Saturday at 9 a.m
Jack knocked on Irina's door readjusting his collar to cover his ears.
"Right on time." Irina smiled opening the door.
"I try."
"Come on in. I have to get my coat." She smiled reentering her apartment.
Her apartment was much bigger than his, sporting a full kitchen complete with bar and an immense living room.
"Pretty good for five hundred a month huh." Irina smiled pulling on her coat.
"Much better than mine and I pay six fifty." Jack smiled.
"So where will my tour begin."
"The Java Lounge. They brew an excellent cup of coffee."
"Sounds good let's go."
At The Java Lounge
"This is fantastic. I'm not much of a coffee drinker but this is excellent." Irina said sipping her coffee again.
"Told you. So you've never been here before?"
"Never."
"That's odd. This is Emily's favorite hangout spot."
"Well she has been a bit busy with Arvin lately."
Jack laughed and took a sip of his coffee.
"So how do you like the city so far?" Jack asked.
"It's beautiful in every way imaginable. It has outward and inner beauty. I love it here." Irina smiled.
They sat for a moment in contented silence.
"Did you bring your bathing suit like I told you?" Jack said standing and extending his arm.
"Yes."
"Good, because we are headed to Venice Beach." Jack smiled.
At the beach
They stepped out of Jack's car and Irina immediately stopped.
"Is something wrong?" Jack asked.
"This is amazing!" Irina smiles in delight.
"Hey you two. I thought you would never get here." Emily's voice said behind them.
Irina turned to see her Emily and Arvin walking over to them.
"Jack, Irina great to see you again." Arvin smiled giving his friend a sly wink.
"Come on Irina, let's get changed." Emily said taking her friends hand.
Ten minutes later they all met up outside of a novelty shop. Irina and Emily were looking over the necklaces and didn't hear the guys come up behind them.
"Boo." Arvin teased hugging Emily from behind.
"See something you like." Jack asked moving to stand on the other side of Irina.
"I love this necklace." Irina said pointing to a white shell necklace on display.
"Excuse me sir," Jack addressed the man that owned the shop "Can it get the white shell necklace there."
"Will you get two?" Irina asked.
"Make it two." Jack said in reply.
He paid the man and handed both of the necklaces to Irina.
"One of them is for you. I wanted us to have matching necklaces so we would always remember this day." She said giving him one of the necklaces.
He placed his around his neck them helped her put on her own. It wasn't until then that he noticed what she was wearing. She had on a red camouflage bikini with a red sarong tied around her waist. Little did she know she was doing the same to him. He was wearing white swimtrunks with a blue stripe going up the side, and a blue tank top.
"Come on lets hit the beach." Arvin said trying to give his friend some alone time.
Jack took off his tank top revealing a perfectly chiseled chest, amazing six pack abs, and the V. Irina couldn't help but stare at this picture of perfection in front of her.
"You ready." Jack smiled.
"Yeah." Irina smiled following him.
Soon they were splashing in the waves. Jack lifted Irina up onto his shoulders allowing her and Emily to pretend fight.
"Race you to the end of the pier and back." Arvin said punching Jack.
"Bring it." Jack said.
"On your mark." Emily yelled.
"Get set." Irina yelled.
"GO!" they both said in unison.
The guys took off their bodies cutting through the water. Jack edged out the victory by an arm.
"No fair you're way taller so your reach is longer." Arvin whined.
"Whining doesn't become of you Arvin." Jack laughed.
Arvin splashed him, also splashing Irina in the process. A splash fight ensued. By the end all the participants were a little winded.
"We should head back. I want to show you more of the city." Jack said as he started to swim back.
"Ok. Race you." Irina said as she swam past.
"Wait for us." Arvin and Emily said following them.
Once all of them were dried off they met back up at Jack's car.
"Where to next?" Irina asked eagerly.
"A theme park."
"With rollercoasters?"
"Yeah." "Oh." Irina replied tensing slightly.
