The perfect girl was supposed to be the one who did everything with you, treated you to be someone extra-special, who would sit up nights just to talk to you and in short, would do and be everything you wanted. Artemis' definition differed.

A recluse, silent, preferring to stay behind the scenes, she wasn't someone you would notice at first, unless you happened to cross her while she was in a group, or in a discussion on any scientific, political or literary topic. Then she was the center of attention.

The first time Artemis met her, she came across to be occupying his favorite seat in class - the last seat. Her demeanor was fire and ice at the same moment - she was icy and cold in behavior, and yet radiated a warmth, whose prime source seemed to be her eyes.

At first they barely spoke, occasionally exchanging answers to questions found in college-level books. The conversation then moved on to interests - they exchanged thoughts and opinions, then personal experiences, transcending to more intimate topics touched by friends. The friendship moved to a level where Artemis' girlfriend found it inconvenient for him to seen with his best friend.

Of course, his best friend didn't even know his girlfriend existed. Not as his girlfriend. And he wasn't happy being with her.

He decided to give them another shot - she came to his residence to talk it through. Artemis knew already it wouldn't end well.

Their proximity allowed his best friend's entry unnoticed to him, and she was in his study, going through a stack of stories by him when she thought of offering an opinion, and received heartbreak instead. Artemis stood with his girlfriend, her arms around him.

And that broke her heart, even though she didn't show it. She thought she hadn't.

Artemis noticed the sad smile, the stray tear, the clenched fists, but didn't know it would be this way. He thought he would be the one. Telling the young lady embracing him that it was over, and nothing would change it, he headed to the back-garden, a haunt he preferred when too upset. He wanted to break down, to yell and declare all those events as lies, a false image. He wanted to erase them from history.

He noticed the crying figure, and walked up to it, hoping that his actions could erase the previous. "You shouldn't be here," she said, not even bothering to wipe her tears, and told him a lie about them. He didn't like liars, despite being one. She gave up, only crying, saying she wasn't perfect. But then, his definition differed.

The only response he could manage would be inadequate, so he decided to go off his path and do something unexpected. Lifting her chin up with a finger, her stinging eyes closed, leaned in closer and kissed someone for the first time, pouring all his emotions into it. He thought he saw a figure see them and leave, but it didn't matter. He was where he belonged, and didn't care what anyone thought.

Love and opportunity knock only once.