Evan grabbed his coat and left for the evening. It was strangely cold that night. As he reached Amelia's house, Ellen words came rushing back to him. They had fought over this for hours. Hurt Amelia? He could never do that. Especially not after what had happened to him. He knocked on the door.

"Bonjour," Amelia was wearing a green dress similar to the one she had worn on their first date.

"Bonjour," Evan flashed a smile. "Are you ready?"

"Oui."

He took Amelia's hand and they began to walk toward the theater, the biggest one in Paris, to see a presentation of London's Chicago.

During the musical, Amelia thoroughly enjoyed herself. However, while six women performed Cell Block Tango, Evan could only hear Ellen's voice in his head. Amelia stroke his hand, and Evan shifted seat. He shut his eyes and let out a sigh. Evan knew what he had to do.

Chicago came to an end and the audience roared with applause, but Evan could only slump in his seat. What I have to do next he though to himself will be the hardest thing I ever do.

The walk back to Amelia's house was a quiet one. Evan hung his head below his shoulders, his hands dug deep into his pockets.

Amelia unlocked her door her voice nearly inaudible, "Good night."

Evan walked through the moonlit streets cold and lonely. He had wanted to break it off at Amelia's door, but his nerves had gotten the best of him. Evan walked, to clear his mind, away from his apartment. Before he knew otherwise, Evan found himself outside Ophelia's townhouse.

Only one light was on in the house. He stared through the window wondering what she was doing that moment. Evan regretted letting his nerves get the best of him. He blinked for a split second; when he reopened his eyes, Ophelia was staring down at him.

How many times can I get caught staring?!

Ophelia disappeared from sight momentarily and reappeared at the door, "Evan.what are you doing here?"

"I honestly don't know," he replied. "I don't even remember walking here."

"Well, I was thinking of taking a walk. Care to join me?"

"Why not."

As they walked away, they could tell each other anything and finally Ophelia brought up a subject Evan often avoided, "You must have had had some heartbreak?"

"Well.yes," he admitted.

Everyone has something they hide in the past, including Evan. Before he had come to Paris, he had fallen in love with a woman named Karen.

Karen was not the most beautiful woman, but she was perfect to him. She was short, only about five foot. Her blonde hair had potential, but she often just left it down. Her blue eyes were her best feature, and Evan often got lost staring into them.

However, Karen had had alternate motives. She had found Evan attractive, yes, but she had fallen in love with his best friend: Shaun. Shaun had always focused on his schoolwork. His dirty blonde hair and pale complexion did not give off the most handsome appeal; yet, Shaun somehow obtained girlfriends seemingly effortless. Evan had often found reasons to be jealous of him, but now he had Karen. If only he had known.

When Evan had left his home, Karen and Shaun were together. After three months of seeming bliss, Evan had caught them in bed together. He was mad with jealousy and had done things he was not proud of. His main focus for two years had been breaking them apart. Evan wished none of it had ever happened.

After realizing his mistake, Evan flew into three months of despair. He stopped eating. He cried himself to sleep every night. However, strength did return to him.

"And that was when I decided to come here," he finished.

"Such a sad story."

"Yes, and not many people know it."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Ophelia replied mysteriously.

"I'm sorry?"

"The play you wrote," she explained. "It reminds me of your story."

"Well, I suppose writers do write what they know."

Ophelia began to giggle, "Look where we are."

Evan's gaze followed Ophelia's finger up the street. They had walked to the café where their unknown magic had started.

"While we're here?"

Evan's eyes met Ophelia's and somehow an entire conversation took place that had never passed. With it, the decision to enter had also come.

As they entered, Evan headed toward his usual corner. Ophelia let out a sigh as she watched him sit. "Must you always seclude yourself?" she pulled out a chair for herself.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Please, I saw you scribbling away in your notebook, in a corner I might add, during rehearsal the other day."

"I suppose you do have a point," Evan succumbed.

"What were you writing?" Ophelia became more curious.

As her curiosity grew, Evan became more nervous, "Oh.nothing."

"You're lying?"

"No, no! It was just boring play stuff! I.I swear."

"I see."

After hours more of talking, Ophelia and Evan once again say closing time at the little café.

"You know," Evan sigh, "I'd seen you hundreds of times in the café before I even knew your name. I never thought I'd be kicked out of there after talking to you for so long."

Ophelia smiled. Evan always knew the right thing to say, why couldn't Eric be more poetic? Why would she even think such a thing? But perhaps the best question was, why was she with Evan this late at night?

"I should go," Ophelia wanted the night to end.

