Finally, after a long week since the gala, my birthday weekend had arrived.

I had booked my ticket in advance and packed my bags the night before, making sure I had everything I needed for a spa weekend. After all the mess and stress of the past month, and especially so after what went down at the gala, this spa couldn't have come at a better time. I rarely praised my mother for this, but for once, she had gotten the right idea.

I was absolutely exhausted trying to figure out just what Harry was up to. I still didn't know why he was here, and I still didn't know why he was so cold to me in the beginning. Recently though, it was as if he had been coming back, seeking out my presence, first in the library, then at the party. He sought me out, but then any time I began to playfully flirt or brought up the past, he closed down and shut me out. Left.

It was like getting pulled back and forth in a rubber-band-like tension, and I was sick of feeling the snap on my wrist every time. Sick of my feelings being played, sick of trying to just... breathe around him.

So this break was badly needed, to get away for a weekend and just breathe in some fresh air.

In spite my early packing and planning though, I had still somehow managed to miss the first bus to the station, having had to lug my trunk behind me all the way from campus. I was now standing on the pavement with my luggage, waiting for the second bus to take me to the train station, when my phone suddenly rang.

Fishing it out of my jacket pocket, I saw my mother's name across the screen. Immediately, I pressed answer and lifted it to my ear. "I know, I'm sorry Mom, I'm running a little late, but—"

"Actually, dear," My Mom's happy voice cut me off, and I was immediately taken aback; when she was happy, that meant only one thing... "I'm calling to tell you... oh, I'm so sorry, but I have to cancel our plans this weekend, honey."

"You... what?" I said with a small voice. This wasn't happening. Please, no. I stared at the road in front of me, feeling my chest begin to tighten. "Why?"

"Oh, you'll never guess! Remember that UPS delivery guy I told you about a while back? The one who always smile at me when he brings me my packages? Well, he's just asked me out to a concert! Me! Tonight! Isn't that so nice of him?"

"You're... canceling on my birthday... to go on a date with a guy you barely know?" I woodenly asked, but I didn't even know why I was surprised. I should've been so used to this by now. And still, my throat closed up with pins and needles as tears pressed in the corners of my eyes.

"Honey, it's a concert! I wouldn't dream of canceling if it wasn't because he spent a lot of money on this! It's a three hour drive to the venue, and since it's so late, we're going to spend the night at a hotel. You understand, right? Listen, we can celebrate your birthday next week! Or some other time, you know. But I can't miss this concert, darling. You know, he might be the one."

The one. Of course, just like the million other ones she had dated for a few months, before having a breakdown and scaring them off. Maybe this guy would last more than just a few months, but did that make it any less painful right now?

"Right," I whispered, swallowing down the lump in my throat. I was too tired to even argue this. Didn't even know if I cared to even... care. "I understand..."

"Oh, I knew you would. You always do, Cassy. I love you so much, you know that? My bright, sweet girl."

I ignored the tear running down my cheek and instead took a seat on the curb of the street. "Yeah... Have fun at the concert, Mom. I'll call you later, alright?"

"Alright, dear. Enjoy your birthday! Talk soon! Bye!"

The line went dead and I kept staring at the road in front of me. After a full minute, I finally lowered the phone from my ear and stuffed it back into my pocket.

There it was again. The impossible ache in my chest and the sense of feeling stupid once more. Stupid for still letting this get to me, stupid for expecting more of my emotionally handicapped Mom, stupid for thinking that just this once...

But I guess I never learned.

Not with her... and not with Harry.

Why did I keep letting people fool me into thinking they loved me? Was I that desperate to be loved?

Feeling more tears trickle down my cheeks, I let go of a little sob and brushed them away with the pad of my fingers. And still, they kept coming. I knew people were looking at me from the pavement, watching me sit and cry by the curb, but I just didn't care.

I wanted to be alone more than anything, and yet I had never felt more lonely in my life than right now.

"Cassandra?"

I jolted at the sound of his voice. Blinking up, my mouth shortly fell open when none other than Harry stood a few feet away, carrying a briefcase. What were the fucking odds? He wore a long jacket and a gray scarf, both which fit him beautifully, but it was deep frown on his face that caught my attention the most.

"Harry," I rasped, quickly brushing my tears away. "What... what are you doing in this part of town?"

I heard his polished shoes take a few steps towards me before stopping right beside me. "I had to pick up a few notes I borrowed to a friend who's speaking at the convention next week," He told with an air of indifference, before suddenly crouching down before me. "You've been crying."

"It's no big deal," I tried to play it off cool, forcing a little smile up to my lips. I knew full and well how Harry felt about reacting to emotional blows; He didn't care for it and found it stupid to waste time on. Exactly why I didn't feel the need to tell him.

