As I step out of Dakota's Jeep and onto his driveway, I dread stepping inside and being greeted by the cold. Halfway dry clothes aren't too bad when you're out in ninety degree weather but as soon as the air conditioning hits you, you're a life sized popsicle.

"You coming?" Dakota class behind him as he kicks the door, waiting for someone to open it for him. I feel bad that he's hauling all of the stuff but, when I tried to help him, he insisted on doing it himself.

"Yeah." I sigh, taking short sticky steps to the front porch and stopping behind him just as the door opens revealing a girl about my height with brown hair slightly lighter than my own and small kind almond shaped brown eyes.

Her eyes immediately ignore Dakota as he slides by her and a grin spreads over her face. "Hey, you must be Lillian! I'm Sam."

"Dakota's infamous twin." I smile, stepping into the house as she closes the door behind me.

"More like Dakota's infamous babysitter." She snorts, earning a bark of defense from her brother.

"You're such a liar. I'm always stuck babysitting you and Winter. Don't even argue." Dakota's scoffs with an eye roll.

I try not to laugh as Sam's cheeks redden and she angrily narrows her eyes. "He's so annoying." She mumbles, a tall boy emerging from what I'm assuming is a bathroom in the hallway. He places his hands on her shoulders.

"Don't let him hear you, he'll tattle on us again." The boy with the dark hair and warm dark green eyes whispers in her ear, earning a laugh from her.

"For what? What did you do this time?" She asks him, tilting her head up as she turns around to face him.

He shrugs and I stand there awkwardly. Part of me wants to run off and find Dakota but I also want to stand here and eavesdrop on this conversation. "Nothing but I'm sure he'll make something up to get us into trouble."

"He would do that?" I ask with a laugh, earning both of their attentions.

"Hey, I'm Winter." He smiles, holding his hand out.

I quickly take it, shaking it once. "Lillian. Nice to meet you."

"You too." He grins, his teeth white and straight. "And to answer your question, yes. Yes he really would."

"Wow." I chuckle, stepping to the side. "I guess I'll go find him then. I'll relay back to you if I hear anything about a malicious plan to rat you out on something you didn't actually do."

Winter laughs loudly, looking at his girlfriend. "Dude we have a spy on the inside."

"Shut up and leave her alone." Sam smacks him lightly, grabbing his head. "Let's go upstairs to my room and leave Lillian and Dakota alone."

"Oh that's not nec- "

"We'll see you later for the party. I'm glad you're here." Sam interrupts me with a kind smile as she pulls Winter up the stairs, his expression unhappy and resembling a pout. She whispers something to him that I can't hear and he immediately relaxes his face.

I watch them suspiciously but quickly call, "Happy birthday by the way." To which she replies with,

"Thank you, Lillian. I'll see you later, okay? We should talk then in more...closed quarters." Her eyes dart towards Winter.

"Hey." He says defensively. "Don't exclude me."

"Consider yourself excluded." Sam mumbles to him as he follows her up the winding stairs.

I watch them until they've turned a corner and they're no longer in my line of sight. Once they're gone, I release a sigh, looking around the quiet house.

I'm about to call for Dakota when I remember him saying something about his parents' library and I decided I'll find him later. Or he'll find me, whichever works.

I pass the staircase to walk down the hallway, a bathroom on the first right and a broom closet on the next right. I keep walking and find a guest bedroom on the left with a view of their pool in the backyard. My brows raise at the view but I continue walking and finally stop, seeing a closed door on the left. My hand slowly rests on the handle, turning it.

The door swings open to reveal a small room with an oak desk and a matching leather chair with wooden armrests. The room screams sophistication and knowledge. My mouth opens slightly in awe as I walk in, my fingers running across the desk with perfectly placed knick knacks.

To my left are two light gray comfy looking chairs with a table and a lamp atop it in between them. I spot a small step ladder and, out of curiosity, step onto it and run my fingers over the section of which it was placed. My hand meets a small gap in the books and I smile when I see a small label on the wood of the shelf marked "poetry."

"You do know that curiosity killed the cat, right?" A voice says behind me, causing me to jump slightly and almost fall off of the step ladder.

I slowly step down and turn around to see Dakota standing there with a new set of clothes on, his hand holding up a champion sweatshirt for me. At least I hope it's for me because I'm freezing.

My clothes are mostly dry now but that slightly damp feeling is still causing me to shiver uncomfortably. "I did know that. Good thing I'm not a cat." I say smartly, stepping forward and taking the peach colored sweatshirt from his grasp, pulling it over my head.

"Hey who said that's for you?" He says with a chuckle.