"Should I walk you home?"

"No, that's quite alright. Thank you though."

Ophelia was practically sprinting as she left Evan. As she opened her door, tears stained her cheeks. Ophelia was tired of crying. She was tired of everything.

She stumbled into bed while she gasped for breath in between sobs. Ophelia didn't want to cry herself to sleep another night. Tomorrow she would break it off. Ophelia closed her eyes and she her last tear for the night.

As Ophelia sprinted down the sidewalk, Evan was left alone by the café. The night's events had only convinced him more that he and Amelia were not right for each other. Although, this decision had also confused Evan further. If neither Amelia nor Ophelia was his one true love, who was?

He opened the door to his tiny apartment and the light on his answer machine was blinking. He pressed the button.

It was Amelia, "Hey, where have you been all night? Look, I feel like such a bitch for doing this on your answer machine, but I think we should see other people. You don't have to call me back; I don't think you want one of those awkward conversations. Goodbye Evan, I really did love you."

As the answer machine cut off Evan began to guffaw. He had walked around for hours trying to decide if they should break up and there it was-on his answer machine!

Evan plopped down on his bed still laughing. He let out a sigh. Evan was somewhat relieved he didn't have to do it but now what to do? Tell Ophelia the truth? Never! She was nearly running away from him just moments ago.

Evan shut his eyes, let out one last giggle, and slowly drifted to sleep.

Ophelia groaned as she looked into the mirror. She looked pathetic once again. Ophelia was tired of that, too. The phone rang.

Ophelia rushed down the stairs and into the kitchen. She was gasping for breath as she picked up the receiver, "Hello?"

"Morning cherub!"

"Eric," she sighed. "We need to talk."

"You're dumping me aren't you?"

"Well.yes."

"I thought so.Well, see you at rehearsal!"

The line went dead, "That jerk!"

Ophelia slammed the phone down. She was furious as she huffed up the stairs.

Evan also awoke to a phone call. It was Ellen, "I'm so sorry!"

"Don't be," Evan was fine with the whole matter.

"You want me to make you a breakup CD?" she offered.

"No," he let out a small laugh. "That's okay."

"If you're sure you're alright, I'll see you at rehearsal."

"Alright, bye bye."

The line went dead and Evan let out a sigh. Rehearsal: he'd have to face Amelia. Perhaps they could be friends?

Evan realized that was not going to happen as rehearsal began. Amelia could barely say two words, let alone be friends with him.

Ophelia gritted her teeth every time she saw Eric. She had broken up with him, but Ophelia had somehow been angered that Eric got the last shot-even if he hadn't meant to. She looked to Evan. For some reason, he and Amelia seemed to be at odds.

Ophelia pulled Evan to the side, "Is there the something the matter with you and Amelia?"

"Well, she did dump me," he confessed.

"What?" Ophelia was shocked.

"Over the answer machine."

"I'll kill her! This is just like her!"

"You hardly know her," he pointed out.

"So what?!"

"Besides, I'm fine with it."

"I'll still kill her!"

Evan giggled, "There's no need for that!"

And so, weeks went on of Ophelia gritting her teeth and Evan trying to ignore Amelia; moreover, the two found themselves talking late into the night. Evan loved her and he had to conceal it. The pain of not being able to tell her was agonizing. Ophelia had her own problems as well.

Ophelia had left Eric and her guilt behind, but he mind would still run rampant with thoughts. She wanted to decide once and for all if she loved Evan, but the question remained unanswered. After all, she could hardly tell if Evan loved her.

As rehearsal went on, Evan befriended a woman by the name of Jade. She had long flowing dirty-blonde hair and dark mysterious eyes. Many a man courted the beauty.

She was witty, too, which highly impressed Evan. Flirting had become a common past time before and after rehearsal. However, the flirting seemed to be misleading to Evan. He loved Ophelia, and he didn't want Jade to think otherwise; but, as he ate lunch with her one day, he realized he might have.

"So, I heard you and Amelia have been split up awhile."

"Yes," he replied. "A few weeks."

"Well, now that she's out of the picture, would you go out with me sometime?"

"I-I-I'm not so sure it's a good idea," Ophelia filled Evan's mind.

"Come on," Jade began to stroke his hand.

"I don't want to say no-"

She cut him off, "Then don't!"

".but, I'm not so sure about yes."

"Well, I am."

"Give me a day to think about it."

Jade had not gotten the answer she wanted to hear, "Oh.okay."

Evan slowly got up and left the table. He now had twenty-four hours to make a decision. Ophelia's name was in every corner of his mind.