But of course, instead of leaving me be, Harry surprised me by taking a seat on the curb right next to me. He rummaged through his breast pocket for a moment, before pulling out... a white handkerchief.

Handing it to me, I could help but stare perplexed at the white little cloth. Seriously, who the hell carried handkerchiefs these days? This was a lost culture, and yet of course, who else but Harry would continue to uphold it?

"Thanks," I whispered, taking the handkerchief. I dried my eyes and sniffled a bit, sensing Harry watching me closely.

"What happened?" He finally asked.

"It's nothing, really," I insisted, looking down into my lap. "It's just... this little thing... with my Mom."

Harry didn't say anything. Instead, I felt him stiffen a little, and when I dared a glance his way, I saw how his jaw had clenched up tightly.

He was probably frustrated I had let it get to me again. After last week, seeing the shitshow with his family, he would probably think this was stupid.

"I know, it's stupid," I therefore started, sniffling some more. "But we had plans this weekend and I—well... it's my birthday, and I just—"

"She canceled on you," Harry finished before I could. I nodded mutely; He sounded as surprised as I was. "I'm sorry, Cassandra. You don't deserve that."

I shrugged and looked away again. "I'm used to it. There's no point in crying about it, I suppose."

Harry didn't reply to that. Instead, he sat quietly beside, seemingly grueling over something. Then...

"What are your plans now, then?" He asked.

"I guess I'll head back to my dorm and have an evening in," I muttered, hating the prospects of celebrating my 19th birthday eating ramen noodles alone in bed while my Mom was out partying at some concert with some guy.

"Let me buy you dinner," Harry offered, ever the gentleman. I quickly smiled and shook my head in decline.

"No, it's fine. Really, I'll be fine, I'm just gonna head home," I assured, not wanting him to feel any guilt about leaving me to handle myself. After all, I had done that my whole life. I was used to it.

"Coffee then," He admonished, looking down at my red fingers. "To warm you up. There's a place right around the corner. I don't feel right letting you go before I know you're well again."

"I... alright," I sighed, seeing the determined look on his face, knowing he wouldn't quit. Harry was a gentleman before anything else. The fact that he had found me here on the street had just been rotten luck. Now he couldn't leave without feeling responsible for me, without first assuring he wasn't just leaving me moping on the curb, like he found me. It wouldn't be right. Not to him, anyway.

But apparently it was alright to my Mom.

Helping me up, Harry grabbed my luggage before I could take it myself and started leading us to the coffee shop around the corner. I dried my eyes a final time and pocketed the handkerchief, reminding myself to give it back to him before we parted ways.

Inside the coffee shop, which was a nice little place with intimate booths and small chairs and tables, Harry walked up to the counter with me on tow.

"Two coffees, please," He ordered, to which the barista rung up the price. I was discreetly wiping my nose off in my sleeve while Harry fished out his wallet to pay.

And that's when my eyes fell to it.

Fishing out a bill, Harry paid for the coffee while my eyes stayed glued to his wallet. But more precisely, what laid tucked away inside the clear plastic picture pocket.

A small, square photo of a blackboard was stuffed neatly away amongst his credit cards and driver's license. The sight wouldn't have interested me, if it wasn't for the fact that I had spotted one thing in the photograph I wasn't expecting.

Me.

My mouth fell open in quiet shock, but I amended my face just as quickly as Harry got his change and packed away his wallet. He directed us to a table and we both took a seat.

But I couldn't forget what I had just seen.

That picture.

That day, last summer, when I learned he had solved another millennium prize mathematical mystery... the same riddle his friend had tried to solve, but failed. Refusing to call his friend out on his mistakes and embarrass him by publishing his own solution, Harry had snapped a photo of the blackboard with his answer to keep.

But then I had sillily stepped in and demanded to be in the photo.

Two photos had been taken that day; One photo of just the board, and one photo with me in it as well.

And that photo was the one I had just seen hidden in Harry's wallet. The photo of me.

"Here we are," The barista came over with our coffees, and Harry was kind enough to thank her while I remained mute. Looking at Harry, I watched him pour a bit of milk into his coffee before stirring it with the spoon.

Why had he chosen to take the photo with me in it, instead of the one with just the blackboard?

God, I couldn't start overthinking this. My heart was already pounding enough as it was, suffering the heartbreak my Mom had just delivered. I couldn't start asking questions about silly photos, photos that probably meant nothing.

Perhaps the other photo had been blurry, or maybe it had gotten ruined somehow.

Whatever it was, I knew I couldn't go down that road again. I was done being fooled by stupid gestures and meaningless words.

Clearing my mind and taking a deep breath, I therefore forced myself to think of something else. I grabbed a packet of sugar and added it to my coffee, before stirring as well and taking a sip.

"Thanks for this," I whispered, looking up at Harry.

