I gracefully sat in a booth in the back, so our conversations could be more discreet.

For some reason he seemed a little nervous, I mean of course he was trying to hide it by making jokes and guarding his face but I knew he didn't really want to bring up why he texted for me.

Although I was all in for some more information about him, I couldn't help but feel slightly sad that he wasn't really enjoying his time with me.

Which is fine. I'm fine.

After all, he was the one who called for me instead of some other chick...Right?

"Hi kids, my name is Marie, I'll be your waiter today. Can I start you off with some refreshments?" The nice woman asked after we both settled in.

I looked at the drinks menu and decided to order a kiwi-kale smoothie, which to me, sounded amazing.

Bryson, on the other hand, only ordered a soda, which was really boring of him.

I liked to splurge on the juices instead of just sticking to one drink.

After the waitress left us to think about our food, I looked towards Bryce who sat across from me and smirked at him.

At first he didn't notice, then his eyes peered up then down, then back up again and asked,"What? "

"Coke, seriously? "

He looked at me confused, "What's wrong with Coke?"

"Soda is the most boring thing to order besides fountain water."

"Leave me alone." He smiled, which made me smile as well.

"You should exchange it for something else."

"Like what? A Kiwi and Kale smoothie? No thank you."

I scoffed," I think it's delicious."

"To you. I don't like that healthy crap, I prefer milkshakes with oreos, and lots of whip cream."

I rolled my eyes," Boys. They can eat whatever they want and never gain a pound."

He looked at me. "I'm fat. I'm not that toned." He clearly joked.

"You are not fat." I argued.

He grinned, "You're right I'm not." He lifted up his shirt and revealed his visible abs. "That's why I got this six pack here."

My eyes stayed glued to his abs, but then I remembered that I had to look away, or else he'll tease me about it non-stop. So I tore my eyes away and hoped my blush wasn't visible.

"Are you kids ready to order?" The waiter asked us.

"Shit." I cursed quietly. "No, I'm sorry, can you give us a few more minutes?"

She smiled, "Yes of course."

After she walked away, Bryson kept staring at me grinning amused.

"What?" I asked as I looked at the food menu.

"We would be eating right now if you hadn't teased me about my basic drink tastes."

"Oh please, you need major help on expanding your drink preferences."

"No I do not."

"Well I'm ready to order, are you?" I smiled sweetly.

"Yes. I've been ready."

"Great. Let's order."

■■■■■■■■■■■■

After waiting a few minutes for our food, I couldn't decide whether to bring up why he wanted to talk to me or just ignore it until he brings it up.

"So..." I started, not looking at him, but at my lap.

"So." He replied casualy.

"What is this, like our second or third date? " I say avoiding to talk about the real reason I started a conversation.

"You consider this and our other events dates?" He smirks, amused now.

I bit my lip, regretting why I said that.

"Are they not?" I asked when our food was suddenly served to us.

Everything looked amazing.

I took a sip from my smoothie and it tasted so good, the kiwi out tasted the kale.

"You like it?" He asks, taking a bite of his burger.

"Hell yeah, it tastes incredible."

He shook his head murmuring, "Weirdo." As if I wouldn't hear his insult.

"So." I start again.

He looks at me confused,"So?"

I cleared my throat, preparing myself to ask.

"So, why did you need me ? Or, let me rephrase that for you, why did you want to see me?"

He didn't meet my eyes, he only stared down and shrugged.

"That's not an answer." I argued.

He looked around us, as if someone was hearing our conversation. "Not now." He says. "I'll tell you when we're on that hill where I first took you," A huge grin suddenly appeared on his face replacing his worried one. "Where you thought I was gonna, murder you."

I chuckled at the memory, it seemed pretty long ago to me.

"Right. I'm sorry about that. That was so embarrassing of me to do."

I thought back to that moment, and I can't believe I showed my face after that.

I was still embarrassed just thinking about it.

"I can't believe you did that, like you actually ran. I've never seen a girl run in heels. That was really cool to witness, who knew the running star can run in other kinds of shoes."

