I am so behind on work, that i go straight to the office as soon as i arrive back in the city, and i don't leave till it's past midnight.

I crash my head into the pillow as soon as i get home, hoping i am tired enough to sleep through the night till day break.

I am later woken up by Marco and Aaron asking to be let in into my apartment.

"What do you want so earlier in morning" i frown, making myself comfortable on the kitchen counter.

"Well, we are throwing Roman a surprise birthday party tonight, he doesn't want to make a big deal of it obviously, but we agreed to have something low key over here." he says casually.

"We?" i ask, wondering who 'we' is that made that decision without my permission first.

"Uhhmm, everybody. So i have a few people coming over in a minute to bring out a couple of things for tonight and get this place into tip top condition for the party" he says, as if my opinion doesn't matter.

I look at Aaron and he grins. I know i would be wasting my time arguing with the pair of them at this point, so i head for the stairs. I need to get ready for work.

"I want this place back to normal by tommorow morning Marco, not a thing out of place" i stop at the stairs and warn him.

"It will be like we were never here" he grins, and i sigh turning around.

"7pm" he shouts, letting me know the time of the party as i dissapear into the corridor.

*

I should really get to the office but i have been anxious to see Marianne all weekend so i decide to stop by her place first.

I am just checking up on her, no big deal.

She is just walking out of her building when i am about to go up and she nearly gets a heartattack when we literally bump into each other.

"Calm down, it's just me" i chuckle, trying to steady her.

She looks up at me with wide eyes and one hand on her chest over her heart.

"Don't sneak up on me like that" she says angrily, out of breath.

"I wasn't sneaking, it's a sharp corner, i can't see through walls" i snap back. She is obviously in a bad mood.

"What do you want?" she asks, picking up her books that fell to the floor during our impact.

"I look at her down at my feet, and regret having come here.

"I wanted to check up on you, see how your were doing, after... You know" i say, refering to the incident with her brother.

"I am fine, sorry, i just didn't really expect you or anyone" She stands up, looking at me.

I nod.

"I can see you are fine, i will leave you to it then" i say, turning around and leaving.

What was i thinking coming here to begin with anyway, this was such a stupid mistake.

I am nearly by my car when i hear her calling to me from behind, but i enter it anyway and start the ignition. I start to reverse out of the carpark when she finally catches up to me and i decide to lower the window.

"Hey, i am really sorry, i was just startled. Am really sorry. It's just....." she says while pushing some stray hair from her face behind her ear.

"Don't worry about it" i say, before driving off.

I can see this is going to be a fucked up day.

*

"Hey" Rita waves at me as i walk into Ally's house for our lessons.

"Hey you, what are you doing here" i ask, a little surprised to see her.

"Ohh, you are here" Ally says, interrupting us as she appears from somewhere.

"Hai, you look nice" i say, refering to how beautiful she looks in a red dress.

"Thank you, am so sorry, i forgot to cancel today's lesson because of Roman's party."

"Oh" i respond, feeling bad for coming all the way here for nothing. It seems i can't catch a break today.

After the incident with Angelo this morning, i have been feeling close to tears all day. I acted really badly when he was only being nice to me. Now it just feels like the icing on the cake of a really messed up couple of days.

"Am really sorry she says, grabing both my hands in hers.....but, it's just as well because now we can all go together"

"What? me? I don't think so, it's a family thing and i don't want to intrude." i reply.

Plus, i would rather just go home and lick my wounds. I know i won't be good company to anyone and it was already an extra effort for me to come here for the lessons in the first place.

"I am not family and i am going" Rita drawls, and i smile, shaking my head at her usual witty clap backs.

"See, there, she is not family," Ally rolls her eyes at her.

"Besides, i think Sienna will like it if you came, since they are now a....'thing' " She adds, making a face at the end, obviously still not too happy with their new relationship.

"I don't know, am not really dressed for a party" i say, looking at how she is looking.

"That's my cue, don't worry, come with me" Rita says, dragging me upstairs.

