What do I do? I have no idea. I lay in my bed staring up at the white ceiling wondering what to do. The only thing he'd written on the paper was that the store opened at ten in the morning. Am I supposed to go to the store and then what? Meet him there? He's never even seen the movie, how does he even know? Would he really watch a movie just to do something like this? I am more confused than I was before.

I check my phone it's four in the morning and I've been sitting like this since Nicole and I finished watching Teen Mom. We'd decided we'd forget about boys, and everything going on and just have a typical girl's night. When Henry showed up she literally jumped up and ran into his arms. I got up smiled at him and then went to my room without a word. I heard Nicole's door close ten minutes later. I'm glad they are okay.

I decided to take a personal day from work today. I just need some more time to process everything. My aunt didn't ask questions, but told me it was okay after everything. So at least if I don't fall asleep now I have the day to rest. I know I won't rest until I do this. I have to find out what he has to say. This could change everything. This could ruin my relationship with my aunt and uncle, and especially my cousin. I just... if I don't find out I'll drive myself insane wishing I had.

I can see the sky turning that weird color of dark and light blue. In the distance there's some orange and pink. The sky turns to fire just beyond the buildings and at this point I should just get up. I walk into the kitchen and start making some coffee. I don't normally drink it, but today I'm going to need it.

Henry comes out of Nicole's room, he's wearing gym shorts and no shirt. He's got no hair, but if he did it would be the, I totally had sex all night hair. I smile at him and push over a mug for him, he's the coffee drinker of the house. We have a K-cup machine so it's quick. I pour him the coffee and he sips it slowly.

"So are you doing this thing?" he questions.

"Yeah, I think I kind of have to. If I don't I might go insane," I laugh.

"I understand," he says sipping on the hot coffee.

"I'm sorry I came between you two..."

"It's not your fault," he says.

"It is. I'm going to start looking into schools outside the state, but for now I'd like to be your partner at the club. I figure if I make enough I can get into a decent school," I say.

"I'll be sad to see you go, but I'm proud of you Faith," he says.

I smile and take a sip, I nearly gag because it tastes god awful. He laughs and I already feel lighter.

***

The coffee is not settling well in my stomach as I take another subway ride across the city. This time I'm getting off at Lexington Avenue. I've walked by the store so many times, but have never felt the urge to go inside. It's not really my kind of shopping, but every time I do pass by I get all sentimental thinking about the movie.

The train comes to a halt thankfully it's not crowded like it was the day of the trial. I get off and follow the maze and head up the stairs and out onto the crowded streets of Manhattan. My heart races as I see the sign and the familiar store front. It's just a few feet away. I stop and nearly get trampled by a man rushing to get somewhere. He curses me out, but continues on his way. I wish at this moment that numbing feeling from the trial would come back, because I'm feeling even more nervous than before.

I cross the street and walk up to the entrance. I have no idea where I'm supposed to be going, but I pull out the glove and receipt from my messenger bag. Inside is like nothing I've ever seen before. Everything is so fancy and I feel like I'm being watched because of how I'm dressed. I've got on tight black skinny jeans with rips in the knees, and it's finally warm enough to bring out my favorite checkered slip on vans, and a black crop top with a zipper down the front opened just enough to show a bit of cleavage.

I look around there are women dressed up like they are going to work instead of shopping. I am so out of place here. An older woman with a name tag on comes waddling over to me. She seems nervous, someone probably told her to keep an eye on me.

"Hello Miss how can I help you?" she asks.

I take a deep breath and hold up the receipt and glove.

"I um... got this as a gift and I'm looking to exchange them what department would these be in?" I ask.

She glances at the glove and the receipt, she looks relieved like she just figured out I'm not here to cause trouble and steal. She kindly guides me to the woman's accessories. I walk into a section with purses and other accessories that are worth more than I'll ever make working at the music store. At the register I see a familiar face. I think that's the older woman that Jace was hugging at the funeral. I walk over to her glove in hand and before I even say anything she smiles at me. She must have been expecting to see me.

"Hi," I say.

"You're Faith?" she questions puckering her lips. She gives me a once over as I nod, then hands me a five dollar bill with red writing on the back.

"This is for you," she says.

"I saw you at Frank's funeral..."

"Yes. I'm his mother," she says sweetly.

"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry," I apologize.

"Not to worry dear," she tells me.

I flip over the five dollar bill and in red marker there's an address on it. I look at it and it's written almost identical to how it looks in the movie.

"Do you know what this is an address for?" I ask.

"I'm not supposed to say anything, just supposed to give you the money," she says with a smile.

"Right," I say.

"Can I say something?" she questions.

"Yeah," I say.

