Before you say anything, yes I know that I have requests to catch up on but this story popped into my head over the weekend and I wanted to get it written down while I was still excited about it. I have no idea how long it is going to be because I don't know where my imagination and excitement is going to take me haha. ALSO if you are sending me PMs, for some reason I am not getting notifications of them so I am sorry for my late responses or if I never got back to you. I don't know why Fanfiction is being weird.

On with the story!

Brandon and Stella- Prom Queen

*Both Stella and Brandon are eighteen years old*

The neon sign glowed against the backdrop of the clear night sky. Stella had been walking around aimlessly, searching for somewhere to eat that was open. She just had to get out of that stuffy gym. Seeing the glow of the old diner in the middle of town made her heart soar and her stomach growl. She thanked whatever higher power there was that there was a place that was open this late.

Most places had closed early as it had been the night of the Solaria High School prom. The whole town seemed to shut down for events like this but Stella guessed that was one of both the perks and downside of living in a small town. Everyone was involved in everything, including everyone's business.

Being the only child of the richest family in Solaria didn't help Stella at all. Everyone knew everything about her, even the things that she wished could remain a secret. But because of her money and her cheerful disposition, Stella never wanted for anything, including friends. However, they could become utterly suffocating. She was lucky to make it out of the stuffy Solarian Historical Center where the prom was being held to escape the loud music and search for some food. She just wanted a moment alone.

Entering the small diner, it was completely empty, save for the dining staff. She heard the sear of the grill in the back and the ding of bell letting the staff know that someone was in there.

Stella looked around and nearly jumped when she saw a small older woman approach her, her hair curled and a wide smile along her plump face.

"Good evening, is it just you?" the woman asked.

"Yes." Stella replied quietly.

"Great, you can take a seat wherever you like," the old lady gestured around the empty diner, "someone will be with you shortly. Just to let you know that we will be closing up here in about thirty minutes"

"Oh," Stella looked at the older woman, "I didn't know. I will try to be quick."

Stella picked up her emerald gown so that it would not hit the sticky diner ground as she walked over to the counter and took a seat on the red vinyl stool. Wearing an expensive gown and ornate golden jewelry is not something that Stella would have ever pictured wearing to a diner, but here she was.

Placing her elbows on the counter, Stella waited for someone to come out from wherever the wait staff was to take her order. She was starving and all she wanted was a huge plate of fries and a milkshake.

Her prayers were answered when a young man around her age with brown hair stood in front of her. Stella looked up and recognized the man as Brandon, the transfer student from Eraklyon High who was in her english and calculus classes. Nobody knew the reason why he transferred in his senior year, why he didn't finish off his high school career at the school that he started at. Rumor was that he was expelled. There was another rumor that he was caught selling drugs behind the school or that he got in too many fights. Either way, nobody knew because he tended to be alone. He was wearing a white button up shirt, black slacks, and a black apron was tied around his waist.

"What can I get for you, princess?" Brandon asked as he smirked down at Stella.

"Excuse me?" Stella furrowed her brow as she looked up at the young brunette.

"The tiara." Brandon pointed to the empty space on top of his head with his pen.

Stella reached up and felt the cool metal against her head. She forgot that she was even wearing that.

"Oh." Stella grabbed the metal and pulled the small golden crown off of her head and set it down on the counter.

"Prom Queen?" Brandon cocked an eyebrow up as he looked at the engraving on the back of the tiara.

"Yeah." Stella sighed as she folded her hands on the counter.

"Please," Brandon chuckled, "contain your enthusiasm."

Stella lowered her head and looked down at the menu, despite knowing exactly what she wanted.

"I'll have the large fries and a large vanilla shake."

"Large?" Brandon asked as he brought the pen down to the pad of paper.

"Did I stutter?" Stella put down the menu and looked up at Brandon.

Brandon held up his hands in defense before he took a step back.

"Okay, just wanted to make sure."

Stella watched as Brandon retreated into the kitchen and handed the slip of paper with her order on it to the cook. The cook took the piece of paper in his greasy hands before getting to work on the fries. Brandon took a frosted glass out of a silver case and began scooping vanilla ice cream into the glass.

"So, I thought that you would be happy about winning prom queen." Brandon grunted as he reached down and took another scoop of ice cream.

"I thought so too." Stella replied as she watched the brunette man's forearms flex as he scooped.

"Most girls are, aren't they? Or is that not how things work here in Solaria?" Brandon asked.

"No, they are."

"So why aren't you?"

Stella sighed as she watched Brandon place the glass under a machine with a large prong. He turned on the machine and the prong began to spin, stirring the ice cream and milk.

"Why are you so interested?"

"I just worked a ten hour shift and only had three customers all night which means low tips. I think that you can indulge me in this one thing."

"I don't owe you anything."

"Touche" Brandon shrugged as he shook a canister of whipped cream.

"I'm surprised that they didn't give you the night off to go to the prom."

"I asked for this shift." Brandon placed the milkshake in front of Stella.

