VGMaster_10: Sorry I've been MIA, had some personal things going on.

I stare at the screen on my phone as VGMasters name pops up. I've posted a few things in the past few days on the Orbit Theater page, but I haven't heard from VGMaster at all. It's nice to see his name pop up, and I wonder if he watched the live show earlier.

Orbit_TheaterLI: Hey, it's okay. I'm kind of in the same boat. Hey did you catch the live Lennox Taylor did? And how did you like the finale?

It was nice that he didn't know me personally and I could get opinions from a third party. I also loved talking to him about movies, it kind of reminded me of my conversations with Max, like the one at the theater when we talked about Robin Williams.

VGMaster_10: Honestly? I didn't get a chance to watch it. I was sick that day, and couldn't attend. How did it go?

Honestly, I'm kind of glad he wasn't there, and that he didn't have to see the real me. He still has no clue that I'm Lennox. Maybe it's better that way.

Orbit_TheaterLI: Hope you're feeling better. When you eventually watch it we'll have to discuss what you thought.

I shoot over a smiling emoji and wait for a response.

VGMaster_10: Random question, I happen to have an extra ticket to tonight's show at Jones Beach. I don't have anyone to give it to and was wondering if you wanted it? Section 20 row V seat 2.

He sends a picture of the ticket, and it's legit. I have to reread the words a few times. My mind goes back to the night at Jones Beach with Max. The seats are almost exactly where we sat.

VGMaster_10: Sorry the seats are in the last row of the stadium, but the view from the top is pretty amazing.

My heart beats wildly in my chest. I release a shaky breath and reach over to my bedside table. Inside the drawer is a scrapbook of my summer. The ticket from the concert Max and I went to is in there too. I blink down at the page, trying to make sure I'm reading it right. Max? It can't be. Can it?

I throw the blankets off of me and jump up out of bed. I have to know if this is him. There are so many similarities not only in personality, but with other things too. There's the fact that halfway through the summer he began to watch Starlien, and Max did the same. He hated it at first and so did Max. Then he spoke about seeing Jumunji this summer at the theater, which is the movie Max and I saw. Now he's got a ticket with the same seats we sat in when we went to Jones Beach. I'm not sure how he pulled that one off, but however he did it I'm amazed.

Orbit_TheaterLI: I'll take it!

I storm over to my closet, in search of the perfect outfit. There has to be something in here. I start tugging the clothing from the hanger and throwing it all over the floor. I'm so busy with everything I barely hear the knock on the door.

"Girl, what are you doing?" Walker asks.

I spin when I hear his voice. He's got a smile on his face, but he's also cringing at the mess I've made on the floor.

"It's Max," I say.

He narrows his eyes at me.

"I've been talking to someone through the Orbit account. In the back of my mind it always felt like I was talking to Max, but it never registered until now," I say.

"You've lost me kid," he says, starting to pick up the clothing I've thrown.

"Max is the guy I've been talking to online, I just know it. The guy I've been talking to online says he has tickets to tonight's show at the beach."

I'm talking a mile a minute, and I've failed to realize how bad it sounds. We had the online stranger danger talk when I was nine, I get it. I need to slow down and carefully explain the situation.

"It's the same seats Max and I sat in during our date." 

I shake my hands in front me and step over the pile of clothing on the floor. I pick up the ticket I left on my bed and show it to him along with the phone.

"It can't be a coincidence, can it?" I stare up at him wide eyed. 

Walker carefully checks both tickets. I bounce on my toes waiting for him to confirm my suspicion.

"You're not doing this alone," he says. "I'll drive you, just in case. I believe you, but I can't just let you go yourself."

I snatch the ticket from his hand and hold it to my chest. My smile is so wide it almost hurts.

"You're smiling again."

"If it really is Max, it means he knows I'm me. I also kind of told him what dress I was wearing at the premier," I cringe. "I know that's so bad, I told a stranger on the internet what I was wearing so they could meet me. When Max looked at me though, he seemed stunned by my dress."

"Girl, I believe you. If you don't hurry you're gonna miss the show," he says.

An hour later Walker and I are on the road. Dad took Elli to swim, but we sent him a text telling him that we were heading to the beach. We would tell him the full details later, but right now we needed to get there. It took me twenty minutes to find the perfect dress with Walker's help, and then another ten to shower, and about fifteen to put on the finishing touches. I can't believe this is happening and I pray I'm not wrong. If this is really Max I know in my heart that he's forgiven me.

"So where did he say the ticket would be?" he asks.

"He told me to go to the will call booth," I say, as he pulls into the parking lot.

I'm so nervous that my entire leg shakes the car, even while it's in motion. The lot is almost full so we have to park in the back.

"I can't do this." I shut the car door and rest my head against the seat.

Walker's hand gently covers mine."Lennox, sweetheart, it's Max. He's forgiving you and you're both gonna live happily ever after," he smirks.

"Dad, this isn't some fairy tale," I remind him.

"No, it might not be, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve to be happy. Look at me for example. I've got everything I could ever want. A charming husband, a beautiful talented daughter, an amazing little boy, a roof over my head, it's my happily ever after now go get yours."

I lean over and wrap my arms around him. Walker pulls me into a hug so tight I can barely breathe.

"I'll be right here waiting, I may walk around a bit though," he says.

"Okay, I'll call you."

I slip out of the car and bolt through the lot. When was the last time I ran? My chest aches as if I've run a marathon. By the time I reach the booth I have to take a mini break to catch my breath. You can do this, Lennox.

Standing up straight, I slowly exhale, and then zig zag through the ropes. I'm glad I'm late, there's not a single person in line.

"Name?"

