Inside of his spacious studio, Jake went about looking at some blue prints. He was still pretty tired from the previous evening. His speech had gone relatively well and Cossington Industries was very interested in his plan for their building. He had managed to get his tux back to the store without it being soiled with something so that was an accomplishment in itself. He stretched back in his chair wearing a white muscle shirt and blue jeans. As strange as it was, he couldn't get the image of the young redheaded woman from last night out his head. She had sung like an angel, had a nice figure and yet she had treated him like total crap! He still couldn't believe she was actually offended by the rose he had given her! Well, it was certainly a first for him. She did have a sharp tongue on her to be sure but there was something he liked about that. He shook his head. Ah, forget about her! You heard what she said! She's not interested in you!

After his unexpected run-in with Dana he had just hurried back to the banquet and didn't say a word to Tom. He knew if he had told Tom that he had run into her and the conversation that followed, he would have thought him nuts to even think about her! Of course, Tom didn't know just how complicated Jake's life was either. Or at least...not ALL of it. He then heard his phone ringing on the other side of the room. Getting up from his chair he made his way over and answered it. "Hello?"

"Jake, it's Tom."

"Oh hey, Tom what's up?"

"Just wanted to tell you that you did GREAT with that speech of yours last night. Mr. Larabee was VERY pleased and has been talking about you at the business meeting this morning. Congrats, Jake! You're in buddy!"

Jake gives a smile. "Nice to know I did something right for a change."

"Yep and to celebrate I'm taking you out tonight."

"Tom, I'm really not that kind of guy." Jake replies chiding him.

"Oh ha-ha, very funny! That's not what I meant. I meant I'm taking you and Arlene and her friend Allison to..."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa hold on Tom. I thought you said Arlene's friend Allison."

"I did."

Jake let out a sigh. "Tom we've been through this before."

"I know Jake and normally I back down but not this time. Come on buddy! You need to get out and live a little! It's time for you to stop shutting yourself away in that studio with your dog!"

"Hey I happen to like my dog all right?"

"Jake, you need to stop reading those fantasy stories you get and start living a REAL one!" Tom pauses. "Look, I didn't mean that. It's just....I'm really getting worried about you man. Now come on, tonight at 7 I'm going to pick you up and we are taking Arlene and Allison to a nightclub called Roxy's. You'll love it, it'll be fun."

Jake pauses. Come on Jake, he's right! You need to try and live a little! Forget about that other girl! You'll probably never see her again anyway! He clears his throat. "All right, Tom. See you at 7."

"Great! See you then. Take care buddy!"

Jake hangs up his phone and runs a hand through his hair. How long has it been since he has been with a female? Besides the usual and occasional one night stands. But he is growing tired of that. He has yet to find a woman who is more than that. Who can love him for himself and not just be interested in his looks and body. Was she out there somewhere? Maybe this Allison might be her? He shrugs his shoulders and heads back over to his blue prints. His dog Stella nudges his hand and he reaches down to pet her.

I'm walking with Jess down the street. Both of us are completely bundled up in winter coats with hoods. "Look, Jess. I told you before that I ran into him and that was it!"

"Well, come on, Dana! At least you met him! Why didn't you tell me last night?"

"I didn't think it was important." I answer turning and heading up the walkway toward a shop with the sign "Practical Magick" on it.

"Didn't think it was important? Dana, you met the guy who gave you that rose!"

"He was a jerk, Jess! I mean he ran right into me!" I put my hand on Jess' shoulder. "Look, I want you to promise me that you won't tell Jenn or anyone else about this."

Jess lets out a sigh.

I turn her around till she is looking at me. "Jess? Look at me."

Jess fidgets a little and then stops. "Ok, fine."

"Good. Now let's get inside before this cold rips right into my skin!" I reply practically running up the rest of the way. I open the door and am met with the usual clanging wind chime. Taking a step inside, I take a smell. "Mmmm...smells like she's got some lavender incense burning today." I pause. "And Gypsy on CD, nice touch."

A young woman with strawberry-blonde hair pops her head out from the back. "There she is!" She replies gesturing with her arms toward me. "There's our faery of song!"

I let out a sigh and roll my eyes. "Jenn..."

Jenn walks up to me and I can see she's wearing a blue gypsy-style dress. "Oh just stop it and take in all the attention!" She gives me a huge hug. "I'm so proud of you, Lady Dana!"

I close my eyes, as I know she is sincere. "Thank you, Jenn."

