a/n: Hi everyone! Well, this is my first fan fiction, so it would really make me happy if you guys could leave a review about anything you would like me to change, anything at all, i'm really good with criticism. This chapter is more about introducing than anything else. You'll get a bit of a back story between Lily and Salma. It may seem a bit boring, and I'm sorry if that is the case, but I promise it should get better. Expect a lot of changes over time because I do sometimes like to edit the story a bit if I'm not happy with it as I read through it, so keep checking for any changes. Thanks for reading everyone, I love you all, and I hope you all like my fanfic.

Salma xxx

"It's your birthday Salma! You're going to be 21! You are finally at the right age to party, and it could actually be legal this time!" Lily exclaimed, jumping up and down. She's right. It is my birthday, and I officially a legal adult. But I don't see what the big deal is. The years of my life are going to waste and I'm getting closer to dying every second I breathe. Whoopee!

"What did you have in mind?" I asked Lily. I already know what she is going to say. She is going to want to go to the club and get drunk, and blah blah boring.

"Don't say the club. I want to do something cool, something adventurous." I said, not even realizing that I was thinking about climbing a mountain, or meeting a man and going backpacking around the world with him.

"Yeah well I already made reservations for the club. You're going, Salma. I'm not taking "no" for an answer. Let loose a little. Who knows, maybe you'll meet your prince charming?" Lily says, going into the kitchen pouring us both a glass of wine.

"Prince Charming? You've got to be kidding me, Lily." I responded, rolling my eyes at her stupid assumption. I'm still a virgin, and I have had only 2 or 3 boyfriends in all of my life, none of them serious. I'm not the kind of person to just walk up to someone and start up a cheeky conversation. I wouldn't even know where to start! I walked up to Lily and took my glass of wine and walked over to the couch.

"Oh come on, Salma. Pleaaseee? It's your birthday! You are allowed to have some fun, you know…" Lily said, sipping her wine.

"Fine, fine. I'll go. You're right. I do need to let loose a bit." I said. Lily was right; I do need to get loose. I just finished college. I'm pretty sure I deserve it. So why not?

"Really? Yaaaay! Come on let's get ready, there is going to be some friends I want you to meet, so you have to look amazing."

"Wow, I do a really good on making you look pretty! Pretty isn't the word! You're like the Irene Adler of America. You look sexy! Ben is going to like this…" Lily said drifting off into her thoughts and marveling at her work on me. I do have to admit, she made me look completely different. I look… I look beautiful. Wait, she said a name.

"Lily, who's Ben, and why would he like "this" ?" I said with concern. Lily's attention turned directly to me. She probably didn't think I heard.

"Oh no one, no one at all…" she said leaving the room. She is hiding something from me. I can feel it. "oh well, only time will tell," I tell myself leaving the room going outside where Lily is waiting with a cab.

There was a long line to the club, but damn, Lily and I looked great. No one could their eyes of us, men and women. I guess they were all looking at Lily more than me, she is naturally stunning. I started walking to the back of the line, and Lily started laughing, and motioned me to come over by the door. Once I was by her side, we walked to the usher, and he, of course, was a good friend of Lily, and he let us in, despite the moans of annoyance coming from the people in line. The club was crowded, and when we walked in, Lily and I walked straight to the bar, and we both got a beer. Lily took out her phone and texted her friend to come to the bar, then looked at me and smiled.

"Salma, you really do look beautiful." Lily complimented me. I was never really good with compliments, because I never got them a lot, I was always the one to give compliments then receive. So I smiled and looked on the floor. For the first time, I actually did feel beautiful.

"HEEEEY!" Lily yelled interrupting my thoughts, and gets up to hug her friends. There were two men, about our age, maybe one or two years older, but I can't see their face yet. But then I see one of them, and it hits me like a bullet. It was the one and only, Tom Hiddleston.

I was such a big fan of him, and oh he looked great. I then noticed that Lily is introducing me. "KEEP YOUR COOL, SALMA. YOU CAN DO THIS. DON'T MAKE YOURSELF LOOK STUPID" I tell myself.