"You didn't want to go to prom?"

"Judging by your attitude, did I want to go?" Brandon chuckled.

"Upset because nobody asked you?" Stella scoffed.

"No," Brandon leaned back against the counter, "speaking of date, I don't see yours."

"I just went with friends." Stella replied after she swallowed a mouthful of milkshake.

"And they are?" Brandon waved his hands around the empty diner.

"Still at the prom."

"Without their queen?" Brandon feigned shock as he placed a hand on his chest.

Stella glared up at him before placing the straw in her mouth and silently resumed her sipping. As if on cue, the small domed bell rang notifying Brandon that Stella's fries were ready to be picked up. Grabbing the hot plate, Brandon set them down on the counter but held them close to him.

"Um, can I have my food?" Stella raised a perfectly sculpted brow.

"Not until you tell me why you are so upset."

"I don't think that it is very good customer service to withhold food. I don't even know if that is legal."

"You haven't paid for it yet."

"And I haven't tipped you."

"You're right," Brandon smirked before taking a few hot fries in his hands, "you haven't."

Stella watched in shock as Brandon placed the fries into his mouth. She lunged across the counter and snatched the plate from Brandon, a few fries falling onto the counter and then tumbling to the floor.

"God," Stella huffed, "no wonder you were kicked out of your old school. You're so fucking annoying."

Brandon's body tensed as the words escaped past her dark red lips. Pulling a towel from his apron, Brandon began to clean the fries that spilled onto the counter and the floor. He rose to his feet and threw the dirty fries into the garbage, his eyes secretly trained on the blonde prom queen.

"What?" Stella looked over to Brandon.

Shit. She noticed.

"I didn't get kicked out." Brandon said just above a whisper.

"Huh?" Stella cocked her head to the side, a blonde curl falling from her intricate updo.

"I wasn't kicked out of Eraklyon High. I know that's what everyone thinks but that's not what happened."

"Then why don't you say that?" Stella rolled her eyes.

"Because the stories of me are more entertaining than the truth."

"What could be worse than the evidently false rumors? You know people think that you are some drug pusher, right? There is even a crazy rumor that you pushed a teacher down a flight of stairs." Stella folded her arms on the counter and leaned forward. Brandon's eyes couldn't help but fall to her chest to sneak a peek of the cleavage that was showing under her dark green gown.

Brandon exhaled, "My dad lost his job and my mom got sick. All of our money had to go to the hospital bills and they couldn't afford to keep sending me to Eraklyon. So I had to come to Solaria High."

Stella's heart dropped hearing the real reason that he was here. It wasn't the saddest story that she heard which probably made her even more upset. Everyone thought that he was some terrible loner that did something awful to get him expelled. Instead, his family just fell on hard times and he was a casualty in the aftermath.

"Is that why you didn't come to prom?" Stella asked quietly.

"I couldn't justify spending money on a tux and the works while my parents were struggling. I should be working."

"But it's your senior year. You should have fun."

"You weren't having fun." Brandon folded his arms across his chest and smirked, "So I have told you the real reason that I am here, now will you tell me why you came in here after winning prom queen looking like someone had died."

Stella looked Brandon up and down, assessing whether he really wanted to know why she was upset. They barely knew each other and she didn't think that he would want to hear it.

"You'll think that I am being ridiculous."

"Why would I think that?" Brandon asked, moving a little closer to Stella.

"You are going through all of that with your family. It makes my troubles look a lot less...troublesome." Stella sighed.

"Drowning in six inches in water versus six feet is still drowning." Brandon shrugged before placing his forearms on the counter and leaning over to look Stella in her eyes. "So what is troubling you?"

Cool breath hit her face and she became overwhelmed by the smell of mint and...maraschino cherries? She never noticed the deep brown of his eyes or the way that the right corner of his mouth slightly turned up. Her heart raced at the scent but she willed herself to calm down, her heartbeat returning to a normal pace.

"Are you going to tell me or are you just going to keep staring at me, Princess?" Brandon's mouth turned up into a smug smile.

Stella leaned back and she cleared her throat, "Do you ever feel trapped by what people think you should be?"

"I am afraid that I don't really understand."

Stella sighed, "I think that everyone wants me to be this ray of sunlight all the time," Stella reached down and ran her thumb over the shiny metal of the tiara, "a perfect princess. I am going to attend the college that my parents want me to attend, go into the program that my parents want, but I don't want it. I can't tell them because they are going through their own shit. I am pretty sure that they are on the brink of divorce and I try to be the one to appease them, not make their lives more difficult than it already is. I have to be perfect." a tear escaped Stella's eyes, "Then winning this stupid, fake crown just made me realize that striving for perfection is just as stupid and fake. I wanted to lose. I wanted to not be so perfect."

Brandon looked down at the blonde girl sitting in front of him, watching the tears slowly fall down her cheek. Without thinking, he brought his hand up to gently wipe the tear from Stella's soft cheek. She looked up with wide amber eyes, her lips parted in surprise as she felt his warm hands on her skin.

