His deep chuckle sent shivers through me and I smiled as he splashed water towards me. Both Meizuo and I have been in the water for ten minutes splashing around. He attempted to get close to me and bring me under.

"Meizuo!" I laughed and noticed a familiar figure coming towards us. I felt his arms wrap around my waist from behind me and I gasp as I felt the two of us falling back into the water. I shut my eyes and took a drop breath before hitting the water's surface. The cool water hit my skin. My back was against Meizuo's back and I felt him pulling me close to him. Once we resurfaced, playfully I pushed his chest. He had this look of satisfaction.

"Ximen is here," Meizuo says lightly and I turned to see my best friend putting down a bag on the sand. I looked towards Meizuo before giving me a reassuring smile. The both of us made our way out of the water and towards our best friend. Once we were close enough he turned towards us with a questioning look.

"I can't believe you two left without me," Ximen mumbled. I smiled walking up to him and wrapped my arms around. "Faye! You're soaked!" He exclaimed. He tried to hide his smile, but he failed miserably. "Why did you two walk so far along the boardwalk to get into the water? You could have walked across the street. I turned to Meizuo and he took a quick glance towards me before looking at Ximen.

"Faye and I wanted to walk down the boardwalk before we ate," Meizuo spoke. "It's a beautiful day for a walk." I unwrapped my arms from Ximen and looked up to see him. He seemed relaxed to see his two closest friends.

...

There was a knock at the door and I called out for them to come in. I was sitting in front of the mirror. My brush, makeup and other jewelry spread out on the table. The door opened and slowly a head peeked in. It took me a moment to realize both Jing and Shancai walking into the.

"Whoa," I heard a gasp from Shancai. "You're so pretty!" Her positive and radiant tone made me smile at the mirror as I put in my earrings.

"Thank you Shancai," I spoke softly. I turned around to face them and slowly stood feeling a bit shy. "I never introduced myself, Faye Calinao," I smiled kindly at the freshman and I put my hand out. She kindly accepted and we shook hands. Jing smiled between the two of us.

"You look stunning Faye," Jing said softly. "How did Ximen and Meizuo get the wonderful opportunity to go out on a date with you?" She was referring to the first day we met and I felt my cheeks warming.

"I'm wondering how I became lucky to go out on a date with them."

"You're a wonderful girl Faye. Ximen and Meizuo are excited to be taking you out tonight. We must get pictures downstairs. They're both waiting downstairs for you." I nod as I reach for my Clutch purse and putting my phone inside and quickly out on my heels before nervously following Jing and Faye out of the room. They would soon be getting ready for the party tonight on the beach.

The three of us walked out into the hall heading towards the living room where I could hear music playing from the living room and chatted. Both Jing and Shancai went into the living and I stopped for a moment to take a deep breath. I slowly turned the corner. I saw Jing and Shancai standing nearby, Ximen and Meizuo stood by the piano having a conversation. Lastly, there was Lei who was at the piano. It was the brief moment I walked in when Lei looked towards me and stopped playing the piano. Ximen looked to Lei before looking over to where he was staring and saw me. Meizuo turned in my direction and smiled warmly once we made eye contact.

Both Ximen and Meizuo were in their fancy suits. Ximen wore a plain back tie and white top underneath the vest. Meizuo, on the other hand, was matching my sky blue dress. The two both had looked towards me in astonishment. I looked directly to Meizuo to see he was blown away by my appearance. Both Ximen and Meizuo made their way over to me while the other three people in the room watched.

"This is for you," Ximen spoke as he handed me a bouquet of tulips and I thanked him carefully for taking them from him. "You look beautiful Faye." I smiled at my best friend before Meizuo took a step forward and Ximen allowed him to stand before me.

"Faye," Meizuo spoke breathlessly. I must be blushing from his kind gesture and attention he has been giving me today. "You look so beautiful. I'm not sure how that's possible when you're already so pretty."

"Thank you Meizuo," I smile up at him and he smiles as he reaches into his tux pocket to pull out a large white flat square box that has the word Pandora on it. I looked up to him feeling my heart swell. "Meizuo..." I spoke lightly. I wouldn't have thought he would have given me a gift like this. He opened the box and there was a beautiful shining leaf pendant.