"Jace is a good kid," she tells me. "He's been hurt a lot by people who should love him, like his mother, his father... he is the way he is because of his upbringing. If you want my honest opinion though, he's changed quite a bit since meeting you," she tells me.

I feel a knot in my throat, he'd tried to tell me that a million times. He tried to tell me that he'd changed, but I had a hard time believing it. After the way he hurt Charlene I was sure this guy had no heart. I know she wants to see the best in him, but if only she knew the things he's done. I don't think I knew him long enough prior to really judge how much he'd changed, but she makes it seem like he's a different person now. I don't think someone can change the fast.

"Thank you," I say. "I'll try to remember that," I tell her.

"Alright, you better get moving," she says with a smile.

"Yeah, I uh... thank you. Bye," I say stuttering.

She smiles at me. I turn to leave and put the glove on my hand, and hold onto the five dollar bill for dear life. I fear it may blow away like the piece of paper in the movie. I exit the store and feel relief when I do, now everyone is ignoring me the way it should be. Being in that store made me super uncomfortable.

I take a look at the address on the bill and realize it's only four blocks, so I decide to walk it. It doesn't take me too long to get there. The streets are starting to buzz with tourists waking up ready to take on Manhattan, so the streets are getting a bit hectic. Also being close to some of the major attractions make it worse. I stop in front of a small used bookstore. I take a deep breath and can't help but feel a bit taken back by the name of it. In white block lettering over a deep blue background is the name Constellation Books. Serendipitous indeed. In the movie John Cusack notices that Kate Beckensale has freckles on her arm and they make the constellation Cassiopeia. Not really sure how he found this gem of a store, but I'm intrigued so I think I should finish my little hunt.

I walk in and the door jingles with the sound of bells. There's an old gentleman behind the counter. He lifts the oval shaped bifocals up his nose and for a moment looks up at me. I'm not sure if I'm at the right spot, but I'm pretty sure I've hit the right address. I look around for my next clue, there's only one reason I'd be in a used... ah. A used bookstore, there it is. Love in the Time of Cholera, it's the same first edition like in the movie. The book sits near the man at the counter on a small book stand all by itself. I make my way to the glass counter and pick the book up off the stand.

"Excuse me sir?" I ask.

He grunts when he looks up.

"This book doesn't happen to be five dollars?" I ask flashing him the bill.

His frown turns to a smile like he now gets why I'm here. He nods his head and I hand in the five dollar bill.

"Little pricey for the book," I tease.

The man laughs, "That boy of yours sure must love you," he says.

Love, my heart does that stupid flutter thing. Why did things have to turn out like this? I was never supposed to fall for him. I mean I'd seen enough teen movies to know the consequences, I just never thought it would happen in real life. I flip the book open and inside is another address with the number twenty three written. Holy shit, The Waldorf Astoria.

I thank the man behind the counter and once again he goes back to being grumpy, and grunts at me. I smile and turn back for the door. I can't believe I'm about to do this. It's about six blocks from here, once again it's not too bad. When you live in the city you learn your way by walking around. It's a gorgeous day and I don't want to waste it in a cab.

The late morning sun is turning hotter by the minute. Today it's supposed to reach sixty-five. I hold the book close to my chest as I walk towards the famous hotel. I've always wanted to stay here, but it's way out of my price range. The furthest I've gotten was walking near it, just like Bloomingdales.

I stop just out front and look up at the golden lettering outside. Taking a deep breath I step through the doors and I feel an overwhelming sense of joy. It's odd to feel like this when I know this might not end well. I know what twenty-three means. I make it look like I belong here as I walk to a set of elevators. The same elevators in the movie. I hit the button and wait hoping that no one stops me. The elevator dings and I get into an empty one. I hit floor twenty three and the elevator glides up. I hold onto the rail because they give me major anxiety, but I know when I reach the top my next clue will be there.

It stops and my heart starts racing again. I step out and notice a small table in the center hallway. I look around for a clue. Underneath the table are a pair of ice skates. Wollman Rink, Central Park. I grab the skates even though there won't be any ice, and head back down. This time a mom and a young boy get in the elevator with me. They are quiet, not like the crazy little devil boy in the movie.

I have to head back up in the direction of Bloomingdales just a few blocks over from there. My stomach is growling, but I fear that if I stop now I'll never continue, so onward I go. Central park is buzzing today with kids and families. I'm sure the park is filled with soccer players and people having picnics. I enter at the Grand Army Plaza and walk up to where the rink is. Right now it's kind of in between events. In the winter it's a skating rink, and in the summer months it's an amusement park. We've been a couple of times, Henry almost threw up on one or two rides, but it was fun. Right now there's nothing going on just people rollerblading. I walk around looking for the entrance and walk through to find some tables and chairs set up. There's a small food stand that's not open yet. I see kids on parent's shoulders, some people take pictures. I look around wondering where he would leave the next clue. I walk back out and around to get to the rink.

