Chapter 7: Mistake

"You think you're setting yourself up again," Peter questioned. I opened my mouth to speak but just like Dillon, Hec or Myra, I was silenced with a dismissive wave. "This was just one guy, JoyAnna. I understand that you thought you'd be with Cain for the rest of your life, that he was your one and only. It's kind of obvious from where we stand though that he wasn't your 'Prince Charming'. He was," Peter stopped and began howling with laughter. It was the type of laughter that made him clench his side and make his eyes tear.

I glanced around to see only three other people who looked at our table and then went back to their tablets or books. Peter started to hunch over the table, gripping his stomach and laugh heartily as I turned to the Starbucks worker who just smiled and then went back to making whatever it was that she was doing. Eric had long disappeared from the store. I didn't say anything to Peter about him when I sat down. But it couldn't be avoided when Eric came to our table.

"Just in case we don't see each other before then I wanted to wish you a happy and safe Halloween, Ana," Eric said as he appeared in front of my table.

"Thank you Eric," I went to stand but he told me not to.

"Stay safe next weekend," he added before looking at Peter and then back at me. He wanted to say more, I could tell that he did. But instead he gave an uncertain smile and walked out right after the blonde. They talked outside for a few more seconds and I watched as they embraced tightly before he kissed her cheek and then went their separate ways.

Peter made a low whistling sound. I looked back at him to see that his eyes were following the blonde. "Barbie has a sway when she walks," he smiled until she was out of sight.

"I guess he's into that sort of thing," I said.

"Who is he," he asked. I shook my head. "Come on tell Peter," he smirked.

I filled Peter in on everything, even how I was being followed and that he saved me. Yes, I'll finally admit that he saved me. And just like everyone else, Peter stated that I should give him a chance. But of course in the middle of his motivating speech he broke out into laughter.

"Peter," I smacked his arm.

"Ow," he said before smiling quickly after and looking content at whatever it was that popped into his head.

"Will you tell what you about this whole situation you find so hilarious that you would cause a scene in Starbucks?"

"I said that he wasn't a 'Prince Charming'. But he sort of acted like a Prince. Cain is like Prince Hans from Frozen who looked good in the beginning but had bad intentions. And you're like Anna which is beyond hilarious because," Peter pointed to me.

"My name is Ana," I said in a blank tone.

"Yes," his hand slapped the table and he broke out into more laughter.

"I'm glad you find a situation in my life that has brought me nothing but heartache and stress, amusing," my arms folded across my chest.

"Oh come on Ana," he chuckled. "I think you should just," he snickered and tried to say it but kept laughing.

I closed my eyes. "Don't you dare say it, Peter. Don't you..."

"Let it go, let it go," he attempted to sing it but choked on his laughter. "Ah, this is priceless," he said still grinning like an idiot and typing away at his phone. "And now it is also posted."

"That's it," I started to get up. "I'm going back to my apartment. I don't even know why I agreed to come out here..."

"JoyAnna Summers." I sighed and closed my eyes at the sound of her voice. "You sit back down in your chair." I did as I was told and looked up to see that Peter actually had face-timed his sister instead of actually posting his terribly insensitive joke. Okay, I had to admit that deep down inside, some part of me was laughing along with Peter because as apathetic as anyone would accuse Peter of being, that was just how he was. He'd say whatever was on his mind. He'd say things that you were thinking but had no guts to say. He'd tell you straight up what you had to do and that's what I loved about him.

"He told me to let it go," I told Blossom who sighed and rolled her eyes in response.

"You're going to laugh about it later," Peter pointed out. "You know you are."

"You're so mean."

"You're being so childish Ana. It wasn't meant to tease you."

"But you are," I pointed out.

"No, he's not. He's trying to make light of the situation, trying to make you smile again. You know that is just how my brother is. And what are you wearing," questioned Blossom. "You look like you just rolled out of bed."

"I kind of did."

"Ten minutes Hayes," we heard someone yell in the background and Blossom nodded at them before turning back to us.

