The 20 Year Old Virgin | Herophine

Chapter 10: Yours or Dylan's, You Choose

Hero

It's officially the weekend before actual filming starts and the cast have started to fly in to Atlanta. A welcome dinner has been arranged by Anna and Jennifer and Jo and I will finally meet out cast mates in a few hours. I don't know any of the other cast so I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone.

Taking my hat from the bedside table, I decide to go on for my usual afternoon coffee run. When I walk out my door and face Jo's closed door, I realize I haven't talked to her since this morning. I wasn't able to join her for our usual breakfast down at the breakfast bar; I had to talk to my mum about Diesel, my dog, which has been acting up since yesterday, and then I got call from my publicist about some runway show I was invited to.

Maybe I should bring her some coffee, too.

Just as I'm about to head back from a Starbucks a block away from the hotel-two venti iced coffees on hand for the humid Atlanta summer afternoon-I spot Jo chatting up with an unfamiliar guy. This is something new. Ever since that first night at the bar where we stayed behind for some drinks and Jo was flirting with that guy at the bar before I shamefully spit my soda right on her beautiful face, I haven't seen her flirting with any other guy. And now seeing her run her hand down the guy's torso with that signature come hither look of hers, it's sort of... annoying? I'm not entirely sure but I suddenly have this urge to throw away the coffee I got for her and walk pass them without acknowledging Jo.

Which is just weird because why would I be annoyed if Jo's trying to hook up with some other guy?

Maybe because you two have been intimate for a full week and you don't want to stop what you two are doing and the fact that she may have found someone else to fool around with, you're afraid she might discard you like a rag.

No, that's not it. I mean, that couldn't be it. One week isn't enough to get me attached to her like that.

"Hero!" Jo's voice snaps me out of my thoughts and I shake my head to rid it of all the unnecessary ideas swimming in my head. I force a smile and approach the two of them. "Look who I just met. It's Dylan, the one who'll be playing my boyfriend, Noah," she giddily informs me whilst throwing Dylan a teasing smile. "Dylan, this is Hero. He's playing Hardin, the guy I'll be dumping your ass for," she giggles and beams at me. Whereas the smiles she's been throwing Dylan are seductive and teasing, mine are playful and warm and unromantic whatsoever.

"Hey man, nice to meet you," I greet him with a small smile, fighting the scowl that's trying to form on my face. Why do I feel bothered?

"You, too." He nods his head in acknowledgment but focuses his attention back to Jo at the next second. "So, we still up for drinks later after dinner?"

What?

"Drinks?" I ask stupidly. Of course I know what he's implying and I currently want to kick myself at my question especially seeing Jo's amused expression.

"Dylan invited me for drinks right after our welcome dinner later. I'd ask you to join us but you don't drink so..." she shrugs her shoulders nonchalantly like she couldn't be bothered by the though. But I know her well enough now to distinguish that glint crossing her eyes. She's challenging me to invite myself to this thing, and she's already positive I won't do it. I know I'm stupid for taking her bait and saying the words that come out my mouth next.

"Sure, I'll come with."

"Really?"

"Really?"

The surprise on both their faces is almost comical as they exclaim at the same time and I have to fight the laughter starting to rumble inside of me. "Yeah, it'll be fun." Did I really just say that? That I'll come with them to have drinks and that I reckon it'll be fun? What alternative universe is this and why am I here right now, saying all these nonsense?