Mia and Alex were laughing, heading to sit after being offered a table in an ice cream shop.

   Mia sat down without stopping her laughter. "That was insane!" She laughed.

   Alex took his seat... "Very insane!!"

    They had just been chased by fans and the paparazzi. Apparently, Alex had left his Audi with his Lucas to drive while he went over to meet Mia and she too was just as excited to see him. She got out of the taxi to talk to him.

    "I can't believe it's you. Alex MidWest!" Mia couldn't hold her excitement. She didn't notice the crowd already heading her way but Alex was quick to see it.

    "As happy as I am to see you, I don't think it's a good idea for us to stand here." Alex chuckled.

   Mia glanced around and finally noticed that most people had stepped out of their respective cars, standing with their phones and cameras flashing lights. 

   "Oh my God." Mia fluttered, she wasn't expecting almost a hundred people looking at them.

    "Let's go!" Alex didn't wait for her to respond, he took her hand and made the run for it.

    "What the..." Mia shook her head as she is pulled by Alex. Before she could understand what was going on, she was running along with Alex.

    People were screaming and chasing after them. It was... Fun? Yeah, fun! It was the first time in a while that she needed to get away and someone just dragged her along. She couldn't believe she was laughing, not quite long ago she was sulking so bad. They quickly ran into an ice cream shop to get away from the crowd.

     "That was fun!!" Mia found herself laughing hard. "Never have I ever been chased by a group of people, not until now." She was breathing heavily and panting.

   Mia and Alex laughed for a long time before they finally calmed down.

     "So, how have you been?" Alex started a conversation after they had settled.

    "I've been good. Wow, I never thought we'd see again not to think of meeting like this?" Mia grinned.

    "Me neither." Alex shook his head.

    "How about you? You know, I found out you were the leading man in my favorite movie Game of Fire and I didn't get to take a selfie. You were unrecognizable, like you changed!" Mia said to him.

    "Changed? Good or bad?" Alex asked her.

     "Good. I don't still get it, how do you always recognize me?! How do you do it?" Mia asked. He was always the first one to remember.

   He chuckled... "I told you. You have this likeness to someone I knew."

    "We must really have a striking similarity." Mia heaved... "I still can't believe my luck! With you here? This is," she shrugged. "Every girl's dream! This isn't a dream right?" She asked him to be sure.

    "It's not a dream." Alex chuckled. "This shop is nice and cosy." Alex glanced around.
    
    "It is." Mia agreed.

   "Let's order." Alex said, glancing around the shop.

     "Order? No no, it's fine." Mia shook her head.

    "I insist. Let it be my treat." Alex told her. 

    "Are you sure?" Mia blushed. Honestly, she was craving for ice cream.

     "It's okay. I want to buy for you. I'll feel very guilty for dragging you all the way here and not treating you to an ice cream. Please say yes." Alex grinned at her.

     Mia chuckled... "If you say so."

     They both walked up to the counter, looking at the glass ice cream bar.

     "Good afternoon, what can I get you?" The young lady in a red apron asked them with a smile.

    "What flavour would you like to have Mia?" Alex looked at Mia.

     Mia looked over the menu and found so many irresistible flavors. She couldn't possible pick just one.

     "So much flavors that I'm so confused." Mia turned to Alex. "What's your favorite?"

      "Honestly, I love every flavor. Ice creams are my favorites!! But I do like raspberry chocolate chip ice cream with sprinkles." He told her.

     "Nice choice. But I prefer stracciatella over chocolate ice cream, that's yum." Mia grinned..

    "Okay!" Alex looked at the attendant.. "Two cups of stracciatella over chocolate ice cream with sprinkles and chocolate chips please." Alex said to the attendant.

  "Alright." The attendant moved to get their order.

     "Thank you." Mia smiled.

     "Don't thank me. It's not everyday I get my favorite dessert with a fan, I'm really happy." Alex was no doubt happy to be with Mia.

    In some seconds, the attendant was back with the cups of ice cream.

     "Thank you so much." Alex said, collecting the cup from the attendant.

     "I er, can I get your autograph please?" The attendant was blushing, while holding out a paper and pen.

   "Oh! Sure sure." He turned to Mia. "Here, hold this." He said giving the cups to Mia. He collected the paper and the pen from her, signing his name on it.

     "Thank you Alex!" The attendant kept on blushing..

    "You're welcome." He flashed a smile at her before walking away with Mia. "I can't lie, I love the attention most times." He said proudly, taking his seat beside Mia. 

   Mia gave him his cup of ice cream. "I feel very privileged sitting with you here." Mia told him

     "Just think of me as a regular guy. You need to tell me, why do you like stracciatella?" He took a spoonful of ice cream. 

         "It's more than delicious. You can't actually blame me, I've spent almost all my life in Italy so I'm obsessed with their food, culture, beliefs, everything and anything." Mia said with a spoon in her mouth.

         "Oh wow, Italy. I once had a two days stay in Italy, Venice in particular; it's a very beautiful country I must say." Alex agreed.

         "Yes!"

