Listen to Strawberries and Cigarette by Troye Sivan.

The silence in the car didn't seem to be a problem at first, but after awhile I couldn't stand it anymore. I took a glance at Belvina, her fingers were tapping on her phone screen really fast. From the little I could see, she was on Snapchat. The light from her screen highlighted her face, she had one knee up on the seat where she rested her chin as she focused on her phone. Her large and long curls shielded the left side of her face, her tiny lips pout in a frown as she hit the keywords with her manicured nails. Before we left the airport, she'd made it vehemently clear that she didn't want to talk to me during the ride back to her place. I liked conversing with people, learning more about them regardless of who they were. As much as I couldn't stand her attitude, I wanted to know more about her. My mouth opened to ask her what plans she had tonight, but I shut it. I wasn't ready to argue with her tonight.

I took small glances at the tall palm trees outlining the street. I felt hungry as we drove past an Italian restaurant on sunset boulevard.

After I drop off Belvina at her place, I would have nothing to do but return to an empty house or hang out at Tristan's or find myself at an exclusive club taking a girl to the next hotel to fuck till I forget about all my shitty life. I wanted the night to last longer, I didn't want to return to that part of my world yet. I made a turn to another street and headed to my favorite restaurant.

"This is not the way to my apartment," Belvina said looking outside the window.

"I know," I said and gave her a warm smile.

"Where are you taking me, Parker?" She sighed, putting her leg down and sitting up. She looked as if she was ready to wrestle the wheels out of my hand.

"We are almost there, I'm not that dumb to kidnap someone like you," I told her.

Belvina scoffed, leaning back in the seat with an eye roll. "So, you're saying I'm too ugly and worthless for you to kidnap?"

"No, I meant you will frustrate the hell out of your kidnappers and they will have no choice but to dump you in the middle of nowhere." I laughed but she only glared harder at me.

"I have a test on Monday, I'm not in the mood for whatever this is," she said running her fingers through her curls to brush the large locks back. I noticed her floral scrunchie around her wrist that matched her hazel eyes.

I pulled into the parking lot and found a nice spot to park my car. I turned to Belvina with my lips curved up in a smile.

"What are we doing here?" She was already giving me that scary look where her eyebrows knit together and her eyes point at me like an arrow.

"What do people do at restaurants? I hope you're hungry 'cause I'm starving," I pressed the button next to the wheel to turn off the ignition.

"I'm not hungry and I have a date with my chocolate pudding tonight." She said and returned to her phone.

"Well, I'm hungry so let's go." I insisted.

"I can wait here," she said, raising both knees and resting her head on the window. She ignored me and kept scrolling through her phone.

"Come on Belvina, it's a big restaurant. I can't just sit all by myself when I have you."

Belvina let out a long, tired sigh, "You should have hired an escort. I'm so exhausted and I have five ALTs to submit by midnight, so be quick." She said with her eyes still fixed on her phone.

I didn't want to sit all by myself and be reminded of how empty and lonely my life was. I grunted and turned to her, she had already made herself comfortable. I doubt she was planning on following me inside.

"Just take me home." She demanded before I could say anything.

"I'm only asking you to keep me company."

"So, you enjoy my company, huh? You just said being around me frustrates the hell out of you," she turned to look at me with a smirk dancing on her bow-shaped lips.

Quite the opposite, but anything to get her out of the car.

"I promise I will drive you home immediately after we are done."

"No," she said looking away, her smile completely gone.

I ran my hand down my face with a groan. This woman was impossible. I have never come across someone so difficult to engage with. I wondered if she was like this with everyone or if it was because she hated me.

"Name your price." I sighed.

My sentence seemed to have struck a nerve because she looked furious as she put her feet down and faced me completely.

"What do I look like to you? Someone you can buy? Was that how you all saw Chloe? Well, except that you guys didn't offer her any money which would have been much better than ruining her life." She hissed, shooting me a dirty glare.

"That came out wrong. I didn't mean to say it like that," I said meeting her eyes that stared at me with disdain. Shit, am I that desperate?

I didn't know how to explain myself to her, to get her to understand it was never my intention to hurt her best friend and that I wasn't the monster she was painting me to be. With her attitude, it was impossible to even find common ground. She was quick to pick up a fight at everything that came out of my mouth.

"Fine, if you don't wanna take me home then I'll take a cab." She said, removing her seatbelt.

I throw my head back with a frustrated sigh, but I blamed the hunger and desperation taunting me. Now I regret even thinking about food.

"I knew it was a bad idea to allow you to drive me home anyway," She sneered.

"Belvina, wait," I called as she opened the door to step out of the car.

"I only wanted us to grab something to eat and I know you're tired. Don't leave, I'll drive you home right now." I said starting the car.

"Don't do that," she said shaking her head at me.