Blossom, Peter's younger sister was the same age as me. We did everything together and it reminded our parents of our grandmother and her sister. After my Aunt had got a divorce she ended up moving out of Amity and taking Blossom and Peter with her. Of course that didn't stop Blossom and I, and two times every year we'd get on a plane to go and see one another.

When I moved to Dauntless with Cain after high school, Blossom was a little upset. It had been our childhood plans to travel the Country and take in the sights before going to College. She had told me that she didn't like Cain when we first started dating and often questioned my relationship with him. She had this sixth sense about people that I trusted completely, except when it came to Cain. I had often blamed her hatred for marriage and Cain on her parent's divorce when we would talk on the phone. We'd started fighting frequently when I had gotten engaged.

"She's just being jealous," Cain assured me.

"She talks so badly about you. I just don't understand it," I shook my head after hanging up with her one day when I asked if she was coming to the wedding.

"Not everyone in your family is going to like me. Relationships are like that. There's always that one family member who doesn't like it because they don't have it," he kissed my forehead and rubbed my shoulders.

"I thought she'd be happy for me but..."

"I told you, she's just jealous. She'll come around."

She never came to my wedding but she was the first one to call me after I had walked out of the backdoor of the church with my brothers, Dillon and Peter. I cried and told her that I should have trusted her, should have believed her and that I should have known. She stated the only reason why she didn't like Cain was because he reminded her so much of her father so the time that I had told her that, she admitted that it was true. Blossom hated that I pointed that out, hated that I had accused her of it. She was also terribly hurt and felt that I had abandoned her. But she should have known that it wasn't my entire fault, that I was manipulated into thinking that Cain was perfect.

"That's how my father was," Blossom said. "He manipulated everyone. That's enough of that already. I don't want to hear any more about how you and I should have done this or how we could have done that. What matters is what is happening right now," she said in firm tone. "And know that even if you had gotten married to him, I am still and always will be your cousin and best friend."

She had flown from Washington DC where she was attending college and working an internship for the CIA, another dream that we had planned on doing together but I backed out of to stay with Cain. When Blossom took a break and stayed for an entire week with me when I first got my apartment, it was a reunion that had been a long time in the making. We laughed, we cried, we reminisced about the good times when I didn't need to worry about how depressing life was.

After Peter briefly went over the details that I had told him, Blossom surprised me and didn't immediately jump on the band wagon with everyone else.

"You think she shouldn't go out with him," Peter questioned.

"Our cousin was engaged, Pete. She just called off her wedding, walked out of church and trashed her ex-fiancé's apartment less than a year ago. Time flies, yeah, but this was a big deal for Ana. She has only known Cain," Blossom stared him down. "This was her only relationship and despite what that 'mother-effer' did to her. She was in love with him. It was real for her and now you're asking her to just develop that all over again?"

"Technically I'm telling her to get into bed with him, totally different," he waved his hand.

"Argh," Blossom turned to me. "Update, go to Dillon or your friend Hec or even Peter's friends but don't go back to my brother for advice."

"Hey," he called out but she ignored him.

"See, she's saying 'no'," I pointed out. "Thank you."

"On the other hand I also think that perhaps developing a friendship with him might be healthy for you. From what I can tell, what Dillon and your friend from the bank are saying is helpful. He sounds like he's a great guy and as you described him physically good looking. You should get to know him. You don't have to be anything other than friends at first."

"Even Eric said that," I sighed, "about getting to know each other and seeing where it goes."

"Take it one date at a time, one lunch at a time," Blossom said.

"He wants more than a friendship, I can tell. And I can't give him that."

"Ana, you've already made the mistake of assuming that this will be just like Cain. He doesn't sound like he's over the top like how Cain had been. Think about that, Ana. When Cain tried to get your attention, he flaunted his money, dressed up his lies in pretty little packages to make you think he loved you when in reality he was guilty for doing you wrong. This guy brought you dinner and flowers. Guys do that to woo a girl, show that they were thinking about her or to say sorry for something. Not all of them do that to cover some crime they committed. It's not like he's had a plane fly over Amity High asking you to Homecoming or had One Direction sing to you as he way of asking you to the prom to make up for the fact that he was cheating on you."

