Stuart's POV
I looked over at Y/N and watched her type on her computer. My breath got caught in my throat as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
"Hey, Stuart." I jumped when I felt someone grab my shoulder. I turned around to see Billy and Nick standing behind me. Nick looked at Y/N and then looked back at me with a smirk on his face.
"What, guys?" I asked trying to sound annoyed as my heart rate went back to normal.
"We were planning on going to Happy Hour later today. You in?" Billy asked.
"Everyone is going," Nick said, glancing at Y/N before turning back to me with a knowing smile.
I glanced at Y/N before quickly clearing my throat, ignoring the look Nick and Billy shared. "Sure," I shrugged trying to be nonchalant.
"Cool," Billy smirked. "Stuart's in!" He yelled making everyone, including Y/N, look at me.
I caught her eye and instantly looked away. I rolled my eyes before turning back towards my computer.
I finished sending the emails I needed to send and started getting ready to head to the bar. I had just logged off my computer when I felt someone walk up behind me.
"I swear if either one of you makes one dumbass comment about. . ."
I turned around and immediately shut my mouth when I saw it was Y/N standing behind me. "Sorry," she laughed, putting her hands up in surrender.
"Sorry, Y/N." I stuttered. "I didn't know. . . I thought. . ." I cleared my throat as I looked up at her smiling face.
"It's okay, Stuart." She smiled. "Anyway, I was wondering if you were going to the bar right away or if you still had work to do. Everyone else is leaving now, but I still needed to finish up some stuff."
"I still have stuff too," I said quickly. I internally kicked myself. I didn't have any work. "Wanna split a cab?" I stuttered.
"Yeah," she smiled. "I should be done in about ten minutes."
"Me too," I stuttered wanting nothing more than to jump out the window. She smiled before turning on her heel and walking back to her desk.
* * * * *
"Ready?"
I looked up to see Y/N putting her bag over her shoulder. "Yep," I said popping the 'p'. I cringed at how nerdy that sounded.
The cab ride to the bar was quiet and awkward. Whenever Y/N tried to start a conversation, I would either say something stupid or something she couldn't really respond to.
I let out a sigh of relief as we pulled up to the bar. I quickly paid the driver, not giving Y/N even the chance to object. I jumped out and practically ran into the bar. The second the bouncer let me in, I realized what my actions must have looked like to Y/N.
Me not being able to hold a conversation with her, letting out a very audible sigh of relief when we arrived, quickly paying the cab driver, and running inside the bar.
I groaned when I realized she was probably thinking I didn't want to be stuck in the cab with her. I mentally slapped myself as I turned and saw her walk in. Our eyes met and my heart sank as she immediately looked away.
I watched as she walked over to the group, smiling the second she got to them. I angrily walked the other way and ordered a drink.
"Why are you such an ass, Stuart?" I grumbled as I chugged my beer.
* * * * *
The night went on with us drinking too much, laughing too loud, and dancing too obnoxiously.
Well, everyone else did.
I sat at our table, watching them have fun as I drank beer after beer. I readjusted myself as I watched Y/N and Neha dance with each other. Y/N's eyes sparkled, the lights bouncing off of her as she danced.
I let out an annoyed scoff as I looked away and chugged the rest of my drink.
"So," Nick smirked as he sat down next to me. "What's going on between you and Y/N?"
"Nothing," I mumbled as I started to peel the label off my empty beer bottle.
"Really?" He smirked. "You know something Stuart? You're a shitty liar."
I sent him a glare before rolling my eyes and turning my attention back to Y/N. "It doesn't matter," I sighed. "She would never like an asshole like me."
"You're not an asshole," he sighed. "Well, not that big of an asshole."
"Gee, thanks." I scoffed as I tried to drink from my empty beer. I let out an annoyed sighed as I slammed it down on the table.
"Okay," Nick elongated as he slid the bottle away from me. "Stuart, what makes you think she wouldn't go for you?"
I looked over at him and scoffed. "Because I'm a dick. And she's. . . She's perfect," I said looking back at her. A smile made its' way to my lips as I watched her laugh.
"Wow," Nick laughed causing me to look away from Y/N. "You've got it bad."
He stopped laughing when he saw the glare on my face. "Look," he sighed. "You have just as much of a chance as any of the other guys in this bar. More actually. But, it doesn't mean shit if you ignore her."
"It's not that I don't want to do something. It's that I. . . I can't."
"What do you mean you can't? Why not?" He asked looking between Y/N and I. "I actually think you two would be good together."
