He didn't show up online last week and I tried not to be disappointed since he'd warned me that he would be traveling most of the month, but he was supposed to be back by now. I've been sitting here nearly two hours and nothing. I needed him to be back and to get online tonight, I needed to talk to him.  We'd come to a point in this friendships where I relied on him for certain things, for certain conversations, and tonight I needed that. I needed him to listen to me ramble, needed him to pose the questions I wasn't clear headed enough to think of on my own. As though the universe heard me, his screen name suddenly appeared.

SixStringGuy: Hello Sydney! Did you miss me? ;)

Grumpybluebear: Of course I did.  Just like I know you missed me :)

SixStringGuy: you know I did. Sorry About last week. The time difference got me and I completely missed you.

Grumpybluebear: that's ok, where we you at anyways?

SixStringGuy: we were over in Asia. Sort of a working vacation.

Grumpybluebear: oh I see. So basically you were checking out Asian strip clubs, is that it ?

SixStringGuy: oh you know me too well sugar :)

My mind drifted back to our last conversation and everything that was said in that short time we chatted. The tone of that exchange had stayed with me since then, the entire thing leaving a bad taste in my mouth the more I allowed myself to think about it. His words on the screen that night read as though laced with pain and if there had been any possible way to do it, I would have gladly crawled through that screen and wrapped him in a tight embrace until that pain evaporated like a bad dream.

Grumpybluebear: I was worried about you after we talked last Jamie. You didn't sound like yourself at all that night.

SixStringGuy: Oh you don't have to worry about me sugar.  I'm just fine, I promise.

Grumpybluebear: What about you and Mary? How's that going?

SixStringGuy: things are fine. Everything is well on my end of life.

Sighing at his vaguely dismissive answers which were actually making miss his usual "it's complicated" mantra.

Grumpybluebear: what about the wedding?

SixStringGuy: I don't want to talk about all this tonight Sydney, please.

Cocking an eyebrow at his nearly empty words I completely understood, but that didn't mean I was any less worried about that whole situation.

Grumpybluebear: Ok, but remember if you change your mind I'm more than willing to listen anytime.

SixStringGuy: Thanks :) Anyways, what's been up in your life sugar?

Grumpybluebear: well, since you asked, I got my jacket back.

SixStringGuy: Oh did you now? Hand delivered  I suppose? With a request that you put it on after you take everything else off first. You know, so he could see just how it looks on you without being distracted by all those other clothes. ;)

I smiled looking over at the purple box that still sat in the corner of my room.

Grumpybluebear: Yeah no, not even close. :/   A few days after our last conversation a purple box was delivered to my door. My jacket was inside.

The smile on my face was ridiculous looking but I simply couldn't make it go away. My thoughts slipped back to all the questions Alley had asked after the delivery man left. I had taken that opportunity to finally tell her I'd met Prince on my vacation, of course I'd left out details of our meeting, but none the less she was impressed and shocked he had gone to the effort to return my jacket.

SixStringGuy: See, I told you it was completely possible he might have thought about you after you left.

Grumpybluebear: I guess you were right. I talked to Meg, she said he called and asked for my address, said he felt it was only right he return my jacket.

SixStringGuy: Seems like an alright guy.

Grumpybluebear: it would appear so, lol. Oh but I didn't tell you the best part yet.

SixStringGuy: You know you sound like an overexcited kid visiting a candy store for the first time. It's sweet, you and your little crush on Prince ;)

Grumpybluebear: Oh shut up.

SixStringGuy: Sorry, but it is cute.  So what's the best part sugar?

Looking down at the piece of paper in my hand I gave a second thought to telling Jamie. My fingers ghosted over the dark lines on the page. This for me was the most interesting part of the whole package. Sure getting my jacket back was great, but there hadn't been any need for him to include a note, yet he still did. A hand written note in smooth cursive on what looked to be his own stationary. This piece of paper was the thing that caught my attention the most.

Grumpybluebear: He included a note. It just comes across as a very sweet gesture that's all.

SixStringGuy: are you blushing Sydney?

The uncontrollable warmth was spreading up my neck and quickly across my cheeks. I wondered how he could sense that in my written words alone.

Grumpybluebear: no, it's just, I didn't expect this.

Letting my eyes study the simple lines on the page.

Sydney,
It was lovely getting 2 spend time with U. Eye was sad to find U gone after the show, but Eye think Eye understand Y U left. U'r a beautiful woman and thank U 4 letting me share that moment with U. Sorry it's taken me so long 2 get U'r jacket back 2 U, things have been crazy here. Eye hope U have good memories of U'r trip and Eye hope our paths cross again soon.

P.S.
Eye am keeping the item U left in my pocket.

Every Time I read that last line a chill shot through me as I remembered catching glimpses of my panties in his pocket as he performed that night. It was nothing more than a flash of colored fabric in his pocket that anyone else would have dismissed, but I knew exactly what it was and the chill those memories caused went straight to my core.

SixStringGuy: so he sent a sweet note you say? Anything interesting in it?

Grumpybluebear: just that he enjoyed meeting me and he hopes I enjoyed my trip. That's pretty much it.

SixStringGuy: that's it? He didn't even mention what happened?

Grumpybluebear: no, no. Nothing like that. It's just sweet like I said. Anyways.

SixStringGuy: sure, nothing else, I believe you.

Grumpybluebear: you're being a creeper again Jamie.

SixStringGuy: I know. But seriously I have a question for you.

Grumpybluebear: ok, shoot.

SixStringGuy: do you feel at all like he invaded your privacy or, I don't know, stepped out of his lane.

Shaking my head at the computer screen as I reread his words, trying to make sense of where he was going.

Grumpybluebear: sorry I don't follow. What do you mean?

SixStringGuy: well he could have just given the jacket to your friend and been done with it. Instead he sought out your personal contact information. Does that make you feel weird or upset with him.

Grumpybluebear: no. I mean I can see where you're coming from, but I don't see anything malicious in his actions so it doesn't bother me. Why?

SixStringGuy: I was just wondering. And remember we were talking about him showing up at your door? Well now he knows where you live so it could really happen. Remember that next time you answer the door in your underwear sugar ;)

Grumpybluebear: hilarious Jamie. Besides I highly doubt he'd jump from returning my jacket to showing up here.

A lump formed in my throat as I finished writing. Somehow I'd been so caught up in receiving the package that I completely overlooked the fact that Prince knew my address.

SixStringGuy: I'm sure you're right ;)

The rest of our conversation drifted into the mundane topics of daily life, but my mind was stuck. Stuck between the flowing words on the page in my hand and and the image Jamie had left me with of finding Prince at my door one day. The line he'd written hoping our paths cross again soon now standing out and causing a slight alarm to resonate within me.