[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/PTqVbEj.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/WGzuSoN.png?1[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/RSCtSEs.gif[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/iDfEm7A.gif[/img] [sub][color=blanchedalmond][color=f6c142][b]Connor Prince[/b][/color] and [color=ffb5fd][b]Selena Sterling[/b][/color] Location: From the bar to the dancefloor. A collaboration with [@smarty0114]![/color][/sub] [img]https://i.imgur.com/WGzuSoN.png?1[/img][/center][indent][indent]The ever eventful day that Connor had been having, gradually became an even more eventful night. After a thoroughly awkward car ride, wherein JD and Connor got far more acquainted with each other than either wanted to be, Connor was grateful when the group went their separate ways upon arriving at the Helmsley’s yacht. After grabbing himself a rum and coke, the young Prince had made it his mission to make an impression on any girl he could. In fact, he’d been in the middle of that mission, when he caught a glimpse of one girl in particular, silver-haired, and no less intriguing than when he’d met her yesterday. Selena Sterling. Connor fixed her with a stare, watching as she chatted with some mystery boy, probably another snob from the looks of him. The part that really caught his attention was when a girl came up and planted one on Blondie, a sight that he hadn’t been expecting. It would have put a hole right through his stomach (not that he’d ever admit that) if Connor hadn’t also witnessed the look of pure rage that appeared moments afterwards. Laughing it up, Connor decided that this was his time to make an entrance. Strutting across the dance floor, Connor watched as the snob left Selena’s side, and he sidled up next to the blonde, a smirk painted across his face. This was his element, his playground. Confidence rolled off of the boy, so palpable you could practically taste it. [color=f6c142][b]“How’s it going, Princess? I wasn’t aware you were currently playing for the other team,”[/b][/color] he teased, taking a sip from his drink. The girl’s grip tightened around the stem of her martini glass. What was this? Martini number two… three? Who was counting anyway, she was just lucky she hadn’t yet snapped the delicate piece of glassware in half. She certainly felt infuriated enough to do so. Instead of granting the rebel’s snarky comment with a response, Selena sipped at her drink in cold silence. The gin was drier than her sense of humor in that moment, and it tasted better for it. Sel cleared her throat gently before speaking. [color=ffb5fd][b]“You’ll find I’m not much of a team player, [i]Prince[/i].”[/b][/color] Selena Sterling — team of one — put a mocking emphasis on his last name. Her icy gaze fell upon Connor for the first time since he’d approached her. Selena had avoided looking at him entirely. Why? She wasn’t quite sure. Playing hard to get, maybe. Or perhaps it was just her aloof nature. Likely both, if she was being honest with herself. She didn’t say anything further, she let her face do the talking, and it said: what do you want? [color=f6c142][b]“So I’ve guessed,”[/b][/color] Connor replied, smirking. She was playing along, fighting back, even. Most girls melted when he opened his mouth or flashed his wallet. Not her. [color=f6c142][b]“I just came over to ask how your night was coming along, not to mention I got bored talking to every other girl on this yacht. They don’t make ‘em like you, Blondie,”[/b][/color] he said with a grin, and a wink, so quick you might mistake it for a trick of the light, or an overactive imagination. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Selena.”[/b][/color] Sel corrected him in a stony tone of voice. Inwardly, she was completely freaking out. That was most definitely a pick-up line. He was hitting on her and, despite the annoying pet names that she did not give him permission to use, he was cute. At her request, Brynn had prepped her on how to talk to guys countless times, and all of those lessons were just leaves in the wind now — blowing away and completely out of her grasp. Everything that came out of Selena’s mouth was unrehearsed and entirely her own… whoever this version of [i]her[/i] was. It was terrifying and exciting, all at once. [color=ffb5fd][b]“If you insist on a nickname, you can call my Sparkles. I at least like that one.”[/b][/color] Sel looked back over to him now, taking another sip of her drink. If she wasn’t careful, she would start to feel the effects of it. She was well aware of her own limits, and if this was actually her third drink, she might be exceeding them quicker than anticipated. This was fair, in her mind, given that she also hadn’t anticipated being kissed against her will. That warranted an extra drink or two. [color=ffb5fd][b]“My night has been… going rather poorly, if you actually care to know the honest answer.”[/b][/color] Sel doubted that he did. No one around here was genuine. Beverly Hills was the land of fake tans and even faker people. Connor grinned, leaning against the bar, as if to say “Yeah, I’m cooler than you, what about it?” [color=f6c142][b]“Let me guess, it has something to do with that little munchkin who went and planted one on you?”[/b][/color] Connor said, smirking and taking a sip from his drink. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Oh, yes, surely my problems are only about who I do and don’t kiss for the night.”[/b][/color] Selena retorted grumpily and rolled her eyes. A pity that he was so one-sided, she had hoped that he’d be different. Subconsciously putting up a wall between them, Sel crossed her left arm under her breasts and rested her hand in the crook of her right elbow, which was bent to tip her martini glass to her lips. She was feeling the alcohol and, just like her mother, that meant that she lost her filter. [color=ffb5fd][b]“You don’t really care about my night, so, tell me why you really came over here, Connor Prince. Do note that I only respect honesty, so you can leave the flowery lines about other girls aside for now. It’s rather poor taste to compare me to them.”