"If it is any consolation, I don't think that you are perfect."

Stella let out a soft giggle through her tears, "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"Is it?"

Nodding her head, Stella reached for a napkin and dabbed her eyes.

"I never thought that I would be spending my prom night crying in a diner alone." Stella lightly shook her head as she wadded up the tear stained napkin.

"You aren't alone." Brandon smiled, "Gina and Dave are here. And I am here."

"I suppose you are right." Stella grinned, "Thank you for listening."

Brandon reached out and gave her hand a comforting pat before he took the empty plate that was on the counter.

"We are about to close up." Brandon said as he placed the empty plate on the ledge of the serving hatch window.

"Oh," Stella looked over at the clock and saw that it was ten until midnight, "then I will take my check and let you clear up."

"Nah," Brandon waved his hand dismissively, "it's on the house."

"Brandon..."

"You paid me enough with your company. Plus, I can't make you pay on the day of your coronation, Princess."

"It's Stella," Stella reached down into the front of her dress where she kept her wallet while at the prom, "and I am a queen and I will be paying."

Brandon rolled his eyes as he watched Stella put down the thick, black, credit card on the counter next to her crown. Must be daddy's, Brandon thought to himself. Taking the card, Brandon brought it to the small cash register and swiped the card.

"Here you go." Brandon handed back the thick black card. His hands grazed hers as he handed off the card.

A blush creeped onto Stella's face as she looked, trying her best conceal the pink color that her cheeks had taken.

"Thank you for listening."

"I can say the same to you." Brandon gave Stella a small smile.

"I'll see you in English on Monday." Stella placed her wallet back in the front of her dress.

"See you th-"

"Brandon James Grayson!" Brandon turned his head to see an angry Gina glaring at him, her hands on her hips, "You walk this pretty lady back to her house or wherever she is going."

"I think that she is perfectly capable of-"

"It's midnight, boy! Be a gentleman."

"But I have to clean-"

"What did I say?!" Gina stomped over to Brandon before she brought her hand up and smacked the back of his head, "Grab ya shit and get out."

Brandon sighed and rolled his eyes as he took off his apron. He walked to the back and appeared next to Stella wearing a black jacket.

"You really don't have to walk me back." Stella leaned over to Brandon as they walked out of the diner. She fiddled with the small tiara in her hands as she slowly walked forward on the cracked sidewalk.

"I don't mind," Brandon placed his hands in his pocket, "besides, if something were to happen to you, I think that Gina would kill me. So do you want me to walk you back to the prom?"

"The prom is over." Stella replied.

"Is your car there?" Brandona asked.

"No, I rode with my friends."

"Well where do you want to go?"

Stella shrugged, "You want to come over to my place and watch a movie or something."

"I smell like grease and sweat. And whatever the Hell kind of nasty cologne Dave uses to mask his musk."

"You can take a shower at my place. I think my dad has some extra clothes."

"And your parents won't mind?"

Stella smirked, "I am going to try this new thing where I don't think about what my parents want. Besides, we can watch the movie in the pool house, they won't know that you are there."

"Of course you have a pool house." Brandon rolled his eyes. "I am surprised that you didn't go to Eraklyon. Why is a princess going to public school?"

"My parents didn't want me to be a brat, I guess. They wanted me to hang out with peasants like you." Stella giggled, teasing Brandon.

"It is an honor to be in the presence of such royalty." Brandon joked.

Stella nudged him with her shoulder as they continued walking to the bus stop.

"What are you doing?" Brandon asked.

"Awaiting my carriage." Stella pointed up to the bus stop sign. Seeing that Brandon's face was contorted into an expression, Stella rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Do you seriously think that I am above riding the bus? At this point I can't tell if you are just teasing me or think that poorly of me."

"You are just full of surprises." Brandon replied as he walked over to stand by Stella at the bus stop.

"I think that your opinion of me was so myopic that you failed to open your mind up to the notion that I could be multifaceted." Stella scoffed.

"I see someone has been paying attention in English class." Brandon lifted an eyebrow.

"Somebody has to," Stella replied, "I feel bad for poor Mrs. Bates."

"What amazes me is how someone could make Hamlet so boring but leave it to Mrs. Bates to do it."

"I enjoyed Hamlet." Stella remarked.

"I am more of a Macbeth man myself." Brandon sighed.

"Really? It's so violent." Stella crinkled up her nose.

"People are dying left and right in Hamlet and you say that Macbeth is violent."

"Well, Hamlet isn't my favorite."

"What is? Please don't be sappy and say Romeo and Juliet."

"It's not." Stella rolled her eyes, "I personally enjoy The Taming of the Shrew but I do enjoy Cymbeline as well."

"Cymbeline? You mean the lesser known Othello?"

"Hey, I like it." Stella smacked Brandon's arm.

"Do you think of yourself as an Imogen? I could be your Posthumus."

