#3

HER POV

It is a rainy day in Los Angeles and I'm loving it. The petrichor high in the air mixed with the bittersweet aroma of the cocoa in the small café makes it all the more heavenly. The fourth day of our trip, i.e. today, we had planned on going to Hollywood and be a proper tourist. But Stu and I changed it after hearing the little pitter-patter in the morning. We decided it is going to be another chill day.

In the morning at around 8 I woke up and woke Stuti up as well. We showered, dried our hair, moisturized, and Stu applied kohl accompanied by lip gloss on her lips. We bought two umbrellas for precaution, although one would've sufficed.

If you can't tell by now, I love rain. Absolutely adore it. So even after buying the rain protection for myself, I soaked in the downpour outside.

We were on a search of something cosy, when we found this little café. Little Pete's is the name and it has very cute decor inside. Wooden flooring, instagrammable quotes on the walls, aesthetic furniture etc etc. You get the gist. We found a corner space for ourselves to occupy. I ordered a cappuccino, plain and simple, and Stu ordered some jasmine tea. We also asked for a chocolate-hazelnut pastry, two cream-filled croissants, two chocolate chip cookies, and a cookie dough ice cream.

The breakfast is scrumptious. Wow! It was a divine experience for anyone with a sweet tooth and I happen to have a big one. Stu is definitely hyper on a sugar rush now.

We pay and leave. We call an Uber for Disneyland.

°°°°°

The whole day we walked, got on rides, ate food, drank lots and lots of coffee, bought a few souvenirs and gifts, and now we are fucking dog-tired.

We ate everything we found interesting from Bavarian pretzels to fried chicken dinner to dole whip to grilled cheese and tomato basil soup to margarita pizza to s'mores.

The fried chicken dinner was for Stu. And everything else basically catered to my needs. Hehe!

Returning to our hotel, we were just outside paying for the Uber ride. Actually Stu was paying. I just stood there, observing our surroundings as I usually do.

In front of my watchful eyes, a very sexy McLaren, a matte black one, stopped. Oh! My! Freaking! God! I just had a mini heart attack just from looking at this car. Watching cars in movies and actually getting to see them in real life, it's a different fucking feeling altogether!

This car is just my taste, and it's so freaking sexy!

I start to rapidly yet lightly slap Stuti's arm. I have a thing for cars like this one.

And then the door opened. One leg out. Half upper body out. Sunglasses on. Beautifully styled hair. Dark grey, probably Armani suit, on. And a face sculpted by the gods.

And a throng of crazy girls shouting at this fine piece of ass to give them attention.

It was a similar scene to the one at that club we went to. Wow! He must be someone famous.

Of course he must be famous. You're stupid! Let's all welcome back my conscience.

I averted my gaze to Stuti now. She was finally done paying after an eternity. And the Uber driver was still here. I looked at him. And not so fortunately, this is the second person I've seen in four days time, to have this look of utter fear on their face.

I looked at the handsome man again.

Hmm.....

I don't know if it's th-

And then....dramatic pause.... He looked at me. I mean his face was towards me. He still had his sunglasses on so I don't know if he was actually looking at me.

But, I'm not taking any chances right now. I turn, and find Stuti also looking where I had been only seconds ago.

I then turn again, this time towards the driver.

"Who is he?" Was a simple question I asked. Or so I thought.

The cab driver gulped. His adam's apple going up then down. And then in a shaky voice he spoke, "he's just a businessman."

That sentence in itself plus the driver's wavering tone, made me all the more suspicious.

"Stuti let's go."

She gave me a quizzical look but didn't say anything. She shrugged and went ahead towards the entrance of our hotel.

Tap!

Oh shit!! Not again!! Not like that club night again! That was so freaking weird. I don't want to experience anything like that again!

'So many exclamations. Hehe.'

'Shut up conscience. I don't need you right now.'

Tap!

Ughh!

"Wha-"

A pair of sunglasses come off. Like they do in commercials. With a hot and sexy guy showing his body off. A douchey smirk on the face.

I'm frozen right now. I don't know what to say. Because... The one who tapped me, is the FREAKING businessman, who seems to SCARE OFF every-fucking-body!!!

"Hi!"

