"Where in the hell have you been?" That's the first thing Nova says to me after sighting me in the room, just like yesterday she was engaging in a conversation with someone. "Do you have any idea how I felt when I woke up and couldn't find you anyway?" She sounds angry like really angry. "You could have at least texted me, I called you like a million times, you didn't pick, what's going on with you?"

A lot is going on with me but I can't tell her anything right now. Mr. Miles fired Alan after two more female employee spoke out which I wasn't expecting. I didn't think anyone would back me up because I hardly converse with them and I've heard them gossiping behind my back about how cold and proud I am. I saw Alan's termination from miles away. To be honest I thought he would just get a slap on the wrist and continue working but Mr. Miles proved to be a decent boss. He's reason I got off late, he's decided to stick around until he finds another manager. I had a meeting with him, he needed report regarding the restaurant and it ran late.

Nova climbs down the stairs and we meet at the bottom where I was waiting for her. "Listen I'm sorry, I wanted to call but I was very busy at work," I tell her the half truth, I wasn't that busy but I had to be away from phone with everything happening with Alan, and I didn't even remember I was supposed send her a message.

She draws her eyebrows together. "Work on weekends?"

Oh yeah, she doesn't know I work at the restaurant. A lot's change since she left, they're things she doesn't know about me.

Sighing, I answer. "I...yeah, I work at a breakfast and brunch restaurant." There's no using keeping it from her anymore, she's back and I'm getting used to having her around again, which also includes her seeing the new me. When she was away, we talked almost everyday but it was mostly about her new adventures and my getting used to living without her.

But I'm not the only one keeping things from the other. She got engaged and didn't tell me.

Her eyes widens like I just told her that I signed up for the Marine corps. "What?!" The pitch of her tone attracts audience, she looks around and notice the stare from her guests. She waves and chuckles nervously. "You and mepowder room now," she grit out and grabs my upper arm and drags me down the hall to the powder room before I can react.

She pushes me inside gently and slams the door behind her. "Explain," she demands.

I cross my arms above my chest and shrug. "I work at a breakfast and brunch restaurant, what's there to explain."

"Since when have you been working there, and why didn't you tell me?"

I sigh and scrunch my nose before answering her. "Not long after you left." She opens her mouth to speak but I continue. "I needed the job, I still do and I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry about me."

I come from an average income family, we don't lack anything. My parents gave me everything I needed but when I moved here I had to fend for myself and meeting Nova along the way helped me more than I could ever imagine, but when she left I had to hustle and be okay on my own. Nova might not understand this because she thinks she's in charge of me, and I don't like being indebted to people, I know Nova didn't help me because she was expecting me to return it, but that's how it is for me. And her going to Seattle made me see things my way without her being in the background. She's supported me for four years, I can't depend on her forever.

"What are you talking about? Of course I worry about you, you're my best friend, it's my job to worry," her anger has faded to concern. She steps forward and places her hands on my shoulder. "Are you all right? I just came back yesterday but I can see the sadness and stress in your eyes. Tell me what's going on, so I can make it better."

I have a feeling she wouldn't understand.

"It's your welcome home party, Nova, we can talk about me some other time. Right now let's go enjoy." I switch topics and watch her reaction, I'm not convincing her. "Come on, Nova, you know me, I'll tell you when–"

"–its time?" She raises her eyebrow. "And that's the problem, you don't tell me anything. I didn't even know you were working at the restaurant, you should have told me, I wouldn't have been so mad and worried this morning when I didn't see you."

She's right. Nova is understanding and it's my fault for not trusting her enough.

"You're right and I'm sorry. I will tell you, I promise, just not tonight. Tonight is all about you and I don't want to spoil that." I uncross my hand and reach forward to pinch her cheek.

She removes her hand from my shoulder and pushes my hand on her cheek away and flair her hair in a dramatic way. "You can't spoil it even if you try," she smiles and sighs, watching me. "Okay, I'll let it go tonight and what in the hell are you wearing?"

I blink and look down at my outfit and frown. "There's nothing wrong with it," I defend my choice.

There's nothing wrong with Green plaid drawstring joggers, which I paired with white linen shirt with long sleeve, and retro lace up pumps high heels platform.

"Uh huh, you look like a high school librarian and what's with the ridiculous scarf and glasses." She reaches forward to remove my glass but I step back, moving away from her react.

"A sexy librarian, and the scarf is for when I get cold."

Her frown disappears, she knows what I mean. "Oh right, I never asked, how are you feeling?"

I shake my head. "Let's not talk about it now, we have a party to get to. The sexy librarian and the..." My sweeps her body to find the perfect adjective to qualify her character.

Nova knows everything about fashion, knows how to dress her best in every occasion and today she didn't disappoint. Wearing a white flutter long sleeve lace up lace trim chiffon mini dress pairing it with a blue hollow out stretch cloth thin heels peep toe ankle boot. I'm a designer slash stylist, so I know my dresses and shoes.