"Do what?" I asked, completely clueless.

"Why are you making me feel like a terrible person? I didn't mind waiting in the car." She sighed with a frown.

I laughed and reached to put my seatbelt on.

"Fine, you win. Let's go, I could use a glass of water right now from all the stress you caused me."

She climbed out of the car with a scoff. I tried to stop the smile tugging at the corners of my lips as a proud feeling spread over me. I stepped out of the car and walked to where she stood.

"You will love the food, I promise," I told her, she shook her head and stormed off to the entrance.

"Just don't talk to me," she said.

"Damn, you hate me that much huh?"

"You have no idea. I can't even describe it," she said looking over her shoulder at me with a small smile that masked her unbearable attitude. She looked like an angel on the surface but was a raging spitfire underneath.

I saw a white string on her hair as I trailed behind her. I tried to remove it without her noticing but her head whipped around before I could touch her hair.

"You have something in your hair," I removed it to show her.

She didn't say anything but continued walking to the door, I moved quickly to open the door for her. She took a glance at me before walking in. We waited for a few minutes before we were given a table. We took a table next to the window overlooking a mall. Belvina was looking around, her fingers tapping on the table draped with red tablecloth.

"Is this the kind of restaurant that serves you a grain of rice with a slice of cucumber for $1000?" She asked meeting my eyes.

"Maybe," I laughed, picking up the laminated menu. "What would you like?" I asked, peeking up at her.

"Water is fine," She said, already occupied with her phone.

"For the next thirty minutes, can you try not to be on your phone?" I requested.

"You want me to watch you eat?"

"No, let's have an icebreaker."

"I'm pretty sure after tonight, I'm never seeing you again."

"I hope so, so why don't we enjoy our last night together? No animosity, let's pretend we're strangers that got stuck at the same table in this restaurant."

She shook her head at me and put her phone down. She didn't say anything afterward but surveyed the room like she was searching for someone.

Soon a waiter arrived to take our order, I asked for a basil chicken linguine and sashimi salad.

"Sparking water," she said to the red hair waiter with a sweet smile I rarely see on her face. I wished she would smile more.

"Are you that hungry for your chocolate pudding?" I asked leaning closer on the table.

"Yes, it's homemade special from my mom," she said.

"Your parents live nearby your apartment?" I asked but she hesitated as if she didn't want to share such information with me.

"Yeah."

"Are you the firstborn?"

"No and stop with the questions about my family."

"Are you always this bitter?" I asked leaning back in my seat.

"Are you always this desperate for a company?" she retorted.

I wondered if she was submissive in bed, I could only imagine her fighting for control but if I ever had her in my bed which would never happen, she'd beg for every orgasm when I have her at her peak but won't let her climax. The thought of it, sent heat to my groin. I loved dominating everything in bed since I can't control anything in my life.

Belvina's voice brought me back to reality. "Do you mind taking a picture of me?" she asked, pushing her phone closer to where my hand was resting on the table.

"Sure, do I get photo credit?" I asked as my eyes swept through the photo she used as her screensaver. It was a goofy selfie of her and Chloe with their tongues out.

"It depends. Give it your best, it's going on my Instagram." She said, adjusting on the seat.

I raise my eyebrow at her, "How many followers are expecting this?"

"5K," she replied.

"Wow, you're famous," I smiled, tapping the camera icon.

"Is that sarcasm I smell, Adrian Parker?" She asked feigning surprise.

"No," I laughed softly.

"How do I look from this angle?" she asked, tilting her head a bit to the side and putting on a sultry look.

I bit back a smile as I looked up at her. I couldn't think of a word to describe how insanely attractive she looked at this moment. She was sexy, adorable, and beautiful at the same time. It was a talent, one that hardly any woman possessed. It was such a shame she was born with such an attitude.

"The angle is perfect," I complemented taking the first picture, trying my best not to shake my hands. She put on another pose with a small smile, I could already tell that this would be my favorite. Her smile brought out the color of her eyes along with those dimples I had never really noticed before., While the last picture made her look beautiful, this one made her simply ravishing. I was shocked that I had not noticed this about her before.

"Let me see," she snatched her phone from me just as the waiter arrived with our orders.

She thanked the waiter for her water. I didn't miss the blush on the young boy's face when she smiled at him. He looked like he was ready to ask for her number, but I seemed to be an obstacle to him.

"Hmm, I don't like this one. I'm smiling like my cheeks are on fire," Belvina complained, showing me.

"I like it, you should keep it."

She rolled her eyes and tapped something on her phone which I believe would be 'delete'

"What's that?" She asked looking at the food in front of me.

"Basil chicken linguine and Sashimi salad, wanna try?" I grabbed the fork and swirled it around the pasta and chicken to get a decent amount out and brought it closer to her mouth. She stared at the food hesitantly, like the thought of me feeding her was repulsive.

