MEGAN

"You have no idea what's going on, do you?" Amber asked Hannah while she munched popcorn. Ever since her wedding got postponed by another month since Zack was caught up in a big project, she had considered my life to be a matinee show to cheer her up.

"Nothing is going on." I muttered as I laid down on Hannah's lap, trying to ignore Amber.

"That is complete bullshit." Laura muttered. "You tell me, Amb. I often miss out on these gossip when I'm at home. I should visit often here."

"You should." Hannah said as she stroked my head. "I love having you girls over."

"That's only because you want some entertainment." I retorted as the others groaned in protest against my words.

"The first time I saw them together was when he had stayed over to prepare scrambled eggs." Amber said with much enthusiasm than it required. "Scrambled eggs, can you believe it?"

"What's wrong with that?" I sat upright, ready to defend the guy who had fed me well.

"I mean, your favorite thing in the world is noodles." Laura shrugged. "So, naturally we thought you might jump up high when scrambled eggs were on your plate."

"No, she ate them completely." Amber said. "I had to force feed her here, and when that guy came along, she ate the whole thing without protest."

"If you could prepare it that well, maybe she would have eaten without protest too." Hannah winked at me. "Isn't that right, sweetheart?"

"That's true." I smiled, happy that at least one of the women was on my side.

"But they are going out again, and I can't believe that two of them look so good together even after everything." Laura gushed. "They are meant for each other."

Though my cheeks heated, I wasn't sure about it. The last time it was him who had secrets with him, but this time it was me who held secrets that had never seen a day's light.

"He likes you so much." Amber said. "Look at how he's watching you."

She pulled out her phone and showed me a story where we were holding hands and were walking out of a coffee shop. To be honest, it looked too cute, and one couldn't say that it was just two friends going out for coffee. It looked more intimate and a tad more friendly than I could vouch for.

"Do you like him?" Hannah asked gently.

I sat up, and the three pairs of eyes were staring at me silently, asking for the answer. "I think so." I said, looking at my intertwined fingers. "And it's scary."

"Megan!" Amber said, propping a pillow on her lap. "He likes you, and you still like him. What's the problem?"

"We liked each other before." My head was still low, and I didn't dare to look at their expectant faces. In their mind, we were still a couple to be shipped off. But there were yet a lot of insecurities that came along that ship for which I was not ready yet. "Look where I'm now."

"Honey," Laura said, holding my hands in hers. "It's always scary when you like someone. But that's what makes you trust each other."

My eyes pooled again. I didn't want to hurt myself again. What if he found out my secrets and didn't want to be around me?

"Sweetie..." Hannah pulled me to a hug. I curled under her arms, concentrating on the warmth she radiated.

"I'm scared because he has the power to hurt me the same way he did before." I confessed. "I'm scared that he will break my heart again. I'm scared because if he does, I'm sure I won't be able to recover this time."

"It doesn't have to be that way, Meg." Amber patted by back.

"Remember how Smith was so mad at you for living with him?" Hannah asked and I just nodded my head at her. "Though he seemed to be mad, he actually wasn't. He loved Miles. You knew that, don't you?"

I nodded again.

"Sweetheart, I know that you have trust issues, and it was a major blow to you at what he did." Laura said, choosing her words wisely. "But as you said, he said that he wanted to make you happy. And he's been doing it ever since—either by staying with you or not."

"You should give him a chance, at least." Amber said, interrupting my thoughts. "I don't mean you to go and act as if it all didn't happen at all. But may be... you know, stay friends."

"He said he loves me." My voice was small, but the gasps from the woman made sure that they had heard me right. "I couldn't tell him back."

"Megan, look at me now." Hannah said, holding my face in her tender palms. "I understand that you are scared. If you think about it, he must be scared too. There were many people in his life who fled away without a slight notice."

At that very instant, I felt angry for myself for fleeing away from him. I was no better than them.

"There is so much at stake for him as much as it is there for you." Hannah continued. "He's trying really hard by letting you in his life again. Probably, that's his way of telling you that he was sorry."

"I still can't let the feeling go away." I said, hanging my head low. "He's out there, ready to give me the world at my word, but I don't know if I can do the same for him."

"Megan, it doesn't have to be like that." Amber reasoned.

"No, Amber." I said, shushing her. "He is so much more than he gives credit to."

"So, you mean to tell that he deserves someone better?" Laura said, voicing my thoughts. It was so much more difficult to look at their eyes when I knew that they were telling the truth.

I nodded my head.

"Then, why can't you be better for him?" Laura questioned again, making me look at her face with wonder. "If you want him to have a person who's better, why can't you try to be one... for him?"

