I arrived at Allyson's place an hour before I was supposed to and stayed until it was my time. Getting there earlier was better than arriving late. Out of all the five dressed I showed her, she loved and picked one, a blue gown with a thigh high slit and mutton sleeve. She picked it only because of the sleeve.

After I'm done with Allyson, I call a cab and wait out front for it to arrive. I use the opportunity to scroll through my phone and check for any notifications. I read and reply to some text, leaving Nova's for the last.

She wrote: Are you almost done with your appointment? I need you here and remember to pack for at least a week because you and I have a lot to talk about. Can't wait to see you. *Yellow heart emoji*, *blowing kiss emoji*.

As much as I would love to spend every second of the coming week with her, I can't because I have a job and I haven't told anyone that my best friend is back and would appreciate it if they give me some days off to catch up with her.

I thought she was coming back to our apartment. I knew she would want to go to her mom's place first and come home, but with her new fiance and everything, I know they'll be staying at her condo.

Now, how does that make me feel?

The cab pulls up in front of me, I enter and tell him my address.

I'm happy for Nova, I can't believe she's settling down because all of the time I've known her I've never seen her with a guy twice. She loved her one night stands. I wonder what changed. She must really love this guy to be doing this and it's not just that, she seems different, more calm and happy. I wonder if it's the guy or Seattle.

I drop in front of my building and go inside to take a quick shower and change. Not packing anything because I won't be staying for a week, just tonight and I'm only staying tonight because of her Mom.

****

I get to the Nova's Mom's place around nine and I can tell from the sound coming from inside that they're having a party. Her Mom lives in a mansion and the place is by far the biggest house I've ever stepped foot in real life. Anyway, I thought Nova said her party isn't until tomorrow. Maybe they got anxious moved it to today or this is a surprise.

I slip into the house with being seen because I want to talk to Nova's Mom before saying hello to other people, and when I enter the living room, I notice all the furnitures are nowhere to be seen and are replaced with all sort of people having fun and engaging each other in conversation while a pop music plays in background. Nova's Mom, Phoebe throws the sickest party, I think Nova got that from her.

My eyes skims the room for familiar faces and rest on Nova who is leaning against the railings of the staircase with a drink in her hand, talking to someone I've never seen.

I wave my hand in her direction to catch her attention and it does the trick. She sees me through the corner of her eye before turning her head. Her face brightens up as she waves frantically. She faces the person she was talking to and says something I can't make out before climbing down the stairs and coming to me.

Meeting her halfway, we hug with her sighing like it's a relief I'm here. I know how she feels because I'm feeling the same way.

"It's a good thing you're here," she says after the hug. She takes my hand in hers and lead me away from the noise. "No one here understands my humor, I made the cow joke and no one laughed, can you believe it?"

I laugh because the cow joke is the silliest thing I've ever heard and it's not funny, but we, her friends and family laugh every time she cracks it.

"Is this the welcome home party? I thought it was tomorrow." And if I had known there's a party going on, I would have made an effort with my dressing instead the shirt and jeans.

She removes her hand from mine and standing in front of me, she places her hands on my shoulder and bend towards me because she's taller with her heels on. "No." Her face sobers up and guilt flashes in them. "It's your birthday party."

What?

"Huh?" I think I heard her say it's my birthday party.

She nods. "Happy birthday, Dawn and kill me later. Mom's standing behind you," she tells me and leans closer to press a quick kiss on my cheek before running away.

Coward.

"Dawn."

I close my eyes at the sound of my name on Phoebe's lips. I spin around slowly with my head down, my eyes glued on my open toe sandals. I need to cut my nails and paint, it's been long since I've painted my nails.

"Honey, what's on the floor that you're staring at so hard?"

I raise my head to see her giving me a sweet smile that warms my heart. This woman has been there when I needed a mother and she didn't deserve what I did.

"I'm sorry for not–"

"Shush shush." She wraps her arms around me, giving me a bear hug. "No more of that, just don't be a stranger."

I nod. "I promise."

"Happy birthday sweetness." She pulls away and gives me a knowing smile. She knows I don't like celebrating my birthday but she never pushed to know why.

