Chapter Nine

I had finally convinced Fabian to go freshen up and get ready for a normal day as he would do on any Saturday. Luckily, he wasn't reluctant, and he actually left to do so.

I made a sandwich for him and coffee, since breakfast technically is the most important meal of the day. I sat the sandwich on a paper plate and set the coffee to brew as I heard the shower being turned off. My mind wandered to how his ripped chest may look with the warm water droplets on them, and the steam bouncing from his toned arms.

I instinctively bit my lip as the image formed behind my eyes, but my ringtone blared through the room shook me from my naughty thoughts.

I grabbed the device and glared at it, but I relaxed a lot when I saw that Colton was face-timing me. I didn't hesitate to answer. I haven't talked to him in a whole twelve hours. That was long in our book.

"Hey" I greeted as I poured the coffee in a red mug.

"Hey" He returned sweetly, but his happy expression transformed into a confused one as he eyed me. "Where are you?"

As if I forgot, I looked behind me in the direction his gaze was set, and I realized that he hadn't seen me in this house before. I shrugged casually as I sat on a nearby stool.

"I'm at a friend's."

"What friend?" His eyebrow shot up in questioning, and I almost felt hurt. Am I really that lonely?

"A new friend. You don't know him but I'll introduce you soon enough-"

"Him?" He hurled, cutting me off. "You're at a guy's house and I don't know this boy?"

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "Chill Col. He's a good guy. And it's not my fault we haven't been talking a lot lately. I barely see you anymore" I pointed out.

He acted like I was the one who was busy all the time. And if he doesn't remember, he kept Asia a secret from me for what seemed like weeks before I met her.

Why should it be different for me?

He frowned, and I could see that it was his thinking frown. "Are you sure he can be trusted? Does he go to our school?"

"Oh my gosh Col will you-"

"Mmmm is this for me?" Both our gaze drifted to the entrance of the kitchen, where a very shirtless and very sexy Fabian entered.

Oh God.

His hair was still wet and sticking all about, and his clean sweats hung dangerously low on his waist. I gulped as he grabbed the sandwich and brought it to his lips with his flexing muscles. My heart done failed me when he moaned at the taste, and his tongue swept over his already pink lips slowly, leaving a layer of moisture behind.

'What are you doing to me Fabian?'

"Paris, did you sleep with him?" Colton whisper shouted on the phone, totally pulling my attention from Fabian. My head whipped around to the phone so fast, that I almost had whiplash. But luckily, Fabian didn't seem to have heard.

"What? No" I was hurt that he would've made such an assumption, but could I blame him? I was staring at Fabian as if he was my prey. "Um Colton, I'll call you later"

"Wait no Pari-" I hung up before he finished, and I knew he'd be upset, yet I didn't care.

I realized that it was odd of me not to care. Really odd. If it were a month ago, I'd hate ever upsetting Colton. The very thought of it always made me nervous. But now, my attention was on Fabian.

He eyed me in confusion as he took a sip of his coffee. "Boyfriend?"

I blinked once, then twice. I didn't understand. "Pardon me?"

He pointed to my phone that I rested on the island. "Was that your boyfriend?"

"Oh no. Heavens no" I chuckled nervously. I wish. "He's just my friend."

"This 'friend' sounded pretty upset that you were here" He used air quotes to emphasize 'friend'.

I suddenly had the urge to defend myself. "He's not the boss of me. No one is"

"Hey I wasn't saying he was" He raised his hands in surrender. "Just wanted to be certain that I was trotting on safe grounds. "

"What does that mean?" I cocked my head to the side as I asked. He simply shrugged.

"Nothing"

Silence fell between us again as he finished eating silently. I didn't know what to do or say. I knew now that he was okay, and as far as I could see, he seemed as if he was ready to go back home. So, I wasn't sure if I should've stayed or left.

"What are your plans for today?"

"What?" I asked, after his voice snapped me from my thoughts. "Oh nothing. I pretty much only planned to come see you."