"Meizuo..." I spoke softly feeling this was too much.

"Ximen helped me pick this out for you," Meizuo said gently. "We thought we could give you something from the both of us."

"Thank you," I say, feeling happy. I reached for both of them and pulled them in for a hug. Both Ximen and Meizuo wrapped their arms around me. We could hear awes sounding from Shancai. Once we pulled apart and my eyes landed on Lei. He walked over to us and I noticed Jing looking towards him.

"Lei..." Jing spoke lightly and he looked towards her as he approached me. I looked to Meizuo to see him frowning towards Lei. Lei looked towards me now. His expression was calm giving nothing away.

"You look very pretty tonight Faye," he spoke lightly. "I hope you have a great time on your date." Mixed signals were coursing through my body as he walked away and out of the living room.

"Are you alright Faye?" Ximen asked. I looked towards him and gave him a faint smile before nodding.

"Meizuo?" I asked lightly. He hummed in response waiting for me to ask him my question. "Can you put the necklace on me?"

"No problem," Meizuo smiled and I turned around 180 degrees.

"I can hold your things for you," Jing spoke and walked towards me to take the bouquet and my clutch from me. I thanked her and carefully lifted my hair. I glanced at the loose curls I made. Ximen walked over to my view and I noticed him taking his phone out. I think he was taking pictures and he smiled at the screen as he pointed his phone towards Meizuo and I. The view of my newly owned gold leaf pendant came to view and was placed around me as I felt Meizuo's fingers touch my bare neck. I shivered slightly and smiled as I patiently waited.

"There..." Meizuo said more to himself and I turned around to look at him. He was already looking at me with a smile. I looked towards the necklace and gently reached for it to see its beauty.

"I love it," I spoke. "Thank Meizuo." I looked over to Ximen. "Thank you Ximen." He nods before speaking.

"Before you go," Jing spoke. "We need pictures of the three of you."

"Yes!" Shancai beamed. "You three look so elegant."

"Thank you Shancai," Ximen said. Meizuo reached for his pocket and took out his phone to hand to Jing. The three of us stood close to each other with me in the middle. I smiled at the camera until she nodded as she had taken them. It was both Ximen and Meizuo who wanted individual pictures with me. First it was Ximen who and Meizuo stood next to Shancai.

My best best friend looked over to me and I looked over to him smiling, because he looked amazing in his tux. It felt great to have him in front me. Once Ximen and I had our pictures taken, Meizuo came over to me. His smile was genuine and he held out his hand. I smiled shyly and reached for his hand. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed my hand, making me blush. We both turned towards the camera. Meizuo wrapped his arms around my waist and I smiled at the camera.

"You guys are so cute," Ximen smiled fondly at the two of us. "My closest friends are so good looking." I broke into a laugh and I heard Meizuo chuckle. Jing finished taking pictures and she handed Meizuo back his phone.

"You three enjoy your date," Jing smiled before Ximen led both Meizuo and I out the front door. I noticed a car parked in the driveway. It was Meizuo who opened the passenger door for me and Ximen went into the driver's seat. Meizuo shut my door gently before getting in from behind.

"Where are we eating?" Ximen started the car and I put my seatbelt on.

"Meizuo picked out a very excellent restaurant," Ximen spoke. "I believe we have the balcony view." I smiled as I leaned against the headrest and looked out towards the window. It wasn't long until Meizuo and Ximen went over the plans for our night.

"I remember when Ximen and I were younger, he would push me on the swings and buy me ice cream every Friday," She smiled remembering the memory. Faye talking about memories with Ximen from our childhood seemed quite interesting and all of the pieces were beginning to fit together.

"She would sleep over at my house every thursday and we would go to school together," Ximen explained to me and I smiled at the two. It was fun to relive some of Ximen and Fayes time together. It made sense why Ximen never hung out with the guys on Thursday night or why he would never answer his calls from time to time. It was due to him spending time with Faye and he gave her all the attention, because they spent little time at school and during the other days of the week he would be with us.

