Back at his apartment Newt sat alone in his cozy office sipping half-cold tea. He was tired exhausted from all the work he'd already done and the vision of being stuck with Ann's paper for even a minute longer made him retch. Why did I agree to this in the first place? -Was one of many thoughts tormenting him. He honestly couldn't remember the last time his job made him so debilitated.

If it weren't so late, he'd make himself a cup of his favorite coffee that he craved so much. He noted to arrange a meeting with Ann because her writing-skills seemed to have dropped drastically. She either was dilly-dallying or she simply lost her inspiration. Most of her work was cheesy and felt like tropes were used over thousands of times.

He scratched the back of his neck, while he tried to keep his eyes opened. He put the paper down and wondered what could push him to take great delight, or at least enjoy Ann's work again.

He glanced quickly at his desk. Having walked up to it he swiftly grabbed the paper. He abruptly counted pages. Fifteen. Maybe it would be just what he needed. Some amateur lousy attempt that would make him go back to Ann's peace.

"Good morning, Sonya." A bright smile took over Newt's face for the day as he walked into the publishing house.

"Good morning, Sir."

"Listen, could you do me a favor and annoy my sister?"

"Ym, alright that sounds just like a typical task for an assistant. I thought you were done with dealing with her at work, Sir." Sonya looked incredibly confused.

"In all truth, I wouldn't mind some vengeance," he chuckled mostly to himself but explained what he meant.

"She found a new author and I want to meet her. Maybe make her an offer. Oh, but don't tell my sister that part just yet. I don't want her to rub it in." He knew how unreasonable it all must have sounded. Good thing Sonya was not judgmental.

"Sure," she smirked. She was hired not that long ago but she quickly caught up with Appleby sibling's drama.

"Oh, and please arrange a meeting with Ann as soon as possible. Today would be perfect. And maybe with Filipe, not necessarily today, though."

"I'm on it."

"But before that." Newt thought how annoyed Sonya must have been at this point and silently thanked God she was so patient. Or maybe he should have prayed for her not to spit into his coffee. "I must see Alby before Ann. Can you get me a lunch or at least brief meeting with him?"

"I'll see what I can do. His secretary should fit you somewhere, though."

"Great, inform me as soon as you're done." He entered his office quickly shutting the door behind him. Knowing-well how much it would take to convince his boss to even consider his agenda made him slightly anxious. Having rested his briefcase on the mahogany desk he turned on his computer to check his mail. He found a mail from Olive to which she attached a brand new chapter. He printed it in hope to have enough time before Alby would call for him.

Indeed Alby did find time for him and even sooner than Newt had expected. Alby's office was the biggest of all on the highest floor in the building. It was kept classy – dark wooden furniture looked magnificent against unbelievably clean white-cream colored walls – and the view was picturesque.

"Hello, Newt, I heard you wanted to see me?" Alby gave him a vigorous handshake and told Newt to sit down. "You brought documents, so I'm guessing it's not going to be a pleasant discussion."

"It surely will be a difficult one."

"Then we should get started. But how about we get some coffee first? I know you're unable to work without it," They both chuckled.

"Have I been working in here for that long, so, everyone knows, including you?" When Newt was two months away from graduating a university he was looking for a job. He had been to three internships, but he was content only with one for it was the only place where he had an actual eligibility to work. He had already sent vita by the time he learned his father talked with an old friend and got him probation at Alby's publishing house. It wasn't much at first but Newt was on cloud nine when they offered him a permanent job after the trial period was over.

Not long after he came down the pike discovering Mark with his hypothetical tome, which told an alternative ending to the most unrelenting of wars and rewrote the history of the whole world. The first book of the saga was a mild-success, but it was enough to prove Newt had talent and great intuition – or like Gally liked to comment inflated standards.

After they got their coffees and sat down Newt filled Alby in the matter- he explained to him he wanted to break off the contract.

"Newt that's insane! You know I've only let it happened twice and I've been running this house for years!" Alby evidently wasn't a huge fan of Newt's agenda.

"I know, but you should read Ann's work. I remember how Gally was complaining about it three months ago and I blindly let you reassign her to me, but now I have to say I understand why he didn't want her in the first place."

"Newt, she wrote a best-seller a year ago-"

"A year and a half ago and it wasn't that big of a success. Just because it was on New York Times list doesn't guarantee it's at least satisfying. Besides, we've got better authors. Any day now we'll be ready to publish Felipe's new book, and Olive is thriving. Also, did I mention Mark came back and announced he's got an almost finished book?"

"I thought he was on a break..." Alby trailed off clearly taken aback by the news.

"Apparently, he cheated on it." He chuckled, putting on his famous grin. "Anyway, the contract expires unless Ann finishes the book in two months; we aren't obliged to prolong it."

