“What are you up to today?”

I looked up from my bowl of Special K to see Hannah standing in the doorway of her bedroom stretching her arms above her head. Satisfied, her arms dropped to her sides and she smiled at me making her way towards me and into the kitchen.

“I’m going to see Austin’s apartment.” I explained with my mouth full trying not to let milk dribble down my chin. I was unsuccessful and quickly grabbed a napkin off the counter in front of me wiping my chin.

“The Austin?” Hannah asked excitedly leaning against the counter next to me so she could look at me.

I looked over at her with a smile. Strawberry blonde curls danced around her features and dazzling green eyes hid behind her square hipster like glasses. Freckles splattered across her nose and her rosy cheeks.

“Yes…the Austin.” I said shaking my head and turning back to my cereal.

“Oh! That is so exciting!” Hannah squealed dancing towards the fridge and pulling out a grape fruit.

I dumped the rest of my cereal into the sink and glanced at the little digital clock on the microwave.
“Shit, I’m going to be late.” I said throwing my head back and marching out of the kitchen.

“Have fun!” Hannah called starting the Keurig. I grabbed my purse off the bar, blew her a kiss, and headed out into the bright California sun.

I climbed into the little Jetta I had managed to buy and headed north towards Huntington Beach. It had been a few days since the lunch date with Austin and Alan. Austin had texted me yesterday begging me to come see his house but I was working a double that day.

Things had been good since my move to Laguna. Hannah had proved to be an excellent roommate and our apartment was practically perfect. As much as I missed Warped Tour, I had put all the bad of it behind me. I was feeling happy again, which was something I wasn’t sure I would have experienced again. Jack and Alex were out on a headliner and constantly calling me begging me to fly out to a show for a night. I was missing the two of them terribly but I knew right now I had to be settling myself into working and living at my apartment.

I realized how lost in my thoughts I had become during the drive and I shook my head realizing I was already in Huntington Beach. I grabbed my phone and glanced at the GPS I had set before leaving my parking space at home. I was very close to his house.

My head became foggy as I realized how close I was. I took the few turns, my heart thundering in my chest, before pulling up to his cute little bungalow of a house not far from the beach.

“Why am I not surprised this is his house.” I mumbled to myself as I killed the engine and gathered my phone and purse. As I stepped out of my car I heard his front door open and I looked up to see
Austin laughing with a dark haired man. Locking my car, I smiled making my way over.

“Raegan!” Austin said excitedly. “I’m so glad you’re here! Rae, this is Brody…Brody this is Raegan.”

I turned to him, his smoldering brown eyes crinkling with his smile. He was your classic overtly good looking California boy, and I couldn’t help but swoon a bit.

“Hi.” I said shaking his hand. “The Hills was one of my all-time favorite shows.”

My eyes went wide when I realized in horror that was the first thing I said upon meeting Brody
Jenner. It was true, The Hills had been a monumental show in my life (and I had been rooting for Brody and Lauren to end up together in the end) but he didn’t need to know that.

Laughing he smiled and said, “I’m glad to hear that.”

“I’m sorry.” I responded awkwardly looking to Austin for help.

“Well, hey man…I’ll see you soon.” Austin smiled swooping down to the rescue and diverting attention
from me.

“Alright, dude. Nice meeting you, Rae.” Brody said with a smile heading towards his shiny Mercedes that was parked next to mine.

“Thank you…” I mumbled to Austin who laughed and lead me inside.

“I’m so glad you’re here!” He said wrapping his left arm around me and pulling me into a side hug. He walked me down a little hall way, showing me the kitchen and the large living room. Then he took me upstairs to the master bedroom and the guest room.

“What do you think?” He asked falling back on his king sized mattress.

“It’s great.” I said with a smile looking around. “Very you.”

“You have to try out this mattress.” He patted the spot next to him and I sat down gingerly, my mind flashing back to Warped and his bunk and the sex we had had.

“No, lay on it!” He said with a laugh grabbing my arm and pulling me to lay down next to him on the bed. “How great is this?”

We both laid staring up at his ceiling as I sank down into his mattress. “It’s really great.” I said commenting more on the fact I was laying next to him and less on the stupid fucking bed.

“Yeah, my back doesn’t hurt as much.” He smiled sitting up and taking my hand pulling me to my feet.
We were almost chest to chest, I swallowed hard.

