Kikko Cafe,
Queen Victoria Building, 29/455 George St.
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia.

It all started when Samantha and I went out for coffee, our Saturday morning ritual.

"I'm a dollar fifteen short..." Samantha muttered irritatedly, when it was time to pay for her coffee, "Rebecca, have you got any change?"

"Uh." A typically intelligent reply on my part. "Let me check."

I opened my wallet, only to find that I had spent my very last dollar on my own coffee. And of course, our favorite coffee place just happened to refuse payment through the form of credit or debit, our only alternatives.

"Nothing?" She asked, still rummaging through her purse.

"Ahan." I replied, also searching the bottomless pit that was my bag for any spare change.

"Suddenly my coffee doesn't taste so great." She groaned, turning her bag upside down. Several coins fell out among scattered papers, makeup compacts and hair clips while I looked around to see who else was watching this comic scene.

"Thirty four cents, yes!" She exclaimed, punching the air triumphantly.

"I have an idea!" I suddenly exclaimed, leaning back and fishing between the cushions of the couch upon which we were seated. Samantha raised an eyebrow, but nonetheless continued to watch with vague interest. I retrieved a few more coins and dumped them on the table.

"Grand total, seventy nine cents." She calculated, "Only missing a little now!"

I was amused at how we were managing this predicament to say the least. She caught my grin and smiled back.

"We are quite odd, aren't we?"

Giving her a nod I leaned back but immediately felt a certain vibration behind the cushions. A vibration? I ran my fingers over the cushion and my fingers brushed over something hard.....almost like a phone. I grasped the object and freed it from its couch prison, grinning as I admired an iPhone that now belonged to me.

"A dollar! A dollar!" Samantha exclaimed excitedly standing up and striding towards the cash to pay. The man standing behind it shot her a displeased look before accepting her money.

"I found a phone." I told her as we were leaving; showing off the shiny prize.

"Did you find that... in the couch?" She stuttered in disbelief.

"That I did." I answered, beaming. "A free iPhone, fancy that!"

"Eventually the owner of that phone will cut off the service and you'll have a useless free phone." She laughed passively.

"Way to rain down on my parade." I huffed. "Some best friend you are..." I paused and laughed, "Even if I only get to use it for a little while, it's not like I'm losing anything."

"Sure thing, Rebecca." She laughed again, "Enjoy it while it lasts."

•••

I was chopping carrots for dinner.

Then it rang.

Having never heard that tone in my life, I was naturally startled, and the knife that I had been holding flew right out of my hand and landed with a loud clatter next to my bathroom door. Taking a heavy panicked breath, I stared around my apartment in confusion.

It rang again.

Instantly, it all clicked, and I ran to my bedroom, grasping the iPhone in my hands as it rang and vibrated madly.

My Old Number , it read. I was faced with a decision.

Answer it? Or leave it?

Well, as they say, curiosity killed the cat.

"Hello?" I answered, trying to sound as innocent and nonchalant as possible.

"Who is this?" A male voice demanded angrily from across the line.

Whoops.

"I don't know," I said, sustaining the voice, "it all depends on who you are."

"I am the owner of the phone that you have selfishly stolen!" He shouted and I had to distance the phone from my ear.

"In that case I'm from the cell phone company. Sir, at this moment in time, we are examining your phone to make sure no viruses or bugs were programmed into the device while it was out of your reach." I replied.

"Bullshit!" He exclaimed furiously, "I called the company ten times and they said there was nothing they could do to retrieve my phone!"

They hadn't even recommended canceling the service?

Peculiar.

"You have clearly called the wrong provider, sir. This phone is property of Virgin Mobile. You must have called a different company, the wrong company."  I explained.

"My phone is not from Virgin Mobile! My phone is from Apple Inc, and I think you being a thief should know, considering it's an iPhone!" He spat, enraged as I immediately bit my tongue.

How stupid Rebecca!

"Sir," I said coolly, "I suggest you get all the right papers and information in order before calling in with these accusations. Good day."

Then I hung up.

And I felt strangely excited.

X

Samantha and I were shopping downtown. She had insisted that I go to some ridiculous formal party for her work. She had a date, but she felt nervous around him, so she had insisted I tag along and bring my own date to ease her nervousness.

