Shauna

From previous chapter...

"I'm tired of being a heartbreaker," I confessed.

He jerked back a little. "Wow, you've got to be joking."

"No, I'm not. It's really hard to break up with someone who likes you even after all the idiotic things you do in the relationship. I'm always, and I mean always, the one who calls it off. I just hate disappointing guy after guy."

"You hardly look like someone who is 'disappointing'," he acknowledged.

"Believe me, I do disappoint. I always end up being the friend without the benefits or the girl that is too good to take home to mom and dad. I don't subject myself to being the one night stand or even the hopeless romantic that waits around for Mr. Right. Instead I'm the one who breaks them and to be honest, it really sucks."

"It's sucks more than being dumped?"

"I wouldn't know. I've never been dumped."

Zeke spat out his beer and I watched it dribble down his chin for a brief moment before he coughed and wiped it away. He stared back at me as if waiting for me to say that I was joking.

"You're serious?"

I nodded.

"Come on, everyone has been dumped. In high school, I was the king of getting dumped." He smiled and pointed to himself. "Then I turned things around in college and majored in being the 'dumper'."

I rolled my eyes. "Sounds like you have a whole lot to offer women."

"See you can make a joke too," he pointed at me before drinking some beer. "I can't believe it," he said after a while. "You're telling me that no man has ever broken up with you?"

"Wow," I reached over and nudged him, "Are you saying that you believe I'm 'dump-able'? A moment ago you were saying that it seemed impossible but now..."

"You misunderstood," he waved his hand. "What I meant is that everyone has been the recipient of a broken heart. Even you included should have at least one guy out there who told you 'no' to commitment, taking the relationship to the next level or something along those lines."

I shook my head. "I've always been the one to be one step ahead of the game, so to speak. My cousin Tori always told me to be one up on the men, to never give in, to never fall for the charm or the lies," I stated. "So I've always ended things, not just for the sake of being the one to break up first but because there's nothing to keep me. I end up regretting the whole thing before it even gets serious."

"Call the scientist, I think I found the missing link on relationships," he turned around and pretended to shout.

"Oh be quiet," I shook my head and smiled. "It really is irritating and I do feel bad. There are those annoying phone calls from these guys, their friends, bosses, or parents. Some are sad, most are desperate and once in a while there are those who are downright angry. So you ask me why I'm not dancing with any guy or letting them buy me a drink or sit down with me," I pointed to his chair, "it's because there's no chance in it going anywhere."

"Why lead them on right," he played with his bottle before taking a long drink to finish it off.

"Exactly," I responded.

"I got an idea."

"What," I leaned a bit over to look at him intently.

Zeke

She is really pretty. Forget that, Shauna is beautiful, gorgeous, stunning, or any other word that could think of to sum up being attractive. The girl could literally be on Maxim's top 100 list. After talking to her I realized that she was also confident, independent, humorous and uncommonly courageous for being who she was and standing up for what she believed in.

Why this girl, strike that, woman was looking for a broken heart was beyond me but it seemed like such a pity to waste the beautiful face on being eternally sorrowful.

"I can break your heart," I offered.

Shauna ended up laughing and then paused when she noted my serious expression. "Oh you're not joking about it?"

"I'm being serious actually," I put my elbows up on the counter top of the table. "The timing couldn't be more perfect. I have to leave in a couple months. You see, I don't live here. I just came into Dauntless to be with my grandmother."

"Grandma's boy," she lifted an eyebrow.

"I was," I smiled sadly and then looked down. "She passed away almost a month ago now."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," she reached out and touched my hand causing me to look up at her.

"It's okay," I nodded and she pulled back. "My mother and Aunt went back home leaving my cousin and I to settle everything, the house and the bakery," I shifted my head from left to right. "That is the hardest part of it all and everywhere I go," I looked over at Edward at the bar, "I'm reminded of all the happy memories. Anyways, I got a job starting on September 1st and both my cousin and I are hoping to leave before then."

