I came into the house in a flurry of emotions, all of them new and exciting. I had never felt this way about anyone before. It was all new to me. I had heard my sisters talk about different soldiers they fancied or daydreaming about their future weddings someday, but I never related to them in that aspect. I just hadn't ever felt that same way about any of the men in my life. Most of them were either soldiers who stood for everything I stood against, or were twice my age. So I never found myself having anything beyond surface-level attraction. Every once in a while I would spot a sailor or soldier that I would find appealing as far as physical appearances were concerned, but that was as far as it ever went.

So now, having met Lawrence, I was confused, but in a wonderful sort of way. I was perplexed at myself; I had only met this man once, and yet he continually plagued my mind. Not in a bad way, to be sure. It was just... different, was all.

I sat in my bedroom a couple of days after my outing with Melody, attempting to read the novel in front of me. It was proving to be overwhelmingly difficult, and as my mind continued to wander piano-playing gentleman, the words on the page began to swim and blur. I sighed in frustration and snapped my book closed, my gaze reluctantly drifting over to a certain coat hanging on the hook in the wall near my bedroom door. I chewed on the inside of my cheek absentmindedly. I still had to return it to its owner.

The owner of that godforsaken coat that wouldn't get out of my head.

I stood, shaking my head. I chastised myself for being silly even as I walked over to the garment. I picked it up off of the rack, trailing my hands over it thoughtfully. I had to get it out of my house and out of my mind. I didn't have the time nor the headspace to obsess over this random person I had interacted with only once before.

Groaning, I fell back onto my bed, considering what exactly my plan of action would be going forward. I knew my first step would be getting this coat back to Lawrence, and as soon as possible. I sat up on my bed, resolute in my decision to venture out on my own and give him the coat that very evening at the parlor. I knew the address, and I knew I could at least pretend I wasn't nervous at all. If I was going to step into life as a New Yorker, I was going to have to grow a backbone and not be so timid about adventure and new experiences.

I was startled out of my introspection by a light rapping on my closed door. A moment later, my aunt poked her head into the room.

"(Y/N)?"

Her gaze shifted from me sitting on the bed to the coat I still had firmly grasped in my hands. She arched a brow almost imperceptibly.

"What's that you've got?" she asked me curiously.

I quickly threw the garment down onto the bed next to me, an unexplainable urge to hide it from my aunt clutching my inner being.

"Nothing," I said quickly. Too quickly.

Auntie Romelda studied me in mild concern. "(Y/N), what's going on? You know you can talk to me," she added, coming into my room and sitting in the armchair across from me.

I sighed, deciding that I might as well glean whatever wisdom my aunt had in regards to men, romance, and life in general.

"I met someone, recently," I began, fiddling with my hands absentmindedly. Surprisingly, I found that I wasn't nervous, but instead worried that my aunt would somehow think less of me because I was having confusing thoughts and emotions about a man I'd met. Thinking through this sentiment, I realized how ridiculous that sounded. After all, Auntie Romelda wasn't my father. She had also been a young girl, once. One who had fallen in love with my uncle.

"Met someone?" my aunt echoed, a glimmer of knowing excitement flashing in her eyes. They flicked down to the article of clothing next to me. "Is that his coat?"

I followed her gaze down to it, letting out a breath as I did so. "It is."

There was a pause as my aunt considered me again and pursed her lips. "You don't seem too fond of it."

"Oh, I'm not!" I cried with a huff, flopping onto my back once more and covering my eyes with my forearm. "This cursed thing has brought me nothing but turmoil!"

I could practically hear my aunt smile. "You really do fancy him, then?"

I raised my head to eye her in confusion. "I've met him once, Auntie Romelda."

She shrugged. "Sometimes that's all it takes."

There was a slight pause before I continued. "Is that's how it was for you and Uncle Vincenzo?"

My aunt smiled and looked down. "Not quite. Your uncle and I started out as childhood friends. It took us a long time to cross that bridge from friendship into something more."

I smiled, propping up on an elbow. "That's sweet. You two are perfect for each other."

She grinned back at me. "I think so, too. Now," she said, sitting forward as she changed the subject. "Tell me about this man who's obviously been tormenting your mind so."

I sighed, a smile begrudgingly coming to my face as I thought about where to begin. "He works at the Parlor I was telling you and Uncle Vincenzo about."

"The speakeasy your friend Melody works at?"

I nodded. "The same one. She actually introduced us during our outing a couple of nights ago."

"I see. But what about him? What's his name; his passions? What's he like?"

I smiled a bit at her giddy questions. "His name is Lawrence, and he's a student at Juilliard."

"Oh, a music student! How exciting!" she gasped, smiling. "You know how I love music so. What does he play?"

