Chapter: 3.1--Celebration
Notes: Snapshot--a record or view of a particular point in a sequence of events or a continuing process.
A/N: Part one of snapshot 3, Reviews are love. ENJOY.

He remembered meeting the guy, the guy that gave him a bad vibe. And now he was here. Had she invited him? Why would she invite him, when there was something obviously off about him?

--

Flashback

"Hey, Elle, you forgot your nametag!"

She swirled around at the call, and she laughed at her forgetfulness.

"Thanks…" she bit her lip, her hand in mid-air as she reached for her employee nametag.

"Dylan," he reminded.

"Dylan!" she giggled.

She had been working at the Gap for six weeks now, and she had even flirted with this guy several times (with the dark blond hair, light brown eyes, and tall, although not muscular build, he was pretty cute) but even with that Elle couldn't quite remember his name. Her shift had ended 20 minutes ago, but an indecisive customer had kept her longer. She had just stepped out of work only five minutes ago, and in a hurry to not make Peter wait any longer for her, she had forgotten her nametag.

"Thanks," she tucked the tag into her bag.

"You're welcome," he smiled at her, and kept smiling at her for a period of time she did not deem normal.

"Okaaay," she chuckled, rubbing her hands together, the chilly air making her tremble a bit.

"Do you have a ride?" he asked her abruptly.

"Me? Yup," she nodded, looking over the cars lined up outside all the department stores. Peter wasn't usually late…what could be taking him so long?

"Should be here soon," she murmured more to herself.

"Oh, well, do you need to call someone…" he offered.

She gave him a smile. "I don't need a phone, but you're so sweet," she almost pinched his cheek when she remembered what Peter had said about personal boundaries. Dammit, it seemed as though she was growing a conscious.

The guy laughed, and it was pretty clear to Elle that he wasn't being uber-nice to her for no reason.

"How long have you been working here?" she thought striking up an actual conversation would make time pass. Then again, conversations were usually more boring than anything else in the world.

"Eight months, but the boss has promised to promote me to assistant manager real soon," his chest rose proudly.

"Does that pay more money?" the thought of a promotion struck her curiosity.

"Yeah, you get a raise and a year-end bonus," he crossed his arms over his chest, boasting.

"Uh huh…" Elle wondered how much it would take to beat this guy to this 'promotion.'

"Hey Elle, sorry I'm late," Peter interrupted her scheming.

"Peter, you're here!" she clapped.

"Peter, this is one of my co-workers--Dylan," she had seen the two eyeing each other. "Dylan, this is my friend, Peter."

They nodded in acknowledgment.

"Alright, so I'll get going then," Dylan said. "Nice talking to you, Elle," and he left.

"He's cute, right?" she asked Peter as soon as he left.

He rolled his eyes. "There's something off about him," he said as they walked over to his car.

"No there isn't--he looks dateable. He likes me, so…" she opened her side of the car.

"Elle, just cuz a guy likes a girl doesn't make him dateable. And believe me, there's something wrong with that one."

"Oh, you're just being paranoid," she slammed her door.

Peter turned on the ignition and the two sat in silence for a moment, and then Peter pulled some papers out of the compartment.

"What is that?"

He handed her the papers, and her eyes opened wide in delight.

"We--"

"Yeah, we got the studio apartment," he grinned.

She threw her arms around his shoulder, and held him tightly, "Yes!" she screamed.

His grin turned into a smile, and he returned her hug, no longer so hell-bent on keeping those personal boundaries he had imposed when she moved in.

She came out of his embrace and looked over the papers again.

"It says it's paid in full," she said questioningly.

"I decided to pay the whole things with some of the money Nathan left me."

"But I thought you were only going to use it for the down payment, and then we'd pay our fair share in rent," she turned around to him.

"Then we'd only end up paying more," he shrugged.

"Peter, you've already done so much for me--"

"Don't Elle. It's just money, you'll pay me back in your own way when you can, okay?" He pressed her hand, reassuring her that it was no big deal for him.

"Thank you," she smiled, her eyes shining with honest-to-goodness gratitude.

"No problem," he smiled that lop-sided smile of his, and her heart warmed. They turned away from each other, and made their way out of the over-crowded parking lot.

--

"This was supposed to be a small gathering," he muttered, leaning over the counter.

"It's Elle, what did you expect?" Claire scoffed.