"Hi, I'm Salma." I told Tom shaking his hand. I was beyond nervous. I didn't know that Lily was friends with Tom Hiddleston! He looked well groomed, happy, and polite as ever.

"So this is the famous Salma! I've heard a lot about you. This is my friend Benedict. I'm sure you know him." He said ushering Benedict towards me, and I did know him, and I almost fell out of my seat when I saw his strong, firm physique. It was THE Benedict Cumberbatch. The man who played the legendary roles of Smaug the dragon, Sherlock Holmes, Khan, etc. I have had a crush on this man since forever. I never thought I would actually be meeting him in real life! This is unreal! "Act cool, Salma. Yes, this may be the man you have fantasized a lot about, some being very erotic, but he is front of you right now, and he wants to meet you. So ACT COOL!" I tell myself.

"Ah, Mr. Benedict Cumberbatch. My name is Salma Lahlimi. It's a great pleasure to meet you. Please, both of you, sit." I said, shaking his hand, but not taking my eyes of Benedict, and trying to sound the least bit sultry. Surprisingly, I'm as cool as a cucumber. I should yell at myself more often.

"Thank you. Would you like something?" Benedict said sitting on the stool beside me. He is much more better looking in person.

"No, thank you, I'm okay." I said, holding up my beer to see that I was a good on drinks. I looked at Lily, and she looked more than impressed.

"Salma, can you come with me to the ladies room quickly?" She said, taking my hand, and before I could answer, I was in the bathroom. "Salma, what was that? You were great!" Lily said, staring at me in awe.

"What? I was trying to keep calm about the fact that YOU ARE FRIENDS WITH BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH AND TOM HIDDLESTON! WHEN WERE YOU PLANNING ON TELLING ME THAT? YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE MAJOR MOVIE CRUSHES ON THEM!" I said to Lily.

"I wanted you to figure that out yourself. Happy Birthday! You are going to be celebrating it with the 2 sexiest men in the world. I still didn't hear my thank you! Tom and I met not too long ago in a coffee shop. He bumped into me, and I was wearing my Loki shirt, you know the blue one, and he started laughing and we got tea together and here we are." She said oh so nonchalantly.

"You aren't dating him, are you?" I said, curiously.

"Oh no, just friends. Maybe I could change that…" she said, day dreaming.

"Thank you Lily, this is the best present ever." I said, hugging her tightly. "I'm pretty sure Tom likes you, I can tell by the way he looks at you."

"Really? Well looks like I'm not the only one. Benedict can't seem take his eyes off you. Tom and I were discussing it, and he never looks at women like he looked at you. HE LIKES YOU!" she said jumping up and down.

"Is this what you meant by "Ben's going to like this"?" I asked Lily. She was nodding like crazy.

"I showed Tom a picture of you, because I told him that I had a roommate, and he asked if he could show this picture to his friend because he has failed miserably at looking for love. Trust me, I tried. So a couple days ago, he called, and told me that he wanted to meet you, so we scheduled this meeting so that we can see your reaction. He knows you're a fan of them both." Lily said, filled with excitement.

"Me? No, I doubt it. I bet he just pities me, that's all. I mean look at the people he dated in the past! They're way prettier than I am. And plus, he's famous and handsome, and i'm not even close to pretty, and i can barely hold a conversation! I'm telling you, he doesn't have his eyes on me." i said. Why would the Benedict Cumberbatch want to be with me, when there is a whole bunch of girls that are prettier than me to date. I can't even make a proper joke. It could never be true. I refuse to believe it.

"Okay, fine. Be stubborn, but you will see. Now come on, the boys are waiting for us," Lily said taking my hand and leading us back to the bar.

"Okay, you're back. Drinks anyone?" Benedict asked, not taking his eyes off me. I decided to let things go tonight. I want to have fun. I'm here with the 2 hottest people in Hollywood, for Christ's sake! Why am I so scared? Think, Salma Think! What would Irene Adler do? I thought to myself. I loved Irene, she was my favorite character in Sherlock. I've always wanted to be like her. So let's give my inner Irene a chance to come out of her shell for once.

