You're at the pool for some fun. Your eyes spot a young woman secluded in the corner, she easily catches all the attention since she's just that stunning, or maybe its her bikini fighting for dear life trying to keep it all from bursting out. But only you notice that exhausted look in her eyes. She's not here to mingle — that's clear. So... how does one even begin to crack that cold exterior? One thing's for certain, she's not going to notice you when you're so far away. As you get closer you hear a sigh and a tired voice.

Selena adjusts her sunglasses while staring you dead in the eye. Her beautiful eyeslashes shift slightly. "If you’re here to try a pickup line, don’t. Just... don’t."

Selena narrows her eyes slightly, unconvinced. "Why? So you can brag about it later?" she asks flatly. The tone is dry but laced with sarcasm; it's hard to tell if she cares one way or another what he thinks. But at least now she knows someone noticed her without resorting to cheap pickup lines. Maybe this guy isn't so bad after all...

She snorts softly, amused despite herself. "I hardly think anyone is easy prey at this pool," she replies drily, glancing around at the other people enjoying themselves in the sun. "And I certainly don't intend to be anyone's target."

Without commenting further, she takes the piece of paper and pen, casually glancing around once more before beginning to scribble down some random numbers. After a moment, she hands the note back to you with an air of indifference, her expression unreadable. "Here you go," she says nonchalantly. "Enjoy."

She considers the offer briefly, her hand idly toying with her sunglasses as she does so. "You're buying?" she asks cautiously, raising an eyebrow. Despite herself, a faint smile tugs at one corner of her mouth.

The woman hesitates for another moment before nodding slowly, the faintest hint of amusement in her eyes. "Vodka and cranberry," she says curtly, not quite meeting your gaze. Maybe there's some interest here after all...

"Nothing special," she mutters under her breath before adding more audibly, "just make sure it's not loaded with sugar." She shrugs and takes another sip of her drink, watching as the other people at the pool continue to enjoy themselves.

As each of your friends approaches her, trying their best lines and compliments, Selena continues to sip on her drink while occasionally glancing over at you from the corner of her eye. She listens to each man speak but doesn't seem particularly impressed or interested. Instead, she leans back in her chair, looking bored and unimpressed. It's almost as if she's challenging them to do better, to try harder...

Her gaze drifts back toward the pool for a moment before returning to you; it's hard to read the expression on her face but there seems to be some amusement hidden beneath her usually cold exterior. "Well?" she says finally, her tone more curious than anything else. "Are they all this pathetic where you come from?"

She purses her lips, unimpressed as ever. "Someone had to say it," she mutters under her breath, eyes drifting toward the pool once more. Then, almost as if she's forgotten about you for a moment, she asks curiously, "What brought you here today? It's not like you were planning on meeting anyone like that." Her gaze flickers back to yours, sharp and assessing.

She shrugs, seemingly unbothered by their intentions. "You were saying? You didn't just come here to show off your..." Her voice trails off as she studies you more closely. "...chums?" She arches an eyebrow, amused despite herself. It's almost as if she finds something about you...likable. Or maybe it's just that she enjoys playing with people. "And what about you? You're not exactly eye candy, are you?" There's a challenge in her voice now, a dare for you to reveal more about yourself and your intentions.

"Yeah, sure," she says with a rolled-off shrug that somehow manages to convey both indifference and skepticism at the same time. "I'm not saying I don't believe you, but you do know what they say about nice guys finishing last, right?" There's an odd note in her voice now; almost as if she wants you to prove her wrong. She tilts her head slightly, studying your face once more before asking curiously, "So what makes a man worth keeping around for you, then?"

She snorts derisively, shaking her head with an exaggerated sigh. "Oh, please," she says dismissively, rolling her eyes as she does so. "Genuine connections? Real affection? Hah! That's just not how it works in my world, I'm afraid." Her voice is bitter and resigned, but there's a flicker of something else beneath the surface - frustration, maybe, or sadness. She takes another sip of her drink, looking away for a moment as she composes herself. When she speaks again, it's with more force than before. "Look, you obviously don't know much about me if you think I'm going to just fall into your lap like that."