What a hoot.

Like I was getting a date on such short notice.

"I liked that dress back at Twelfth Avenue. I'm just torn as to whether or not Mac would like it. Rebecca, what do you think?" She questioned.

"I don't know. It doesn't really matter what he thinks, as long as you're happy." I replied passively.

"It's so bright though, I don't want to attract too much attention!" She continued to babble on, completely disregarding my comment.

"Then let's keep looking." I offered, tugging the handle of the bag that contained my plain black cocktail dress. I had quite literally walked into the first store we saw and bought the first dress that fitted me. Samantha hadn't been able to choose at all, throwing a fit over each and every pattern and cut, so I served as the opinion giver. Which, in Samantha-land, meant standing around and repeating exactly what she would want to hear.

"Have you found a date yet?" She asked, as we walked into another store.

"I told you already, I'm not going to get one. Now pick out a dress, they all look fantastic." I replied, irritated.

Then, it rang for the second time.

I answered it without second thought.

"Hel-" I began, but I was immediately cut off.

"I've called my company six times and they have assured me that my phone and they told me that there is nobody checking the phone for viruses or bugs!" The angry man snarled from the other end while I suppressed my giggle.

Again, I was amused at how he hadn't thought about deactivating the service.

"Samantha, hang on a minute, I have got to take this call." I sang, and walked to the back of the store, where all the god-awful dresses hung, marked clearance.

"What are you doing?" The Angry Man demanded a reply, "Stop playing with me here, I want my phone back!"

"Do you have any idea where I found this?" I asked breezily, leaning against the wall and watching Samantha look through racks of dresses determinedly and interestedly.

"This? What are you talking about?" He growled, as angry as ever.

"Your phone, Einstein." I explained hearing a sigh from the other end.

"No, I don't know where you found it. How about you tell me?" He grumbled.

"At a coffee house. Do you drink coffee a lot?" I let out.

"What relevance does this have to do with anything?" He snorted.

"I don't know, you tell me." I said, "How does one manage to get their phone lost between cushions of a couch at a coffee house?"

"Is that where you found it?" He asked in disbelief.

"Yes sir" I chuckled hearing him sigh from the other end.

"Can you please return my phone to me?" He asked changing tactics and turning his anger down a notch.

"Nope. This is just too much fun!" I replied cheekily.

Then I hung up.

And once again, I found myself oddly giddy.

•••

I was at work, typing on my computer. To say that it was boring would be the understatement of the century. Then, the iPhone vibrated in my pocket.

"Hello?" I answered daintily, already knowing exactly who it would be on the other end of the line.

"I give up." Angry Man spoke instantly , "I have come to the realisation that you will never give me my phone back, because you are completely insufferable."

"Oh boy! Reverse psychology, my favourite." I exclaimed. Pissing him was oddly fun.

"Stop it." He demanded, "Do you find this funny? This is my valuable money going down the drain because you are too indecent to return my phone to me."

I wanted to point out that the only times I used the phone was when I was talking to him but decided against it.

Still no deactivation of the service, either. Angry Man sure was an all star.

"I'm not giving it back." I declared, "it's really pretty and shiny and it makes you angry that I still have it."

"I am done with you. Keep the phone, see if I care!" He spat.

"Well thank you. I do appreciate it." I mocked wondering if it was true.

"Don't expect me to call again." He added, a little later.

And then he hung up.

And I wasn't finding it quite as fun as before.

X

Samantha and Mac were over for dinner. Now, why did I invite them over dinner? The answer is, that I didn't invite them in actuality; Samantha self invited herself over the dinner.

I cooked the meal, cleaned the apartment and held pleasant conversation for thirty-five minutes before I decided that I have had enough.

Technically, I was doing Samantha a favor by leaving the room so she could have more time to talk with her beloved boyfriend and I wouldn't have to pretend to be interested.

I wasn't quite sure what possessed me when I unlocked the extortionate phone, went into the contacts menu, and selected My Old Number. Who saves like that?

"Hello?" Answered a voice that was starting to grow familiar. Although, for the first time since the calls had begun, he didn't sound infuriated.

