The following morning when Norah commuted to work, she felt a strange excitement growing inside her. Maybe it was the fact she would see Cole in the elevator? Despite her conflicting thoughts over him, she liked giving people the benefit of the doubt. Plus she still clung to the hope of being in a relationship with him. He was her ideal guy, right? Tall, handsome, successful, smart and charming but was he right for her?

As Norah climbed up the stairs from BART and made it to street level, she concluded that yes, he was right for her! Yet as she reached the building where she worked, she remembered that she and Barrett had to finalize the artwork for the ad they were working on. Which meant spending time with him all morning until it got done. That feathery feeling against her tummy returned and she walked into the building with a wide grin. She didn't even notice her smile until catching her relfection in the smooth gold plated doors of the elevator. As hard as it was for her to admit, she couldn't wait to goof around with him again... and flirt... just a little.

When she finally walked into the office, Trixy was already there. It dawned on her how she didn't even notice that her friend hadn't been in the elevator. Or that Cole hadn't been  either... her mind had been so wrapped up in the ad she and Barrett had to finalize. She was so stumped by the realization that she was frozen in her tracks, about to greet Trixy. Ripping her from the moment, the girl eagerly grabbed Norah's hand and rushed her over to her office. Closing the door behind them, she leaned against it with a sly grin.

Norah removed her coat and eyed her suspiciously. "What is it?"

"Tah-daaah." Trixy said as she motioned her arms over the hook on the door.

Norah paused and looked at the garment bag hanging from it. "What's that?"

"I found you a dress for tonight!"

"You did what!" Norah's jaw dropped.

"It's no biggy." She walked the dress over to Norah's desk as if it were a delicate baby. "While you were in a boring meeting yesterday I went on a lunch break and found it."

When she slipped off the shield for the garment, Norah's jaw dropped even further. She caressed the lacey red fabric and then read the label. She nearly gasped. "I can't accept this, it looks too expensive."

Squaring her shoulders, Trixy replied. "Look, I know my personality can overwhelm people but you befriended me with all my quirks. Everyone else here either ignores me or treats me like a maid. Plus... you're probably the only friend I have."

"Trixy, I'm absolutely grateful but there's no way I can afford to pay you back--"

"No, no!" Trixy held her hand up. "Here's a little secret, I'm kinda like this trust-fund kid and my Dad is a Silicon Valley nerd, we're not rich but technically I don't need to work." She shrugged and waved her hands dismissing the thought, "Anyway, my dad always says that since we are so fortunate it's important to give back to the people we care about. So please just take this gift? Take it because you've been such a good friend to me?"

Norah hesitated but accepted it anyway. "Thank you. It really is lovely."

After Trixy returned to the front desk, Norah closed her office door and sat down on the grey couch, eyeing the garment bag appreciatively. Reflecting on the week, she realized how out of the ordinary it was for her. Not only did she make a friend and begin believing that a simple coin could hold some luck, but Cole Collins finally noticed her. Then her stomach tightened with the thought of Barrett. Having feelings for him was absurd... Right? It was Barrett for goodness sake!

As the morning progressed, it was to Norah's disappointment that her boss joined in on finalizing the artwork for the ad. Not that she didn't like the woman, in fact she thought her boss was inspiring. Having started the Ad agency with her husband, working together for eight years and then buying him out when his extramarital affair became public, she was a force to be reckoned with. After the divorce, she moved the agency to a bigger office, hunted down the best employees from competing companies and cozied with investors. It didn't hurt that she was five feet and ten inches of long toned legs, cascading wavy blonde hair and green eyes that grabbed you by the balls when she meant business. Their male clients were also mesmerized by her sailor mouth wrapped in an Irish accent.

She looked over the artwork with them while muttering curse words over what she didn't like. Such as the color theme, the font, and the teeth on the male model.

"Too fecking perfect!" She practically spat. "Can't we get a model with some real champers? This isn't a toothpaste ad for fecks sake!"

"Umm..." Norah stood on her tip toes to look over the woman's shoulder, her eyes momentarily catching Barrett's. He was stifling a giggle while bringing his gaze down to her toes and up again. She rolled her eyes at him as he mouthed, you're so little. "That model is the Client's son, I believe and he made it clear that he wants him to be the face of the ad."

"Bollocks." Her boss grunted. "I hate it when they fecking do that kind of shyte! It's like they forget they're paying us to put these fecking advertisements together fir them!" She rubbed her temples. "Fine. Keep the schmuck, change the colors to something autumn-like-- anything but those fecking awful orange and greens. Looks like a damn pumpkin shyted all over it."

"Done!" Barrett nodded and took the drafts from her.

"And Norah," She continued rubbing her temples, "I looked over the slogan you wrote for this ad and it's clever. Great play on words, don't change a thing about it."

"Thank you." Norah beamed.

