Erik had been driving himself wild with thoughts of Rosaline over the past week and a half. Ever since his troubled conversation with her, he felt completely and utterly helpless at the fact that he couldn't change her mind into wanting to see him sooner. He had promised to give her as much time as she needed, but he never realised just how long he would have to wait for her to reach out to him. Erik hadn't known that ten days could feel so unexplainably long and draining. Coupled with the fact that he still hadn't returned to work, every minute of every day that he spent thinking about her was pure torture. He wish there were an alternative solution to feeling this defenceless and weak against his undying feelings for Rosaline, but the truth was, he couldn't because he would always love her, even if she could no longer love him. It terrified him to think of the possibility that there would come a day in the near future when she would simply give up on him. He couldn't stand the idea of that happening, much less allow himself to believe that there was any truth to it. So instead of continuing to brood within the safe confines of his home, he would take the initiative to go and visit her during work hours, even if it was his least intelligent attempt at winning her affections. Because at this point, any attempt at seeing Rosaline was better than waiting around for his phone to ring.

Rather than seeking out Mr. Arnold to drive Erik to Panorama Elementary, Erik hastily made the decision to drive himself. Before leaving however, he did consider his appearance, upon acknowledging that this would be the very first time since Rosaline's birthday that they would be seeing each other. He would be lying if he said that he wasn't incredibly anxious and somewhat emotionally frazzled, because in reality that is exactly how he felt. He had even changed shirts four times, before finally selecting a crisp blue one to wear that he thought would compliment his eyes. After scurrying around his house some more, he inevitably made his way towards his garage and stepped inside his Audi. Turning the key in the ignition, he took a much needed breath before speeding out of his driveway.

In little to no time at all, Erik had arrived and was currently parked inside the school's guest parking bay. He honestly couldn't believe where he was nor how close, yet how far he felt from Rosaline. Despite his confidence back home, he wasn't entirely sure he felt the same anymore. What if Rosaline was appalled by his presence and didn't want to speak with him? What if she felt that Erik was pressuring her into seeing him sooner than expected? Or perhaps, what if she declared it was over between them once and for all? Erik could hardly process each of these outcomes without suffering from mild chest pains, closest to his heart. He didn't want to accept any outcome that didn't involve Rosaline running back into his arms willingly, but alas, Erik knew that no matter how much he hoped, or dreamed or prayed, life had a way of moving forward and it didn't wait for anyone to try and catch up.

Locking his car, Erik followed the paved path that led him to the administration building. Although he had been at the school a handful of times, this particular occasion was unlike any other he had previously encountered. After speaking with the receptionist and convincing her of some lie about scheduling an impromptu visit to Miss Covault's classroom, Erik was whisked away by a student messenger.

With every step he took, Erik couldn't help but feel a sense of dread, especially when it was revealed to him only minutes ago that he wouldn't be meeting Rosaline in her classroom. Instead, he would find her in a meeting room, as she was currently finishing up a programming session with a fellow colleague. Thanking the student messenger with a brief smile, Erik braced himself upon hearing the sweet symphony of Rosaline's laugh echo through the door. As quick as a warmth of adrenaline hit him, an icy and electric rush soon followed. Erik's eyebrows were furrowed in anguish as he opened the door and spotted Rosaline laughing alongside a tall, young man whom he assumed was also a school teacher. Within seconds of seeing Rosaline standing beside another man, laughing no less, Erik felt his heart sink into the floor in which he was standing on. It seemed as though Rosaline was as equally shocked by Erik's abrupt entrance that she snapped her mouth shut as soon as she realised that it was him who had waltzed in through the door. Fuelled by his obvious fury, Erik wasted no time in walking over to them and introducing himself to the stranger.

"Erik?" Rosaline whispered, in a somewhat similar voice to how she had answered his call ten days prior.

"Miss Covault." He sternly addressed her, before averting his attention to the man who stood there slightly puzzled.

"Erik Silverstein, you might remember me as the keynote speaker from earlier on in the school year." Erik stated, with an outstretched hand for the stranger to accept.

"Of course, Mr. Silverstein. What a delight it is to make your acquaintance. I welcome you back to Panorama Elementary." The man politely spoke, whilst accepting Erik's tight handshake.

"Thank you. I'm actually here on business today and would appreciate a moment of privacy with Miss Covault." Erik tersely expressed.

"Of course, not a problem." The man agreed, before assembling his belongings and offering Rosaline a charming smile in farewell.

