A/N: Hi guys! Sorry for the long wait. It's been a crazy couple of weeks. I appreciate all of the follows, favorites, and reviews! You guys are awesome let's keep it up. They really make my day to read new reviews. This chapter is going to be a flashback chapter mainly. So, review, keep letting me know what you guys think, and I'll keep updating if you guys are still getting into it. Any and all errors are my own, confused? Let me know. Otherwise, here we go!
Shay's POV
*clock reads 9:37 am*
"Mmf" I want to just lay here and soak up these last peaceful minutes before the busy starts. I feel all cozy and warm, unusually so. And heavy? I try to sit up but something wrapped around my waist tightens its grip and I feel puffs of warm air on the back of my neck.
"Morning" I freeze at the voice, deep and gruff that comes with just waking. I slowly turn my head and… Oh no. No, no, no, Troian? I'm either in that dream where Troian and I are newly married or got shit-faced last night and did something really stupid. Just to make sure, I look down to my left ring finger and upon seeing a bare finger, I sigh in somewhat relief and push away the completely irrational disappointment. Upon realizing the lack of headache and crappiness that comes with hangovers, I didn't get drunk last night either.
I realize that I've gotten lost in my own thoughts and haven't replied to Troian when she shifts again and asks if I'm awake. "Yeah, sorry, good morning." I don't think it'd be a good idea to ask her why we're practically spooning in my bed. Just sounds rude doesn't it? And she seems more than okay with our current position and considering I've dreamed of a moment like this, I'm surely not complaining.
"How'd you sleep?" That's a good place to start, right?
She gives my waist another quick squeeze before she releases and stretches her arms above her head with a grunt of satisfaction. Because I have practically no restraint in the morning I let my eyes graze from her deceptively muscular arms all the way down to where her shirt has risen up a little to reveal a sliver of creamy skin before it disappears under the waist band of sleep shorts. I wonder what her skin tastes like, if it's as soft as it looks. I just want to run my hands up under her shirt and discover everything, unconsciously licking my suddenly dry lips…
Reel it in Shay! God, stop it, bad brain. I clear my throat and avert my eyes from her body as if to get rid of the dirty, dirty thoughts that are plaguing my head right now. She's so sexy though, and incredibly cute in the morning. Gutter bad, step away Shay.
Wait, she's talking, focus. I snap back into reality before she realizes the internal battle of raging hormones right next to her.
"I don't think I've slept that well since I came back to LA. I had fun yesterday, I can't remember the last time I stayed up so late just talking about everything and nothing. Also, I may have to steal your bed, because, just amazing."
I stop myself before telling her that she doesn't need to steal my bed because I'm this close to keeping her here with me forever and go with the safer option. I force a little chuckle and reply,
"I'm glad I could provide optimal sleeping comfort. It was really great, I haven't done that in forever. Though I'm afraid I can't let you do that, fighting for custody of my bed would not be pretty."
It all comes rushing back. Lunch with Troian after the read through, talking for hours, dinner, wine, sleep over.
*Flashback*
"So, I-"
"Well, I-"
We start talking at the same time as we're sitting at the table of the café shop we're getting lunch from. We both release small giggles at each other before I clear my throat and open my mouth to start again but this time she beats me to it.
"Ahem, so I realized last week that I know very little about you. Apart from what I've been told or heard, and instead of risking looking like a major creeper and googling you," I cut in with a giggle and feel heat start to spread up my neck and across my cheeks. More so because the thought to google her had crossed my mind as well. Glad I chose against that. "I thought that we could use today to get to know each other better. I mean, of course, we could hang out more and do this more. If you'd like."
Uh, duh I'd like. Me like very much. She's cute when she rambles.
"Haha, well I hope you've heard all good things. Yeah, that sounds like a great idea." Before she can reply a waiter comes over to our table and hands us a couple menus and after we both ask for coffees he smiles at us and tells us he'll be back in a few to take our orders.
Shay waits for him to walk away before she tries to reply again. "Mostly good things," She says with a playfulness in her voice. "So, Troian Bellisario, tell me about yourself."
"Mostly? Well, depending on what you've been told, I didn't do it, I totally didn't start that bar brawl, and I can neither confirm nor deny any and all further accusations." I tell her with a mischievous hint in my voice. "As for everything else, umm I'm 27, I'm a Taurus, I was born and raised here. I have a younger brother named Jason, I went to school for cinematic arts and drama with a minor in art history, I've been living in London for the past 3 years working as a dramatic arts director at a university. My dad has connections there and set me up after I decided to take a break from movies. I like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and hahaha yeah. Me in a nutshell."
Gah, she's going to think I'm a total dork. I very much prefer being called a nerd. Hopefully, this is one of many lunch "dates" to come. We have plenty of time to get to know each other with the working on the show and everything.
"Hmm, well that doesn't sound sketchy at all, haha. Hiding skeletons in your closet?" She laughs out and I have to stop myself from looking like a love sick puppy. "I'm 27 as well, but I'm a Scorpio. No siblings, so I'm a bit jealous right now, and a lot bit jealous that you've been living in London! I love to travel, and only have been to London twice before. I'm Canadian, and moved to LA when I got cast for PLL. I love to dance, I love that song, by the way. I love pizza and Beyoncé, don't ask me choose, that'd just be cruel." She says partially serious and partially joking.
"Nope, I hide my skeletons elsewhere. If I told you then I'd have to kill you." Trying my best to keep as serious a face as possible when I say this, but fail as the corner of my mouth twitches upward.