Barrett rested a hand on their boss's shoulder, "Are you ok? Do you need Ibuprofen or something?"

She shook her head, "oh gash no, just need a good lay is all. Help relieve some of this stress."

Norah clamped her hand over her mouth and Barrett blushed as he bobbed his head, "ok... well, I hope you can find someone to do that for you tonight."

Their boss began walking out of the art department while saying, "oh feck I hope so!"

The afternoon passed with the usual Friday office grind of finalizing projects, meeting potential clients and trying to win them over. However, it wasn't just any Friday since the building was holding it's annual party. Therefore Norah's coworkers buzzed over what outfits they were wearing to it, who they were going to chat with and whether or not the food would to be tasty like last time.

The year before Norah had been nervous to stand alone and try to work her way into conversations. Her coworkers seemed to do it so flawlessly but she ended up feeling embarrassed as she fumbled over her words. She remembered how Barrett had been kind though and held up the wall with her as they lightly chatted. He introduced her to a few people he knew and she remembered wishing he knew Cole. Except they were never in the same proximity but of course knowing what she now knew, Barrett probably avoided him on purpose.

When the time came, Norah used her office to change into the dress Trixy gave her. It slipped over her head easily and rolled down her body almost like a glove. Most of the time she felt like a stuffed turkey in Body-Con dresses but the light lace material felt buttery against her skin. When she stepped out of her office she was thankful to find that most of her corowkers had already left to attend the party. She quickly shuffled out of there and headed down to the lobby before anyone could see her. She preferred to just blend into the crowd than have anyone fuss over how she looked in the dress.

Although, she had to admit, she felt like a princess going to a Ball. A self conscious one but a princess nonetheless. She rode in the elevator by herself, with a red painted smile lingering on her lips. It felt as if anything were possible tonight! Then the doors opened on the lobby level and the sound of music blared into the space. Taking a deep breath, she placed her peep-toed pump out onto the marble floor. Her eyes scanned for Trixy, the bass sending a rumble through her chest as she steadied her breathing. At least this time around she wouldn't be standing alone. This time she had a friend and when she spotted that new friend, the awed look on Trixy's face made Norah bashful.

Pushing through the crowd Trixy latched onto her arm. "You look gorgeous!"

"You think so?"

"Yes!" Trixy exclaimed. She nodded her head toward the crowd, "check out who else cleans up nice."

As Norah followed her gaze, the crowd parted just at the right time to reveal Barrett. He was laughing with a coworker and for a moment the music and chatter had been corked in a bottle of silence. There Barrett stood in a suit, his dark hair styled back and looking like a tall drink of handsome.

Norah swallowed hard. "He looks good."

"We should go talk to him!" Trixy insisted. Noticing Norah's hesitation, she furrowed her brows with concern. "We don't have to. We can always have fun on our own."

"I think I'm just being anxious over nothing."

Looping her arm around her, Trixy said, "it's ok to have a crush on Barrett."

"I don't!" But Norah's crimson face said otherwise.

"Riiight." Trixy grinned. "Cause you would be out of your mind to be crushing on THAT." She pointed her finger toward Barrett. "What if he's your Prince Charming? We can't leave him waiting, can we?"

Taking a gulp of courage, they both began cutting their way through the crowd. Norah could make out the top of Barrett's head and used it as a beacon. By the time they made it over to him, her nerves were gone and now she just felt relief. Surprising herself, she reached out and wrapped her arms around Barrett's torso.

"Hey!" He laughed and pulled Trixy in for a group hug. "You girls look great."

"Right back at ya, Bear!" Trixy play-punched his stomach. Then as if an idea hit her, she clapped with excitement. "I love this song, you two should get out there and dance!"

"We should all go." Norah replied.

"Are you kidding? I'll just end up stepping on your feet." With a shove Trixy said, "go on, get out there!"

"Ok, ok, don't be so bossy." Barrett chuckled.

"Remember what I told you Bear!" Trixy pointed a stiff finger at him.

The smile dissolved from his face and he nodded with acknowledgement. He seemed tense as he placed his hand in the middle of Norah's shoulder blades and guided her to the dance area. He clasped her hand in his and began swaying her to the beat of the music. Norah rested her head on his chest, inhaling the woody scent of his cologne.

The gesture felt so natural. She could fit perfectly under his arm like a bird's protective wing and she liked that about him.

"You know, you're not as bad as I thought."

"Oh really?" Barrett laughed.

"When we met, you made a jab at my height. I thought you were a jerk."

Barrett's expression fell serious again. Swallowing hard he said, "Want to know what I first thought of you?"

Gazing longingly in his eyes Norah breathed, "Yes."

"May I cut in?" Boomed a voice.

Both Norah and Barrett jerked their heads to see Cole Collins standing there with hands on his hips. Up until that point she had forgotten about him. He began slicing between them, ready to take over but Barrett held his ground.