"You're only here for the Summer," she noted.

I nodded.

"Again, I'm really sorry about your grandmother. It was rude of me to make that 'grandma's boy' comment."

"Honestly, it's okay Shauna."

"I don't know if I can do that now," she sat back in her chair. "You just lost your grandmother. If I dump you..."

I smirked and reached over to kiss her cheek. "I thought I was the one who offered to break your heart."

"Just because you're leaving town," she questioned.

"Like I mentioned earlier, I don't live here and I don't know if I'm strong enough to stay here with all the memories lingering around. I have a new job waiting for me and yes, I would end up calling things off because I'm leaving town."

Shauna let out a small giggle. "Let me guess, you're going to drop the typical 'I don't do long distance relationships' line."

"Actually, I don't."

"Oh," she looked shocked, "Why not?"

"That's a long story that I will tell you when we're a couple weeks into our relationship. Perhaps one night while we're under the stars," I looked up at the ceiling as she smiled and shook her head. "We'll talk about our disappointing pasts and reassure each other how much better we are off right now."

She shook her head. "You're still on that? It sounds like such a ridiculous plan."

"I'm all about ridiculous," I smiled as she blushed.

"What if you change your mind and decide that you want to stay with me? Then I'll end up dumping you and that defeats the whole purpose of your proposal, doesn't it?"

"Nope, like I said I start a new job in the Fall and I'm not giving that up."

"Really?"

"Yes," I leaned closer and whispered into her ear, "really."

Shauna pulled away and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear shyly. "And if I get so annoyed with you before the couple months are up, that I have no choice but to dump you?"

"Won't happen," I disagreed. "I'm a great kisser."

"And apparently terribly arrogant," she nudged me playfully.

Without either of us noticing both of us were so close that I was able to whisper against her neck, "Trust me nothing is terrible about me."

Shauna turned and looked intrigued. Her body slowly leaned more into mine as she stared up at me. Just as I thought that things were heading somewhere and I was about to wrap my arm around her moving it away from the back of her chair, she stood up and gave me the bad news.

"Sorry but I guess I'll have to wonder about your 'terribleness'."

Shauna

I truly wanted to give him a small chance. Zeke definitely is handsome and funny but thinking back to the plan that he offered, it was obvious that something like that would only be thought about when we're in a bar filled with drunken people. I looked to the left and noticed that the clock read twenty minutes pass the time I told myself I would wait for Cara.

"I have to go anyways," I added.

He gave me a small pout. "Are you sure? About the offer that is," he clarified. "I've dumped quite a few girls in my life. I even made a few cry. I'd give you a brilliant break up, one to write a book about."

I couldn't help but laugh at him. "I'm sure you would. But thanks for the offer."

"It was worth a shot," he shrugged. "Good luck finding a guy to dump you in the future. Although," he stood out of his chair and came next to me, "I can't imagine anyone would want to. You seem like a great person, Shauna," he reached for my hand and kissed the inside part of my wrist, smiled and then let it go before he walked back over to the bar.

That was charming and sent a small shiver through my body. His lips gently touched my cheek and my wrist in the chastest way possible and it made me feel like I was in a heavenly place. No, I quickly shook my head. I had to stay one up on men. I had to get away before it all came to nothing.

I took out my phone to call Cara and let her know that I was leaving. She had beaten me to it though. There on my cell was a voicemail from her.

Did you get my earlier message? Oh my God, Shauna! Caleb and I are dating now! He wanted to officially make us a couple after he got the promotion but he wanted to be with me so much and...

My hand removed the phone away as she let out a small screech. This was so unlike Cara. Then again, she had been pining for Caleb for a while now.

He introduced me to his friend Uriah as his girlfriend, can you believe it? Uriah is in town for a couple months and I told him that I have a friend who is single. Hint, hint, I'm talking about you Miss Thing! You need to get out there. You need to start...

"Hey there sugar."

I put the phone down and looked at the guy with his plaid shirt half tucked out of his skinny jeans and smiling at me before he drank some of his beer.