"A beautiful party rocker." Finally found the word but she doesn't seem to like it much.

"How come you get sexy librarian and I get beautiful party rocker, that's so basic."

Shaking my head, I say, "we better get going, it's your party and you don't want to miss it." Because I know if we keep going, we might not leave this room.

She rolls her eyes and reaches for my hand before walking out of the powder room almost colliding with Pheobe. "Mom! What are you doing?"

"Waiting for Dawn, hey Dawn," she greets me with a warm smile.

"Hi!"

Pheobe looks at her daughter and give her a look that I don't understand. "Really?" Nova mutters like they were communicating telepathically. Her mom nods. She groans and says, "find me after, there's someone I want to introduce you to."

Here we go again.

When Nova leaves, Pheobe shows me her hand, the one she's been hiding behind her, revealing a small velvet box. "Happy birthday darling," she says and thrust the box in my hand because she knows I won't collect it. They know I don't like celebrating my birthday but they throw me a party every year in exchange for no presents and that has worked until now.

"Open it when you're ready," she says and leans closer to press a kiss on my cheek. "You deserve the world, my sweet girl." She whispers and wipes my cheek softly before walking away.

My eyes look from the box in my hand to the direction she walks off. I lean against the door and open the box against my better judgement. I sigh in relief when I don't see any jewelry in sight like I've previously said, I don't like people spending money on me. In place of the supposed jewelry is a folded sheet of paper. I take out the paper and close the box before unfolding the paper.

I bring the paper closer to read what's on it. "It's an address," I whisper. My eyes falls below the address, it's a message that reads, 'call me whenever you're ready.'

Ready for what? And whose address is this?

I look at the direction she went before folding and returning the paper inside the box. I open my purse and slide the box inside. This will have to wait till Monday because I'm working tomorrow.

I head back to the party.

Curiosity gets me as I wonder how they were able to get the designs up in just a day, the family has a personal interior decorator that helps them with everything: birthdays, Christmas, New year parties, and I've been lucky enough to be invited to those.

The furnitures aren't back in the huge living room, it's decorated like it's a hall with blue and pink balloons letters spelling 'WELCOME HOME NOVA'. There's a long table in the middle of the room that's filled with white roses, Nova's favorite. It's more of a welcome home dinner than party but I'll have fun either way.

I look around the room for familiar faces because I'm starting to feel like I'm being watched. I know no one is watching me, no one cares that I'm here but I feel like it, and it's starting to freak me out. Where is Nova? Jasmin or even Steve? I don't mind any one, I just need to see someone I know before I lose my freaking mind and–

"Hey, Dawn!" The sound of Nova cutting through my quiet thought and grabbing my arm for attention makes me alert, I physically jump on the spot in fright and my heartbeat increases.

Nova doesn't know anything about this, so I swallow and blink the feeling away before giving her my full attention while my heart beat like crazy.

"Hey." I give her a nervous smile and she doesn't catch it. Good.

I notice she's looking happier than ever but then I see her hand disappears behind an unfamiliar masculine figure. "Dawn, this is Henry. Henry, this is my best friend I was telling you about, Dawn."

She's setting me up. Why am I not surprised? I knew this was going to happen the moment she told me she wanted to introduce me to someone. Oh, sweet Nova, always trying to play the matchmaker. She didn't know I remained single all these years on purpose, that thinking would have changed if Hardin remained but now that he's back with her, I can't start something with someone, not when my mind is elsewhere but I'll humor her. I've never met Henry, which means I might never see him again.

"Hi, Henry." I give him a wave and smile politely.

Nova smiles is big, filling her face. If she continues I'm afraid the smile is going to melt her face. "Cute, isn't she?" She turns to Henry.

"Hmm...Were"–she laughs–"you expecting this introduction?" She asks me.

In a way, I kind of did but I choose to lie to her instead.

"No, not at all. I figured you'd leave me alone," I tell her with a smile so she wouldn't detect the irritation I feel for using the word 'cute' to describe me to a stranger, who probably thinks I'm a shy person. I am shy person but I don't want people knowing my business.

Nova smile fades as she removes her hand from Henry's back. "What's wrong with you? You've been grumpy all night." She needs an answer but she won't get one because I'm not even sure I know what's wrong with me.

"I'm sorry," I sigh and rub my hand on my face before pushing the loose strands of hair behind my ear. I add, "I'm burn out."

Which isn't a lie. I'm not a spontaneous person and that's something you need when you're working three jobs almost at the same time because you need it. I just have to do it, burned out or not, I have to.

Her eyes softens when she hears me. "Then come with Nate and I on vacation next week," her widens the way they do when she gets ideas, she looks at Henry briefly and continue, "Henry can come," she claps her hand, already buying into the idea. "Oh, my God, Henry should come, it would be like a couple's trip."

Oh fudge.