Erik clenched both his fists as he watched the man finally exit the meeting room, leaving him and Rosaline alone. He hadn't met her gaze since he walked inside the room, feeling more than a little startled at the sight of her laughing with another man. Finally turning to see her, he noticed that she hadn't broken her stare from him. He felt somewhat comforted by that, but also extremely hurt by the fact that someone other than him could make her experience such happiness. Have I already lost her, he wondered as the two of them continued to gape at one another with nothing to say.

"I can't tell you how nice it is to see you." Erik truthfully spoke, with a small smile.

Despite each and every possible thought racing though his mind, Erik hadn't prepared to see Rosaline simply stand there with a vacant look on her face. She always looked as beautiful as a summer day, but suddenly Erik noted the emptiness behind her eyes. The look itself chilled him to his core, not knowing what it could mean. After a long moment of utter silence, Rosaline inevitably responded.

"What are you doing here Erik?" She questioned.

Just as when they spoke over the phone, Rosaline's words held such a hefty weight to them that Erik wasn't sure how to correctly answer her. She seemed both disappointed and tense and neither of those emotions were doing anything to settle Erik's own anxious confusion.

"I had to see you." He hopelessly admitted.

"I said I needed more time." She instead reminded him, as a sure way of deflecting his own needy confession.

"It's been ten days since you told me that, with no message or call to explain just how long you might need." Erik challenged her.

"You shouldn't have come here." Rosaline told him, while distractedly moving to gather her own paperwork that was scattered across a nearby work desk.

"Why? So I could have avoided seeing you with that preppy sleaze bag?" Erik tormented her with evident frustration.

"Theo is not a sleaze." She quickly pointed out, with a glare directed at him.

"Are you actually trying to justify his actions right now?" Erik accused.

"What actions?" Rosaline preposterously stated, her voice becoming louder with every insinuating remark he was making.

"The way he smiled at you for starters." Erik stressed in an annoyed manner.

Erik watched as a moment of realisation dawned on Rosaline's face. The frightening thing was that Erik had no knowledge as to what it was that she had suddenly come to terms with. Softening his expression, Erik was about to apologise for his unnecessary behaviour when Rosaline cut him off.

"If you thought for even a second that I would look at another man whilst I'm still in a committed relationship with you, then it seems you don't know me at all Erik." She carefully begun, whilst brushing away a lone teardrop that had escaped and ran down her delicate cheekbone.

"Rose, that's not..." Erik tried interrupting, before Rosaline spoke again.

"If it makes you feel any better Erik, despite this separation of ours I haven't done much else besides cry and wallow in my own emotions, because the truth is my feelings for you are still as strong as ever." She added, with clear difficulty in her voice.

Erik felt impossibly idiotic for making Rosaline feel as she would even contemplate cheating on him. He knew she didn't have a single bad bone in her body, so for him to have immediately assumed the worst of her clearly indicated just how desperate he was to have her back in his life. Unfortunately, he was going about winning her affections in the worst way possible and he had no one to blame but himself.

"I'm deeply sorry Rose, I don't know what I was thinking. I wasn't thinking, clearly. I know it's no excuse but my mind and emotions are a mess right now." Erik uneasily told her, while slowly beginning to pace around the small room.

"I've been so miserable without you, especially this past week where I've found myself waiting for you to call me back. I didn't know coming here today would have caused yet another setback for us, I just wanted to talk to you properly." He continued, pausing to see if Rosaline had heard him.

Erik's heart constricted when he took in the sight of Rosaline sitting in an office chair, silently crying to herself. She had undoubtedly heard him and was contemplating her next move. It broke Erik to see his one and only true love crying like that at the expense of their fragile relationship. All he wanted was for things to return to how they once were, but of course given everything they had experienced together, it was unlikely to occur overnight. With that thought in mind, Erik decided it would be him in this instance to leave. Walking towards the door in which he entered, with watery eyes himself, Erik hoped he was making the right decision this time because if today had taught him anything it was that patience was necessary for the healing of both their hearts. With his fingers wrapped around the door knob, waiting to be released open, Erik asked Rosaline one final question that would determine whether or not a reconciliation of their relationship was worth hoping for anymore.

"Just answer me one thing Rosaline and then I'll leave." He quietly proposed, waiting for her saddened gaze to meet his.

"Are we over with?" He questioned, with a lump the size of a golf ball lodged in his throat.

Erik could feel his entire body tremble in fear, as he watched Rosaline wipe under her dampened eyes with bony fingers. She swallowed her own discomfort and firmly shook her head in response, relieving them both from their most profound and heartfelt concern.