Eli was hurt. He felt wounded, even. How had he not factored this in? How could he have been so dense to actually believe Audrey would spend three years without dating another guy. Another guy, he rolled his eyes at his own thoughts, We didn't even date. 

Jack was smiley, with wavy brown hair and truly blue eyes. Eli couldn't help but feel he was looking at his opposite. He moved his eyes away from Jack and over to Audrey, who quickly composed herself and cleared her throat, nails digging into her coffee cup. 

"Jack, this is Eli." Audrey motioned over to Eli, glancing sheepishly at him. She felt sick to her stomach, dizzy, and confused. She needed to sit for a while and think. Jack strode forward and stuck his hand out. Eli shook his hand. "Eli is-" Audrey's brows knitted together, "Eli was-" She sighed, "Eli's an old friend." She settled on. 

"Nice to meet you." Jack smiled again, making Eli feel a little guilty for hating his guts so very much. "Eli, this is Jack," Audrey was just staring at the floor now, unable to face her past and present together, "My boyfriend." 

Eli just nodded, trying to seem normal. "So, I haven't really heard much about you." Jack took a sip of coffee, "Did you guys grow up together?" He asked. 

"No." Eli laughed shortly, earning a glare from Audrey. He refocused and patted his satchel. "I actually just came from New York- to show Audrey my book." A half truth.

"You're an author?" 

"Attempting." Eli shrugged, causing Jack to go into a fit of laughter. Eli looked to Audrey for help out of the situation, but she was out of focus, panicking. "Okay," Jack said, "Attempting author. You came all the way from New York just to show her your book? You know she's not an editor right?" 

"I know." Eli gulped, "I'm actually moving back West." Audrey's head snapped up. "It's a long story." He finished. 

"I've got time." Jack shrugged nonchalantly, but Audrey could tell he was getting too curious for his own good. "No, you don't." She interrupted, walking up and placing a hand on Jack's arm, "It's almost 10:30." She smiled softly, reassuringly, and Jack nodded. 

"Oh, right." He sighed, "I guess I'll see you at lunch." Jack kissed her again and turned to Eli, "It was nice to meet you." He lied, swiftly exiting.  

Audrey let out a relieved breath when he left, closing her eyes and subconsciously wiping her mouth. There was a minute of uncomfortable silence; neither of them knowing what to say, or if they even wanted to say it. 

Eli pulled out a copy of his book, a thick stack of paper, loosely bound together. He held it gingerly in his hands, "It's not edited," He admitted, "But, I need you to read it." 

"Eli, I-"

"Please," He said, and they locked eyes again. Audrey never felt this electricity, shooting all over her- not with anyone else. She wanted to believe it was just attraction, infatuation. But, she couldn't help the feeling, deep down, that it was much more than that. 

"I have these problems, you know- with my memory? Anyways, as I was writing this I started wondering if I made some of it up. It seems too good to be true." He said the last sentence in a whisper, reminiscing. "Usually the false memories are bad, though." Eli shrugged, "I just need your help." He pleaded. 

Audrey took the book, put it on the counter, and looked down. "Okay." She said quietly.

"Okay." Eli smiled in spite of himself, in spite of the predicament he'd found himself in. "Well, I have to go meet Phoebe. So I'll-"

"Phoebe?" Audrey shook her head and put her coffee cup down. "Phoebe's here?" Her nose wrinkled up, and Eli smiled again.

"Small world. You both got accepted to the prestigious University of Phoenix. She lives in an apartment off campus."

"I haven't seen her." Audrey said, and then laughed at herself, putting her hands over her face. It was odd, knowing someone through another person's stories. "Or maybe I have."

Eli felt like he was seeing Audrey for the first time since they reunited. This was the Audrey he remembered, her freely flowing laughter and bright eyes.

"I can't believe she goes here." Audrey shook her head.

"She got a scholarship." Eli said proudly. Audrey swallowed, she couldn't believe how quickly she'd forgotten how angry she was. This was the thing about Eli, it was so easy. So easy to be joyful and peaceful. So easy to be in love with him. 

"So, you said you're moving back around here?" Audrey was curious, she couldn't help it.

"I missed-" Eli cleared his throat, "Phoebe said I could stay with her until I get my own place."

"In Phoenix?"

"In Phoenix."

Audrey's heart leaped into her throat. Why couldn't he have done this two years ago? One year ago? She wanted to cry, give up, slump down in defeat. Why was the timing always off?

"I really have to go." Eli cut through her conflicting thoughts.

"Okay." Audrey was annoyed at her own mono-syllabic answers, but her brain was too fried to be any more eloquent. She fiddled her fingers and watched him leave, heart pulling as he walked. He gave her a short wave as he exited, a glint of remorse in his eyes.

It was so hard to be angry. Audrey knew though, that she had every right to be angry. She was afraid that if she didn't stay angry, she would remember how she loved him. She'd spent too long telling herself it wasn't love. That it was never love. It couldn't be.

It was two weeks. They were young, naive, alone... 

She walked back behind the desk to settle down into work again. Carefully, she placed the book copy into the desk drawer, knowing she couldn't read what he had to say about her.

She couldn't trust herself with the information. The anger she was feeling was already slowly dissipating as she gave way to elation. Eli was here. He was here.

Audrey smiled to herself and stood up, pulling on her coat and rushing towards the exit. She wanted to believe she could do this- after all, she had missed him terribly. They could still be friends... Right?

"Eli!" Audrey called out, breath creating clouds in the crisp air, "Can I come?" She blurted. It was something she couldn't resist, the opportunity to meet Eli's sister.

"Really?" Eli's voice was incredulous as he looked into her eyes. He took a few hesitant steps towards her.

Audrey nodded, her nose already pink from the cold. "We have some catching up to do, right?" She tried to seem light heart-ed.

"Yeah." Eli pushed his hands into his pockets and watched a smile creep across Audrey's face. She was a mystery, a contradiction, still.

She practically skipped down the walkway to get into step with him. "Let's go."