It wasn�t until Vanessa returned without her sunglasses that she realized that she was the same Vanessa that was on MTV. She shouldn�t be surprised that Derek was with another celebrity. In fact, it would have surprised her if he wasn�t. Personally, she thought people in certain professions should stick together and share their dysfunction amongst themselves. Celebrities, corporate tycoons, lawyers and politicians should date in the same circle. Only they could deal with each other narcissism.
What did surprise her was how young she was. Derek was older than she was and at twenty-six she would think of dating someone who was twenty-three. By looking at her, Maleeyah didn�t figure Vanessa for a day over just being able to drink.
The common sense side of her had to ask what Derek had in common with such a young girl but the realistic side of her realized it was all about her looks, her celebrity and the circles they both traveled in. It wouldn�t have seemed like a big deal but she knew from his own words that he was looking for more for his life.
�Nice friend Derek has there.� Ben remarked as he nodded at the departing couple.
�Yeah, do you recognize her?�
Ben frowned, �Is she an actress or something?� His face lit up, �Man, he always has All-Stars.�
�Well, actually she�s a VJ on MTV. She was Miss Teen USA.�
�When? Last year?�
She really did have to work on not blurting out things. However, it went over well; Jack and Ben laughed at her.
**
She sat on the beach, alternating between reading and listening to all the songs on her iPod that she downloaded but had yet to hear. A lot of them were suggestions from others and magazines. She was in the middle of listening to Natasha Bedingfield�s These Words and she loved it.
Her body moved around and she tapped her feet along to the music. Once again her sun had been blocked. She didn�t bother to open her eyes as she scolded Ben.
�Can you stay out of my sun please.�
�Sorry, didn�t mean any harm.�
Her eyes flew open at the sound of a refined British accent. The man before her was equally distinguished.
�I�m sorry, I thought you were my friend.�
�He smiled, �So does that mean I can have a seat?�
She nodded, �Yes, please.� Her arm stretched out and offered him a the other side of the blanket.
�Hi my name is Colin.�
She shook his hand, �My name is Maleeyah. Nice to meet you.�
�Are you on vacation?�
�Yes.�
�Where are you from?�
�Florida. And yourself?�
He smiled, �England.�
That was stupid of her. She rolled her eyes at her silliness.
�Its ok. You were just keeping the conversation going.�
**
She and Colin had spent the day together. He took her to a few places she probably wouldn�t have seen if she stuck with her roommates the entire time.
They parted ways so she could get dressed for dinner. There was a knock on her bedroom door,
�Come in.�
Sean entered, �Wow look at you. Colin is here.� He gave her a smile as if he knew something devious.
�Its just dinner.� She smiled.
�Sure it is.�
She grabbed her purse off the bed, �Are you judging what I�ll do based on what you do?�
He laughed, �Hell yeah.�
She just laughed as she left her room and saw Colin. If it were possible, he was more attractive than earlier.
�You look delightful.�
Delightful? That was a word she would never get from an American man. They barely gave compliments to begin with.
�I�ll see you later Sean.�
He stood at the door, watching them walk down the sidewalk towards the street, �Have fun and be careful.� It was like her father watching her leave with a teenage boy. Of course, she never had that experience; her father was gone long before her dating years.
**
�How wonderful is London?�
They were sitting over dinner. She told him about her plans, some of her life and how she ended up on vacation with four guys. She didn�t mention Derek and Colin didn�t seem like the sports type.
�Its great. I wouldn�t dream of living anywhere else in the world.�
�I�ve always wanted to go to England. Its weird. I�ve been to France, Italy and Holland but I�ve never made it to England.�
�Don�t let the American reviews fool you. Its not all drab with boring people that have awful teeth. We have tradition, art, culture and just as many opportunities for wild and sinful fun as the United States.�
�I�d never judge based on that. As long as you don�t judge me based on the ugly American theme.�
�There is nothing ugly about you. And if I did prejudge Americans, you would have changed every bad thing I thought.�
She smiled, �Thank you.� In the back of her mind, she told herself not to be caught up but she was on vacation. If the guys could have uncommitted sex she could have fairy tale romance, if only for a few hours.
**
The night was quiet and the breeze was pleasant. They sat on a small three-foot wall facing the beach.
�When do you leave?�
�I leave tomorrow.�
She was still impressed that someone would go on vacation alone. She could never do that.
He leaned over and placed his hand on the side of her face. He pulled her head towards him and placed a kiss on her lips. It had been months since she had been kissed and she was quickly reminded of what she had been missing.
His hand began to move and it was joined by his other hand. Soon his hands were on her neck and the other on her waist pulling her closer to him.
For a brief moment, she thought of pulling back but she didn�t. She felt good at that moment and there was nothing wrong with that. She let it continue but she knew it would go no further than a kiss, she wouldn�t let it.
028 | No Ordinary Girl