Strength in Numbers

*Six Months Earlier*

I sighed into my wine. I was going to murder Austin Carlile.

"No Sil you just haaave to come with me," he had whined at my apartment the week before "Please it'll be so much fun! I promise! If you don't have fun you can tell me where to shove it, ok?"

"Oh I'll tell you where to shove it, Carlile," I muttered before sipping my wine as I glared at the giant that was my best friend. He so desperately needed a date to this thing that he begged and begged until I said I would go with him. He'd left five minutes earlier with a blond and was walking in slightly disheveled and absolutely glowing.

"I don't think he can hear you from across the room."

I slowly turned my head to see who'd spoken and tell them to fuck off...but I was facing Jamie Preciado. Holy shit don't fangirl. "Um...hi?"

He chuckled and took Austin's seat. "I'm Jaime, pronounced Hi-me, spelled Jaime (Jay-me)."

"I'm aware." Wow that wasn't at all creepy. "I'm Silver, I love your music." I smiled, trying so hard to not explode.

He smiled brightly. "Thanks! And Silver, what a cool name!"

I laughed. "It's short for Sylvana."

"And way more kick ass!"

I laughed. "Thanks."

Jaime jerked his chin in Austin's direction. "Is that your date?"

I rolled my eyes. "Kind of. Austin's my best friend and 'oh so desperately oh dear god please I'll die if you make me go alone' needed a date" I rolled my eyes. "Meanwhile I was promised fun and so far all I've done is drink...alone."

He snorted. "Well that sure sounds like Austin."

"Melodramatic little shit," I muttered downing the last of my wine.

Jaime swirled the liquor in his glass for a moment then asked, "Wanna get out of here?"

I arch an eyebrow at him. "You're shitting me right? I'm a fan, not a hooker."

His eyes widened. "No! Not like that! I mean do you wanna go do something else? You were promised fun."

"That I was," I considered for a moment. "Eh, what the hell? Let's go Preciado."

He beamed. "Awesome."

Jaime paid his bar tab and said he would meet me out front as I went to talk to Austin.

"Silver! Isn't this great?" he beamed.

I licked my hand then fixed his hair. "Actually no stud, it blows. I'm heading out."

His brows furrowed. "But I drove?"

"I'm going to hang out with Jaime."

"Preciado?" I nodded. "Dope! Text me when you're home?"

I smiled. "Same for you big guy."

"So what would you like to do?" Jaime asked as I walked up to him. I just shrugged. He snapped his fingers. "Let's go to the beach!"

I blinked. "I'm in a dress."

"And I'm in a suit, what's your point? Let's go to the beach!"

So we did. We chased each other around in the dark like little kids. We splashed in ankle deep water, then just walked around the beach. It was hours later that I found myself laying in the sand next to Jaime as we talked.

"So how long have you known Austin?"

I laughed. "Far too long. We met our sophomore year of high school, and I haven't been able to get rid of him since. Funny story actually, I tried to take his lunch money."

Jaime rolled onto his side. "No you didn't."

I laughed. "I totally did, he even gave it to me," I rolled onto my side, my face just a foot from Jaime's, "but then he's just so scrawny I didn't want him to starve so I had to give it back."

"Mmm," he mumbled as his eyes flickered to my lips. He leaned forward, and I let him. I'd had so much fun with him all night. What could one kiss hurt?

Oh right, my entire reputation. In my defense, I didn't know what that kiss would lead to at the time!

We kissed on the beach, rolling in the sand for a good ten minutes before Jaime pulled away panting. "Hotel room?"

I nodded, my breathing too labored to allow much else.

We were drunk, I was bored, and he was lonely; it was a dangerous combination. Before the hotel door had even fully shut, we were tearing at our clothes to get them off.

"Foreplay?" He huffed, already hard. I swiped a finger over my core and Jaime watched, wide eyed, when it came away glistening.

Sex with Jaime was the some of the best I'd ever had, but if I could I would bitch slap myself and tell me what a moronic move it was and to never do it.

I awoke the next morning with a killer hangover and a note by my clothes that had been gathered and left in a neat pile on the desk chair.

Silver,
Sorry, I had to leave early to make it home for something. Sorry about last night, it was great but I'm recently out of a breakup and I can't do anything permanent at the moment. If you need to talk or just tell me what an ass I am here's my number. - Jaime

I laughed as I added his number to my phone and texted, "Sorry to hear about your breakup, I'm not mad, wasn't looking for permanent either. Don't worry, I was shitfaced and very bored but it was fun."

As I was about to leave the room he texted back, "Lol so was I, if you're ever in town gimme a call, you're pretty alright Silver :)"

I smiled as I called Austin.

"What the FUCK, Silver? I told you to text me when you got home, I was worried as fuck!" he screamed.

"Good morning, I hope your night was good too. Listen shithead I need a ride home."

He groaned. "You didn't."

"I did, and I need a ride home."

He sighed. "Shit, alright I'm on my way."

Notes

Sorry about the awkwardness of this chapter being half posted lol I was writing it with insomnia at 3 AM and all the sudden I fell asleep. Oh well. Lol