"Entertain me." I requested, flopping down onto my bed, "I'm bored."

"Is this... Are you the woman that stole my phone?" He asked.

"I have a name, you know," I drawled, "and I don't appreciate that you accuse me of stealing your phone. That would involve me physically taking it from you. I found it, that's it."

"You want me to entertain you?" He echoed, ignoring my comment, "Who do you think I am? A walking birthday party service?!"

"The only thing I do know about you is that you have a very short temper." I retorted.

"And the only thing I know about you is that you are extremely obnoxious!" He hit back.

"Are you going to entertain me or not?" I smiled rotating my head as I heard Samantha burst into laughter in the other room.

"How exactly does one entertain someone else over the phone?" He questioned, quite irritated.

"Are you implying you want to....?" Part of me got strangely excited.

"Not like I have anything better to do..." He muttered.

"Wait up. I have another call." And after that all I could hear was my line being put on hold for some boring ninety seconds before the beep again intimated me of his return.

"Still here." I sang, stifling a laugh.

"Oh."

Another beep and his voice was gone.

"What are you doing?" Samantha enquired walking into my bedroom. "You've been gone for ages!"

"Sorry." I locked the phone, forgetting about Angry Man. "I just felt excluded from your conversation, so I left."

"My bad. Anyways, Mac and I will leave now. Thank you so much for having us over." She blushed.

"Anytime." I replied graciously, "Take care."

"Will do." She said.

I winked.

And my apartment was big and alone once more.

•••

7 days later:

It was 1 in the night when I kept staring at the stars from my bed through the window. I always found that solace in the night sky which was so full of inspiration. It had been 7 days that I haven't spoken to the Angry Man and emptiness of his husky voice echoed in my ears. I didn't feel that excitement within me anymore. He unknowingly was like a ripple of water amongst dead bushes. I knew there'd be no call coming up from that number ever and that melodious voice would be just history still I kept it beside me on the bed for....something unexplainable.

I switched the bedside lamp off hiding myself wholly under the duvet and sleep was round the corner when suddenly that ringtone knocked my ears. My eyes were wide open as the beats of my heart raced faster. Grasping the phone in my hand, I saw the caller.

My Old Number

To take it or not to take it..?

Before even I could anticipate anything else, my fingers slid on the screen accepting the call.

"H..hello." I pressed my lips tighter as I realised in the chilling December even my forehead was occupied by sweat beads.

"Entertain me." The Angry Man commanded while a stupid smile played on my lips.

"And...why would I do that?" I questioned.

"Because I'm bored." He sternly stated.

"Why on earth would you be bored?" I stitched my brows as all I heard was heavy huffs coming from the other end.

"Do you have to sound so annoying every time you talk to me?" He spat.

"Excuse me? Correct me if I am wrong but aren't you the one calling this annoying lady at 1 in the night requesting her to entertain you?" Only if he could see the proud smirk on my lips.

"Right. My bad. I must have disturbed you at this hour. I should totally hang up." I sat up straight on my bed loosening the curled strand of hair around my finger.

"No no no. I mean-umm.. I mean it's cool, you know. You don't need to hang up." Wow Rebecca, you absolutely sounded desperate.

"Um I mean..it's always easier to talk to a stranger about your problems, you see." I chuckled awkwardly trying to lighten my earlier desperation which altogether ended up making me sound weirder.

"What makes you think I have got problems and more importantly, I am gonna share them with you.. a stranger?" There was clearly no emotion in his voice.

"Why would you call this stranger otherwise if you have nothing to do with her?" I could hear a long pause after my last remark.

"I don't know? It kind of just felt the easiest option available right now." I fell back on the bed looking outside the window into the stars twinkling in their regular rhythm.

"Have you looked at the stars tonight?" It kind of just felt the right thing to say and it was already out of my mouth before I could weigh.

"Wait-are you trying to be a poet here?" I wished he could see how I rolled my eyes finding myself sinking into the meaningless conversation for nothing.

"Why? Do you have a thing for poets?" And, for the first time ever I think I heard him stifle a chuckle.