I blushed. I only freaked out. I didn't know him that well at the time, and it's not like I know him now, but I at least trust him that he wouldn't hurt me.

"I spent days trying to clean my heels, they're pretty ruined, but tolerable. It was your fault for not telling me where we were going."

"Oh please, how was I supposed to know you wore heels."

"You could've told me to change shoes once you saw me." I argued, then took a bite of my cheeseburger.

"You looked hot though." He shrugged.

I looked at him wide eyed, then slowly looked down at my food.

My friends always called me, hot, pretty, sexy...But no boy has actually called me it.

I didn't know what to say. I suddenly felt warm, giddy.

He called me hot!

"I'm sorry everything else was ruined though."

I looked at him confused, then remembered the two guys who were chasing us, or him, I should say.

"If you don't mind me asking, who were those guys?" I carefully looked up to see how my question affected him, but he looked distant.

Did he even hear my question?

I looked back down and took another bite of my burger with some fries. Even though my stomach wasn't hungry anymore, I felt that it was less awkward to actually finish eating.

"Koleen, my past isn't the greatest." He only said.

"Who's isn't?" I asked, thinking back to all the bullying I went through.

"If I told you, I'm afraid that you'll think less of me..." He met my eyes, and while mine were curious, his were sad.

In the back of my mind, I knew that maybe I should wait for him to tell me everything when he's ready, but right now, I just wanted to get a glimpse of who I was falling for.

"Bryson," My voice felt dry, my hands were feeling clammy, " I won't think less of you, it's in the past for a reason. You can tell me anything. We're friends."

The word felt so icy and hot at the same time.

I mean we were friends right?

Friends who kissed one time.

Friends who slow danced.

Friends who-

Nope. Just friends.

"Right." He only says. "Well long story short, when I ran away from home after finding out my mom banished..."

I looked up into his eyes. I could tell the word pained him. I've never heard him mention his mom before.

Ofcourse I wanted to ask about her, but I feel like it wasn't my place to do it...yet.

"I was living in the streets for a while. I then heard of a house that offered good paying jobs, so I took shelter in the Barbie house which was basically a stripper house. They were the guys who'd bring girls in for the boss Mr.Simney."

"But why did he call you sexgod?" I asked curiously, slurping on my smoothie.

He sighed. " I guess it's better to tell you now than never." He slicked his hair back nervously then rested it on the table. "It's just a nickname I got from being there. When I lived in the house, I would..." He trailed off, not wanting to finish his sentence. "You see, Mr.Simney doesn't let non employees live in his house, so I had to repay him somehow for him to actually take me in...In order for me to live under his roof he had to earn some kind of profit in return..."

I nodded my head then took a bite of my burger, not sure where this was going.

"So I had to steal ..." He met my eyes for a moment then looked down in shame.

My mouth hung wide open with bits of burger in it.

"Steal what?" I ask curiously.

His hands moved frantically as he spoke, trying to prove a point. "It was the only way to keep me from living on the streets. I had to steal from the girls working there, and other women I'd see around the streets. I knew it was wrong, but I didn't want to go back to a home without a mom. She was everything to me." He says, his voice on edge.

I was shocked.

My head and heart were conflicted.

I didn't know he was a thief?!

"Um..." My voice barely a whisper.

I didn't know what to say, all I wanted to do was leave.

"Koleen you said you won't think less of me." He stammered, his brown eyes full of worry.

They looked like a puppies eyes, wanting it's owner to not be ashamed of them for biting their favorite shoe.

My eyebrows furrowed. "Why? They could've needed the money?!"

"I know that, but it was the only way for me to not live in the streets." Both his hands were on the table, he tried reaching for mine but I pulled away. "ThunderThighs."

"I think I just need time to process it all."

"Koleen, please let me explain the whole story. I'll tell you everything, just please, don't walk away from me." His chocolate brown eyes were glassy.

Oh fuck. Was the last thing I thought as I finally gave in.

My head told me it wasn't right to listen to someone explain his wrong doing, but my heart kept yelling at me to hear him out, because there might just be some reasoning.

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