Taehyung looks out of the window as I drive down the dark streets, only glancing back over to me every so often when we reach a red light or stop sign. Music quietly plays through my speakers and I noticed out of the corner of my eye that his heads bobs in tune with the beat making me smile to myself.

"For you not to know me, you sure do trust me right now," I joke as I pull onto the interstate.

He looks over at me with a smirk and raised eyebrows, "Do I have any reason not to?"

He wasn't the least bit worried about where I was taking him. It was like he already trusted me fully for some unknown reason. Then again, here I was driving off with a random guy I just met.

I shake my head, "No, but do I have any reason not to trust you?"

He smiles and brushes a hair away from his eyes, "I promise to be a gentleman."

I pull up to an empty parking lot overlooking the ocean and turn the car off. Reaching down, I pop the trunk and proceed to open the driver's side door. Pausing as I swing one leg out, I look back at the passenger seat and quirk my brow.

"You coming?" I ask as I step out.

Taehyung follows my lead as he observes me grabbing a couple of spare blankets that I keep in my car and we make our way to the sand. Reaching down, I pull off my sandals and gesture for him to also take off his socks and sneakers. The moonlight glistened over the calm water as soft waves crash onto the shore. I find a spot in the middle of the small secluded beach a few feet away from the water's edge and shake out one of the blankets to lay it flat. Sitting down on the black and white striped blanket, I tap the empty spot next to me to suggest that he can sit down as well.

It was dark and a little chilly. The way the gentle gusts of wind blew the pieces of dark hair around his face made him look like he was starring in his own movie. I have to force myself to look away to clear my mind and to stop myself from staring too long.

"Are we going to get in trouble for being out here?" he wonders, nervously looking around even though there wasn't another soul in sight.

"No, I come here a lot when I need to think or just want some alone time," I admit, smiling over at him as he finally decides to sit next to me.

"Oh. So this is like your... happy place?" he inquires.

I never thought about it that way, but I guess it was. Any time I'd get angry or sad, I would find myself coming here. From the moment I got my driver's license, I would somehow end up in this same spot whenever I got stressed out. No one had actually even come here with me before, not even Madison knew about it. So, why did I feel so compelled to share this sacred place of mine with him? A complete stranger that I somehow feel totally calm with.

"I guess you could say that it brings me peace," I stare out to the moon straight ahead as I bring my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around them.

He stretches out his muscular arm to grab the other matching blanket and proceeds to wrap it around my shoulders.

"Thank you for sharing this with me. It's now my happy place, too." He lays back with his elbows propped up to keep him from laying flat.

We stay there completely silent for a few moments as the waves rush up and back down the shoreline. As promised, he remains a complete gentleman. Honestly, it surprises me. A guy like him surely has to know that he could get any girl he wants. There were so many throwing themselves at him back at the party, but he ignored them all. So why me? I knew I wasn't ugly but I also knew that I wasn't exactly Miss America.

I look over to him and he sits up to look back at me. My heart starts pounding out of my chest with each inch that he gets closer to me. I may be a virgin, but I know that I'm more than just mentally attracted to him.

Before I could say anything to him he lifts his hand to my face and slowly moves a piece of my hair blowing in the wind, gently tucking it behind my ear. The warmth of his fingertips as they grazed the skin on my neck made me tremble unexpectedly.

"Are you still cold?" he worriedly asks.

Shit. He must have felt me shake when he touched me. After he put the blanket over my shoulders, I was pretty warm but there was no other way to explain why I trembled without giving away my inner thoughts.

I lie.

"A little bit." I give a shy tight-lipped smile hoping that would get me off the hook.

Scooting over a bit closer, he wraps me in his arms and places my head onto his chest. My eyes widen at our closeness and him making sure I'm okay kind of shocks me. Him taking care of me? I did not expect this to say the least.

"Better?" he sweetly inquired but I'm too nervous to even try to speak.

I just nod.

"Can I ask you something?" The deep rumble of his voice as my ear remains pressed against him sends a tingle down my spine.