She pulls my cheek before grabbing my jaw in one hand and tilting my head to each side to inspect. "You've lost weight," she frowns, "this is what happens when you miss Sunday dinner. You won't miss anymore unless you really have to, right?" She drops her hand from my jaw.

"I won't."

"Happy birthday, Dawn. You are a talented designed and I can't wait for you to take on the world with your talents. I love you." She gives me one more hug before departing.

I always forget why I hate celebrating my birthday when I'm around this people. They show me love and be there for me, maybe it's time I start seeing things from different angles. Instead of being angry and bitter about an awful past that scarred me for life, I should also remember that there are people around me that I can lean on.

Sighing, I lean against the wall and slide down until my butt is touching the tiled floor. I hug my legs to my chest and remember last year.

Hardin is my favorite coincidence and everything that I'm feeling right now is because I was too stupid and impatient. Damn period. Before I go to sleep I think about him and different scenarios of meeting him again. I might be walking out of the grocery store and bump into him or see him at a bar. Everything all comes down to how I'll react.

It's been a whole year and I'm still stuck on him. So many things have happened this past month, I just hope he remembers me just like I do. I write him letters everyday, it's the first time I do when I wake. It started after the second month. I had looked everywhere, searched Google, LinkedIn, Facebook even Instagram for Hardin Smith but nothing comes up. I never asked for the name of company he worked for. If I knew that it would have been easy to find him.

We spent a night together and it was a memorable one. People might say I'm crazy for falling in love with someone I don't know but I believe in love at first sight as it also believes in me. It's what–

Someone slamming into me pulls me out of my thought and makes me raise my head, ready to snarl at whoever it is for not watching where there looking but...

"Oh shit, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." That green eyes, the one I've spent the last twelve months dreaming about

"Hardin?"

I can't believe–

I close my eyes and silently pray, 'this better not be a dream.' I open my eyes to see him standing above me.

"Dawn?" His face sparks with recognition. "Hey!" He says with a smile.

It is him. I can't believe it.

I get on my feet and wrap my arms around his neck. "Oh my God! It is you." I notice he's not hugging me back, in fact he stills in surprise. This is a surprise for me too. I pull away and search his eyes as I start explaining. I need to get everything out. He needs to know I didn't walk out on him. "I'm sorry. I am so sorry for leaving without an explanation, I got my period and forgot to leave my number. I came back but you were already gone. I looked everywhere, I searched for you but nothing showed up, I–"

He cut off my rant with a question, "What are you doing here?" A simple question that shouldn't hurt but his tone, it's stern.

"What am I doing here?" I point at myself before directing the same finger at him. "What are you doing here?"

He sighs and runs his hand through his sleek hair before answering, he looks nervous. "To meet my fi–"

He doesn't finish as Nova comes behind him. "Oh my God, Dawn! Are you still sulking? I know you don't like parties but–" she stops speaking when sees the person standing in front of me. Her face lights up as her arm goes around his waist. "Oh babe, I didn't see you."

He looks down at her and gives her a loving smile.

What the hell is happening right now? What am I looking at?

Why is Nova touching Hardin like that? Why is he smiling at her like that? This is the exact same smile he gave me that night.

"Babe?" I repeat.

Nova smiles and I can see she's grinning. "Yeah," she looks at him again but this time he isn't looking at her, his eyes are on me. And I can see the confusion written all over his face. Maybe this is a misunderstanding. Friends call each other babe, and that night he told me a friend of friend knows Nova, maybe she invited his friend of his friend.

"I was going to introduce you guys later but since you're both here, I might as well do the introduction.* She reaches forward and grabs my hand, separating it from the other. "Dawn, this is my fiance, Nate, and, Nate, this is my best friend Dawn."

Nate. His name is Nate.

He looks at Nova like she's grown another head. "You told me your best friend's name is Adorener."

Adorener?

"Yeah, it's what I call when she's being annoying and that day I told you about her, she was being annoying, so..."

I don't think I get what is going on here. The man I've spent the last twelve months pinning over is actually my best friend's fiance.

"Wait... You're saying this is your fiance as in the man you're going to marry?" I need to confirm.

She nods.

"Yes."

No, this can't it. This can't be my reality. No. No!