Chapter Two

(Present)

"Vince left his cell on the kitchen counter last night and, while I was doing dishes, it rang," Letty looked over at Mia waiting for her to finish the sentence. They were standing at the diner's counter, Letty had been sent there to get lunch for everyone. "It was Brooke."

"Wow, really?" Letty sipped her water. Mia nodded sadly while fixing the food. "That explains why he's in such a pissy mood today." Letty stated, thinking about how Vince and Brooke were great together but, after she left, he became more mean and bitter than he was before her. Before Brooke, he had bitter tendencies but, he was still a fun person to hang around with. Now-a-days, it was only a few rare occasions that the old Vince was back.

(Past)

"Hey Mia," He stood in her doorway while Mia leaned over her textbooks. She looked up at him, silently telling him to continue. "Is there any way to find out where someone's dorm is?" She wondered who he could be looking for.

"Well, I think the dorm has a roster or something, I could probably find the room their in. Who are you looking for?"

"Her name is Brooke Connelly." Mia rolled her eyes; he was going to have her find one of his whores for him? "Just slip this under her door." Vince crouched over her desk and grabbed a pen and piece of paper from her notebook. He scribbled something down before doing to the doorway. "Thanks Mia, I owe you." Then he was gone. Mia looked down at the note: 'Brooke, 11pm Friday 3934 Davison Street. Be there—Vince.'

That Monday, after her class, she went to the building that held the dorms and sure enough, she found which room Brooke stayed in so she slipped the note under her door and walked away. Later that day when she stopped by the garage, she found Vince under the hood of some random car.

"Hey Vince, I slipped that note under her door for you."

"Cool thanks, what do I owe you?" He hoped that she didn't make him do something stupid. Knowing Mia, she'd probably want something big out of it.

"Put the graphics on my car please." She said hopefully. The graphics had been at the house for weeks but everyone was always busy; she was even too busy to do it because working and college was taking up most of her time.

"Okay, I think I can do that." He didn't bother looking up from the engine he was working on.

That Friday, Brooke was checking herself in the mirror where Vince's note was taped on. She was surprised to find it when she got home from class on Monday and she had been curious all week as to how he found her. Walking over to the bed, she slipped on her white, halter beach dress and some aqua blue beads; she kept it casual. Slipping on her flip flops, she left the dorms around quarter too eleven.

Vince tried to stop himself from watching the door. The chances of her showing were pretty slim but, he was hopeful. It was already ten after eleven and he was getting anxious. Was she going to show? Did Mia even find the right room?

"Hey Vince." He looked over at the racer chaser who was standing there, with barely any clothes on, her eyes filled with fake lust.

"Not now Mandy." He rolled his eyes and walked away towards the porch. He passed Letty on the way to the door.

"What's up Letty girl?" He pushed her; she was tough but petite so she went flying. When she was grounded, she slugged him in the arm, laughed then returned back to the party. The cool night air hit his face as he found his way onto the porch steps. It wasn't very quiet though because the door was left open, to cool down the house from all the bodies inside.

After sitting outside for a few minutes, her small frame creep around one of the cars in the driveway; his smile instantly appeared at the sight of her. She wasn't his type at all but, she fascinated him. The only thing he came up with was she was just a normal California beach girl; one of the few who didn't have a snotty attitude. He found her choice of clothing adorable. Brooke smiled at him as she made her way closer.

"Parking was a bitch." She laughed quietly, sitting down next to him on the steps. "So what's up? How'd you find me?"

"Let's just say I have people on the inside." She laughed and shook her head. "I'm surprised you made it." He glanced at her.

Brooke just shrugged. "It was this or studying."

"Don't fail college on account of me." Vince teased. Brooke giggled and elbowed him in the arm. "What are you in for anyways?" She couldn't help but snort; he made it seem like she was in prison. Maybe college was prison to him. Brooke disagreed, sure it could get boring but, she was doing what she loved and when she graduated, it wouldn't be the end, it was only just the beginning for her. She smiled to herself at the thought.

"Art history…photography…" He took note of the way her eyes shined while saying this. Her knee bobbed slightly as she leaned against the railing. "What about you? What do you do when you're not attending these wonderful festivities?"

"I work, hang out…" He shrugged. She squinted her eyes in disbelief.

"…and that's it? Really?" She trailed on waiting for him to finish the sentence.

"I don't really do much; just hang out with my friends. We all live together."

"Well look at big ol' boring Vince." She giggled and ruffled his hair.

"You want something to drink?" Vince asked finishing off his beer. She looked behind her at the open door and shook his head; her face showed agony at the thought of going in there. Vince chuckled and stood; gripping her wrist, he dragged her around the side of the house.

"Is this the part where I'm never seen again?" Her voice sounded innocent yet it dripped with sarcasm. Vince laughed quietly and walked up the back porch steps and into the kitchen. He grabbed out a soda and held it out to her. "You sure act like you own the place."

"I live here." He stated.

"Really?" Vince nodded and walked over to the doorway; surveying the scene playing in front of him. The house was full of bodies moving to the music, being loud and rambunctious. Brooke sipped her drink, watching him. Who was Vince? She was so used to the loud surfers with prettier hair than her. Vince was a complete mystery and that fascinated her; her gut told her that there was so much more to him than what he gave off.

He finally turned back around. "You wanna leave?" She panicked for a second. Did it come off like she was bored?

"No I'm fine."

"We have a party every week; I'm not going to miss it." He chuckled down at her; he had moved closer to her so he could hear her over the music. Compared to his large frame, she seemed like a small child, short and slender. He mused in his mind that she definitely wasn't a child because children didn't have a body like hers.

"Okay then, where are we going?" He shrugged and walked outside without another word leaving her with another mystery. She couldn't help herself; the chemistry and attraction was just too much. So she followed him.