Adelina Celine Torres
After a minute or two of standing there, I debate knocking again in case he didn't hear me, but what if he is on his way and me knocking again makes him annoyed?
I tend to annoy people either way, so I decide to knock again. Right as I lift my fist to knock, the big white door swings open to reveal a tall man with dirty blonde hair.
I awkwardly lower my fist that wavered in front of the poor man's face for a second. "Hi" I say.
The man is extremely attractive with loose blonde hair, tanned skin, piercing blue eyes, tall, and obviously muscular.
"Can I help you?" He asks, his voice light and relaxed. "Is Mr. Hendrix home?" I ask with a smile.
The blonde man looks at me for a moment, confusion in his eyes.
"Come in" he says, stepping aside to provide room for me to walk in.
I step through, marveling at the beauty of the foyer. It's all white with gold accents that would usually look tacky, but in this case look brilliant.
"What's your name?" I ask the blonde guy, since he seems friendly enough.
"Owen" he smiles to me. I hold out my hand, "Nice to meet you, I'm Adelina, but you can call me Lina"
"Owen" a sharp voice speaks from behind me, but I know exactly who it his.
I spin around, my eyes widening when I see Aaron not in fancy clothes, but a black t shirt and black sweatpants.
Hot.
Just kidding. I don't like describing people as hot, it makes me feel gross. So instead of hot, we will use pretty.
My eyes go to his arms, covered in tattoos and veins. He is very strong.
"Hello" I say, trying to keep my smile steady even at the clear disgust on Aaron's face at my presence. "Lina here wanted to see you" Owen says, stepping beside me. I turn and smile to Owen at his use of my nickname. That's the first time someone actually called me that!
Aaron gives Owen a look, and without words Owen nods and leaves the room.
I look to Aaron, expecting him to ask why I'm here, but instead he just gives me the same calculating gaze he always does. "You left this at my house" I break the silence, digging in my tote bag to find his wallet.
"Don't worry I didn't go in it or anything. Well besides finding your address. And reading your drivers license" At the last part I cringe at myself for accidentally over sharing.
Reaching out my hand, I stand awkwardly as he waits a few seconds to take the wallet.
"Why'd you bring it here?" He asks, taking it.
"Um to give it back? It's yours isn't it?"
He doesn't respond. "I would've given it to my parents since you guys are business partners, but, well, Papa has a temper and you made him very angry. I didn't trust him too well"
Aaron doesn't move, "Leave" he says sternly. I flinch slightly at his harsh tone.
Feeling bold, and quite bored with zero friends, I see an opportunity to make one. "Would you like to get dinner with me?" I ask, since it's almost 6 and I'm starving from not eating lunch.
For once, I catch Aaron's face falter at my words. Just for a second, but I catch his face change to one of surprise, then it's right back to normal.
"I know a really good diner. It has hotdogs, corn dogs, milkshakes-
"Ok" Aaron cuts me off.
"Really?!" I say, not expecting him to have agreed. He nods, "Ok! Cool. Cool cool. I can drive us, I'm really good." I say.
Aaron excuses himself for a minute, then returns in more external clothing, still looking just as pretty. Aaron follows me out to my car, and I find myself nervous walking in front of him.
What if I face plant...
Once I'm in the car, my nerves transfer from the fear of tripping to the fear of sucking at driving after bragging about my driving skills. Sitting in the car, I clip my seatbelt in then wait for Aaron to get in. I stare until he buckles his seatbelt. Nobody is dying on my watch.
It takes me a second to adjust to having another person in my car. How sad is it that nobody has ever sat in my passenger seat? #zerofriends.
"Sorry, but I get to pick the music" I say, turning on some Morgan Wallen. He's so cute, if only he wasn't too old for me, and too famous for me. (update Morgan Wallen just got a buzz cut.....yikes)
The drive to the small diner I am a regular customer at is pretty short, and since it's pretty early for dinner it's not too busy either. As we walk in, we get a few stares from people at tables and the servers.
Ouch, I know I never have friends, but for everyone else to be shocked that I'm with someone is a new low.
Once we are sat down, I don't even look at the menu, I already know I'm getting chicken tenders with a chocolate milkshake. The best food choice ever.
"So, Aaron, where are you from?" I ask to make conversation. He gives me a look, then I realize I used his first name. I give him a sheepish smile, and he just gives me a blank look. "Ok, if you don't like being called Aaron, can I give you a nickname?"
At this, Aaron slightly raises an eyebrow at me. "Let me think... A-Aron- no that's too basic. What about...Ronny!"
Aaron frowns at this. "Ronny is perfect, and I can call you Ron for short" I elaborate.
"A nickname for a nickname?" He questions. I nod, "Yes sir"
"So, Ron, where are you from?" I repeat my previous question.
"New York" he says. My eyes widen, "that's so cool! I've always wanted to go."
My family has been to New York multiple times for things like fashion week or work, but I've never been invited.
"Is it as cool as it is in the movies?" I ask. Aaron shakes his head, and I frown. I'm gonna pretend he said yes.
"I need to travel more. I haven't even left California." I say, taking a sip of my chocolate milkshake.
"Have you been out of the country?" I ask, curious to see if my new friend is more worldly than me.
He nods, "Where?" I ask.
"Italy, Russia, Spain, Mexico, Greece"
My mouth hangs open at this, I would die to go to any of the countries. "Lucky duck! When I graduate I want to travel more, but I doubt my parents will let me" I say.
"Graduate?" He asks. "I'm a junior in college. I might try and graduate early, but who knows." I shrug. He looks at me like he wants me to elaborate.
"It's a pretty local college, you probably haven't heard of it. It's small. Did you go to college?" I change the subject. I hate telling people I go to Stanford. They either think I'm some snob who got in from my parents, or some study crazy nerd.
"No"
"Don't worry, you aren't missing much" I assure him. I am probably not the best person to comment on college life, since I am probably missing most of the funnest parts of college, but whatever.
We get our food and I down my chicken tenders at record speed. When I'm done, I sit as Aaron eats his cheeseburger. He got lettuce on it, which may be a dealbreaker for our friendship.
Once we are both done, I give the waitress my card to pay for us, which Aaron clearly didn't appreciate. "Take mine" he demands of the waitress, who gives me a confused look.
"Ignore him. I owe him money but he is too proud to let the lady pay for his food." I smile to the waitress. Aaron didn't appreciate that either.
When the waitress walks away, Aaron gives me a nasty look. I give him a fake pouty face in response. "It's ok, let me sugar momma you"
He rolls his eyes. Ignoring his sassy behavior, I change the topic. "So are we friends?" I ask.
No response.
"Can I have your number? Ya know, since we are friends now?" I say, probably getting too ahead of myself but I don't care.
Aaron doesn't say anything, he just hands me his phone.
My eyes light up at this, since it's the very first time I've had an actual friend. I excitedly type in my phone number, adding my contact. I send myself a text from it to add the number to my phone as well.
"You're not as scary as I thought you would be" I say. Aaron looks offended at this, not really since his face rarely changes, but I assume he is offended. "I mean, you don't talk much and I'm pretty sure you're judging me 24/7, but you're not scary scary." I elaborate.
He looks at me with an almost amused expression, making me slightly flustered under his gaze.
Suddenly my phone buzzes, and I flip it over to see a quite aggressive text from Papa asking where I am and to get home now or I'm grounded.
I let out a sigh, "Duty calls Ron, I gotta bounce my friend" I stand up.
When Aaron stands up, I'm reminded of how large he is, towering over me.
I flash him a smile, "Friends?" I ask again, hoping for a response this time.
My heart jumps when he subtly nods his head to signal yes.
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