Chapter 11- Comforting Thoughts and Old Friends

-GM,M Offices- (4 weeks have passed since chapter 10)

Dylan and Gavin are standing at the coffee pot. She looks over at the closed door of Jake's office and sighs. Gavin nudges her arm and asks, "What's going on with the hobbit?"

D-" He and I broke up because he's in love with Penny. He went to find her and tell her, but I'm guessing she turned him down."

G- "Ouch, really? That much heartbreak in that amount of time has gotta be hard to handle. I actually feel bad for the furry midget. I think I'll go talk to him."

Dylan hugs Gavin and says, "That is so sweet of you!" When she pulls away he smiles down at her and says, "I've missed hugging you." He sighs. "I still love you Dylan. I was wondering if you'd be willing to give me another chance."

She smiles and says, "Maybe a dinner sometime." "Really? Great." He smiles brightly at her and then walks into Jake's office.

He grabs a chair and sits down across from Jake.

G- "What's wrong?"

J-" Nothing."

G-" Come on, Jake. Tell me what happened."

J-" Fine. I went all the way to New York to tell Penny I loved her. And when I got there she just turned me down."

G- "Why do you think she turned you down? She does love you, right?"

J-" Yeah she does, but she said I was just going to change my mind about loving her and break her heart again."

G-" Won't you?"

J-" What is that supposed to mean?"

Gavin sighs and looks at him. He leans forward and says, "Okay. I dated Penny for a while. So I can safely tell you that you will never meet another woman like her. Once she and I got down to talking about our pasts. She told me that before she moved to Miami she had been in love, but when she told the guy he just shut her down. She came to Miami when she was 24; to try to forget all the pain he caused her. She's 29 now. She told me that she had been about to quit working here a few days before you showed up and decided to stay the day before you began working here. She said she thought it had been fate. She believes completely in fate, but maybe now she's thinking she was wrong about you. Maybe you need to prove to her that somehow you are fated to be together."

J-"I don't know how I'd do that."

G-" Don't worry, you'll figure it out."

He stands and heads for the door. His hand is on the doorknob and says, "I'm really sorry that she tuned you down. I know that things will work out. And if you tell anyone I said that, I will kill you." With that he walks out the door.

Jake leans back in his chair. After a few minutes he stands and grabs his jacket. He turns off his lights and heads out the door.

He steps into the bright Miami sun and begins to stroll slowly down the street, wrapped up in thoughts of fate. He accidentally bumps into a man.

J-" I'm really sorry. I wasn't paying attention."

The guy shrugs and says, "Oh it's alright. Jake?" Jake looks at him for a second before saying, "Mike! Hi. It's been awhile."

Mike shakes his hand and says, " Yeah, we really need to catch up. You know what, this woman I sort of know is having a housewarming party tonight. She said that I should invite some friends, you want to go? We could catch up there."

Jake smiles and says, "I think a party may be just what I need."

Mike pulls out a piece of paper and writes something on it. "Here's the address. The party starts at eight."

J-" Great, I'll see you there."

Maybe a party is just what I need. Maybe I'll meet someone. At the very least it'll distract me a bit.

-Later that night-

Jake arrives at the party, which is being held at a gorgeous beach house. The sliding glass door is open so he just walks in and goes to find Mike. He stops and picks up a beer from the open bar. He isn't paying much attention to anything around him so he doesn't notice a picture hanging on the wall next to him. If he did he would realize whose house he was at. Because it was a picture of him and Penny on the beach together while they were dating.