“Well, uh…you wanna play Xbox?” He asked turning away from me and heading for the doorway.

“Yeah!” I said excitedly trying to make it seem like there wasn’t this sexual tension hanging over us.

We played a rowdy game of Call of Duty making each other laugh hysterically as we joked and gave each other a hard time.

“I totally won that round!” He yelled tossing his controller onto the other couch and taking mine from me.

“You’re just mad your controller doesn’t work!” I screamed trying to get mine back from him.

“No, Rae!” He yelled keeping it away from me.

Laughing we wrestled each other to the ground.

“Austin!” I screamed as he pinned me down tickling me.

“Say I won!”

“Never!” I giggled.

“Say it!” He demanded.

“No!”

“Say it!”

“Stop!”

“Not until you say it!”

“You won! You won! You fucking won!”

Smiling over me, our eyes met and our laughing ceased. His eyes flickered from mine to my lips and slowly his head started coming down. I braced myself for the feel of his lips on mine again, my body begging for his touch. I tilted my head up, making it easier for him to take what he wanted.

“OH DEAR GOD!”

Austin flung his body off of me falling back onto the floor with a thud. I sat up quickly to see Alan standing by the couch, hands over his eyes.

“Are you guys doing it on the floor?!” He yelled.

“No!” I stood and crossed my arms over my chest, pissed he had interrupted.

“That’s what it looked like!” He said peeking through his fingers.

“We’re fully clothed dumbass.” I said with a shake of my head.

“Dude, why didn’t you knock?” Austin asked and I noticed he was trying to discreetly adjust himself in
the pants region.

“I’ve been beeping my car horn and calling your asses in the driveway for thirty minutes!” Alan said dropping his hands. “You guys coming to dinner or what?”

“Oh my god…I completely forgot.” Austin said with a laugh running his hands through his hair.

“I can tell…too busy banging Raegan ou—“

“We weren’t having sex!” I said interrupting him.

“Maddie’s waiting in the car! Let’s go!”

“Maddie!” I said excitedly. “We can meet her!”

“Yeah, let’s go!” Alan said pushing me towards the door.

“But my bag!”

“You don’t need it.” Alan said.

“I have it Rae!” Austin called behind us.

“No one told me about a dinner, Alan. Don’t be mad at me.”

“Get in the car, Raegan!” Alan said opening the door for me and pushing me into the back seat.
Austin slid in next to me placing my purse on my lap, I smiled my thanks. Alan climbed in the driver’s side and looked at us in the rearview. “This is Maddie.” He gestured to a gorgeous brunette to his right. She turned and smiled at us. “Maddie, this is Raegan and Austin.”

“It’s great to finally meet you.” Austin smiled.

“I’m glad I’ll have another girl around!” I said with a laugh. “The guys can get rowdy!”

“It’s nice to meet you guys too.” She sent Austin a pleasant smile which faded as she turned to me.

I couldn’t help but feel like she didn’t like me already and as the night wore one it became more and more apparent. She was shy, I’ll give her that. But she often gave me a cold answer when I asked her something or tried to engage her in a conversation.

“I don’t think Maddie likes me.” I admitted to Austin as we walked back into his house.

“Why?” He said with a laugh as he sat back on the couch.

“She was so cold towards me!” I said standing in front of him. “And she was so nice to you!”

“You’re over thinking I’m sure she likes you. She’s just shy.”

“Austin…I’m not stupid. I know when someone doesn’t like me.” I said rolling my eyes.

“How could someone not like you, Raegan?” He asked incredulously.

I felt my cheeks heat up and I dropped my gaze to the ground. I figured he was probably right; I had to give her a second chance.

“What are you doing for your birthday?” I asked letting my arms fall to my sides.

“I’m not sure yet, why?”

“I wanted to see you.” I admitted.

He laughed and stood up pulling me in for a hug. “Of course.”

“I should go, Hannah’s probably wondering where I am.”

“Okay,” He smiled following me towards the door. “Next time, we’ll go in the hot tub.”

“Kay,” I said turning to face him in the doorway. “Thanks for today, I had fun.”

“Me too.” He smiled. “Call me so I know you made it home, okay?”

I nodded giving him a little wave and walking towards my car.