"Jesus, you are so twisted." I bit my lower lip trying to figure things out. I was entertaining a total stranger who had been accusing me of stealing his phone but hadn't bothered to discontinue the service and me getting clearly unaware of where things were going definitely wasn't something usual that happens to people.

"Okay now, tell me something?" I continued after receiving a hum from his end. "Suppose one day, I decide to return you your phone-"

"Oh you mean, apocalypse?" I snorted hearing his remark.

"Mister, I really am not appreciating you interrupting me. So if you would kindly..?" I hated when people interrupted me and I ended up forgetting the thing I had in mind.

"Oh sure. Please."

"Good. So yeah, imagine one day I finally make up my mind to give you back your phone and I call you up o meet me at some debris..."

"But why would you call me there if you have good intentions to return me my phone? Why can't you meet and return like a normal person?" He sounded nothing but confused.

"Silly, it's just an imagination. Now, where were we?" I tapped my finger on my chin.

"At the debris."

"Oh right. Now imagine, by the time you reach there you see it already on fire. Your phone is lying at one corner of the room and me at another. Who would you save first?" I could be some great fiction writer.

"My phone." He spoke without a hint of hesitation.

"But like- what if I am easier to reach?" I asked hopefully. Wasn't he a human?

"My phone." He repeated. Only this time with louder confidence.

"What if- for some reason the screen of this gets burned and I am still there eagerly awaiting an angel to save me?" This time I stopped anticipating anything.

"Oh shit, I don't know, I would call the fire brigade and might take it to company then and there to get my valuable datas recovered." I sighed loudly wanting him to hear my disappointment.

He smiled. "You just have to accept, my phone comes first."

"Whatever" I rolled my eyes wanting to punch him in his face.

"But I think it's working. You know, getting entertained part." I stitched my brows.

"What do you mean you 'think' it's working? I am a goddamn miracle and by now you should be sure that I am kind of, sort of, type of doing my job excellently, Sir." I chuckled foolishly.

I was somewhat starting to get a fan of nighttime conversations. As they say, it tends to bond people in a deeper way. It was the darkest hour of the night, the time when most of the city was under its blanket still there remained so many things to be said and heard. To know and let know.

Nighttime,when the smiles fade, overthinking starts and the eyelids become heavier is the best time in both the worlds. I knew we started off as strangers but all I wanted then was, I didn't want to end up as strangers. Strange!

X

The sky was dotted with a few candy-floss clouds. It was dark enough for the owls to tuck in but the stalls and booths set beyond vibrated under the moonless night that the darkness was hardly remembered. Faint music could be heard from beyond the tall gates with the occasional happy screams suddenly piercing the air. Closer to the entrance and the massive structures of rides could be seen a rollercoaster, a giant wheel, a helter skelter and few other favourites of mine. Younger children stood watching, eating their sweets and snacks; ice creams wobbled perilously over the cones and dripped down their small fingers as they melted. Most people wandered from stall to stall, sampling mulled wine and skewered meat, fondling velvet-line hood and tokens. It was time for the biggest carnival in the city and people from every part of the town assembled to witness the ethereal fireworks show.

And there I was standing beside one of Mac's college friends who he brought purposely so I don't be a third wheel between them. As if, I really needed to. His name was Alex who was into some rock band and one could also say that by his get up blindly. He kept blabbering about the inception of rock music whilst I kept passing him a I-am-really-not-into-this nods periodically. I toed higher to find Mac rotating Samantha by her waist and her giggles could reach the stars, I smiled wishing my company to be half as fun as hers.

"I'm gonna get some cotton candy." Turning towards Alex, I mouthed.

"No, wait. I can get that for you." I grinned. Purpose served.

"That would be really sweet of you." He vanished to get my candy and rubbing my palms together, I looked up at the dull sky which soon past the midnight was going to shine like a bride with multiple crackers adding magnificence to it.

Soon after, I got a little engrossed in the shiny phone searching through it's contact list and halting at the same one I wished to get a call from. I have this weird problem of not being able to stick to one place thus I started sauntering scrolling down the screen when suddenly I bumped into someone's chest and phone slipped out of my grip; flying in the air.

I shrieked throwing my hands to catch it quick but I was a little late as he already did that in three bounces, and now, he was studying it.

