"OMG FLORA! Let's go shop for an outfit that you can show off to your new boyfriend!" Abby squealed.

"Oh yeah, I totally need a new outfit," Flora remembered.

Lalani grinned. "I know the perfect place. Come on!"

Flora and Abby ran after Lalani. Lalani knew about all the deals that went on every week at the mall. The only guy in the group- Kei, and the misfit in the group- Annabella, looked at each other and laughed.

"Let's go in the opposite direction," Kei smirked mischievously.

Annabella grinned up at him. "Race you!"

"Haha- hey wait!" He ran after Annabella laughing.

"I win!" she whirled around and giggled after reaching an expensive-looking store.

"Yeah, 'cause you got a headstart," Kei squinted his eyes teasingly. "Geez, we're at the mall way too often. Why do those girls ALWAYS have to go shopping? Seriously, give me a break."

"Honestly! They should be using that money for more important things."

Kei flipped his invisible long hair back and popped a hip. "OMG, no way! Honey, fashion is the most IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD."

Anabella pinched her nose. "Like, I'd die if I didn't at the very least own a knockoff Prada purse. Only, of course, I don't tell people it's faker than my extra long fake lashes!"

Kei burst into a fit of laughter. Annabella was amused at his reaction, so she threw her head back and laughed too. It was comforting to know they weren't the only ones who thought lowly of their group's ridiculous standards.

Kei chuckled one last time before saying, "Annabella, do you know what I just realized right now?"

Annabella furrowed her eyebrows in deep thought and looked down. After contemplating it for a few seconds, she blankly looked up. "No. What?" She was surprised to notice the disappearance of his smile, and the sudden seriousness in his black almond-shaped eyes.

"We're in the same friend group, but we never really knew one another."

Anabella chuckled softly. "Yeah, I know what you mean."

Kei gave a gentle smile. "I enjoy talking with you."

Anabella raised her shoulders shyly and fiddled with her fingers. "Yeah?"

"I guess what I'm saying is..." he said while rubbing the back of his neck, "I think... I'd like to get to know you more. Would you like to go out for a cup of coffee sometime?"

"Would I?!" She squealed.

Kei laughed at her endearing display of excitement, and more at her embarrassment.

Pulling at a strand of her curly light blonde hair, Annabella shyly confessed, "Sorry, I've never gotten asked out before."

Kei lifted an eyebrow in surprise. "Seriously? But you're so.. gorgeous." He blushed lightly as a smile tugged on his lip.

"You really think so?" She said, shyly clasping her hands. "You're cute too, you know."

Kei laughed goodheartedly. "Yeah, I know." Annabella giggled at his confident response.

How amazing it was, that in just a half an hour of talking she'd built a bond with someone she'd otherwise known as a stranger in her group. A romance was budding.

***

Closing his eyes, Officer Jack sighed deeply.

"I've made up my mind..." he murmured.

After going to the restroom, he returned to the office where his two fellow coworkers chatted. Upon seeing him enter, they stopped their conversation and gawked.

"Jack, what do you think you're doing?" Drake raised an eyebrow at Jack's casual outfit.

"Yeah, where's your police uniform?!" Ben responded.

"Men, I've decided to chase after the woman I love. I did her wrong, now I must seek her forgiveness!"

Ben smacked his forehead.

Drake cheered, "Best of luck, man!"

Jack grinned. This was the town where he'd met her, he had no doubt he'd find her again.

Except... he didn't expect to find her soon. After exiting the police station, he'd only walked a block when he found her.

A beautiful blonde about Jack's age stood a few feet in front of him. Her soft curls fell just beneath her shoulders, and she wore a medium-length tight-fitting white dress with elbow-length sleeves. Jack admired the way she stood so elegantly, even the way she texted was elegant.

Could she possibly be Brianna? There was only one way to find out.

Jack coughed softly. "Excuse me?"

The woman looked up, her dusty rose-colored lips parted. "Can I help you?"

