Leo P.O.V

I was currently stuck walking the streets of New York because Jayden had decided it would just be absolutely hilarious if he abandoned me in the middle of central park.

"Dumb hunter ditching me in the middle of the city, the least he could have done was give me a map." I grumbled to myself. Morgan had switched out my armor in fvor of a black hoodie and a pair of jeans and combat boots. I walked over to a pond and looked down at the water seeing my dark blue eyes looking right back at me. My messy blonde needed to be cut again. I continued to walk around the park until I came upon a group of people taking pictures of a woman in an expansive looking dress. The woman in question was beautiful to say the least. She had dark skin and short black hair, not to mention an amazing body. She was wearing a white dress had a split down the middle of the dress stopping above her belly button, the dress served to accentuate her already impressive bust. The dress also had a slit going down the side showing off the womans toned legs. She was currently doing diffrent poses the camera man told her.

"That's perfect Mari, beautiful absolutely beautiful. Now I want you to give the camera your best shocked expression." The camera began to give her diffrent poses and expressions to do. As she walked I noticed something interesting, she was favouring one of her legs. It wasn't noticeable unless you were looking for it and knew what to look for, but after many years of war and combat I knew how to spot stuff. She made a quick turn allowing me to see more of her leg, I couldn't help but wince abit when I did. On her leg was large scar covered by alot of different kinds of makeup to make it less noticable, and what's more it looked fresh. At that point she finally noticed me staring at her leg. At the same time the camerman call out. "Try flirty!" She looked straight at me and flashed me a seductive smile and winked. My face burnt red at that. But apparently it also tipped off the fact that I was here to the cameraman. He turned to see what she was looking at and practically jumped in surprise letting out a not at all hi pitched shriek causing everyone else to jump and Mari to burst out laughing.

"What are you doing here this is a private photo shoot." The man said.

"Sorry my bad, It's a public park and you don't have any signs up saying the area is closed off, I figured I could watch." I said.

"Well it isn't you imbecile and that doesn't change the fact you are disctracting Mari. Now if you please take your bad fashion sense and leave that would just be great." The cameraman ordered in a very obnoxious way.

"I said I was sorry, you don't need to be a jerk about it." I said.

"I will have you know I am the highest rated photographer in the country and Miss McCabe was just elected this years top model, we don't have time for your stupid mistakes. Now leave or I will have security throw you out on your misbegotten ass." The man said lividly. I looked up at Mari and she had a look of shock and rage on her face, she clearly wasn't too happy with her cameraman. I was about to make a sharp retort when two men came up behind.

"Mr. Dillion we will take it from here." One guard said. "Come along sir." He said as he made a move to grab me. I simply brushed passed him not wishing to start a fight. As I walked away I could here the guards talking about me but I tuned them out. Around ten to fifteen minutes later I found myself sitting on a park bench alone but my loneliness didn't last long. I heard footsteps approaching me. I looked up and saw the same woman from before. Now wearing fagr more casual clothing.

"Listen I know you probably don't want to hear anything from me but I wanted to apologize for the photographs behavior." She said.

"I really don't care I've honestly heard far worse from people who can actually back up their words." I said waving off her concerns.

"Well I do care, he treated you terribly. I just wanted to make it up to you." She said.

"Fine, How bout we just move past this start over and actually introduce ourselves." I said.

"Sure. My name is Mari McCabe. And you are?" Mari introduced herself as she stuck her hand out.

"Leonidas Bell. But most people just call me Leo." I said as I shook her hand.

"Well it's nice to meet you Leo." Mari said.

"Same to you Ms. McCabe." I said.

"Please call me Mari."

"Alright." We stayed silent for a minute not really knowing how to proceed. Mari eventually decided to break the silence.

"Mind if sit."

"Not at all." After I said that she sat herself down next to me.

"Honestly I was kinda of worried their was going to be a fight when the guards showed up." She said.

"If it was either of my friends their probably would have been." I said thinking on what Jayden or Avery would have done in my position.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Well lets just say out of all three of us I have a much longer fuse than they do."

"Sounds like you have some interesting friends."

"You have absolutly no idea." I said with a slight chuckle. We continued talking losing all track of time. Eventually Mari's phone started buzzing breaking us out of our stupor.

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's an alert the modeling agency I work for is throwing a party to celebrate me winning top model. To be completely honest I don't want to go." She said.

"Why?"

"Unlike the after party at the award ceremony none of my freinds are going to be there. Just abunch of the companies executives giving hollow congratulations then patting each other on the back." She said.

"So incredibly boring."

"You have no idea." She said. Unfortunately I did have some Idea. I had been to one of Zavala's knitting circles. Suddenly her head shot up and she had a small spark in her eyes. "I know we just meet but would you please consider coming with me." She asked. My eyes widened in shock, just how boring were these parties.

"I don't know."

"Please I need someone to talk to at this thing." She said

"Well maybe... but I don't have anything to were." I said.

"It's New York City do you know how many rent a tux placed there are." She said.

"Fine I will go with you. But please give me fair warning will anyone that will make me want to punch them be there." I said.

"No you know why I wanted you to come." She said with a slight smile.