"You know, if you actually got to know her…" Peter began with the subject again.

"She's touchy, she doesn't know when to shut up, and she electrocutes everything in sight. That's about all I need to know about her, Peter."

"Claire, she's not like that anymore."

She scoffed again.

"Okay, not like that completely. She doesn't electrocute as much anymore, and she's learning to keep her distance physically."

"Oh, and I bet that is the one thing that is driving you crazy now."

"What are you talking about?"

"Peter, you're always defending her. You don't pull away when she jumps into your arms, and you let her move into this new apartment for free. And you threw her this huge birthday party," Claire waved her arm to the whole apartment, to make a point.

There were streamers, balloons, food, loud music, and too many people to count. All spread throughout the room, some dancing, some talking and flirting, but Claire and Peter were off in the corner, leaning against the wall, avoiding everyone else.

"I threw a small gathering of friends and companions. The decorations and people are courtesy of Elle, not me," he tried defending himself.

"But you're okay with it!" Claire kept trying to prove that she was right.

"It's her birthday, and her first actual birthday celebration since she was a little kid. She deserves this."

"God, you're so blind, you can't even see what's right in front of you."

"She's just a friend," Peter blurt out after some moments of silence.

"Then why haven't you kept your eye off her all night?" Claire smirked, and Peter cursed for having been caught.

He had been watching her, ever since she left his side when Maya had arrived and the two began going around talking to every guy in their age-range. Thankfully--thankfully?--anyway, Elle and Maya moved on every two minutes, never staying with any particular guy. Though he noted that for the past five minutes, Maya had been talking it up with a guy they had made a stop at. The guy's friend had kept trying to 'talk it up' with Elle, but she only rolled her eyes and moved farther and farther away.

"I haven't been watching her," he tore his eyes off Elle and glanced at Claire.

"Right. Well she's headed over here now, so I'm leaving…" Claire muttered. The girls gave each other a fake smile when they passed before Elle reached Peter.

"So, I haven't seen you all night," she stroked his upper arm.

He felt his hair rising on end, and he had to suppress the shudder her touch evoked.

"Elle--" he said in a husky whisper.

"I know--space. But it's my birthday, I'm allowed my fun, right," she gave him a playful grin, and he returned it.

"Yeah, I guess you are."

"Cool!" she threw her arms around his neck, and she stood cheek to cheek with him.'I know it wasn't supposed to get this big, Peter, but I never had a huge party…'

'It's fine Elle--but you're cleaning up the mess.'

'Peter…'

'Birthdays last one day, so tomorrow…'

'Fine, tomorrow,' she complied.

"You don't look like you're having much fun," she frowned.

"I don't do big parties," he admitted.

"I'll keep that in mind next time," she smirked.

"Next time?" he raised an eyebrow.

She giggled, and neither made a move to stray from the other's hold.

"You look beautiful, Elle," he leaned in to whisper in her ear.

She pulled her head back and laughed, "I know, isn't this dress gorgeous!" her hands left his shoulders so she could twirl. She wore a halter dress, reaching just below her knees, shining in all it's satin glory, a shimmering lavender that contemplated her figure. Her hair was loose in soft waves, and a large necklace was wounded around her neck.

Peter stuck his hands in his pockets, vainly trying not too stare too much at her. "Yeah, it is," he whispered.

She looked up to face him, the hint of a blush creeping up at his compliment, when the door rang.

"Ooh, more gifts! I mean, more guests," she ran off to the door, Peter still looking after her.

--

"You made it!" Elle squealed upon seeing the latest arrival, Dylan.

"I wouldn't miss a co-worker's birthday!" he leaned into her. "At least not such a pretty one's."

She giggled and grabbed his hand, dragging him to center of the room to dance.

--

"What is he doing here?" Peter grumbled under his breath, eyes ablaze at watching Elle dancing with that guy.

"Jealous much?" Claire nudged him.

"I'm not--"

"Yeah, whatever. The more you pretend that you don't like her, the better for me."

"Claire, just drop it," he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Alright, alright. I'll keep up this charade," Claire eyed him when she saw his eyes practically bugging out.

"What?" and she turned to see what he was looking at, to see Elle and that guy stalking off to the terrace in the back of the apartment. Before she knew it, Peter was trailing them, and the cry Claire sent him was useless in stopping him.