*

It's about 20 minutes to 7 pm, when we start to go up a multi story building to the 25th floor. Luke will die when i tell him about this, that's after i get over how mad i am with him for going M.I.A on me all weekend.

"So whose place is this anyway?" i suddenly remember to ask.

"Oh, Angelo's" Rita answers, watching my face for a reaction.

Blood rushes to my head so quickly i am glad i am leaning against the walls of the elavator for support.

"Rita don't start" Ally laughs, watching Rita.

I swear, if i had known, i would have not come here, at all. I can't face him, not after this morning. I can still picture how angry he got at how i behaved, and honestly, this morning i was every bit as condescending as he said i was when i first met him, even if i didn't mean to be.

It's just that after the whole thing with Eric, i have been very jumpy and nervous and i just don't know what to expect anymore.

"Hey, are you ok, you turned really red" Ally asks, concerned.

Just then, the elavator doors opened.

"Hey, you are finally here, Sienna comes running to us, i need to change, come, she hooks her arm in Ally's, pulling her forward, but she turns back to look at me and i give her my best smile in return.

"Later" i mouth.

"Are you really ok?" Rita asks aswell and i grin.

"Yes"

"I'll take it" she says, as we walk in, not convinced but not bothering to interrogate me for details, thankfully.

It's alot more spacious than i expected it to be on the inside, and the lights deemed to a good low. Atleast this way, no one will be able to see my red face.

My head is pounding with every beat my heart makes, and my mouth has gone dry, am so nervous to see him. Soon, we enter a room full of people most of whom i don't know and i pray to God Rita doesn't leave me alone.

I look around the room, looking for familiar faces, when i lock eyes with Angelo.

Shit!

Too soon.

In a dark blue shirt and dark blue jeans, he is leaning against the back of a sofa with a drink in his hand, surrounded by a group of people.

Despite the nerves, i whisper a "Hai" hoping he can read my lips and he raises his drink at me in return, the way you would when making a toast.

I quickly turn away, hoping to be distracted by other things. Maybe i can just stay abit and leave shortly after Roman arrives. In and out, we won't even need to meet up close.

Soon, we are told Roman is coming up the building with Nick, so everyone gathers in one room.

"Surprise!!!!!" We all shout when they enter the room to a visibly startled, then pleasantly surprised Roman.

The next few minutes are spent exchanging hugs and 'happy birthday'.

"Hey, let me take that" Aaron offers, refering to my coat.

"Thank you" i respond. I was hoping to keep the coat on till i leave now that Roman has arrived, but i probably look awkward wearing this in a warm room.

"Whoa" Aaron says, taking my coat in his hands.

"You look incredible" he smiles, looking me over.

*

Thanks to the incident with Marianne this morning, i was moody the rest of the day. I felt scorned and annoyed at everyone for no reason. But that changed the minute i saw her walk through my door.

The rhythm of my heart beat has changed, am suddenly more alert, more awake......excited. To say i am still not mad at her for this morning would be a lie, but i am glad that she is here, it makes me feel better for some reason.

She is wearing her hair down in soft shinny waves, i can tell she put in some work into that because it did not look like that this morning.

She is wearing a long emerald green coat that stops just below her knees. I guess am not surprised at her conservative outfit, but the temperature is warm in here and that coat was meant to protect her from the cold weather outside.

Nick walks up to me and my little group and starts to tell us what he had to go through to kill off time before finally bringing Roman here.

"Holy shit!" Marco exclaims all of a sudden.

"What?" We all ask, looking at him curiously.

"Is that Mary?" he says pointing in her direction.

I follow his line of sight and see her, next to Aaron and Rita.

In a black dress, as tight as a second skin. She is standing sideways so we are all able to see the delicate curve of her generous behind. The dress is not even mid thigh, it's far too short for her, with long sleeves to her wrists, and an open back down to her lower back, bearing her skin for all to see.

I look around me briefly at the inappropriate stares she has attracted and feel my blood boil.

What the fuck is she wearing?