I lift my head from the table where I fell asleep researching for the project. I rub the back of my neck to soothe the ache. Checking the time, I see it's two in the morning. I wonder if Wyatt and his girlfriend returned back, I never heard them walk back in. Stepping out of my room to get some water, I hear some noises of giggling.

"Oh my god! Wyatt. Stop with the teasing," I hear Vanessa's voice from Wyatt's room. I quickly get back to my room not wanting to hear the rest of their action.

My mind wanders back to what Asher said. I pick up my phone texting a 'Sorry'. I place my phone back on the desk, going to change and brush my hair. But before I could turn back, my phone chimes flashing Asher's text, 'I told you it's okay.'

Not a minute later, my phone starts the ringing. I pick up the call quickly.

"Hello," I say.

"Hey," Asher replies from the other side. He sounds heavy and breathy. "Don't stress too much. You don't need to say so much sorry."

"Yeah," I walk over to the edge of my bed, sitting down.

"So what are you doing waking up late at this hour?" He asks.

"I was researching for the project. I found some great ideas. I was thinking of sending them to the furniture department but I thought I should first consult with you."

"Why don't we both meet for breakfast? We can discuss your ideas, maybe plan a layout and we could also go around the city looking at what we can find. I hope you don't mind," He suggests. I could feel a little excitement in his voice.

"Yeah, why not. It would be fun," I reply.

"I will pick you up at ten. Will that be okay?"

"That would be great."

"Good night, Ariella!"

"Good night, Asher!" I say before ending the call. I feel myself getting eager for tomorrow.

As I brush my hairs infront of the mirror, I can notice a stupid grin plastered on my face all throughout. And no need to mention, I slept with that smile still etched to my face. The reason for which is still unknown to me.

I don't hit the snooze button when my phone's alarm blares in the morning. Instead, I get up quickly to get ready for my day.

"Ugh! I can't find anything," I slump down on my bed. I check the time and see it's nine already. I decide to call my life saviours for such times.

"Hey Jess!" I greet my friend on the video call.

"Why are you in a towel?" She raises an eyebrow at me.

"I will answer but let me just add Chloe to the call," I say, adding Chloe to the conference video call.

"Hey sis! It is definitely not when you promised to call me back," She says to me.

"Hey Jessica!"

"Hello Chloe!" And then they both start talking among themselves forgetting that I called them in the first place.

"Guys! Focus on me," I say, catching their attention.

"Yeah! Why are you in a towel?" Jessica repeats her question again.

"I am also very eager to know that," Chloe asks.

"I have to go out for breakfast and I don't know what to wear. I really need your help."

"Is it a date? Are you going out with your hot flatmate?" Jessica eyes twinkle as she says that while my sister just shakes her head. It has been a long time since I have seen these both women.

Jessica has always been extra - extra chirpy, extra quirky, extra fun and extra beautiful. Her dark skin tone is always glowing. Her smile was always wide and those curls adorning her face, she looked perfect. Now that I noticed, she has changed her hairstyle.

"Earth to Ari!" Chloe yells. My sister is well my sister. Her cocoa coloured brown locks and the beauty mark over her lips, always made the guys swoon over her. She is beautiful in every way humanly possible, be it looks, attitude or her sweet nature.

"What are you thinking?" She asks me.

"I was thinking that it has been so long that I have seen you guys. Jess you have cut your hair short and straightened it. I liked your curls. And motherhood is definitely showing on your face Chloe," I can notice the dark bags under her eyes. Yet she still looks beautiful as ever. "I miss you both."

"Awww. I miss you too little sister. And I am a very proud mother," Chloe says smiling.

"I miss you three, Ari. I did this style for my new music video. It is in the editing phase," Jessica tells me. She is a lead singer in a band. It is not as popular as Maroon V but it isn't under a rock too. They do the recordings and video shooting.

"Let's not get sappy. Tell us why you are picking up an outfit. Is it a date?" Jess wiggles her eyebrows.

"No it's not a date and no it's not my flatmate. I am going for a breakfast meeting with my co-worker Asher. We are going to discuss some things for work and roam around the city looking at various shops and markets," I tell them.

"So why are you so agitated on what to wear?" Chloe gives a smirk and they both do a virtual high five.

"I... " I am lost for words because I don't know that myself. "I just want to look good. What is wrong with that!" I huff, crossing my arms.

"Stop lying. Look at that smile on your face. Chloe! She is blushing."

"I am not!" I defend myself.

"You are definitely blushing, little sister," Chloe leans back on her sofa as she yawns.

I mentally calculated the time in my mind, realising it is around two back in Australia. I mentally slap myself for being so stupid.

"Chloe! I forgot about the time. You should sleep. I am sure with the baby, you rarely get to sleep. I am sure Jess would help me with the outfit," I tell her.

"It is fine. I can help with the outfit. I am okay," She acts all big sister now.

"Shut up! Go to sleep. Who knows Ian might be waiting for you in the bed and cursing me for holding you up," I chuckle lightly while she blush.

"Shut up Ari. I am definitely not in a mood to discuss my sex life with you right now. Although you know much already," She says, referring to all the times we have gossiped together.

"Just go, Chloe. I will help her. You go and sleep," Jess assures her.

"Good night guys," She cuts the call.

"So is he hot? More than your flatmate?" Jess asks me as soon as Chloe disconnected the call.

"Shut up! It's already nine- thirty. I will tell you the details later."

"Fine!" She says grumpily.

I proceed to show all of my decent clothes. Finally we settle on a cozy ivory knit sweater and a high waisted suede leather black mini skirt ending just above my knees.

"Boots or white sneakers. Anything is fine," Jess says.

"I will wear sneakers. We have to do a lot of walking," I tell her.

