That same night, Mari waited for Jeremy outside the Palais Garnier.

Ten minutes passed.

Jeremy wasn't there. Still, Mari waited. "He's probably just running late," she reasoned.

An hour passed.

Mari sat down on a bench nearby and buried her face in her hands. "I've been stood up," she mumbled. "I can't believe he stood me up again."

"Hey!" A tall young man called from across the street. "Mari?"

"Josh?" Mari questioned, looking up, her face stained with a few tears.

Josh jogged over and knelt down beside the bench and looked at her with wide concerned eyes. "What happened? Did someone hurt you?"

"You could say that," Mari sighed. "Jeremy stood me up."

"Well," Josh shrugged, sitting down on the cold concrete, his sneakers crossed over each other nonchalantly, "things come up sometimes."

"It isn't the first time he's done this," Mari sighed again.

"In that case," Josh laughed, tossing his arms in the air, "he's a jerk."

"Maybe," Mari sniffled. "Well, I guess my night's free."

"Come on," Josh laughed. "Bright, amazing girl like you has to have at least four other guys waiting to jump."

Mari raised and eyebrow and scoffed. "Like any of that's true."

"It is," Josh chuckled.

"Um, nope," Mari snorted. "Thanks, though."  

"Hey, why don't you come get dinner with me?" Josh suggested.

"Sure," Mari shrugged.

Josh stood up and took her hand. "Are you alright?" He asked, putting an arm around her shoulders.

"I will be," Mari replied simply.

"Is 'will be' special ditched code for 'really not so alright at all'?" Josh asked, shoving his other hand into his pocket.

"Yeah," Mari said with a slight laugh.

Josh gave a sad little smile. "Then I'll be fine too." He kicked the pebbles on the asphalt and looked up at the darkened sky. "God, I love it when the night sets in like this."

"What do you mean? Are things not going well with Caroline?" Mari asked, looking at him worriedly.

"Caroline is Caroline," Josh shrugged. "Love's not as complicated as people make it out to be, you know. I gave up on expectations a long time ago. When it's quiet like this, it's a bit of peace. It reminds us that we're just specks on a...I'm sorry. I'm ranting, aren't I?"

"It's alright," Mari smiled, looking down. "Why are you even with her? You could do so much better."

"I don't know," Josh shrugged with a little laugh. "I guess she just reminds me of someone I used to know. That, and I do it for Matt. Matt, his work, who he is...all that is worth a little sacrifice."

"But Josh, you deserve so much more than Caroline. You deserve a real girlfriend. One who's kind and loves you," Mari sighed. "Look, I know that it's none of my business, but you need to break up with her, find someone better. It's not hard."

"You sound like Matt," Josh groaned in irritation. "Look Mari, I'm not like you. I'm not a stick and perfectly symmetrical and Hugh Jackman."

"I'm sorry. I just...I care about you, okay?"

"I don't see why," Josh laughed, spinning around to walk backward, facing her. "I'm like Linguini from Ratatouille. In fact, I'm more like his rat counterpart."

Mari laughed. "Josh, you're a great guy. You're smart and kind and funny. Any girl would be happy to have a guy like you. I know I would."

Josh gave her a quick little frown and slowed to a halt. "Why are you being so nice? What do you want? If it's about Mel, you can just ask. I'll tell you straight."

"I don't want anything. I'm being nice because I want to be. Believe it or not, not every girl is a demanding witch," Mari replied, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Josh, you can trust me. The whole world isn't out to get you. Especially not me. I just want to be your friend...Who hurt you, Josh?"

He gave a surprised little sigh. "What makes you think that?"

"I can see it in your eyes. You think that people can't tell, but I can. Cath can too. There's pain and hurt in those eyes."

"You watch too many musicals," Josh mumbled, swiveling on his heels and walking forward.

Mari quickened her pace and grabbed his arm. "Josh, I'm not saying you have to tell me. I'm just letting you know that I'm here for you. I've been hurt too. I am no stranger to pain...Anyway, moving off this topic, where are we going to eat?"

"I thought Lovin' Cup. Some of the crew is playing there tonight. I'm supposed to...I was on my way there. You wanna come?"

"Sure," Mari smiled.

"So," Josh stammered, grasping at straws, "you and Jeremy then, despite tonight, it's going pretty well?" He gestured to the promise ring on her right hand ring finger.

"Yeah. He's been great. Other than standing me up a couple times. He makes up for it, though." Just then, Mari got a text. "But not this time," she sighed. She bit her lip and took off her ring.

"Take it from me, all guys are lousy, lying jerks," Josh chuckled.

"You don't have to tell me," she laughed, trying to suppress tears. It was quite obvious that something was upsetting her.

"You're crying," Josh finally realized in a panic. "There's a tea shop just steps from here...let me-"

"No, I'm fine."

