It has been an hour since Faye stepped on concrete and she still could not look at Nathan straight in the face. She thought that things would go back the way they were once they stepped back into civilization, but so far, her theory was proven wrong. Of course, she didn't believe that the village was enchanted or it had some magical thingamajig going on. That would just be preposterous! It was just that she just thought that normal surroundings would bring back what had been normal in their relationship.

As it was, she still couldn't help but feel heat rise up to her cheeks whenever she looked at him or when she felt him looking at her. It didn't help that her body reminded her of the sensations of the kiss they shared or of the dreams she had afterward.

Faye heard that some people could control where their dream was headed at certain points, but apparently, she wasn't among those especially gifted. In the three dreams she dreamt, she always ended up in Nathan's arms. She couldn't remember exactly what the dreams were - though she was sure she could remember a Bali setting in one of them - but she could not forget how they all ended and the...fluffy feeling that coursed through her each time before she was able to force herself to wake.

"Thank you so much again, Chinook," she finally said hoping to erase every thought of Nathan from her mind. Sure it was impossible with him walking beside her - and thank heavens they had their clothes on again - but she had to try. "I promise to visit when I can."

Beside her, Nathan seemed to stifle a chuckle before saying, "I'll make sure she does make time to visit. If not, I'll drag her here."

She whipped her head around to face him. "And what's that supposed to mean?" As soon as the words got out of her mouth, her face lit up to steel-melting temperatures and looked away again.

"We are only glad to help," Chinook said though Nathan silent chuckle. "You are welcome anytime." He stopped as the manager's secretary gave her and him envelopes. He stood up and smiled at them. "Good bye."

"Good bye." They said at the same time.

Inside the envelopes was a certificate entitling them to a two-month trip with a gift cheque worth $10,000 to be used anytime they were in the cruise ship should they decide to come back. Also in it were plane tickets though with different destinations.

"We apologize again for the inconvenience. We assure you, it will never happen again," the woman said. "And the dog will be sent back to his owner as you requested. Do you need anything else?" She cast a nervous look at Nathan who only shook his head prompting her to skit away as fast as she could with all the composure she had.

The woman's fear was not baseless. The moment they arrived at her desk, it was Faye who complained first, but when the secretary let them into the manager's office, it was Nathan who took control. His voice was calm and soft, but dangerous undertones lined his speech. His body language projected one who was not to be trifled with. But more importantly, Faye couldn't help but notice that whenever the manager tried to speak to her instead, his tone became more authoritative and Nathan would immediately jump in, his tones more ferocious but no less calm than before.

Faye turned the plane ticket over in her hands. What would she do when she got back to her house? She could go back to work, but knowing Mr. Kawolski, he would send her back to her sabbatical. And then what? She couldn't possibly go back to her hometown. Nathan was sure to be there and her aunt and grandmother would definitely let him in as if he were their own son. The best option was, perhaps to pursue a hobby. But what?

"Aren't you going to the high school alumni party?"

She looked at him trying hard to act normal. If he could do it, so could she. "What alumni party?"

"Our school's hosting a homecoming. I said I wouldn't go since dad booked me on this trip. But now...well, things changed. And there's three days to the homecoming. I haven't seen anyone since...since high school. Except you, of course. And Jade. Met her when I was in New York. She was auditioning for a part in Broadway." He sat back and shoved the contents back into the envelope. "I think they could pencil us in somehow."

Faye hid her reaction to him mentioning Jade. The girl wasn't as hateful as Nathan, but she came close. She was, after all his accomplice to the deed, though an unknowing one. What made her hateful was the fact that she poked the incident at her every chance she got.

"No, thank you." She hid a shudder brought about by the thought of him and Jade together. "I've other things planned."

"Already?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Yes. As a matter of fact, I've got a new hobby."

"And that is...?"

Faye said the first word that came to her mind really having no hobby at all. "Knitting."

Nathan burst out laughing. "You? Knit?" He wiped a tear from his eye. "I just can't see it!"

"You'll see!" She stood by it not daring to take her word back. "I can knit!"

"And what will you make?" he asked grinning from ear to ear.

"I haven't thought of it yet," she admitted. "I'm still studying."

"Alright. Tell me when you finish in ten years."

Faye opened her mouth to retort but thought better of it and closed it instead. "I'm going to the airport," she muttered and stood to go.

"What time's your flight?" he stood up after her.

Faye could hear a little anxiety in his voice. As if he were a little kid and his mother was taking away his favorite toy.

"In six hours. But it's better to be there early. And I'd like to eat some pasta. It's been quite a while. Or at least, it seems quite a while."

"I'll come with you."

"What time is your flight?"

"In eight hours. My treat, alright?"

"You don't have to."

"I want to."

