So, school has been kicking my ass! Like brutally. With that said, I'm sorry it took me so long to get this pushed out. I actually wrote it while waiting on the bus (one downside to Atlanta living) so here you guys go! I thank all of you who are still with me and who continue to review. I ask that you stay patient, cos I have every intention of completing this story.

Bianca sat down on her porch, watching the world go by slowly. It was still the middle of the day so most people were either at work or children were at school. The lack of other people didn't seem to bother her; in fact she seemed to find it more settling. It gave her time to get her mind together. She was surprised she'd seen Reese. She'd missed her all this months and finally, she moves away for a fresh start and there she is. It didn't make sense. Reese didn't even live in the states so what was she doing here? And working on a project for the Miranda Center at that! The more the thoughts lingered in her mind, the angrier she got. How dare she just show up, not bothering to call or anything? Did she think that everything would be okay by showing up and miraculously working on a project for the center? She couldn't be cra-

"Bianca!" her eyes snapped up and she cringed. Steven looked worried out of his mind about her.

"Steven, hi." She said her voice low. He stopped about two and a half feet in front of her and knelt. He eyed her, his eyes worried but kind.

"Hey," he said slowly. "Are you okay? I mean you looked like you'd seen a ghost..." he trailed off. She offered a tight smile, unsure that she would be able to evade his questions. She wanted to blurt out what she was feeling, to tell someone what was going through her mind but she didn't think he'd be the one. "Hey, hey, I may be a guy but some of us are good at listening." He joked. She offered him a soft chuckle and shook her head.

Steven felt like his heart was going to beat right out of his chest as he watched the emotions conflicting across Bianca's face. When he heard her chuckle a little, he felt relief grip him and he relaxed a little. When she finally made eye contact, he felt his breath catch,

"I was just surprised by someone in the meeting is all." She said finally. He nodded, moving to sit down in front of her. He looked at her intently, unfortunately looking like a young child instead of a wise man. He heard her chuckle again and tilted his head, "My ex is a contractor; she was there. It was just a little..." he nodded then a word caught his attention.

"She?" he asked. Bianca nodded, her eyes clouding a little.

"Uhm, yes. She." She confirmed. He felt a tired sigh well inside of him but he swallowed it. That wouldn't detour his hope.

"Well what did she say?" he asked instead. He saw Bianca's eyebrows furrow and he smiled, "I'm an open minded guy, he, she, doesn't matter. What matters is she left you running." He told her honestly. He really didn't care what someone did in their past or who for that matter as long as no one got hurt. Sadly, it seemed like Bianca had been all but crushed.

"Nothing, I didn't give her a chance too." She said hesitantly. He nodded wisely,

"Maybe she's not here to stir up trouble. Maybe she's just here to do a job." He offered. Bianca seemed to think it over, before nodding. He couldn't tell if she was reassured or not, but she was smiling in his direction and suddenly he found it didn't matter as much as that smile.

Bianca smiled up at Steven, happy to at least have one of her thoughts out in the open. Even if she knew she wouldn't launch into the entire story with him, it felt good to know someone was listening.

"Thank you." She said sincerely. She watched him, her face slowly dropping when she noticed the dreamy expression on his face. "Are you okay?" she asked. He seemed to snap out of his stupor,

"Huh? Oh! Yeah, I'm fine." He chuckled to himself. Bianca didn't know what he was chuckling for but oh well. "Hey, it's pretty nice out here. How's about I run to my place, make us some sweet tea and I come back and we enjoy our ex-free view of the road?" he offered. She pondered it for a few moments then nodded,

"Alright, I think I'd enjoy the company." She said honestly. She was happy she seemed to have a friend in Steven.

"Alright, be back before ya know it!" he said happily jumping up and jogging. She watched him, her face thoughtful.

Steven stood at his kitchen counter, pouring sugar into the still hot tea and thinking. So Bianca dated women; that didn't really make her a lesbian. And even if she were, that didn't mean hope was completely lost. He'd heard plenty of stories about women falling in love with other women later in life even when they're completely straight, who's to say the same couldn't happen for him? He was a good guy; he felt he could be good for her. Now, it was pretty much left up to hope and a little bit of wooing to help her see it as well. Smiling to himself, he grabbed a few of the lemons slices and added ice before stirring and tasting.

"Ack! This tastes like Mrs. Winners tea!" he scolded himself grabbing the sugar again.