I walked down the street in the City. I looked at all the people. There were all so different. I could almost hear the novel starting in my head. If you look down the street in New York City, you see thousands of different people and you don't know any of them. They move fast, the whole world moves fast. Everyone moves fast, except for her. She took her time walking down the street. She didn't even notice when I went by, as if I were just another stranger. Yet I was not just another stranger, I was her ex-husband.

I couldn't write that, it was too personal. It was good, I knew it was, but it was too personal. Besides, Cathy would hate me. After I told her how few books I sold to myself, she would buy the next one. Then, she would hate me. Not that it would matter, she hated me anyway. "If you loved me, why did you feel the need to go to another woman for sex?"she had said. Man, that one hurt. I knew it was wrong when I was doing it, but it felt so right. Elise knew me better than Cathy ever could. She understood that I needed quiet for my writing. I loved that, I just didn't love Elise. I don't love Elise. The novel continued. I knew why she ignored me. It wasn't because I was her ex-husband. It was because I cheated on her. Not just once, but many times. That was why our relationship fell apart. It fell apart because I wasn't trying. I didn't think I needed to; I had a back up for after the divorce. I was married to Fiona, but I had Kelsey

I can't write that. I would fall apart. Elise would fall apart. I knew where it was going. I would get the main character back together with his ex-wife. Elise would leave me. I walked back into my apartment building. Then Cathy would think I still loved her. I walked into the elevator. I don't love Cathy. I may not love Elise, but that doesn't mean I love Cathy. I mean, I know I don't love Cathy. If I loved her I wouldn't have made her upset today. I couldn't help but writing in my head. Kelsey was wonderful. She gave me everything Fiona tried to give, but couldn't. I even promised her that I would marry her one-day. It wasn't a proposal, since I was still married. We haven't spoken about it since, but it's still there. I know she tried to remind me of it, but I ignore her subtle pleas. At least, I would now. After seeing her.

I was just getting closer to the secret, and playful, make-up of my character and Fiona. Or was I just getting closer to the secret make-up of Cathy and me?

"I'm home, Elise!" I called as I walked into our apartment. It was clean. Our apartment was clean. Our apartment was never clean. Something had to be up.

"Hi, honey," Elise said giving me a quick peck of a kiss on the cheek.

"Our apartment is clean." I said bluntly. There was no way to be subtle about this. "Why is our apartment clean? Our apartment is never clean."

"Well, while you were out, I was bored. So, I thought, 'Wouldn't it be nice if Jamie came home to a clean home?' And the rest is history, as they say." Elise said. "I even organized your desk."

"What?!" I shouted. I didn't mean to blow up like I did. I was just so mad about what Cathy said, my response, my thoughts on the way home. It was just the last straw. "How many times have I told you not to touch my desk? I have a system. It may not be the cleanest and most organized thing, but it's mine! Now I have to learn a whole new system."

"Well, I'm sorry. I thought I was doing something nice for you." Elise said, taken back and not at all sorry. "Besides, can't you just put it back?"

"I don't remember where everything was! I didn't think I would have to, since it was always there!" I shouted.

"Well if you don't remember where everything was, it wasn't very important to you, was it?" Elise said. "And if you don't remember, it will be that much easier to learn a new, organized system!"

"You don't remember the exact order of your closet, do you? But clothes are very important to you and I don't go rumbling around in there!" I said. "Clothes to you is writing to me. It's my life. I have a system!"

"Well then maybe you and your system can live somewhere else!" Elise said, throwing the neatly stacked papers on the desk all over the floor.

"Was that my latest novel? There were in order, Elise!" I shouted, picking up the papers. She kicked the around and stepped on them. "Will you stop acting lime a two-year old and help me?"

"I'll help you move out!" Elise said. "Since clothes aren't as important to you as they are to me, I'll just throw them out the window!"

"Will you just be quiet and listen to me, Cathy?" I shouted. Suddenly the room was very quiet. I knew I had made the biggest mistake of my life.

"Leave. Take your precious laptop and system and leave!" Elise said. "I never want to see you again!" I silently took my laptop, my jacket and walked to the door.

"I'll come for all my other possessions later in the week. Please do not destroy them or sell them before I come." I said and walked out. I took out my cell phone and called where I hoped I would be staying for a while. The phone rang once, twice.

"Hello?" Cathy said. It sounded as if she had just been crying.