"I didn't even like One Direction," I snorted and then gasped at the realization. "But Serenity did," I snapped my fingers.

"Serenity," Peter asked.

"I found out from X that Cain had been sleeping with Serenity, a girl from our high school back in Amity. He felt guilty about it and that's why he asked me to move with him to Dauntless. He was trying to make up for it, I suppose."

"Exactly," Blossom chimed in. "He does things that look like he wants to be with you but in reality it's because he had done something wrong. So let me hide the fact that I cheated on my girlfriend of two years and ask her to move in with me, making her think that I can't live without her."

"That jerk," I muttered.

"This guy wants to do things with you, for you," Blossom emphasized. "He's not doing it to cover up for something. Then there's that other thing about explaining his actions," she sighed. "Ana, he didn't flirt back with that waitress as you thought he did and you didn't even need to ask him what that conversation was about. He voluntarily told you about it. If something happened, you would have needed to ask Cain and then his answer would never be that complete."

"What if he doesn't find me pretty enough or interesting enough? That blonde he was with just now..."

"Do you truly feel that way with him?"

I was quiet for a while as I let Blossom's question mull over in my head.

"Do you feel you're inadequate as a romantic partner for him or is just when there are other women around," Blossom added. "Pick out the conversations where you and him were comfortable, relaxed. Remember the times where he made you smile and he smiled back at you. If he listens to you, like everything you say is interesting and looks at you, like you're the only beautiful things he sees, then I highly doubt he would even think that you're uninteresting or plain."

"My self-confidence and self-worth are gone," I shook my head.

"They're there, JoyAnna Summers, Wildflower from Amity. You just haven't found it yet. But it looks like someone already sees it. Your heart will heal from everything that happened with Cain and maybe this guy is part of the healing process. A friendship couldn't hurt. You found a friend in someone who was just as jaded as you with your workmate from the bar. Perhaps you can offer this guy your friendship also and if it turns into something more, then great. If it didn't, he's a friend who will help you. Just don't keep on making the mistake of assuming that it'll be just like Cain."

Unfortunately Blossom's advice only stayed with me until I saw the blonde again at the Chasm. She was with a couple other young women. A guy had ordered a couple drinks and was trying to send it their way but they declined. They were beautiful. Peter wasn't lying when he said that she had a sway when she walked. She glanced over at my direction a couple times and it seemed like she wanted to come over and tell me something.

"Its okay, Barbie," I muttered turning away. "I know he's off limits."

"Hey there Wildflower," Lauren nudged me.

Lauren and I had not been on the same shift for a while at the Chasm. The night that we were working together was the night that she hugged me and asked how I been. Dillon was right about Lauren insisting to pick me up because she had told me about it. She knew it was Mr. Marcus and she was glad that someone came to my rescue. When she found out whom it was, her eyes widened for a second before she covered over her initial shock and then changed subject about how she was going to watch over me.

"A sweet girl like you is going to get eaten up alive here in Dauntless. That was the first thing I told Christina when she recommended you for the job. You need to grow more backbone and thankfully," she pulled me close, "you have Lauren here to help you!"

Dillon explained to her that I used to be a pretty naughty child when I was younger. "She was sassy and wasn't scared to stand up for other people," he told her one night that I had dinner with them. "My Uncle called her his 'Wildflower'. After that, the name kind of stuck. Of course now she's more docile and..."

"Well I'm going to fix that. Lauren to the rescue," she insisted. And since then she has been calling me 'Wildflower'. It made me feel at home.

"Hey," I smiled softly at her.

"Oh no, no, no," Lauren started, "why do you look like someone hit your puppy on the freeway?"

I shook my head.

"Nope, I'm not having that either. As your official 'older cousin's girlfriend who is going to treat me like a sister because I need guidance in a world where I have all brothers and a few idiot male cousins' adviser, I'm going to insist that you tell me," Lauren scolded as I finally smiled at her. She could be such a goof sometimes. "Now tell me what's going on? It's not Mr. Marcus right? I told you that he's been arrested and sitting in a cell awaiting his trial."

