IMPORTANT!!! IMPORTANT!!

AN: I know I made Stephen an only child in the beginning, but I'm taking it back now. He has two brothers. One older and one younger.

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Stephen.

"I can't believe you talked me into coming here." I grumbled at Brandon looking at the scene around me.

We were currently at his house for a family and friends barbecue, and to be completely honest, I'd rather be anywhere but here.

"C'mon man. We haven't gotten together like this in years." He looks around and then lowers his voice, "I know there's a bit of tension between you and Krys right now, but just set that aside for tonight. Walk around, mingle, catch up, meet the wives and kids, and try to have a good time. Alright?" He roughly pats me on the back before walking over towards his wife.

I take his advice and make my rounds, meeting his family and saying hello to a few of my buddies wives. I've met most of them before, but it's been a while. Whenever the guys and I hang out, it's just that. The guys. No wives or girlfriends allowed. Not that they're engaging in any debauchery or anything. We just like our man time.

I walk off of the porch and onto the grass, making my way over to Fernando. He's been unusually busy the past few weeks, and I haven't gotten a chance to speak with him about anything besides work.

"Long time no see!", I greet him with a half hug and handshake.

"Yeah, it's been hectic." He chuckles. "You know Dominique." He says gesturing to the beautiful woman next to him.

They've been together for a few months now. Fernando never stays single for long. He's always out searching for love, and finding heartache instead. She seems like a nice girl from the few times I've been around her. Hopefully it'll be different this time around.

"Of course. How are you?" I give her a brief hug. "I'm gonna go get a drink, you guys want anything?" She asks while standing up. We both decline and she walks inside the house.

"Have you talked to you dad yet?" He asks when she's gone.

"Nope. I talked to my mom though. She says he's out of town with his buddies, and that they're somewhere in the jungle with no cell reception. He won't be back for another ten days."

"Your dad's the ultimate workaholic, I'm surprised he even left town for so long." Nando whistles.

He's right. Growing up, my dad was notorious for missing some of my school events because he was too busy with work. School plays, soccer games, award ceremonies, bring your parents to school day. You name it, he probably missed it.

"Yeah, but with my brother taking over soon, I think he's a lot more comfortable leaving the office for extended periods of time"

My older brother, Cameron, has wanted to follow in my father's footsteps since the day he was born. And being the first born out of the three of us, he got his wish. We're in the midst of the transition now, but sometime within the next few months, he'll officially take over as CEO of S&S Enterprises.

"Well I, for one, can't wait until he gets back." He tells me, glancing over to the other side of the yard. "Hey Sav!" He waves over to Savannah as she walks onto the patio. She waves back and starts to make her way over to us.

Here we go with this again.

There's a man following behind her who, judging by the rock on her left hand, is probably her fiance.

She engulfs Fernando into a hug, before turning to me and holding her hand out.

Well, this is new.

I raise my eyebrows in surprise before shaking her offered hand.

"Kyle this is Fernando Villarreal, and Stephen Sims. My college woes. Guys this is Kyle, my wonderful fiance." She introduces us.

Kyle gives me a funny look before shaking my hand and nodding.

Great. Another member of "I hate Stephen Sims for no legitimate reason" club.

"Dinner is ready!" Our introductions are interrupted. "Let's do the adult thing and form a line. Kids first." Brandon yells from the barbecue grill, prompting almost everyone to get up and head his way.

"Go ahead without me. I'll wait until the crowd dies down a bit." I tell Fernando when he looks back at me.

"Suit yourself." He shrugs in response.

Well damn, I think to myself looking over towards the crowd near the grill and picnic tables set up. Almost everyone here brought along a girlfriend, a wife, or a kid, and here I am, riding solo, third wheeling my best frie--

"Is this seat taken." A voice asks me from my left.

I turn around quickly.

Holding a plate in each hand, Krystina stands before me, looking like an angel. It's really hard to stay mad at her when she looks so good. She's wearing a white, spaghetti strapped romper (yes I know the terminology), golden sandals, and she's got her hair in one of those crown braid things she used to wear all the time.

She looks at me nervously, waiting for my response.

I move over and gesture for her to sit.

She places one of the plates in front of me. "I noticed you didn't get up for dinner, so since I was in the front of the line, I thought I might as well make you a plate too."

"Oh. Um. I was just gonna wait until the line got shorter. You really didn't need to go through the trouble." I catch the crestfallen look on her face. "But I appreciate it. Thank you."

"It was no problem." She tells me smiling.

She's being unusually polite.

Ok. I'll play along.

Half way through our awkwardly silent meal, she starts to drop pieces of boiled egg from her potato salad onto my plate.

She catches the look on my face, looks down at what she's doing, and starts to laugh. Not a chuckle or a giggle, but a full on belly laugh that has her doubled over in her seat.

Tina has always had a contagious kind if laughter, so I'm not at all surprised when I start laughing as well. Now we're both doubled over, with tears in our eyes.

"I-I'm so s-sorry." She can barely speak. "It's like s-s-second hand n-nature for me to give you the things I don't eat. I can't believe I just did that. Ohmygod." She breathes out, calming down.

Our laughter ceases and is replaced my a content, peaceful silence.

"Do you," she speaks abruptly, "Do you think you'd be able to come to dinner sometime this week?" I open my mouth to reply, but she continues talking. "Nothing formal or fancy. Just me and you, very casual. We could do it at my place. I'll cook. Or we could do it at your place if you're more comfortable with that idea. And by "it" I mean dinner, not "IT" it." She laughs embarrassed.
"I just," she cuts me off again, "really think we need to talk. NO. Scratch that. We do really need to talk. There's a lot we need to discuss."

Okay.......

I wait for a minute, just in case she starts back up. "You're right. There is a lot we need to talk about. I'm pretty busy all week, but I think Friday will work. I'll just need your address." I tell her, hoping she can't hear the underlying emotion in my voice.

"Sure! Friday works great. Just give me your number and I'll text the address to you." She pulls out her phone from one of her pockets.

I ramble off my number, and she sends me the address a minute later.

"Oh. I'll take this if you're done." She says grabbing my plate.

"Thanks."

"You're Welcome." She stands. "I guess I'll see you Friday?"

"I guess you will." I smile slightly as she turns and walks away, stopping to talk to Nando before heading towards the trash can.

I ignore the stupid look of his face as he takes a seat next to me. "What was that all about? For a second there I felt like we were back at Columbia, eating shitty lunches in the café." He wiggles his eyebrows up and down.

I wave him off. "It was nothing. We just decided to meet later on in the week to talk. That's it."

"If you say so." He smirks.

"It's no big deal."

"Whatever you say, man. No need to try yo convince me." He shrugs.

"It's just dinner." I defend again, looking up and catching Krys' eyes from where she now stands next to Savannah.

Fernando follows my line of sight, then turns back to me. "Mhmmm."

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CALIFORNIA WAS AMAZING!

It was such a dream.

Sorry for the delay in updates, but I was busy enjoying life. I'm sure you guys can understand.

ANYWAYS,

Look who's kinda on speaking terms now!

How do you think dinner will go?

What are they gonna talk about?

Find out on the next episode of Dragon Ball Z.

lololololol

Don't forget to comment and vote!!

And as always, thank you for your continued support!

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