"He plays the piano and sings. He's very talented," I added, remembering the way Law's voice captivated my attention completely.

"Are you going to see him again?"

I nodded, holding up the coat. "I have to return this."

She gave me a knowing smirk. "Is that the only reason?"

I stopped for a moment to mull her question over. I realized that as much as I wanted this tumultuous storm in my mind to cease, there was a large part of me who desperately wanted to see Law again. I knew it would probably only make my feelings all the more complicated, but I put it out of my mind for the time being. That would be an issue for the future.

"I guess it's not the only reason," I finally confessed, feeling my face flush.

"Well, I, for one, am rooting for you. You're a smart, confident, and beautiful young woman, and I know any man would be lucky to have you on his arm."

I smiled a bit bigger and looked down bashfully. "Thanks, Auntie Romelda."

"Of course, Bambina. Now," she said, standing and smoothing her skirts. "I came to ask if you wanted anything to eat, but I can see now you probably don't want food, at the moment."

I sheepishly grinned up at her. "I'm afraid I might be sick all over the carpet."

She gave me a small, knowing smile before nodding and leaving me alone with my thoughts, once more.

Before I could sink into another introspective spiral, I stood and looked at my reflection in the vanity mirror. I looked more or less a pitiable mess. This was definitely not the image I wanted to portray. Grabbing my brush, I ran it gently through my hair, deciding natural was how I wanted to be seen, today. The (COLOR) dress I had on complicated my skin tone and made my eyes stand out, so I came to the conclusion I didn't need to change into anything different.

I smiled a small smile at my reflection. I was never considered stunning or gorgeous, but I was objective enough to admit to myself that I could be rather pretty when I put the effort in. This was one of those times, and I felt a surge of confidence swell within me. I hoped it would last.

I set my shoulders resolutely and grabbed both Law's coat and my own. I set out from my bedroom, bound and determined to bite the bullet and leave before my resolve could waver. My aunt gave me an encouraging wave as I stepped out onto the front doorstep, beginning the short walk out of our neighborhood. I walked at a relatively brisk pace, because even though the sun was still in the sky, I didn't want to be caught out in the streets of New York City at night as a young, single woman. I took a breath, attempting to let out my worries as easily as the air in my lungs.

I finally arrived at the entrance of the neighborhood, the traffic growing heavier as cars and other motor vehicles zipped to and fro on one of the main thoroughfares. I looked both ways before spotting a taxi approaching me. I waved it down before hopping into the back.

"Where to, little lady?" the driver asked me.

"Poor Man's Print Parlor, please, I answered, smiling at him in the reflection of the rear view mirror.

"The Parlor, huh?" he quipped, pulling away from the curb and joining the impossible throng of traffic. "You a flapper, doll face?"

I shook my head, choosing my words carefully. "Just going to look into some new titled going into print," I tried.

The cabby laughed. "Sweetheart, I'm not the fuzz. I'm a regular at the 'ole Parlor, so no need to be all mum about it."

I let out a relieved sigh as I relaxed a bit in my seat. "Ah, I see."

"I've never seen you there before. You new to town?" he asked me, making small talk.

"I recently moved from Italy."

His eyebrows raised in surprise as he met my gaze in the mirror. "I didn't think they were letting folks outta there."

I deadpanned, flashbacks flaring in my mind. "They weren't."

There was a heavy silence that settled over the cabby and me. I could tell he didn't really know what to say, and I didn't really wish to talk about any of it. The thought of my home and the family I had left behind tore at my heart. It seemed time passed by more quickly than I realized, because the car was stopping and my cabby was clearing his throat.

"Well, we're here, miss."

"Oh! Thank you, how much do I owe?" I asked him, opening my purse and rifling through the bills I had with me. I looked back up to find the driver shaking his head.

"This trip's on me. Glad you got out of there, and hope ya make it here. Enjoy the juice joint, little lady."

I stepped out of the cab, and with a smile and friendly wink, he was gone. I stared after him for a minute in wonder. I was still finding myself baffled daily by the kindness of random strangers who didn't even know me. I shook myself mentally and turned to the Parlor. I readjusted my hold on Lawrence's coat as I walked forward and into the building.

The sad, lonely bell on the door rang as I walked into the shop. I looked around me before seeing the same man as last time emerge from the back.

"Well, look who it is; little miss Italia. Here to see Melody?"

The man, Johnny, I remembered, gave me a small smile that I reciprocated.

"Uh, yes. Yes, I am."

I figured telling Johnny that I was here to see my friend was going to be easier than trying to explain the whirlwind of a situation my mind had created for myself. The man nodded as he let me into the hidden passageway, and I thanked him as I entered the speakeasy. Stepping into the lounge area, my eyes scanned the space for signs of either of my friends. Before I found them, though, I spotted Link, the manager from the other night. He lit up when he saw me.