"Me." I stick my tongue out as my head pops out the top. "Who's is this anyway? It's really cute. Is it Sam's?" I ask curiously.

"Please. She wishes that was hers." He snorts, "It's mine."

"Oh." I say slowly, "Well thank you."

"You're welcome." He winks. "Looks good on you."

"Thanks I guess." I blush with a nervous laugh. "So...what now?" My question brings a bored expression to his face as he sighs, leaning against the doorframe.

"My parents are getting ready for the party tonight. It's not an actual party, just my parents' friends, our aunts and uncles, a few of Sam and I's close friends." He explains, looking around the library.

"Sounds like fun." I say even though the thought of meeting more people makes me nervous and also makes me feel like I'm intruding even though Dakota has promised me that I'm not.

"Stop feeling all uncomfortable." He walks past me and into the room, closing the door behind him. "I can see it all over your face."

I roll my eyes. "I'm not uncomfortable. I just can't help but think it's kind of random for you to have a girl you just met at your birthday party consisting purely of friends and family. They're all going to think that - " I stop myself, sighing as I watch him walk around the room, sitting down in one of the chairs and patting the other one.

"Think what?" He asks with false curiosity. I can see it clearly on his face that he knows very well what I'm thinking.

"You know." I sit next to him in the chair, briefly admiring the comfy cushion and armrests as I sink into it. I shove my hands into Dakota's sweatshirt, trying not to breathe in the smell of cologne. It smells oddly fresh and I can't help but wonder if he sprayed it on just before giving it to me. I wouldn't put it past him.

"Do I?" He leans back comfortably, a calm expression on his face.

I huff. "They're going to think we're dating, Dakota."

"Are they?" He smirks before changing his expression to one of interest. "I don't think so. You'll blend in with all my other friends, it'll be fine."

I watch him with narrowed eyes, feeling suspicious. "Okay fine. Forget I said anything then."

"I mean..." He begins with a small grin, "I wouldn't really be angry if everybody thought you were my girlfriend." He clears his throat into his fist but his eyes stay on me as I shake my head.

"Stop." My finger comes up instinctively to push up my glasses but they're not there and I lower my hand quickly. "Why are you so..."

"Honest?" He finishes for me before pausing, "I was raised to be. I thought that's how everyone is supposed to be." He shrugs, looking at me challenging.

"There's a difference between being honest in a classy way and honest in a blunt way." I comment, my eyes darting away to focus on the books behind him but I can feel his gaze remaining stubbornly on my face.

"Do you find it hard to be honest? I know that we both have issues expressing emotion but I wonder if I asked you a question...would you have a hard time answering it honestly?" He asks with genuine curiosity in his eyes as I finally meet them.

I feel myself squirming under the weight of his question as I consider it. I don't think I have a hard time with confrontation but I suppose it depends on who is asking the questions.

"I guess you could find out." I say confidently though my stomach feels like there's an earthquake occurring inside.

Dakota grins at me. "Then I guess I should think of a question, huh?"

"I guess so." I chuckle, looking around as I cross my arms over my chest, thankful for the warmth.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence pass, he finally speaks up, "If you could describe me in three words, what would they be?" He asks me.

I smile, relieved. "That's your question?" I ask him suspiciously.

He nods. "Yeah. I mean, I think you have a way with words and I also know you'll really think about it before giving me an honest answer. Plus, you already know what I think of you and, if you asked me, I would list them all for you right now. So I'm curious about all the things you think to yourself about me." He finishes honestly, an expectant expression on his face.

"Fair enough." I reply quietly, taking a deep breath and I think.

I look at him. His ever-disheveled hair, his mischievous green eyes and matching smirk, and his subtle jawline. On the outside, I have to admit, Dakota doesn't look like every other guy I've met. I don't know that he would be considered overly hot to your average shallow female but I also know a few girls who would completely swoon over his confident demeanor and that crooked smile.

As for his personality, I don't think I've ever encountered anyone who possesses it.

"First word..." I begin, "Unique."

"Can't tell if that's an inadvertent insult or a compliment but okay I accept. Continue." He says with a small smirk.

"It's neither a compliment nor an insult, it is simply a fact." I clarify, "Second word, exuberant. For sure very exuberant." I smile.

He shrugs. "You got me there."

"Third word...persistant." I smirk, earning a grin from him.

"I am that." He chuckles, looking at me intently. "I will allow one more bonus word."

"Why is that?" I ask.

"Because I get the feeling there's a fourth." Dakota explains.

"Fair enough." I comply, "Fourth word...sincere; honest."

This brings a soft smile to his lips. "Now that I'll take as a compliment."