chapter four

nice to meet you

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Massie liked to think that she enjoyed the simpler things in life. For example, right now she was comfortably sitting in Starbucks, listening to Tegan and Sara on her iPod and trying to find her inner Zen.

It was times like this when she would give up everything she owned just to chill out there for awhile. No worries about homework, about school, about school cliques, about her parents, about anything.

But then, of course something would happen to bring her back into reality, like Inez's son would start to whine, or the TV would get too loud. Luckily Starbucks was a peaceful place anyways.

Until she happened to run into a certain two boys.

They came into the store loudly, boisteriously pushing the door open and laughing hysterically.

"Oh my God," The first one said, grabbing a seat at the table across from Massie. "I can't believe we made it out of there." He was tall, tanned, and toned. Dark brown hair fell into his dark brown eyes, and as he talked to his friend, Massie could see his iPod white teeth. There was no denying it—he was hot.

"Shit, I know," the other one laughed, clutching his toned stomach. He was just as tall and tanned as his friend. His light brown hair was spiked and complimented his ice blue eyes. "I wonder what happened to D."

The one with the darker hair snorted to himself, and murmured something that Massie could have sworn was "fuzz," which sent the two into another round of hysterics.

The darker haired one said something to his friend and looked at Massie with perfect timing, so that his chocolate brown eyes caught her amber ones. He nodded to his friend and smoothly glided over to where she was sitting.

"Can I help you?" he said, flashing her a winning smile.

"Or can I help you?" the other one said, giving her a once-over and raising his eyebrows provocatively.

"What makes you think I need help?" Massie raised her eyebrows skeptically, smiling the slightest bit.

"One who looks like she needs help is often worth helping," the darker haired one smiled. "I'm Danny."

"And I'm Griffin," the lighter haired one said.

"Nice to meet both of you," she giggled. "So...um… what brings you to Starbucks?"

"Oh, nothing, we just got in trouble with the law and the adrenaline rush just so happened to lead us to this fine establishment—" Danny said, getting cut off by Griffin who elbowed him in the ribs before he could say any more. Massie's eyes widened.

"Shut up," Griffin hissed.

Danny rolled his eyes and turned back to Massie. "So you're a friendly face I don't recognize."

Massie snorted. "How do you know it's friendly if you can't recognize it?"

Griffin chucked. "She's got a feisty face I'd like to recognize," he whispered to Danny.

Danny waved it off. "I'm guessing you're new?"

Massie nodded. "I just moved here like, a week ago." She paused. "How do you know that I'm new?"

"Small town," Griffin said flatly. "Where do you go?"

Massie frowned, trying to remember her school's confusing name. "I think it's Briarwood-Octavian Country High School, or something like that…?"

"So you're a rich bitch?" Danny jabbed, causing Griffin to provide a loud outburst of laughter.

"Isn't that the only high school around here?" Massie asked.

"No. That's the elite prep school for private school pussies," Griffin snorted. "Me and Danny go to Abner Doubleday Day."

"It's in the slums, practically," Danny explained.

"Oh," Massie said, not sure of what to think. "That's very… interesting, I guess."

Danny nodded. "So you're coming to the game, right?"

"Game?"

"Yeah, Abner plays the BOCHS guys Friday. As in tomorrow."

Massie stared at him blankly. "In what sport?"

"Soccer. Me and Griffin are on the Wolverines at Abner, and we're playing your BOCHS Tomahawks crowd. On Friday. Which is tomorrow."

"Massie, your white chocolate mocha is ready," the barista called, peeking out from behind the cappuchino machine.

"Excuse me," Massie said, getting up to the counter to grab her coffee and a sleeve. She was just about to take a sip when her phone vibrated.

DERRICK: CAN I C U LATER TONIGHT? :)

Massie smiled to herself and tapped Derrick's name on her iPhone, awaiting the dial tone.

"Hey, Its Sexy, leave a message after the—Hey!"

"Derrick?"

"Haha… yeah."

Massie giggled into her free palm. "You wanted to hang out?"

"Um… yeah… could you maybe pick me up?"

Massie blinked. "Uh… sure. Where do you live?"

Derrick groaned. Massie could practically see him running his hands through his golden hair. "About that… I'm not at my house."

"Okay… so where are you?" Massie's perfectly waxed brows furrowed.

"Don't judge me when I tell you," Derrick began, letting another sigh escape his mouth.

"Derrick," Massie said, getting impatient. "Where. Are you?"

Another sigh. And silence on the other line.

"The Westchester Police Station."

Massie's eyes widened. "What the hell are you doing there!" She shrieked. Danny and Griffin, along with the rest of the people inside the Starbucks, turned to look where the source of Massie's outburst had come from.

"I said not to judge me!"

"Derrick," Massie said slowly. "What did you do? Actually, nevermind. I don't want to know."

"It's a long story," he sighed. "Can you please pick me up?"

"The things I do for you, Harrington," Massie spat, hanging up.

Griffin and Danny were still sitting at the table. "Dude, she's hot," Griffin noted. How convenient it was that Massie had her back to them, giving Griffin the perfect opportunity to check out her toned butt.

"No shit," Danny said, smacking Griffin on the back of the head. "I bet she's already in with Claire and that whole crew over there."

"It wouldn't surprise me," Griffin said. "She's hotter than Claire and has a better body than Alicia."

"Don't talk about them to me," Danny spat. "They can go die for all I care."

Danny paused. He looked back over to Massie, who was still barking into her phone. "I think I'm gonna go for her, G."

Massie, on the other hand, was livid. The nerve, that, that kid asking her to pick him up at the police station of all places! She hardly knew him, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to anymore. She grabbed her coffee and walked back over to the table where Danny and Griffin were seated.

"What was that all about?" Griffin asked.

Massie sighed. "Oh… it was nothing."

"You weren't talking to Derrick Harrington, by any chance, were you?"

Massie froze from gathering her stuff off the table. "Yeah… how do you know him?"

Griffin was about to open his mouth when Danny gave him a warning glace, telling him that he would take this one.

"We do business with him," Danny finished, exchanging a look with Griffin.

"I see," Massie said skeptically, raising her eyebrows for about the fiftieth time that afternoon. "Well it was nice meeting you two." She stood up, looking down at the two of them.

"Where are you going?" Griffin asked.

"I have to go pick up a friend," Massie replied, almost biting her tongue for calling Derrick a friend.

Danny stood up. "Okay... so I don't get a hug?" He innocently looked down at her.

"Nope," Massie said, grinning.

"Well do I at least get your number?"

"I guess."

Danny reached into his pocket and grabbed his Voyager, holding it out to Massie. She took it, tapped some buttons, and returned it. "I guess I'll see you on Friday, then," Massie finished.

She smiled at them one last time before scooping up her bags and books and walking out of the store.

"Damn." Griffin said.

The characters keep on coming.

Review?

-logen.

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