Annabelle hadn't seen Luca after that.

After a few days of crying in Candy's hammock and letting the old woman stuff biscuits into her mouth, she was done. Done with him, done with men, done with love.

"I don't even need a man, Candy," she had muttered stubbornly. "I'm totally fine on my own. I'm going to be an astronaut and go to space and make out with an alien."

Candy had given her a strange look. "No one needs a man, Annabelle. But it sure damned is nice to have someone to pay half the rent."

"We could be roomies."

"No. You smell too much like balls."

"What?"

"Bowling balls, Annabelle. Bowling balls."

After that, Annabelle had kept her mind on anything but Luca. Even when his sweet spring eyes would pop into her head, she'd focus on her work. She re-laced all the shoes in the bowling alley, dusted every single damned corner, and even started making awkward small-talk with the younger coworkers. Hell, she helped one of them with their physics homework. Physics homework.

If she was using physics to keep her mind off a boy, that surely meant something was wrong with her. Right?

She even decided to visit the closest college to her home on their marketing day. There had been way too many people for her -- people tossing fliers and brochures in front of her, smiling faces that asked her what she would want to study, and stalls full of flowers and cotton candy and graduation gowns.

She moved into one of the giant lecture halls, where a young woman in gym clothes was presenting a lecture on the basics of aerodynamics and space travel.

Annabelle sat there, eyes glued to the numbers and equations and stars plastered over the screen.

One day, she would earn enough money to be here.

One day, she would study the stars.

She didn't need Luca for that.

Though, as she turned her head to the side, she could have sworn that he was there, sitting in the same lecture hall. She thought she would recognise that dark mop of hair, that warm skin and thoughtful smile.

But why would he be there? He had no interest in aerodynamics. Didn't he want to study psychology? And wasn't the psychology building on the other side of the campus?

A small voice crept into her head. Telling her that he was here to see her.

Annabelle shooed it away. Instead, she stood, scooped up her bags, and left the lecture.

One day, she would be here.

One day.

She had done a pretty good job forgetting Luca after that.

It wasn't so much his beautiful smile and his toned forearms that she missed. It was the laughter he had once brought her, the way he would listen and care for her. The way he would let her rub cut up onions on him.

But she kept herself busy with work. And it worked perfectly.

Or, at least, it worked perfectly until the day Luca and Christina walked into her bowling alley.

They came in, hand in hand, saying something about their third month anniversary. It was so different to three months ago, when they had come in giggling like new lovers. There was a sort of nonchalance to them, a sort of calmness whenever they spoke or glanced at one another. Maybe even a bit of awkwardness. Or even... coldness?

Annabelle tried not to think about it. She had spent a whole month squashing down the hope in her chest.

Besides, she didn't care about Luca anymore. She didn't miss their inside jokes. She didn't miss his obsession with turtles. She certainly didn't miss his sweet accent that would roll across his words. Or his goofy smile. Or the way his brows furrowed slightly when he couldn't hear what she was saying. Or--

"You've short-changed us."

Annabelle glanced up. "What?"

"You've short-changed us," Christina repeated gently. "You said it cost forty dollars for the hour, so I gave you a fifty, and you only gave me five dollars back."

Annabelle felt her face growing hot. From behind his date, Luca looked absolutely mortified.

"I'm sorry," Annabelle mumbled. "I wasn't paying attention. I was..."

I was trying to pretend you two didn't exist.

"Wait for me outside, Luca," Christina suddenly said. "I'll sort this out and be there in a second."

With a curt nod, Luca practically went flying across the room and out the glass doors. Christina shook her head, exasperated, and smiled at Annabelle.

"Look," she whispered, "I don't know what you and Luca had going on between the two of you..."

Annabelle instantly felt a kick in her stomach. "Nothing. He would never cheat on you. We didn't do anything. I promise. We were just friends."

"I know," Christina cut in. "He's too loyal for his own good. He thinks that, once he is with someone, he has to be theirs for life."

"What do you mean?"

Christina glanced over her shoulder, to where Luca's frame was distorted and blurry behind the glass doors. "He doesn't like me. I know he doesn't. I think he thinks I'm pretty, but he knows that... we just don't click. You know?"

"I, uh..."

"And he's been different ever since you and him stopped talking."

Annabelle shrugged. "Maybe it's because his turtle died?"

"If a person is acting like this for months because of a dead turtle, I think they've got a problem."

"What are you saying?"

Christina moved in closely. Annabelle found herself holding her breath.

"I'm going to have a talk with him outside," Christina said. "After that, you have my blessings."

"Your blessings?"

"You're a smart girl, Annabelle. You can work it out."

But Annabelle had already worked it out. She could feel the hope in her chest rising, even though she had thought she had squashed it down into oblivion.

"Thank you," she finally said.

Christina reached out and patted her hand. "We girls have to stick to each other a bit more. Besides, I got my eye on another man. He's got blue hair, and I kind of like that."

Annabelle snorted. "Is he also into skiing?"

"Ye-- how did you know?"

"I've made my rounds, I guess."

They both laughed a little at that. Then, with another pat on the hand, Christina was turning on her heel and leaving the building.

"Oh, wait! Didn't I short-change you, Christina?"

Christina turned and winked. "I think you deserve the tip, anyways."

She didn't mean to spy on them breaking up. But she sort of figured that, well, if they were going to break up directly outside the bowling alley, it sort of wasn't her problem.

They sat on a bench, eating ice cream, and while Luca was trying to catch one of the melting drops that was slipping down his cone, Christina said something suddenly.

Annabelle felt a pang in her heart as she watched them.

Would Luca be upset? Would he cry? Would he be completely, absolutely broken?

Luca nodded slowly, and said something back. Annabelle tried to read their lips, but from all the way inside the bowling alley, she couldn't actually see the exact shapes of their lips. But she could see him shifting uncomfortably. She could even see him blinking back in surprise.

Then, he was saying something. The hand that was not clutching onto the ice cream cone moved around for a second, but it was gentle. Soft.

And then she saw his finger point right towards the bowling alley.

Towards her.

Annabelle quickly stared down at the counter. She hoped desperately that he had not seen her eavesdropping on them.

She counted to five. Took a deep breath in.

Then, as subtly as she could, she raised her gaze again.

They were both smiling, nodding their heads, shaking their hands. Some sort of understanding and respect in their eyes as they hugged one another.

Then, Luca and Christina parted ways.

Both of them looking more free and happy than ever before.