17 Even When We're Apart, There's Still A Connection

It was morning, Gage was waiting at Courtney by Patty cafe, he was texting her asking her where she was. Crisan was appeared carrying her school bag like a briefcase, she was walking to school wearing a black turtleneck short sleeve top and a black and white plaid skirt, she was about to walk pass Patty cafe then she turned her head to the cafe and there she saw Gage standing in a distance alone but he didn't see her because he was busy in his phone. She stopped, her heart got heavy by the sight of him it was just seconds of her staring at him but it felt like hours, she doesn't expect him to at least say 'hi' her, Crisan then shook her head and was about to walk away then stumbled on a cracked ground that she forgot was there so she dropped her bag and was on her knees. Gage heard the sound of her bag fell on the floor so he stopped going through his phone and looked around to see what it was then saw Crisan's way but he doesn't know it was her, she wasn't hurt but she felt flustered so she peaked through her side where Gage was standing and he did saw her but just stood there but she didn't like to be seen like this so she stood up but her head was down, took her bag and just continuing walking away to school as she patted a few dirt from her knees and clothes. Gage watch from the distance as Crisan she strolls away and didn't manage to see if it was Crisan so he walked few steps and was about to follow her, "Yo! Gage", someone called out to him so he turned and it Courtney looking asts him in a strange way, "where are you going?".

"Nothing...I thought I saw...something", he stammered, Courtney still looked at him in a weird way, "nevermind, let's go", then Gage walked the other side then Courtney followed him.

Crisan just arrived to school with high energy, maybe it was the result from seeing Gage and Tori as usual was there to wait her by going through her phone, "Tori!", Crisan jumped in front of her.

"Crizzy!" Tori shrieked in fright almost dropping her phone

"Sorry", Crisan cringed then they linked arms and went inside the school building.

"What's up with you, you look cheerful?", Tori questioned.

"I don't know, I think I woke up on the right side of the bed",

"Guess what's happening!!", Tori tuned then she shrieked, "we will be having our skii trip in Brunz Town, you know, for the annual retreat by October".

"What!? no way!", Crisan astounded at the news.

"I know, it's excting!", Tori grinned at Crisan, "since you know, we couldn't go last year because of the snow storm".

"I almost forgot that we have those trips", Crisan said, "of course, we'll be having that religious lectures".

"Well, yeah but we'll be having fun in the snow", Tori cheered.

"Yep!", Crisan agreed. Later, they were in their English class and the students were taking notes but the their teacher, was not there so the students were talking to one another and enjoying the time that there was no class. Crisan, Martha and another girl were sitting in the same row together with the three other girls behind them then a girl named Tiffany approached them.

"Hi! girls", she greeted, Crisan, Martha and four other girls was greeted her back, "I will be having a girls-only party for my sixteenth birthday this Friday night, you girls coming?", all the girls especially Crisan and Tori seemed eager to go.

"I'll be there", Martha said to Tiffany.

"Tori and I might come late since we have to work at Red's", Crisan said to Tiffany.

"That's okay", Tiffany assured her then she face all her classmates, "every tenth grade girls are invited!".

"So where's the party gonna be?", Crisan asked.

"By the Harold's Hotel", Tiffany answered.

"Right! my brother had his birthday party there too", Martha confirmed to them.

"Well, since the weather is getting cold, I'm just having an intimate party", Tiffany explained then suddenly, their teacher, Ms. Matlin, arrived in a huff, her eyes tired and her hair was messy, the girls went immidiately to their seats and was smirking and snickering quietly as they know that she was just awakened from her long naps.

"Sorry, I'm late", Ms. Matlin apologized as she placed her things at the teacher's desk and quickly fixed herself, "we have forty-five minutes left so please settle down and start opening your textbook to page thirty". Later, the class was over and Crisan, Martha and Tiffany and her friend were walking out of the room together and Tori was just outside wait for Crisan and noticed she was giggling with them.

"Hey! what's up with you guys?", Tori asked looking curious.

"Ms. Matlin was almost fifteen minutes late to come to class", Crisan answered her.

"No way", Tori said in disbelief and started to laugh.

"Someone forgot to drink their coffee", Tiffany joked.

