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" So why did you move to New York?" Vincent asked as they strolled through the city. His hands were in his pockets while hers were crossed over her chest.

" I needed a change in scenery." Gabriella said.

" Where are you working?" He asked.

" At the museum. I restore old pieces of artwork." She said. " You?"

" I change the light bulbs on billboards." Vincent said. Gabriella smiled as she looked at him.

" Really? That's an awesome job." She said. Vincent chuckled.

" Well I don't know about that." He said in his casual draw.

" Oh no, it is. I don't think I could ever do that. They are so high into the air. Don't you get scared being that far from the ground?" She asked.

" Not really." Vincent said

As they walked Vincent was surprised at how amazed she seemed to be with his job. She kept asking him questions or pointing to a few billboards as they passed them, asking him if he had worked on them. He was amused at how excited she was. He had asked her a few questions about her job, which she answered, but she always managed to bring the questions back around to him.

When they reached the small place he wanted to take her to, he opened the door for her. She walked in then stood back for him to take the lead. He gave a waitress a short wave then mentioned for Gabriella to follow him to the back. He came to the diner so much, he had a place he always sat down. It was a booth in the very back. He sat down so he was facing the front.

" So the soup here is really good, if you like soup." He said. His elbows came to rest on the table top as he clasped his hands together.

" I actually do like soup." Gabriella said.

They ate and talked through the lunch, both surprised at how well they got along. He smiled and laughed with her which was something he hadn't done in a while. They kept the conversation light, talking about their jobs, the apartment building and his dog. He filled her in on the people in their building, leaving out Alice. He told her which days to use to the laundry room as to avoid a known panty stealer. He paid for lunch, stating that he had asked her to go out.

After lunch they continued to talk while they walked back to their building. Vincent was glad he had just blurted out the lunch invitation like he had. Gabriella was easy to get along with and he was grateful. He had worried that the date was going to be filled with weird and awkward silences but it was the opposite. The times they had fallen quiet, they were both comfortable with it. They were still talking as they climbed the stairs to their floor. When they rounded the stair railing, Vincent stopped dead in his tracks. Alice was leaning against his door. Gabriella looked from Vincent to Alice, then back again.

" Hey, Alice." Vincent said. He stuck his hand into his pocket and took out his key.

" Hello. I was going out for coffee. I was checking to see if you wanted any." She said.

" No, I'm actually good." He said. He lightly touched Gabriella's elbow and guided her forward at the same time Alice moved away from his door.

" Some other time then." She said.

" Sounds good." Vincent said. Alice did a quick once up and down on Gabriella which made Gabriella frown and move away from Vincent. He looked back at Alice as she reached the stairs. She smiled at him before she disappeared.

" Is she your girlfriend because she just gave me the nastiest look." Gabriella said with a frown. Vincent looked at Gabriella and quickly shook his head.

" No, she isn't. She would like to be but I'm not into her. She's just a friend." He said. Gabriella nodded, taking her own keys out.

" Alright." She said, sounding unconvinced.

" She's not." Vincent defended quickly. He didn't want Gabriella to think he had a girlfriend and again, he was surprised. " I swear."

" You don't have to defend yourself to me." Gabriella said, turning her back to him as she slipped her key into the lock at her door.

" She's not. I promise. She's barely a friend. Mostly I just help her out as she needs it. She doesn't really have anyone else." He said. Gabriella turned the key and opened her door.

" Okay." She stepped into her apartment then faced him slowly. " So thanks for lunch."

" She's honestly not my girlfriend." Vincent said, making her laugh softly.

" You don't have to keep saying that." She said.

" Yeah, okay." He said. " So I guess I will see you later." Gabriella nodded.

" Guess you will. Goodbye Vin." She said, closing the door.

She turned and faced her small apartment with a shake of her head. She walked over to her table and dropped her bag on it. Figures, just her luck. She meets a hot guy and he has a girlfriend or at least a crazy ex-girlfriend. She walked over to her couch and sat down, looking out of the window with a sigh. What was it with her and guys? Her last boyfriend had a wife and Gabriella hadn't found that fact out until five months into their relationship. A knock to her door brought Gabriella up again. She was frowning, figuring it was Vincent again. She did not really want to talk to him again. She was surprised to see the small, petite blond woman standing there.

" Hello. I should have introduced myself earlier. I'm Alice. I live across the courtyard." Alice said.

" My name's Gabriella."

" Welcome to the building." Alice said.

" Thank you." Gabriella said. She felt like the woman was sizing her up so it promoted her to blurt out the question. " Are you dating that guy?" Alice smiled and shook her head.

" No. We are just friends." She said. Gabriella smiled, feeling like a small weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

" Thank goodness because I thought you were and I was annoyed with him for asking me to lunch when he had a girlfriend. I have been down that road already." She said. Alice smiled and nodded.

" I need to go but I wanted to introduce myself. Let me know if you need anything." She said.

XXXXXX

Vincent was sitting on his couch, rubbing the top of Vicky's head with his head back. He was staring at the ceiling of his apartment, his thoughts swirling around. He wasn't sure why it bothered him that Gabriella thought he was dating Alice. He just met the girl. The last thing he needed was to date but he kind of liked her. She made him smile and laugh. He stood up to get something to drink when someone knocked on his door. He frowned, thinking it was Alice. He was surprised when he opened the door and saw Gabriella standing there.

" I need to say I'm sorry." She said.

" For what?" Vincent asked.

" Well, I really thought Alice was your girlfriend and it made me mad. See, I was kind of dating this guy, well, we were actually dating for a while when I found out that he was married. That was not something I really wanted to be around again. I thought you were lying and I'm sorry." She said. Vincent smiled and leaned against his door.

" It's cool. I understand." He said. Gabriella nodded and it was her turn to smile.

" Okay well, I just wanted to say sorry." She said as she backed away from his door. " Later." She said. She turned and grabbed her door knob.

" Have dinner with me tonight." What the hell was his problem? Why the hell was he blurting things out so much with her? Gabriella looked at him and her smiled brighten more.

" Okay. I'd like that. But I pay."

" 6?" He asked. Gabriella nodded.

" Sounds good." She said. " I'll see you then." With her smile still in place, she disappeared into her apartment. Vincent grinned.

" Hell yeah you will." He said to himself before he disappeared back into his place. He shut the door then faced Vicky. " I have another date. I need to shower." He said. He locked the door, then went to his bathroom and started up the water.