I nod again, still unable to formulate a word.

"Are you... interested in me?" His voice sounded almost concerned.

I look up to him with a confused expression, pulling away from his embrace.

"Why do you ask?" I find myself staring deep into his eyes as if I was searching for the words before they're spoken.

"Because I'm interested in you and I just need to be sure before I make a fool of myself," he replies.

"I am, but I'm sure you say that to all of the girls." I let out a small chuckle, but the thought that I was just possibly being played stung a little. My wall had been up for so long to avoid any kind of heartache, but with every minute I'm with him, I can feel it crumbling down. Brick by emotional brick.

He shakes his head and smiles at me as he sits on his knees to face me.

"No, I don't. I've only had one girlfriend before. A couple of years ago, but she left me for some rich guy at my school. I haven't wanted to date again ever since," he spills a small piece of his heart out to me as if I was an entry in his diary that night with only the nature surrounding us as his witness.

"So why me? I saw you turning away some of the prettiest girls at my school tonight, but yet you came over to talk to me," I wonder as I rub my palms over my denim-covered thighs.

"You were the only one there that seemed different. That plus how pretty you are intrigued me, of course. I saw the guys talking to you too, but you weren't interested in them. So, I guess I could ask you the same thing. Why me? Why did you choose to bring me here with you?" he questions.

I could just say because you're the best-looking male on this planet, but instead, I take a beat to really think about my answer before replying. Sure, he was drop-dead gorgeous and mysterious, but was that what made me change my mind about spending my time on a guy after all of these years? What made him different to me? I honestly couldn't really pinpoint it so I answer truthfully.

"I wish I could tell you in words, but I can't. Something inside just told me to take a chance on you and, for once, I followed my heart tonight." I look at him as he slowly grins and takes in what I just confessed.

"Have you had many boyfriends?"

Fair enough. He had just briefly told me about his love life after all.

"I've been on a couple of dates, but I've never had a real boyfriend. Unless you count Max from first grade. We dated for a week. He wouldn't share his snacks with me so I broke up with him." I give a one-shoulder shrug.

Taehyung laughs at the little story I just gave. His big brown eyes turning into slits and his boxy smile widening. His smile and laugh were contagious and before I knew it, I was laughing right along with him without a care in the world. I wasn't even trying to be funny. That's really why Max and I didn't make it.

With a grin still spread across his beautiful features, he looks back at me while his finger traces my jawline. His smile fades and his eyes become more hooded as they find my lips. As his breathing gets quicker, I notice how nervous he really is.

Hell, I'm nervous.

He leans his body forward and I anticipate what's about to happen next...

"Are you hungry?" he suddenly asks.

I swear a record player scratched.

"Huh?" His question bewildered me. I thought he was going to ask to kiss me, but no. Am I hungry?

"Are you hungry? I'm starved," he repeats himself as he stands up.

"Uh...sure." I stand up as well. Dusting off my pants, I grab my sandals before tugging at the blanket to shake it out. I didn't want to admit to myself that I was bummed, but I was. I couldn't even muster up the courage to look at him the whole way back up to my car.

We both sit inside and I turn on the engine. I put my temporary hurt pride aside and finally turn to face him again, just to realize he's already looking at me.

"Where would you like to eat? It's almost midnight," I say quietly as if there was any reason to.

He scoots a little farther down in his seat, "What's open?"

"Not much in this small town. Do you like breakfast foods or burgers? There's a diner I know not far from here." I point in the direction we would be headed to.

He nods and grins so I put my car in reverse to drive just a short distance away.

It is a small diner, similar to a Waffle House or Denny's but with much better food. At least, in my opinion. The good thing about living in a smaller town is that you know it like the back of your hand. The bad thing about living in a smaller town? Everyone knows you.

"Ava! Hey honey!" The middle-aged waitress with teased blonde hair comes to greet us the moment we step inside.

"Hey, Ms. Debra. It's just us two." I point to Taehyung and myself bashfully.