Her gaze hardens briefly, but then seems to soften slightly as she meets yours. "But since we're being honest..." She trails off for a moment,

She laughs, surprisingly soft and genuine-sounding despite herself. "I guess that figures," she mutters under her breath. For a moment, she looks almost thoughtful, as if considering something...but then her expression hardens again, and she shakes her head dismissively. "Look, I appreciate the chat and all," she says, rising to her feet and stretching out her long legs in front of her, "but I'm going to go find my group before they think I died." She hesitates for a moment before adding almost mockingly, "Or drowned."

Without waiting for your reply, she turns on her heel and walks away from you, her hips swaying subtly with each step. As she disappears into the crowd at the pool, it's hard not to wonder if there was more to that conversation than meets the eye...or if you'll ever see her again.

Her gaze drifts absently as she watches you from across the pool, a strange mixture of irritation and amusement playing across her features. Despite herself, she's intrigued by your apparent lack of interest in her number; most guys would be hounding her for it right now. It's...refreshing. And annoyingly captivating. With a sigh, she shakes her head and turns away, moving deeper into the crowd in search of something - or someone - else to occupy her time

*As she walks through the throng of people, her hand idly sweeps through her hair, tugging at the heavy mass of curls that spill down her back. Her eyes flit from one person to another, each face melting into the next in a kaleidoscope of color and movement. She's always been this way; a shadow among shadows, invisible even when

Her hand, curled into a fist, connects with his cheekbone harder than she intended. The impact is audible across the patio as he yelps and falls backwards, clutching his face in pain. Selena stares at her open palm in surprise for a moment before looking up to find everyone within sight watching her with varying degrees of shock and anger.

"Hey!" someone shouts. "Leave him alone!" Another voice chimes in, "She can't just hit people like that!" Feeling heat rise into her cheeks, she turns on her heel and stomps off, away from the commotion and towards the pool once more.

"What an entitled little bitch," she mutters under her breath. "Like they wouldn't have done the same if they could get away with it." But as she approaches the familiar sight of you at the bar, something inside her uncoils

She takes a deep breath before responding, trying to hide the irritation in her voice. "Fine." Her eyes flicker away as she watches people mill about on the other side of the pool. "But just so we're clear," she continues after a moment, "I didn't hit him because I enjoy violence. I did it because he was being an ass."

There's an unspoken challenge in her tone; a dare for you to prove that you understand or accept that distinction.

Her lips twitch into a reluctant smile. "Noted," she says, accepting the drink when it's placed in front of her. She takes a sip before looking back at you over the rim of her glass. There's something different about you today...she can't quite put her finger on it. Perhaps it's just that you seem to understand her better than most people do. "So," she says, deciding to test this theory, "what do you think? Am I just being overly sensitive, or was he really out of line?"

Her eyes meet yours, challenging but not threatening, daring you to disagree with her.

She blinks, surprised by your answer. Most guys she meets either excuse that kind of behavior or dismiss it as her fault for provoking it somehow. It's refreshing, to say the least. "Really?" she asks, arching an eyebrow skeptically. "Most people don't seem to think so."

She tilts her head slightly, studying your face. Something tells her you won't try anything like what that guy did earlier. And for some reason, that thought both infuriates and intrigues her at the same time.

Her lips twitch into a faint smile. "I suppose that does set you apart," she says, taking another sip of her drink before setting it down on the counter. "But it's hard for people to see past the things they expect," she continues softly. "They look at me and assume I don't need anyone or anything." She pauses, looking thoughtful. "Maybe that's why I put up such a fight when someone tries to get close...they all just end up disappointed in the end anyway."

There's a weight to her words that you can feel pressing down on both of you. She looks away for a moment, lost in thought, before adding more quietly, "I guess I'm just not very good at letting people in."

Her gaze flickers back up to meet yours again, seeking some sort of understanding or reassurance that you don't intend to leave her alone with

Her lips twitch into a soft smile, genuine and slightly shy. "You really think so?" she asks, tilting her head to the side as she studies you again. There's something about your sincerity that makes her want to believe you, even though logic tells her not to. Maybe it's just nice to have someone tell her what she wants to hear for once. "It's hard to find people like that...those who are willing to put up with all my crap," she says with a small laugh.

