Frazer was gone for a while. So long I wondered if he had misplaced the things he was searching for. Or gotten lost in the endless labyrinth of his large apartment. Or, perhaps, he'd forgotten me...

Though I shook that final thought and see-sawed back to the other arguments I'd been dwelling on.

He has been here for me three times I've been drunk. He's kept me safe. He's looked after me... When he's here... He's not all bad. The Frazer I know is still in there...

No. I can't think of the positive. Not after what he did. Not after what he symbolises.

Besides, how could I ever just be friends with him?

As if I could ever ignore how much I adored him... or how much that adoration was laced with remnants of betrayal.

Before I could come to a decision how I truly felt about where we stood, he had returned, carrying a small box sitting atop a large box.

He set them down on the table, clearing the food out of the way before pushing them over to me. "The bigger one was your birthday present. The other... was a last-minute Valentine's present I got in case this all was a miscommunication and you unblocked me."

"... I don't think giving me a Valentine's gift is fitting."

"I was hoping to switch it out for one of the items inside the other box... I think that one isn't very fitting anymore."

"Oh..." I glanced at them, unsure what to do. If he wants to switch it out... then I have to open it now, right?

With wary hands, I grabbed the larger of the two, slowly peeling back the delicate wrapping, wondering what could possibly be inside.

A birthday present... If only he had just bothered to call.

All he needed to do was call.

I lifted the lid off the box inside, revealing a few items nestled in a bed of shredded tissue paper.

The two card-like items struck me first. Grabbing the larger one, I flipped it over to find—

"Wait," I said as my eyes flickered over the card, realising what I was seeing. "Wait." I looked at him, to ascertain if I was right.

His smile was smug, like he was proud he'd done well.

"Are these really—"

"Yup. Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Benson Boone, Taylor Swift, Sabrina—"

"How did you even—"

"The Grammys. They were all there."

"... But that was the day before—"

"Your birthday. I know... As I said... it's not like I wasn't thinking about you. It's not like I didn't love you. I just... I was so overwhelmed with it all that I didn't know where to start with my life anymore. Everything was a blur. Everything just melted into one thing and I was trying to keep my head afloat... Problems of the rich and famous, I know, but..."

"No... I hear you. I can only imagine..."

We were quiet, his apartment strangely serene as the previous emotions of joy became tainted with melancholic questions of what could have been. If he'd just messaged me... In all the craziness.

Though eventually Frazer interrupted my thoughts to say, "There's more."

Acknowledging his prompt, I reached for the other card, wary as I flipped it over about what more there could be. Yet then I read it.

Emilia,

Wishing you the happiest 19th birthday. What a wonderful time it is as you blossom from a young lady into a young woman. Enjoy these days.

Much love,

Taylor

"Taylor," I read out loud after my eyes were certain they saw wrong. Then I glanced at him for confirmation. "As in the Taylor?"

He nodded.

"How did you—"

"She was very sympathetic to a lovesick boy's request... She said she liked the hook in Wanted to Say as well."

"Ohmygosh," I gushed. "Wait... are you saying you told Taylor about... us?"

"As if she was going to spread rumours... But yes, I did."

My bottom lip trembled, but I told myself to stay steady. It's a bunch of signatures on a page... a night he found more important than me... even if I was on his mind during it. It was one small effort. It doesn't mean anything.

I reached for the Valentine's present next, quicker to open this one to get this part out of the way.

Underneath the wrapping was a Pandora jewellery box. And then, within that, "A charm."

"Figured it would go nice on your bracelet..."

"Yeah. thanks." I don't know if I could ever wear this without thinking about him though... Yet I didn't dwell long on that thought. I couldn't. Because all I could suddenly think about as my eyes darted over to the box in his hand was, What was I supposed to get?

Noticing my stare, he gripped it harder, tucking it under his arm like it might disappear if he concealed it.

I tried to play the bigger person. I tried to feign I didn't care. But in the end I blurted, "What's in there that was so unfitting?"

"It's... nothing."

"Oh, c'mon."

"You can't use it anymore. So don't worry about it."

"But I want to know."

"Just forget it."

"... You really won't at least tell me?" It was difficult to hide the disappointment leaking into my tone.

Which was why he replied with a conceding sigh before pushing it across the table towards me..

I tried to not seem eager. I tried to act nonchalant. But in the end, I eagerly tore at the wrapping and wrenched the lid off the next box.

And my heart stopped.

Before it restarted.

And then it raced.

Heat flushed through my face, my eyes stung, words disappeared from my mouth and mind as I tried—and failed—to not read into what I was seeing.

Nestled in another jewellery box—in a Tiffany's box—were two silver rings. One a simple thick band, and the other encrusted with diamonds.

"What," was all I managed to get out.

But when Frazer realised what had me so flabbergasted, he blurted, "They're couple rings." Then, with trembling fingers, he pried one out—the larger one—to reveal the engraving within.

E + F. Always.

I responded by tweezing out the smaller one—my one—and observing the same letters adorning the inside.

My watery eyes studied it for an eternity, until they finally looked up at his: waiting, wary, wanting.

"Why?" I whispered.

"I wanted us to have something..."

"But... When did you buy it?"

"Not long after I arrived in America."

"When we were still talking?"

He nodded.

"I don't believe you."

And as if he accepted my challenge, he left me alone again, alone with the remnants of his heart still nestled in the objects intended for me to receive... Only to return this time with an envelope that he handed to me.

'Tiffanys' it read. I opened the paper, pried out the receipt, trying to not react to the absurdly large dollar sign, as my eyes spotted the key information.

Order date: 7th January, 2025.

Collection date: 3rd February, 2025.

"Frazer," I croaked.

"I was never not thinking about you," he said again.

I nodded before looking up at him. "I see that. I do."

He shrugged, tears unashamedly matching mine as they poured out of his face.

I took another look at all the trinkets on the table. At his misguided attempts to show his love. Why couldn't he have just called me instead...

"Because I was a fool," he said.

I glanced up, realising I said it outloud.

"Such a dumb fool."

My bottom lip quivered, and trembled, until finally a sob escaped.

"Hey," he softly said, reaching across the table to grab my hand.

Though I only cried harder.

"Hey," he soothed once more, rounding to my side. His hands worried over me, wanting to grab me but wary of the rejection.

So I fell into him, and he took the invitation, winding his arms around me as he held me close to his heart.

"Don't cry... There's nothing to cry about."

"You're such an idiot."

"I know."

"I just needed your time. I didn't need things."

"... I wish I had the time to give you. But I didn't... Though I should have found it. I should have tried harder. I should have done anything to not lose you."

We stayed like that for some moments more, until I calmed down.

Though eventually my breaths evened out.

Eventually I pulled away from his hold.

And then finally I wiped my eyes, before glancing back into his face, gazing at him.

Long locks slightly frizzy still from bed, as though he hadn't bothered grooming yet. Skin slightly oily from not being washed yet. And dazzling green eyes pouring into me with sympathy and adoration.

"Fine," I breathed, causing him to raise his eyebrows questioningly. "We can be friends," I conceded.

And then my favourite look on Frazer stole the show. His eyes crinkled with delight, the corner of his lips stretched widely, and his whole face lit up with endless, unbridled joy.