New Beginnings

As the next few days passed by Elle slowly fell back into a steady schedule. It took a few days to disassemble the box fortress in her living room but before the end of the week everything was unpacked and put away.

The weekdays were full of work. Adam came over to her place for nights, once she went over to his condo instead, but even during the nights they were apart Elle felt happier in her lonely apartment than she ever had in her room back at her family home.

On Thursday morning Elle woke up in Adam's room.

"I was thinking we could go on a date tonight." Elle called out to Adam who was standing at the bathroom sink and shaving. "Maybe we could get some dinner and then a movie? Or we could go take a walk in the park now that the weather's warming up."

"Okay, sure. I'll come get you after work."

"Okay-" Elle started but she was interrupted by Adam's phone which was sitting on the night stand and had begun to ring. Elle quickly called out the number for Adam.

"Can you help me answer it?" He asked, so Elle crossed the room and answered the phone then held it up to Adam's ear.

"Hello, mother." Adam answered. Elle's heart dropped and she looked at Adam with wide eyes but if he noticed her panic he didn't seem to care. Elle was standing close enough that she could hear his mother's reply.

"What 'hello'?" She muttered. "How long has it been since you even called home?"

"I've been busy." Adam replied nonchalantly.

His mother let out an annoyed huff. "You're just like your father was at that age." She complained. "I hope you're not busy tonight."

"I already have plans."

"Well cancel them."

"I can't, it's important." Adam answered. Elle smacked his arm lightly and shook her head at him. Their plans weren't important at all.

"Amelia is back in town, which you would know if you ever called home. Her flight lands at four this afternoon. Go pick her up and bring her over for dinner."

Adam opened his mouth to argue but Elle desperately whispered "Just go", so Adam reluctantly agreed.

"I appreciate you trying to keep our plans," Elle said after Adam had hung up the phone, "but it's okay. This is more important than our casual plans."

"You're wrong." Adam said as he brushed his hand against her cheek. "Nothing is more important than this." He said as he looked deeply into her eyes.

"I can't believe you." Elle murmured as she flushed deeply. "Flirting first thing in the morning."

Adam chuckled. "Let's do something this weekend instead." He offered to appease her. "I'll keep a whole day empty just for you."

"Okay." Elle agreed happily.

Meanwhile, beautiful woman in a navy blue spring dress and a pair of sunglasses on was waiting in an airport lounge when her phone began to ring. She glanced at the caller ID before answering sweetly, "Hello aunty."

"Hello sweetie." Adam's mother replied lovingly. "Have you already checked in?"

"Yes. I'm just waiting for boarding now."

"Good, good. Adam says he'll come get you so wait for him when your flight lands, okay?"

"It's okay aunty. I'm sure he's very busy as well. I can just take a taxi."

"Nonsense. It's been so long since you've returned home. Let him get you and bring you over for dinner."

"Alright then. As long as it's not a bother." The girl conceded with a smile. "Aunty they're making the boarding calls now; I'll call you once I land."

"Alright. Have a safe flight."

~~

Work had gone by smoothly for Elle that day. It was later that afternoon and she had packed her things up and headed home first. Adam was probably on his way to the airport by now, while Elle was just entering the lobby of her building. As she was crossing through she spotted a familiar face.

"Christopher?" She asked as she saw the boy lounging on the bench with his headphones on.

"Elizabeth." He said in surprise as he spotted her.

"What are you doing down here?"

"I locked myself out of my apartment." He said with a sheepish grin.

"Are you okay?"

"Yea, yea. I'm fine, just bored. I'm waiting for someone to bring me the spare key."

Elle was debating if it would be okay to leave him there when his stomach suddenly growled loudly. Christopher's face turned bright red and his hand went to his stomach.

Elle laughed in spite of herself. "Hungry?" She asked.

"A bit." He answered with red ears.

"Come on then. Let me treat you to something."

"Really?"

"I still owe you for the other night right? What do you want to eat?"

"Ramen." Christopher answered almost instantly.

"Really?" Elle asked with a frown. "You can ask for something better."

"I never get to eat it so I'm craving it."

"Really? Are your parent's that strict?" Elle asked.

"Hmm. Something like that."

"Okay, fine." Elle agreed.

~~

On the other side of town Adam was leaving the airport with Amelia. "How was your flight?" He asked casually.

"It was fine. Uneventful. I hope I'm not keeping you from your work."

"It's fine."

"You made international news with your last campaign you know. Leave it to you to pull of such a risky move s well."

Adam gave no reply but Amelia had known him for almost her whole life. She was used to his silence.

"You can just take me home." She said after a moment.

"Are you sure?" Adam asked. "My mother is expecting you, and you know how she gets."

Amelia laughed. "I know. Help me give her my apologies. Tell her I was too tired to come over tonight, but I'll come over for dinner tomorrow instead."

"Okay."

~~

Elle took Christopher to a small shop nearby for dinner and watched with a frown as Christopher gulped down his food.

"Are they starving you?" She asked worriedly.

"It's nothing like that." He laughed. "I was busy with stuff and missed my lunch today."

After ensuring he had eaten more than enough food Elle drove them back to the condo. She had just pulled into the parking lot when Christopher received a text message.

"Oh!" He exclaimed. "Someone's waiting for me with the key. I'll leave first. Thanks for the meal." He said before rushing out of the car.

Elle watched as he hurried off. "What a weird kid." She said softly to herself.

Elle went upstairs to her condo, glancing at her watch as she rode the elevator up. She had thought she would get home early today but she was probably getting back later than Adam at this point. That thought made her all the more surprised to find him inside her condo as she opened the door.

"What are you doing here?" She asked with shock. "I thought you were going to have dinner with your friend at your family house."

"She went home. She'll meet my mom for dinner tomorrow instead."

"Oh, I see."

"What about you?" Adam asked. "Where did you go?"

"I took that kid out for dinner."

"Which kid?"

"You remember that neighbor kid that helped me with the boxes the other night?"

"Oh, right."

"I feel bad. He seems to be on his own a lot." Elle remarked.

"If he's living here I'm sure he's fine."

That night each person went about their night, completely unaware of how severely their lives would entangle in just a short while.