"Why?" I scoffed. "She's the amazing, strong, smart, beautiful girl that all the guys instantly fall in love with. I'm just the cocky asshole that no one takes seriously."
"We take you seriously," he laughed as he jokingly jabbed me with his elbow. I looked at him before rolling my eyes and looking down at my hands.
He cleared his throat before sighing. "Back to this whole 'I can't do something' shit. Why can't you go for it?"
"Because I'm just. . . I'm not so good with girls."
I looked up at Nick when he didn't respond. "What?" I asked when I saw the weird look on his face.
"I just didn't expect you to say that," he laughed. "I thought you were the kind of guy that got all the ladies."
"I mean, I guess I was in high school," I shrugged, looking over at Y/N. "But I don't want an immature 'party girl' or a fling. I want something real. I want someone real."
My cheeks burned red when Y/N noticed I was staring. She sent me a smile as she signaled for me to come dance.
"First step in getting the girl," Nick laughed. "When she asks you to dance, you dance." I sent him a look before standing up and walking towards our group.
* * * * *
Before going back to Google Campus, Nick and Billy had the idea of going to the place that overlooked the San Fransisco bridge. I was sitting on a table a few feet away from the rest of the group, watching the cars drive back and forth across the bridge. I let out a sigh as I saw Nick out of the corner of my eye start walking towards me.
"You should just ask her out," he said as he sat next to me.
I rolled my eyes as I mumbled, "She would never agree to go out with me."
"You never know until you ask," he said patting me on the shoulder before walking back over to everyone else.
I looked at the group and couldn't help but smile as Y/N laughed with Neha. I bit my lip and gathered as much courage as I could.
Before I could stop myself, I jumped off the table and walked over to Y/N. As I got closer, my confidence faltered causing me to slow my pace. I glanced over at Nick who was watching me. He smiled encouragingly at me before turning back to Billy and Lyle.
"Hey Y/N?" I stuttered. She turned around, a smile naturally on her face.
"Hey, Stuart."
"Can we umm. . . Do you want to go for a little walk?" I asked, reaching up and rubbing the back of my neck. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Neha look between the two of us with an excited smile on her face.
"Sure," Y/N shrugged, completely oblivious to our audience.
We walked off towards a path that went through the trees, neither one of us saying anything. I kept going through different ways to phrase it, but came up with nothing.
"Are you okay?" She asked, breaking the silence.
"Yeah well no. . . Well yes. I just. . . I'm terrible with girls." My eyes widened when what I told Nick slipped out.
I looked over at Y/N to see her with a soft smile as she let out a small laugh. "I doubt that," she giggled. "Especially from all the stories." She sent me a playful looking making my stomach do backflips.
"I'm terrible with girls like you," I said quickly. I instantly regretted how that sounded.
"Like me?" I held my breath as she stopped walking. "What do you mean 'girls like me'?"
"I didn't mean. . ." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I opened them again, I turned towards Y/N.
"I meant that as a compliment. I've never met a girl like you, Y/N. You're smart. You're funny. You're definitely the nicest girl I have ever met. You aren't afraid to call me out on my shit, but you also aren't afraid to sit down and listen to all my shit either. And you're beautiful, which is extremely threatening. I mean, you have the smarts and the looks. Not that I only see you as a gorgeous woman, which you are, it's just that's not all that matters."
"Stuart," she smiled as she put her hand on my forearm, interrupting my rambling. "Breathe."
I took a deep breath as I was unable to look away from her enriching Y/E/C eyes. "I like you," I rushed out. I kept talking before she could say anything.
"I really like you and I want to take you on a date. I know that we aren't technically supposed to date, but I'm willing to risk it. I want to risk it. Maybe you don't and if that's true then I'll walk away. We'll finish this summer out like nothing happened and you never have to talk to me again. In fact, maybe we should just pretend this conversation never happened. Okay, bye."
I started to walk away but Y/N quickly caught up to me. She grabbed my wrist, turning me around.
My eyes widened as she instantly pressed her lips to mine. I didn't hesitate to kiss her back. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to me, as our lips moved in sync.
We pulled away when neither one of us could breathe. I leaned back and looked at her eyes, not knowing what to say.
"I like you too, Stuart." She whispered. I smiled before pressing my lips to hers.
"We should get back," she said between kisses.
I leaned back and nodded. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear before beginning to walk back to the group. I smirked as I caught up to her.
"So, about that date. . ."