Valerie P.O.V.

Finals had started and I was knee deep in study materials to prepare for the next week and a half. I had post-it notes, textbooks and my laptop all sprawled out on the dining table at my apartment. Carter luckily hadn't come in to work again, I don't think I could've handled his presence lurking around as I tended to customers. He made me too giddy and in turn, clumsy, and that wasn't helpful as a waitress. We had been texting every now and then though...

"You've been holding out on me." Ell said with a stern expression as she slid in the chair opposite me.

Oh shoot. What have I done now? I swear I left her some ice-cream in the freezer after my binge!

"Please tell me why Kean asked for your number so he could give it to Carter Bryson?"

Oh. That.

"As a patient and supportive friend, I was waiting for you to tell me... butttt, it's been a week now and alas here I am," she sat, looping her fingers together to rest them on the table like a news anchor lady.

I stayed silent, pretending I didn't hear her as I typed away busily on my laptop.

"Don't ignore me Valerie Eve Delwood! Come on!!!!" she whined.

I tried my best to push him away from my mind, and decrease the significance of him as something more than a guy I had met and occasionally texted. But he always had a way of popping up into my life.

"Ugh fine!" I cracked, shutting my laptop.

"YES!" she cheered, pumping her fist into the air. "I saw you guys undressing each other with your eyes while we danced at the party, there was some serious tension there... what else happened? Cause I'm all ears darl," she said, smiling brightly at me and shifting in her seat to get comfortable.

"Okay," I took a deep breath. "So yeah, we met on his birthday... and I didn't know who he was," I blushed. "He was super charming, and it kinda freaked me out, so I may have declined his offer when he asked me to hang out alone at the party... then, we literally bumped into each other on set when I came with you, he was there for Kean. We got to talking and we just clicked. He was funny and actually smart, which was a nice surprise... I've been kinda pushing him away though actually...." I nervously chuckled. "...but like you said, he tracked down my number, cause I gave him my work one as kind of a joke and a test to see if he was actually interested and wasn't just being a massive flirt... like I didn't want to just be an easy booty call for when he got bored."

Ellana nodded eagerly.

"So... we've been texting a little lately too... He also came to work unexpectedly last Saturday and basically teased the hell out of me. He was being such a flirt, goofy and pretty annoying." I remembered with a small smile.

"Thenhegavemeabigtipandkissedmeonthecheekandleft." I finished the last part in one breath, heat rising to my cheeks at the memory.

She stared at me with her mouth slightly agape as her eyes widened, absorbing the information. "Oh my gosh he totally likes you!!!" Ell basically screamed. "You're right! If he personally went to try to get your real number, he's definitely interested! He's super drool-worthy too," she added, fanning herself dramatically.

"Hey! You have Kean!" I interjected, probably a little too passionately. "And he's not that hot." I scoffed trying to cover up my previous outburst of feelings.

Liar liar pants on fire.

"Someone a little jealous?" she smirked at me knowingly.

"No...." I crossed my arms and looked away.

"You so like him too!"

"Ugh I dunno, kinda maybe...?" I groaned, running my hands down my face, "but it doesn't matter anyway. I'm focussing on exams right now so nothing's gonna happen." I finished adamantly and returned to my studies. Ellana got up with a satisfied smile and mischievous glee in her eyes as she skipped back to her bedroom.

Please, I am so not into him!

~

Okay. First exam. Inhale. Exhale. You got this. I told myself as I stepped into the hall containing hundreds of tables and chairs situated in perfect lines, adorning test booklets and answer sheets. Students quickly and quietly made their way to their assigned desks and sat down. My leg bounced up and down with nerves, I just wanted to get this over with and onto the next exam.

The daunting monotonous voice of the examiner echoed across the room as she announced that time was up. Finally. My hands ached due to the speed and volume of what I had to write in 2 hours- hopefully it was enough to get a good mark. I didn't just want to pass, I wanted to actually do well. I sat there daydreaming, as examiners walked up and down the room to collect exam sheets and counted them before we could leave.

I made my way back to my car, breathing in the fresh air and feel of the Californian sun. I think I might head down to the beach to relax on this magnificent Friday afternoon, before continuing on my one-woman mission for academic excellence. I grabbed a book to read, my towel and the beach bag I always stored in the trunk of my car which contained all the necessities like a pair of bikinis, sunblock, a coverup and a hat. I headed over to the public bathroom stalls to quickly change, deciding to soak up some Vitamin D after being cooped up inside this week. Finding a nice quiet spot on the sandy shores, I set up my space and proceeded to lay down, immersing myself in the pages of a Jodi Picoult novel.

A quiet ping came from my phone as I started to doze off under the gentle lull of waves crashing against the shore.

It's him.

How was your exam?

Not too bad, just long and tedious! 😅

I'm sure you did well 😊

Thankyou.

I've still got two more to go before I finish

Can't wait 😩

Don't stress yourself out too much gorgeous 😝

Impossible for a college student.

How was your day?

Good, I think. Had some meetings for a sponsorship I'm going to be promoting

on my Instagram. I had to make sure it was legit and something I'm actually into.

That's cool. I always forget you're big on social media

Upset I don't follow you? 😛

My ego is kind of hurt, I won't lie.

But I follow you. And that's better 😏

Stalker.

My phone ringtone went off suddenly as a FaceTime request by Carter popped up. After a short mental freakout and debate about whether I should answer, I surrendered to the temptation and pressed accept. What can I say? I hadn't seen his handsome face in a week and felt a little deprived.

His eyes widened for a second as he took in the sight of me. Oops. I was still in my bikini.

He cleared his throat before saying, "I thought I'd just roll with it and own up to my stalker status by calling to see your face," he laughed, stretching one of his toned, muscly arms up behind his head.

"See? Acceptance feels good, doesn't it?" I giggled playfully.

"Are you at the beach?" he asked me interestedly, with a trace of lust in his eyes. Remembering to when he had teased me at work, I decided it was a good time to return the favour in the only bold way I knew how right now.

"Yeah, just a quick de-stressing session before I have to get back to studying." I spoke in a slow, lowered voice.

I tentatively brushed my fingers back and forth across my collarbones, mindlessly toying with the string of my bikini. I saw his eyes struggle not to focus on the movement, as my thumb caressed the length of the strap up to my collar bone and down to the top of my ample cleavage. He swallowed a lump in his throat as he looked back into my eyes and asked me when I got to go on summer break.

"Mmm, after Friday next week," I replied in a huskier voice. I ran my hands through my hair and pushed it over my shoulder to expose more skin. This was fun, I smirked evilly on the inside. I was no seductress, but inside every woman is a little bit of a flirtatious vixen. Sometimes it just takes the right kind of man to bring it out.

"Cool, that's uh... cool," he murmured, "summer in L.A.'s always fun..."

Darting my tongue out to lick my lips gently; "I'm hoping so," I replied as I observed him become a little restless in his seat, rubbing the back of his neck at the action. "Hey I've gotta go now, it's getting late," I sat up, suddenly noticing the darkening sky around me.

"Right, I'll catch you later Val."

"Bye Carter," I blew a kiss and waved before ending the call.

Success.