Taylor's POV
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"Mines on the way" Rhea informs me as we head to the doors. My mother beaming at me, just the sight of me walking around again and living like a normal young woman clearly makes her happy.
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"Let's get changed you can choose something of mine, add some makeup and we're ready." Rhea exclaims and she really is excited about this. I'm not going to let her down. I smile back at her and we leave my house and bed prison firmly behind me.
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We walk to Rhea's house, she lives a few blocks away. The sun is high today, scorching down onto my lightly tanned skin. I sigh feeling like a vampire that's been inside forever, like the sun will burn me up.
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Rhea has the loft room in her house, I always thought I would love to have my room in the loft it's oddly cosy. She opens her blinds and light streams over the walls that are filled with band posters. I glance at them remembering the concerts we attended together.
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My eyes settle on a Paramore poster, one of the bands Tom used to love. I begin to wonder why I can't be more like the singer Hayley Williams I'm sure nobody forgets her after a week.
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"I'm wearing this leather skirt and top thingy" Rhea explains. invading my silence. I smile at her encouragingly. She looks wonderful, she has long legs and the skirt shows them off.
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"Your go, have a look but I've got a really nice brandy Melville crop top you will love" she informs me. She really is a friend to keep.
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"We are just going to a park right ?" I question her eyeing up the crop top she is putting on.
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"Yes did I mention the guys are hot? Plus last time we all ended up at a house party after" she tells me, laughing.
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"I was hoping that maybe Malachi would be there again" she admits putting on lipstick.
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It would be an understatement to say that Rhea likes Malachi a lot. He's charming I suppose with dark skin, dark eyes and he's tall for his age. He has a magnetic personality, he always makes a good impression. In all honesty I'm not sure where he stands on relationships and being with my best friend though.
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"Right yeah I hope so" I murmur turning my back to her and trying on her crop top. I must admit it looks great. I usually wear long tops and jeans however this is very grown up. Less high school, more college babe. I make a mental note to spend some time shopping for some new clothes.
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"What should I wear with this then" I wonder whilst tying my hair into a half up half down ponytail.
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"Aw your hair Tay! Honestly" she sighs and I smirk.
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"High waisted jeans?" She suggests heading to the wardrobe and slinging a pair of skin tight, dark wash jeans at me.
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"Wow" she says when I am done.
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"Where's Taylor the bed prisoner now!?" She laughs and I smile at her. I borrow some blush and lipstick to give my usual appearance a bit of a boost. I opt out of more eyeliner in case I start crying later when I'm drunk and likely to think about Tom. Cheating bastard that he is.
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"I told you the top would look good." Rhea comments as we walk back out of her house.
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"I'm taking you shopping next" she says smiling down at me as she guides me through the palm lined streets to the subway.
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In our highly stylised outfits we board the metro to union station, which is in downtown LA. Garnering look from men, makes me feel uncomfortable so I decide to look ahead rather than around me. Rhea begins listing names of the guys that she met at the skate park when she last visited. I nod along, wondering if it's too early to check my phone for any new notifications.
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"Oh I think that's Ross, the guy whose house it was we went too last time" she practically squeal as the doors open at the next stop.
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Ross has long, unruly natural blonde hair. He's wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans and carrying his deck like a fashion accessory. He walks over to us brushing some of his hair back and off of his face. I am slightly in awe of his looks, his chiselled jaw and blue eyes are a welcome distraction. He eyes Rhea and recognition comes over his expression as he appears to remember her from before.
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"Ri from before right, with Malachi?" He says smoothly. His eyes come to meet mine and do not leave again. I sneak a glance at my best friend, she's pleased as punch at being grouped with Malachi. Looking back at Ross again, my eyes sweep down away from his stare. I can't help but to notice that as he grasps his skateboard over his shoulder his t-shirt rides up. I tell myself to look away, back at his face, anywhere other than his abs.
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"Rhea or Ri is fine" she smiles looking from him to me. Since when did she let anyone call her 'Ri'? I chuckle and Ross catches my eyes again, his clear true blue eyes looking into my own.
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"Ross this is Taylor" she introduces us as the silence goes on a little too long.
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"Hi" I say unsure of what else to say, mentally slapping my own face for being lame.
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"Hi there" Ross smiles as the train doors close and he's friends approaches him having just slipped through the doors. Not sure I'll be able to cope with more hot boys, I have been hiding in my room for far too long.
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The other guy, is Ross' opposite in many ways. Tall dark and handsome type with his dark chestnut hair and green eyes which remind me of a dark forest. The kind of guy that always gets the girl, is into art and kissing all night long. Dark eyelashes that are currently gazing down at his phone.
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"Matty" Ross introduces him. I get the impression that in the past girls have forgotten about Ross once they take a look at Matty and find themselves unable to look away again. From his skin which glows with his summer tan. Matty shifts his gaze to look at me and away from his phone, he catches my eye and for a brief second he looks taken aback but quickly that expression disappears and he slides a confident smile across his face.