"You are acting more like a Cloten right now." Stella huffed.

"Watch it or I will turn into an Iachimo."

"And I will be forced to turn into the evil Queen." Stella glanced up at Brandon and gave him a small smile.

Brandon chuckled as his eyes became transfixed by Stella's warm smile and golden eyes highlighted by the golden accents on her gown and the gold jewelry on her sun kissed skin. She was like a bright sunny day, even during the dead of night.

The street was empty and a cool spring breeze rolled through the air, hitting Stella on her skin. She shivered, an action that did not go unnoticed by Brandon. He sighed as he took off his jacket and wrapped it around Stella's arms.

"Thank you." Stella's voice came out as a whisper.

"You're welcome."

The sound of the rumbling bus became louder as it approached Stella and Brandon at the bus stop. The door opened and the old bus driver welcomed them onto the bus as they paid the fare.

"You two are lucky," the old bus driver said as Stella and Brandon took a seat next to one another, "this is the last bus of the night. You two come from the prom? You two make a lovely couple."

"We aren't-" Stella protested but was cut off by Brandon.

"Yes, we are coming from the prom."

Stella looked up and glared at Brandon as she felt his arm snake around the back of the bus seats and his hand rested on her shoulder. Stella didn't want this bus driver to think that they were together, they had just had their first conversation that night outside of a classroom setting. But, what did it hurt? This was a bus driver, not the student body of Solaria High. Not that people thinking that she was with Brandon would be a bad thing either. He was...cute...and maybe his rumored bad boy reputation could help her shed the image of perfection that burdened her. Maybe her parents would start to pay attention to her if she was dating someone that everyone thought was bad news.

"Did you have a fun time?"

"Yes we did," Brandon replied, "Stella even won prom queen."

"My my my, a prom queen on my bus. I am surprised that you two aren't at the big party after. The prom king and queen should be at the post prom."

"Oh, I didn't win prom king." Brandon chuckled.

"Ah, too bad. Who did?" the old man asked as he turned his steering wheel. "Sorry for all of the questions but it has been a slow night and I am an old man who at times likes to relive my youth."

"Mark Loggins won." Stella answered the old man.

"Ah, the Loggins kid? Figures." the old man shrugged.

"Yeah, it really wasn't a surprise when he won." Stella giggled, "Rumor is that he stuffed the ballot box."

"And it wasn't too awkward dancing with someone who wasn't your prom date?" the old man chuckled.

"She can dance with whoever she wants." Brandon absentmindedly began to run his fingers up and down Stella's arm.

"And I didn't dance with him." Stella remarked as she looked up at the old bus driver.

The old man nodded his head as he stopped the bus in front of the convenience store.

"So why didn't you dance with Mark? Isn't that a thing that the king and queen do at prom? Or is the tradition here in Solaria different."

"Mark was drunk and belligerent."

"And he was still allowed into prom?"

"Yeah, it's kind of a free for all here at Solaria. Not much else to do in a small town but drink, go to town or school events, and fuck."

Brandon choked on the spit in his mouth upon hearing the list of activities one could do in Solaria. The bus began to move again, nobody new getting on the bus.

"And which of those three things do you like to do?" Brandon raised a dark eyebrow.

Stella turned her head to look out of the window, folding her arms over her chest.

"None of those so don't even think about it."

"Too late," Brandon smirked, "I already thought about it."

"Hopefully not the third one." Stella snapped her head around to face Brandon.

"Sorry, Princess." Brandon chuckled.

"You're disgusting."

"I thought I was annoying?"

"You're both."

Stella clutched the small golden crown in her hand before she pulled on the thin, yellow cord above the seat, indicating for the bus driver to stop. When the bus pulled over to the side of the road with a lurching stop, Stella stood up and glared down at Brandon, notifying him to do the same.

The two of them walked off the bus together, thanking the bus driver for his driving. The cool air hit Stella in the face and Brandon looked around at large houses that loomed ominously over the street. Even his former house before the move were dwarfed by these mansions...no...castles.

"Is everything alright?" Stella asked as she angled her head to look up at Brandon, breaking him from his trance.

"Uh, yeah." Brandon replied softly and unsure.

"Well, my house is this way." Stella pulled on the white fabric of Brandon's sleeve, leading him down the smooth pavement.

Brandon chuckled as he felt Stella pull on his shirt. She sure was a feisty thing. No wonder she was popular.

The street lights guided their path, the houses along the side of the road becoming increasingly bigger and bigger. The air was quiet save for the rustling leaves and the sound of Stella's heels clicking along the sidewalk. Her hand still gripped onto Brandon's shirt and he hesitated on telling her that she was still holding on, not exactly sure that he wanted her to let go.

"Well, here we are." Stella huffed as she turned around to look at Brandon.

His eyes went wide as he looked up at the large house on the end of the street. It was MASSIVE, the windows were wide along the stone building. Brandon reckoned that the hallways looked beautiful with the light of the sunset and sunlight shining through the large windows.