    "Hold on, you're not Italian are you?" Alex asked her.

     "No, but virtually spent my whole life in Italy. I can't actually remember when my mom and I moved from America to Italy because I was still a kid back then." Mia informed him.

     Alex nodded... "Hmm... Then what brought you back to  America?" Alex was starting to probe her.

     "Well I," she shrugged... "I came for a friend's wedding and decided to stay here for a while, to breathe the American air." Mia laughed along with Alex.

   "It's been two and the half months since I got here and I'm not planning on staying. As soon as I finish a particular project, I'm flying back to Italy." Mia explained to him.

     "Oh, that's sad. Just when I thought I was gonna add to my friends. At least you can teach me a few Italian words and sentences since you owe me, right?" Alex gave her is killer smile.

     "You want me to teach you? Me?" Mia batted her lashes.

     "Of course! You speak Italian fluently yeah?" He asked her.

    "I can say I try, but not as good as the Italians." Mia was happy that Alex seemed interested in Italian.

   "I promise I'm a fast learner." He grinned...
✴✴✴✴✴

        Bee sat, scrolling through her phone when she came across some photos.

     "Whoa!" She widened eyes at the photos.

   It was Alex with some blonde woman, the photos showed them fleeing away from a crowd, hand in hand. The news was trending on every social media, blogs, websites... Everything!!!

   Bee tried zooming in the picture to get a clearer view of the woman he was with, but most of the pictures were taken at an angle that you wouldn't clearly see the face of the blonde woman.

    "What the hell?" Bee frowned at all the pictures. So many different trending headlines on the Internet about Alex and the unknown woman...

           CATALINA VIRAL
      
  ALEX GETS BUSTED WITH SIDE CHICK...

            THE LIFE BLOG

    The from me to you star is spotted with a woman on the streets of New York City. They tried fleeing from the paparazzi after being caught together. Here are some pictures...

        The juicy gossip

   Popularly known for his leading role in the movie from me to you, Alex MidWest is caught with a woman on camera. The woman is yet to be identified....

          Hush secrets
    
   Just in: Heartthrob Alex MidWest is seen with a blonde lady in open public with their hands interlocking. The two seemed to be on the run from the crowd of paparazzi and fans. Click to see full video...

   Bee ran, barging into Natalie's office unannounced.

      "Alie, there's something you need to see!!!" Bee handed her phone to Natalie who seemed startled at Bee's entry.

   Natalie looked at all the pictures and even played some videos. 

     "Alex is all over the news!! Who is that woman, do you know her?" Bee asked her.

    Natalie frowned at the photos. She couldn't really get the face of the woman in the picture. "I don't think I know her." Natalie shook her head.

   "Do you think she's a fan?" Bee asked again.

    "No way. He doesn't just hold a random person's hand and run off just like that? I'm sure there must be some explanations." Natalie's phone started ringing. She quickly gave Bee back her phone and moved to answer the phone. Her friend was the one calling.

   Bee kept looking at the pictures that dominated every social media she was on as she left the office.

    "Bee!" Dony came running to Bee. "Have you seen the Net? They have news about Alex and some lady. It's everywhere!" Dony told Bee, pointing at the flat screen TV hanging on the wall.

    "I know." Bee nodded, showing her phone to Dony. 

    "Have you told Natalie?"

   "Natalie has no idea who the lady is."
✴✴✴✴✴

    Mia had left Alex in the ice cream shop. She didn't go home straight, she got a call from Danny to meet at the hair salon.  

   Mia entered the hair salon and found Danny stretching her hair.

    "You're here." Danny could see Mia through the mirror.

    "Yeah." Mia looked at the black American man who was on Danny hair and smiled. "Hey." She greeted.

      "Sup sweetheart." The guy man winked at her.

    Mia took the empty seat next to Danny, moving closer, and then sitting.

      "You're straightening your nappy hair. I personally thought they looked cute." Mia said to Danny.

     She shrugged... "Wanted to try something new."

      "You won't believe what happened to me!" Mia couldn't wait to tell her story.

     "Before you tell me, I wanna know something. I heard about what went down between you and Archu, how come you didn't tell me?!" Danny said.

   Mia shook her head... "Who told you? Was it Julia?" Mia wouldn't be surprised.

     "No. I can't believe I had to overhear it from some of our staffs. They were talking about it and of course I had to be sure it was your Mia, so I asked Julia. That Archu is really getting to me, who does she think she is?" Danny frowned at Mia.

   "Ignore her. She's looking for attention and you're giving it to her. Honestly, I have forgotten about it." Mia didn't want it to bother her.

      "She's such a fucking bitch. So damn annoying, a kill-joy. She better not step on my territory, just because you might over look doesn't mean I will too." Danny said to Mia.

     "Let's forget the whole issue." Mia waved her hand, dismissing the topic. "Right! I wanted to tell you something before now." Mia remembered.

    "Oh yeah. Speak." Danny nodded.

     "I met someone today!!" Mia squealed...

    Danny turned sharply to Mia..

