a burning love

chapter 2

Ian Somerhalder... That name sounds familiar.

You thought as you examine the man before you. Apparently this went on for a little too long because Ian interrupted and said, "What the hell are you looking at sexy?"

You were suddenly taken aback by his straight forwardness and boldness in this moment.

"Nothing, I was just thinking." His baby blue orbs intimidated you quite a bit as they seemingly were staring- no, burning- straight into your soul. "So anyways, bye." You turn around to walk away and find Geronimo, but a strong hand gripped your wrist. You gasped a little in surprise,

"Don't forget your drink darling, I paid a lot for this."

"Oh, uh, thanks.." You grabbed your drink and hurriedly walked away. Ian left a strange impression on you, and you couldn't tell if it was a good or a bad one...

"Geronimo!" You easily spotted your best friend in the crowd jumping and screaming to the song that was playing. He always made the biggest scene and was a very dramatic person, but that's what you loved about him. "Hey girl!!! Come over here! Tell me everything about that guy!" His words were a little slurred and she knew he was pretty tipsy.

"Can we at least sit down somewhere where the music isn't blaring and you can actually hear me?"

"Yeah yeah, come on I know a place over there in that booth." The two of them walked over to the booth and sat down, Geronimo's face lit up with excitement. "Soooo, what happened?!?!" "He basically told me his whole life story and he bought me my favorite drink somehow, and then when I was about to leave he grabbed my wrist and told me the drink was really expensive. I'm not even really sure what just happened. But he's really attractive and his eyes are like sparkling blue."

"Okay, well it's a start! I mean, you haven't had someone to talk to in a while." He looked at you with empathy.

"What do I even do? I have no experience with this type of stuff. I literally don't know what to do. Geronimo, don't you always hit on guys?"

"Guys? Uhhhhh, i don't know what you're talking about. I've never done that."

You looked at him with a loving look in your eyes.   "Geronimo, it's okay. You don't have to be afraid to be yourself around me. I know what's been going on. And nothing could ever make me love you any less. You're perfect just the way you are. Because when I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change."

Tears started forming in his eyes as he smiled and pulled you into a warm hug. "Thank you, Y/N. I love you. That really means the world to me."

He pulled away and wiped the tears from his face. "So I think we should go and get some food and ice cream. What do you think?" You said to him.

"Of course that sounds amazing. You're the best."

The two of you left the Foundation Nightclub and drove to get burgers and milkshakes, a signature move of yours. The number of times you both sat in this car eating burgers and milkshakes late at night were countless.

Geronimo spoke up after finishing his bite. "So, how do you really feel about Ian? I know there was something there by the way you looked at him, and your face lights up when you talk about him."

You blushed, slightly embarrassed. "I hadn't noticed, but yeah. He acted sort of strange, but there was something about him that really hooked me in. He was so mysterious, and I think it made me more interested."

"Did you get his number?" Geronimo asked, he was very intrigued to hear about this.

"Um..." You chuckled nervously.

"Girl, you did not. How could you not get his number?" Geronimo was playfully annoyed, but his face lit up when he suddenly had an idea. "But I know how you can find him!"

You looked at him suspiciously, "And what is your bright idea?"

"Search his name on insta of course girl." He immediately grabbed his phone and opened Instagram, typed his name in the search bar, and...

"There's nothing." Geronimo said with wide eyes and a surprised tone of voice.

"Okay, well maybe he has other social medias?" You say, not really invested too much into the topic, but a small part of you definitely wanted to know.

Geronimo searched his name on every single social media he had, and he had every type of app there was. "Girl, he has no social media. Like at all, that's a whole red flag."

You stared skeptically. "Are you sure? He has to at least have something. Look harder."

Geronimo glared at you, offended. "You dare question my skills? Feel free to look for yourself, but I've literally scoured everything. This is so sus girl..."

You roll your eyes and snatch the phone from his grasp, scrolling and searching through the depths of the social media universe. Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, VSCO, Pinterest, YouTube, even Facebook. After a good 10 minutes, you sigh, defeated.

"I've never seen this before. How does a person not have social media in 2022?" You furrow your brows at Geronimo.

"It's very strange indeed." Geronimo contemplates while tapping his chin.

"Maybe it's not a red flag. The best men are the most mysterious," you explain.

"If that's what you want to tell yourself..." Geronimo defensively speaks.

"Whatever, we clearly agree to disagree." Geronimo reaches for the fries as you turn your head the other way to face the window, staring at a sky full of a million stars, shining and sparkling, lighting up the night. "You know, I never get tired of this view."

"Me neither, nights like these are the best whenever I'm with you." Geronimo smiles with a mouth full of fries.

"Ew gross, finish your food first, then you can be all sentimental." You say, looking disgusted.

There's a moment of silence until you both erupt into laughter.

"I love you bestie." Geronimo says, smiling.

"I love you too, now let's go home."  You pull out of the parking lot and turn up the music while you both jam out to Lady Gaga all the way back to your apartment.