"You Canadians are everywhere nowadays! Lovely. Something tells me you're a crazy great dancer. I would love to see that one day maybe. You're not obsessed with pizza and/or Beyoncé are you? Because I don't know how I feel about being friends with a pizza crazed creeper."
"Aren't we though? Gotta love us. And I wouldn't say crazy great, I'm decent enough." Aww, she's cheeky and modest. She gasps indignantly and playfully puts her hand to her heart and says "I am not a pizza crazed creeper! I'm just… a moderate size fan of both. If I so happen to own a shirt of her eating pizza, that is neither here nor there."
"Haha, oh wow! Yeah, see that there is a red flag. You don't actually own a shirt like that right?"
"Of course I do! There's a novelty store back home that I love to visit and I stumbled across that piece of gold along with a onesie with a removable backside." She pokes her tongue out at me afterwards. "I'll be sure to pick up one of each just for you next time."
Our waiter shows up again before I can retort and we place our orders before he refills our coffees and leaves again.
I love that onesie and t-shirt! Haha, I'm totally going to get her some just to mess with her. She looks like she dances too, I guess I will take her to the studio with me one day and find out.
Neither of us had ordered anything too heavy for lunch so our food came back fairly quickly. We thanked the waiter once again, and we fell into a comfortable silence as we both ate, only sharing shy glances every so often.
Every time our eyes met, I feel a shiver run up my spine and I have to choke back the visible shudder when she smiles at me. In risk of sounding like a broken record, I really, really like this girl. I just, I feel it in my gut that I want, no, need her in my life. I glance up from my food quickly only to do a double take when I see she's just staring at me with this deep in thought look on her face. It's almost curious.
"Do I have something on my face?" I say through giggles and wiping at my mouth in case I do.
She starts a little at my voice, like the sound brought her out of her little world she was lost in. "Huh? Uh- oh, no, you're fine."
"Where'd you go just now?"
"Um, nowhere. This may sound stupid, but I was just thinking about how easy it is to talk to you."
"That's not stupid at all, I'm finding it extremely easy too." I say shyly as I can feel a small blush creeping into my cheeks.
I catch her gaze and we just have a moment where we're just looking at each other, trying to commit the moment to memory. At least I am, and I hope she's doing the same.
"It was almost too easy to fall into this familiar… friendship with you." I wanted to say relationship, but I don't want to freak her out or anything. I could be seeing things, but I swear I saw her smile drop just a little before she recovers. It's moments like these, and the easy flirting that makes me thinks she feels the same way.
The conversation picks back up with an easy and calm air between us, and the world around us just disappears as our sole focus is each other. Filled with full blown laughs, giggles, shy smiles, and more subtle flirting.
Before either of us know it, 4 hours have passed us by without notice, and it's already past 5 o'clock.
I see her glance down at her phone and I mimic the action.
"It's a lot later than I realized. I'm not keeping you from something am I?" I can't hide the hint of hope in my question.
"No, I just came to the same realization. Unless you have other obligations?" She says while her brow quirks up.
"Oh, no, we're good. But, I don't know, how- how would you feel about turning this lunch into dinner as well? I mean, you know, order some takeout. At my place?"
… Why did I just ask her that? She's going to think I'm asking her out! Despite how badly I want to, that's not what I was trying to do. She'll freak out and ne- "I'd like that actually. To be honest, I was dreading reaching the end of lunch and was close to offering the same thing."
Wait, what? Do things like this happen? Wait, why the hell am I questioning it? I may not have to wait as long as I thought to ask her out at this rate.
"Really?!" Tone it down Shay. "I mean, um, really? That's great, I am really enjoying your company too. So, how do you want to do this? I can text you my address and you can come by at, let's say, 7?"
She giggles at my initial reaction, and if I blush anymore, I will be a permanent shade of red.
"Uh, yeah 7 sounds good. Since, it looks like we're done here, let me walk you back to your car and I'll be waiting to hear back from you about later."
"Yeah, great."
We gather our things and head to the register to pay. I see Troian reach for her wallet and I stop her, insisting that I pay for lunch.
"Only if I get to pay for dinner? Let me guess, pizza right?" She throws in a pout for good measure. How can I deny her anything?
"Alright, deal. And you know me so well already, I won't say no to pizza."
She beams at me and smiling back, I pay the bill and I let her lead the way out of the shop. Very much like the walk on the way here, the walk back to the studio lot where our cars are parked is spent mostly in a comfortable silence.
Upon arrival to my car, Troian shifts a bit in front of me almost looking hesitant before leaning forward and wraps her arms around my shoulders in a hug. Returning the embrace, wrapping my arms around her waist, I revel in the closeness, and she gives me a quick squeeze before stepping back.
I just barely hold back the whine from the loss of contact and instead smile warmly.
"I'll see you in a bit." She says already walking backwards towards her own car.
"Yeah, see you in a bit." She winks at me before turning to unlock her door and stepping into her car.
I unlock the door to my own car, and take a second once I get in to just go back over the past few hours and I can still feel the warmth of Troian's body against mine from the brief hug. Sighing into the emptiness of my car, I let out reverently, "That woman's going to be the death of me."
So, I'm going to end the flashback here. I know, I suck, but it's ok, because I already have the next chapter mostly written, and will be up before you know it. I love hearing all of your opinions and if you have questions about whatever, whenever at some point, feel free to let 'em fly and I'll do my darndest to answer them. Let me know what you guys thought! Next chapter will be the remaining flashback and more of the present. It'll be a little longer too, so yay for that. After that, maybe a small time jump? Thanks for reading and staying with me!
P.S. Review guys! Until next time.