"What's your hurry?"

"I don't want you to lose your spot...or trouble you. Friends aren't easy to come by."

"They aren't," he agreed, "so you're lucky you have me. Spill."

"Jeremy just texted me and...and he broke up with me," Mari sighed.

"He texted you?"

"Yep. Didn't even have the guts to do it in person."

Josh scoffed and shook his head, frowning severely, "He's a coward and a nobody."

"You could say that again," Mari frowned.

Josh looked at her with sharp eyes. "I mean that. He's a waste of valuable oxygen. He doesn't know what he's got."

"I can't believe I ever loved him," Mari said, looking away so that Josh wouldn't see her cry.

"I can," Josh smiled. "You're full of heart. He's a man of loyalty, of promises, though neither are ever truly kept. What he professed to stand for, you fulfill."

Mari shrugged silently.

"I can take you home if you want," Josh offered.

"I really don't want to be alone right now," Mari sighed.

"Then you won't be," Josh smiled. "It will be like your red scarf all over again."

"What?" Mari questioned.

Josh blushed pink. "I shouldn't expect you to remember. It was ages ago."

"Tell me."

"You left your red scarf on the subway when you had the flu two years ago. You almost passed out. I brought you the scarf and brought you home."

"You did?"

"Yeah," Josh laughed. "You were half dead. Could barely walk."

Mari thought for a moment. "Oh, now I remember. Did I ever thank you for that?"

"Didn't need to," Josh shrugged. "You were a bit busy throwing up and loathing me."

"I didn't loathe you," Mariah laughed.

"You made my life a living torment," Josh scoffed. "My first day back, you put worms in my salad."

"That was on a dare."

"You hid my laptop," Josh frowned, "the day I was supposed to have that interview for promotion. I was three hours late because I was looking for it."

Mari bit her lip. "I'm sorry. I was kind of a jerk."

"It's alright," Josh smiled, adjusting his side bag and pointing to the small restaurant down the block. "I'm used to it."

"I shouldn't have treated you like that, though. I shouldn't have treated anyone like that...I was a very bitter person for a while there. My childhood wasn't the greatest and it affected me...You know, Catherine and I hated each other at first. I mean, I got her her job as Kate's understudy, but we hated each other."

"You were bullied too?" Josh asked with a remorseful little laugh.

"Yeah," Mariah sighed. "That orphanage was very small and I was the shortest of us girls, so naturally...well, you can imagine."

"The orphanage?" Josh said in surprise. "You were in foster care too?"

"Yeah. Everyone hated me," Mari laughed sadly.

"I didn't have anyone to hate me," Josh said, opening the door for her. "It was a small town. Nothing like the city. I came here once after I turned eighteen and I knew...I knew there was no other place for me."

"That's almost exactly what happened to me. I was in and out of foster homes until I was sixteen. I was never in one for more than three weeks and spent most of my time in an orphanage. The second I turned sixteen, I ran away. I had some money saved up and bought a one way ticket to Paris. I had to sing on the street for a little while to earn money. Then I was discovered by this incredibly rich couple. The wife couldn't have children and she loved me. I think she was the only one. Anyway, they paid for voice lessons, much to my objection. Not too long after, I got my first role at the Garnier, the couple moved and I was left alone. I was able to pay for my own place at that point, though."

"Sixteen?!" Josh gawked. "Mari, you could have died. Lord knows what could had happen to you. Your family must have been worried sick."

"I never had a family. My parents gave me up when I was a baby. I never knew them. Nobody at the orphanage cared if I was gone. I was just one less mouth to feed."

"But your case official," Josh frowned. "The helpers? They must have been some kind of family. We all have people we have to count on...I put my foster parents through heck, but in the end...family is family."

Mariah shrugged. "I must have had about twenty foster families. Like I said, none stuck. And the orphanage was horrible. I got...beaten up a lot."

"Give me a list of names. I'll show em what's what," Josh said, showing her to a table.

Mari laughed. "It's fine. I got used to it by the time I was seven...So, what do you usually get here?"

"I don't usually get anything, but-"

"Josh, where the heck have you been?!" A young man in a green beanie laughed, rushing over. He saw Mari and turned bright red. "Mariah," he said with wide eyes, "I had no idea you were coming-"

"Chill out, Uriah," Josh smirked. "She won't bite."

"I didn't say she would," Uriah said slowly. He grabbed Josh by the shoulder and dragged him aside. "Dude, I can't sing now."

"And why not?!" Josh exclaimed in surprise.

"You know that I've-" Uriah mumbled, glancing at Mari.

"Ah," Josh smirked, "I see."

"Stop," Uriah muttered in exasperation. "Josh, please, I gotta do something."

