I'm really doing this, I'm really going to talk to him…I got closer and closer, noticing the details of the guy I was pursuing. He had on khaki, tan coloured shorts, and a light blue button up that wasn't, well, buttoned up. His skin was a very light brown. From afar he just looked very tan, but now that I was getting closer, I realized he must be mixed with something. His hair was black, and curly, like mine, but in a more afro sense. Slowly, my brain started figuring out what all these little details meant, I was getting really close to him. So close now, that I'd either have to say something or fall back, or I'd look like a total idiot. I was literally at the bar now where he was sitting on a stool. I glanced at him, and one look was all it took for me to wig out and sit on the stool next to his, pretending to be ordering a drink. Wait, what just happened? What was I doing? I was ruining everything! I casually looked back in Cecelia's direction. She was fuming, motioning with her hands and mouth to talk to him. I was genuinely scared to go back to her without some solid proof that we conversed.

Alright, time to stop being a coward . I looked to my left. He had a drink in front of him he was swirling around with a stir stick. He looked to be deep in thought. I took one last deep breath.

"Hi," I said, surprising myself with the amount of confidence I said it with. But what I wasn't ready for was when he looked up from stirring his drink, a little disoriented from being spoken to, and looked right at me.

"Hello," He said back, smiling.

Okay, I know obviously if you say hi to a person, odds are they'll say it back, but I just wasn't ready for it. When he looked at me, I saw the details of his face and body. Before, he looked really cute, now, he was gorgeous. His unbuttoned shirt revealed his physique. He had abs, that was for sure. I could also see his arm muscles protruding from under his shirt. His hair, though it was big, wasn't frizzy and huge, it was thick and full of tight curls that wound all over the place, bouncing when he moved his head. His complexion was amazing, his skin a very pale brown, or a very tanned white. And here was the kicker, his eyes. Green like mine, but in a whole different way. They were so contrasting against his hint-of-brown skin. Oh and his smile!- Wait, what am I doing? I'm staring! I'm just sitting here, staring at him! Say something, anything! I pleaded with myself. All words in the English language were failing me.

"Nice weather, huh?" Are you serious, did you really just say that… Did you really just comment on the weather? As soon as I was done here, I planned on finding a hole, crawling inside of it, and maybe dying.

The young man laughed.

"I…I mean, you know, it's not too humid, not too cool…"

"It's just right," He finished for me, laughing again. "I'm Nate." He offered his hand, and I shook it while breathing a sigh of relief.

"Roxanne," I filled in.

"Very nice to meet you, Roxanne," I couldn't help but smile back. "So what brings you to L.A? Business or pleasure? Or, do you live here?"

"Oh, no, I wish. This place is beautiful. Pleasure. I'm on a much needed and very postponed vacation. I couldn't imagine living in a place like this." I made reference to the city by looking at the outstretched ocean that seemed to stretch to the very ends of the earth.

"It's really something, isn't it? Clear blue water, swaying palm trees, the anticipation of possibly seeing a celebrity every time you go around a corner…." I laughed, feeling a little guilty of having that sensation.

"The beaches get a little crowded, and the night life can get crazy, but it's still my favourite place in the world."

"Wait, you live here?" I asked, feeling jealous before he even answered.

"Oh no, I just come here a lot. It's my favourite vacation destination. And judging by the amount of people here tonight, it must be everyone's favourite." I looked around. There were a lot of people.

"Yeah, I guess that's just a side effect of a severely over populated city."

"For sure. That's probably the only reason I don't move here," he said.

"I definitely agree. I like the peace and quiet I get at home." Thinking back to it made me anxious, but I wasn't about to mention that.

"Hmm, I see. And where is home?" He didn't say it like a prodding serial killer, not that I would know what that sounds like, he said it with a true sense of curiosity.

"That would be Toronto." I really hoped I wouldn't have to specify further where that was.

"Ah, so you're a Canadian. Must be nice to escape the weather up there," he commented.

"Yeah, it is. But I have to admit, I enjoy the snow. Well, at least on Christmas."

"Isn't Toronto a very populated city?" He asked.

"Yes, but I don't live right in the heart of it, I just work there. I live more on the outskirts, near the countryside. I don't ever tell people the actual town I live in because they have no clue where it is. I can't believe some of the people down here, a few didn't even know where Toronto was."

"That doesn't surprise me. Our generation is full of ignorance, especially the geographical kind." I giggled like a little girl. I couldn't help it. The guy actually sounded intelligent. Nate smiled genuinely back at me.

"So Roxanne, can I buy you a drink?" A new kind of smile played across my face.

"Yes, thank you Nate."

He motioned with the slightest twitch of his fingers to the bar tender, who responded very quickly.

"What'll it be, sir?"

"Rum and coke please," Nate answered.

"And for you, miss?"

"I'll have a margarita, thank you." He nodded his head and went to work.

Suddenly, I felt a jolt. I looked down and realized it was my phone, vibrating like crazy. I snuck a peek at the screen and saw five missed calls, three messages, and it had Cecelia's name written all over it. I looked back, seeing her freak out. This time I had no idea what she was trying to say.

"Will you excuse me for just a second?" I asked Nate.

"Sure, just as long as you come back," he smiled coyly at me as I blushed and walked away.

I casually walked to Cecelia, who had stopped freaking out and was now smiling excitedly.

"What have you guys been talking about? You've been over there for tenty minutes!"

"I know, I know! I'm sorry, I couldn't pull myself away." I admitted.

"What's he saying?"

"Oh not much, we're just chatting, about things…"
"Mmhmm…" She waited for me to elaborate.

"He asked to buy me a drink," I said triumphantly.

"Really? Good, good. But what did you order?"

"Why does it matter?" I waited for the superficial answer that was bound to come my way.

"You don't want to order something immature, like a pina colada, or a Shirley temple which I know you like to do," she scolded.

"Hey, those are good drinks," I defended.

'Their children's drinks. Anyway, what did you order?"

"A margarita, relax 'celia." I looked over to Nate, who was waiting ever so patiently.

"Look, I really want to get back over there, is it okay if I leave you again?" Cecelia looked pretty bored, but nodded her head. I thanked her and walked away.

"Don't say anything stupid!" She yelled after me. I glared at her quickly and turned back around.

"Hey," I said as I slipped back onto my stool. Nate smiled and handed me my drink.

"Thanks," I accepted it and took a sip. He did as well. We sipped in silence for a few moments.

"So, while you were gone, I was thinking of all the things I've done here in L.A, and I realized I've never walked on the beach in the moonlight with a beautiful woman before." He said.

"Ah, so you want to use me to fill that experience, do you?" He shrugged his shoulders.

"If you wouldn't mind...?" A smile spread across my face. I got up, finished my drink, took Nate's hand, and walked over to the stairs that led to the shore.

"I'll take that as a yes," He said, laughing and following my lead. I wasn't sure where this courage was coming from, but I hoped it lasted.