*With the guys*
"I didn't expect to actually like the girl you set me up with." Hunter says to Rainn in a blissful yet surprised tone.
"I definitely didn't expect that either." Ray sighs as he heads back to his car.
"I really didn't expect you to be so nice either bro, what happened to you?" Hunter asks while following Ray back to his car.
"I literally have no idea." He replies while looking in the direction they drove off in. "It's like she has this weird control over me when I'm near her. It's weird, I've never known anyone that can do that to me."
"I've never known you to act that way either. You're usually bold and flirty and you'd definitely either be making out with the girl right now or on your way back to your place to spend the night fucking her."
"That's all true." Ray groans as he sits in the driver's seat. "I planned to have her in my bed tonight with me making her moan all night long but I wouldn't even kiss her...why?!" He shouts and hits his head on the steering wheel.
"I wish I knew man, I really do." Hunter says sympathetically but is fighting the smile that wants to form from seeing his friend like this. "Maybe she's the one you're meant to love."
Ray sits up quickly and glares at Hunter causing him to move away. "You know I don't believe in that shit! Love is fake and is for fools and you're a fool for falling in love so quickly and easily! You're going to end up an emotional wreck sooner or later and I promise you won't get sympathy from me when that happens." Ray is now fuming as he starts the car and drives out of the parking lot so quickly he makes the tires screech.
"Love is something you have to experience Ray and judging by how this girl has changed you so easily I think you're experiencing it..."
"One more word on the subject and I'll make sure Violet never sees you again, I can make her hate you and you know that's true." Ray growls his warning at Hunter causing him to glare at him then sigh because he doesn't want to lose the girl he's falling in love with.
"Fine." Is hunters last word on the matter as they drive back to Ray's place.
*With the girls*
"So you and Hunter hit it off well." Rose teases while smiling as she drives back to her apartment building.
"So did you and Ray." Violet teases back with a smile, that smile fades as she sees Rose isn't smiling anymore. "Sorry Rose."
"It's ok Vi." She sighs as she keeps driving. "I'm just thankful he's being nice and wasn't trying to force me into anything."
"Me too. He seems different from the others. Do you think he could be the one?" Violet asks curiously then covers her mouth quickly with her hand.
"Vi, you know how I feel about that. Love is for idiots and frankly, I think you're stupid for falling for Hunter so quickly. You're just going to end up hurt." Rose says in a firm tone and shoots Violet a glare.
"Rose I know how you feel but..."
"But nothing Violet!" Rose snaps causing Violet to gasp loudly and move away. "You know what I've been through with guys Vi, heck you were there through some of it." She says sadly as she remembers her past ordeals. "Love is for fairy tales, it's fake and it's meaningless. Just because you think you feel a certain way for someone doesn't mean it's true love."
"That's where we clash, I believe love is real and anyone can fall in love." Violet says in a soft whisper as she looks out the window.
"And I believe you're going to end up pregnant and with a broken heart." Rose says harshly making Violet look at her with shock and pain written all over her face. "I'm sorry Vi but you know that happens a lot."
"It doesn't mean it'll happen to me and I know Hunter isn't like that."
"You don't know him!" Rose shouts as they pull up to the apartment building.
"And you don't know Ray! He could be the one for you but you're too closed up to give him a chance!" Violet shouts and quickly exits the car.
"All guys are the same Violet, you'll see that sooner or later." Rose grumbles to herself while she watches her friend storm off into the building.
———————————————————————————
The next morning Rose wakes up to her alarm that she set for 9 am so she has time to get ready for the day. "I still hate mornings but it's good to sleep in for once." She says as she turns off her alarm.
She goes about her normal morning routine and decides to head to Violet's apartment which is down the hall. She knocks on the door and Violet answers already dressed and ready to go. "Hey Vi, ready?"
"Yeah." Violet sighs as she grabs her wallet and keys and closes her door.
"I'm sorry about last night." Rose says in a soft voice as they walk down the hall.
"I know and I hope you know you're right and wrong on the topic."
"Not in my eyes." Rose replies which made Violet sigh. "You know why I am how I am."
"I know but still."
They head outside the apartment and soon see Ray's car pull up, Violet smiles excitedly and rushes Hunter once she seems him exit the car. "Hey!" Hunter says loudly and happily as he opens his arms for her. "I missed you too." He chuckles as he hugs her tightly.
Rose can't help but feel a bit of jealousy as she watches her friend hug this guy with a huge smile on her face. She's never been jealous before and she doesn't like it at all. She looks and sees Ray leaning on the frame of the car with an expression similar to hers, maybe he feels the same way?