--

"You enjoying your party so far?" Dylan asked when they reached the balcony.

"So far? Yes," she walked to the end to peer over at the looming city.

"So who threw you this extravagant shindig?"

Elle laughed at the expression he used, but answered nonetheless. "Peter," she paused to look at the guy," well he threw this little dinner party, but thanks to me, it became this extravagant shindig."

"I'da done the same. You're supposed to go all out for parties," he inched closer to her.

"Uh, yeah, that's what I've heard," she smiled nervously as he drew closer to her.

"So what do you say we top off the night by making your birthday perfect?" his eyes spoke volumes of his lust, and it made her a little uneasy, but she did not move.

"Umm…"

"Elle," a stern voice came from the door, and they turned abruptly.

"Peter? What?" she looked confused at his interruption.

"I need to talk to you," he told Elle, giving Dylan a menacing eye.

"Can't you talk later," he asked.

"No," Peter made his way to stand between them.

"Peter, what are you doing?" she hissed.

"Leave us alone," Peter told him.

He looked between Peter and Elle, before sighing, turning, and leaving.

"What was that about?!" she whined.

"The guy's a creep, Elle!" he turned around to her.

"You don't know that !"

"Elle, he's not a good guy!"

"Well, that's for me to learn! He was about to kiss me!"

"You wanted that guy to kiss you!"

"I deserve to have a guy want to kiss me! But you ruined that!" she began walking away from him, but he caught her by the arm and stood her in front of him, his hands holding her wrists firmly.

"Why are you doing this! He could be asking me out right now! I could have been looking forward to my first date!"

"Elle, that guy isn't looking for any of that! You can't settle for less!"

"But I can, because that's what normal girls do! They go on horrible dates with horrible guys who break their little hearts! That's how normal girls learn not to settle for less!" she struggled in his grip, her cheeks flustered in frustration.

"Wouldn't you prefer not to go through that!" his eyes were dark, and almost sad for her.

"No! Yes! I don't know! I just don't want you to control me--why don't you just let me learn!" her eyes shut, and sparks involuntary left her system, but her electricity didn't make him wince. Her frustration and anger at him for what she misconstrued to be his need to control, stead of the protection he wanted to keep her under, was what hurt him.

"I just want you to be happy!"

"But you don't know what's best--let me go, let me go! I can take care of my--"

Whatever she was going to say, was zapped when he crashed his lips on hers. For a few seconds, she was only shocked. One moment, she had been screaming at him with eyes screwed shut, and the next his lips were moving on top of hers. But all the anger was not drained. He had freed her hands, and now they pounded against his chest, trying to resist another kiss of his, but when she stopped pounding at him, it was not because she tired. But because she yielded.

One hand had made its way to the back of her neck, pulling her up and pushing her closer to him, as his mouth parted ever so slightly so he could pry her mouth open with his tongue. It pushed her lips open, raking over teeth, delving into her once oh-so-lonely mouth, absorbing to fuse their heat.

His other hand rocked to her hip, his fingers pushing into her ribs, and when their tongues entwined to fight, a soft moan escaped her. She gripped the collar of his dress shirt, pulling him closer to her, proximity making itself too elusive at this point.

They had to pull apart then, resting on each other's forehead while they tried to catch their breaths.

Peter nipped at her nose, and her eyes fluttered open, gazing as Peter drew his hand in a lazy fist, his knuckles tracing over her neck, over her chest, pausing before reaching her breasts, his hand in mid-air before settling back over her stomach. His eyes perused her body, before meeting her clouded ones. He bent down to pluck a soft kiss over her lips, then on her cheek, and he traced these soft kisses down her jaw line, her eyes fighting to remain open now, until he landed on her neck.

He sucked on her skin, and her hands gripped his forearms, her eyes snapping shut, and another moan escaped her.

"Peter…" his name played on her lips.

He pulled his lips off her neck, inhaling her scent before answering her.

"Yeah…"

A smile spread through her, his face eliciting fluttery things that made her feel all tingly.

She tiptoed and tilted her head, going in for another of his kisses. Shorter, and not unlike their first kiss all those months ago, when she pulled away a spark crept from her lips to his.

Peter winced again, but his smile was more unmistakable than ever before.

"Where do you wanna go?" he whispered to her.

"What?"

"Just name a place or a time, and I'll take you. For your first date. Our first date."