"It looks like my parents are asleep. My dad's office light is off and I don't hear shouting." Stella scoffed. "We can go sneak around the backyard."

Stella led the way to the side of the house where there was a large metal gate with a keypad that she made quick work of, opening the gate and exposing the large backyard. If Brandon was impressed by the house, he was blown away by the backyard. It was like a mini-waterpark. There was a large pool with a small waterslide, a hot tub, an outside shower, and a small pool bar. Tucked away in the corner of the large lush, green, yard was a comfy pool house.

"Come on, we can get you some clothes and you can shower."

The pool house was dark but Brandon could tell that it was spacious. Flipping the switch, the light exposed the large sectional seating in the middle of the pool house, the large television, a small bed, a kitchen, and a whole host of arcade-like games.

"I think that your pool house is bigger than my house." Brandon remarked.

Stella walked over to a small dresser by the side of the small bed and pulled out a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt.

"My dad sometimes stays in here when my mom kicks him out." Stella shrugged as she handed Brandon the pile of clothes.

Giving her a sympathetic smile, Brandon took the clothes and headed out to the outdoor shower. This was the first time that someone had shown him kindness since he had moved with his mom and dad to Solaria. Of course Gina, Dave, and the rest of his coworkers were good people, but it didn't compare to the affinity that one would share with someone his own age.

Hearing the water turn on outside, Stella turned around and smiled as she pulled out one of her father's shirts. Slipping out of the beautiful and expensive gown that she wore to prom was a freeing feeling. Her parents had wasted no expense making sure that she would be the perfect prom queen. Now the gown was pooled around her feet, surely wrinkling more and more with every second that it was on the floor. Good.

Buttoning up her father's shirt, Stella looked at herself in the mirror, examining her tan legs as it contrasted the light blue color of her father's shirt. Stella looked inside of the drawer and realized that the only pants that her father had left were his work pants. She could have manipulated a pair of sweatpants to fit her, but Stella knew that her father's work pants were not as malleable. Seeing that the shirt covered everything it needed to and then some, Stella decided to forgo the pants.

The water shut off outside and Stella hurried to the kitchen, hoping to make some sort of food for Brandon. He had worked all night and she figured that he was probably hungry for something other than fries. But what did he like? Why was she so concerned?

Stella opened the fridge and pulled out a pack of turkey and a few slices of cheese. Her father's tastes were simple but she figured that Brandon would enjoy something that wasn't deep fried. She grabbed the bag of bread and pulled out four pieces of bread and began to assemble the sandwiches. How much turkey would he want? Wait, did he even eat meat? What about cheese? Did he eat that? Again, why was she so concerned?

The door to the pool house opened and Brandon came in, his brown hair dripping wet and wearing the sweatpants that she had given him.

"Are you forgetting something?" Stella pointed to Brandon's shirtless body.

"Eh, my hair is wet. I can't stand it when the collar of my shirt gets wet." Brandon rubbed a towel through his drenched tresses. "Though I could ask where your pants are, Princess."

Stella rolled her eyes, "My father didn't have any that would fit me."

Brandon let out a chuckle as he walked over to the small counter in the kitchen where Stella was making sandwiches. He did his best to keep his eyes wandering down her tan legs. He had always thought that she was beautiful but she was popular and the fucking prom queen while he was just some poor transfer student. He would have never thought that he would be hanging out with her on what many would think as an unforgettable night, standing in her pool house, wearing her father's clothes, and watching her make him food. Was this some sort of dream? Had he fallen asleep at work...again?

"Can I ask you something?" Brandon asked.

"Yes?" Stella looked up past her dark eyelashes as she placed the top pieces of bread on the sandwiches. She handed Brandon her sandwich before she walked over to the large couch, sandwich in hand and took a seat.

Brandon slowly made his way to the couch, trying to think of the best way to ask Stella why the hell she would want to hang out with him.

"Why did you ask me to come over tonight?" Brandon asked. His voice was timid for the first time that night, unsure of what Stella would say. Unsure if he wanted to hear why. God he hoped it wasn't because she pitied him.

Stella swallowed her bite of sandwich as her eyes widened, "I don't know."

"You don't know? We barely know each other besides for knowing that we share a couple of classes together. We are about to graduate, don't you think that it is a little late to make friends?"

"If you feel that way, why did you decide to come?" Stella returned his question with one of her own, "Why didn't you just walk me to the bus stop and just leave me there to travel home in peace? Nothing would have happened to me. I can take care of myself."

"You asked me to come." Brandon shot back.

"You could have said no."

"Stella," Brandon pinched the bridge of his nose, "I am just trying to understand why you invited me back. You...you didn't feel sorry for me, did you? When I told you that I had to transfer schools and move, I didn't mean that my parents were living in abject poverty, begging on the streets..."

"I invited you over because you have been the first person to see me behind the layer of perfection that I am forced to mask myself with!" Stella exclaimed. "I didn't invite you over because I felt sorry for you, I felt sorry for myself! You have listened to me more than anyone has and you let me be myself. I...I didn't want you to leave."