"It's no problem." He sipped his own coffee and put the cup back in the saucer. "So what reason did your mother give for bailing this time?"

I blew out a breath and laughed, almost sarcastically. "What do you think? Same as last. Some guy she just met is whisking her away."

"I see," Harry calmly said, but I sensed his tone having chilled a bit. "And so... you're spending your birthday alone instead?"

"I guess," I smiled, giving a faint shrug. "But it's not like I haven't before. As I'm sure you probably have as well."

Harry met my eyes, and suddenly those amber irises seemed to deepen. It could've been the lighting from the window we were sitting next to, or it could've been the warmth from the coffee as he slowly sipped his cup again. Whatever it was, he didn't avert his gaze as he finally lowered his cup.

"One should never spend their birthday alone," He then finally said in a low voice.

I stared in surprise. He sounded so sincere, it threw me off for a moment. I didn't think Harry of all people cared about birthdays. At least not in that sense, but apparently I was wrong. I quickly cleared my throat and looked down into my coffee to hide my astonishment. "Well... sometimes we don't get a choice in that, do we."

"We always have a choice, Cassandra," He replied, making me look up again through my lashes.

He suddenly lifted his coffee cup again and gulped down a big sip, before placing the cup in the saucer resolutely. His next words shocked me more than anything had today.

"I'd like to invite you back to my place."

I jerked my eyes up and stared at him in disbelief. What did he just say? "Uh... excuse me?"

"I don't think you should spend your birthday alone," Harry spoke, which immediately made me deflate again. Here he was again, back with the gentleman act. "I'd like you to come back with me and enjoy some home cooked dinner. I can only presume it's been a while since you've had that."

I didn't want to confess that the last time I had eaten a proper home-cooked meal was the night before he sent me away from his estate, kissing me passionately before telling me to go.

"You don't have to be so kind," I whispered, smiling dismissively at his offer. "I'm sure you have other things to do than play host to some girl on her birthday."

"My appointments are done for the day," Harry calmly told. "I was heading home when I saw you. And you're not just some girl, Cassandra. I know you don't give me a lot of credit, but we both know that statement won't ever be true."

So much for not being a fool again.

My heart closed up and tightened in my chest, new tears threatening to spill from my eyes at the sound of his words. Oh, Harry... don't do this to me. Don't play kind to me again. Don't break my heart once more.

Sighing, I amped myself up to decline his offer. I didn't want to get fooled by his usual kindness, but a part of me also didn't want to be alone today... alone with my thoughts. I knew if I went home, I would only end up drinking my sorrows away and crying myself to sleep. But this was a bad alternative as well.

And still...

"Alright. I'll go with you," I finally whispered. I knew I shouldn't, but could you blame a girl for not wanting to be alone on her birthday? Even if he was just being kind.

"I'm parked just down the street," Harry announced, before finishing his coffee with a last sip. "Excuse me for a moment."

He got up and walked in the way of the lavatory, stepping inside the tiny bathroom the cafe offered. In the meanwhile, I leaned back in my seat and took a deep breath, trying to straighten out my emotions.

This meant nothing. He was just being kind, offering me company on my birthday. I had been hurt by expectations of a dinner with him before, and I wasn't going to allow myself to fall for it twice.

Therefore, as I looked up a few minutes later and saw Harry returning, I offered him a friendly smile and got up as he started gathering his things.