"I just wish I could have been there. Darn private banquet!"

I pull back and look at her. "It's ok, Jenn. I know you would have been there if you could."

"Well, why don't I make us some nice hot chocolate and you can tell me about last night." Jenn replies before moving to the back of the store again.

I look at Jess. "NOT a word!"

The door to the store opens again and a young dark-haired woman with long hair comes strolling in dressed like an Eskimo. "Dana!"

"Arls!" I yell turning around and walking up to embrace her. "Oh, I'm so glad you made it back safely!"

"You really didn't think I was going to miss our debut tonight in kicking all of those other retail stores asses did you?"

"I sense rain and stormy weather movin' in!" I reply back at her with a smirk.

Arls nods. "We will be the highlight of that contest tonight. And we'll prove once and for all that Practical Magick has talent! And give it the proper recognition it needs!" She looks at her watch. "Oh boy! I have to go! I've got lots to do before the show tonight! See you guys backstage at 7?"

"You bet." I answer back.

Jenn comes back with a tray with cups on it. "Arls! Would like to stay for some cocoa?"

"Thanks Jenn but I have some errands to run before tonight!"

Jess clears her throat. "Uh, Arls do you mind giving me a ride back?"

"Oh sure, Jess."

"Thanks." Jess replies. "Bye everyone. See you tonight." She nudges Arls toward the door. "Oh and Dana met a guy last night! Bye!" She then quickly closes the door behind her.

"Jess!" I reply as the door slams.

Jenn turns to look at me after setting the tray down. "Dana, is this true?"

"Jenn, it was nothing really." I reply taking a seat in a chair.

"Nothing?" Jenn hands me a cup. "Dana, meeting a guy is not nothing! Everything happens for a reason. Now, tell me what happened." She takes a seat opposite me.

"Well, as Jess told you I was singing on stage and I fainted." I take a sip of my cocoa. "Mmmm....this is good. So, anyway apparently this guy came backstage to check on me and he brought me a rose."

Jenn takes a sip of her cocoa. "A rose? He brought you a rose?Oh, Dana! Did you meet him and tell him thank-you?"

"Oh I met him all right. And I told him I didn't appreciate a thing like that and I was not about to be bought!"

Jenn sighs and shakes her head. "Dana, not all men are like that."

"Every single man I have met has been like that, Jenn. They try and win your affection through something simple like that. And then they just...toss you aside once they're through using you!" I take another sip of my cocoa.

"Dana, I really think you should think this through before you reach any conclusions." Jenn replies taking another sip of cocoa.

"What do you mean?"

"I feel that....this man you met is not like who you think he is. He has....a past that is troubled. He has baggage just like you." Jenn pauses. "He is sincere, Dana. He was hurt that you turned him away but he accepted it. He still has part of him that doesn't want to though. He...feels drawn to you for some reason and it scares him because he doesn't know why."

I sit taking sips of my cocoa as I listen to Jenn. Those who know Jenn, know that you never question her psychic intuition. She has always been able to pick up on things that are truly astonishing. That's probably why she has so many clients and is trusted in this area. And if there is something else, it's that we can't lie to each other. "He's not the only one who is scared."

Jenn looks back at me. "That's why you left so quickly last night. Why you treated him the way you did. You were afraid because you actually liked him. You used your attitude as a defense mechanism."

"Don't be silly."

Jenn nods. "It makes sense now, Dana. You were afraid of him not out of physical fear but rather mentally and spiritually. You don't want to accept the possibility that this man could be someone you wish to be around." She takes my hand. "It's ok, Dana. It's ok to question things. Sometimes....the answers we are looking for are right in front of us but we just don't know it. And sometimes...we need to work through things to get that answer. Things we at that time don't understand." She pauses. "Don't push him away, Dana. Don't judge him. Look at him with your heart not your mind. Your heart can never be wrong. It will always give you the right answer."

I smile back at her. "Thanks, Jenn. You always have a way of putting things in perspective." I pause. "You are coming tonight right? For the contest at Roxy's?"

"Are you kidding? I'm closing shop early tonight just so I can be there to cheer my sisters on!" Jenn replies smiling. She raises her cup to mine. "To Lady Dana. May she find the true happiness she desires no matter where it may be."

I clink my cup with hers gently. "Blessed be."

"Blessed be." Jenn echoes.

As I sip my cocoa, I begin to wonder if what Jenn said is true? Is Jake not like other men? Was he really giving me that rose because he cared? And...is he really drawn to me?