One Kiss Later

10

TW: Eating disorders, italics when that portion begins.

The election was officially less than a year away. I appreciated that my parents did whatever they could to make sure that my younger siblings' lives didn't change too much.

Archer came back to California for all of thirty-six hours to speak at my dad's campaign rally. He and I both spoke about how great our dad was.

I appreciated going through Twitter and seeing people saying that we were so well-spoken. I just didn't want to be in the spotlight too much or only be known as Cole Fitzgerald's daughter.

I wanted to be my own person. 

That's why I liked college so much.

I was my own person at UCLA.

November was also a special month because it meant it was Beau's birthday.

He was the type of person to try and downplay his birthday, but Matteo wouldn't let him. From what I understood, someone in their friend group was super rich and from Malibu.

The next thing I knew, I was in a huge Malibu mansion with thirty-three other college students.

Alcohol was everywhere along with weed. I wouldn't be indulging in that, because the dance team got weekly drug tests for whatever reason.

I tried to drag Nia along with me, but she had plans with her real boyfriend and I didn't want to hold her back.

The good thing was I made friends with Catalina, who was Matteo's girlfriend. Well, they were still in the talking stage, but I could tell he really liked her.

We partied with the boys and the other group of girls that we weren't necessarily close to. A party was a party and once you got enough alcohol in you, anyone felt like your best friend.

Everyone was drunk off their ass hanging around the island playing beer pong or taking shots. I felt like somebody was standing behind me.

And I was right.

"I need some fresh air. Do you want to go sit in the hot tub with me?" Beau whispered in my ear as he stood behind me.

I nodded my head. I was getting bored anyway.

"Come on." he gently tapped my wrist.

Beau and I quietly walked out of the kitchen together to go to the backyard. No one said anything because they probably thought we were going to hook up or something.

Today was the first time that I'd ever seen him shirtless. I didn't even know that he had tattoos until now.

"So whose house is this again?" I asked him as we chilled in the hot tub.

It had to be after midnight by now.

I was trying my hardest not to stare at him. The boy had the nicest arms that I'd ever seen. 

"Bodhi's," Beau responded. "His dad works in the music industry, and his mom used to be a big singer like thirty years ago."

I nodded my head. "This makes sense. This place is massive and so gorgeous."

"Thank you for my birthday gift," Beau spoke up.

I turned to him and gave him a small smile. "No problem."

It was just a bucket full of his favorite things like Gatorade, sunflower seeds, gum, more candy, and I got him new Nike slides. I was such a good fake girlfriend.

"What do your tattoos mean?" I finally asked him.

He perked up. "I've been waiting for you to ask all night. I noticed you staring."