Author's Note: Okay so I really have no excuse for my very, very postponed update! I do apologize- my classes have bee rough these past weeks with projects being flung at me every which way, but thank GOD summer is almost here! I won't hold you guys up any longer…enjoy this chapter and please review and give me your thoughts they are so very much appreciated! Believe it or not without them my lazy bowl of brains wouldn't have even gotten this far with this story (lol). Anyways enjoy!

Chapter 11: Don't Say it's Too Late

Tiffany's Point of View

I didn't stop running till I was 5 blocks down from Hanlow Academy and my breath was gone, I was in a panic. I had to find Pat it was the only thing freshly on my mind. I had been living in a daze and it was as though someone had just lifted the foggy veil from my eyes, I saw that it didn't matter that most of my past memories hadn't returned, all that mattered now was that I needed him, I needed Pat.

I pulled out my cellphone my hand's trembling partly from the cold but mostly from my own anxiety. "Tiffany! I was just about to call you to tell yo—" I cut my sister short "Veronica I need to know where Pat is, do you have his number?!" I asked in a tumble of rushed words. There was a slight pause and I could just imagine Veronica giving that dumb blank look she got before her wheels started turning and she understood. "Why what's goi—" I lost my patience. "NOW!" I shouted my voice reverberating into the phone. "Calm down Tiffany, Ronnie just took him to the airport, he got a last minute flight to Delaware and I don't know when he will be back." Veronica sounded like a voicemail machine, as if I had just dialed Pat's number and she was the robotic answering machine that I reached at the end of the rings, delivering the bad news.

"Which airport…"I said softly my voice the polar opposite of what it had been two seconds earlier. "The Philadelphia International Airport, Tiffany what's going on this is really strange you aren't thin—" *CLICK*

I felt bad for hanging up on my sister in mid sentence but there wasn't any time to waste. The taxi pulled up to the airport half an hour later and I jumped out almost tripping over my feet to get a head start. I ran to the front counter after hurriedly glancing at the big screens that announced which flights were late, arriving, or departing. "Hello how may I help you?" The woman at the front ticket counter said in protocol formality.

"Have any planes taken off on destination for Delaware?" I asked out of breath. She looked at me as if I were some delusional maniac, I'm sure I did look the part, my hair was going every which way from all my running and my makeup had run from my earlier tears, not to mention my gasping dramatic entrance…nearly slamming into the front counter. "I'm sorry Mam' but I'm afraid the only evening flight heading to Delaware took off fifteen minutes ago. Now I'm sorry but if you aren't purchasing a ticket you're going to have to exit this line there's people behind you." I didn't even have the energy to call the attendant a bitch as I turned and left. I walked outside to all of the taxi's pulling up and people rushing to make their flight or greeting family or friends that had just arrived.

I had missed him by 15 fucking minutes, all the time in the world to catch up to where I should've been from the beginning, and I missed it. I didn't even let the sting I felt all over get to me as I hailed a cab. I rode in silence all the way back to my neighborhood. My mom came out when she saw the cab pull up. I heard her ranting something about being worried and that Veronica had called saying I'd acted weird and how I should've just called mom and dad and the endless bullshit I wasn't in the mood to hear. "LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!" I had nearly screamed at my parent's before running back to my apartment behind the house. I ignored the angry shouts of my father about respect and "don't treat your mother that way."

I lay in bed looking at the slowly spinning fan; I could hardly believe so much had happened in only one night. I ached inside and out, I wanted to tell Pat that I needed him, that it didn't matter anymore that I think I love him.

The tears finally hit me.

It's was going to be a long night.

The next morning I got up with my head aching, I reached the mirror to see a red-eyed monster glaring back. I turned on the shower and got in, the cold water making me gasp and immediately waking me up. I turned the knob and felt recovery as hot water pelted into my skin, the steam soon following filled the small room until the shower glass was foggy. I closed my eyes and imagined if only last night I had kissed Pat, felt his warmth and the scent of him, masculine and fresh with an edge that made me crave him in ways most people would keep too themselves.

It wasn't over, but it felt like it. My window of opportunity had come and gone and Pat had left. Delaware? I wondered why there, but I knew why he'd left. There wasn't anything holding him here. He probably had been planning to leave for a long time now, last night was his last hope that I would get my fucking self together which I hadn't. I shook the running water off my face in anger at that thought. I had been so stupid, all along the answer to my screwed up life was right in front of me.

Everyone deserved a second chance; it's never too late.

I untangled my hair and washed it, the smell of lavender and vanilla filling up the little bathroom, my eyes closed I pictured Pat coming in behind me. Feeling his touch invigorate me and yet my imagination could only go so far, the only thing we'd done was kiss and even that was enough to put me in a place I longed to go back too. I turned off the shower and got out, wrapping a towel around me.

