“I see.” I gave her a small smile, but I knew there was no way I wanted to go back to her place.

“And I got some toys as well.” She leaned forward and licked her lips suggestively. “Some very naughty toys.”

“Oh?” I feigned interest and she grabbed my hand and stroked my palm. I grabbed her fingers and was about to push her away when I got a text message. I grabbed my phone and read the message. It was from Clementine and read, “Elliott just got here, want to come over and watch a movie? We were thinking about Love Actually. We can wait on you if you want.” I read the text message and I could feel my lips curling in disgust. Was she f**king high? Did she really think I wanted to come and watch some sappy movie with her and her loser friend? I didn’t consider him her boyfriend at all. I put my phone back in my pocket without texting her back. Love Actually, I thought to myself again. What a fool Elliott was for agreeing to watch that piece of shit.

“You ready?” I jumped up and grabbed Veronica’s arm. “Let’s go.”

“Oh okay, sure.” She almost purred as we walked to my car.

“So what are these toys you got?” I asked her as we got into the car.

“Well, I got handcuffs.” She grinned. “And I also got a rabbit. I think you can help me with it if you want.”

“Sounds good.” I pulled out of the parking lot quickly. Boring.

“I just want you to know this isn’t something I normally do.” She said softly. “Normally, I wait until I’m in an official relationship…” She paused and I could feel her eyes on me.

I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. She wasn’t seriously trying to hint that we should be in a relationship? Didn’t she realize I couldn’t give two shits about her? I was going to f**k her just to f**k her, not because I actually wanted to be with her.

“I was waiting for marriage.” She started again and I froze.

“You’re not a virgin are you?” I looked at her quickly. There was no way this girl was a virgin, was there?

“Well, not anymore.” She giggled. “But I had hoped to wait for marriage.”

“My best friend is a virgin.” I muttered. “Trust me, I don’t think she’s having as much fun tonight as we’re going to have.”

“Unless she meets the right guy.” Veronica laughed. “It’s funny how quickly the right guy can talk any girl out of their panties.”

“What?” My voice was hoarse and I slowed down a bit.

“I mean, I don’t know her, but there are plenty of guys who can touch and talk real smooth and before you know what hit you, you’re in bed with your legs spread and his tongue in places, you never thought could feel so good.” She giggled again. “Just saying is all.”

“Yeah.” I felt my skin growing cold as I thought about her words. Maybe it wasn’t such a smart idea to let Clementine spend the night alone with Elliott at her apartment. She was too trusting and I didn’t know what sort of punk he was. He might try and make a move on her and she might not have a clue what to do or say. I thumped the steering wheel as I realized that I needed to go to Clementine’s apartment to make sure that Elliott didn’t try to take advantage of her.

“Take a right here.” Veronica exclaimed as I kept driving.

“Hey, we have to make a pitstop.” I didn’t look at her.

“Oh?” She sounded surprised. “Where are we going?”

“I need to make sure a friend of mine is okay, I won’t be long.” I muttered and frowned as we hit a red light. Of course, I was going to hit every red light now that I was on the way to Clementine’s. I was angry that Clementine had put me in this position. What smart girl had a guy she just met over to her apartment? What was she thinking? Now I had to interrupt my date to go and make sure she was okay. She really owed me, big time.

“What?” Veronica sounded put out. “How long is that going to take?”

I ignored her and concentrated on the road. There was an uncomfortable silence in the car as we drove to Clemmie’s apartment. “Look, I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” I gave Veronica a big smile as I parked and got out of the car.

“Shall I come in as well?” She looked confused and annoyed.

“No.” I shook my head and then paused. I was going to look like a loser showing up by myself, while Clementine sat there with her new man. “Actually, yeah, come on in.”

“Okay.” She got out of the car slowly and closed the door. “We’re not going to be here long, are we?”

“No.” I locked the doors and walked to Clementine’s front door purposefully, leaving Veronica to follow behind me.

Bang, Bang. I knocked on the front door loudly. Bang, Bang. I knocked again impatiently.

“I’m coming,” I heard Clementine’s voice as she walked to the door and I could feel myself growing angry. How could she sound so nonchalant while putting herself in danger for a possible rape?

Bang, Bang. I knocked on the door again angrily. I heard Veronica approach behind me. I turned to look at her and I could see that she was visibly upset at having to walk across the parking lot in her heels without my assistance. I looked at her for a second and knew that I was going to have to make it up to her, but right now I needed to make sure that Clementine knew I wasn’t impressed with her online dating safety measures.

“I said I’m coming.” Clementine opened the door with a perplexed expression on her face that changed to surprise when she saw me. “Oh hey, Rhett, what’s going on?” She looked at me curiously and then looked behind me at Veronica. “And hi,” She smiled weakly. “I’m Clementine, nice to meet you.”

“Okay.” Veronica nodded and spoke in a pissed tone.

“Your name is okay?” Clementine asked softly and I looked her in the eyes. She raised an eyebrow at me as if to say, another bimbo and I frowned at her.

“My name is Veronica.” Veronica spoke stiffly. “Who exactly are you? And why are we here, Rhett?” She touched my shoulder.

“Clementine, can we come in?” I stepped into her apartment without waiting for an answer. “Where’s Elliott?”

“He’s watching the movie.” She frowned at me. “We just paused it.”

“Tell me you’re not watching it in the bedroom.” I strode down the corridor and into the living room, feeling furious. “Oh, hi.” I stopped as I saw Elliott on the couch eating popcorn. He looked up and gave me a small smile.

