It was in a pretty pink envelope. A heart sticker held the flap down. It was even scented.

Ned found the odd package in his doorway after a long and stressful day at the Pie Hole. They

had introduced a new pie flavor, triple berry chocolate. It had been Chuck's idea. People came from all over to taste the Pie Maker's new confection. Chuck helped him hand out the pies to the flow of customers that seemed never ending. Olive seemed to disappear at random points in the day. She told Ned that she wasn't feeling well, but she wouldn't go home. Little did he know, Olive had spent the day decorating that envelope. She had written the poem inside the night before.

Ned put it in his coat pocket. Protecting it from the view of gossiping neighbors. His apartment was empty. No Chuck in sight. He pressed his ear to the wall and heard the faint sound of laughter. It was two women. One's laugh was high pitched. Almost like a squeal. The other warmer and slower. He knew Chuck had gone to Olive's.

He sat and opened the envelope. Pulling out the white sheet inside.

The black ink seemed to dance upon the page. A lonely waltz, one beautiful and tragic all

at the same time. He read it over and over.

Sweet Ned,

Forced to sit here in my proverbial tower

I grow more impatient by the hour.

Unable to touch, only to stare,

Sitting and waiting, alone in my chair.

Sincerely, Your Secret admirer.

He tried to decode the handwriting, but all females looked the same to him. The third line gave him a hint. Unable to touch, only to stare.

It must be Chuck, it must be.

Ned decided to go over to Olive's and get his secret admirer. He had just bought more saran wrap the other day.

Little did he know, his secret admirer wasn't the one he was planning to kiss.. by proxy.

Chuck held the mug with the horse head on it high above her head.

"Here's to good friends, good times and GREAT booze!"

Olive lifted hers in response.

"Let's hear it for the booze!"

They clinked the mugs together. Drops of their coffee/liquor concoction poured on their heads. Olive craned her neck up to find the source of the mysterious precipitation.

"CHUCK! IT'S RAINING BOOZE!" Olive cackled and doubled in half. Chuck joined her.

They had been drinking like this for the past hour. They would have invited Ned, but he didn't seem like a drinker.

Ned didn't see the girls at first. But he sure did hear them. He turned around once, thinking he

should let them have fun. But with his luck Chuck would get alcohol poisoning, and have to be

taken to the hospital. He couldn't lie about who she was then. Lonely tourist Charlotte Charles who died on a cruise ship. Now alive again in a hospital. Alive.

"Ned is that you?" A very drunken Olive came out of her kitchen. A half empty mug was clutched in her hand.

"Hi Olive, I was just here to check on Chuck?"

"Oh, okay." Olive turned her head and yelled. "CHUCK GET IN HERE! LOVER BOY IS PICKING YOU UP!"

Chuck stumbled into the livingroom with a matching horse mug in her hand.

"Do you have to scream?! I'm right here!." She shook her head and looked at Ned. "Hi sweetie pie what's shakin'?" She stumbled a bit and began to fall but Olive caught her. Ned breathed a sigh of relief.

"I think you should come home Chuck." She didn't answer, but she followed Ned out the door.

"Byeeee besst friennnnnnd!"

Olive laughed, though nothing was really funny. Nothing at all.

Chuck awoke with a pounding head ache, and a note.

-Chuck

Tried not to wake you. Went down to the Pie Hole.

See you in a while.

-Ned

She smiled and held the note, kissed it, and laid it on her pillow. She closed her eyes and imagined it was Ned beside her. Her fantasy lasted until another pang of pain went through her head. Which in reality wasn't long at all.

In the apartment next door Olive clutched her head as well. After Chuck had left, she continued to drink the rest of the Brandy that was left in her fridge. Her eyes blurred as she rolled over to check her alarm clock. 9:24. The Pie Hole opened 1 hour and 24 minutes prior to Olive's awakening. Startled, she leaped out of bed and tried to run to her bathroom, which resulted in her doing a face plant in her hallway. She cursed, but quickly shut her mouth, realizing how terrible her breath smelled. She could only imagine Ned leaving her a note, telling her he was firing her and that him and Chuck were going to get married in Barbados.

Overcome by anger, pain, jealousy, and the effects of a bad hangover, Olive felt it was best to do only one thing. So, she sat up in her narrow hallway, and cried. The flow of salty tears washed away the remnants of yesterday's eyeliner and mascara. She was glad that she had opted not to wear her glitter eyeshadow yesterday. She was already looking like a mess, it would be even worse if she was a glittery mess. The nearest tissue box was in her bathroom. It would be a daring feat for her to get up for it in her condition. Olive wished she could disappear, but the tears kept falling. Olive felt utterly alone in the world, but if she had only looked up, she would have seen Ned standing in her doorway.