Charming smile, straight, pearly, white teeth, gorgeous blue eyes, perfect skin, no blemishes, a few smile lines along his eyes. Wow! That's a fine piece of-

A subtle push on my arm stops my inner thoughts. I glare at Stuti my eyes asking the question of what. My posture tense. My hands in loose fists. My jaw slightly clenched.

Did she NOT hear the hesitation in that cab driver's tone?? How am I friends with her cute but dim self?

Seeing as I was not going respond, Stuti took it in her own hands to do the same.

"Hi!" She's way too over excited.

I give a look to the handsome man, grab Stu's arm and drag her inside the hotel. Turning around to give another 'look' to the guy, I find my spine and body producing a fucking shiver again. I do not know if it's good or bad or what. But I certainly do not like it.

This day couldn't have ended any worse than this.

Ughh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel like pulling my hair out of my head.

I have my doubts on who that man was. I think it was that club-drink-offering-guy. I don't even know if I'm making sense right now.

"Yo?!"

Slowly moving my head to the left, I look at Stu. Sigh!

"What?"

"You were frozen when that man came to talk to you. Wanna explain?"

"Stuti seriously? Did you not pay attention to me talking when I asked the cab driver who that man was?"

She gives me a confused look. "No?"

I roll my eyes at her. "Let's just go to sleep? I'm exhausted and I'm sure you are too. I don't wanna talk about this shit now. We'll talk in the morn."

It was her turn to sigh. "Ok. Good night."

"Good nightzie."

°°°°°

The next morning, I was awoken to loud music. Again!!

I get up and instantly my idiotic mind reminds me yesterday's night.

'You stupid fucker. Let me at least get up in the morning peacefully.'

'Not gonna happen! Muah!'

My conscience evilly smirked at me. Really? Is everybody else not enough? My own conscience is against me. Fuck it!

"Stuti."

"STuTi."

"STUTI!!"

I finally shouted at her. She stops her prancing and looks at me.

I am so annoyed at her. She makes a bewildered expression and gestures a 'what' with her hands.

"Don't you get tired of this? Why do you keep torturing me with this loudness in the morning?"

"Tell me about last night. Why were you acting so odd?"

"Can we not start right now? Let me freshen up first."

Eye roll from her and I'm on my way to the bathroom.

°°°°°

"Hey, come on out. Breakfast's here. And it's gonna get cold. Get out."

"Coming."

I get out of my unnecessarily long shower and my eyes literally fall out of the sockets.

"Wait. Hold up. Why did you, may I ask, order so much food Stuti?"

"I thought you ordered it."

Confusion.

"Well if we both didn't order it, then WHO THE FUCK DID?"

A little preface, if you didn't already notice, I lose my temper real fast. And over very little things. I know. I know. I need to work on it. Eye roll.

"Wait." I eye the food with a doubtful eye. Could it be?? Could it be, that, that man had a hand in this?

No, no. That's not possible. I'm sure it's a misunderstanding on the part of the staff. We'll just clear it out downstairs at the reception when we're on our way out to explore.

It's no big deal.

'You know you should believe your gut feeling. You know you will regret not accepting it.'

My conscience is such a bitch. I hate her.

°°°°°

We were roaming the famous streets of Los Angeles when I remembered, "We forgot to sort the breakfast issue."

"We'll do it when we return. The food was flavoursome by the way. I felt like eating the plate with it too." She exclaimed.

"Yea it was. But I'm still apprehensive on who send it or how it ended in our room." I made my thinking face. Which is a raised eyebrow and straight mouth.

"So, I thought of something. Please don't deny it. Please. Please. Please. Promise me that you won't get angry and that you agree to go with me." She's making the damn puppy face.

"First tell me." I replied with a passive face.

"I was thinking that it is only 8 at night. We require dinner to fill our bellies. And then after that going back to the hotel will be a waste of time and money. We spent so much effort on making this visit happen. We can't let it go to waste. So, I was thinking that weshouldgotoanotherclub."

She said the last part so fast I wasn't able to understand a single syllable.

"Can you repeat the last line again Stu?" I asked confuzzled.

"We should go to another....club." she said very cautiously. Looking for my reaction.

"Sure." I agreed easily. I won't be scared of going to the club because of one little incident.

"Seriously?!?! So easily?!?! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much!!!!" She's so thrilled. I'm sure everyone on the street thinks she needs help. I chuckle at my thoughts.