"Want to hang out?" My heart raced at his question as excitement rose in me.

"Uh sure. What do you have in mind?"

I watched carefully as he placed the paper plate in the bin and threw the mug in the sink. He then walked over to where I sat and took the seat in front of me.

"I might have something you would like. Have an open mind?"

"I pretty much am the most open person in existence" I laughed, but I ended up cringing when a certain double meaning came to mind. "I mean, I'm open to suggestions"

Fabian didn't seem to pick up on my awkwardness which was good. It was either that or he didn't want to make me more uncomfortable.

"Great. I'll go get a shirt"

"Thank God" I mumbled to myself, causing him to smirk at me. He wasn't supposed to hear that.

"Don't act like you don't like it Skates"

I hurled a dish cloth at him as it hit the wall beside him and crumbled to the ground. He shot me a quick wink as he disappeared from the doorway. I couldn't help but chuckle at his cockiness as much as it annoyed me.

What I couldn't avoid though, was how my tummy erupted in butterflies when I envisioned his smile once again.

***

"Where are we going, Fabian?" I huffed as I jumped over another log. I was a city girl for a reason. I loved nature and all, but I was in no mood or attire to hike.

However, after Fabian got ready and met me in the kitchen again earlier, he had announced that he was taking me to his second favourite place in the world.

Of course, I got excited at the thought. I wanted to learn more about him, so I was looking forward to it. But he didn't tell me that we'd have to be walking for miles.

Okay I was being a bit mellow-dramatic, but it felt like I had been walking for miles.

"I told you Skates, my second favourite place" He stated casually as he continued to follow the small trail. I simply huffed in frustration as I followed behind him silently.

I couldn't hear any rushing water, so I crossed a river off my list. I also didn't think there was a cliff anywhere near here, and I knew for sure we were far away from the coast.

A meadow maybe? Another house? I didn't know but the suspense was killing me.

I almost bumped into his back when he stopped suddenly, and I almost cursed at him, but I was left appalled when I saw a hint of blue a few feet away from us. I had only just seen a hint of it, yet I was in complete awe. We walked further into the area, and I was able to see the full view of the beautiful water.

It looked like a pool but in its own natural way. Its diameter wasn't that great either, so it almost looked like a pond with a beautiful illusion of blue water.

Around it sat little red wild flowers and grass, and I could see tiny fish wandering around in the water too. It didn't look deeper than probably Fabian's waist length, but it looked too perfect to be swam in nonetheless.

"This is marvelous" I mumbled as I continued to gawk at the scenery. I've seen lakes, rivers and ponds, but I've never seen something like this before. It was almost magical.

"Isn't it?" Fabian smiled as he stood beside me. "I thought I had been dreaming the first time I found it."

"Maybe you were. Maybe you pulled me into your dream world" I giggled as I looked up to meet his eyes, and he had a slight smirk of his own.

"My dream world wouldn't look like this."

"Oh let me guess" I plopped a finger on my chin in playful thought before continuing. "A hundred girls in bikinis, sport cars, bikes and hair gel"

His smirk grew wider as he leaned down to my ear. I shivered as his warm breath brushed my lobe as he whispered, "Everything but the gel. That shit is annoying"

As if it was nothing, he strolled to a wide rock and sat there before inclining his head towards me with inviting eyes. I didn't know why he affected me so much, but it was obvious that he knew he did.

"Coming?"

Instead of answering, I sat a few inches away from him on the rock, as I kicked off my boots and sank my feet in the beautiful water. I flinched a little when I felt how cold it actually was, but I relaxed once I got adjusted to the temperature.

"So.." I trailed, "A hundred girls huh?" I don't know why, but it had me cringing. I didn't actually mean that, but the thought surely enticed him.

"Uh-sure." He shrugged as he rested his palms flat against the stone and leant back a little, not once letting his gaze drop from me. "Why?"

"I just think it's sorta weird that's all. How would you even remember their names?"