"Hi, handsome. I don't think I've seen you around here before. I'm Ms. Debra. Follow me, sweetie." She smiles as she chews her gum and turns to take us to a booth in the back, away from any prying eyes.

"You sure look pretty. Oh, that's right! You graduated today. Congratulations!" She beams as she sets down two menus for us.

"Yes, I did. Thank you!" I politely reply.

She flits her eyes to Taehyung who is already browsing the menu intently then wiggles her eyebrows and winks at me before quickly walking away to give us some privacy. I already know what I want so I don't even bother to look at the menu and I can guarantee Ms. Debra is going to bring me an Oreo shake on the house like she always does. It's been somewhat of a tradition since I started coming here on my own when I first got my car a couple of years ago.

"Is there something you like? I can help you find it," I ask just to make conversation.

"American food is so different than what I have back home, but I like it. I'm trying to find either the pancakes or waffles." He shyly smiles.

I figure reading English and speaking it may be two completely different territories. I couldn't read Korean if my life depended on it.

Sliding out of the booth, I move to hover over where he was sitting so I could read the menu with him, not even thinking about how close I was to him.

"Oh, pancakes and waffles are right here." I point to a section in the middle of the laminated menu and turn my head to look at him.

But he was already looking directly at me. His lips were just barely parted and his eyes wide. If he raised his chin slightly, we'd be kissing right here in the back of this diner. Yet, he doesn't move away and neither do I. And for a moment, time stood still again. I no longer heard the sound of the kitchen or the other customers in the distance. I only heard our breathing.

"Ahem." Ms. Debra walks up with a glass of water and an Oreo shake, startling the life out of me, "Here's your drinks."

"...and that's where the pancakes are on the menu. Is that what you want?" I quickly say trying to act like I wasn't just two seconds away from making out in a booth in the middle of a public place.

He clears his throat, blinking his eyes quickly while he glances back at the menu, not even looking in the right area, "Yes. Pancakes please."

"One or two?" Ms. Debra questions while smiling at her notepad. I knew she knew, but God I hope she doesn't say anything embarrassing or worse...say something to my parents.

"Two, please. With a side of fruit. Do you have bacon?" he asks. His sweet innocence tearing into Ms. Debra's heart.

"Yes, we do honey. I'll get you some bacon. Ava, would you like your usual?" She turns her body so Taehyung can't see her face.

I nod. Too shy and sheepish to speak anymore.

"You got it." She scribbles it down on the notepad before she purposely drops her pen, "Your secret is safe with me darling."

I smile at her and turn away. I'm so glad I chose this diner over Denny's now.

"Do you not have a...what do they call it here? A curfew?" He takes a sip of water, his hooded eyes gazing up at me from his cup.

"Not tonight. Usually, it's at midnight on the weekends, but now that I've graduated, always had good grades, and stayed out of trouble, my parents told me that I don't need one now," I mention. "Just need to check in with them."

"Stayed out of trouble or just didn't get caught? Like tonight at the party," he chuckles.

"Is there a difference?" I shrug and take a sip of my shake with a sly smile.

"What's that?" He points at my drink.

"An Oreo shake. Have you ever had one?" He shakes his head as an answer to my question and I pass the glass over to his side of the table, "Try it."

I expect him to take a sip from the rim, but he goes straight for my straw and stares at me as it slides between his luscious lips. It doesn't escape me that he essentially has his lips where mine just were.

"Mm! That's really good!" He takes another sip. This time more eager and with wide, excited eyes.

"Should I get me another one?" I giggle at his reaction.

"Why? We can just share," he nonchalantly replies as he slides it back over to me.

Well, okay then. I guess we're going to be sharing the same drink tonight.

Ms. Debra comes back with our food just a few moments later and sets it down in front of us.

"A burger? At midnight?" He giggles as he sees my tall double cheeseburger and fries on the plain white plate in front of me.

"Yeah," I take a bite of one of my fries, "so?"

"Here." He holds out a strawberry to my mouth, his eyes trained on my lips the whole time.

"I'm okay. Eat up," I decline, but he doesn't retreat.