"Come on," I urged, moving the fork closer to her mouth.

She smiled sheepishly and opened her mouth. I watched her as she chewed the food waiting for her reaction, she looked impressed. Her eyes widened as the taste filled her mouth.

"I will order some for you if you want."

"No, I told you I'm saving space for my pudding." She said quickly. "But, if you don't think you can finish this by yourself, I'll gladly help." She said, collecting the fork from my hand.

"Go ahead," I said with a short laugh. I picked up the other fork on the table and joined her.

"I still hate you just in case you are getting ideas in your head. This doesn't make us friends, I hope after today we never cross paths again." She informed me as we ate.

"Fine by me," I admitted.

She burst out laughing at something as I mixed my salad. I frowned at her as I saw her on her phone, curious as to what she was so amused by. She turned her screen towards me, showing me what she was laughing at. It was a picture of me shoveling some salad into my mouth, I looked hideous with the way my mouth was open and how I was staring at the Sashimi salad.

"This will make a good meme," Belvina laughed.

"You're not saving that, are you?"

"Don't flatter yourself." She said and put her phone face down on the table.

"I can't believe I'm sharing food with you," She mumbled.

"Technically I'm sharing it with you, not you with me."

"I hate you'," Belvina said but she was smiling softly at me.

"I'm gonna win you over sooner or later," I told her and picked up my glass of water to take a few sips. I felt her eyes on me.

"Good luck with that, Parker." She said with a daring smile.

☆

Belvina kept her eyes closed throughout the entire ride to her apartment. She made it clear to me after we left the restaurant that I shouldn't start any conversation with her.

She opened her eyes when I pulled into the driveway in front of the ten-story apartment building.

"Thanks for the ride, see you never." She said and quickly stepped out of the car.

I smiled at her, "Have a lovely night, Vixen."

She didn't say anything or look back. Vixen suited her character, the name Belvina was too pretty for a spitfire like her.

I drove over to Tristan's place. I have been crashing at his place, at least it didn't feel as lonely and quiet as it was at my place. I met Morris in the living room. He had Tristan's denim jacket in his hand.

"Is Tristan going out?" I asked with a little hope. He had not left the house in weeks. I really hoped he was letting himself be happy again.

"We just returned from the Airport, he left his jacket on the couch. I was on my way to his room when you came."

"Airport? What Airport?"

"Los Angeles Airport."

I clenched my fist and headed for the stairs. Why doesn't he ever listen to me? I found him in Chloe's room, he was laying on the bed with his eyes closed.

"Seriously? You went to the Airport to see her?" I asked, raising my voice.

He sighed softly as he opened his eyes.

"What don't you understand about staying away and moving on?!" I snapped.

"You expect me to just sit back and accept that I can never see her again? I had to see her one last time, Adrian. I don't know if I will ever get that chance again!" He yelled back.

"What if she had seen you? She is trying to move on, Tristan! Damn it, can't you for once try not to think only about yourself. She is hurting and needs to heal, be considerate enough to give her that!"

"Do you know how hard I was fighting every nerve in my body that kept telling me to go to her? I stood and watched from a distance wishing I could hold her, stare into those beautiful eyes, and tell her how sorry I am. It broke me seeing her in tears, tears I cost her!"

He said with tears forcing to leave his eyes. He held them back.

"You need to get help, I care about you, and getting better should be your main priority right now. Do it for her."

"You think I don't know that­–all you do is try to make me forget her. You're not helping, you would never understand what it means since all your past relationships have been a disaster! You can't even keep a..." He stopped himself.

"Say it," I beckoned. I couldn't contain my anger anymore.

"Say it!!!" I yelled.

"Fuck, I'm sorry, man." He sighed.

"I have tried, Tristan. Don't say I haven't because I have," I said and left the room.

I went back to my car and drove off at high speed.

"Asshole!!!" I screamed, hitting the steering wheel.

I stopped the car in the middle of the road and tried to calm down. I buried my face in my palms and tried to breathe. I could feel my chest moving rapidly.

Don't think about it, don't think about it. I begged myself.

I ran my fingers through my hair and leaned back on the seat. I punched the steering again, mumbling another curse. I rarely lose my cool in front of people, I always suppressed it and have it under control. How could he fucking say that to me?

I thought of going to a bar or texting a few models from my past to meet up for a quick fuck, maybe a threesome will ease all the tension and rage.

But even with all those options, I still found myself driving to the apartment building I had left a few minutes ago. I wasn't thinking clearly and I could hardly get my body to cooperate with my brain. Being around her won't do me any good right now, the constant banter was exhausting. Maybe that was why I needed to be around her.

So much for never seeing each other again. Oh, Vixen.