Stella's voice trailed off as she examined Brandon's blank face. What did he think? Was he weirded out or was he just trying to process the information? He kind of made the same face in calculus.

"Well," Brandon's face softened and his mouth curved into a smile, "I am glad that you don't feel sorry for me. And," Brandon reached out for her hand, setting the sandwich on the small coffee table, "you should never feel like you can't be yourself around me."

Brandon leaned over Stella and reached behind her to grab her crown. Stella held her breath as Brandon pulled the pin that held her hair in place, the golden girls cascading down her back. Placing the crown on her head, Brandon gave Stella a soft smile, causing her stomach to flip.

Something pulled her towards him and before she knew it, she found her lips on his. His lips were soft but she couldn't enjoy them for much longer. She quickly pulled away and placed her fingertips on her lips, a blush consuming her entire face. His face was blank again and this time she knew that she had messed up. They just had their first conversation that night but in that moment, all she wanted was to feel his lips on hers.

"I am so sorry, Brandon." Stella panicked, mortified by what she did.

"Sorry?" Brandon cocked his head to the side, "What do you have to be sorry for?"

"I...I kissed you."

"I am aware."

"I shouldn't have done that."

"Why not?"

Stella could feel Brandon's breath hit her face, the smell of mint and cherries still overwhelming her senses. He was so close, not backing away from her despite her forward action. His brown eyes bore into her and his smirk was infectious.

"I want to kiss you again." Stella exhaled.

"Then do it."

"What?"

"I told you," Brandon leaned in closer, "don't be afraid to be yourself when you are around me."

"But what about you?" Stella nervously asked, "Do you want to kiss me?"

"I have the minute you told me I was annoying."

"Fucking annoying." Stella replied, correcting him on her choice of words.

Brandon chuckled, "Right."

"So you want to kiss me."

"Who doesn't want to kiss the prom queen?" Brandon teased, his breath hitting her face again.

Stella rolled her eyes before closing the gap between her and Brandon. Their lips met again, more confident and sure. Brandon's hand reached behind and grabbed Stella by the nape of her neck, pulling her in closer as he deepened the kiss. Soft hair grazed his knuckles, the sounds of Stella's moans caressed his ears, and the feeling of her soft lips left his tingling.

Shifting her weight, Stella pressed her body to Brandon's. Her hands trailed up his bare chest, his skin smooth under her touch. But soon the kiss was broken, this time by Brandon.

"Wait," Brandon panted, catching his breath, "why did you want to kiss me?"

"The same reason that I invited me over."

"So was the movie a ruse?"

"No," Stella giggled, "well...maybe. Is that so bad?"

"I feel bamboozled." Brandon feigned offence.

Stella grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him in again for another kiss. She smiled against his lips. This had been the first time that she had smiled this big in a long time. In the hour that she had spent with Brandon, she had been able to let go, tell him all of her worries and frustrations. He had listened to her. He had wanted to listen to her. He had been the one to ask her if anything was wrong. Nobody asks her if she is okay, she is always "okay". But nothing was okay and Brandon knew that.

Mouths began to open as breaths were exchanged. Brandon's hands fell from Stella's neck and down her back, settling on her waist. The curves of her body fit so perfectly in his hands. He told her that she wasn't perfect but that was a lie. The truth was that she had been the most perfect person that he had ever met. She didn't believe the rumors, she was interested in his family and she never thought herself better than him or anyone else who didn't come from her ultra rich neighborhood. Maybe it was a good decision that her parents sent her to public school, she was the furthest thing from a brat.

Reaching up, Brandon tore the metal crown out of Stella's hair, throwing it on the floor. His hands ran through her long blonde locks, curled from the hairstyle she wore for prom. It was much different than her normal straight locks but he thought she looked beautiful no matter what she wore or how she styled her hair.

Stella's hands left Brandon's chest and slowly began to unbutton the light blue shirt that covered her body.

"Stella," Brandon said through kisses, "what are you doing?"

"I want...I want you, Brandon."

Brandon once again had to break the kiss, no matter how much it pained him to do so.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." She plainly replied, "Please."

"What about-"

"Brandon, I am trying not to care what other people will think of me and just do what I want to do. Remember? And what I want is you and what I want to do is you."

Brandon's mouth slid up into a smirk, "I was going to ask about what we are going to do about the half eaten sandwiches."

Stella giggled and rolled her eyes, "We can eat them after."

Climbing off of the couch, Stella stood up in front of Brandon. Her father's shirt was buttoned up half way, exposing Stella's sternum and the sides of her breasts. She held out her hand for Brandon, pulling him up to join her on his feet. Making her way over to the bed in the corner of the pool house, Stella quickly turned on her heels to face Brandon.

"Wait," Stella narrowed her eyes, "you want to too right?"

"Like you have to ask." Brandon scoffed.