For a moment, Faye's and Nathan's eyes were locked on each other. Their gazes going deeper into each other's soul as moments passed. The whole room seemed to melt into nothing and any other sound was a distant murmur.

Until Faye broke off and stared at the exit. Every nerve in her body tingled and she felt something she had never felt in a long time: excitement, thrill. Warmth. She took a deep breath and stepped toward the doors. Then stopped, surprised to see Nathan opening the door for her. Her mouth opened but before she could speak, Nathan spoke first.

"I told you, didn't I? My treat. Is that so bad?"

Faye opened her mouth to protest but resorted to forget saying anything about it. After all, there was no harm in his offer. Besides, what was she to do waiting for four hours in the airport?

They rode the car the company provided for them in silence. Faye had no idea what Nathan's silence was all about but for her, it was the sheer awkwardness of the situation that nailed her mouth shut. She looked out the window, not really seeing anything that the car passed. Something had definitely changed throughout the entire time they were together. Drastic changes that actually caused her to kiss him.

Her whole body could still remember every detail of the kiss they shared and she couldn't help but touch her lips as the memory settled on her. It made her feel...something strange. There really was no way to describe the feeling, but it was there. It wrapped around her like the blanket her aunt gave her when her parents died. Whatever it was made her blood rush and her mind cloud over. Describing every sensation that coursed through her was impossible.

A hand touched her shoulder and she jumped. She looked at the hand, then at Nathan, in askance.

"We're here," he said simply.

There was really nothing to say about their lunch either. Neither spoke of anything significant if they spoke of anything at all. More importantly, Faye could hardly even bring herself to look at him, knowing that if she did, her face would flare up and she would be tongue tied.

Not that being tongue tied was really a concern right then.

She barely even heard when he excused himself to make a phone call. What she did hear as clear as day was what he said when he came back.

"I just broke up with Sara."

Faye looked up at him startled, her heart fluttering. Deep in her heart, she knew this was going to happen. Nathan, after all, always did what he would say he would do. She always thought she did not know what to say to him as soon as he did it, but her mouth suddenly had a life of its own.

"Are you crazy?" she asked, the fluttering crushed.

Nathan shook his head. "Maybe. I told you, Faye. I'm serious about you."

"You can't just toy around with other people's emotions like that! She cried, didn't she?"

"Look, I know I've been a prick to you but-"

"Didn't she?" she cut him off her question insistent.

He sighed and looked down before answering, "Yes."

"Sweet baby Jesus..." she scratched her head. "And you're going to expect me to believe that you can change overnight? No one can, Nathan. Nobody just wakes up and says, 'Hey, I'm going to be a new person today,' and boom! They just are. What happened between us was...it was nothing more than whatever it was they gave us. That drink! I don't know if it was alcohol or whatever but..." She paused and took a deep breath. "Nathan, none of that was real. We're kidding ourselves if you think of it as anything else. You've just been apart from your girlfriend for too long and I've just...I've probably been alone just about all my life."

He looked up at her, staring into her eyes. "So you felt nothing?" he asked quietly, "During our whole trip up until today. There was nothing?"

Faye hesitated. There was something, but what it was, she didn't know. And whatever it was scared her and she did not want to admit that. "Nothing."

Nathan unexpectedly broke into a grin. "I'll give you time to process it."

Her jaw took on a stubborn set. "Go back to your girl, Nathan. Try to take into consideration her happiness. A relationship isn't always about you."

"I hope to see you in the homecoming. I know you'll find time despite your busy knitting schedule," he said letting her comment slide off him like water.

Faye looked away, the clock catching her eye. There were only a few minutes to go before her flight would be called. The board did say that the plane arrived on time. Finally, she could get rid of the one person who always got under her skin. Well...one of the two, now that he reminded her of Jade. The only thing was, something else was holding her back, telling her that she had been an idiot to say all those things to him. It told her that she should be flinging herself into his arms and enjoying that kiss once again. It screamed at her to not leave without him.

But of course, she had always been a rational person. What he did what wrong and it was too risky for her to accept his proposal. Yes. It had only been the rational choice to refuse him.

"I won't give up, Faye."

She didn't look at him, not because she didn't want to, but because she was afraid of what he might see in her face if she did turn to him.

Helllllllllllllllllllloooooooo ggguyyyyyyssss! How are you all? Its been so long since I last updated. I am so sorry for making you wait and for being so inactive. I have been so busy with my college admission. It's still not confirmed yet.

But how was the chapter? I really need your thoughts on this book. Its slowly coming to an end. It was meant to be a short story. Also I'm gradually losing interest for this book as I am not able to update it frequently. I am so sorry guys.

But I would love to hear from you. I love you guys so much and I miss you. Thank you so much for the love.