"YEAH!" Everyone screamed. We all ordered shots, and we kept drinking like there's no tomorrow. Lily said she wanted to give Benedict and I some alone time, and she went to dance with Tom. They were both going crazy together on the dance floor.

"Wow. I didn't know Lily could dance like that." Benedict said.

"Hahaha, yeah, me neither! They seem to be having fun together." I said, looking at Benedict.

"Yeah, seems like it. Tom is always crazy around Lily." he said laughing.

"Really? I noticed the way he looks at her."

"Yeah, he seems to be very fond of her."

"Looks like i'm not the only one that noticed, how do they know each other?" I asked Benedict, still watching Tom and Lily. They seem so cute and outgoing together. I have never seen Lily like this before.

"They met at a coffee shop, and he noticed that she was a Loki fan, and he started a conversation with her over coffee, and they have been friends ever since. He never stops talking about her. Always thinking about a way to talk to her, without seeming too clingy, i guess." Benedict said. Wow, looks like Lily was telling the truth.

"Aw, that's cute. Lily told me she really likes him. That should make him happy. Have you known Tom for long?" I asked, ordering another beer. I asked if Benedict wanted one, but he said he was fine.

"Yeah, he's been my best friend for about 4 years now. I don't know what I would do without him. He is the best friend you could ever ask for." Benedict said, smiling.

"Aw, that's cute. It sounds like you and Tom have the same relationship as Sherlock and John, but Tom's a bit more polite than John. I guess that's why." I said laughing a bit.

"Yeah, it gets annoying at times but, hey? What can you do? Anyway, tell me about yourself." Benedict said laughing.

He wants to know about me! What do i tell him? I am the most boring person in the history of boring people! I tell myself.

Let me handle it. My inner Irene said. Should I let her? I mean it's been going good so far... why not? Let's give it a go.

"If I do, what's the point to trying to be mysterious?" I said, lowering my voice a little. Woah, Irene has taken complete control. Is this really happening?

"Mysterious, you say?" Benedict said, smiling a really sexy smile.

"More or less, problem?"

"Not at all. Can I guess? After all, you are talking to the man that played Sherlock Holmes." Benedict said laughing.

"Oooo, Sherlock deductions. My favorite. Go ahead." I said. Woah, Irene is really going out there. I like it, and apparently he does, too.

"Hmmm, let's see. You're a sherlock fan, you're around 20 years old, Lily is your... roommate? And you just finished Uni, and you're out to celebrate. Did I do good?" He said shruging.

"All correct except for 2. I'm 21, and it's my birthday. Lily convinced me to come out with her today to celebrate."

"Happy you came so far?"

"It's getting there." I said laughing. He smiled a toothy grin.

"So, I've been wondering. Are you really a Sherlock fan?" he said.

"Oh yes. I go all fan girl mode whenever something comes out of Sherlock's mouth."

"Well, i'm flattered. Any other shows you like?" he said. Wow, this is really going well. He doesn't seem bored out of his mind yet, and he is laughing at a lot of things I say. Is it at me, or with me?

"Doctor Who. Classic and New Who, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, mainly crime and science fiction. I'm a geek, I know." I said, a bit embarrassed. "I was always a big fan of Doctor Who, I would always watch it whenever I feel down or if I had a bad day. The Doctor would always find some way to cheer me up."

"A geek? Not even close! I love Doctor who and Star Trek! My father and I used to watch the Classic ones together, and I started watching the New Who when it first came out. But, it's not exactly talking matter when you're at a club. Would you like another drink?" he asked, ever so politely.

"Gasp! Mr. Cumberbatch, are you trying to get me drunk?" I said. Was he?

"Matter of fact, I was planning on getting drunk tonight. Just finished a movie, so this is my time off. Care to join me?

"Well, lucky for you, I was planning on doing the same thing. Lead the way, Mr. Cumberbatch."