Jack held her gaze for a few seconds before looking away. Her eyes were so.. cold. "You look really familiar." Maybe he would be the one to bring back their warmth. Grinning, he looked up again and asked, "Have we met somewhere before?"

The beautiful woman failed to reciprocate his smile. "I don't think I've seen you before, to be honest."

But of course. Brianna was only acting like she didn't know him. She was obviously bitter about their past.

Glancing at the time on her phone, the woman smiled and put it back in her purse. "Look, maybe you can remind me while we walk. I really need to get to my job."

Jack's face lit up. "Good idea," he agreed.

***

Naomi stopped dead in her tracks and shook her head. Why was she bothering to go back to the Harlequin? Especially where that good-for-nothing Ted was!

Naomi stepped over the thin layer of snow that had fallen over the sidewalk and sat down on a nearby bench. She blew into her hands to provide warmth against the cold gusts of wind. Shivering, she stared mindlessly into the distance as cars passed by.

Her mind involuntarily flashed back to every moment she'd told Ted she'd wait for him to like her back. Waiting was total BS, she realized it now. Getting sidetracked was also total BS and a complete waste of time. The only thing that should be on her mind is her sister. Naomi sighed in frustration, her breath visible in the low temperature. Who would kidnap Ashley? And why? Whoever it was, Naomi would make them pay.

Suddenly, the sun poked out from behind the clouds. The black leather briefcase was illuminated by the sun's rays. Naomi stared intently at the bag on her lap. Come to think of it, she'd never thoroughly checked everything in it...

Naomi quickly opened the briefcase. It was safe to open in public, as she'd already given up the guns. The sidewalk was void of people anyway. She slipped her hand into the pockets underneath the lid. She inhaled sharply and held her breath when she felt the rim of a piece of paper. Her hands trembled as she pulled it out, but she made sure to hold it tightly.

It had been folded in half twice. Still, Naomi could not believe she hadn't noticed it before. She gulped as she unfolded it. There, in legible semi-cursive handwriting, it read:

Dear Naomi,

I'm sure you want to see your sister. Fret not, for it is almost time for you two to reunite. You will have a limited amount of time to come find her. I have the location written on this paper. Show up on Agenda Street at 2:00 p.m. I will be waiting on the corner of the block showcasing the Marley Hotel. If you don't make it in time, I'm afraid you'll never see your dear sister again.

***

"BRITNEY!" Naomi hollered when she entered the Harlequin Bakery. "I found something!"

"Why does everyone keep screaming!" Britney screamed. At last, she came out from behind the counter and approached a panting Naomi.

"What is it?" she said more seriously.

Naomi stared hard into her eyes. "I found another ransom note."

"What?" she whispered. "What did it say?"

Naomi exhaled and shook her head. "Sorry, but there's no time to explain," she answered, looking towards the exit. "I have to be there on time so I can find her!"

"Be where- Naomi... wait!" Britney called out, but Naomi had already left the bakery.

She sprinted past a customer and pushed the doors open. Outside, she looked left and right. "Crap!" she muttered. Where could she have gone?

Britney sighed and pushed back her choppy bangs. Naomi would be ok, there was no sense in worrying. The kidnapper had threatened Naomi with the first ransom note, yet nothing had happened to her. Perhaps this one was another false alarm, just words trying to instill more fear and drive Naomi crazy. Britney was sure she'd come back to her senses once she realized it. Naomi had a strong will, there was no way she'd let someone play with her mind that way.

After reassuring herself with these thoughts, her worries melted away with the entrance of a daydream. Britney bit her lip, but she couldn't stop the smile that spread over her face upon imagining a new encounter.

***

"We had so much fun in high school, I can't believe you don't remember!" Jack tried to hide the desperation in his voice with a smile, but it was becoming increasingly difficult.

Luna awkwardly looked away from his face and turned her head to the news van and back. "Sorry, but I think you've mistaken me for somebody else."

