The second we stepped into West’s apartment, a fat, white, ball of fluff rammed into West’s legs and meowed loudly as if to tell him off for being gone so long.

As soon as my eyes landed on the cat I was no longer in control of the gasp that came out of my mouth or the way I fell to my knees and scooped the cat up, hugging it against my chest.

The cat meowed in protest and squirmed but ultimately gave up and succumbed to the cuddles with a grumble.

“Kitty!” I giggled.

West kneeled down by me with a smile on his face. “This is Mr. Whiskers, my cat-frog.”

I pulled the cat away from my chest to look at his fluffy face that seemed to be set in a permanent grumpy frown which made me laugh again.

“Hi, Mr. Whiskers. Do you want to be my best friend?” I asked, smiling widely.

The cat, unamused, let out a deep long meow.

I looked up at West and laughed, “I think that means yes.”

I felt annoyed as I watched the scene play out. It would be cute if I didn’t lose control every time I saw a cat. Sometimes I found myself wondering for hours following street cats I spotted on my way home.

I used to think it was an unconscious thing I did to avoid going home and being alone. I guess it’s turned into a habit now.

🌊🌊🌊

I gently wrapped a navy blue scarf around Blue’s neck just as the sun started to rise over the horizon.

It was the end of autumn and temperatures were starting to drop as we headed into winter. Blue had told me that sirens could withstand temperatures below 20 degrees easily but I was still suspicious when I saw his nose turn red as soon as we stepped out of the car last night.

The last thing I needed was him getting sick.

“Where are we going?” Blue asked, gazing up at me over the thick scarf.

I smiled and poked his nose as I answered, “an interview.”

“What for?”

“Promotion for the surf movie I told you about. It shouldn’t be long, maybe an hour or so. Then after I have a photoshoot for a summer collection.”

We stepped outside into the chilly autumn air. Larry was already waiting. He greeted us as he opened our doors.

“A summer collection... in autumn?”

I nodded, “the photos will probably be published sometime in spring.”

“Ah.”

We got settled into our seats and I made sure to turn our seat warmers on.

“I know you’re usually not too hungry in the mornings but they’ll probably have a complementary breakfast table there. Let’s eat together, okay?”

Blue nodded quietly.

As the car began to move his eyes brightened and he went straight to peering out the window.

🌊🌊🌊

As soon as West finished his bagel a group of people urged him away for hair and makeup. He left me with a gentle hair ruffle and an apology followed by clear orders, “enjoy the rest of your breakfast.”

Now I was staring down at a half eaten bagel while West’s aunt smiled awkwardly at me.

I coyly smiled at her before I stiffly reached to pick a piece off the bagel to nibble on it.

It seemed the awkwardness had started to suffocate her because she took a deep breath before speaking, “you know, I didn’t realize West would bring a guest. Luckily the venue for tomorrow isn’t sold out or else we’d have no where to put you. I mean honestly that boy just does whatever he wants all the time.”

I didn’t know what to do so I just nodded. I didn’t feel good talking to strangers yet. And this human seemed like she’d have no patience for me even if I tried to.

She stared at me oddly again before she wiped her palms on her pants and stood up, “I’ll be back. I have a… call to make.”

Well, that was so clearly a lie. Great job us! We’re great at pushing people away.

I frowned and put the piece of bagel I was nibbling on back down on the plate. I glanced around the room for a trash can. Spotting one, I carefully stood up and tossed the rest of the bagel away. Then I tucked myself back into my chair.

I didn’t look up from the table until West’s aunt came back announcing that they were about to start and we could find a place to stand and watch.

She lead me to a large, bright room. A whole camera crew was bustling about, doing their last minute setups.

My stomach twisted at the sight of it. Reid used to make me film videos for who knows what. There was a camera crew just like this, watching as I begged for everything to stop. My brain attacked me with the memories making my palms sweat.

I’m not there.

These people aren’t the people who filmed me.

No one’s even looking at me.

I focus on the middle of the room where all the chaos is revolving around. There’s a fake set with two couches and a coffee table. West is there. He’s making small talk with the interviewer who’s laughing at something he just said.

The sight of him calms my racing mind. He wouldn’t let someone here hurt me.

The crew starts to slow down and everyone looks like they’re ready. Someone calls out something and suddenly everyone’s quiet.

The interviewer smiles at West before speaking, “Congratulations! When I heard you were starring as the male lead in High Tide I immediately knew it would be the movie of the summer.”

“Thank you, that means a lot. We’ve been working very hard on this movie and I can’t wait to share it with the world.” West smiled.

“We can’t wait to see it! So, we know from the description and a few teaser clips that Hayden, your character, suffered a leg injury at a young age and through the movie he’ll be struggling with the feeling of not being enough. How do you plan to show these feelings through your acting?”

West nodded and took a thoughtful breath, “well, it won’t be difficult for me. As an actor who came into fame because of a scandal I constantly feel like that’s all I am. Like maybe I’m not really talented and I’m only getting parts because of my messy past.”

The interviewer nodded with a sympathetic smile, “I see. So you relate to Hayden in that way.”

West nodded, “yes exactly. I wanted to play Hayden so badly because I feel like he’s me in a way. He’ll be one of the first characters I play with this much depth and I hope people will start seeing me as the talented actor I know I can be just like they’ll see Hayden as the skilled surfer he knows he is despite our different rough pasts.”