"She's lucky she came before class could get cancelled", Martha chuckled.

"It's obvious that she overslept her breaks", Crisan jested then giggled.

"To be honest, I was hoping that she won't be teaching", Tiffany said to them.

"Me too", Crisan answered, scholars were listening at their conversation and looked irritated at them.

"Agree", Martha replied then they all just giggled, "by the way, does anyone has a perfume, I am feeling musty?".

"I do", Crisan said to her then she started to dug through her bag.

"By the way, I told them that I'll be having my sweet sixteen in a yacht by the Harold's Hotel and you're invited this Friday night", Tiffany said to Tori.

"I'll be there", Tori said while still finding her perfume to lend to Martha then she found her Gucci perfume, "here it is".

"Thank you!" Martha said then applied it to herself then gave it back to Tori, "I have to go, I have volleyball practice, I just want to smell good when we're done".

"I have to go too, I still have a sweet sixteen party to take care of", Tiffany said to them then she left them along with Martha who walked the other way, "bye, girls!". Tori and Crisan were left alone then they walked around halls.

"Of course you're going, right?", Tori asked Crisan.

"Yes", Crisan confirmed.

"I want to go shopping for a new bikini tomorrow after school, wanna come with me?", Tori invited her.

"Sure, I want to a buy new clutch anyway", Crisan answered.

In Augustus High School, Gage in his French class alone and it was just another discussion in a French accent, he wasn't paying attention much instead he was gazing the pretty girl with dark-skin, black eyed and curly hair wearing blue and white stripes top and a jean skirt with cute boots who was sitting at the front corner while he was at the third row on the middle then his attention was back at the teacher then her back was turned to write something at the board, the girl then turned to look at him and Gage noticed it so he looked back at her again then gave each other a warm smile then their eyes were back at the board. the class ended and Gage was alone again and was getting books in his locker and saw the girl again, she was talking with a friend, he seemed to like her a lot and just admired her from afar then the girl and her friend just finished their conversation so then Gage quickly closed his locker and carried his bag then walked up to her, "Hey! Jessa", Gage greeted her.

"Gage, hi!", she greeted back, and also seem to like him too.

"Are you free this Saturday?", Gage asked and he's starting to stutter a little, "I know there's this new vegan place in town, Vegarena, if you wanna try it out with me?".

"Yeah, sure", Jessa accepted his invite.

"Great! I'll pick you up in your place at seven?", he quipped.

"No problem", she assured her.

"Okay, I'll see you then", Gage said then they walk their seperate ways by waving each other farewell, he walked away then Dave appeared then they walked together in the halls.

"Nice, you just asked Jessa out", Dave praised him.

"Yeah", Gage chuckled as he looked down at his shoes, "'it's just a movie date".

"It's still good", Dave told him, "I mean I wish I have at least half the balls to asked out a girl".

"What girl?", Courtney popped out to them.

"Nothing, Gage just asked Jessa out", Dave said to Courtney who seemed to look like someone throw a bucket of cold water at her.

"Really?!", she uttered as she plastered a fake smile at them, "where are you guys going?".

"Just this new vegan restaurant", Gage answered her, Courtney was squeezing her phone as if she was about to break it.

"Great", Courtney muttered still giving that fake grin, "I didn't know you like Jessa".

"Yeah, I just didn't bother before since she was dating Saunder", Gage explained.

"If you ask me, it wouldn't matter now that he moved and they broke up", Dave said, "and it looks like she's over it".

"Good for her", Courtney replied sounding hostile.

"Plus, she's hot so good choice there", Dave added then put his arm around Gage who seem to kinda agree that she was pretty, Courtney looked bitter, "I mean wouldn't have a chance on her".

"Shocker", Courtney mocked, Dave seem to affect on that, "hope it goes wrong".

"What?", Gage quipped to her.

"Nothing, I hope it goes well", Courtney lied as she faced back to him, but Gage and Dave looked at each other as they heard the opposite of what she just said but just brushed it off.

School ends, Crisan and Tori was still at school, Crisan was getting a book from her locker then Ms. Murray then walked to them, "hey! girls", she greeted them.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Murray", the two girls said at the same time.

"So how's the artwork going?", she asked.

