The three of them walk into Roscoe's yard with Cheyenne leading he way. They are seated at a table for four at a window seat that gives them a wonderful view of the pedestrians going about their day on the usual Monday afternoon grind. Mikey is silently afraid of how this lunch will turn out. He doesn't want Johny to let anything slip out about Chrissy or his mother at all. Sometimes when worlds collide destruction follows.

" So have you guys been here before?" Cheyenne asks as she picks up her menu, recalling that not too long ago this is how Kim found out about Michael's girlfriend.

"Yes actually. Great food. You?" Johny answers.

"Yes my roommate actually works here."

"Really? I wonder if she's served us before"

"Well if she hasn't she will now. She's coming." Cheyenne says gesturing to the blond in her Roscoe's yard uniform walking over to the table.

Mikey recognizes her immediately. Now I know where I know her from. She was the girl from the night I first saw Cheyenne and she served us that day when he was here with Johny. Did she over hear our conversation? Is that how why Cheyenne thinks I have a girlfriend?

Kim walks over and takes a seat next to Johny. Well I guess she isn't working. 

"Hey girl! What's up? Hi I'm Kimberley but you can call me Kim." She extends her hand to both Mikey and Jonathan. 

"Girl, aren't you working?" Cheyenne says through gritted teeth as if to prevent the men from hearing.

"Yes. But as soon as you texted saying you are coming, and with company..." she says looking at Michael. "...I thought I'd take a break. And finally meet this Michael dude you have been talking about non stop". Cheyenne tries to kick her friend under the table but completely misses and kicks the table leg, causing the cutlery to vibrate.

Mikey is taken aback once more by Cheyenne. She talks about me? He can't help but to feel a bit heart warmed by the thought. Hmm she thinks about me. 

"So who is taking our order then?"

"Billy is coming." Kim says smiling at Cheyenne. Mikey couldn't help but notice the slight tension between the roommates. It seemed that she wasn't ready for her worlds to come together either. But why?

.....

The lunch conversation was kept light. They all mostly spoke about their work. Kim was an aspiring chef and Johny is an accountant. But there was an air of heaviness over the table. Johnathan of course knew how to work around it with his charm, making the ladies smile. But everyone there seemed to be avoiding an area of conversation that weighed them down. 

When lunch was finally over, Mikey and Jonathan picked up the tab. As Cheyenne and Kim made a beeline around the tables to the bathroom. 

He notices Jonathan staring at him. "What is it?"

"She seems nice. Very nice."

"Yea she is." She is too good.

" So what is the problem? If I wasn't in love with my wife I would.."

"Okay that is enough. She is amazing. But I just can't and you know why."

"I know what you said but after meeting her and seeing the way she looks at you when you aren't looking. It's like you both want to but you are afraid"

"You are damn right I am afraid." Mikey says letting out a breath. She can't be a part of his life as it is right now. Not in that way. "She still thinks I have a girlfriend"

"That confuses me. Why would you let her continue to believe that?"

"Because it keeps things uncomplicated. And I need somethings in my life to be simple", Mikey snaps.

The women return a moment later, both smiling the tension before seemingly faded away. 

"Michael. I have to get back to work. It was nice meeting you Jonathan."

"Wait I'm coming too. Johny ma boy love you and see you Friday night. Kim it was a pleasure". She nods at them both and turns on her heels. The men shrug and hug, then Mikey runs to catch up to Cheyenne. 

"Hey wait up!" He calls out as she walks briskly down the street. She turns and looks over her shoulder but keeps walking.  She makes a right at the intersection but the office that they work is straight down the street. Where is she going? As Mikey rounds the corner he sees her standing in front of a giant work of graffiti art. It is a  black, white and blue depiction  of a boy and a girl holding walking down some train tracks towards a light. They are holding hands but it is unclear what the light is.

Mikey goes and stands beside her. She turns to him "What do you see Michael". He turns to look at her and then back at the art. "Uh I see a couple walking down a train track. They seem to be in love".

"And what is the light?"

"The light? It looks to me like a train that is coming in their direction?"

" That's interesting. Because to me it looks like the light at the end of a tunnel"

" Really? I didn't see that"

"Michael look at me." She grabs both is hands and forces him to face her. The tingle he feels from his neck down his spine at the sudden physical connection cannot be ignored.

"Its all about the way you look things, Michael. Its one of those art pieces that make you see what you are currently feeling or what is in your subconscious. So at the moment, there's something in you that only sees a path of destruction. And I don't understand why"

Mikey looks away not wanting to go down that path. "I do not know what you are talking about"

"Come on Michael. I haven't known you for long but sometimes your mind drifts away and your eyes get so dark. I just wish I knew what goes on in there". She takes a step closer looking into his eyes. Her light brown eyes pleading for him to let her in. But he can't. Not Now. Not when he isn't sure what is happening.  He turns away.

"Listen Cheyenne. I'm fine. It's just a piece of art. It doesn't unlock your brain or anything. We should get back..." Cheyenne grips his hands a little tighter before he can move away from her grasp.

"Why don't you want to kiss me?" Mikey is taken aback by her question. His heart rate starts to increase rapidly as he quickly tries to come up with an answer.

" I .. uh.. I just can't" He manages to get out.

" Because of your girlfriend?" She asks stepping a bit closer.

"My what? No I mean I can't talk about this."  He steps out of her reach and begins to walk back to the intersection. With her proximity and the questions she was asking, he just couldn't handle it. He didn't want to make another mistake. Even though they were outside, he needed some air, it was getting difficult to breathe. 

Cheyenne comes up behind him. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have. We are just friends nothing more. I respect that." She says walking past him. At the spur of the moment as he sees her walking away. Something inside him said that he didn't want this to be over. He didn't want her to walk away feeling like there was nothing between them. Without thinking he shouts, 

"Cheyenne wait!" She stops mid stride. He jogs to catch up with her.

"I can't explain everything to you yet. But I want you to know that... that... " He said taking her right hand into his. 

"That what Michael" she says gazing up at him.

Deep breath Mikey. "That I like you". He says and he manages a weak smile. She smiles at him and the sight overwhelms him. Wow. Just wow.

" I like you too".