Halloween night, after leaving a party at Dillon's apartment, I had gotten off the bus and started walking towards the train station when I noticed Mr. Marcus had been following me again. I didn't recognize him because he had a mask on, everyone had a mask on. It wasn't until he grabbed me that he pulled off his mask and smiled that I knew it was him. He said a couple vile things that I wish I could forget. Not too much people did anything because they were too drunk to notice that I was being taken without my consent.

Just before we reached what I assumed was his van where two other guys were waiting with sick smiles on their faces, a drunkard stumbled in front of us and vomited on Mr. Marcus. It gave me enough time to pull out from his hold and run away. I had ducked and swerved on the streets, trying to confuse him as he followed me. At the same time I had called Dillon. Lauren basically ordered him to go and get me. The second that Mr. Marcus was close to grabbing me again, Lauren and Dillon appeared in her car to pull me out of there.

Early that morning, the police told us that Mr. Marcus had been arrested for stalking me and possible kidnap. Lauren hadn't called the police and neither had Dillon. They showed up at Dillon's apartment three hours after my ordeal, asking for me and my story. There were other girls that he had followed and asked or offered sexual favors to but no one had complained until now or said that it had gotten so far as to the extent of it being a kidnapping. When I asked who had made the call, they said it was an anonymous tip but that I should be happy there was someone out there looking out.

"Thanks Pedrad," Lauren nodded to him.

"No problem, Eastwood," the police officer told her. "Duke," he nodded to Dillon. "I suggest you warn your cousin about the situation. The odds are in his favor at the charges being dropped."

"I know," Dillon sighed.

"There are enough witnesses to put him and Ana together but at the same time, he could argue..."

"I know," Dillon sighed again.

"He's been harassing her at work. This isn't the first time that he tried to grab her. We were on the phone with her the first time that he," Lauren began but the police office put up a hand to stop her.

"You and I both know what he's capable of doing and getting away with."

"So if he gets out, then what," I questioned. "I just have to deal with it? I have to look over my shoulder everywhere I go?"

"You could call it in," the officer turned to Dillon.

"I don't want Ana involved any more than she already is."

"From what I heard, she's already way in over her head," the officer said before talking a little bit more with them and then leaving.

Mr. Marcus had been in jail for a couple weeks but I was still wary. Lauren, although she expressed confidence that I was safe, still made Dillon check up on me. She stopped by my apartment once too with her brother to safety-proof the place. Her brother, Scott happened to be best friends with Hec when they were kids and all the way up to high school. They lost touch after the whole mess with Hec's ex-girlfriend because he didn't like the idea that Hec chose to stay with her even after he found out the baby wasn't his.

"Hec is a really compassionate person," I nodded. "It's actually admirable that he decided to do that, maybe a little foolish but I think he would have liked it if he knew that you still supported him."

Hec and I had met up a couple times with Scott to catch up and Hec was glad that I was there. Although it wasn't like the reunion that I had with Blossom, you could see that the two were on their way to being good friends once again. I didn't find out until later on but apparently the police officer who came to take my statement is Hec's brother in law. So when Hec introduced Scott and me to his sister and the little baby girl, I was shocked to see the police officer from Dillon's apartment standing there as well. It also helped to solidify my relationship with Lauren when her brother told her what a good friend I had been to Hec when he was not.

"So come on, tell me what's got you looking down in the dumps," Lauren asked again.

"There's this girl over there," I nodded towards the table where Barbie sat. "And I saw her with this guy that I kind of sort of like and..."

"No," she interrupted. "There is no kind of or sort of feeling one way. You either feel that way or you don't."

"That's what I've been telling her," Hec said as he walked by after escorting a customer out.

"Alright," I sighed. "I like him. The feeling is small but it is there," I admitted. "And the last time I saw him he told me to call him."

"And why haven't you," asked Hec with an eyebrow raised.