"It's not like that." I said, trying my best to tell them how I was feeling. "You don't understand. Hannah, tell her." I turned towards her silently, asking her to agree with me.

"She's right, dear." Hannah said, much to my plight. "There's nothing like deserving when it comes to love."

I sighed.

"It's all in your hands, Megan." Hannah said.

---

"Megan!" I whipped my head around in the dark to see who had called my name anonymously. Miles had put his hand up in the air, waving at me while he held another phone to his ear. He was in his usual green tee-shirt and a pair of rugged jeans with an overcoat to look a little professional.

"What's he doing here?" Hannah whispered next to me, her eyes locked on the guy who was now walking towards us. "He looks good, though."

It had been late in the night when Hannah and I had gone out into the city. But never were we expecting Miles to be here, too.

"I got to go now, but I'll consider the offer." He said to his caller before he ended it. Miles beamed at us. "Hello girls, how are you doing?"

I was still in a trace to open my mouth and let him know that I was doing more than okay, but Hannah bet me to it. "Miles! It's so good to see you! It's been ages since I met you. Come here, son." She pulled him in for a hug.

I tucked my hair behind my ears and stood watching them. Ever since that date, though we had been hanging out, I felt more like a fish out of water, ready to choke to death every time Miles smiled at me.

"You have lost weight." Miles commented back at Hannah, making her blush as I hid my laugh. "Not eating now, are you?"

"She hardly makes it to her fourth spoon." I added, trying my best to fit into the conversation.

"I do not!" Hannah said.

Miles snorted. "So, what makes you ladies here at this time?"

There was no sense in keeping it from Miles; after all, he knew what I had been going through, though not all of it, some of it for sure. At least, Laura would have spilled the beans for me. "I just had an appointment with the therapist." I said, looking at my knotted hands. I still didn't understand why I was ashamed in accepting the fact.

"Oh, um... everything okay?" He asked with a slight hesitation.

"She's doing well." Hannah said with a warm smile. "In fact, the doctor thinks that she will be more than fine within another two-three months."

"That's great." He said, and I could see the spark in his eyes even in the dark. "You guys need a ride or something? It's out too late."

"That's okay. I have my truck parked at the corner." I pointed my thumb behind me. "Thanks, though."

"Ah, there's a sleepover at Hannah's tonight, I assume." Miles smiled, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him. He was fishing for information.

"No, I wish." I sighed. "Hannah will be at Amber's today where Laura is right now. While I need to finish some business before I head there. So, I'll be dropping her off."

"This late?" Miles asked with scrunched eyebrows. "Can't that be completed tomorrow morning?"

"The event is tomorrow morning." I said. "I need to go and cover Amber's ass too."

Miles chuckled as Hannah watched us interact silently. "What are your plans now, Miles?" Hannah asked, with a smile of her own.

"Nothing for now." He said with a hesitation, and I knew that it was a lie. "Why?"

"I was wondering if you could accompany Megan." She said.

"Hannah!"

"I know what Gwen said." She continued in spite of my protests, and Miles looked at me, asking me silently who Gwen was.

"My therapist." I said with an eye roll.

"Megan is alright now, but I still would like if she had someone, you know, at this hour, at least." Hannah said, not caring for my angry glares at her. "It would give the old soul some peace of mind."

"You are starting to sound like Smith now." I said, still with my glares on her.

"That would be fantastic!" Miles said, his eyes sparking in contrast to mine. "I mean, if you don't mind me tagging along, I would love to come with you."

I rolled my eyes yet again. I didn't want any protection even if I was working in the middle of the night. I could take care of myself. I had a bottle of pepper spray and a pocket knife with me to handle any kind of situation that this slow-moving town had to offer.

But then again, it was Miles. How could I ever say no to the guy? "Fine." I caved in.

"Well, that's settled then." Hannah said, clapping her hands. "Get me to Amber and off you go."

"I get it, I get it." I said, raising my hand at her. "And you are riding with me." I went forward, leaving the two behind me, to get the van where all the necessary items were there for the decorations.

"She's into her moods again." I heard Hannah say. "You got to be careful, dear."

"I can hear Hannah." I said, not turning at her. "I'm sure Miles is a big boy who can handle himself."

After dropping Hannah to Ambers and looking longingly at the cozy interior, I dived back to the streets. Miles sat in the passenger seat, watching my every move. "Are you okay, Megan?"

"I was at two parties, a funeral and bouquet making for the past twenty-four hours or so. I'm just a bit tired." I said, my voice strained. It seemed as if I needed a glass of water. "The decoration needs to be redone as it looks like it's going to rain, and it's already eleven, I have to get this done today."

"I feel the same when I'm working too." He said, holding my hand. "But you love this job, I'm sure you'll be alright."

