'So another chance at being a compere eh?', asked Ethan.

'Yeah. It's been so long since I've done this that it feels exciting!', I chirped.

'Why so?'

'Well it's like you're getting back bits of your past', I shrugged.

'I don't think I'd ever want my past back', he said under his breath. This was actually the perfect opportunity for me to ask him about his past but I was already drained from the sweet memories of my yesteryears that all I wanted was some sugar inside of me so that I could get ready for tonight's shift.

'I am a bit suspicious though', I said pausing in my steps.

'About what?', he asked.

'Noah and his camera', I said looking at him hoping that he didn't look at me like I was overreacting.

'I'm sure it was nothing. Besides, what could he do to you with a picture of us talking?', he asked.

'I guess', I mused and decided to shrug it off even though it only moved to the back of my head, waiting for the right opportunity to come back and scare me.

'I'm gonna go to the cafe. You wanna come or are you leaving?', I asked getting back to what was important.

'It's not like I have anything else to do', he shrugged and followed me into Elixir.

As we waited for our order in my regular spot right next to the french window, I saw him and this time he saw me.

Peter stood at the counter to get his order and while his eyes scanned the room they found mine and I watched as they widened a bit. The scar above his lip moved up with his twisted smile and that was enough to send me into another state of panic but I dug my nails deep into my wrist to divert the pain elsewhere.

'I just remembered. I'm supposed to get your frame back today and if I don't get it in an hour, well you'll have to wait another day', said Ethan and I looked at him completely lost.

'My what?', I blinked.

'The frame that the mouse knocked over?', he asked.

'Oh! Yeah, that!', I exclaimed a bit louder than I intended that it made Peter look at me again and I mentally face palmed myself for acting like an idiot.

'Are you okay?', asked Ethan.

'Honestly, I'm fine', I said but he did not look convinced.

'I'll meet you at the library and then you can tell me what's wrong', he said as he got up but before I could open my mouth to protest he said,

'Nadia told me, so don't think even think about lying and also I haven't forgotten about your other lie either'

I scowled at the human lie detector who simply smiled and then left with his coffee.

As soon as I made sure Ethan had left the area, I looked at Peter who was now reading a book.

Well, I guess Ethan would be hearing more than what happened on the first day I met Peter.

Armed with my coffee and cupcake, I timidly approached my first crush, love, and heartbreak wrapped together in an attractive human shell.

'Peter', I said and he looked up at me with his ash eyes which still looked like a rainy sky.

'Omi', he smiled and closed his book.

I didn't know what to say or do until he signaled me with his hands to sit down.

'Let me guess, strawberry', he said looking at the cupcake and I grinned hearing him remember my little quirks.

'Do you still love caffeine as black as your soul?', I asked mocking how he used to describe it back when we were little and it was answered by his addictive laugh.

'No, I realized it was becoming a problem so I've switched to tea', he said grimly and I laughed softly.

I had so much to say and ask but most importantly to apologize.

'How are you?' 'I'm sorry', we both said at the same time.

'What?', he asked confused.

'I'm sorry for ruining what we had by telling you that I liked you', I said unable to look at his face. He was the only man that I was nervous to be around because that was how I felt around him; anxious and afraid about what would happen.

'Omi', he sighed with his low raspy voice and I finally looked at him and found that he looked calm and was that amusement tugging at his mouth?

'You didn't ruin anything. I liked you too back then but it wasn't meant to be. It just wouldn't have worked out. I've never harbored any hard feelings about it either. To me, they're these memories which make me smile and I'm glad that it happened', he said.

The second he said it, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my chest that I could finally take a sip of my drink.

'You study here at M.G, right? I remember seeing it on your profile', he said and I nodded while internally doing a happy dance that he checked up on me.

'Yeah just one more year and I'll be done', I replied and he nodded as well.

'What are you doing here?', I asked.

'Visiting my brother. I had a break and thought it'd be nice to finally see this place', he said.

'How is it so far?', I asked.

'It's me we're talking about. I got bored within the first two days and I started to look if I could apply for a job just for fun. Turns out they'd like me as a professor at a local college', he said and I couldn't help but laugh at how he hadn't changed a bit.

Peter was always the achiever in everything he did and he did it effortlessly. He loved chemistry more than anything in the world and right after his masters, he did a Ph.D. and was asked to teach at his alma matter because he was THAT good. He wasn't the type to sit still, he always had to be doing something but even though he was all of that, he didn't let any of it get to his head.

The only flaw I saw in him was his anger and boy could he get angry. Our fights were like fire against fire back then. We both had huge egos which we refused to let go of even if it burnt us.

'How is life?', he asked.

'Too much to explain in a nutshell', I replied and he grinned.

'What?', I asked.

'I'd expect nothing less from you', he chuckled and I rolled my eyes at him.

'I mean it, if scandal had a face, it would be you', he said.

'Okay that was unessecsary', I replied bluntly.

'Oh come on, when was it in your life that you ever had a dull moment? I bet on anything that even if you never went searching for it, it would come to you because you're like some sort of magnet for drama', he said and I internally groaned at his accuracy.

He was right. You might as well use me like a charm that attracts drama and scandals; The Salome totem. 100% guarantee for a drama-free life.

'It's not like I'm actually proud of it', I mumbled.

'Well it's what makes you, you', he shrugged.

'Did you just call me dramatic?', I asked.

'Don't start the 'did- you- just' fight, Omi. You know how it's going to end', he warned with his handsome smile.

Of course, I knew how it would end, me crying and I certainly did not need more today.

My phone started to light up with a reminder that I had to get back to my apartment before work but I didn't want to go, I wanted to stay and catch up with him. I wanted to be next to him so much that it felt like he was a cup of water in the desert.

'I have to go', I finally said and I could see how he looked upset behind his eyes.

'Okay', he said simply masking his disappointment. Peter was still a pro at wearing a mask while mine had come off midway through college.

'When do you leave for India?', I asked.

'In a week I guess', he replied.

'You still have my old number right?', I asked and he nodded.

'I'll text you. I'm not letting you go so easily', I said and he grinned with a nod.

'It was really nice to see you again', I said before I turned to leave.

'Same here, Omi', he replied and I left before I was bewitched by his eyes to stay a bit longer.