"Her boyfriend just broke up with her," Josh whispered. "It might not be the best time."

"Then she needs a friend, a confidant," Uriah said hopefully. "Please, Josh?"

Josh bit his lip. If he could make Mari happy, he would. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll take your spot."

Uriah looked as though he might cry. "Josh, really-"

"Well," Josh laughed, "go sit by her!"

—————

Mari moaned quietly to herself. "More sound crew members? I can stand the geekiness," she mumbled under her breath.

"Hey, Mari," Uriah smiled, standing awkwardly beside her. "Can I get you anything? On me? A beer? A coffee?"

"I don't drink," she said awkwardly. "But coffee would be good."

"Sure," Uriah grinned. "By the way, these last ten performances have been some of the best in your career. It's phenomenal, the amount of talent you have."

"Thanks?" She replied giving him a questioning look.

"Sorry," Uriah smiled softly, "I'll stop fanboying. I just want you to know that you're appreciated, I feel like sometimes...well, it's nothing, but you're phenomenal. All of us think so."

"Thank you," Mariah blushed slightly. "Is he trying to flirt?" She thought. She cleared her throat. "So, you sing?"

"Yeah," Uriah nodded. "Me and the guys have a band in our spare time. Nothing major. Maybe if Josh would sing with us more, but....it's just for fun."

—————

Josh stumbled up to the microphone. "Alright, everybody, thanks for coming down tonight. Me and the guys really appreciate it. We have a few little changes in the schedule. I'll be taking Uriah's usual slot. Hope you all brought earplugs."

A small chuckle rose from the crowd and Uriah leaned over and whispered in Mari's ear, "He's amazing. Don't let him tell you otherwise. He never does this."

Josh fixed the mic and sat down at the piano, giving a small smile to Uriah. "I just have the one song tonight, it's basically a true story. And even though I didn't write it, I've done everything it says, and...well, it has a special place in my heart. Well, I'll shut up now, I guess."

Another round of laughter emerged before the crowd fell in one sweeping hush.

"Josh can sing?" Mari whispered in surprise.

Josh cracked his knuckles and closed his eyes taking a deep breath. "When I was as six years old, I broke my leg,"  Josh began, deep and mellow. "I was running from my sister and her friends..."

"That's my best friend," Uriah beamed proudly to a stupefied onlooker at the next table over.

The entire crowd hung in a mesmerized silence, every heart beating in time with the simple chords.

When Josh finished, Mariah clapped wildly and cheered. "Magnificent!" She yelled from her seat. "Stupendous!"

The rest of the house rose to their feet, applauding.

Josh gave a small nod of recognition and attempted to wipe away a stray tear that had been blurring his vision.

Uriah clapped louder and grinned. "Thanks," he mouthed silently.

Josh gave a small smile and exited stage left as the rest of his friends came on. He attempted to sneak his way out back to the sound booth.

Mariah slipped away from Uriah and went to the sound booth as well. "Josh?"

Josh looked up, his face red. "Mari," he stammered in embarrassment, wiping his cheeks and clearing his throat, "I'd didn't see you there."

"Where in the world have you been hiding? Really, you were perfect," she sang teasingly. She walked over and put a gentle hand on his arm. "What's wrong?"

He recoiled at her touch. "Nothing. Just, the last time I sang that was at someone's funeral."

"I'm sorry," Mari whispered. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Mari," Josh sighed shakily, "why are you doing this?"

"For all the reasons I've already told you and more."

Josh backed up against the sound booth wall, crossing his arms. "More like what?"

Why all of the sudden? Did girls just lose their minds after breakups? Was she sick? Multiple personality disorder?

"Like, I happen to think that you're a really nice person," Mari sighed. "Josh, don't be like this. Don't put up a wall."

"I'm not!" He stammered. "It's not even a brick wall. It's like a styrofoam wall. Or bubblewrap. Then, when I'm depressed, I can just pop all the bubbles and pretend things are fine. Because they are fine. 'Cause there's no wall, you see?"

Mari laughed and moved her hand to Josh's shoulder. "Calm down. It's alright. Listen, I just want to be your friend."

Josh shivered at her touch and looked at her hand on his shoulder curiously.

There was nothing for her to gain here, and plenty to lose. Why him? Why not Uriah or Ben or...

"For real?" He asked in disbelief.

"Of course," Mariah smiled. She put her other hand on his other shoulder. "Come on. Just trust me, alright?"

"Alright," Josh finally sighed. "You wanna get out of here, before I die of embarrassment?"

"Sure," Mari laughed. "Where we going?"

"Matt's?" Josh's shrugged, grabbing his coat and placing it over her shoulders absentmindedly. "Or wherever you want."

"I'm down," Mari shrugged, taking Josh's arm. "Let's go."