"Yeah." I said, smiling at him. I was glad that he was with me, even when I knew that he had work of his own.

We reached our destination, and I let out a breath. "You can do this." Miles encouraged.

I smiled. "Can you get me the water bottle in the back?" I asked as I pulled out my pills for the day.

"Thanks." I said, pouring the water down my throat as I gulped the pills. "Now, for my Bluetooth and then, we can go." I fixed the Bluetooth across my ear and connected it to my phone. "Come on, let's go. Can you grab those flowers for me?" I asked as I got down.

"Do you remember you had made me carry flowers all around once?" When I nodded my head at him, he only laughed. "I couldn't believe that you had asked me to do that."

"Well, you need more practice at it because you still suck." I said, as he lost his grip and made the flowers fall on the ground. "Hey! Careful!" When Miles gave me a sheepish look, I shook my head with a smile. "Look, those are my boys."

"Your boys?" Miles raised one eyebrow at me.

"Ah, still a jealous type, I see." I teased.

"That's the guy you work with?" He asked, pointing towards Thomas.

"Yeah, he's our latest addition to our shop." I said, looking at Thomas. He was arranging the flowers standing on the stool. "Amber hired him when I was at Primetown."

Miles shook his head with a smile. "I once saw you with him, and I was as mad as hell."

I laughed, "He's just a college student, Miles."

"There are only guys working here, no girls?" Miles wondered out loud. "No wonder Hannah was worried sick about you going. I'm happy that I'm here."

"Me too. I could push you to the vampires when they come hunting for me." I smiled wickedly at him.

Miles laughed, shaking his head at me. "I can't believe you are saying that."

"Well, you haven't gotten used to it yet." I shrugged, not able to get the grin off of my face. We reached the table where all arrangements were kept. I motioned Miles to drop down the items there.

"What should I do if I want to get used to it?" Miles asked, and I knew I had dug my own grave this time.

I leaned on the table and looked at him with a shy smile. Then, thinking better of it, I kissed his cheeks, surprising both of us. "You'll know."

I turned around without waiting to see what Miles had to say to that. I called Thomas over, shouting his name twice before he actually turned to see me. It was the only way I could distract myself from Miles.

"Hey, it looks like it's going to rain, no a thunderstorm, I would say, and I thought we would change just these to plastic ones." I pointed towards the tub where the flowers were present.

Thomas put his hands on his waist and looked at me. He was already sweating with all the work he had done, and I felt bad for the guy. He and his friends had come over to the site at seven in the evening, helping me do the decorations.

Since Thomas was already experienced with the arrangements, I was okay to let him do the job while I completed my deliveries. But after looking at the weather report, I couldn't sit still. I knew I had to intervene and make sure that things were running smoothly.

I didn't want to come up on the Boulevard Chronicles headlines stating that I had lost my charm.

"What!" Thomas asked, taken aback. "I just brought my bunch of friends and worked here for nothing? We got to redo all these again with those?" He asked, pointing to the flowers that Miles and I had got.

"Sorry, Tom." I shrugged. "I know the weather sucks."

"Man!" He groaned, kicking the stone near him.

"They can have extra pay." I said, nervously smiling at him. "Besides, only the garden needs the change, and it will take a max of an hour. I promise to make the arrangements while you guys take the real flowers down."

"Fine." He said, walking to the others to let them know the change.

"You sure you'll be, okay?" I asked Miles, who was watching me all this time. "I'll complete it as soon as possible."

"No problem, I have a few calls to make anyway." He said. "I'll be there when you are done, okay?" he asked, pointing to the shelter hut.

"Awesome." I said with thumbs up, signing and started my work.

We all headed to work. The garden was big enough to take more than an hour, though I hoped that we could complete it within the time. Thomas and I climbed up the ladders and were tucking the plastic flowers at the top corner when Thomas cleared his throat. I looked at him in reflex and saw him grin at me suggestively.

"What?" I asked as I finally got the loop done at the corner.

"You guys are perfect for each other." He said with the same grin. "He's been ogling at you all this time."

"No, he's not." I let out a snort. "He's been working all this time." I looked at Miles, who was probably conducting the meeting with his clients. His laptop was stretched in front of him; he had worn his jacket and plugged his earphones on, looking into the screen and waving his hands all around him.

"Poor guy, looks like he needs medication." Thomas said with a smirk as he noticed Miles working.

"Hey!" I threw the plastic flower that was tucked at my pocket, laughing. "He's just working."

Instinctively, Miles looked at me and smiled. I pointed towards the corner that I was decorating as he nodded his head and went back to whatever he was doing.

"Like I said, you two are perfect."

---

A/N: Do you think they are perfect, too?