The interviewer beamed at West, “that’s so inspiring. A lot of people believe this movie will be just another raunchy summer romance but it’s sounding like it’s more than that.”

West smiled playfully, “well it’s definitely a little raunchy… but yes, both Hayden and Aubrey have a lot of depth to their characters. That’s what sets it apart from the rest of the movies like this out there.”

“So, tell me, what kind of plot twist are we expecting to see…”

I watched mesmerized as West answered each question, throwing a few jokes in here and there. He truly looked like he loved what he was doing and I felt happy knowing he was happy.

The interview went on for another twenty or so minutes and ended with mutual professional goodbyes.

West then beelined it to me. I was shocked when he engulfed me in a hug but there were no complaints out of me as I leaned into the affection.

“How’d I do?” West smiled down at me.

“Perfect,” I whispered.

West laughed and ruffled my short hair.

“Alright lover boys, double time! We got a photoshoot to get to in fifteen. Let’s go! Let’s go!” Jane wrangled us out and all the way to the car where she shoved us in with Larry and left.

“That’s my aunt and manager for you,” West sighed. He looked over at me thoughtfully. “I hope you’re not too bored.”

“Oh,” I stared at him wide eyed, “no! Not at all. It’s really interesting… watching you.”

West smiled, “you like watching me, huh?”

I blushed with a pout on my face. “That’s not what I meant,” I muttered, feeling embarrassed. 

West hummed and settled tiredly into his seat.

🌊🌊🌊

The photoshoot took three hours.

I don’t know how West did it. He quick changed into at least fifty outfits during this time frame all with a photographer calling out commands to straighten his back, look this way, look that way, angle your head to the right, no, left, more, less, lift your cheek! How do you even lift your cheek?

I attempted to do it as I stared out the window next to a sweaty, out of breath West. I refused to look at him.

His bronze skin was glistening with sweat, his shirt unbuttoned and his chest lifting and flexing with each heavy breath and movement he made. Looking at him made me feel flustered and weird so I opted for staring out the window.

Trying to lift my cheek.

At some point during the drive back home, West dozed off. I decided to take a peak at him after a while of him being silent. His curls were frizzy and hanging in his face, flying up whenever he released a soft breath. With his face completely relaxed and his lips puffed out, his cheeks looked chubbier making him look like a big baby.

I couldn’t help but smile fondly at him.

🌊🌊🌊

After a long shower and a giant well deserved dinner, I proposed the idea of walking around the city.

Blue's eyes sparkled with the suggestion and he nodded enthusiastically. He ran to grab his coat and shoes as I set the dishes in the sink.

However, as soon as I opened the front door to the city streets in front of us, caution took over his excitement.

His head was on a swivel, eyeing people who got too close as we walked.

I was worried by his behavior at first but this was his first time in a city and probably his first time surrounded by this many strangers outside of that night club. It calmed me just a little bit knowing this was probably normal for his situation. But I was still a little worried.

He reverted back to not talking so I did my best to calm him with my lighthearted ramblings. It seemed to work. He’d give me a little smile here and there and I took pride in it.

“When we get back to Riverstone we should have a beach day and take-“

Blue suddenly gasped and took off running.

“Woah! Hey what happened?” I called out after him, following him toward an old fashioned looking ice cream shop.

I watched as he pulled the door open stepped inside, looking at everything with wide, excited eyes.

“Blue!” I called out making him jump and turn to me. “You can’t run off like that, bud.”

Blue pouted and grabbed the end of his coat, as he wiggled impatiently in place. “I want ice cream,” He whined in a high pitched voice.

A couple turned to stare at him before they minded their business.

I blinked dumbly at him.

“We can uh… we can get ice cream just next time ask before you run off.” I said, observing his behavior.

He let go of his coat and clapped his hands, hopping toward the line and hanging on the chain that outlined the line of people waiting to buy ice cream.

I followed to stand beside him as he began rambling, “I haven’t had ice cream in for-EVER. I used to get vanilla but I don’t think I like vanilla anymore so I don’t know what to get. Sometimes I try the flavors too but like only sometimes. Sometimes the colors are pretty.”

I was getting whiplash from the vast personality change. How Blue managed to go from scared and quiet to childish and talking nonstop over something as simple as ice cream baffled me.

Although now that I think about it this happened every time I mentioned blueberry scones too.

It’s like the sweets turn him into a whole different person.

“Which ice cream is your favorite?” Blue asked, looking up at me.

“Coffee. Even though I prefer tea.”

He made a disgusted face, “that one’s the worst. You’re gross for that.” He said very seriously before he started talking about other bad ice cream flavors.

I laughed, baffled by his words. I wasn’t offended or anything I was just shocked sweet, shy, Blue would say anything like that.

Maybe he was coming out of his shell more?

I paid for our ice creams and we sat down on a bench outside. Blue was being a major chatter box, talking about anything and everything and I liked this side of him a lot. It was cute and he looked happy which made me happy.

As soon as the last bit of strawberry ice cream was gone from his cup he quieted down and settled into his seat more, looking shy.

“Sorry,” he muttered, “I don’t know what it is with sweets but it’s like I lose control to the excitement.” He laughed dejectedly, looking embarrassed.

I smiled and bumped my shoulder against his, “no worries, Blue. I think it’s cute.”

He turned his face away but I could see his ears turn red under the light of the ice cream shop behind us.