"I have to." Stella stuck up her nose, "I wouldn't do anything without your consent. I may be a queen but I am not evil. This isn't Cymbeline."

Brandon's eyes darkened as he looked down at Stella. Before she could say anything, Brandon scooped Stella up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way. Throwing her onto the bed, Stella yelped when she saw Brandon lower himself over her.

Caging her in his arms, Brandon brought his head down to meet Stella's lips with his own. Stella reached up and pulled herself up by his strong neck. Her body arched up to meet Brandon's and her hands began to run down the strong muscles of his back. What did he do to get these muscles? No wonder everyone thought that he was bad news. Nobody that good looking and mysterious was ever up to any good. Everyone at school would be disappointed to find that Brandon was the antithesis of everything that they thought he was. But maybe she would keep that information to herself for the time being. Like Brandon said, they were about to graduate. Who cared what a bunch of high school seniors thought.

Warmth hit Stella's chest as she felt Brandon's fingers continue the work that she started on her father's shirt. She moaned as she felt the buttons come undone one by one, desperate for Brandon's hands to be on her skin. To touch her where nobody had touched her before. He was good at this, had he done this before?

The shirt opened as the last button came undone and Stella soon felt warm and strong hands on her chest. They trembled as they touched the soft mounds of her breasts. Was he as nervous as she was or had she been making up the trembling? She had learned about projecting in her psychology class.

Moans escaped from Stella's mouth as Brandon massaged her breasts. He ran a thumb over her pert nipples and his lips left hers and began trailing kisses down her jaw, to her neck, and down her chest until his mouth met the breast that was not being worked on by his hands. Brandon kissed the sunkissed flesh, purposely missing her nipple, denying her the sensation.

"Brandon..." his name coming out of her mouth as a sigh.

He released her breast and looked up at her face, his head still at the level of her breasts.

"Is this okay?" Brandon asked.

"Y...yes." Stella stammered, mainly because she was so out of breath but also because she was confused on why he asked.

Sensing her confusion, Brandon sighed, "I...I've never really done this before."

"You haven't?" Stella's question came out louder and faster than she had wanted it to. She was shocked to say the least.

"No," Brandon replied timidly, "have you?"

"I haven't." Stella gave Brandon a reassuring smile. Placing a hand on his cheek, she pulled him back up and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "We will learn together."

"Before we continue," Brandon looked down at Stella, his face serious, "I want to ask if you...if...if you would want to go out after. I am fine with this being a one time thing but I would hope that you might want to..."

Stella hushed him with a simple kiss, "Are you asking me out on a date?"

"I guess I am. I want to be with you, Stella. For longer than tonight that is." Brandon answered.

"I would love to. Next Saturday at the diner?" Stella smiled and teased.

Brandon let out a soft chuckle, relieved that she said yes. He didn't care where they had their date but he knew that the diner would always be special for them.

"I'll ask Gina for the night off."

"Aw, and I hoped you would be there to serve me in your uniform which by the way I think you look really hot in." Stella smirked.

"It's just a white shirt and black pants." Brandon shook his head.

"Oh but when you were scooping the ice cream with your sleeves rolled up..." Stella became lost in the memory, "Let's just say I have never wanted to be a tub of ice cream so badly in my life."

Brandon laughed as he heard Stella's words. "I'll be sure to ask Gina if I can make your milkshakes everytime."

"Good." Stella wrapped her arms around Brandon, "Now, can you continue what you were doing?"

Brandon grinned as he made his way back down Stella's chest and took a breast in one hand and another in his mouth. Stella's hand ran through Brandon's chocolate brown hair as he devoted his attention to her breasts.

His hand left her breast and hesitantly made its way down her sternum and stomach until it reached the waistband of her lace panties. His fingertips ghosted above the lace fabric, unsure of whether she wanted him to touch her there. His unspoken question was answered when Stella's hand covered his and put his hand down on her body, urging him to bury his hands under the thin fabric.

She was wet and warm and his mind started to stir, knowing that she was wet for him.

"Touch me, Brandon." Stella pleaded as she bucked her hips into his hand.

Brandon's fingers slowly slid in between the slick folds of her hot sex. His fingers grazed over the small numb in the center of the folds and Stella's body arched, begging for more. He wanted that response again so Brandon placed his fingers on her clitoris and began to rub.

Soft moans escaped Stella's lips as her hands gripped the sheets on the bed. Her abdomen had begun to tighten as Brandon continued to rub.

His eyes were trained on her face. He wanted to know if he did something wrong but he was more satisfied with her face telling him that he was doing everything right. Her mouth was parted, her nose scrunched up just slightly, and her eyes were shut tight as he moans became increasingly louder and more intense. Brandon moved a hand to her leg to keep her steady as she began to grind against Brandon's hand. A few more rubs and he felt Stella's leg stiffen underneath her, joining the rest of her body as she came to her peak. Hot white flashing behind her eyes as she became undone in his grip.