"I'm done with mine, it's a photoshoot with my visual direction", Tori answered.

"That's great, you can take the slots by the wall", Ms. Murray advised her, "make sure to present it well, what about you, Crisanta?".

"I'm still working on a painting", Crisan replied to her.

"Just one?", Ms. Murray quipped.

"Yeah", Crisan answered.

"You need to do at least one more", Ms. Murray said to her, Crisan was surprise by this.

"One more?", Crisan asked, "I didn't know that".

"Yes", Ms. Murray answered she then Crisan looked unsure about it, "don't worry you still have time".

"Thanks! Ms. Murray", Crisan said to her.

"No problem. Well then, I have to go, I'll see you girls around", Ms. Murray said to them then walked away, Crisan and Tori looked at each other.

"One more, I barely thought of one", Crisan whined.

"Relax, you know inspiration gets to you at the most unexpected and great timing like all things ever did", Tori reminded her.

"You're right, it comes to me once then it will come to again", Crisan said.

"It comes to you all the time", Tori pointed out then she took out the book she was reading then Tori took it out from her hand, "so when will I get to read this?".

"Soon, like pretty soon", Crisan said to her then got the book from Tori's hand then fixed her this and put the book back in her bag. They walked out together of the school building,.

"By the way, have you watched Youth With You, Lisa was a tough mentor", Tori asked.

"Yeah but what do I know, I guess that's how it is", Crisan answered, "and she's so pretty and cute".

"You two are almost alike, the hair, clothes... and the ", Tori told her, Crisan looked at her strangely.

"I'm a fan", Crisan jokingly reminded and gave out a peace sign.

"Right..", Tori said to her.

"Pop group singers are not simple beings", Crisan sighed, "but I'm not gonna lie that it might be fun to be a Kpop singer for just a day, what do you think?".

"I guess", Tori thought. "what? just you and me? I know there should be more than that?".

"Let's see, Sasha is a fan and so does Tiffany", Crisan remembered, "I bet she'll play the album in her yacht party".

"She does have their wallpaper in her laptop", Tori noticed, "okay, what's our group gonna be called? Saint Becca".

"Our fans might be called the Beckies?", Crisan joked then they giggled.

"Okay, no", Tori laughed as she disagree with the idea, "need more brainstorming there".

"Agree", Crisan said.

"And Sasha and Tiffany are in a band", Tori added.

"Cover bands to be exact", Crisan corrected, "but still good, I listen to it time to time".

"I think Tiffany might perform in her sweet sixteenth", Tori said.

"It is her birthday after all", Crisan responded. They finally got to Red's and Munro was there doing his homework, not a lot of customers to serve though, Crisan was serving a customer and Tori was making coffee behind the counter. Regine just got out from the kitchen and then Crisan was placing an order by the kitchen with window, "here you go, Oleg, a beef and chedder sliders and a granny's classic meatloaf".

"Alright, Crisan", Oleg replied to her.

"So your mom told me that you already started with your piece for the art exhibit", Regine said to Crisan.

"Yep, finally found something to work on", Crisan said.

"That's great, I can't wait to see it", Regine replied.

"By the way, me and Crisan were invited to go to this party at Friday, is it okay if we leave an hour early?", Tori asked Regine.

"Sure", Regine accepted, "beside, it's not even swarming with customer by then so it's fine".

"Thanks! Regine", Crisan said to her.

"Yeah, we owe you one", Tori added.

"Where are you guys going?", Munro appeared as he stood in front of the dessert display.

"Just a friend's sweet sixteenth party, St. Rebecca girls only", Tori answered.

"Ah! okay", Munro followed then looked at Crisan, "your legs not sore anymore?".

"Just a little but at least I can work", Crisan answered, "thanks again for the piggyback ride".

"Anytime", Munro said to her with a smile then they fist bumped each other.

"Don't worry, if your legs get sore then I'll give you a piggyback ride", Crisan said then she realized that went wrong than she imagine in her head and everyone was looking at her all confuse, "you know what I mean", and they all nodded as they got her point. Later, Thelma was there with Marcus who was sitting and waiting, Thelma was standing in front of the dessert display and was deciding what she wants, Regine was behind the display, going through a checklist. Suddenly, the music in the diner was over so then a Little Richard song was on 'Tutti Fruitti', Thelma started smiling lightly as she listens to it then tears started to rolled down her cheek so she wiped her eyes then she sniffles, Regine turned and saw her tearing up a little and she understood why.

