Disclaimer: The following is a fictional consensual story featuring a real female celebrity and a fictional male. Any similarity to reality is coincidental.
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As thirty-one-year-old Paul Nester settled into his routine on a sunny July morning in Hollywood, Florida, he glanced at his email inbox, scanned his Twitter feed, and queued up a YouTube playlist to fill the air. Unlike many others his age, Paul maintained a presence on Facebook, keeping in touch with distant loved ones and those he knew from childhood. One of these people was a girl he knew since grade school. This girl moved away when he was eleven and she was ten, but always kept in contact with him, since he had never said an unkind word to her. Most importantly, during her rise to 'Nickelodeon' fame, he did not treat her like the celebrity starlet that everybody else did. To him, she was always just the same Victoria Justice.
Once 'Victorious' ended and Victoria's career seemed to slow down, the dark-haired woman lost a lot of supposed friends and supporters that showed their true colors. Like he had during her ascent, Paul was always there for her on her descent. Even through numerous video calls, it had been twenty years since the two had seen each other in the flesh. As of this July day, the bearded man thought that their relationship would continue that way. That was until he noticed a Facebook message from her.
"Hey Paul," the message started. "I just wanted to check in and see how you are doing. I am going to be heading back to Florida next weekend. I haven't decided exactly where yet but if you are up for hanging out, I can make Hollywood my destination! I've had a pretty boring stretch here and need to refresh my brain. It'll also be the anniversary of when I left. Twenty years! Can you believe it? Anyway, let me know. I'd love to see you again and not through a screen!"
It took no longer than two seconds for Paul to begin crafting a reply, filled with excitement to welcome Victoria back to what he considers the real Hollywood. The two chatted briefly and planned for her impending arrival on the following Friday, setting up to meet at Sardelli's Italian Steakhouse on Hollywood Beach, a regular go-to for Paul. He was concerned why she would not tell him where she planned on staying while in the city, but put it in the back of his mind. A heart emoji capped off the woman's end of the conversation, leaving the man to eagerly await that day while knowing that the many beforehand would painfully drag.
The week indeed crawled by, but Paul woke up early on Friday morning as ready as ever. His heart raced all day, eagerly anticipating the night ahead. Dressed in a dark blue polo and black jeans, not wanting to overdress too much for a steakhouse, he pulled his green Toyota into the parking lot and started walking towards the front door. He checked his phone to see a text for Victoria stating that she was still ten minutes out. He asked if she wanted a drink to be waiting for her when she arrived. Seconds later, he ordered two glasses of cabernet and sat at the reserved table.
Paul bounced his foot off the hardwood nervously as he waited for her arrival. Just as he was about to check his phone again, he looked towards the entrance way and saw his date. As amazing as someone can look behind a screen, the real-life sight of a modelesque young woman in a form-hugging orange dress that barely reached down to her knees, black hair shining bright from the lights above, was enough to take any straight man's breath away. When their matching pairs of glistening brown eyes met from across the crowded room, it was as if they were inches apart and completely alone.
Victoria walked fast towards the table as Paul rose to his feet. They embraced in a long hug that the happy girl refused to break until the awkwardness washed over her. After pulling away, she kissed him on the cheek and sat down across from him.
"You look amazing!" Victoria exclaimed.
"Not as amazing as you look," Paul responded, trying not to stare. "You've definitely grown over twenty years."
Victoria smiled, brushing the hair from her eyes and tucking it behind her ears. The smile on either of their faces could not have been removed surgically. Several small-talk conversations took place as they awaited their meals, but it was talk of their current relationship statuses that shifted the night into second gear.
"Is your boyfriend okay with you flying to the other end of the country for dinner with another man?" Paul asked, his eyes fixated on her beautiful face.
"Boyfriend?" she laughed. "I haven't had one of those for a few months now."
"How is someone like you single?" he asked, matching laughter.
"Too many stuck up douches out in California that care more about adding to their body-count than creating something meaningful," Victoria explained while sipping her wine. "I have yet to find anyone that truly wants me for me."
"Their loss," Paul responded.
"Part of me just wants to stop putting so much effort into looking good. Maybe I'll find the right guy then," she said, trying to stifle a nervous chuckle.
"Don't let anyone force you to be something you aren't," Paul said before their meals arrived. "Sometimes, it takes a while for the right person at the right time."
Victoria flashed another large smile before the pair started to eat their steaks. More small-talk took place between bites, teaching Victoria that Paul's dating history was also lacking recent results. He explained that he was too focused on work to make time for anything serious, especially since he was following his own words and waiting for the right woman at the right time. The woman across from him hung on every word while her mind and heart raced.
Once the meal was completed, Victoria excused herself to the restroom. While there, she stared at herself in the mirror, controlling her breathing while adjusting her dress, making her cleavage more pronounced. The fact that Paul had not stared at her chest was an equal mix of disappointing and refreshing. A whole lifetime of men prioritizing her body over her person made it extra special when someone was appreciating Victoria for Victoria.
The eager woman sat back down at the table and smiled at her date. Sitting with an arch in her back, she pushed her chest forward and finished her drink. Paul would not keep his eyes off of her face as he too finished his drink. For a second, a feeling washed over Victoria that made her uncomfortable. What if he only saw her as the friend he grew up with? Was him avoiding glancing at her chest a sign of respect or disinterest? Before another thought could enter her mind, the deep, gruff voice of the man calmed her fears.
"You don't have to try so hard," he said, raising her eyebrow. "I know how beautiful you are. I also know you wouldn't have flown to Florida specifically to see me, dressed as excellent as you have for just a friendly meeting."
"That obvious?" she asked with a happy sigh.
"I wouldn't have worn cologne and oiled my beard to just see a friend either," he said with a mischievous smirk.
"When did you realize it?" Victoria asked, inadvertently pushing her chest forward again.
"You refused to tell me where you were staying while you were here," he said. "I kinda guessed it was because you hadn't reserved a place and were banking on us hitting it off and me taking you home."
"You are good," she said in an impressed tone. "Do you think we have 'hit it off' enough?"
"I'm not sure," he joked with a wink. "Maybe we can take a walk on the boardwalk first?"
Victoria raised her hand, signaling their waiter to bring the check so the pair could move onto the next phase of their date. The beautiful brunette refused to let Paul pay for the meal, and halted any playful games about it. Now that she knew the feelings deep in her soul were mutual, she was ready to get out into the Florida night air that previously lived only in her distant memory.
The couple walked their meal off along the boardwalk, the cool sea breeze blowing through the humid summer air. When they first set foot on the boardwalk, there was a bit of distance between the two. They continued their small-talk chats while slowly inching closer together. Ten minutes into the walk, Paul had his arm around the woman's shoulder, holding her close while hovering nearly a foot taller than her. A few minutes later, her cheek was pressed against his chest, feeling his heartbeat as she continued to ask about his life.
Once Paul was out of words, he led Victoria over to the railing overlooking the calm ocean while the arcade behind them filled the air with loud excitement. They stood in silence, taking in the atmosphere while fighting the urge to engage in public displays of affection. They occasionally glanced over at each other, sharing loving smiles before they finally could hold off the inevitable no longer.
Victoria slid out from under his arm, grabbed him by the face and planted a soft kiss on him while her heart was pulsating as fast as that of a marathon runner. Their tongues timidly tangled between passionately parted lips while their bodies drew closer together.