Chole's  POV:

      She gets ready for her outing with her friend, Sabrina.

      She puts on a yellow tank top, bright yellow shorts, and matching sandals. She redid her hair.

         She sends a  quick text to Sabrina.

      Chole's text to Sabrina...

      "Sabrina, I am already."

        Sabrina's text...

       "I am almost there, Chole!"

      She thinks, wow it is been a long time since Chole, and I last got to hang out.

       She arrives a few minutes later and stands outside the apartment complex.

       She rings the doorbell to the door that leads to where Chole lives.

        Chole's POV:

           "Hi, Sabrina! It is great to see you!"

            "Same here, is anything wrong?"

            "No, what makes you think anything is wrong?"

            Sabrina's POV:

           "Chole, we have not been friends too long for me not to notice when something is wrong. "

              "It is him, the mystery texter."

              "What about him?  Did he hurt you?"

            "No, it is just his job promotion may cause him to leave Paris soon."

            Sabrina nods her head in understanding. She understands now why her birthday shopping was moved to today.  She grins.

           "Let's get going!"

     Chole's POV:
    "Yes, let's!"

    She grabs her purse, and keys, and locks the door.

     "All set now."

Mystery Man's  POV:

      Chole does not know it, but he sees her and her friend as they leave.

   He does not say a word to them. He stands far away so they will not see him. He also wears a disguise. He rather not take the risk someone recognizes him.

      He just had to see her. He knows he does not speak in person til tomorrow.  He thinks the outfit she wears is lovely.

    He carefully takes a photo of her with Sabrina.

       "Chole, have fun!"

   Chole's  POV:
   She blushes.

   She looks and sees the message.  She smiles.

      Sabrina does not say a word. She just focuses on her driving. Once at the mall, she finds a nice spot near the entrance and parks in it.

       "So, was it him?"

    "Yes, it was."

"Well, what did he say?"

  "He told me to have fun."

    Sabrina's POV:

    "Good, we shall have plenty of that now."

     Sabrina and Chole enter the mall.

       Both girls shop and shop.  A few hours later, as they leave a boy in a nearby car ducks his head down to avoid being seen. Sabrina thinks it strange but does not say a word.       

      Sabrina makes sure  Chole arrives home safely. She enjoys a small slice of cake and hugs Chole good night.   

       "You take care now.  Thanks for the birthday shopping experience of a lifetime!"

    Sabrina pulls away and does not see the dismayed expression in Chole's eyes. She would not have left when she did if she saw this. She goes home and right to bed.

      Chole's  POV:
        "Please, speak to me."

     She pleads with him afraid something happened to him while she was out.

      Mystery Man's  POV:

      "I am here, now what troubles you, love?"

       "Chole, you need not worry, I promise I will come tomorrow."

          He recalls the forlorn look she had when she left with Sabrina. He knows she pretended to be happy for Sabrina's sake. 

         He gets no response. 

     Chole's  POV:

     She hears a knock downstairs. Strange, I was sure Sabrina left.

    She pulls the door open. She stares at him in sheer wonder.

       "Hi, what brings you here?"

       "Chole, may I come in?"

        "S-Sure, g-go ahead."

     Nathaniel's POV:

       "Chole, why have you, been crying?"

        "I can not tell, you."

   Nathaniel pulls her close. He wipes a tear from her eye with his thumb.

       He feels her relax. Good, she does not push me away.

    He hears her sobs again. He knows it is probably too soon, but he finds he can not stop himself.

  He kisses her cheeks. He kisses the edge of her lips. 

    "Chole, please do not be sad."

        Nathaniel stays until she falls asleep in his arms. His face reddens. He gently carries her upstairs and tucks her into her bed. He brushes a stray hair from her face.

       He thinks, Chole, I am so sorry. I never meant to make you cry.

       He lays beside her and places a hand on her shoulder. He can not leave her like this. 

    Not when she is so down.

  Find out more as the story continues in Chapter 12

    bye-bye, little owlets!

-Summer out!