This meant nothing.

~~~

The drive to Harry's place was surprisingly short. As it turned out, he lived only about 20 minutes away and the traffic was easy this time of day. Before I knew it, we were pulling up to a small building tucked between two others. A row of houses down a quiet street.

"You live here?" I asked, unclicking my seatbelt the minute Harry parked and turned off the car.

"You sound surprised," He noted.

I shrugged a little, because I suppose I was. After having lived with Harry in his giant estate in the country, it was... odd imagining him living in such a small space.

Harry carried my luggage inside, and the second we opened the door and stepped into the narrow, dark entree, a door at the far end sprung open and a familiar face came rushing down the hall.

"Miss Cassandra!" Giselle, his maid from back home, came running towards me with a happy smile. "It is so well to see you again!"

"Giselle!" I stared in surprise as she pulled me in for a quick hug, squeezing me tightly before letting go. "I, uh... I didn't know you'd be here."

"Why, of course!" She grinned. "Jean is in the kitchen, too. He's most anxious to see you."

"Did he receive my text?" Harry broke in, which made me look up with a confused look. Text?

"Oui," Giselle confirmed, struggling to contain her happiness. "He's working on it as we speak. I'll bring you up some tea while you wait, yes?"

"That'd be lovely, thank you," Harry politely spoke while hanging up his coat and removing his scarf. I quickly followed his lead, taking off my shoes and jacket.

Then, I followed Harry up a narrow winding staircase that lead to the first floor. I was even more surprised when the first floor turned out to be a mix of a bedroom and living room squashed into one. It was dark, with only a few windows and dimmed lights turned on in the corners. There was a large king sized bed with four bedposts and curtains shoved against one wall, a cluttered desk pressed against another, and finally a couch with some chairs and tables off to the last corner. An adjoining door across the room stood closed, probably leading to a bathroom.

"This is... cozy," I said, not hiding my surprised tone. "I thought you said your estate was the smallest of your family heirlooms."

"It is," Harry assured. "This is just a rental."

"Ah," I sighed. "That would explain the lack of mathematical equations on the walls."

Harry's lips twitched, before he gestured to the comfortable armchairs. "Have a seat."

I sat down and watched Harry do the same, and just as we did, Giselle happened to come up the stairs with a little tray.

"Here you go," She sat the tray with tea down on a small coffee table beside Harry's chair. "The cake will be up in just a moment. Jean is putting the finishing touches to it."

"Thank you," Harry offered her a brief smile, while I nearly choked on my own breath.

I waited until Giselle had trotted back downstairs to burst out; "You texted Jean to make me a cake?"

"It seemed only fitting," Harry told without meeting my gaze. Instead, he turned towards the tray an started pouring himself a cup of tea. "Want one?"

"I'm good, thanks," I whispered, still slightly shocked. "You didn't have to do that, you know."

"Neither did you, as I recall," Harry mentioned, shooting a quick look at me. I fell silent when he smiled calmly. "Consider this a favor returned."

Oh. I refused to acknowledge the way my heart beat faster in my chest at the mention of our time together last summer. When I had baked him a cake for solving that riddle... how we had enjoyed it in the kitchen together... how I had enjoyed what happened after even more.

And I daresay Harry did as well.

God, I couldn't take it any longer. This back and forth pull on my heart was driving me crazy. One moment he was being polite and a perfect gentleman, the next moment he was bringing up the past. A past he clearly hadn't forgotten. First the picture in his wallet, now this...

I couldn't take it. I had to ask.

"Why did you invite me back to your place today?" I started out, seeing Harry add a bit of milk to his tea.

"I told you. No one should be alone on their birthday."

He didn't look at me as he said it. It only made me press my lips together. "Is that the only reason why?"

He gave me a brief glance and lifted a brow. "What other reason would there be?"

That you have feelings for me too, you coward.

"I saw the photo in your wallet earlier," I now spoke up, seeing Harry briefly pause with his teacup pressed to his lips. Then, after a short moment, he slowly sipped the hot tea and put the cup down on the tray again.

"What about it?" He asked, calmly. Too calmly.

"It's the one you took of the blackboard... and me," I redundantly told. "Why do you carry it in your wallet?"

"So that I don't lose it," He replied, keeping his gaze transfixed on his carpeted floor. "That equation took me months to solve."

"But there were two photos," I reminded him in a whisper. "Why did you pick the one with me in it?"

Harry didn't meet my gaze for a long moment, but continued to stare at the floor. Then, after what felt like forever, he finally tore his gaze away and slowly looked at me. "Cassandra..."

"Here we are!"

Giselle choose that moment to enter again, coming up the stairs with another small tray. Our eyes both snapped to her form as she rushed forward, carrying what was seemingly a slightly bigger than cupcake-sized cake. There was a white frosting and a single burning candle on top.

Harry and I both arose out of sheer politeness as Giselle presented the cake with a proud look. Jean no doubt worked faster than lighting, whipping up a batter and baking the little cake so it would be ready for when I got here. But from the sight of the frosting slightly dripping down the sides, he didn't have proper time to let it cool before serving it.

"Thank you, Giselle," Harry politely took the cupcake off the tray. "Thank Jean, too, for his diligent work."

"It was no trouble, truly," Giselle beamed, before turning towards me. "Happy birthday, Miss."

"Thank you so much," I smiled gratefully before she bowed out gracefully and disappeared down the stairs again.

Leaving Harry and me alone again, now with a lit cupcake and a tense silence between us.

"Make a wish," Harry finally offered, after a silent moment. He held the cupcake up and gave a small smile.

I didn't return it. Instead, I looked down at the cupcake, watching the candle slowly melt.

I couldn't remember the last time anyone had done something like this for me. Small as it was, it was a significant gesture that meant a lot to me.

Something I was sure Harry couldn't be amiss of.

Taking a small, shaky breath, I blew the candle out while holding Harry's gaze. He didn't look away either, staring back at me as the smoke flew between us.

"You should eat it quickly," He suggested, still not taking his eyes off me. The amber in them seemed darker, more potent. "Before the icing melts."

I loved the cake. But damn it, right now, it could go fuck itself.

And so pushing the cake out of his damn hand, I wrapped my arm around his neck and pressed my lips to his.

• • •

Poor cake.