Kristina's POV
I am busy pampering myself before my big date tonight with Johnny. The gala is a huge deal for me; the perfect chance to show him that I'm sexy and sophisticated. I try to imagine his reaction when he sees me tonight.
A knock on the door snaps me out of my reverie. With my luck it's my father come to bitch at me about Johnny. I sigh then stand up and head to the door.
Peeking through the keyhole I notice that it's not my father but it's not Johnny either.
"Derrick, what are you doing here?" I ask the guy standing in front of me.
Derrick is tall and fit with his muscles showing, the tattoos on both arms fully visible. On his left arm it's some brief poem and on the right arm the words "Live life to the fullest" are written in cursive. He has on a plain grey tee and dark jeans with hints of brown on them to make them look worn. Damn if he doesn't look so edgy and sexy without any effort.
"I came to see you, silly." He says sauntering in.
My brown eyes meet his intense green ones. He has a nice sun kissed tan and light stubble on his chin and above his lip.
"I know that, but why?" I ask curiously. How did he even know where I live?
"I asked your sister if you still lived at the lakehouse and she gave me your address. I would've brought a housewarming gift but; what do you buy the girl who has everything?" he asks. He runs a hand through his dark brown hair.
"You could've brought me my daily smoothie," I joke. "I'll drink almost any flavor."
"You haven't lived until you've had one of my smoothies. I make this pink one with coconut water, it's amazing," he tells me.
"I'm sure it is. It was nice of you to stop by Derrick but I'm busy." I say.
"Doing what? If I might ask?" he replies.
"Prepping for tonight's gala. I still need to decide what heels I'm wearing." I let him know.
I laugh. "You haven't seen my shoe closet," I say.
"Well I would love a mini tour of your apartment," he says with enthusiasm. "Show me this shoe closet."
"Prepare to be impressed," I say with a smile as we head to my room. I open one of my closets to reveal my impressive shoe collection. There are so many heels lining the shelves. Studded heels, heeled booties, leopard print heels, blue heels, pink heels: a heel for every occasion.
"Wow, Miss Diva. I have to say I'm impressed. I dated models who didn't even have this many designer shoes," Derrick says.
"What can I say, daddy treats me like a princess," I tell him with a flirty smile.
"Must be nice having a rich daddy who gives you money for whatever you want. Some of us actually had to work hard to get where we are," he utters.
"Whatever. You're an actor and dancer who got discovered when you started high school," I point out. "You landed a TV gig right away and didn't have to struggle like most actors. Hell you were dancing backup for a few Broadway shows in middle school."
"Yeah for a reoccurring role on a cheesy soap opera. Luckily a casting director shooting a teen flick in New York saw my potential," Derrick bragged.
"And now you're on your way to movie stardom," I say putting my hands in the air as I read my pretend billboard. "Hollywood's new it boy, Derrick Adams."
"I bet those Madison Prep guys were so jealous," he says.
"You know they were. Madison Prep is full of so many fakes. I don't know how I survived it til senior year." I say recalling how awful my time was at school.
"You had the option to go to any boarding school you wanted. I would have taken that opportunity in an instant," Derrick reminds me.
"Yep but everything with my father comes with a price; my love, my obedience, my trust." I sigh and sit down on my bed.
"Okay change of subject. I'm back in town visiting for a little while because my agent says I need to get the hometown boy thing down for a new role," he says.
"Even when you lived in this town you were never a hometown boy. You always acted like a pompous artiste. What they aren't casting any vampire roles at the moment?" I joke remembering his reoccurring role on a hit supernatural teen series.
"I was perfect in that role and got a lot of rave reviews and of course the ladies were impressed with my abs," he replies. "But I'm trying to show casting directors how versatile I can be as an actor, though I'll never hold a candle to you."
I raise my eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"
"Please you would play the part of the perfect little rich snot so well. You were so fake in high school and middle school. Nose in the air country club girl who would spend her summers playing tennis and lounging by the pool. You always had your nose turned down on us lesser city kids who went to school on scholarships," he rambles on.
"If I was so fake why did you always talk to me in study hall? And why did you keep in contact with me after you left?" I ask with a look of disgust.
"Because I do like the girl you are beneath the façade. When you're real, not that persona you put on in public," he says putting a hand on my cheek.
"I think it's time for you to leave," I say standing up and heading out of my bedroom. "I have a date to get ready for."
"Who's the lucky guy?" He asks with a goofy smile and his face as he stands in front of my open door.
"None of your business," I tell him.
"Well I'm renting a brownstone in town. If you ever want to come over and talk or hang or anything, just hit me up," he informs me.
"Thanks but don't expect a call anytime soon," I let him know before closing the door.
He's so full of himself I can't stand it! Yet he's also soulful and fascinating at the same time. I could sit down and talk to him for hours over smoothies or chai lattes. For I moment there I had forgotten all about the gala and Johnny because I was so focused on his mesmeric eyes. He's even more charismatic off-screen than on. And to think in middle school he was the geeky kid with the braces who I'd make fun of. Nothing geeky about him anymore.