"Nothing stays hidden for long.
And you often find, what you least expect is right in front of you.
Waiting to change everything forever.
Whether you want to or not. XOXO"
-Gossip Girl

Normal P.O.V.

We walked together towards the hotel in an awkward silence. It had been a long day and we hadn't spoken at all since we got off the bus. The whole time I prevented myself from looking at him and even denied the fact that he was beside me. And he didn't seem like he wanted to start a conversation.

The song that I sung reminded me again the pain of my past, so I just thought I better be silent than crying a baby in front of him. I spotted a park in the other side of the street, then I started to run towards it to cheer up my mind.

"Hey, the hotel is that way." He ran up to where I was and pointed the other way.

I sat in the swing and swung myself slowly, "I know." I said flatly. He walked to behind me and pushed my swing. "Don't push too hard. I'm scared." I gave him a light chuckle.

"So you're afraid of heights?"

"Yes. So push it as slowly as you can."

And he pulled the swing really slowly like I told him. We were quiet for a while before either spoke again. "Does Stefan mean something to you?"

I suddenly stopped giggling and look straight to him. "He's just... my best friend that I trust." I said.

"Okay, then. Enough playing, let's go back home. I want to watch Legend of Korra tonight." He said excitedly, and I just nodded in agreement.

He grabbed my arm and we walked to the hotel. He was walking beside me. His hand was still holding mine and I tightened it slowly; it had felt comfortable with it near my hand. I let the pain flew away and just accept the fact that I'm not all alone now. I had him. With him beside me, everything is looking good in my eyes. Trees are full of starlight; streetlights are misty in the river.

We took the elevator together, and his hand stayed holding mine. Until we got to second floor and he took his hand away, letting me go. "Thanks for today, Walker." I said.

He smiled, "You're welcome. And I really wish I can see you perform again." I caught a glimpse of those blue eyes that made my heart melt.

"You will."

And the elevator door closed. And I walked back to my room as I let my mind wandering. Maybe I should break my rules now.


I opened my locker and looked into Joe's photo. I admire his eyes, his brow and his smile. I allowed a light chuckle to escape as I remembered how he held my hand yesterday. And it made me think that we were like a... crap because thinking we are a couple couldn't get me anywhere. "It's all your fault."

I grabbed my history book, my next class after the break time. As I closed the locker's door I saw something that made me freeze in the instant I recognized them. It all happened in front of me. I felt my heart slowly began to fall from my chest. This is what you were scared of. All this time, you've been avoiding a feeling. But in the long run you can't avoid it anymore.

It was Liza. She was standing with Joe.

She kissed Joe passionately, and Joe kissed her back, "Or maybe it was my fault.. Because I was hoping too much." I said quietly. I held my breath and plucked up courage to walk passed them.

Joe's P.O.V

I forgot where exactly Dianna locker is. But I guess I could just wait here until she shows up in this hallway because right now is the time for substitution class. Then suddenly someone grabbed my back and kissed me in the lips. Ugh, lip-gloss. It must be Liza. She kept me locked to her lips. I tried to pushed her but my mind is messed up right now. Then vaguely I smelled a lily scent and it's... It's Dianna! Swiftly I pulled her off as I search the source of it. And I saw she was walking right passed me. Damn! Now she'll be mad at me, again.

"What the hell?" I said to Liza.

"You're my boyfriend. It's a normal thing for us. Remember the old times at college you used to be the one who kissed me first, right?" she said, linking her arms but I jerked it away.

"Right, used to. But now, it's over. We're breaking up."

I tried to walk away but she held my hand hardly preventing me to leave. "Huh? Wait! Is it because of her? A crazy fan-girl who's like stalking you? The one that you met at the park? A little girl? Seriously, you got to be kidding me!"

"She is not a crazy fan-girl! And stop saying she's a little girl! She is nineteen!" I yelled at her because she has pissed me off big time.

"Nineteen?" She giggled and continued yelling "And you? You are fuckin' twenty-four!"

"So, it means I can't be with her? Wake up! It's the 21st century."