Inside there are a few benches. I notice something taped to the back of one of them. I walk over and pull it off. It's an envelope. I'm surprised someone hasn't stolen in by now. I look around because I feel like I'm being watched. I carefully peel open the envelope and pull out a printed page. On it is the name Serendipity and a reservation set for two in the afternoon today. At the star table, the freaking star table. The very table they sat at! I grab my phone and check the time, it's one fifteen.

"I don't think I can make it snow, like in the movie but..."

I jump at the sound of his voice and literally stop breathing for a few short seconds. I let out a shaky breath and turn very slowly. I bite down hard on my lip as a knot forms in my throat. He's only a few feet away from me. He's not sure if he should smile, so he's got half a grin on his face. It's not that evil snake grin like when I met him, it's different softer.

I open my mouth to say something, but no words come out only a small strained cry. I don't even know what to say at this point. He steps closer and when he's right in front of me he waits. He's waiting for permission to touch me. I nod, and his finger wipes the tears falling.

"I left because I'm a pussy," he says laughing.

I can't help but smirk, leave it to him to use words like that while trying to explain his feelings for me.

"I never wanted to fall for you, you were just another girl on my radar. I thought hell it would be fun to get her," he says. I step back an inch. "But then I got to know you, not many girls know how to deal with me. The fall all over me and ..."

"This isn't helping your case," I half laugh, half cry.

"I know, I told you I suck at this," he laughs, and I think I see tears in his eyes too. He pinches the bridge of his nose.

"You didn't fall all over me, you pushed me away and that made me want you more. At first it was just me wanting to prove to myself that I could get you, and then it turned into something..."

"I have a confe..."

"No, let me finish please," he says his eyes looking glassier than before. "I left because that night in my apartment I almost told you that I love you," he says. "I don't say those things. I love you is a term I'd throw around on occasion, but never once did I ever actually mean the words. Anyway, I went back to Seattle because I chickened out," he shrugs. "I ran away because relationships scare me. I've never seen a relationship last as you already know. With you though I think maybe I can, you're amazing you know that right?" he asks.

I sob, because I'm really not. I'm playing him, just like he does to everyone but me. He touches my shoulder and I don't jump I fall into him and cry into his shoulder. I hear a few sniffles from him.

"So I was watching TV the other night and this movie comes on, I was being lazy and didn't want to change the channel. It happened to be the movie you told me about at the cabin, the one with that restaurant you were dying to try out. So I watched the whole damn thing, in my boxers," he laughs. "Can't you just picture me sitting there in my boxers with popcorn and a beer watching some chick flick?" he questions pushing me back slightly to see my face.

I look up at him and laugh, I can't help it. I'm trying to picture it and it's actually quite funny.

"Oh I know why you watched it," I tease him pretending to jerk off.

He laughs, "And right there is another reason you're amazing. You can joke about shit that most girls find offensive," he says.

I smile. He clears his throat and continues, "I booked the next flight out, and when I found out it was the day of the court date I rushed there to make sure you were okay," he says.

I cover my mouth with my hand to control the next sob that comes out.

"Do you feel the same way at all?" he asks.

I look up at him into his eyes, and I'm not sure that I can deny it any longer. I can't deny the strange attraction I have to this man, or the way I feel. I've felt it since the moment he looked into my eyes for permission to touch me, no one has ever done that. He's watching me, waiting for an answer. I nod biting my lip hard still. His hand reaches up stopping just before reaching my face. I nod again. He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and I lean my head into his hand.

"Tell me you feel the same..." he pleads.

I nod and through my tears I whisper, "I do," I say. "I think I've known for a while, but I've been denying it too," I say.

"So you love me? Or you think you love me?" he questions.

I laugh, "I think..."

He pulls me in and playfully ruffles up my hair and I giggle through the tears. I can't believe I'm about to do this. I stand on my toes and reach up kissing his lips hard. My body presses against his. I forgot how good it felt to kiss him, like the whole world disappears and in the moment it's only our lips and our bodies touching.

"I love you galaxy girl," he whispers into my lips.

"I love you too west coast boy," I say back.

"Now that we've established that..." he says his lips still against mine.

"We have a lunch to get to..."

"Are you friend zoning me?" I tease.

"Of course," he says.

I smack his shoulder and he throws his arm over mine.

"So what's good at this place?" he questions as we walk away.

I start babbling about the menu and how I spend hour's online reading it contemplating on what I'd get if I ever went. I'm so excited to be going, and I still can't believe this is real life.