You and Me

Chapter 3: I'm Wes Adams.

Lori's POV

We pulled up to a huge apartment building.  Actually, I think she called it a condo.  I looked around, and I instantly felt claustrophobic looking at the large buildings that surround me.  She lives in the middle of freaking Downtown Atlanta.  This is so not what I was used to.  Where are the palm trees?  And the thin layer of sand that covers every surface back home?  Where are the shirtless hotties and the tanned blondes?

As I was fretting about my new home, we made it up to Aunt Cynthia's top floor condo.  Her annoyed--and annoying--voice pulled me out of my daze.

"Lori.  LORRAINE. LORI!" she repeated.

"Yeahh...?"  I glanced at her attire.  Red pencil skirt with a blazer, pumps, and lipstick to match.  I was so far away from home.  She snapped her perfectly manicured fingers in front of my face and huffed impatiently.  "Look, I'm sorry for being out of it.  If you hadn't noticed, my dad just died!" I proclaimed. At my words, she sobered up immediately.

"I"m sorry, Lori.  Your dad was my big brother.  I miss him too. But John would want you to be strong," she argued.  She's right.  Daddy was 15 years older than her.  He practically raised her when Pop and Grams died.  And before I could get caught up in my own head again, she continued, "So, I'm throwing a little welcome party for you!"

At those words, I blanched.  "A welcome party!? You can't be serious!!  My dad just died!"  But she didn't seem to find this strange at all.

"Well, of course! My niece is coming home, and she needs a party.  Well, not really a party.  Its just my boyfriend and his friends.  They'll be here by 6 so be ready."  What the hell? As an afterthought, she added, "Oh, and you're room is down the hall and to the right!  Get unpacked!" Gee, perky much?  And with a swish of her highlighted brown hair, she disappeared into a room.

I made my way to the room that she declared to be mine and gasped in horror at the sight in front of me.  She painted.  My room.  Pink.  PINK!  My freaking room looked like someone chugged pink lemonade and threw it up all over my room.  Things were not going well at all.

* * *

My aunt means well.  She really does.  But at 25, she's barely a few years older than myself.  She has a job with one of the country's largest law firms, and she has absolutely no responsibilities to her name.  Out of nowhere, she has to take care of me--her big brother's orphan daughter.  Of course she thinks I would want a five-year-old's room.  She doesn't know me! 

But whatever.  I can fix the damage.  

I looked through the papers Aunt Cynthia handed me as soon as I got in her car.  She enrolled me into the nearest public high school.  Joy! How will I be getting there, you ask? I'll be walking.  That's the "beauty of living in Atlanta," she tells me.  John was going to get me a small car this month.  I guess that won't be happening.  I laid in my new bed as I drowned in my self- pity tears.  And before I knew it, I was sound asleep.

* * *

At 6 o'clock on the dot, the doorbell rang.  I groaned inwardly as I got out of bed.  Time to get ready for the party.  I promptly threw on a black, sequined halter top with light blue skinny jeans and flip flops.  Makeup?  Why not?  I took my time perfecting my eyeliner.  Topped it off with pink lip gloss, and I was ready to go.  I could hear the blaring Justin Timberlake.  Here goes nothing.

I made my way like a zombie to the living room where three guys turned to gape at me.  The oldest-looking one had dark hair.  Darker than mine.  He had brown eyes and a muscular build.  The second looked very similar, but slighter and younger.  The third was gorgeous.  I mean, they were all hot.  But he was something else.  His dirty blond hair was in a messy array around his face.  His eyes were the bluest I'd ever seen and completely captivating.  He wasn't too muscular, but he definitely looked toned.  And his lips? Yummm..  

After ogling at the guys, I noticed that they were all still gazing at me intently.  Clothes? Check.  Makeup? Done.  No food on my face. Huh?  After a minute of the creepy staring, I had had enough. Aunt C was nowhere in sight, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.   "Problem, gentlemen?"  Ha. That shocked them out of their trance.

 At my words, he immediately dropped his gaze to the floor, where it stayed.

Noticing the uncomfortable silence after my words, the oldest one stood and stuck his hand out in front of him.  "Sorry 'bout that.  I'm Will Daniels-- Cynthia's boyfriend.  You must be Lorraine?" he questioned.

"Lori," I corrected automatically.  At this, the blond's eyes captured mine again, and the corner of his mouth lifted in the smallest of smirks.  Oblivious to any of this, the other boy walked forward and threw his arm around my shoulders.

"Hey there lil cutie.  I'm Zac Daniels.  Will's brother.  Ever need a tour-guide, chef, tutor, or lip-warmer, I'm you're man!" he proclaimed.  As if!  I shrugged his arm off my shoulders.  

"I'll keep that in mind, new best-friend," I emphasized.  The blond burst into laughter, amusement clear in his eyes.  His sexy laugh was so contagious that I couldn't help but join in.  After our mini laughing fit, he stood up and came toward me.

"Tough luck, Zac.  Looks like someone just got friend-zoned!" he remarked in a deep, melodious voice without his eyes once leaving mine.  "Sorry.  I'm being rude.  I haven't even introduced myself," he continued, speaking to me this time.  

"I'm Lori," I repeated.  "And who might you be?"

"I'm--"  Before he could even get his own name out, my dear aunt decided to finally show up.

"Sorry, darlings!  Beauty takes time!" she interrupted.  She was overly dressed in a sparkly gold dress and classy flats.  But even my crazy aunt wasn't oblivious.  She noticed my proximity to the hottie, and then exclaimed, "Am I interruping something here!?" No shit, Sherlock.  I wanna know the blond god's name.  

"Excuse me?" a voice answered my inner monologue.  "Blond God, huh?" continued his amused voice.  My face immediately turned red as I realized I had spoken out loud.  "Well, let me not tempt you any longer."  

Shit. Shit. SHIT. SHIT! Nice job, Lori.  Now he thinks you're a weirdo. I bet he's going to tell his friends.  And then all of Atlanta will know what I said.  I'm going to end up alone.  Dammit. His incredible voice broke my mental rambling.

"I'm Wes Adams."

 Here's their first meeting!! Hope you liked it :-D

Next Chapter: The Party continues

(Picture of Zac)