Victor

Leaving the beach as night descended on Redwater City, Phoebe found herself at Rachel's Bar with Caleb, Tommy, Lexi, and Isabel, all of them crowded into a booth, drinks in hand and laughing amongst each other as they shared stories and jokes. It was during their conversation, Phoebe noticed that Adrianna had arrived, noticed her nephew and nieces but rather than approach went over to sit down at another table.

"Give me a minute." Phoebe told the teenager before climbing out of the booth and making her way over to Adrianna, sitting down opposite the redhead.

"You're not here to drag me home, are you?" Phoebe asked.

"That depends, are you behaving?" Adrianna replied.

"I always behave," Phoebe lied.

"Uh-huh," Adrianna muttered. "You know your father has that same mischievous glint when he lies. I'm not going to stop you from enjoying yourself Phoebe, but I am going to ask, are you okay? You don’t show up here randomly if…"

"I'm fine," Phoebe quickly said.

"You know you can always talk to me? I know I'm not your mother or father and I'm not a parent. Vivienne and I with our careers, it's not something we wanted but I always thought of you, Lexi and Tommy as basically my kids and I don't want you thinking you can't come to me," Adrianna reassured the younger girl.

"I miss him," Phoebe admitted quietly. "Which is stupid, because he’s the one who walked away."

"It’s not stupid," Adrianna said. "Peter’s always been... complicated. But walking away doesn’t mean he stopped caring."

"Right. Complicated." Phoebe sighed. "That's one word for it."

"You ever think about calling him?" Adrianna asked.

"Call him?" Phoebe laughed. "And say what? Hey Dad, remember me? The daughter you ghosted?"

"He’d pick up," Adrianna told her. "If it’s you calling? He’d pick up before the first ring finished. And if he can find the time to call his sister back when he can, I'm sure if you called him, he'd answer."

"When was the last time you spoke to him?" Phoebe found herself asking.

"Six months ago," Adrianna admitted. "Mostly about work. But he mentioned you. Said he wanted to visit you soon."

"Well, he hasn't," Phoebe snapped, then immediately winced at her own tone. "Sorry. That came out…"

"Like a girl who misses her father. I get that, trust me." Adrianna finished for her. "Look, Phoebe... I know Peter’s made mistakes. Hell, we all have. But don’t confuse silence for absence. He loves you. Messy, complicated, and infuriating as hell but he does. But one of you has to make the first move or things will never get resolved. Just think about it, ok?" Adrianna told her before getting up to walk away. "Now go enjoy your night,"

As Adrianna walked away, Phoebe took out her phone, pulling up her contacts list and her thumb hovered over her father's number and for a brief moment she considered pressing the call button however before she could go any further, unsure on what she would say and still scared that Adrianna might be wrong and he wouldn’t pick up, Phoebe, shoving the phone back into her pocket just as Caleb walked over to her.

"Everything okay?" Caleb asked.

"Yeah, let's get some more drinks," Phoebe told him.

"Sure, Lexi is already on it." Caleb smiled.

Meanwhile across the bar, Lexi leaned against the counter, using her fake I.D. to order more shots for herself and her friends with a smile. The bartender simply nodded after glancing at the I.D. and then proceeding to pour her drinks just as a teenager of eighteen-years-old with brown hair, green eyes and a lean build approached the bar, accidentally brushing Lexi as he did.

"Sorry," The teenager said. "Crowded night."

"Sure," Lexi drawled since the bar wasn’t even half-full.

"I’m Victor," The teenager introduced himself. "You’re Lexi Drake. I recognise you from around school."

"Yet I can't put a face to your name." Lexi commented. "And I never forget a face."

"Different circles," Victor shrugged. "You run with the popular crowd. I don’t. But I’ve seen you. Hard not to."

"Smooth. Too bad I’ve heard that line a hundred times." Lexi smirked.

"I bet. Still true though." Victor laughed. "Can I buy you a drink?"

"Depends. What’s your angle?" Lexi asked.

"Honestly?" Victor leaned close. "Saw you from across the bar and thought you're beautiful so I thought I'd shoot my shot."

"You're direct. I'll give you that." Lexi snorted.

"Is that a yes?" Victor grinned.

"Why not." Lexi nodded and Victor ordered a martini for her.

"You know you're not what I expected." Victor admitted.

"And what exactly did you expect?" Lexi wondered.

"I thought you were more Queen Bee," Victor admitted, swirling his whiskey. "But you're softer than that."

"People always think that, probably because of my family and friends but I do have a sting if you're not careful." Lexi grinned.

"Consider me warned." Victor chuckled.

"Warning’s free," Lexi rolled her eyes. "Next one’ll cost you."

"I'll pay that cost happily if it means another minute of your company." Victor smiled.

"You're persistent," Lexi smirked. "Most guys would've backed off by now."

"Most guys don’t know what they want," Victor countered. "I do."

"And what exactly is it you want?" Lexi asked.

"Right now?" Victor paused. "To get to know you better. And maybe get you away from your friends for more than five minutes to do so."

"You’re not subtle," Lexi observed.

"I guess I have to work on that," Victor shook his head. "But I’d rather be obvious than miss my shot."

"Obvious does suit you," Lexi told him. "So, you got any moves other than flirting with girls at bars?"

“Oh, I’ve got moves,” Victor murmured. “But I’d rather show you than tell you.”