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(Trent's Loft - Tuesday, 8:45 A.M.)

Trent tied up the laces on his tennis shoes and then pulled a black beanie over his hair to match the rest of his outfit. Putting a stick of gum in his mouth as he walked out into the large opening outside his door, he locked it and then went down the steps and out into the market, saying good morning to Milan.

He then began to jog to the park down the street and ran around it once, watching the people walk by with dogs and weights. Placebo was blasting in his headphones, and he felt awake. He would stop by Lauren's shop right... Looking at his watch, he realized he had been out for half an hour. Grinning, he said "Right now" out loud, his breath coming out in a puff of smoke.

Running down the street with Placebo singing Nancy Boy, he jogged down the always-busy streets of downtown Sacramento. He smiled at the businesspeople who walked by in their suits, the children and teens on their way to where ever, by the tall skyscrapers and small shops and cars. Finally making it into the nicest part of Sacramento, he slowed down at Starbucks, which he realized was only two blocks away from the bookshop. Grinning, he pulled his wallet from his back pocket and walk in.

He walked out with two mochas twelve minutes later.

Making his way up the street, always oblivious to the women who gave him the tempting smile or turned around to stare, he realized he liked this feeling. Bringing coffee to a great girl who would great him with that great smile of hers. He felt happy for once, a light shining through his dull senses. How the hell that this had happened? Especially in so short a time, Trent had no idea. He figured he better not dwell on it or it would basically jinx everything... Not that he was superstitious or anything.

. Trent grinned at a girl who walked by him and began to sing with the music, "Embrasse Moi, met ton doigt dans mon cul". The teen grinned wildly, making Trent smile back. Yep, life was looking up. He'd think about Melanie later.

Spotting the shop, he sped up a little, feeling like a twelve-year-old going to his first dance. Trent laughed at himself and then walked into the shop, where a plain looking girl with thin brown hair and round glasses sat. "Hi. Is Lauren here?"

The girl stared at him for a moment before standing up. "Uh.. yeah.. um. Hold on."

Trent smiled at her, making the girl drop her pen. As she began to turn she tripped over the leg of the chair. In an embarrassed stupor she turned around and sped away. Trent grinned.

**

Marie came around the corner where Lauren was marking books. "Lauren, there is something gorgeous out there waiting for you with coffee. Where the hell did you land that?"

Lauren gave her a confused look, "I'm not sure." She laughingly replied, then made her way up to the front desk, where she saw Trent. "Oh!" She laughed. "Hey, Trent." She walked around the cherry desk and kissed his cheek, and accepted the coffee he extended to her. "Thank you." She took a sip, wrapping her other arm around her waist, which was covered in dark-coloured striped wool turtleneck. She took another sip, "Thank you so much! Just what I needed - it's so cold out there, it's getting in here."

Trent just smiled.

Lauren laughed. "Are you going to say something?"

Trent looked at her, taking a sip of coffee. "How would you like to go to dinner with me tomorrow night?" He asked. Well, he'd get around to 'asking her' about the other ordeal later.

Lauren smiled at him. "Sure."

Trent nodded. "Great."

Looking behind him, still smiling, she tried to find his car. "Did you walk here?"

"Jog, ran, walk. It was great."

Lauren laughed, wrinkling her little nose. "I can't see you jogging."

Trent smiled. "Yeah, neither can I. I just had to get out of the house and I didn't feel like driving so..."

Lauren looked him up and down unoticeably. He wore a black hoodie with a red NonPoint logo, black windbreaker pants. His black hair stuck out in places from under the black beanie. "You look nice." Trent said, motioning up and down at her outfit that consisted of a tight, quartersleeve blood red low v-neck shirt, a large metal oval necklace, and snug jeans with a black belt that matched her boots. "Thanks." She grinned.

"So..." Trent said. "Where do you want to go to dinner?"

Lauren smiled. "Why don't you decide?"

Trent grinned at her, "Dressy or no?"

"Umm... Well, I just bought this great new dress so how about dressy?"

Trent cocked his head in thought. "Have you ever been to Acquerello? Do you like Italian food?"

"I've never been there - where is it? And yes, I love Italian."

"It's in San Fransisco..." He began pulling his cell phone out of his pocket and hid it in his sleeve.

Lauren nodded. "How about I pick you up at six thirty?" He asked. "I get off work at three, so yep..."

He grinned, kissed her cheek, and then nodded at the girl behind the counter and left.

Marie let out a chuckle, "Girl, you're in trouble."

Lauren stuffed her hands in her back pockets, laughing nervously. "Why do you say that?"

"Trouble because that is the most gorgeous man I've ever seen next to Stuart Townsend, okay? You watch your heart and make sure he's worth it, which he better be with that butt..."



Lauren laughed.

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