"Come on Rose lets go." Violet says happily as she pulls away from Hunter.
"Yeah let's go." Ray smiles and slides back in the car.
Rose takes a deep breath and walks to the car and gets into the front passenger seat yet again. She looks at Ray who is smiling at her and smiles back. Seeing him in the sunlight makes him look even more attractive to her which scares her, she's never really been attracted to a guy before so this new sensation is making her nervous.
"So let's go to lunch then afterward I was thinking we can go to the Fair? How does that sound?" Ray asks while still smiling.
"That sounds amazing." Rose replies happily as she thinks of all the fun they can have at the fair, she hasn't been to one since she was a kid.
"I thought you might like it." Ray smiles then looks in the back seat to see Hunter and Violet already cozy. "You two." He groans and rolls his eyes.
"Jealous." Hunter smirks causing Violet to giggle.
"Fuck off." Ray growls and starts the car.
Rose is surprised by his language but not very much considering they are close friends and Hunter doesn't seem fazed by his words.
As Ray is driving Rose notices what he's wearing, simple blue jeans and a white short-sleeved t-shirt with some weird logo design on it. She watches the tattoo on his arm and admires the way his muscles move beneath it as he drives. She doesn't realize she's in a daze until she hears giggling.
"Rose!" She hears Violet shout through laughter.
"What?" She replies with annoyance but is also very embarrassed that she allowed herself to space out.
"You guys go ahead and get us a table." Ray tells them firmly but with amusement as he looks at Rose. They groan and exit the car leaving them alone for the first time. "I think you need to get this out of your system." He chuckles and starts to pull his shirt off.
"What are you doing?!" Rose squeaks loudly and blushes heavily.
"Letting you see my tattoo. You keep starring at it and I told you it goes to my chest so I'm removing my shirt so you can see the whole thing." Ray says while smiling and trying not to laugh at her reaction.
"Oh, yeah I forgot." Rose says with embarrassment as she looks at him sitting beside her with no shirt on.
"Here, feel free to touch." Ray grins and holds his arm out for her to explore.
Rose looks at him while still blushing and gently touches his hand where the dragon's head is and admires it. She's seen plenty of tattoos before but there's something about his that fascinates her. She thinks it's the detail and color but now she's starting to wonder if it's something else.
His skin is soft and smooth which surprises her as she runs her fingers along the dragon, up his arm, she gently traces the body of the dragon that has captivated her since last night. She allows her palm to touch his skin as well as her hand reaches his upper arm, she's almost in a trance again and she doesn't notice it.
Ray has been watching her with amusement as she examines his tattoo but when she touched him he felt like he was touched by an angel. Her hands were so soft and gentle and her touch alone made him relax which is unheard of for him, usually, a girls touch arouses him but this time was different.
Rose trails her hand up his arm following the dragon still and is fully captivated by it. She doesn't realize her hand is on his chest until she feels his heart pounding and his breathing is rapid.
Ray is watching her attentively as she rubs his tattoo with her hand but he starts to feel anxious as she reaches his chest. He feels his heart pounding as her hand stops at the tip of the dragon's tail which is on his right pectoral right below his collarbone.
Rose feels his heart pounding beneath her palm and looks up at him with a blush on her cheeks as she realizes how close she is to his face and where her hand is, they make eye contact and unknowingly move closer to each other. Her hand is still on his chest and his has moved to her thigh, this snaps her out of her trance and causes her to move away.
"What's wrong?" Ray asks with concern once he feels her hand move off of him.
"Nothing, don't worry about it." Rose replies firmly and looks away from him. "We should get inside, don't forget to put your shirt back on and thanks for letting me see your tattoo."
"Yeah. No problem." Ray replies as he pulls his shirt back on. He doesn't understand why she backed off but he can tell she doesn't want him to meddle. "Let's go." He says as he opens the car door.
They both exit the car and head into the restaurant walking side by side. Her hand barely touched his as they walked which made her move away and caused him to sigh softly. She's not ready to even consider letting her guard down and he doesn't understand why she's being so closed up.
They search for Hunter and Violet and find them sitting side by side in a booth talking and smiling. They walk up and Rose slides into the booth first with Ray close behind. Hunter and Violet look at each other than at them and ask at the same time. "Did something happen?"
"No." Rose and Ray reply at the same time which made them both smile a bit.
"Nothing happened Violet, he just showed me his tattoo." Rose says firmly and fights her blush as she remembers what happened.
"Yeah, and you know how she's fascinated by it." Ray teases which makes her lightly smack his arm causing him to chuckle.
"I haven't seen him this happy in a long time." Hunter smirks at them as he wraps his arm across Violet's shoulders.