"That is probably a good idea."

I see that I have twenty minutes left to get changed and do my hair and makeup. I quickly change into the outfit and blow dry my hair. All this while we catch up on each other.

"He sounds such a nice guy," She says when I tell him about Asher.

"He secretly clicked a photo of me," I tell her, remembering the photograph that I saw on his phone.

"He definitely has a crush on you. And this feels more like a date to me rather than a work meeting. You guys would be so cute together," She gushes over.

"Last time, you were team Wyatt. Now, you are gushing over Asher," I roll my eyes.

"You are no one to speak that. You can't choose a side yourself."

"Well, Wyatt is definitely not out of options. He has a girlfriend," I say putting blush on my cheeks.

"You liar! You told me that he doesn't have one," She says over dramatically like I have just betrayed her.

"Jess! I will talk to you later. Asher is calling me," I say picking my phone.

"Ditching your best friend for a guy now. I will let it pass this time. Have fun, girl. Bye," She winks.

"Bye!" I chuckle. I pick up Asher's call greeting him with a hello.

"I hope you are ready. It will just take me ten minutes to reach there," He says.

"Yeah. I am ready. I will meet you outside," I tell him.

"Great!"

I quickly apply lipstick and run a brush through my hairs. I decide to let them down, putting a scrunchie in my bag just in case. I put my iPad and my folder in my bag along with the other essentials. Taking a final look in the mirror, I head my way out.

"Good Morning, Wyatt!" I say on my way out while he is making breakfast.

"Don't forget your keys!" He shouts back making me stop in my tracks as I take a U-turn to grab my keys off the coffee table.

"Thank you," I say, continuing hopping on the stairs.

A few minutes later, Asher pulls in front of me. I quickly get in the front seat locking the door.

"Good Morning!" He says beaming.

"Good Morning to you too," I reply to him. "Looks like your brother is offering you his car quite too often now."

"Yes, he is. I asked him for it. I am going to get my own car soon. A graduation present from him and my parents. Besides, he doesn't need his car today anyway. He and Lilian are at her apartment spending their day off together."

"Has he proposed to her yet?" I ask, remembering about the conversation we had before.

"Oh no! He looks like he will faint, everytime he thinks about proposing to her. He is an idiot," He laughs.

"I guess everyone is when they are in love. It just suppresses all our rational thinking abilities," I reply.

"Have you been in love?" Asher asks. I start to feel nervous under his scrutinizing gaze. He turns his attention back to the road and I take a deep breath.

"Well, I had a boyfriend when I was in highschool. Our relationship was two years and four months long. He was a great guy, the sweetest you will ever meet. I would talk about anything and everything with him."

"Then why break up?" He questions.

"He had to go to London and I had to be here in Los Angeles. We couldn't have possibly made it work out, you know," I fumble with my fingers.

"You loved him?"

"I mean, he was always there. Supporting me for everything. He never questioned my lack of ability to give him enough time. We weren't the typical couple. Sure, we had dates sometimes but we didn't goof around like others. I really liked him. But love," I pause looking at the hands in my lap. "I guess it wasn't that strong enough. I have seen my sister and her husband. I have seen my father and Julia. I always felt that there was something between them which was missing between me and Eric. "

Lifting my head, I turn to look at him. "You know the feeling where you know that something is just not right but you can't seem to pinpoint it," I say.

"Maybe," He says, pulling up in front of a cafe.

Strong scent of coffee and fresh baked goods hit the back of my nose as soon as we enter through the door. We settle in a little booth by the window and place our order.

"So, you never dated anyone in college?" He asks, putting his arms up on the table.

"Nope. First I was moving on from him and then I started focusing on studying. Also, single life was treating me well. You know, I can stay in bed all day on Sundays eating delicious take-outs rather than having to go through the trouble of dressing up to eat in a fancy restaurant which doesn't taste half as good," I say chuckling.

"Well, that is true!" He says.

"Enough inquiring about my love-life. Tell me about you," I ask him, propping my elbows on the table. He lets out a small laugh.

"I don't have anything interesting to tell you anymore. You know the interesting bits already. I never got into serious relationships. 'Love' never knocked my door. It was more about my popularity or being friends with Wyatt."

"So you were the popular boy group of your high-school on whom all the girls fan over?" I question.

"Kind of. Wyatt was the most popular among us all. And the only one in a serious relationship which," he lets out a breath of air. "Nevermind about that," He says, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"There was this one girl in college on whom I had this big crush but to my dismay somebody else asked her out before I could muster my courage," His shoulders shake lightly as he lets out a laugh.

"You were late in telling her about how you felt. If you would have done that, there is no way she could have rejected you," I say, eyeing all the food the waiter is placing before us.

"Thank you," I say in a soft voice to the waiter.

"You think that?" He asks, leaning on the table.

"What?" I say.

"That she wouldn't have rejected me. Why do you say so? Does that mean, if I were ever supposed to ask you out then you wouldn't reject me?" He looks at me waiting for an answer.

I take a sip of my coffee. The hot liquid hits the back of my throat, calming my now jittery nerves.

"I mean, what is there to reject? And am I not currently sitting in a cafe having breakfast with you that I could have easily refused to, if I wanted," I state boldly, taking a bite of my chocolate pancakes.

"That is very true," His lips turn into a small smile.

I have a feeling that this day will turn out to be quite interesting!

Author's Note: Hello to everyone who is reading my book. Thank you to all of you. Tell me how are you liking the story so far. What are your thoughts on this chapter?

Also dedicated to ilickcupcakes for her help and advices. Thank you so much.

That picture has nothing to do with the chapter. It's just something that I made. The background photo, the line and the text. I just wanted to share it here. Any thoughts on that?