"You miss him", Regine pointed to Thelma as she was still wiping tears of her face.

"Oh! yes", Thelma sighed as she stops tearing up but still sniffling a little.

"I'm sure he does too", Regine said to her.

"I know, it's just that everytime I hear Little Richard song, I remember him", Thelma said then she smiled and completely stopped feeling sad.

"Listen, just pick any of the desert you and your son like, it's on the house", Regine offered.

"No.. no.. you don't have to do that", Thelma said to her.

"I insist", Regine told her, "beside, it's almost closing time and it's a waste to just store them at the back".

"Alright", Thelma accepted the offer and the giggled, "I owe you one. Anyways, I will get a slice of apple pie, and also the chocolate and put the cinnamon roll in a take out box so Crisan can eat at home later".

"Sure", Regine said.

"Thank you, Regine", Thelma said to her then went back to her table. Later, They went home and Crisan went straight to room and dropped herself on the bed feeling tired then she looked at her incomplete painting then she buried her face in the bed and grunted then Thelma came to her room and saw Crisan laying on her stomach and her head was down so she asked, "what's going on?", then Crisan looked up at her.

"Nothing, I just found out that I have to do one more painting for the exhibit", Crisan answered.

"Oh!", Thelma followed, Crisan dropped her head on the bed again, "just worry this painting first".

"Yep, you're right", Crisan sighed then she stood up from her bed, "by the way, Tiffany invited me and Tori to her sweet sixteenth party in Harold's Hotel this Friday... night".

"Okay", Thelma allowed her to go, "after work?".

"We already told Regine that we'll be leaving an hour early", Crisan said.

"Well, okay", Thelma said, "text me if anything happens".

"Yes, mom", Crisan replied.

"I'll just go take a shower first" then grabbed her towel and walked to the bathroom leaving Thelma still standing by the door. Crisan finished her shower and got out from her bathroom wearing her sleepwear then she saw her painting but she doesn't feel like continuing it so she walked to her study vanity and saw a plate of cinnamon roll and a fork on the side then it made her smile so she sat down and started eating her stress away while continuing her reading her book and she was about to finish it too but she already read it for the sake of the book report but it was that urge in her to just go about it again.

'...The two lovers escaped their fate, they ran far away from what the place they call home, gaurds where chasing them with torches in their hands in the dark forest. Caeus and Arina were holding each other's hand so tightly as they kept running and running away then they hid at a bush and let the chasers run ahead pass them then they went the other and went to their secret place of meeting, the abandoned gondola and no one ever found out about that gondola, Caeus brought Arina their and the darkness cover them from anyone who wants to find them but a little moonlight still gave them a little light and it was enough to see each other, standing and their still holding their hands. Caeus held Arina's sobbing face, their eyes met then he kissed her forehead and tears rolled down his cheek then looked at her again, Arina took out the potion and her hand shake just holding it and looked at Caeus to gave her a message through his eyes to drink it so she closed her eyes and began drinking the potion then gave it to Caeus, he drank it immidiately then closed their eyes and embraced each other. Days passed, a two men who were also gaurds was wandering in the forest and saw the abandoned gondola from the distance and got curious so they ran towards it then was surprise to see a statue and noticed small shards of glass were the ground, it was the potion that the lover drank, and then they have this somehow strange feeling about that statue so one of them took a closer look of their faces and his hairs at the back of his neck stood up as he saw the faces of the lovers. They found out that the two lovers had not only ran away but was turned into stones and so now their love to each other will forever be eternal. The End.'

"Love is still complex even in modern times", Crisan thought to herself then ate her cinnamon roll and also thought that now, she can lend it to Tori since she got to read the full story, Marcus then entered her room.

"Crizzy, Crizzy" Marcus called her and pulled her arm, "come on, our favorite show is about to start".

"I'll be right there", Crisan told him then Marcus saw her book then grabbed it from her hand.