"You already know the answer."

"But I want to hear you say it to Lauren. And then I want to see her scold you about it."

"Oh bother, what did you do," asked Lauren.

"He was with that girl over there and I... I just know that I don't compare to her. I mean..."

"Shut up right now," she scolded. "This is not the Wildflower that Dillon described. You're putting yourself down. You're downgrading what you have and that is not what I want to hear. He still made an effort to talk to you right?"

"He asked her to call him. He said that he was interested," Hec continued to add his two cents in.

"Why do I even tell you these things?"

"Because I'm your friend," Hec smirked, playfully pinched my side and left.

"Now it could be that they are just friends," Lauren added.

"Look at her," I waved my hand. "Who would just be friends with someone like that? I'm telling you that I..."

"That you and Hec are friends and trust me I was a little worried about your friendship because I know that Hec is a nice guy and people, especially girls who want something, take advantage of it. On the outside it may look like something else but on the inside, you two are helping each other gain your strength back. She could be his friend, Ana. Don't overthink it and don't sell yourself short."

After Halloween had passed and I had gotten over seeing that Barbie at the Chasm, it had been a couple weeks until I finally decided to work up enough courage to call Eric.

"You have reached the voicemail for Eric Coulter," his voice sounded and I couldn't help but smile at the sound of it. "Please leave a message after the beep," the pre-recorded message finished and just as I opened my mouth to leave a message, my nerves got the better of me. I slammed the phone back down on the receiver and shook my head.

"Grumpy customer," asked Myra.

I shifted towards her and the look on my face said it all. "I couldn't leave a message. I was so scared," I shook my head and looked down at the counter.

"Try calling him when you go to lunch," she offered.

But it didn't help, my fingers played with the phone throughout the whole lunch hour. After work that day, I still couldn't call. I began taking the sign of my first initial call going to voicemail as an indication that he didn't want anything to do with me anymore.

"That could be true," Hec stated after walking into my apartment.

He had gotten into a habit of walking me to my door ever since the whole situation with Mr. Marcus. On some nights he would end up coming inside and staying over for an hour or so until he was sure that everything seemed to be okay. According to him the other two guys were still out there and they may want retribution for Mr. Marcus getting arrested. For some odd reason as concerned as I was about my safety, I had not thought about those two men and wondered what the status was on that.

"What do you mean it could be true? Are you saying that..."

"You're being so indecisive about this that I hate to be so straight up about this whole situation but it could be possible that the guy may move on," Hec answered.

"I blew it," I buried my head in the pillow.

"You still have a chance to clear the air, I think, I hope," he insisted. "I think perhaps you should go and talk to him."

"I can barely call him what makes you think," I began as Hec sat on my bed and rubbed my back.

"Face your fear head on, Ana. Go and see him," Hec advised.

The next day that I had off from the bank, I decided to go to the office under the rouse that I was bringing lunch for Dillon.

Dillon didn't question what I was doing there. Instead what he did ask about was why I had brought a dozen bags of food with me. Technically I had only brought five bags. Three were for him, Adam and Tyler. One was for the receptionist because she was always so nice whenever I came here. And of course the fifth one was for Eric.

I hadn't been talking that long to Dillon when the real reason for my visit came out.

"Duke," a familiar voice shook the office. I turned on Dillon's desk to see Eric striding our way.

"Yes sir," Dillon stood up and dust a few crumbs off his shirt and tie. "Yes, did you need something," he fumbled with his words.

You would know right away that it was all because of the imposing figure that was looming by his desk. One look at Eric and I could tell that this was the no non-sense boss that Dillon, Taylor and Adam had described. His eyes looked over at me once, his expression softening before he narrowed his eyes back at Dillon.

"The proposal for the City," Eric's voice rumbled and I couldn't help but let out a shaky breath at how he looked both scary and attractive. "I want it done before you leave for the day."

"The meeting isn't until..." Dillon quickly nodded as though Eric silently told him not to argue, "Yes sir."