"I am so sorry." I said. "For everything."

"I forgive you." Cathy said. "Do you want to come and finish lunch?" Did I? I told her I'd be there in fifteen minutes. I ran over there. I buzzed her room in the lobby.

"Come on, up," Cathy's voice said in a fuzzy intercom way. I ran up to her apartment. I needed to talk to her as soon as possible.

"Hey." She said as she opened the door. She looked as amazing as she did earlier. "Why do you have your laptop?"

"I sort of need a place to stay." I said smiling. "Can I stay here for a few days while I find a new apartment?"

"You can, Elise can't." Cathy said coldly.

"I don't think that will be a problem." I said.

"She kicked you out?" Cathy said, softening her face.

"We got into a big fight. I, uh, accidentally called her by your name." I said. "No offense or anything, I mean..."

"No, I understand." Cathy said, and she really did. I could tell she wasn't mad. "You can stay here, but I'm afraid you'll have to sleep on the couch."

"You sure bout that?" I asked in mock-suggestion. Cathy laughed.

"I'm positive." Cathy said. "And I have a feeling I won't change my mind any time soon."

"Oh, that one hurt." I said. See? Cathy and I could just talk. We just had to talk lightly. No talk of Elise, the divorce or her new job.

"So, are you going to sleep in those clothes or are you going back to get something later?" Cathy asked.

"I'm going back tomorrow. Maybe by then She'll let me live there again." I said as I sat on the couch. "I just don't know if I want to live there anymore."

"What's wrong?" Cathy asked as she sat next to me.

"Oh no. If we talk about Elise than eventually we'll be yelling, I'll get kicked out again. I need somewhere to spend the night at least." I said.

"Okay, how about you just talk to get it out of your system and I won't say anything unless you want me to." Cathy said. "You can't keep all those emotions locked up in there." She pointed to my chest, meaning my heart. The touch of her hand spread warmth all over my body.

"Are you sure? You really don't have to do this." I said. I knew somehow it would get her upset.

"Positive. Jamie, just talk." Cathy said. I felt my whole body unwind

"It's just that I think that Elise doesn't feel I'm good enough for her. I was before because I was this big writer. Now I'm a big flop. I feel like I have to be the perfect boyfriend to keep her. I mean, I know she'll cheat on me without a second thought. She had an affair with me, how do I know now she's isn't cheating on me?" I said. I had never said that out loud before. Now I was saying it to Cathy?

"Was that what the fight was about?" Cathy asked quietly.

"No. While I was out, here, actually, she cleaned the apartment. That was great, but she rearranged my desk." I said.

"But you have a system! You never let me even touch your desk." Cathy said. "I'm sorry, I know I said I wouldn't talk, but..."

"No, that was my exact response! I told her not to go near it. Now she thinks she can rearrange it? She said she was 'cleaning it up, making it organized.' I don't care what you call it, I didn't like it." I said, really getting it out of my system. "So she said just put it back. I don't remember where everything was exactly. So her response was that 'it couldn't have been very important if I didn't remember where anything was.' I didn't remember exactly because I didn't have to remember. It was all there! So when I told her clothes to her was like writing for me, she went off the handle. She threw my latest novel on the floor and kicked it around. When I asked for her help, she said she'd help me move out. She told me since my clothes weren't important to me, she'll just throw them out the window. So I said, 'Will you just be quiet and listen to me, Cathy?' She got really quiet. Then, she threw me out. Not the window though, thankfully."

Cathy smiled at that last part. "Wow, it seems like quite a fight." Cathy said. "Anything else you want to get off your chest?" 'Yes, I want us to get back together. I'm sorry for everything I did to you. I was wrong, you were right. Take me back. I still love you.' Yeah right, like I could say anything from there.

"No, thanks for listening. I really appreciate it, Cathy." I said.

"No problem. I'm thirsty, do want something to drink?" Cathy said smiling. I wasn't quite sure if she was smiling because she was truly happy or she was trying to make me feel better. It didn't matter; I needed her smile right now.

"Hey, Cathy, c'mere," I said, pulling her into a big bear hug. I kissed her and pulled out of the hug.

"What was that for?" Cathy asked.

"Everything." I said.

(Thanks for the reviews from PrimRose, BumbleBee823, and J, whoever u are. Something is heating up between Cathy and Jamie...or is it? Please Review!)