Only 20 minutes later I was standing across the street from Pat's house, I saw a mangled looking tree in the front lawn and thought how despite it's ugliness it was actually beautiful. I thought my eyes deceived me for a second because I saw something pink at the end of one its branches. I walked across the street and stood below the low hanging branch. It was a pink bud on the end, and it was December. I reached out with my hand to touch it.

*Beep*

I jumped back. My phone going off in my pocket had just scared the shit out of me. I felt irritated expecting a text from mom or Veronica, she'd already called 5 times this morning and left 5 voicemails. I didn't recognize the number displayed on my phone's sceen, but read the message.

610-354-2343 Unknown

That's some tree.

I felt my skin crawl, someone was watching me. They knew I was standing there beside it; I turned around quickly but didn't see anyone. I typed back.

610-367-3456 Tiffany Maxwell

Who the fuck is this?

I waited for a response still looking around but not seeing anyone

610-354-2343 Unknown

Someone who loves you.

I felt my mouth open slightly and my heartbeat increase. Did I dare hope… having a sudden premonition of who it might be.

610-367-3456 Tiffany Maxwell

I don't think so…

The next seconds were agony as I waited for a response from this stranger.

610-354-2343 Unknown

Oh? Why not?

I swallowed as I sent the next message. I was taking a huge risk by sending it, believing my hunch to be right. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest and I looked around again but saw nothing but empty streets. Even the air was still.

610-367-3456 Tiffany Maxwell

Because you're in Delaware

…

610-354-2343 Unknown

No. I'm standing right behind you.

Pat's Point of View:

I thought I had died…that I had left the hell that I had been in for so long and gone to heaven when I called Ronnie back last night after landing in Delaware. "Hey Ronnie I just landed, thanks again for taking me so last minute buddy." An anxious Ronnie on the other end, answered me. "Pat…Tiffany went looking for you! Veronica told me she called her asking where you were and that she thinks she even went to the airport because Tiffany had asked which airport I had taken you too!" I felt my stomach drop when Ronnie said Tiffany had been looking for me.

I smiled. "I'm coming back first thing in the morning."

Now I stood looking across the way at the only person that mattered to me, ever since I'd first met her, the only woman I'd ever met to be brash enough to tell me to Fuck her with the light's off…. I'd known she was the one for me not because of that but because we fit, two crazy pieces out in the world that when put together made perfect sense, made each other whole. She didn't know yet that I stood watching her, about to change both of our fates.

Tiffany's Point of View:

I didn't know what to do when I read that. I found it difficult to turn around; my face broke into a smile when I saw Pat standing there across from me, only pavement between us. My vision became a bit blurry when the emotions hit, Pat Solitano was mere feet from me…he had come back. His eyes were bright even from where I stood, filled with absolute adoration and love, his sexy slanted grin frozen on his face.

"Hi stranger…" I said stealing his line for once, tilting my head and wrinkling my nose while still smiling wide at him.

"Hey there…" He said watching my movements and his eyes moving across my body; I could feel him taking in every detail of me as though he'd just seen me for the first time.

"Are you coming across or are you going to stand there gawking all day…" I said sarcastically, raising my brow.

"I'm just taking in that tree, it's quite something." He said his eyes staring directly into mine.

I tried to refrain from laughing, "Yeah? What do you have to say about that tree?"

"It's the most beautiful thing I've even seen." He said seriously his eyes not even moving from my body.

I felt a laugh escape and he came striding across. We stood inches apart now both looking at each other. The first time we really saw each other. I saw his expression change and I knew what he was about to ask.

"Pat…I didn't get my memory back. I just remembered that I'm in love with you. I'm sorry it took so long." I said while taking his hand.

A peculiar look came across his face. "What is it?" I asked upon seeing it.

"Nothing just a Déjà vu moment…." And before I could respond I felt his lips moving against mine. I could taste sweet peppermint and I smelled that familiar masculinity and edge. I wrapped my arms around him as he held me strongly against him. There we stood under the oddly shaped tree, entangled in a fierce storm of passion, lust, and with new desire… all torment and remorse washing away.

End Notes: Well the moment you all have been waiting for finally happened! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it, I am not sure how much further to go with this, I know we probably need a chapter of just Pat and Tiffany physical fluff…. you know what I mean! I forgot to make this story M but ah well I think we are all adults ; ) If you guys have any suggestions or want any other specific chapters before I officially wrap it up let me know! Or if you think this is a fitting end to leave it where it is. Thanks so much for reading—looking forward to the reviews and feedback!