Sophie finds herself at ease in Naya's presence. She seems to be able to say what's on her mind rather than refining her opinions to sophisticated judgement. Naya seems far more relaxed than most of Sophie's friends and it's a nice change.
"Oh god, and then a woman came in, asking for Tommy Lee. I think he forgot that he had a date or something. He excused himself and let the other members talk for him, disappearing into the bathroom for twenty minutes with the girl."
Naya digs chopsticks into the pile of noodles the girls share.
"If you get what I'm implying."
Sophie tries not to laugh, afraid she'd choke on her mouthful.
"The girl came back out walking like she'd been on horseback for the last 12 hours. He came out with lipstick on his pants. Played it off like nothing happened, too."
Sophie swallows difficultly, finally able to laugh.
"And with you right there? Gross."
"Yeah, I know. The blonde one, Vince, tried hitting on me a couple times. The older one just stayed silent the entire time, he scares me."
Sophie hasn't seen much of him either. She can hardly remember his name. Michael, Mike?
"And Nikki?" She asks curiously.
"He's pretty well spoken for a rockstar. I thought they'd just grunt and nod but he had some pretty well put together things to say."
"A big development for their kind."
Naya shovels noodles into her mouth between laughing.
"You were right about them. They were intense."
"They didn't discourage you from journalism?"
"Not quite. Wanna listen to the tape? Read through my notes? Tell me how I did."
"Oh you bet. Bring them out."
***
Naya leaves just after lunchtime, Sophie's home and hotel phone number stored in her notepad.
Sophie hated to see her go after getting along so well. But she smiles at the thought of a new friend.
She returns to her room, thinking of things to do for the rest of the day.
She decides to wander the streets in her best mini dress, hoping to find some boy to take her mind off the kiss that keeps running through her head.
She lands on the street in a curve flaunting dress, thankful that the rain had let up.
It isn't much of a walk before she comes across a tall, curly haired man wandering away from her.
Sophie decides to play the helpless maiden. It's always fun, testing out new methods. Seeing which work the best with different kinds of people.
"Oh, excuse me!" She taps him on the shoulder and he turns, maple coloured eyes sweeping over her indiscreetly.
"I'm looking for Vill d'Ange, could you point me in the right direction?" Her sweet smile makes it impossible to refuse.
"Oh, yeah. I'll take you there if you want?"
Sophie lets out a breath of relief.
"Thank you so much! I'm totally lost."
He'd have agreed even if he had no idea where the hotel was, but luckily he does.
"No worries. Not from around here?"
They begin walking back in the direction Sophie came.
"I'm from New York. You live here?"
"Unfortunately."
"Why unfortunately?"
The man smirks.
"The girls here aren't as pretty as the New York ones."
Sophie laughs.
"That's funny because the New York boys aren't as pretty as the L.A. ones."
The man grins, deep dimples showing.
"Well maybe the New York girls should try the L.A. boys. Wouldn't that be an ambitious crossover."
Sophie likes him, he suits her.
"On a completely unrelated topic... I wonder if you'd like a room tour of the hotel? I'm in the VIP suite."
"I think I would. I've never been in a VIP suite, should probably check it right?"
"Right. What's your name?"
The curly haired man smiles and sticks out his hand.
"Mateo. Yours?"
"Sophie."
Mateo and Sophie walk back to the hotel, and Mateo notices that she seems to know the way.
"You wouldn't happened to have pretended you were lost did you?" He grins as they enter the lobby.
"I have no idea why you would say that," Sophie gives a sly smile, taking her room card out.
"Funny, you seemed to know where you were going."
"Coincident."
Mateo chuckles, tossing his tight ringlets from his eyes.
"Must be."
The two reach the elevator and rise to the second highest level.
Then Sophie invites him in.
"Wow, this place is great," Mateo whistles, impressed.
"Yeah, it is. Anyway," She bares a wicked expression and slips her fingers into the loopholes on Mateos jeans, tugging his hips to hers.
"I have a confession."
Mateo grins down at her bright eyes, hands grasping her waist.
"I didn't invite you up here for a tour."
He feigns shock.
"What?"
"I actually wanted to see if L.A. boys were any good in bed."
Mateo sighs.
"Oh well, room tour after then. That's such a shame, I was really hoping I wouldn't run into any hot blondes who invite me into their hotel rooms today."
He bends his head and presses soft lips against her neck, unzipping her dress with ease.
Sophie kicks off her shoes and then unbuckles his belt.
She pushes his chest and he falls onto her bed as the dress slips from her shoulders and onto the floor at her feet.
Mateo reaches out as she climbs onto the covers, placing a hand either side of him, leaning down to kiss him.
***
Sophie blinks against the pale light.
It is morning, around 10am.
She looks at Mateo's arm secured around her waist.
He had stayed the entire afternoon and night. It's rare for a boy to survive until morning, because she usually kicks them out.
She admires the shape of his bare back as it rises and falls slowly.
It was lucky she had brought him back, because L.A. boys were good in bed.
Mateo mumbles something groggily, beginning to stir. Sophie slips out of bed and throws on her rumpled dress.
"Aw, why cover up?" Mateo says, lifting his wildly curly head.
"Because you're leaving."
"Now?"
Sophie shrugs.
"I've got to go to a lunch."
"Damn," Mateo chuckles softly. "There isn't a chance I could get your number or anything?"
Sophie reaches and runs her fingertips down his side, admiring him again.
"No. But you can come back tomorrow night. Now get out of here."
"Marry me?"
"No."
"Worth a shot," he says, getting out of bed and throwing on his clothes.
She shows him the door and smiles as he goes.
"Bye, Mateo." He looks regretfully at her, wishing she would just let him stay a little longer.
"Bye Sophie."
He leans down and plants a kiss on her lips, grinning before taking off down the hall.
At the end of the hall he is intercepted. Sophie nearly cries out in annoyance.
"Hey man, where'd you come from?" Nikki asks.
"VIP suite. A fucking wildcat. Check this out." He shows Nikki his back, the red welts from manicured nailed fingers scratching the entire length of his spine.
Nikki stiffens.
"Interesting. Spent the night, did you?"
"Highly recommend it."
Nikki glances down the hall at the door, left ajar. Behind it, Sophie waits desperately for both men to leave. She prays his little routine will be over and done with soon.
Nikki, rather standoffish, nods at Mateo.
"Right. You'd better get to the doctors, she's got some nasty disease thing going on. The last guy that came out of there got some sort of infection I think."
Mateo's face falls and he hurries away, much to Nikki's amusement.
"Hi Sophie."
Sophie, enraged, emerges into the hall.
"Why the hell would you say that?! He was going to come back tomorrow!"
Nikki just smiles.
"Oops."
Sophie clenches her teeth.
Oh how angry he makes her feel.
"What are you even doing here?"
"Came to bring you these." He tosses a pack of bandaids at her. "They're bigger, fit the knees better."
He turns and Sophie watches him go, not sure what to say. But she'll get him back for the stunt, that's for sure. And she already has an idea.