Brandon's hand stilled as he watched Stella come down from her high, proud that he was the one to bring her there. She looked spent and he would have been content with ending things there for the night. But Stella had other plans.

Catching her breath, Stella sat up and placed a deep kiss on Brandon's lips before she swung her legs over the bed and walked over to a small set of drawers by the drawers that held her father's clothes. Opening the middle drawer, Stella reached inside and pulled out a small square foil before shutting the drawer.

"My parents have a lot of make-up sex." Stella answered another one of Brandon's unanswered questions. "And don't worry, the sheets were just changed this morning."

Stella handed Brandon the condom as he pulled down the sweatpants that she had given him to wear. Already hard from their makeout session and from Stella's orgasm, Brandon opened the condom wrapper and slowly slid the condom over his hard cock.

When he turned his attention back to Stella, Brandon noticed that she had discarded her underwear and was sitting on the bed, naked and waiting.

"Lie down." Stella commanded more forcefully than she had anticipated.

Brandon was not going to argue, "Yes, Your Majesty." Brandon quickly lied down on his back, watching as Stella crawled towards him. She now hovered over him the same way that he had just moments before. Her breasts hung down and her hair fell around them like a curtain. She placed a kiss on his lips as she swung a leg over him, straddling his hips.

Stella reached down and grabbed his hard cock, her hands trembling the same way that his hands trembled on her. Taking a deep breath, Stella lined Brandon up with her entrance before sinking down on him on the exhale.

Brandon swore that he saw his short life flash in front of his eyes. There had not been much that he had experienced in his short eighteen years in the land of the living but he had just seen it all in a split second.

She felt amazing. Her warm sex enveloping him and consuming him in her fire. It felt like when the clouds parted to reveal the sun after a thunderstorm. She was like the light in the midst of darkness.

Stella placed her hands on Brandon's chest as she slowly began to move her hips, grinding into Brandon's. He had filled her up more than she thought would ever be possible. She moved to placate the stretching feeling but soon found that the more that she moved, the better she felt. Judging by Brandon's face, he was also pleased by her movements.

Brandon's hands rose up to grab her hips as Stella slowly found a pace and rhythm that worked for the both of them. Her back arched as she began to move up and down on his shaft, her breasts bouncing as she moved on top of him. Brandon couldn't take his eyes off of her, he had never seen anything so beautiful. Stella's hands moved from his chest to reach behind her, supporting herself on his thighs.

Her movements became faster and Brandon's hips began to thrust in her. His grip on her waist became tighter and Brandon knew that he was getting close to falling apart inside of her. He needed this to last. He didn't want this to be over. All he could do was pray that this wasn't the last time.

"Brandon," Stella moaned his name again and he felt himself come close to his climax, "oh God..."

Stella threw her head back and with one final moan, her nails dug into the thick flesh of his thighs as she orgasmed for the second time that night. Brandon continued to thrust into her as she rode her orgasm back down as he was chasing his.

With one final snap of his hips, Brandon wrapped his arms around Stella and pulled her flush to his body as he came. His body was white hot as he came, stars exploding behind his eyes as he held her close to him. His friends back home told him that sex was amazing but this was more than that. Being with Stella was...was...he didn't have the words.

Moving his hips, Brandon pulled out of Stella, his cock softening, the condom full. Brandon's hands rubbed her back, a thin layer of sweat covering her body. He could only imagine how gross he felt against her, and he had just showered too. Her hair stuck to her back and forehead, the curls falling out and her hair back to being stick straight. Brandon removed a hand from her back and wiped her forehead, ridding her sweaty face of hair so that he could look at her.

Stella's face was flushed and her breath hit Brandon's chest as she tried to bring her heart rate back to its normal pace. She had never felt anything like that before. Had he enjoyed it as much as she had.

"Did...did you like-"

"Don't even finish that question." Brandon chuckled as he squeezed Stella tight, "I loved every second of it."

"Oh good." Stella smiled as she raised her head.

"Did you enjoy it?" Brandon just had to ask.

"Of course, I did. It was amazing. Beyond amazing." Stella placed a kiss on his sweaty chest.

As much as he didn't want to do it, Brandon peeled Stella off of his sweaty body and placed her beside him on the bed. Sitting up, Brandon got up and walked over to the trash can in the small kitchen and threw away the filled condom. Brandon turned back around to walk back over to the bed to rejoin Stella but found that she was standing up, still naked but reaching into the bottom drawer.

"What are you doing?" Brandon asked.

Pulling out two towels, Stella turned around to face Brandon.

"Well, I for one feel sticky and gross. I need to take a shower." Stella walked past Brandon and to the door of the pool house.

Brandon chuckled as he watched Stella's hips sway more than usual as she walked by. His trance was broken when he felt something hit his head. Feeling the soft fabric, Brandon looked down at his shoulder to see the plush white towel draped over his shoulder. He turned to see Stella smirking at him, her hands on her hips.

"Well, are you going to join me?"

I hope that you all enjoyed that. Thanks for reading and as always, let me know what you think.