Learning about Faye, I wish I could have met her when we were younger. Ximen's description of Faye reminded me of Lei, except she's a girl. It turned out she was a very sensitive person and she was very quiet. She was very shy. Faye liked to read as a kid and she was always practicing her violin instead of playing with other kids besides Ximen. When Ximen wasn't with us he would sit with Faye on the swings or in the practice room with her. When we were older they would hang out at the one cafe they mentioned going to once a week and sometimes study there.

"Ximen went to all of my performances and competitions." Ximen pulled out his phone and showed me a picture. I immediately recognized fourteen year old Ximen dressed in his suit and tux. He had his arm wrapped around I assumed Faye. I blinked a few times realizing she was unrecognizable to what she looked like now. Faye had bangs and her hair length was a lot longer than what she had now and she wore glasses that looked like they were a bit too big. Here she smiled at Ximen. She held her violin and bow in one hand and her arm around Ximen's waist.

"You two were so adorable," I commented as I examined the picture. I looked to the side to look at the date this was taken.

"We're not adorable now?" I looked up to Ximen and Faye. Faye laughed lightly as she took a sip of her wine. So far she seemed to be having a good time.

"Faye is still adorable," I smiled and looked over to her. She smiled at me before shyly looking down at her now empty plate. "You look very cute today Faye." I heard a cough from Ximen as he placed his glass back on the table. Ximen is confused about what I was doing referring to his request.

"She looks cute everyday Meizuo," Ximen spoke slowly before turning to her. "I meant to ask... how is ma doing?" I frowned slightly wondering what he was talking about. Faye moved uncomfortably in her seat at the mention of her mother.

"She's... doing alright. She hasn't been getting any better though," she answered lightly. "She misses you."

"I'll come visit soon." Faye nods and I looked between the two with the sudden change in mood. Faye looked towards me and realized I had no idea what I was talking about.

"My mom had Ataxia telangiectasia," Faye explained lightly. I wasn't familiar with the term and Ximen knew I had no idea. He gave me a look telling me he would tell me about it before turning his attention to Faye. I noticed the mention of her mom sadden her. I looked over to the musicians sitting in their seats waiting to play. The lead musician looked towards me and I nodded as they prepared to place. The sound of the cello, violin, cello, and bass played as a distant background music. Faye turned slightly and I put my napkin onto the table and stood up.

As she turned away from the musicians playing, she turned towards the table where she found me standing. I held my hand out to her and she smiled. Her smile did not quite reach her eyes knowing she was thinking about her mother.

"Will you dance with me Faye?" I asked softly and she nodded before reaching for my hand and stood. I led her to the center of the balcony and gently placed my hands onto her waist. Her arms reached up to wrap around my neck. We began swaying back and forth to the music and I noticed her beginning to relax as I brought her back to the time we were having together.

"You look very handsome tonight Zuo," she spoke lightly and I smiled at the nickname she called me.

"Zuo, huh?" If it were any other girl, I wouldn't allow them to call me anything, but Meizuo. With Faye on the other hand, the way she called me Zuo brought a calming and comforting feeling towards me. Her cheeks formed a blushing color. "I like it Faye. I'll come up with one for you soon. And thank you," I reminded myself she commented on how I appeared tonight. "You look very pretty tonight. I'm glad I get to witness you dressed up tonight."

"Is that okay to call you... Zuo?" She asked with uncertainty. I smiled down at her and nodded.

"I love it Faye. It can be our thing." I reached down and kissed her head. I knew I wasn't going to hear the end of it from Ximen later, but in this moment I wanted to show Faye what it was like to have the affection she deserved. She leaned her head against my shoulder. My head was placed beside her head. "Faye?" She hummed in a response waiting for me to speak. "When we get back, will you go on a date with me? Just the two of us?" She pulled away and looked up towards me. She looked calm now and she smiled at me.

"I'd like that. I look forward to our next date." Her saying this made my heart light. It made me content. An idea has already formed in my head. I felt a tap to my shoulder and Faye looked beside me. We pulled away to see Ximen standing there.

"Can I dance with Faye?" I nod as I pull away from Faye. Ximen took my spot as I went back to the table and asked for the check. I knew we would be leaving soon to head back. We would take a stroll on the beach with her before heading back to the house. I took a seat at my chair and watched both of my best friends swaying back and forth.