Her face turned serious. "Joe, you're just kidding, right? We're not over!" she yelled again and made people around here stare at us.

"I'm one hundred percent serious!" And I left her with shock written on her face.

~o~

Normal P.O.V

I walked to the cafe with tears in my eyes. That incident flashed in my memories again. Being hurt, left by the one I loved. I felt tears slowly returning to my eyes. The harsh wind whipped against my face making a cold sensation on it. I wiped my face with my jacket and then walked into the cafe. I bought a caramel-latte, hoping it can refresh my mind. And when I was walking back to the college, I saw Stefan in the far end. He's walking towards me. I think he can read my face.

"Dianna, hey what's happen?"

"Huh? Umm, nothing!" I said, trying to sound convincing but failed miserably.

"I can see something is wrong. About the assignment? Just relax, okay? I've got it. And it's like ninety percent finished." He said. And I can't vent all my sadness to him. So I just hugged him.

"Thank you soo much! You don't have to do it really!"

And he pulled me off him and looked me in the eye with his hands on my shoulders. "Di, if something happened, tell me, okay?"

"O-okay."

Stefan was so nice to me. And I would never want him to change. I watched him watch away and decided that I needed to talk to someone. "Stefan!" I called him again. And he turned his way back to me "Yes?"

"Maybe we can talk in the cafe?"

"Sure." he agreed and we sat at the cafe balcony.

And suddenly a middle-age woman came towards me with an angry expression. Her face was so familiar. And she hit my table. "You bitch!" She said. I gasped when I recognized it was Liza.

"Hey! Watch your mouth, dude!" Stefan yelled at her. But she didn't care.

"I don't know who you are. But don't you think just because you're young, you can get anyone you want and cheat on them just like that!" Liza grumbled as she pointed her finger to Stefan and then me.

"I'm not cheating! He is my friend-"

"But you took Joe away from me! And I can't accept that." And she continued her words before she left "I warned you."

After she left Stefan letting out a breath of relief,"Geez, who the hell is she?" He said.

"Joe's ex- I mean- Joe's girlfriend."

His face turned serious, "Dianna, are you dating a man who has a girlfriend?" he said, gave me curious look.

"We're not dating!" I yelled.

"Forget about Joe, okay? Look, it turned out to be like this. Just... Don't make anything complicated anymore." And he stood up and left me here. Is he mad at me just because I date Joe? Why he mad at me with that reason?

I chased him outside of the cafe. "Hey! Why are you mad at me for no reason?" I yelled at him, he stopped walking a moment and turned back to me.

"I never thought you'd change this much. You're different from the girl that I used to know." he said flatly.

"Since when have you known me so much? We just met last year, Stef." I said in evasion.

He stayed quiet a while then, suddenly he grabbed my hand, and put a ring into it. And when I looked at it, it's the same ring that was mine. A plain ring without a diamond or anything else. But made from a hard material. Why he have the same ring while he never saw it before? Is he that boy?

"Huh? What's this?" I asked him.

"With this, you'll never forget me, and I'll always remember you."

His words, made a flashback played in my mind.

****Dianna's flashback****

Dianna, dressed in the standard Kindergarten uniform sat on the bench holding her books. The boy came and sat beside her. "I must go"

"Do you really have to?"

"I must go home. I must do as my father wishes"

She lowered her head and started to cry. "Don't cry" the boy hugged her and tried to comfort her. "What if- what if you forget me and we don't see each other again?" and she burst into a fresh wave of tears.

"This" And he grabbed her hand and put a ring in it. "With this, you'll never forget me, and I'll always remember you. I have mine too!

"But don't tell anyone, okay?"

She looked plainly to the ring on her hand. She looked up and met Stefan's brown eyes. "Why must be a ring?"

Stefan stayed silent for awhile and then explained it to her. "When people used the same ring, it means they're having connection. Just like our father and mother. or our grandpa and grandma."

"B-but I don't even know your name" she stammered.

"My name is-" he was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a car and a middle-age man got out and carried the boy to the car without saying any words.
****Flashback ends****

I gasped. Is he really the boy who saved my childhood?

"You are the boy, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am."