"What are you reading?", he asked and started flipping pages, Crisan gasped that he's holdong a book that was not suitable for kids, "too many words..", she then gently took the book from him.

"Yep", she responded then placed it on her study vanity, Marcus looked confuse.

"So how do you know how everything look like?", he questioned, Crisan was trying to think of ways to answer him.

"It's kinda hard to explain, you just use your imagination", Crisan said to him then just gave him a smile, Marcus just nodded, "come on, let's go". Later, Crisan and Marcus was watching in a cartoon, 'We Bare Bears', the two were laughing at the silly things then Thelma came holding two mugs of warm milk and placed it on the coffee table, "Thanks, mom", Crisan said to her then Thelma sat next to her and was watching along with them. While watching, Crisan was thinking of what to paint, she was overthinking and she knows that won't end up well but she can't help it, she tried to relax and just enjoy the remaining time before bedtime. The show was over, Crisan went back to her room bringing the half empty glass of milk, she placed it on her study vanity then she sat down and then just checked her social media before going to sleep then her eyes went to the novel again then a thought appear in her head as she was just going through her tablet, it was when Marcus asked her how can she knows how actually everything look through these written words, she knows that reading can strengthens imagination then it hit her like someone threw a ball at her head, she had an idea.The next day, Crisan arrived to school and as usual greeted Tori with a big smile on her face and both her hands are at the back, Tori look weirded out by that.

"What?", Tori quipped then Crisan took the novel.

"Here you go!", Crisan said to her, Tori was screeching with joy.

"Wow! when you said pretty soon you weren't kidding", Tori said back to her then her glee turns upside down, "but sadly I can't have it with me.

"What? why?", Crisan questioned her looking worried.

"My Aunt Estela is staying with us for a week and... she's kinda nosy", Tori explained, "actually too nosy, if she sees this book, I just don't want to hear what she's going to say".

"That's too bad", Crisan replied then placed the book inside her bag again.

"Tell me about it", Tori whined then the two walked inside the building.

"But you are still going to Tiffany's party, aren't you?", Crisan asked, "I'll be buying her gift later".

"Of course, I mean my Aunt is nosy not strict", Tori replied then they giggled.

"By the way, I already thought of my second painting", Crisan added.

"That's great", Tori replied to her, "I know it'll come to you", she elbowed her, "so what's the inspiration?".

"This novel actually", Crisan answered, Tori raised a brow, "you'll get it once you read it or at least the day of the exhibit".

"The important thing is you figured it out like I know you will", Tori said to him.

Gage was at Dave's house with by the basement rehearsing for the Romeo and Juliet skit since Courtney couldn't come so Dave had to act as Juliet, "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet", Dave read the line trying to really play the part the best way he could.

"Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?", Gage acted, the two boys doesn't feel comfortable but try not to voice it.

"'Tis but thy name that is my enemy. Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face. O, be some other name belonging to a man. What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title. Romeo, doff thy name; and for thy name, which is no part of thee, take all myself", Dave stammered then cleared his throat and that's when Gage gave up.

"Yeah, I can't do this", Gage exasperated.

"Whew! me too", Dave admitted, Gage then dropped himself at a seat, "let's take a break".

"This sucks", Gage sighed.

"We'll you have a hard time with Courtney too", Dave reminded him.

"What do I do?", Gage asked, covering his face with his hand.

"I know it's not easy", Dave said then he realized something, "I think there's a wig here somewhere, it might help", he was about to stand to find it.

"No, no, no, don't", Gage begged shaking his hand at him, then Dave sat again.

"Okay.." Dave replied.

"I have to go, I'll see you tomorrow", Gage said to him, as he gets his things and stood up.

"Sure, you too", Dave replied then Gage left.

Crisan got out from a small jewelry shop and did bought something since was a small pink gift bag for Tiffany's sweet sixteenth birthday, she took the bus home so then she got inside and nicely greeted the bus driver then took a seat then she took out her phone to check her social media and put on her earphones to entertain herself on the way to her stop. The bus then pulled over at another stop and a small group of high schoolers went inside, they noticed Crisan and her uniform while she was just minding her own business, they sat a little further from her then they start to talk about her behind her back.

