"I nearly called the cops you know" Tae says laughing once we sit down "Some random girl was following me around, but then I realized it was you." We had walked here together in a heavy silence. How can he laugh right now.

The diner is dimly lit making our features less sharp, less intimidating. I am reminded of our last night together, lying in bed side by side with only the vague outline of each other to look at. He looks at me expectantly, but I don't say anything. I know he wants me to tell him why I'm here. There are so many answers I could give him besides the truth.

"I'm here for work I'm not stalking you" I state bluntly "Ever since I got here you have been making my life much harder without even realizing it."

"How so?" he looks confused "Never mind that, you got a job? In the city? Thats fantastic Martina! Where do you work?"

How can I be mad at him when all he cares about is my success, my happiness.I hesitate to tell him where I work. I know the kind of position that would put him in. Lying wont get us anywhere. I'm done doing it.

"I-" I trail off "I work at The Village Voice"

"Oh" He looks down.

"I know, I'm sorry Tae. I swear to you I had no idea that she-" I pause "That she works there."

"No. No I'm happy for you. I really am." He is looking down and nervously fiddling with something in his lap. "It must have been a shock. You know, when you saw us."

Now it's my turn to fiddle with my hands. "Yeah." Is all I could come up with "But I don't blame you!" I interject when he is about to apologize again. " I mean, I wish I had known, but I wasn't honest either. We weren't honest with each other."

"What if we started over" He says. Looking at me with those eyes, wide, and deep, and dark brown. Eyes I can't refuse.

"Tae, I want to do that more than anything, but your with someone now. It would be inappropriate for us to keep in contact. Not including the fact that I work with her and-"

"We aren't actually in love Martina" He cuts me off. I cock my head at him and he continues "It's my mom, you know it's always been her. She finally had enough of me pretending I wasn't in" He catches himself and starts over "She brought my brother into it, she said that if I didn't marry the girl of my parents choosing that I wouldn't be able to see them anymore. I couldn't care less about my parents, but my brother, I just can't stand the thought of him growing up thinking I had abandoned him. The next day she brought Veronica over."

"Oh Tae, I'm so sorry." I reach for him across the table "How could they do this to you" Before I can reach him a waitress comes over and asks for our orders.

Over the course of us each drinking two cups of hot cocoa I learn about the past few months of Tae's life. Veronica is essentially in the same boat as he is. Her parents issued her an ultimatum, but little do they know Tae is the opposite of Veronicas type. I seem to be more of what she is looking for. For the past few months they have been duping everyone that they are madly in love. He said that it had become somewhat easy to pretend because me and her have so much in common. This made my heart drop. By the time we are both sent into chocolate comas I have been all caught up and some more. It's scary how easy it is for us to fall back into our regular conversation.

I yawn "Tae, I have to work in the morning."

He checks his watch. It catches my eye, a small silver face with a thin leather strap "Come, I'll walk you home." He puts a twenty down on the table and helps me with my coat.

"I like your watch" I say as we walk out the door. He looks at it again.

"This thing? I found it at a thrift store."

"Still, I think its pretty"

"Follow me for a second" He says walking into the dark park across from the diner.

I hesitate, but I follow him. "Are you going to kill me now?" I ask when he stops a little bit in.

"Yes." He says and pretends to lunge at me "No. Look at this" He points to the bust of a Lion Decorating the parks entrance.

"It's a lion" I say confused. He walks up to it and sticks his hand in its open mouth.

"What are you doing?" I giggle.

"I want us to keep writing each other letterns Martina, we can hide them in here. That way my mom can't tack us down."

"Tae, I don't know. It's risky, and I'm going to be super busy with work." But the more I think about it the more attractive the idea becomes. He looks at me with those eyes and he knows I can't say no. "Okay fine!"

"Good" He smirks. He walks up to me while taking off his watch "Give me your arm." He gently takes my wrist and secures his watch. "Twice a week" he points the the six on the watch "After work, there will be a letter for you in here. Promise you'll leave me some back."

"Yes, of course" I say my voice breaking I really should be getting home now. Goodnight Tae." Before I can go he pulls me in to a hug.

"Let me walk you home" I can feel the hum of his voice through his chest and the movement of his moth over my head. I give him a slight squeeze back.

"It's too risky for you, Goodnight Tae." I rip myself from him and walk as fast as I can from the park. Tears prick my eyes as I walk, but I keep going.

~

As I enter my neighborhood I see a familiar face locking the door to the pizza store.

"Look who it is." he says as I walk by.

"Hi" I hesitate.

"Jack" he fills me in.

"I knew that"

He laughs "It's okay. I hope you'll come by again soon, so I can show you different pizzas."

"Are you allowed to hangout with people while your on the clock?" I question him.

"Well yes, considering I'm the owner"