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Similarly dressed to Ross, Matty's biceps flex as he holds his board under his arm on the now moving train. Both guys are more built than any guys I've ever seen, perhaps skateboarding makes boys more muscular.
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"This is Taylor" Ross says clearly forgetting about 'Ri'. Matty assess me, and I feel weak under his stare. He smiles and pockets his phone. Clearly he is a guy of very little words.
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We alight at union station, finding ourselves walking with our two new friends toward the skate park.
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"Nice guys right" Rhea looks at me with a wide grin on her face.
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"Since when did you let anyone call you Ri?" I dodge her question but smile all the same.
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She laughs openly.
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"Have you seen the guy, I didn't have the heart to correct him he looks like Alexander Skarsgård, you know the dude that played Eric in True blood" she whispers as they walk ahead slightly. I can't help but to watch Matthew and the way he pushes his hair off of his face.
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"What about Matty, what's his deal?" I ask her watching him.
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I find myself yearning to look up into those green eyes. A shade of emerald green with thick lined lashes.
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"Matty? Urm I'm, I mean I'm not sure Taylor" she says pulling me away from my thoughts.
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"He's got a bit of a reputation I mean. I've only been here once and I know that already" she warns me.
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"Totally hot though" she adds as she sees my frown. I always go for the ones with the reputation, the ones that know that they can take what they want.
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"I get it, he's totally hot, he took his shirt off last time when I was here." She laughs watching me, I can't take my eyes off of him.
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"I'm not sure though I mean he might even have girlfriend look at him." She goes on and I pray that he doesn't.
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"You're right a guy that good looking must have a whole trail of girls and bitter Ex's" I say as we enter the park. Two large railings with large iron gates open up to reveal a long stretch of field and a skate park further down. You can distantly hear the music and the sliding of the boards hitting the half pipe.
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"Look just know what you're getting yourself into before you even look in that direction" she warns.
I smile back faintly, I have already very much looked. Stared quite frankly. But yes, consider me warned.
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In the skate park there's a large group of girls all wearing tight fitting clothes like mine, and I begin to feel nervous at interacting with everybody. I'm almost positive that these girls don't sit and watch one tree hill all day, whatever will we discuss?
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Most of the guys have their tops off revealing tattoos and nipple piercings. It strikes me that the only guy I've seen with his top off ever in my life is Tom. I suddenly feel really intimidated. Like I'm walking right into college life with no idea how to act.
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Just as I'm considering bailing I hear a roar of wheels on the pavement, I look forward noticing Matty skate down to the park. Clearly walking is to slow for him. Beating us there he jumps and swings the board around when he reaches the gates, stopping he picks the board up in his hands and enters the park. The young women already situated inside the skate park all notice him arrive although he doesn't seem to care much about them. As girls appear to get up and walk towards him he wastes no time jumping up the half pipe, pulling his T-shirt over his head and beginning skating.
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Rhea was not over exaggerating about his body, he has broad shoulders and a well defined six pack. I have to stop myself from staring. Tom, who? I think to myself. Matty has a few tattoos that I spot from afar as he acknowledges the other guys skating, he is a guy of few words and instead likes to be busy and doing stuff. I instantly resonate with that, I'm not a talker either.
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Rhea glances my way and laughs.
"Tom who!?" She whispers with a suggestive grin on her face. I smirk at her and mouth the words thank you.
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Just as we are smiling and laughing Ross, not to be overshadowed by Matty's entrance, skates by and slaps my ass playfully as he passes us by.
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"In a bit, Tay" he calls behind him as he too heads up the half pipe. Flashing a smug grin at me before he looks away and joins Mr tall dark and handsome.
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"He's one to watch, I'm not sure I approve of hot skater guys slapping my besties ass within 10 minutes of knowing her" Rhea says playfully.
I smile back at her. Normally I would be mortified by a guy doing this. I definitely would tell him to leave me alone too. But there is something playful and charming about Ross. He gets away with it this time. What girl wouldn't want to talk to him and have him desire her?
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"He was staring at you on the train" she says matter of factly and peers at me through her lashes.
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"Was he ? I didn't notice" I lie looking away and at Matty one more time as he glides down the half pipe.
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I remember him staring at me, his steely blue eyes trying to keep my own in his gaze. I try to convince myself that he does this to all of the girls he meets.
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"You are beyond help, he was. If you could stop thinking about Tom you might see what's actually going on around you" Rhea snaps and I chuckle.
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"Oh I'm not thinking about him" I say meaning it. Partly.
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"Good and no checking your phone, okay?" Rhea tells me.
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"Yes Boss, I mean Ri" I stick out my tongue.
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"I'm definitely calling you Ri from now on" I tease her and she laughs walking us over to Malachi.
Matty looks towards us from the top of the half pipe avoiding my eye contact as I try to I meet his stare. He drops back in to the ramp and I sigh. He's out of my league. He most likely goes for blonde pouty girls like Tom.
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"Rhea and Tay you made it" Malachi cheers.
Rhea beams at him arms opening as she drags me over towards him and the larger group of young people.
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