At the theme park
They stood in line for the coaster. The entire time Irina had been oddly quiet.
"Is something wrong?" Jack asked placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I have a confession. I have never ridden a rollercoaster." Irina admitted.
"You're kidding." Emily said looking over at her friend.
"It's fun. Don't worry, you can hold my hand if you want." Jack smiled.
Irina smiled back, at that moment the coaster pulled back into the station.
"I'm beginning to regret being so close to the front." Jack whispered to Arvin.
Irina sat down in the car and allowed Jack to help her fix the belt and bar into place. As the brakes released and the coaster started up the click hill, Irina grabbed Jack's hand intertwining their fingers.
"You'll be fine. I'm right here." Jack said patting her hand reassuring.
Her vise grip didn't release. The coaster reached the top of the hill and began to tip over. Irina's breath caught in her throat and her grip tightened even more.
"Jack." She whimpered as the coaster began to plunge.
Soon her terrified scream filled the air. The coaster leveled out and shot back up another hill. This time the resulting scream was one of joy. Irina let go of Jack's hand and waved her hands in the air with the other riders. By the time the ride ended Irina's hair was whipped around her face and her cheeks were flushed from laughter.
"That was great." Irina said excited as they exited the coaster.
"Another roller coaster fanatic is born." Jack teased.
Irina practically dragged him onto the other coasters. Emily and Arvin slipped off for some alone time. After riding what felt like every coaster in the park, Irina turned to Jack her smile dazzling him.
"I'm starving." She smiled up at him.
"Me too. Tell you what. Lunch is on me." Jack smiled slinging his arm around her shoulder.
They walked over to the nearest pizza joint. Emily and Arvin were already there more content with making out than eating their pizza.
"Get a room you two." Jack said walking over to them.
"Shutup Jack. Jealous." Arvin teased.
"If that's what you need to believe." Jack retorted.
"You two look pretty chummy. Is there something you need to tell us?" Emily asked pointing to Jack's arm around Irina's shoulder.
"No." Irina replied throwing Emily and evil glare.
Jack laughed and he and Irina went to order their pizza.
"What topping do you want?" Jack asked.
"Pepperoni, onions, and mushrooms please." Irina answered.
Jack laughed slightly.
"What's so funny?" Irina asked.
"I eat the same thing on my pizza."
They ordered the pizza and sat back down. Irina insisted on getting their drinks.
"You like her don't you." Emily asked.
"Yeah. She's smart, fun, and we like the same kind of pizza." Jack replied watching Irina as she filled up their cups.
"You should ask her out. I know she would say yes." Emily said.
"How do you know that?" Jack asked.
"Because she's been talking about you nonstop since you two met."
Before Jack could reply he heard a wolf whistle from behind them.
"I knew it was a good idea to come here today." A blonde haired man said as he approached Irina.
Irina visibly tensed, and Jack just stared at the man.
"Excuse me." Irina said politely.
The man stepped in front of her.
"Where do you think you're going beautiful." He smiled.
Irina walked around him and back over to their table, the man followed her. She sat down the cups. He reached for her shoulder, but before Jack could react Irina spun, and pinned the man's arm behind his back.
"Leave me alone." She said her voice dangerous, her grip unrelenting.
"Ok. Ok. Sorry lady geez." The man said rubbing his arm when she released him.
Arvin and Jack stared at her as she sat down calmly and took a sip of her soda.
"What was that?" Jack asked astounded.
"I'm a thirteenth degree black belt in Tai Qwan Do, and I study Brazilian jujitsu." Irina said nonchalant.
Arvin just stared. Emily smiled.
"Would you like to go out with me sometime. Like on a date." Jack asked.
Irina almost choked on her pizza.
"What?" she said taking another sip of her drink.
"Would you like to go on a date with me?" Jack smiled.
"I'd like that." Irina said trying to hide the redness in her cheeks.