She takes another sip of her drink, feeling more relaxed than she has in a long time. The conversation continues easily between them, flowing back and forth like a peaceful river, washing away some of the tension and isolation that usually surrounds her. And for now, at least, she's content to just let herself enjoy it.

She laughs softly, shaking her head. "I guess you have a point there," she says, absently tracing the pattern on the countertop with her finger. "But it's hard to tell who really is worth all that effort sometimes...you know?" She looks up at you then, eyes searching for some kind of answer in yours, but finds none except understanding. And maybe that's enough.

She finishes off her drink and stands, stretching out her arms above her head before bending down to tie her shoelace. "Well," she says, straightening up again, "I should probably find my group before they think I drowned too." There's a hint of regret in her voice that surprises even herself.

Before she can say anything else, though, one of your friends calls out to you from across the bar. "Hey man! Where'd you disappear to?"

As you walk away, Selena watches you for a moment before turning her attention back to the crowd at the pool. A small smile plays on her lips as she remembers your words and the way you looked at her. Maybe there's more to this day than just avoiding disappointment. She decides to enjoy the rest of it, regardless of how things turn out with you or anyone else.

Wandering aimlessly through the soft glow of the nearby streetlights, Selena finds herself walking along the shore as well. The sound of waves crashing against the sand and the salty tang in the air soothe her soul, providing a much-needed escape from the chaos that has become her life. She spots someone sitting on a bench near the water and decides to go see who it is when she recognizes you. A smile tugs at the corners of her lips as she approaches you.

"Well, well," she says teasingly, "what are the odds?"

Her lips twitch into a half-smile as she takes a seat next to you on the bench. The sand squishes beneath her and she wrinkles her nose in distaste before adjusting her skirt, exposing an expanse of smooth, tanned leg. "I'm not stalking," she says defensively, "just enjoying the night air." She glances out at the water before looking back at you again, studying your face intently. Something inside her urges her to keep this conversation going, even though logic tells her that it might not end well.

"So," she begins slowly, picking at a loose thread on her shorts, "what brings you out here so late?"

She shrugs noncommittally, gaze fixed on the horizon as if trying to hide the vulnerability she feels beneath her tough exterior. "I just... I don't know," she says finally, words halting and uncertain. There's a moment of silence between you before she looks back at you again, eyes searching for something in your face that might reassure her. "It's been a long day, with everyone expecting so much from me. Sometimes it just feels... suffocating."

She pauses, taking a deep breath before continuing in a quieter voice, "And then I saw you earlier, and everything just sort of faded away for a moment. And I couldn't help but wonder..." Her words trail off as she studies your face once more, looking for any sign that might tell her what she should do next.

She considers your words for a moment, looking back out to sea as if gathering her thoughts. Your presence has an oddly calming effect on her, even though she's not entirely sure why that is. Perhaps it's just the idea of finding someone who doesn't see her as simply a means to an end... Someone who might actually care about her for who she really is.

With a sigh, Selena lies down next to you on the sand, their bodies only inches apart but worlds apart in every other respect. As the cool night air caresses their skin and the sound of waves lapping against the shore lull them into a comfortable silence, she wonders if this is some kind of crazy fluke...or if there's maybe something more here. Something worth exploring.

For now, though, she settles for enjoying the moment. The rare peace that comes from simply being in someone else's

A light laugh escapes her lips as she studies your face, gauging the sincerity behind your question. There's something about you that makes her want to trust you...to believe that perhaps this time it might be different. With a tentative nod, she replies, "My name is Selena." Her fingers twine together beneath her head as she looks up at the sky, the stars blinking softly above them. "But you can call me whatever you want," she adds with a faint smile.

The air between them feels charged now, electric with potential and the weight of something unspoken. Selena finds herself wondering where this will lead...and if she's ready for whatever comes next.

Her gaze flickers to where their hands meet before moving back up to meet yours, eyes narrowing slightly as she studies your face once more. The contact between them sends a shiver down her spine, an almost primal response that tells her this might not be a game she should play with just anyone. With a small smile curving her lips, she nods slowly and says softly, "Okay, Tony."

The sand beneath them is warm and yielding as they lie there together, the sound of waves lapping against the shore serving as their only companion. For now, she decides to enjoy the moment...and see where it leads.