't," He finishes for me. I completely freeze, not expecting him to say it so openly.

He understands. But why would that matter?

"Look I'm really busy right now-" I try to say but he cuts me off, "can I take you to lunch?"

I spin around and look at his gorgeous face. The fact he's attractive makes it ten times worse to fucking decline him, even if I've done it multiple times.

"I-" I say, not knowing where I want to go with this, "I've spent a lot of money eating out."

What the fuck kind of excuse was that?

"Who says you're paying?" He asks, a small smirk forming on his lips. "I invited you."

I cross my arms. I finally start to see his personality form. He hates losing and he wants what he wants. Stubborn asshole.

I thought that eventually he'd stop. But the more we talk, the more we tend to "bump into" each other, he wants to see me more and more.

I don't really know how that makes me feel. I know it makes me feel stupid because I'm only just now realizing that.

"It's your birthday, at least grant me this if you won't allow me to take you out to dinner," he says. I sigh. Maybe if I go to lunch with him, he'll let it go about the whole dinner thing.

I grab my back and he opens the door with a smile on his face.

—————————————-

Carter took me to a small restaurant around the corner and ordered us two coca-colas. For a bit we were silent. I wasn't sure what to say, having lunch with him seems awkward.

"So," Carter begins, "I know you love flowers and your favorite color but I don't know you."

"Gee sounds tough," I half ass smile back. He gives me a "really?" look and I hold back a smile.

"Tell me your hobbies. What do you like to do?" He leans back into his chair.

"I like to read," I say with confidence. Might as well spill the bucket. I don't even care what he knows at this point or not if it's basic shit about me.

"Reading?" His lips begin to form a smirk, "like...that reading?"

"Carter, why do you think everything is dirty?" I say, the annoyance practically seeping out of me.

How the hell would he suspect that anyway?

His smirk becomes a smile now. A genuine one, showing his perfect, white teeth.

A smile that somehow makes my stomach warm when I see it. And I hate it.

"It's not that I always think it, it just kinds pops in there," he points his finger to his head.

"No. Not that reading," I lie, "I read young adult fantasy," I say. I'm not trying to be bitchy but this guy just loves to push my buttons.

"Name some titles," he takes a sip of his water, his blue eyes still curious as they look into mine.

"Shatter Me-"

He interrupts me, "No."

"What?" I'm growing more annoyed by this conversation.

"More, please."

"I'm trying to name them but your interrupting me, asshole."

Carter laughs and I continue.

"The Cruel Prince-"

"Ooh," he remarks.

"A Court of Thorns and Roses-"

"That one sounds interesting," he nods his head

"Can you let me fucking talk?" I spit. He smiles again.

This guy really doesn't give a fuck about pissing me off.

"Why do you always piss me off? Like you try to do it, it's not even accidental," I take a bite from my spaghetti. I decide to confront of him because there has to be a reason he purposely makes me react like this. I'm a bitch yes, but I don't treat people like this all of the time.

"I like seeing a reaction from you, it's fun," he shrugs, as if it was nothing.

I narrow my eyes at him. He seems confused at my look, "what?"

"I don't like you very much," I admit, jabbing my fork into my noodles out of frustration.

"You'll take that back one day," He says. I look up to him and he winks at me. This asshole.

"Oh really," I slit my eyes at him, "cause right now, you're making me regret ever talking to you in that coffee shop."

"Oh come on," he rolls his blue eyes, "I didn't know what to order and I asked for some help. You act like I asked you to sit on my dick in front of everyone."

My eyes widen.

For some reason, I feel that our first encounter happened for a reason. I have no clue why, but something tells me it did. And the dick part, I also feel that he isn't totally kidding around about...

"Shut up," I mutter. This birthday lunch is not very enjoyable so far.

"Well Dr. Phil, I've told you quite a bit about me. Why don't you speak up for once?" I ask, setting down my fork. I'm sick of being the one to talk. If he wants to know me, it's only right I know him.

"Okay, darling. What would you like to know?" He asks. He sets his elbows on the table, his long arms stretching towards me. His hands could nearly touch mine if his fingers weren't in his palms.

"Don't call me that," I warn him. "Where did you grow up?"

"L.A," He answers.

L.A? I actually wasn't expecting that.

"So that's where the money comes from?" I confront him. Carter closes his eyes and laughs, "my family are the money hungry ones. I don't really care."

I furrow my eyebrows, "but you seem very set in the area?"

"Well, yes," he continues, "it helps bigtime. But I've never needed it so much it satisfied every limb in my body."

I stay silent.

"I moved to New York to get away from that psycho family actually. Certain people, that is," He says.

I wasn't expecting that either.

"What's your major?" I blurt.

"Pre-med," he says with confidence as he reaches for some garlic bread on the table.

He answers every question without hesitation, as if he doesn't have anything to hide from me. It makes me slightly uncomfortable.

My mother once told me everyone has something to hide. Everyone. That's why you should only trust certain people. And I keep battling in my head weather or not to actually give this man my trust.

The fact he is studying to be a doctor, also makes it worse because that's also attractive.

Fuck.

"Why did you come to New York, Mandy?" He asks. His bright blue eyes are curious as he chomps on a piece of bread.

"To escape," I confess. Again, why the hell did I say that?

He stops chewing, "from what?"

I look down at my halfway finished pasta plate, "long ass story."

He stays silent, respecting the fact I don't want to speak on that topic and doesn't push me into answering.

"Uh..." Carter starts. His muscles flex under his hoodie as he stretches arms ups upward and I have to tell myself to not look.

"What's your favorite fruit?" He asks.

What?

I look at him as if it's the most random question ever. Because it is.

"Strawberries."

He makes a disgusted face at me as he sticks his tongue out, "strawberries?!"

I nod my head slowly.

"No. You're weird," He says to me.

"I'm weird? What type of person doesn't like fucking strawberries?" I argue back.

"Normal people," he shrugs, "besides, mangos are superior."

I roll my eyes. So he's hot, is annoying, and hates strawberries.

Lovely.

-------------------------------

Carter pays for lunch and walks me back to my building and thankfully by the time I've returned, my lock is fixed. Thomas gives me my new key when I walk in the building.

I open my door, the room still as neat as it was before with some clothes thrown around here and there.

I huff a sigh when a my phone dings.

C: Meet us @ this address tonight :D

Uhh okay?

I jump into my bed, smashing my face into my soft pillow.

I'd honestly rather spend my night in bed. School has completely worn me out and on top of that my mother still hasn't wished me a happy birthday.

I groan as my phone goes off.

"Hello?"

"Do you like chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry better?" Chloe says. In the background, it sounds as if she's in some busy place, like a grocery store.

"Are you buying my cake?" I ask her. I'm obviously not stupid.

"MANDY!" She groans. "You weren't supposed to know that!"

"Tell her to shut it if she wants cake," I hear Abby behind her and I chuckle to myself.

"Vanilla," I answer and she hangs up.

Guess I'm getting fat tonight.