Stella Saule – most beautiful girl in school, richest girl in school, most fashionable girl in school, but maybe not the most popular – pushed her way through the crowd. It was, in her opinion, criminal that she wasn't more popular, but apparently there was something about her sense of humour or, as Musa called it, her brashness that rubbed people the wrong way. Nevermind, she had her girls, so who needed the rest of them anyways.

Unfortunately for her, one of her girls also happened to be dating one of the most popular guys in school and somehow, she always ended up getting dragged to his house parties alongside her darling best friend. Bloom hated parties, so how she'd ended up dating mister popular football jock man Skylar Eraklyon was beyond Stella. Usually, Musa and Aisha would be dragged along, but the latter had family commitments and the former was out on a date with her dumbass jackass of a boyfriend. He's not that bad, she claimed – whatever. Tecna and Flora weren't partiers, so they never came. Which, tonight, left Stella all alone while Bloom was dragged away by her stupid boyfriend to be introduced to more people whose name Bloom would never remember.

Stella dropped herself onto one of the striped blue and white lounge chairs on the back patio of Sky's mansion, which she found ridiculously large even by her standards – and her home had a ballroom, six guest rooms, two dining rooms, three living rooms and a servants' quarters. She nursed the repulsive beer that she'd plucked out of a cooler – the only alcoholic option she had, and lord knew she'd need that to survive the night – as she watched Diaspro, miss head cheerleader and Sky's ex, flirt with Pete, Stella's ex.

It had only been two weeks since they'd broken up; how the fuck was he already flirting with other girls? Especially such heinous ones. Stella rolled her eyes, drank and scrolled through her phone, occasionally getting a text from the others asking how the party was. Bloom came by once or twice, but Sky always pulled her away. If Stella didn't know any better, she'd think he was jealous that Bloom would prefer to hang out with her instead of him.

"Hi there."

"Fuck off."

"Wow. You're friendly."

Stella rolled her eyes. She was not in the mood for some jackass to hit on her. And yet, said jackass took the chair next to hers and leaned back. Stella stared straight ahead at her phone; she would pay him no mind. If he couldn't get the very straightforward message of fuck off that wasn't her problem.

"So, what's it like?"

"What?" Stella questioned against her better judgement.

"What's it like?"

"What's what like?" Stella demanded with an exasperated sigh as she dropped her phone in her lap.

"Being the most gorgeous woman to ever exist."

"Seriously? That's the best you can do?" Stella gave him the most unimpressed look she could muster and... fuck.

He was gorgeous.

Fuck him.

Broad shoulders, perfect square jaw, sparkling smile, deep chocolatey eyes, shiny brown hair, skin so smooth it would make a newborn jealous. He made Pete look like a dumpster. Stella forced her unimpressed glare to stay on her face solely for appearance's sake, but she actually found herself okay with the idea of him continuing to flirt with her. Did that make her a hypocrite? Absolutely, but she didn't care. His gorgeous ass could distract her from this misery.

"If I had a nickel for every time I saw someone as beautiful as you, I'd have five cents."

Stella grimaced.

"Are you a parking ticket? Cause you've got fine written all over you. If I had four quarters to give to the four prettiest women in the world, you would have a dollar. You must be made of cheese because you're looking Gouda tonight."

"Oh. That... was awful, but I've not heard it yet" she admitted. She tried to maintain her uninterested demeanor, but she had to admit that there was something charming about him. She let her eyes roam over the backyard, hoping that Pete had noticed this delicious man flirting with her. She had been the one to break up with him, so she wasn't particularly heartbroken, but it stung to see him already moving on. She needed to show him she was too.

"Awful?" He furrowed his brows in offense. One of his hands found its way to his chest as he gasped in feigned offence. Stella tried not to notice how his arms flexed at the movement. She failed, of course.

"You couldn't possibly think it was good."

"Well, let's see you do better than" he challenged.

Stella spotted Pete looking at them and gave him a wicked smirk. She returned her attention to her admirer, deciding that she was willing to play along. Letting herself slide down the lounge chair, Stella angled her body towards him. She used the arm of the chair to support her arm as she propped her chin onto her palm and gave him the sweetest look she could. "I'm not so good at holding conversations… is it okay if I hold your hand instead?"

He smiled at her. Oh God, that really was a nice smile. His dentist must be a magician. The man sat up and threw his legs over the edge of the chair, leaning into her. "They say Disney World is the happiest place on Earth, but clearly they've never sat next to you."

"Are you an artist? Because you're really good at drawing me in."

"I hope you know CPR because you are taking my breath away."

"I'd take you to the movies, but they don't let you bring in your own snacks."

"When I text you goodnight later, what phone number should I use?"

Oooh that was a smooth one. She wouldn't mind if he texted her good night. Or good morning.

"Aside from being sexy, what do you do for a living?"

"If you were a chicken, you'd be Im-peck-able."

"Oh... noooo" Stella laughed. He'd been doing so well. None of the lines were that good – except maybe the goodnight text one – but at least they were possible. She tried to reel in her laughter, but it was so bad, she couldn't help it. She loved a good bad joke.

"So, uh... do you have a name, or can I just call you 'mine'?" he asked as she wiped away the tears that had started to form in the corners of her eyes.

"Are you only gonna talk to me in bad pick-up lines now?"

"Well, it seems to be the only thing that you'll respond to, so" he retorted with a laugh. Stella laughed again. When she stopped, he was watching her with a smile that she couldn't quite decipher. It wasn't the charming one he'd been using on her before, it was more… genuine. "You're really pretty when you smile."

She almost brushed it off as another pick up line, but something told her it wasn't. She smiled again, which he returned. He was really cute. And, for the first time since she'd found out she'd be accompanying Bloom solo, Stella found herself genuinely enjoying herself.

"Stella" she told him, extending her hand.

"Brandon." His hand took hers and shook it. He smiled at her, his dark eyes meeting her own. She couldn't help but notice that the smile extended into his eyes and there was something incredibly comforting about them. It was only after she realized they were still holding hands some minutes later that she spoke again.

"It's nice to meet you, Brandon."