"It shouldn't really be a problem for her. Most of our authors write their books in three or four months." He did have a point, but Newt still had a trick up his sleeve.

"Well, she's been writing this one for over eight. And it's the result." He handled Alby the few last chapters. "Just take a look. Breaking off the contract is, in my opinion, the best solution. But she's coming to see me today and I'll do my best to prolong her writing. But I don't want a god-awful book to be published under neither your name nor mine." Alby nodded, his gaze focused on the paper with a frown constantly encrusting his face.

"I don't know if there's any way to save this," he confessed throwing the sheets of paper on his desk. He rubbed his forehead with his palm, having no hair to play with, just like Newt would do every time he was stressed or tired. "But be gentle with her. I want us to split up in peace. We don't want any bad press."

"Sure thing, boss," Newt nodded in understatement. He knew how important it was for Alby to part with their clients in peace. They could never be sure if any of the authors would come back with outstanding work. They bid each other good day and Newt rushed back to his office to prepare for the talk with Ann.

Every time Lillian stayed the night, after Lizzy felt asleep, she and Newt would watch a match together. It became their little tradition, one that they silently agreed not to tell Lizzy about. They barely talked outside the basement for she was a junior and he was a senior and not sharing any classes it would look suspicious if they hung-out. But during those nights it didn't matter. There was no one to judge them or make an assumption. They learned a lot about each other in a month and a half.

"When did you start playing?" He asked her taking a sip of orange juice - a habit he got from her.

"I was six, it was probably a month after the elementary school started and my dad was supposed to pick me up but he was late. All my girl-friends were gone, so I sat near the field, and watched guys play. They asked me if I wanted to play with them. I fell in love with soccer with first kick," she chuckled at the last part. "Now, what's your story?" Newt pretended to think deeply about his answer.

"The usual, I played with friends from the neighbourhood and then at school. Matches were the hot topic among us. But despite that I really bloody love it," he admitted with an honest smile. Nice change from that cocky grin of his. – Lillian though.

"Then why did you choose to play lacrosse?" She asked curiously.

"I'll always love football, but it's not that popular in here, and I couldn't do both so..." Lillian slowly nodded absorbing the information, yet there was a delicate frown grazing her features. "What?"

"I just... I think it's stupid," she confessed apologetically. "If you loved soccer then it shouldn't matter if it's popular or not." He knew she was right.

The next day at school he talked to Minho - his friend and a captain of the soccer team - the only guy in school playing both soccer and lacrosse and passing every class without bigger problems.

"Try-outs were two months ago," Minho sighed. "And just because we're friends doesn't mean I'll treat you differently," he threatened and Newt grinned knowing he'd go for it, "but since you're a good (Newt was sure they both realized he was better than just good, but he let it slide) right forward, I'll give you a chance."

"Thanks, Min."

Later that day Newt found Lillian by her locker as she struggled to open it. She was holding about a dozen of books and notebooks against her chest with her tongue slightly sticking past her lips. Newt leaned against next locker with his arms folded amused he hadn't noticed him yet. Her chestnut waves were quite a mess, but Newt found her cute at that exact moment.

"Need a hand?" She almost dropped her books at the sudden voice.

"Jesus," she chuckled at her own clumsiness.

"Newt's enough," he grinned. "so?"

"Yes, please." She told him the code and he easily opened the locker for her. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" She laughed after she tossed her books inside.

"I just thought I'd let you know I'm trying out for the football team this afternoon since you're actually the one that made me realize how much I missed it." Her smile was worth million others. Inside Lillian wandered if this was his way of asking her to come. "More or less." She realized she must have said the words out loud.

"'kay 'kay."

"That's the weirdest way someone ever told me yes," Newt chuckled.

"Oh, stop it, it's perfectly normal. You don't answer like that in England?"

"I don't think anyone answers like that anywhere."

"Hey, why are you abusing my friend?" They turned to see Lizzy standing with her arms folded on her chest and a raised eyebrow.

"He's not abusing me."

"I'm not abusing her," they said together, which only caused Lizzy to look at them suspiciously, "I was just looking for you."

"Well, you found me." Lizzy moved to her locker to grab some of her books. "What is it?"

"I'm gonna come home later, so don't eat the whole pizza by yourself." She rolled her eyes and threatened that 'she would definitely do this, now'. The three of them stood there awkwardly before Newt took off, but not before giving Lillian a quick glance as if he inaudibly wanted to refer to the soccer practice.

When he walked away Lizzy bombarded Lillian with a bunch of questions. She brushed them off swiftly, though and Lizzy began to explain herself feeling childish and stupid for attacking her friend - all her friends back in England had hots for Newt and she couldn't bring them home, because they'd make him uncomfortable and in the process ignore her.

"Don't worry, I don't think like that of taken guys. Besides, who wouldn't choose you?" Lillian nudged her with a beam.

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