"Isn't that one of those church girl?", a girl asked to her friends thinking that she couldn't her but she could but just not mind it.

"Yeah, she is. I saw the logo on her top", another girl confirmed.

"Aren't they like rich, why is she taking the bus?", said the first girl, Crisan seemed to have a weird look on her face.

"Maybe her limo broke down", the second girl joked.

"Or she got cut off by her daddy", the first girl added then laugh quietly as they can but Crisan knows every word they were saying, instead she just rolled her eyes. Not long after that the bus stopped at her lane so she got up and then walked out. Crisan was on her way home then five blocks later, she saw Patty Cafe and started to crave her cream macha so she decided to go there, she stood at the front of the take-out booth but again no one was there so she rang the bellhop bell,

"Coming!", Henry said aloud then he came to the booth less than a minute and seemed happy to see Crisan again.

"Hello! Heinrimus", Crisan greeted him with his birth name, Henry didn't mind so he just smiled.

"Hey! Crisan", Henry greeted back, "what will it be? the usual?".

"You got it!", Crisan confirmed.

"I have to brew the macha leaves, you don't mind waiting?", Henry told her.

"Sure!", Crisan answered.

"Alright, I'll just be right back", Henry said to her then went inside to starts brewing the green tea leaves so while it was doing that he went back to the booth, "it'll just take five minutes".

"No problem", she said then smirked, "Heinrimus".

"Are you going to call me that more often?", he asked her.

"Mmm... probably", she said smirking again.

"Okay", he sighed, "So I'm a Saint boy...".

"Saint boy? is that what other people call you guys?", Crisan interrupted looking at him strangely but try to be polite, "plus it's fine since I'm a church girl...I'm not nosy, I'm not gonna say anything about it".

"It's okay, I mean... I'm okay talking..about..it", he said, Crisan raised an eyebrow, "and church girl?".

"Yeah... I heard other people call me that in the bus and anywhere else", Crisan said.

"You.. take the bus?", Henry asked her.

"Can't I?", she quipped.

"I know", Henry replied, "who am I to ask since I'm here".

"So you are like..?", Crisan uttered her question.

"Sort of", Henry answered, Crisan looked confuse.

"What do you mean?", she asked.

"Since we're friends now, I guess I can tell you", he said, Crisan was waiting for his explanation, "my step dad is rich, he met my mom when she was his secretary and they fell in love and the rest is history".

"Oh!", Crisan followed, "do you guys get along?".

"We don't talk but he's okay, I mean he's not giving me a hard time and all", Henry shrugged.

"I see", Crisan replied.

"That's why I'm working, in case I might need to.. you get it", he added.

"Right", Crisan understood.

"You work too, right? at Red's diner", Henry said, Crisan was stunned that he knows since she doesn't remember him ever set foot in Red's, "yeah, we drive pass it the other day and I saw you wearing their uniforms so what's you reason?".

"I just believe in the saying that you get what you work for not what you wish for", Crisan explained.

"That's true", Henry said then he looked away to the kitchen area inside, "oh! the brewing is done, I'll just make your drink".

"Sure", she said then not long after, Crisan got her drink and paid for it, "Thanks!".

"No problem", he said back, she start drinking and felt that cozy and warm feeling inside her, Henry watch her enjoy her drink gave him a smile on his face then he remembered something, "Oh! Before I forget, I wanted to ask you something".

"What is it?", she quipped.

"Since we are friends here, my school is having this dance party next couple of weeks on Saturday", Henry told her, Crisan notice how he's beating around the bush and waiting for him to get to the point. Gage was walking their way to Patty Cafe. "So Crisan, are you interested to go?", Henry continued his offer, Crisan gave it a brief thought.

"Uhm... yeah, sure, it's a date" Crisan accepted the invite.

"Oh! thank God, I mean thank you!", Henry said to her feeling relieved, " by the way, can I just follow you on instagram?".

"Yeah, of course", Crisan answered then they took out their phones then opened the app, "okay, it's @aerareagan",

"Alright. Follow", Henry said as he tapped on the follow icon, Crisan got a notification so then she followed him back.

"There", she said then she read his username, @heinzvanapel.

"Thanks", he said to her then starts checking her profile.