"Nice phone you have." He smiled returning it the same and oh boy, if I could express in words how my heart raced the moment I let my eyes travel up and down his body.

He had tousled brown hair, thick and lustrous with eyes which were the green of fresh dew glinting in the sunlight off a leaf of green emerald. His lips were pale and thin and nose, slender. His face was strong and defined, features - moulded from granite. One look and I could bet both men and women could swoon at the sight of him no matter what their sexual preferences were and one word past his lips might have the straightest of men flushing shades of red that no one ever knew was naturally possible.

"Thanks." I wanted to not engage in any conversation although I had a hard two minutes getting my eyes off him. Hope it was not too obvious.

"Careful, next time." Glancing over him awkwardly, I turned around to find Alex looking for .

*

"Don't worry. Hey, I know you have never been on a Ferris Wheel ever before but trust me, this is going to be the best experience pf your entire life." I grinned squeezing Alex's arm who was in sweat.

He gulped, "No offence, but this could be the last experience of my life too."

His eyes widened and I winced as he clutched my hand tightly when our bucket was brought down to the ground from somewhere in the air as the other buckets were being filled.

"Do you know how many people have died previously because of this stupid ride?" I frowned jerking his grip off my hand.

"No one is forcing you here. If you don't like it, get down. Simple." Inhaling a sharp breath, I turned my face to the other side watching how colourful the surrounding was. The city looked gay.

I pulled my brows in a narrow line softly when I felt a weird shift in weight on the bucket we were in and in an attempt to fetch my curiosity, I shocked myself more.

"Y-you? Where is Alex?" I couldn't think straight not comprehending how come the guy who saved the phone had replaced Alex in less than a couple of minutes. And where had this stupid gone?

"Oh, you mean the guy who was just now standing before the queue asking if anyone would like to have his ticket?" He smirked as I sighed, pressing fingertips on the bridge of my nose.

"That idiot..." I muttered under my breath when I suddenly caught him waving at me with words of encouragement from amidst the crowd.

"Don't worry. It's going to be the best experience of your life!" Alex screamed waving quicker.

"Shut the fuck up!" I yelled which faltered his speed of waving for a second idiotically, he flashed that stupid grin again.

I seriously couldn't believe this guy. He couldn't even think of informing me before getting down? He ran away just like that and now he was waving at me too? What did he think, I would glue his butt to the seat?

"So for now.. I am the only company you have." My head snapped at the hunk giving him a are-you-stupid glare.

"I want to get down as well." I stood but the next moment was pulled down back to the seat with a thud and realisation hit me like a bullet train that the ride had already begun.

"Whoops" He murmured earning a cold look in return.

"I hate this." I murmured rubbing my elbows looking at other direction. I hated riding singly or with a stranger because where was the fun in it.

Soon the voices started getting jumbled and turning into a huge road as the ride picked up its speed whilst the wild wind started messing up my hair flowing it allover my face clogging my vision and sometimes poking my vision too. The view from the top was absolutely fabulous; the city lights looked pristine and crowd underneath so lively, I wondered if it was always this same. Of course, it was only I was not riding with a stranger ever before.

"Stop moving and adjusting while we are up so high!" I snorted passing him a an irritated look from the corner of my eyes.

"Well, what to say, I got moves." He pressed his lips trying hard to not laugh himself drawing my attention to his sharp jawline.

"If it wasn't illegal, I would have pushed him off this height to wipe that stupid smirk off his face." I murmured under my breath.

"What are you blabbering about?" He tilted his head to study my face better whilst wind was sprawling hairs on his forehead.

"This is the sound of me not caring to reply." I uttered. Lord knew why but I was pissed and pissed to my core and there was nothing I could do about to calm myself down. We were far off the ground, much higher and higher when I closed my eyes to enjoy the rush inside my stomach. There was something about this ride that quietened me unlike most of the people because I felt the most alive over here.

"Just relax. Have you looked at the stars from this height?" I glanced up at the stars but there was not any. Sad.

"Are you trying to be a poet here?" I held the bar properly feeling the wind hit me sending sensations to my guts.