"I'm not finished!" He barked and then lowered his tone. "Give us a few more minutes?"

Cole shrugged. His gestures were exaggerated and floppy like someone intoxicated. "You have until the end of the song and then she's allllll miiiine."

He winked at Norah, prompting Barrett to shift their bodies away from him. Cole got the hint and backed away as the crowd swallowed him up. Norah released a breath that she had been holding.

"Thought he'd never leave." Barrett muttered as he positioned his hands again and returned to swaying her as if nothing happened.

"Like I was saying," He cleared his throat. "When we first met, you made it so hard to breath that I was speechless, so I did what I usually do, joke around." A sudden sweat lightly misted his forehead and he swiped a trembling hand across it, "You still make it hard to breath when I'm around you."

Now Norah was the one without air. She clutched their hands to her chest, "I..."

"Look Norah, I know you have this crush on Cole but all he sees is a pretty girl. He doesn't see what I see. Yes you're beautiful but you're also smart, funny and shy, yet gutsy at the same time. Sure he seems to be the complete package but is he really what you want? Someone who barely listens to you and only sees what's on the outside?"

Barrett stopped swaying her and cupped her head between his hands to search her eyes.

"I want to hold your hand as we walk. I want to look at you and know your smile is for me. I want to help you with things like flying your mom out to visit. I want to be your home away from home, your best friend..." He gulped a deep breath, "because I'm crazy about you."

Norah's eyes watered and her stomach fluttered like trapped birds. His words were so much to take in all at once and the thumping music didn't help with her swimming thoughts. She wanted so badly to answer him but the knot in her throat made it hard to and Cole had the worst timing. He reappeared right as the song ended.

"May I?" He reached out for her.

Norah looked from Barrett to Cole and then back to Barrett. Not appreciating the competition, Cole grabbed Norah's hand and hauled her through the crowd until Barrett dissolved from sight. She tugged against him forcefully until he finally stopped.

"Are you always like this!" She glared.

"I got a little jealous."

He laced his arms around her and she could smell booze radiating off of him with every breath he made. She wondered just how many drinks he already had and it infuriated her. Pulling back, she glared at him again.

"What's wrong?" He asked, irritated.

"Cole, what do you like about me?"

"Well, just look at you." He held her arms out to admire her. "You're hot. Now, how about we get out of here?"

Norah's eyes widened with shock. She could feel her flesh grow scalding with anger. For two years she had a crush on this man and now she felt so foolish. He was not at all what she fantasized him to be. He was a drunk fool who only wanted one thing from her.

"Barrett was right! You only see and want one thing." Norah snapped.

"Oh come on..." A look of sobriety washed over Cole's face. He laughed mockingly, "don't tell me you're into Barry? That guy has always been a loser!"

"I can't believe how blind I've been..." Norah shook her head as clarity struck her. For the first time she didn't feel a single ounce of attraction when looking at Cole. "And his name is Barrett not Barry. He's also twice the man you are!"

With that, Norah pushed through the crowd, not bothering to look back at Cole. Frazzled, she practically spun in place searching for Barrett but it was as if he evaporated. Her eyelids filled like rain on a windshield, blurring her vision but then she spotted him outside with Trixy. She scurried out of the building and stepped into the chilly night. They both turned to her and Trixy excused herself to give them privacy.

In the gentle buzz of the city night, with the breeze curling through their garments, Norah and Barrett stepped toward each other. Wiping the wetness from her cheeks she stood tall. Confident.

"I think I've always felt something for you." She announced over the space between them. "I was just too stubborn to realize it."

Barrett dipped his head bashfully. "Do you really mean that?"

"Yes!"

He closed the gap between them, pulling her into him. "I was hoping you'd come around to my charms."

Norah tilted her head curiously at him. "Is that what all that teasing was?"

Barrett grinned. He pressed his lips to hers and they were soft like velvet flower petals, yet possesive as if her kisses had always been his. Norah melted into it. The building door opened behind them, spitting Cole out with an equally blitzed woman on his arm. The both of them were all hands as they clumsily clomped away, not even noticing Norah and Barrett shaking their heads at them.

"He'll never change." Barrett sighed.

"I really dodged a bullet, didn't I?" Norah glanced back at Barrett. "I'm sorry for being so blind about him."

Barrett leaned his forehead against hers and embraced her more closely. "I'm not sorry. I think it all worked out perfectly in the end."

From inside the lobby Trixy studied her friends as she toyed with the two pennies in her coat pocket. It turned out that neither Norah or Barrett needed to find a fifth penny that day. She had been so clever leaving coins for them to find and pointing them out when they were overlooked. Sure she felt sneaky but sometimes people needed a push in the right direction. Sometimes that push needed a little luck to help it along, even if that luck was man-made. She looked the lovebirds over with pride swelling in her chest.

They would never have to know the length she went to get them together. All that mattered now was that they were finally together.