"Please? I don't want to be another Max." He smiles with squinted eyes.

I giggle and open my mouth to let him feed me. This is new. Not even my own mother has physically fed me since I was a child, but I like it. As he slides the piece of fruit into my mouth, my lips accidentally barely graze his fingertips, and my face lights on fire instantly.

Oh my god! Did he feel that? There's no way he didn't feel that. Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!

He smirks and lowers his head to continue eating and I stuff my burger in my face as fast as I can out of pure anxiety. Okay, okay... stay calm Ava. Sheesh.

"Are you staying with Justin for the summer?" I ask trying to ease the awkwardness.

"No, I'm staying with my uncle. He moved to the states last year." He takes another sip of my Oreo shake. At this rate, I will have to get another one anyway.

"Oh! I just figured since you went to the party with Justin that you were staying with him. Do you not have a curfew?" I pop a fry into my mouth.

"No, no curfew. I just need to let him know if I won't be home in the morning." He looks up to see Ms. Debra walking back to our booth.

She smiles over at us both, "Will you two need anything else?"

Taehyung looks at me with curious eyes and I shake my head.

"No. We're okay," he answers.

She sets the check face down and walks away to tend to another table. Taehyung snatches the bill before I could finish lifting my arm off of the table and I frown at my defeat.

"I've got it," he says matter-of-factly.

He pulls out a twenty-dollar bill and sets it on top of the check. I slide an extra five-dollar bill on top and he shoots me a heated glance.

"More tip money," I shrug and smile as I pull the shake back over to my side of the table and take the last sip.

The chime from the front entrance rings and I can hear a familiar voice, but can't really make it out from all of the other chatter. Probably just someone from school trying to eat after a night of partying.

Ms. Debra hurriedly walks back to our table and looks back to the front entrance before speaking, "Ava, honey... Officer Young is here. He's not looking for you, but I didn't think you wanted him to see you with a boy this late, right?" My eyes grow wide and I shake my head frantically. "Come on you two. Stay quiet, but follow me. You can slip out of the kitchen exit."

"Officer Young?" Taehyung asks as he watches me slide out of the booth and hide behind Ms. Debra.

"My father," I whisper back to him and reach out for his hand.

His eyes grow three times their normal size as he grabs my hand and ducks behind me and Ms. Debra the best he can. She walks with us halfway to the front until we reach the swinging kitchen door and she gently pushes us inside.

"Go straight ahead and the door will be on the right. The code is 4486 to get out," she whispers and turns to walk back to the front.

"Officer Young!" I hear her yell out before her voice is silenced by the shut door.

Still holding on to Taehyung's hand, I walk with him to find the exit that Ms. Debra just told us about.

"4486... 4486. Do not forget that. 4486," I think to myself.

The kitchen crew smiles and shakes their heads at us sneaking out of the back. I grin and hold a finger to my lips as I ask for them to keep quiet. Some of them I've known for years.

We reach the door and I look back to Taehyung who is full-on smiling and holding my hand as tight as he can.

I enter the code — 4-4-8-6.

The door pops open and I slowly peek around the corner before dashing off to the other side where my car was parked. Luckily, I see that my dad's cruiser was parked on the opposite end as we drive away so I don't think he noticed my little red Beetle.

"Is it like this everywhere you go?" Taehyung amuses.

"What do you mean?" I curiously ask as I pull back onto the interstate to drive back to the suburban housing areas.

"Always running away to not get caught," he explains.

I smile and shake my head, "No, that must be because I'm with you."

He laughs and pulls out his cellphone to type out a text. The cellphone dings less than a minute later and he turns his head to look at me before replying.

"Would you want to come over to my uncle's house? He said he doesn't mind and plus, your father won't be there," Taehyung smiles cutely.

"Sure. Why not? This night is full of things I don't normally do anyway. What's one more adventure?" I wink at him and ask for him to put the address into his GPS.

When it starts talking in Korean I shoot him a confused look and he giggles.

"'Make a left," he proudly translates.