"I don't usually," he stated coolly, making my eyes shoot open.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I meet a lot of girls. I don't remember half of them, but they could be in my dream world because they're hot or whatever" He stated as if it was nothing, which had me scrunching my face in disgust.

"You talk about girls like they're just pawns to you. Is that how you see me? Oh my gosh are you grooming me?" I was on my feet as I filched away from him, and his suddenly wide eyes told me he had been shocked too.

It would make sense. He would always whisper in my ear, purposely hold my hand or flex his incredibly sexy muscles in front of me. Little did I know that he was probably just trying to get me attracted to him, so that he could have his way with me.

I shivered at the thought, and my arms that were suddenly invaded my goosebumps involuntarily hugged my torso.

I stepped back instinctively when he rose to his feet too, and I suddenly had the urge to leave. Friends huh?

"Paris relax" He held his hands out in caution as he took a step closer to me. I eyed him up and down in uncertainty. "You totally misread me okay? You made a joke and I was only going along with it. I am not trying to take advantage of you"

I narrowed my eyes at him as I contemplated his words. I mean, he did call me Paris, and that meant he was being serious. Nonetheless, I was still skeptical.

"So what you said about remembering girls' names is a lie?"

He looked guilty for a quick second as he took another step towards me. "Not exactly. Sometimes I just need..." He trailed as if he didn't know how to finish his sentence. "Sometimes I just need to forget life and problems and sometimes the wrong girl at the wrong time shows up and I-"

"Use her" I finished for him. I could see that he wasn't necessarily regretful of it, but it was obvious that he didn't want me to know. I couldn't blame them for falling for his charm though. He had a lot of it.

"Yes." He admitted quietly. "But that is not my intention with you Paris. I swear"

"What is your intention then?" I genuinely wanted to know. He obviously didn't have a lot of friends, and people at his school didn't seem to like him very much either. In addition, he just admitted to being a player. So, what really was his intentions with me?

"I want to be your friend" I searched for any sign of insincerity, but as far as my naked eyes could see, there was none.

"Just friends? You won't try to seduce me or anything?"

'Because you have successfully been doing that without trying and it scares me', I wanted to say, but held my tongue. He didn't need to know that.

"I swear on my dead dog's grave" He said as he successfully held onto me. He had been inching closer and closer to me all this time so that he could hold me. "I'm sorry for making you believe otherwise"

I nodded as I accepted that much. It oddly bothered me that he was sexually active though, as much as it wasn't my business.

"I'm sorry for making a big deal out of it. I just wanted to ensure that I..."

"That?" He urged, but I could feel my cheeks burning in embarrassment. That wasn't supposed to slip.

"That when it happens, I'm being valued. That's all" I brushed off quickly, wanting this conversation to be over with.

I could literally feel the heat in my cheeks. But the heat wasn't all I felt in my cheeks anymore when Fabian's cold fingers brushed against them as he lifted my face to meet his eyes.

"There's nothing embarrassing about that Paris" he smiled down at me as he searched my eyes. "Of course you should be valued. You shouldn't settle for less."

I nodded slowly as I continued to gaze at him. The more I looked, the faster my heart raced and the sweatier my palms became. He was only inches away from my face, and his eyes were so deep in emotion that it drove me crazy.

A part of me screamed to get away, trying to convince me that this is what players do. They make you think you're the most treasured girl in the world, and they have the look to match their words.

'He's a pro! Don't fall for it' my old frenemy screamed in my head. 'Run, Paris. Run!'

Yet, I was glued to my spot, and I even began to lean in. His eyes widened a bit when he saw my movements, but there was no objection. The sound of my heart was almost deafening as I waited for connection, but just in the mere inch that was left, my phone rang.

I jumped away as if he was on fire as I quickly fumbled with my phone that I stuffed in my back pocket. My best friend's name and picture lit up my screen as I gazed at it.

In one sense I was annoyed at Colton's protectiveness, but on another hand, I was relieved.

I almost kissed Fabian Smith, also known as the 'Charmer'. I had to be careful from now on.

He was called 'charmer' for a reason.