"Why, do you have a thing for poets?" I blankly gaped him who seemed to be eagerly looking at the night sky.

"This has happened before..." I whispered to myself just as my cheeks started heating up thinking about my stranger. My? That is for later to be debated.

"If you are scared or anything," he slid his hand a little towards me on the bar.

I shoved it back in the most polite way humanly possible. It was a first time in my life that I wanted to get down a Ferris wheel so so bad. There is no arguing that my company was hot and all that but not someone I was wishing to share a screaming ride with except that his voice was strangely sounding intimate.

"Sorry I am just not good at unnecessary exchanges with strangers." I looked away softly.

"I thought you were better than you think." He pouted receiving a baffled expression. That was not a total lie though.

"Why are we talking anyway?" I snapped.

"I thought you liked talking to strangers." I grimaced.

"You know too much." I scoffed before sighing in relief as the ride came to a halt and they were one by one bringing the buckets down. When came our turn, I jumped before giving him any stupid reason to offer his help or anything. There was nothing wrong with him but I was having one of my terrible mood swings right at this hour, so one cannot exactly blame me. Before he could trace, I was long lost into the crowd fiddling with the phone dialling up the only contact I ever used.

"Hello?" I squeaked the minute I heard that beep. There was something that demanded me to talk to my stranger probably to act a little sane.

"Hey, what's up?" His voice sounded dry.

I decided not to beat around the bush, "Umm.. do you want, no I mean..do you think we can m-meet somewhere in person so I can return you your phone?" That was such a bad way to ruin everything, girl. He might think you wanted to end whatever this was by just returning that goddamn phone.

I heard a pensive sigh, "But I thought you were just not good at unnecessary exchanges with strangers."

I blinked a couple of times swiftly, "Why would you say that?"

"You know, I have started to think that you don't want to return my phone only otherwise why wouldn't you give it back when you had a chance." I furrowed. Shit, I ruined it.

"No no no. It's not that I didn't want to. I just..." I exhaled. "Tell me when can I give it to you and where or I can courier as well." Stuttering badly is not very good at creating impression, girl. God, what was I thinking! This man could be married with two kids!

"Why didn't you then, when you had the opportunity to?" Okay, now this was some blame game he was dragging me into.

"Today? Opportunity?" I tried putting pieces of his accusations together. "You just are now saying things to make me feel guilty."

"I won't call it that, stranger. And hell yeah, like ahh 10 some minutes back?" I was pushed aside by a child who sprinted away from his yelling parents.

And then it turned all slow and mute for me. That voice, it hammered in my brain like a wrecking ball. Stars..poet..the way he fancied the phone. Jesus Christ. I was so so lost in my zone of anger to realise that it could be him as well.

"Shit, it was you." I cursed out loud.

"In the face of history that has to be the stupidest meet of all time." I slapped my forehead nodding to whatever he said.

"And, I being the stupidest girl." I reasoned.

"There's no arguing over it." He chuckled.

"And you are clearly having fun watching me turn red in embarrassment from any corner, I am sure." I looked around but there was no trace of him.

"No, I am still there in the ride holding an extra ticket in my hand for the next round." My jaw dropped. "Now stop drowning in mortification because it rides exactly in two minutes...only if you have good intentions to return my phone."

"Oh shut up!" I disconnected the call before I already started running pushing people here and there.

"Rebecca! Rebecca!" Alex came running. "I am glad you made it out alive!" I frowned on my way to the ride.

"Shh" I shrugged his hands as he tried stopping me until I reached the gate where behind me a long queue awaited.

Stranger was easily spotted sitting in the same bucket and as his eyes met mine, he flashed me a ticket raising an eyebrow. He might have instructed something to the guide who allowed the gateman to let me enter without much drama and here I was sitting on the same seat; only this time I was happy.

"Hello, angry man." He widened his eyes.

"Woah, angry man?" He pinched his brows studying me.

"Well that's what you are. You yell on the phone every time." I nodded in assurance.

"Is it, vile woman?" I bit my inner cheeks trying my best not to smile at and instead settled for rolling my eyes.

"All right," I started gesturing with my hands. "I am embarrassed and I am stupid."

