Max had first seen her in a coffee shop down the way. She sat next to the window with her laptop and latte. She looked so serene as she watched people walk by with her brown eyes. Every few minutes she would smile to herself and her fingers would tap furiously against her keyboard. Occasionally, she'd pause and twirl a curl of her caramel locks or nibble on her plump rosy lip. She never looked at him. Why would she?

He came back the next day and every day after that. She was always there. She quickly became the highlight of his day. He watched her for 2 weeks. She was always happy and polite to those around her. He wondered who she was and what she did. He wanted to get closer. Smell her perfume. Brush up against her skin.

He didn't work up the courage to speak with her until he saw her frowning at her screen one day. He walked by and saw that she was scrolling through a real estate site. Maybe this was fate. She was supposed to come into his life for a reason. To give his life reason.

"Excuse me," he said trying his best to look her in the eye, "Do you mind if I share your table? Everywhere else seems full."

"Not at all. Please have a seat. They do seem awfully busy today, don't they?" she said with a smile. She extended her hand.

He set down his red velvet cookie and coffee. He tried not tremble as he took hers in his. It was small and warm. Smooth….so soft. Just like he imagined. "I'm Max."

"Avonlea. Most people call me Lee"

"That's an interesting name." He tried to look nonchalant. He finally knew her name. A beautiful unique name. Just like her. He began picking at his food.

"Yeah, my mom loves book Ann of Green Gables," she rolled her eyes.

"Why not Ann then?"

"She didn't want to name me such a common name so…she named me after the town Ann lived in." She smiled again and her eyes turned back to her screen. Her brow furrowed and her lips pursed. He wondered what flavor her lip gloss was. He tried to turn his focus to the taste of his coffee instead.

"Everything okay?" he asked wiping red crumbs off his fingers.

"I having trouble finding an apartment," she sighed, "Not that you need to hear about my woes."

"You have woes?"

"Just typical ones. I need an apartment and I can't find one I can afford in a neighborhood I like."

"What are you looking for?"

"I need a bedroom, kitchen, bath. Safe neighborhood. Good distance from stores and parks and stuff."

"What's your price range?"

"About $3500. That's the problem. Why? You know of something?" Her face lit up. His heart raced. The way she was looking at him. The hope dawning across her features. He shouldn't. He didn't deserve her. But that wouldn't stop him.

"I happen to own a building. $3250 but utilities are extra. It's going through some renovations, but I'll have a rental ready by the end of the week."

"Really? Can I see it?"

"Let me write down the address, and you come take a look tomorrow. See if you're interested." She handed him a piece of paper and a pen. He started jotting down his information.

"Thank you so much…..um, I'm sorry," she blushed.

"Max…I'll write that down too," his dimples showed as his smile reached his eyes.

"Thank you, Max."

He reached across the table to give her back her things. He let his fingers graze hers when she took the writing tools back.

"Well, I best be going if I'm showing you the place tomorrow. It was good meeting you, Avonlea." He picked up his trash and did his best not leave a mess in her space. He knew she liked to keep her table tidy. He'd seen her sweep away crumbs with her dainty hands on more than one occasion. He needed to get to work on the apartment. She needed to like. She had to like it. It was his only chance.

She had viewed the apartment and was astonished that it was in her budget. Max basked in her smiles knowing he was the one that had enabled her joy. She moved in that weekend. He helped her with boxes and furniture. They met his grandfather, August in the hallways and made introductions. Luckily, he didn't scare her away with his cold demeanor.

Hours spent in her presence. The center of her attention. It was one of the happiest days in his recent memory. It should have been enough. He wished it could have been enough. But it never was. He stared at the door in his closet rocking back and forth on his chair willing himself to be strong. And of course, he failed. He was weak. Just like his grandfather always told him.

Max went through the door. He moved through the hidden hallways between the apartments silently. He knew these mazes like the back of his hand. He had played here as a child while August fixed things. It wasn't until he was older that he learned about the peepholes and two way mirrors built into the apartment next door. August tried to cover them up without spending a lot of money using boards. Max should have replaced all the fixtures when he took over ownership, but deep down he knew he wanted them there. Someday he would find the perfect girl for that apartment. Now, at last, it seemed he had.

He opened the small socket in the kitchen. There she was unloading some groceries and singing to music. Her hair was in a wild ponytail. She had taken off the shirt she was wearing early leaving on her tank top that was under it. He noticed something he had never had the opportunity to see. Tattoos. She had beautiful colored tattoos across her shoulders it seem. Maybe flowers or birds. His fingers itched to trace them to discover where they lead to. She finished putting her things away, turned off the music, and left the kitchen. Max fought the urge to follow her.

For the next few days, he had remained strong until something drew him to her. The corridor was hot and cramped in the summer, but Max couldn't resist. He had to see her. To watch her. Every movement was a graceful dance. Every spoken word a song. They played in his mind over and over again repeating themselves until he had to see the real thing. It was smell coming from her apartment that enticed him today.

He heard her before she saw her. Her light voice muffled and distant. He moved to the living room and slid a small knot the woodwork open. She was sitting on the couch crossed legged and talking on the phone.

"Yes, I know I write romance novel….Yes, I know, it's sad that I don't know how to ask a guy out. I'm aware that I write strong independent women…it's fiction. I can't be my fictional characters. I'm just me. Look…I'm baking him some cupcakes. Maybe I'll work up the courage to ask him to dinner. Mom, seriously. I can't say that. Ok, just no. I'm hanging up now. Goodbye. Love you." She threw her phone down and growled into her hands. She stood up and disappeared into the kitchen.

She was baking for a guy. She wanted to ask him out. Why? Why did this always happen? He thought she was perfect. How could she not see that they were meant to be together? Tears were forming in his eyes. He raked his hands through his dark hair and down his scruff covered jaw. He retreated back to his room. He was met with his reflection in his mirror. Weak. His grandfather was right. He punched the mirror shattering it. Blood dripped from his knuckles. He grabbed a towel and wrapped his hands. He fell onto his bed and wept bitter tears. She was going to be different. And yet, here he was in the same mess he always found himself in. In love with a woman who didn't know he was there.

He didn't realize he had fallen asleep until he woke to the sound of someone knocking. He heard his grandfather's voice at the door.

"May I help you?" August demanded.

"Yes, I was wondering if Max was here?" a small voice asked. It was her. Why was she here?

He rushed to the front door. There she was wearing a dress. Her hair was down. She had some make up on. She smiled when she saw Max.

"I've got it, Grandpa," he said. "Hey, is everything alright?"

"Oh, yes. It's just that…well, you were such a big help helping me find this place then going out of your way to help me move my stuff in…I wanted to say thank you, and I made you these." She held up a plastic container filled with cupcakes. "They're red velvet. I remembered you liked that cookie so I hope they're alright."

"They're my favorite. I can't believe you remember that. You made those for me?" He reached out slowly and took the container.

"Well, yeah," she smiled shyly, "I was also wondering…..oh, nevermind."

"Wondering what?"

"Oh. It's nothing. I should just go. Thanks, Max," she turned to leave.

"Avonlea."

"Yes," she looked over her shoulder.

"Would you like to have dinner with me?"

She smiled brightly. He soaked it in. The cupcakes were for him. She had wanted to ask him to dinner. She was interested in him. He felt 10 feet tall.

"Sure. Why don't I cook for us?"

"Great. I'll bring dessert." He winked at her and held up the cupcakes.

She laughed, "That sounds great. I'll see you at 7?"

"7 it is."

He watched her walked down the hall. She gave him a little smile as she entered her apartment. She was going to be his and it was going to be perfect.