"Fancy a dance," he wiggled his eyebrows.

"No thank you," I gave him a small smile and went to put my phone away and grab my keys.

Quickly a hand shut out and grabbed my forearm. "You think you're too good for us here," the guy's flirtatious smile was gone and replaced with a glare. "I have seen you turning down men all night. You're one of those girls that like to lead them on and then shut them down right? You probably get off on being a bitch to everyone."

Before I knew what I was doing, I turned my head to see Zeke by the bar eyeing out the situation. Apparently he knew the bartender who had motioned to someone who looked like a bouncer and was also observing the situation.

"That's my boyfriend," I pointed to Zeke. Upon seeing the guy turn to him, Zeke put on a smirk and nodded to the guy. "He doesn't really appreciate me dancing with other men and nor would he like them man handling me."

The guy quickly released me and wandered off. I rolled my eyes, let out a sigh and quickly motioned with my hands for Zeke to come over.

I could help but let out a giggle as he bumped into a chair trying to make his way over.

"Don't seem too eager Pedrad," called the bartender shaking his head.

"Look who is missing me now," Zeke said ignoring the mockery from the bar and focusing on me.

"If you're going to get cocky about this, then no I will not be missing you."

"So, what did you call me over for," he raised an eyebrow.

I looked a little past him and then back to his face. "That guy over there is under the impression that you are my boyfriend and it would look pretty awful if I didn't leave with you, so..."

"We are dating then," Zeke smirked and took a step closer.

"Actually, I just don't want you to get into a fight. He looks like he has a lot of friends with him and despite you somehow knowing that bartender over there; I highly doubt that the two of you will be able to defend yourselves against the likes of them."

"You don't know me very well then," he chuckled. "My friends and I have been known to get into quite a few tussles back in the day. But if my honey bunny wants to leave," he started to put an arm around me until I took a step back.

"Let's get a few things straight right now," I pointed at him. "First, I didn't agree wholeheartedly to your nonsensical plan. Second, we will go out one date at a time before we decide completely if we're going through with this. Third, there will be no hands around my shoulders right now or any 'goodnight kiss' until after our date which will not be tonight. And finally, there will be no weird pet names."

"I get no 'goodbye kiss'?"

I stared at him. Did he not hear what I just said?

"You said 'goodnight kiss'. A 'goodbye kiss' is something different." I rolled my eyes. "Come on pumpkin, I basically saved you from Tarzan back there."

I turned to walk away causing him to reach out and grab my wrist gently.

"Shauna, I'm sorry. That was a little presumptuous," his face softened. "Let me start over," he said softly standing a little closer.

I inhaled deeply as his body came to stand just a couple inches over mine.

"I look forward to earning that moment from you and hope that our first kiss will be memorable for me and for you," he stared deeply into my eyes. "What do you say to dinner tomorrow?"

My head shook a little to get that dreamy state he induced in me out of my mind. How is it that he can just switch from arrogant banter to charming sentiments at a drop of a dime was beyond me. He kept his soft expression on me as I opened my mouth to reply.

"That sounds great."

Zeke took out the phone from my hands slowly, never once leaving my eyes until he looked down at my phone. He put his phone number inside and then sent a text to himself so that he would have mine.

"Now, allow me walk you to your car," he handed the phone back and held his arm out. "My friend's girlfriend was attacked last year around the block. The guy who attacked her was let out a week or so ago."

"That's horrible," I looked at him as we walked to my car. "He attacked someone and they let him go?"

"That's another long story, something that perhaps I could tell you a month into our relationship," he smiled.

"You just couldn't help yourself, could you," I smiled back.

Zeke opened my car door after I pressed the alarm button to shut off and waited until I got in before he closed the door. "Goodnight, sweet Shauna," he said softly causing me to look at him. "I look forward to tomorrow."

He really knew how to lay it on thick but somewhere deep inside I was truly taken. I drove away and looked back down at my phone just to see a text.