"Hey! You're Mel's friend from a few nights ago, right?" he asked me as I approached him. I nodded in response. "She's in the back gettin' ready for her set later. I'll take ya to her," he told me, offering up his arm. I took it gratefully.

The two of us made our way backstage, butterflies exploding in my stomach at the thought of running into Law again. I was having conflicting thoughts about both wanting to see him and also wanting to run the other direction. I took a breath, trying to steady myself. I felt myself relax slightly once we turned the corner and I saw Melody.

"Mel!" Link called. "Ya got a minute?"

She turned toward us, her face lighting up as her eyes landed on me. "(Y/N)!" she squealed, running over and wrapping me in an excited hug. "I'm so excited you came to visit! Come on, come chat in my dressing room for a bit!"

I laughed as she dragged me away from Link and into a room off of the right side of the hall. She shut the behind us and motioned for me to sit on the small lounge chair in the corner of the room. I obliged, noticing for the first time the girl doing her makeup at one of the two vanities along the wall. She was tall, slender, and hard hair the color of raven's wings. She was beautiful, and her dark eyes considered me for a moment before turning back to Melody.

"Melody, who is this?" she asked with a sigh, seeming bored and a little bit exasperated that I was in the room.

My friend waved her hand dismissively and rolled her eyes. "A friend of mine, Jenny. I said she could be here, so don't worry your pretty little head about it."

My heart dropped. This was the woman who fancied Lawrence? If he didn't notice her, then how much less of a chance did I have? I mentally shook myself, reminding myself that we had just met, and I wasn't even sure I knew what I felt for him, yet. It was all confusing and far too much for my muddled mind.

I was uprooted from the entrenched state I found myself in when Jenny's eyes flitted down to the coat I held in my hands. Her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Is that Law's coat?"

I met her gaze, finding myself coloring slightly as I did so. After all, I didn't want her to think badly of me. I didn't know what else to do, so I simply nodded.

"Why do you have it?" she asked me, an accusatory air coming over her.

Melody cut her eyes over to the other girl, her glance scathing. I guessed they didn't get along very well.

"He gave it to her, Jen. On their stroll the other night," she added with a smirk as she powdered her face in her vanity mirror.

I tried to ignore the way my insides fluttered at the way she spoke about Lawrence and me: as if we were a couple. This feeling was crushed immediately when Jenny scoffed. I risked a glance at her, and she was smirking into her own vanity mirror.

"Oh, please. She's not even Law's type."

Besides the snide, rude comment, I could feel my temper beginning to rise at the way Jenny was talking around me as if I weren't even in the room.

Melody rolled her eyes again. "Jen, you wouldn't know his type if she sauntered up to you and socked you in the mouth."

Jenny gawked and opened her mouth to say something when there was a knock on the door.

"Everyone's decent!" Melody called.

My heart skipped a beat when Law's head poked into the room. "Hey, you gals are on in five-" His words were cut short when his eyes met mine. He lit up. "(Y/N)! How're you doing, doll face?"

I smiled warmly at him. "I'm doing well. It's good to see you again." And, sitting there talking to him, I knew I meant it. I knew that I was not only happy to see him again, but that I wanted to continue to see him again.

I could feel Jenny's eyes boring into me like some sort of predator.

"Hey, Law, would you come zip me up?" she asked him flirtatiously.

He and Melody shared a glance. "Can Mel help you? I've got a bunch to do before your sets start tonight." He looked at me again. "If you're not busy, could I ask for a hand?"

I blinked at him for a second before smiling and standing up from where I sat on the lounge chair.

"I'd be happy to help!"

"Super. Come on, let's let these gals finish up," he said, holding the door open for me and letting me pass through with a sweep of his arm.

I turned to him in the hall as he shut the dressing room door behind himself. "By the way, I brought your coat. Thank you for lending it to me." I held it out to him and smiled bashfully down at my hands.

He gently took it from me with a smile. "It's no problem, at all."

He hung it on the coatrack next to us.

"Now, what did you need help with?"

He turned to me with a slightly perplexed expression. "Hm? Oh, right!" He laughed a bit. "That was an excuse to get us both out of there."

I gawked at him. "Lawrence!" I playfully scolded him, grinning slightly.

He laughed again. "What? You could practically feel Jenny getting more peeved by the second!"

My smile faltered slightly. "Right."

Law seemed to notice. "Hey, don't let her get to ya, toots. She's just like that sometimes." I guess my face gave away my skepticism, because my companion sighed. "Look, how about I take you to get a couple of sundaes so we can just chat?"

I considered him. "Really?"

He smiled down at me and nodded. "My treat!"