“Hi,” His expression was friendly, but surprised. I looked him over and wanted to laugh. Elliott looked like a nerd. He couldn’t have been taller than 5”10 and he looked like he had a pretty small frame. I knew that he didn’t compare to my 6”2 stature and 200lbs of solid muscle. He had blond hair and doeful looking brown eyes. He was cute, I’d give him that, but he certainly wasn’t a hunk. Not saying that I’m a hunk or anything, but I knew that if we both walked into a bar, there would be way more girls over me.

“I’m Rhett.” I walked over to him and reached my hand out. “I’m Clementine’s best friend and Knight in shining armor.”

“Elliott.” He jumped up and shook my hand firmly. “It’s nice to meet a friend of Clementine’s.”

“Best friend.” I gave him a deceptively innocent smile.

“Does that really matter now we’re in our twenties?” His eyes narrowed as he continued smiling back at me.

“Does what matter?” Clementine walked into the room with Veronica following behind, looking out of place.

“The distinction of best when talking about friends.” Elliott walked over to her and put his arm around her shoulder. “I just thought that was a pretty grade school thing, to classify friends as best.” He shrugged and smiled at me. “I’ve never been one to have to stress how close I was to someone.”

“Oh,” Clementine laughed. “I guess Rhett and I still refer to each other as best friends.” She gave me a winning smile, but I didn’t smile back. What did she see in this douche?

“This is your best friend?” Veronica looked at me and then at Clementine, her eyes narrowed. I looked at Clementine through her eyes and I understood why she looked pissed. Clementine looked hot in her black skinny jeans and midriff top. Since when did she own a midriff top? Her long hair was flowing around her shoulders and her brown eyes were sparkling. I looked closer and I could see that she had eye shadow covering her eyes. When did she start wearing eye shadow?

“You look like a raccoon.” I muttered at Clementine and she frowned at me.

“What?”

“We need to talk.” I walked over to her and grabbed her hand and pulled her to her bedroom with me. “We’ll be right back.” I muttered to Veronica and Elliott as we left the room.

“What’s going on Rhett?” Clementine exclaimed as we walked into her bedroom.

“Do you know how irresponsible you’re being?” I growled at her and leaned against the door so no one could get in.

“Huh?” She looked confused.

“You just met this guy online. He could be a psycho or a stalker.” I shouted, furiously. “And after one date you already have him in your apartment, alone. How stupid are you?” I glared at her. “I had to leave my date to come and check up on you to make sure you’re okay.”

“Are you crazy?” She glared at me. “Elliott is not a psycho and you didn’t need to come and check up on me.” She shook her head. “What the f**k is your problem? You chose to bring that bimbo here.”

“She’s not a bimbo.” I glared at her.

“Sure, okay is not a bimbo.” She glared back at me.

“What?” I frowned, confused by her words. Then I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. “Her name isn’t okay. Her name is Veronica.”

“Same difference.” She grinned at me, reluctantly.

“She’s hot.” I shrugged. “Her name means nothing to me.”

“That’s so wrong.” She sighed. “Poor girl.”

“You don’t care.”

“I care about you.” She bit her lower lip. “I want more for you than nameless encounters.”

“This is about you, don’t change the subject.”

“Don’t go all Papa Bear on me Rhett.” She sighed. “I can take care of myself.”

“What if he makes a move on you?” I frowned. “What are you going to do?”

“I can take care of myself and I can make my own decisions.”

“You’ve never been in this situation before.” I stiffened. “You don’t know what guys are like.”

“I know you.” She smiled gently. “I know what you do with girls, I’m not some sheltered little princess.” She sighed. “And I want to start dating. I want to get out there. I want a boyfriend. I want a life.”

“I thought you were concentrating on your studies.” I could feel my heart beating fast.

“My studies aren’t going anywhere.” She looked at the ground. “I’ve wasted so much time already. I feel like I’ve wasted so many years.”

“You’re 21, Clementine.” I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, but most girls my age have had a boyfriend before.” She sighed. “Most girls went to Prom.”

“You went to Prom.” I protested.

“I went with Jake.” She shook her head. “Going to prom with your little brother is no fun.”

“You went with me too.”

“Rhett, you had a date.” She rolled her eyes. “You went with a date and I went with Jake. Yeah, we shared the same limo ride, but it wasn’t fun.”

“I thought you had a good time.” My heart thudded. “I tried to include you, you know that.”

“I know.” She stepped forward and grabbed my hands. “You’ve always been here for me, Rhett. You’re the best friend a girl could ask for, but I need more than that. I want a boyfriend. I want romance. I want a man to sweep me off of my feet. I want to be the only date of some guy. I want him to wake up and think of me. I want him to fall asleep dreaming of me. I want him to text me in the middle of the day just to say hello. I want him to love me with all his heart. I want his heart to be so full of love for me, that he can’t believe he’s so lucky.” She gave me a short smile. “I know I sound sappy, but I’m ready for my true love.”

“Clementine,” I shook my head at her. “That shit doesn’t exist. That’s Hallmark cards and those crappy romance movies and books you watch and read. I don’t know one guy that tells me his heart is so full of love for anyone.” I reached over and stroked her hair. “I’m not trying to be a jerk, but I don’t want you to spend your life searching for something that doesn’t exist.”

“I think it does exist.” She bit her lower lip.

“I’m telling you it doesn’t.”

“Well, you live your life that way.” She stepped back from me. “But I’m going to live my life this way.”

“So you want to live in a day dream?”

“I want to live with hopes and dreams, yes.” She nodded. “And I’m going to search for my true love, but I can’t do that, if I don’t date or put myself out there.”

“So you think that Elliott is your Prince Charming? Even though he’s a crappy kisser?”