[/b][/color] Selena’s eyes only left his own long enough to appraise his outfit, as she remembered the one refreshing quality about him yesterday was his sense of style. It wasn’t his [i]only[/i] refreshing quality, but she was feeling bitter and peeved, so she pretended like it was, even to herself. This was new. How exciting it was, to be called out like that, like she couldn’t care less about who he was or what he may or may not be able to do in the sheets. [color=f6c142][b]“Well then, if you must know, you intrigue me, Selena Sterling. I wasn’t lying when I said you’re different. You are. I think you’re different than most people out there, and I like it.”[/b][/color] Connor smiled at her. That all was the truth, maybe slightly watered down, but still the truth. It neglected to mention that Selena had been running through his mind since they’d met, that he’d brought her up with Damian, that maybe, just maybe, he had a crush. Selena felt her cheeks grow warm. It was probably the alcohol. Selena Sterling did not [i]blush[/i]. [color=ffb5fd][b]“That… actually makes sense.”[/b][/color] Most people didn’t like her. It was like some wild talent that she had, effortlessly causing people to loathe her. Hell, she even tried to drive him away, but, he was still here. And he said he liked her, and that he liked her for being different. While everyone else steered clear of her, Connor was lured in by her nature. Perhaps he wasn’t totally one-sided, and could see her for being more than just the catty It girl she painted herself to be. Sel bit her bottom lip softly, remembered her lipstick, and then quickly halted that. [color=ffb5fd][b]“You’re wearing Versace again, is that a favorite of yours?”[/b][/color] Selena turned the conversation back towards him, before he could say something else to make her feel all… special. Connor grinned. He could tell he’d earned some points there, gotten one step closer to her. Brick by brick, he’d bring the wall down, a modern day Reagan. He looked down at his outfit, the same one he’d worn to school, and back up at Selena. [color=f6c142][b]“My mother always refused to let me leave the house in anything less than the best. She was stubborn like that, and now I guess I don’t feel dressed if I’m not impressing. I take it, I’ve succeeded?”[/b][/color] It may be that the most shocking event of the evening occured next, and there wasn’t anyone around but Connor to see it, Selena Sterling laughed. It was genuine laughter. Her buzz made it more of a girlish giggle than a proper laugh, too. Having realized what she just did, Selena brought a hand to her lips to keep any more giggles from bubbling out. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Ahem, sorry, that was just… incredibly relatable.”[/b][/color] Selena’s own fashion sense, and piles of insecurities, came from the pressures of her mother. Nothing less than perfection was ever acceptable, not when there were polished appearances to keep up. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Yes, you’ve succeeded… for now.”[/b][/color] Sel tacked on with a… was that a smirk? Perhaps having Jamie as a best friend was rubbing off on her. [color=f6c142][b]“Perfect, now I can rest easy,”[/b][/color] Connor said, smiling with genuine amusement. [color=f6c142][b]“Don’t get me wrong, my mom’s great, really. Her only wrongdoing was marrying my dad,”[/b][/color] Connor said, his smile faltering at the mention of his father. [color=f6c142][b]“So, who was that guy from earlier? Y’know, the snobby looking one?”[/b][/color] Connor asked, changing the subject with as much ease as he could, doing his best not to sound like he was jealous, but ultimately sounding as jealous as could be. For a moment, Selena’s face softened. Connor was talking about family, something real, which was clearly making him feel some type of way. Sel listened, because for just a second, he let his mask drop; but just as quickly as it had come, the rare moment fled. Connor then turned the conversation to none other than Jamie, her best friend and confidant. As if the mere mention of him had summoning powers, another smirk graced Selena’s face. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Is that… [i]jealousy[/i]?”[/b][/color] Sel asked knowingly, more than a little flattered by it. [color=ffb5fd][b]“I doubt you could compete, but, his name is Jamie.”[/b][/color] Connor smirked and took a sip of his drink, chuckling a little before answering. [color=f6c142][b]“Jealousy? Never met her, but I do know that I can compete with just about anyone,”[/b][/color] Connor said. [color=f6c142][b]“I mean, at least I’m told,”[/b][/color] Connor said, punctuating his sentence with a wink. For the second time in their conversation, Selena rolled her eyes. [color=ffb5fd][b]“We’ll see about that…”[/b][/color] She mused doubtfully. There was a commotion towards the dancefloor that pulled her attention from Connor for a moment. It was almost nothing, she’d nearly looked away from it, until she saw the familiar form of a tall blond male retreating into the crowd with his hand gripping Brynn’s. Some of the dancers, if you could really call them that, stood and stared down at the guy left in a heap on the floor. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Oh my god! Should we go help?”[/b][/color] Selena gaped, her brain struggling to process this information. Did Sean just knock someone out? Connor hardly hesitated, leaving his drink on the bar, and walking over to where the guy was lying on the ground, his face swollen and already beginning to bruise. Selena followed hurriedly after him, leaving her own empty glass on the bar behind her. Connor turned around, looking at Selena for a moment, then back to the guy. [color=f6c142][b]“Looks like someone had a bit of a run in,”[/b][/color] Connor said, before kneeling down next to the unconscious dude. Their night, it seemed, was far from over.[/indent][/indent]