He chuckled before looking back into the sky and inhaling deep. As he tilted his face higher to great a better vision of the sky, I could fantasise what would it be like to draw a line with my finger over that pointed jawline.

"Here, your phone." I returned the same clutching it tightly.

"You keep it." He pushed it towards me. "I have started to like your calls and way of entertaining me specially." He winked.

"Th...Thanks." I stammered, blushing harder than ever, "I am starting to like yours too." He nodded looking at the clouded sky while the seats were filling up.

"Hi," Quickly he extended his hand "I am Cole Walker."

I shook it gladly, "Rebecca. Rebecca Johnson."

"Why are you staring at me like..that?" I quizzed. The ride started at a slow pace while our eyes are locked with the other.

"Well, you are something to look at." He uttered while I ran a finger down my nose to hide my blush. I must have set the record of the reddest cheek in the world on the first encounter.

"This is sufficiently awkward." I giggled.

"I am lucky." I turned to him silently staring which allowed him to continue "that you are not scared of these rides unlike many of the girls who talked me into riding this with them. I remember how I ended up with a bruised, scratched arm by the end of the ride."

"I am not scared of it. Yes, it sends you an adrenaline rush but all of it is for that only, right and pre- oh hey, see the fireworks have started." I pointed up at the sky and his eyes followed the direction.

There was a time these fireworks would have symbolized demons to me. In the burning colours my mind would create a narrative, seeking meaning where there is none. But now, captured like a photograph, burning colours etched into my mind. Fiery sparks whipped the sky bursting through the night; brilliant inks of light on a canvas of stars which seemed ethereal. Every time our seat reached the highest point, I felt like I was an arm away from touching those beautiful fiery blooms bursting into my reality.

"It beautiful, isn't it?" I mouthed in astonishment with eyes still glued to the vivid colours exploring above.

"It feels beautiful." His voice was almost like a whisper with his warm breath landing on my ear.

My heart shuddered when I thought of looking into his direction. I gulped containing the butterflies in my stomach when my nose brushed against his and my fingers crawled over his on the bar. The fireworks sent hot sparks into the cool evening air, soaring until they were extinguished to blackness while our eyes refused to witness any other picturesque surrounding other than melting into one another. There was something so captivating about the way he kept boring into my eyes and I could feel very well each second how he was inching closer setting my heartbeats on fire. We sat there engrossed failing to know what the surrounding was offering us anymore.

"Your eyes aren't like a new song but like opening a book and finding a language I have never read before." His intoxicating cologne forced me to sniff him feebly as he tucked my wild strands behind my ears. We lost track of anything around except that our ride was still moving.

I wanted to be close enough to for his musky scent to make my brains swim with a heady intoxication as my heart threatened to burst past the ribcage for the way he kept staring at me, made me soft. His eyes were like two rare gems, each time more beautiful every passing second. His touch was like that soothing note that made me feel like a ballerina in every dance. Sitting there with him was like a princess story- charming, elegant and full of romance.

"Um I wanted to ask you something.." I looked up at him while he smirked at my never ending questions, nodding his head just as one of his hands softly touched my cheek like I was the most fragile thing on earth.

"How did you lose your phone in a coffee shop amidst the cushions?" I was keeping this buried for so long.

"Well, maybe I left it there on purpose in hopes that someone gorgeous might find it and then bother me until we finally meet" He smiled hitching my breath. He was so gorgeous when he smiled.

"Wow..." I ridiculed; my face secured in his palms.

"And, cup her face reaching the highest point of a Ferris wheel; melting into her eyes until she closes her eyes letting me kiss her under the fireworks." My lips trembled with a smile.

"That would not then be the stupidest meet in the face of history of all time, I suppose but she would like that." I closed my eyes feeling his hot breath dance on my senses. His lips touched mine and fireworks bursted in my stomach as they fitted mine perfectly.

He snaked his hands around my back pulling me closer and I wrapped my arm around his neck deepening the kiss. I smiled at how perfectly our bodies moulded together. Surely, it was the happiest summer evening.

And we kept kissing under the sky full of fireworks.

Cross Connections are sometimes not always coincidental.

1 phone-2 hearts. Perfectly balanced.