"Yes now let's go eat. I'm hungry."

°°°°°

Food was fan-fucking-tastic! So flavourous. And the dessert..... I can't even describe how good it was. I definitely moaned after eating it. It was finger licking good!

We found another 'happening' club in the neighborhood. This one is called 'SUGAR PLUM'.

Such an odd name for a club, I know. It was quarter to ten when we reached the club. It was jam packed too. But luckily the queue here was smaller than the one in front of the other club we went to.

We enter the club and again Stu just shoots off for the bar. As for me, I'm surveying my surroundings. Once again. It's a habit of mine. I just can't stop doing it. And letting loose in a crowded place is difficult for me. Plus, I have to take care of Stuti. She'll be drinking and I'm responsible for keeping her safe.

She ordered some shots for herself. Finishing them with lightning speed, she was once again folks, off to dance.

I sat there at the bar and ordered soda for myself. Again, I'm not really interested in mingling with anyone. That's just how I am. Reserved. Cautious. Introvert.

I feel someone sliding beside me on a barstool. I glance at the person, curse and turn my face away.

WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. FUCK!

Why the fuck is this person here? Is he stalking me? But why? What th-

I can't wrap my head around this bullshit happening right now. Where is St-

"Hi!" The man beside me gives a charming smile with a perfect smile and blue eyes gleaming in the dark.

I stare at his handsome face for a second and turn away. Like I said, not interested in socializing.

"Ouch! I'm hurt. I don't really get rejected like this often." He opens his freaking mouth again.

"I. Am. Not. Interested." I speak kind of angry. I mean can this guy not take a hint? I'm clearly not riveted by him.

Something flashes in his face and his smile drops. But then, he schools his expressions and with a roguish grin speaks. Again!

"What's your name baby? I'm Damiano." Again with the talking.

"None of your fucking business."

Now I know what you all might be thinking, that's rude and unnecessary. But I don't really want to entertain him at this moment. Even if he's a stunning specimen with a very addicting cologne.

"Now that was rude an-"

He was going to say something but stopped when someone behind came barreling into me with elation.

"Hey, come with me Meddie. It's so fun here. Come dance with me."

Her excitement and enthusiasm gradually dropped down as the sentence went on. She looked between me and that man. Raising her eyebrows. Giving me the questioning look. On the other hand, I was really fucking vexed at the fucking moment. She just told him my name. I gave her an exasperated look. She immediately shut her still open mouth and went into serious mode.

"Ooh nice name Meddie." He spoke.

OH MY FREAKING GOD! HE'S GETTING ON MY FUCKING NERVES!

I gave him a 'shut the fuck up' look.

"Stu let's go. We're leaving. That's enough fun for tonight. I'm tired." I spoke rapidly and started getting up.

"Don't ignore me like I'm not sitting just behind you. I only wanted to make conversation with you. I've been a gentleman uptil now. And this hard to get act of yours is pissing me off now. So put a stopper on it and sit the fuck down."

He had a hold on my wrist and the last few words came out from a clenched jaw. His eyes daring me to disobey him. Twinkling with something devilish.

I shrug his hold from my wrist and stand up, facing him. My face was contorted in an angry and irritated guise.

SLAP!

His face turned to the other side. The sound reaching to all the nearby ears.

Everyone near us turned to witness what just occurred. Their faces carried a variety of reactions to my action. Some faces were fearful. Some ashtonished. Some confused. And then, he turned his face back towards me. His face changing from charming to pure evil. Eyebrows furrowed in anger, nostrils flared, mouth a flat line, and his eyes....so much rage in his beautiful blue eyes. Like an oncoming storm.

"I'm done playing the good guy. Now you face consequences for you insolent actions." He gave me the evil smirk and got up and left.

I was so frustrated, I didn't look back or say anything, I just stormed out of the club. I didn't wait to see if Stuti was following behind. I call an Uber, and reach the hotel within 20 minutes. Getting to my floor, I lay on the bed and am out in a flash.

That, my friends, was my second mistake of the night.

My first one being, slapping that man in front of so many people.

But I didn't know it at that time and slept like a baby, without any worries. I'm such a bad friend. I'm ashamed at myself. I shouldn't have let anger consume me so much that I forgot about Stuti.