An older man, with a receding hairline stares at me through the plate of glass between us. My heart stops for a second, would he have put it under my name? It can't hurt to try, I'm actually surprised the person doesn't know who I am.

"Lennox Taylor," I say.

I pull out my ID and slide it over to him. It takes the man a few minutes and his eyes widen when he realizes it's me. My pulse starts to thump faster to the beat of the music playing over the speaker. Why hasn't he found the ticket yet? I watch in suspense as he thumbs through them. My heart steadies as he slides my ID and the ticket under the window.

"Enjoy the show Ms. Taylor," he says.

"Thank you!" I grab everything, almost losing it as I race back towards the gates.

My footsteps fall heavy against the red brick. A million different thoughts race through my mind. There's no doubt that it's him. My hands tremble as I open my small black purse to show the security guard. He waves the wand and I'm through in under thirty seconds. I want to run, but I don't want to cause a scene either. I keep my head low, to avoid fans. I don't like doing it, but all I want is to be with him.

The seats are all of the way up top. I stop at the bottom step behind the stadium. The pulse of the music rattles my chest, as I place my hand on the shiny metal railing. I wipe the sweat from my forehead. Running was a bad idea. The ocean air is thick tonight, and I'm drenched. That's so not attractive. I can't allow myself to dawdle any more.

I charge up the stairs and dodge people going in both directions. It's only been ten minutes since I left the car, but it seems like much longer. By the time I get to the bottom step of the mezzanine, I need another minute. I take in my surroundings, not able to look up just yet. 

With the ticket crushed into my palm, I take one step at a time, but keep my eyes focused on the gray cement under my feet. I watch the letters on the arms of the seats go up. M, N, O, P, Q, R, I take a deep breath, S, T, almost there, U...

"You made it."

The sound of his quavering voice makes my knees wobble. A tear rolls down my cheek and drops onto the step below me. Little by little they fall faster and harder. In the corner of my vision I see him stand. He takes my hand in his and pulls me up a step so that we're even, and leans against the wall behind him.

"Max I'm..."

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done what I did. I let jealousy cloud my vision. I was so upset I didn't even notice that you weren't doing well. For that, I'm sorry." His eyes sparkle with the onset of tears.

"I'm sorry, that I made you feel jealous. I never meant to. Chase means nothing to me. The only person I wanted there to comfort me that night was you. I tried to reach for my phone to call you, but I couldn't," I sob. "He had me against that wall and I..."

My voice breaks, and I lose all control of the harsh sobs wreaking havoc in my chest.

"Hey, it's all over now. Okay?"

He takes my other hand in his and pulls me into his chest. I wrap my arms around his middle and grab hold of the fabric of his black t-shirt. I sob into his shirt holding onto him for dear life. He comforts me with his cheek against the top of my head, and his hand rubbing up and down my back. Just the feel of his touch makes all the pain of what happened that day feel less painful.

"How did you know it was me?" 

I back off a little, but still cling to him. The steps up here are very steep so I'm trying my hardest not to feel like I'm falling.

"Your dress," he says. "I couldn't believe it. This entire summer I was falling for you in person and online. Part of me had a feeling it was you, but I never brought attention to it. I especially stopped thinking about it when I started dating you, but as time went on it seemed more and more likely that it was you, and the dress confirmed that."

I can't help the way my lip twitches with the need to smile. He was falling for me after everything that happened.

"I feel so stupid for not realizing it sooner. It had been in the back of my mind too, but I pushed it aside as well."

He laughs. "Our story is an interesting one isn't it?"

"One for the record books."

Our laughter swirls together, even over the loud thundering music.

"Are you here by yourself?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "Mom's in the real seats we had. She's right over there." Max points to the next section over.

Sure enough Stacy is sitting not too far away waving her hands at me. I smile back and wave, then turn my attention back to Max.

"You didn't spend a lot did you?"

I suddenly worry about their money situation, and can't believe he went ahead and bought tickets like that.

"It's fine, it was only twenty dollars," he says. "And worth every penny."

"You shouldn't have..."

"I wanted to," he cuts in.

"Oh, and Lennox, if you'll have me I still want you to be my girlfriend. I know I'm about to go back home and you're about to start your life here, but I want to try."

I reach my arms up and position them around his neck and pull myself closer to him.

"I'd like that very much," I say. "Who knows maybe you'll see me sooner than you think."

I smirk at him as lips grow closer to mine.

"Oh, is that so?" he whispers.

I nod. "I have some things coming up soon in LA. Who knows maybe I'll show up randomly at your door one day."

"I'd like that, but you know what I'd really like right now?" he asks.

He moves closer, his lips brushing against mine.

"No clue," I tease.

My eyes closed as he lightly pressed his lips against mine. For a moment we stand there lip locked and not moving. The moment his mouth opens I shiver, even in the heat of the night. Kissing him feels like home. I'm safe here in his arms with him.

"I love you Lennox Taylor," he tells me.

"I love you, Max Weston."

"My mother is staring at us clapping her hands right now," he says into my lips.

The two of us look over at her. She puts her hand over her mouth like she's a giggling school girl.

"You should go sit with her," I say. 

"Why don't we have her come up here? When I went to buy the tickets this whole section was open," he says.

"Maybe I'll text Walker to get himself a ticket. He's waiting in the parking lot for me."

I'd been so preoccupied I almost forgot about poor Walker in the car.

"That could be fun, tickets up here cost next to nothing."

Max excuses himself to go get his mom while I text Walker to get a ticket for this section. I take a seat as I text. When I'm done I glance around me. The sun is setting across the way and I love the way it's dancing over the ocean. I hate that Max is leaving in a few days, and that he'll be three thousand miles away, but at the same time I'm just thankful to have him back in my life and I hope that feeling never changes.