"No problem", Crisan replied to him, "I'll see you around,bye!... Heinrimus".

"Bye", Henry said to her then Crisan smiled and walked away, Henry watched her.As she already wasn't insight, he was still admiring her then Gage appeared, an unfortunate missed oppurtunity for them to see each other again, and saw Henry still looking the other way and didn't know that he was standing there.

"Excuse me, Henry...", Gage called but still no avail, "Henry..Henry", Henry jolted a little and turned and saw Gage.

"Oh.. Sorry, man", Henry apologized.

"It's okay", Gage replied, "anyways, I'll be having a a medium size black coffee".

"Do you have time?", Henry asked him, "brewing machine is getting slow".

"Yeah, no problem", Gage said to him.

"Okay, black coffee coming right up", Henry told him, then went inside to start brewing then to pass time he went to the booth again, "it'll be ready in a ...while".

"Okay", Gage answered.

"Too bad you missed Crisan, she just left", Henry said, Gage looked at him and gave him a weird look.

"Why is that?", Gage asked.

"Oh...yeah, nevermind", Henry expressed, "It just stuck in my mind that you two are...tight".

"Sort of..I barely know her", Gage told him.

"Yeah... me too", Henry said to him then Gage's phone rang so he took it out to see who called.

"I'll just take this", Gage said to Henry so he nodded then walked to the side for a little privacy then he answered the call, "hey! Court". Henry then was on his phone and checked his instagram and also opened Crisan's profile and see what she's been posting. Five minutes after the call, Gage puts down his phone and put it on his pocket then walked back to the booth and saw Henry has his nose on his phone but then he looked up and noticed that Gage looked troubled.

"You okay?", Henry asked him still holding his phone.

"Yeah, just a lot do", Gage exasperated in response, Henry just nodded then looked at his phone again then he tapped a picture of Crisan on one of her photoshoot gig and was giving a sexy yet innocent pose, he seems turned on by it then the phone in Patty Cafe rang.

"I'll be right", Henry said to Gage and in a hurry to answer the phone call, he puts down his smart phone as he left the booth, Gage stood in front then notice that the phone was there and wasn't lock then he noticed the picture of Crisan, he got curious so he looked closer but it quickly locked automatically showing the lockscreen, he didn't think much of it so he looked away waiting for his coffee.

Crisan was home, Thelma and Marcus were not there yet so she ran straight to her room, dropped her things on the bed then placed the gift she bought for Tiffany and her cream macha cup on her study vanity, she was a bit tired so before she starts eveyrthing she took out her phone and checked her social media then went to her instagram again to check her notifications again, there were few new like to some of her pictures, she even opened Henry's profile to see what's in it, it does prove that he was a prep boy among those pictures and that she can somehow knows his interest through the pictures he was posting like fencing which might've been an interest that he picked up from from his school, skateboarding and also he plays the piano and likes making song covers. After a that small procrastination, she puts down her phone then she took a small plain pad paper and a gold glitter pen then wrote 'Happy Sweet 16th, Tiff! XOXO', staplered it on the bag. She then opened her tablet laptop and turned on her playlist again, then she put the pad paper and the pen in her drawer then she noticed the old letter so she took it out and something in her wants to read it, she knows it was wrong then she looked how old the envelope look and it sealed for ages so she thought it wouldn't matter so she decided to read what it said so she took out a scissor then cut the envelope open and inside it was a photo, a photo of Marie yes, Marie Jacoby, since she was a teenager wearing a casual eighties style dress, make up was kind of colorful and glossy and her hair was big and fluffed, she wasn't alone in the picture, she was with Hal but he wasn't looking at the camera but at her, they were smiling and being happy as couple. Crisan then turned the photo over and saw there was a writing,

' Marie, Sorry I can't make it to your play but I know no matter what, you are a great and beautiful actress I have ever loved. I found this photo that of us that I thought I lost forever but I guess, it will find a way to it's way back like I am to you. No matter where I am and what happens, I want you to know that, I love you.

HJ'

Crisan drank her cream macha, she was in awe and couldn't stop smiling just reading it again then she turned and look at the photo again and admired how beautiful Marie looked and how lucky she was to find a guy that loved her unconditionally.