    "Hey! Careful or you'll burn." The hair stylist warned Danny from moving her head.

    "Yeah yeah yeah." She shushed him up and looked back at Danny with a smirk. "I want every damn details. Is he cute? Is he fucking hot? Muscular? Worth drooling?! Shit! I knew you would meet your true love, all thanks to the coin I gave you." She was curious and excited at the same time.

     "What the hell are you talking about? Danny, I did not meet my true love duh!" She rolled her eyes.

     "You didn't? Then who did you meet? When you said you met someone, you sounded like you met The one." Danny raised her brow at her.

     "No silly, would you believe if I told you I met Alex MidWest, and we ate ice cream together?" Mia pouted..

    "No way..." Danny's jaw fell open... "No fucking way."

    "Oh yes." Mia smirked, nodding her head.

   "Shut up." Danny blinked three times simultaneously.

     "You shut up..." Mia flipped her hair backwards with pride.

     "So no kidding?" Danny looked for a trace of lie on Mia's face.

    "Why would I?" Mia got her phone out, showing Danny some photos she took with Alex. 

    "Oh my God oh my God oh my God oh my God!!!" Danny screamed....

     "Girlie you might burn your scalp if you don't stay put!" The man stepped back.

    "Take a chill pill Jayjay, my friend just ate ice cream with Alex freaking MidWest. This is more than awesome!!" Danny said out loud. Jayjay only rolled his eyes before leaving. "How did this happen?" Danny asked her.

   Mia started from the very beginning from the car meeting, to the pursuit, to the ice cream shop, only leaving the part where Alex had given her his number. Danny would strangle her if she didn't share.

    Night was already crawling into the sky as Mia and Danny walked down the road together while talking.

    "How about the coin I gave you? Are you still with it?" Danny asked her.

   Mia smiled... "Yes I am. In fact, it's inside this bag." She tapped the side of the bag. Luckily she was carrying the bag she had put the coin inside. Mia had forgotten about the coin the moment it was given to her and she never checked the bag ever since then.

    "Good." Danny nodded...

     "Are you really sure that coin would lead me to my true love?" Mia asked her.

     "You're doubting again." Danny rolled her eyes.

    "I never believed it." Mia shook her head.

     "Don't you have faith?"

   Mia's phone started ringing. She got it out from her bag.

      "Who's that?" Danny asked her.

    "I don't know." Mia showed Danny the screen. She tapped on the screen before placing the phone over her ear. "Hello?"

    "Mia it's David." The voice came through.

     "Oh David. Hey."

    "How are you?" He asked her.

    "Fine?" She frowned... "Wait, how did you get my number?" She asked him.

   David chuckled... "Fiona gave it to me."

     "Oh." Mia nodded.

    "I haven't seen you in a while now. I wanted to be sure you're safe and fine. I also heard you were ill."

   "I'm better now. Thanks for asking. How about you?"

     "Yeah, I'm still alive. Jeez, I've missed hearing your voice. But it's all good since we're meeting tomorrow, it's gonna be fun since it's a two weeks stay in California. I can't wait to—"

    "What do you mean two weeks stay in California?"

    "Yes. We're going to California tomorrow, didn't Ryan tell you?"

    "He was supposed to tell me? I'm just hearing this California thing for the first time! What!" Mia couldn't believe it. She was shocked and confused.

    "I'm sorry, I thought he told you. We're all to leave by nine in the morning, we would take off at The Webster private airport."

    "I can't believe this?! Ryan didn't tell me anything. Why wouldn't he tell me? I'm not even prepared for it." Mia groaned loudly.

     "Relax. You'll be fine. Maybe it slipped his mind."

    "Thanks for telling me David." Mia thanked him.

     "It's nothing. Have a good night sleep, ti amo."

"Pfft. Haha, funny. Good night." Mia hung up.

    "David? Who's David?" Danny asked her.

    "Some guy I know but that's not important. I can't believe Ryan! He didn't tell me I'm going to California tomorrow for a two weeks stay, I had to hear it from someone else. What is wrong with him?!" Mia was furious.

    "You're leaving?"

   "Yes! Maybe Ryan didn't tell me because he's obviously trying to ruin me. God, I hate that guy. Danny come on, let's get a cab right now and leave. I will not be caught unaware." Mia said, pulling Danny along.

    "Chilax dude! You'll detach my arm." Danny said as she is pulled away.
✴✴✴✴

   Natalie walked into the dinning, while Alex was seated, eating... "All my friends are calling, asking if we're having issues. Who's that lady? Tell me already."

    "Babe you don't have to worry. We are fine right?" He told her.

   Natalie sat beside him. "I don't like what people are saying on the internet. If I say I'm not bothered I'll be lying." She took Alex's fork from his hand. "Ah." She directed him to open his mouth so as to spoon-feed him. Alex gladly allowed her.

   "Her name's Mia and if you want I'll introduce you to her. Better?" Alex said to her.

     "That's better." Natalie smiled, giving him a quick kiss on the lip. She trusted Alex more than anyone, he never hid anything from her. They were as in love with each other as the first time they met.