She slowly backed away. This man was clearly on something.. she'd never met him in her life!

"Brianna, wait!" Jack brushed back his dark hair and looked warily at the woman in front of him. "I've waited so long to say this."

Luna stood still.

He smiled and gave a light chuckle. "I love you."

She gasped. "I-"

"Oh HELL NO. Bitch, that's MY man!"

Luna's eyes widened at the incoming figure behind Jack. Jack's jaw dropped when he saw an unlikely woman pounce on his Brianna. The two of them fell to the ground. Luna blocked her face as the other woman threw fists at her arms. Luna struggled when the other one began to scratch instead.

"Both of you! Stop fighting!" Jack ordered in his deep, authoritative officer voice.

The two of them stood up disheveled; one reluctantly, the other fearfully.

"Now can someone explain to me the meaning of this?" He glared.

"I don't even know you two!" Luna cried. Side-eyeing the violent stranger beside her, Luna took off running and slammed the news van door shut.

The last woman standing wiped her hands on her apron. When she was done, she whipped her messy blonde hair back and eyed the man seductively. "Jack."

She made her way towards him and stopped. Her sexy facade fell when she saw his irritated expression, and her insecurity urged her to cross her arms. "Hey... It's me, Brianna," she confessed.

The irritated look changed into one of confusion. "You're... Brianna?"

The woman nodded.

A wave of sadness passed over Jack's face. "But how..?"

She sighed and enveloped herself further into a cacoon. "I was heartbroken after I saw you with that other chic, so I changed my name and hair." Recalling her anger, she stood a little straighter in front of the man who had betrayed her. The fire in her eyes caught Jack's, but only for a split second. Her eyelids drooped as she stared at the ground behind him. "From that day forward, I decided that I would never let a guy hurt me again."

Jack felt a pang in his heart. The dreary memories flooded back in and he had nothing left to hold him up. He turned his gaze down at the ground as well. Nothing hurt more than being perceived negatively by the one he loved. "I'm so sorry Britney... I must have damaged you more than I thought. I never meant for it to happen the way it did. It was out of my control, I swear."

He gulped before uttering the question he feared to know the answer to, yet much anticipated.

"Can you forgive me?"

Britney looked up into his sad eyes. She fought back the tears threatening to rise to the surface and gulped down the knot forming in her throat.

At last, she answered.

"I don't know." She slouched over with a defeated tone in her voice.

There was her reply. Jack had expected it, but he hoped it wouldn't have been that. He felt his throat close up. Just as he was about to fall apart, she began to speak again.

"Who am I kidding?" she straightened up again. "That's why I came to find you," she smiled, a lonely tear finally escaping and rolling down her cheek. "I forgive you. I missed you."

Jack smiled and stepped closer. He grabbed her right arm and wiped the lonely tear away with his left. "I missed you too," he admitted, gazing lovingly into her eyes. "Not a single day went by that I didn't regret running after you. I never should have left."

Britney wrapped her arms around Jack's warm body and pressed her head onto his firm chest. Jack held her tight and laid his head on top of hers. "The past is in the past. This is now, and we're here together. We'll be together."

He breathed in the sweet aroma of pastries and smiled. "And together we will be. Speaking of together," he said, separating them a bit, "I believe we have some unfinished business."

"Oh?" Britney looked up cluelessly, but the smirk on his face said it all.

"This."

He slid his hands up her shoulders and raised her chin towards his face. He leaned down slowly, gazing at Britney's parted lips. She stared at his nearing lips and gently closed her eyes.

They met. The tangible contact sent Britney's heart fluttering, and Jack's dreams soaring. She reached up and brought his neck down closer. Jack moved his arms to her back and pressed her closer to him.

The moment they'd been waiting for had arrived. Hidden emotions came to light when the paths of these two lovers broken by their past intertwined. Deception and remorse were replaced by hope and tenderness. All regret was forgotten, for at last they were reunited.