"And," Eric cleared his throat causing me to turn and look his way. It seemed as though he didn't look happy to see me. I had been dodging his phone calls, scared to pieces about what to do. I understood his frustration. "Thank you miss for distracting my workers but this is business hours so," I hopped down and held up the package causing him to pause in his speech.

"It's almost lunch," I whispered holding up the bag for him to take.

Eric looked at the bag and then back at me. Slowly his hand reached out for it.

"Forgive me, Mr. Coulter," I quietly apologized taking a step forward as he retracted his hand. His beautiful smoky eyes stared into mine and before I knew it our bodies were so close together. "Forgive me, Eric. Forgive me for not calling," I corrected. "Forgive me for running and hiding. I know I might not deserve it but I would really like another chance," I held up one of the wilting purple roses that he gave me in my other hand, "if you'd be willing."

"Ana, I," he started but then paused and looked down at the ground. I had never seen him looking uncertain before. And I wondered if Hec was right. Had I blown my chance with Eric by being so indecisive? In one swift move he looked up and his gaze locked me in place. His face was hardened and I knew that I was facing the Eric that Myra and Dillon had talked about. "I'm a patient man. But patience has its limits. I've told you before that I don't do games. I don't want someone who is only going to be toying with me, hiding behind excuses or pretending to be someone they're not," he demanded in a soft but stern tone.

"Okay," I replied.

"I just want you to be..."

"To just be honest," I nodded slightly as I felt his fingers run lightly down my arm.

"I'm a risk taker. It's one of the many ways to learn which is to make mistakes," Eric stated. "But I usually never make the same mistake twice."

Almost immediately after feeling the warmth and pleasure of his touch, he removed his hand and took a step back.

"Duke, I want those reports," he said with a loud voice that made me jump a little. His eyes didn't release mine even after my cousin responded to him. "Miss Summers."

"Mr. Coulter," I nodded, trying to regain my balance before he completely withdrew away from me. I didn't even know when the bag had disappeared from my hand and ended up in his. I watched for a brief second as he strolled away with it, realizing that he didn't really give me an answer. "He didn't answer me," I muttered feeling my heart shatter again. It was obvious that I liked it more than I was letting on.

And with that thought, I came to the conclusion that I needed to get out there fast. I couldn't stand the horrifying feeling that I was having over being rejected yet again. What did I think would happen? Cain hadn't wanted me. I should have known that someone like Eric wouldn't want me either. I had played a game with him and now I had come up on the losing side.

I turned to hug my cousin goodbye and then proceeded to fist bump or quickly hug Adam and Taylor. I didn't look back when Dillon called my name. I booked it to the elevator and quickly pressed the button to get off their floor. How stupid could I be? I had ruined it. He told me to set things at my own pace but I had pushed him away. I thought back to all the phone calls and text messages and realized that he must have thought that we were getting somewhere only to have me ignore him again. I didn't even know Eric that well. But I knew enough to understand that I had liked him. I had liked him enough that his rejection would hurt me so badly.

I shouldn't have been looking for a guy anyway. I'd promised myself when I walked out of Cain's apartment on the day of our wedding that I'd never put myself in this situation. And if I did, I would look for someone different and that wouldn't have been only months after leaving my fiancé. I was planning on it being a couple years. I had to get back on my own two feet. I had to look out for me first. Yet here I was, going to Eric's job, chasing after him, begging him to give me another chance.

I had just gotten out of the front door when my phone began to buzz in my purse. I stared at the phone and was surprised that the 'flight response' that I had learned about in one of my classes was still wired in me. There on the screen was Eric's number. I angrily wiped at the tears that spilled out once I got the elevators.

I took a deep breath and slide my thumb on the screen to accept his call just before it went to voicemail.

"Hey," his voice came over the phone and I couldn't help but turn back to look at the building, my eyes searching for his window.

"Hi," I replied as I saw him lift his arm to wave. I wiped my face again as I turned away. I tried to steel myself and remembered that if he offered me his friendship that I had to be content with that somehow. I didn't know why I expected him to welcome me back with open arms, especially after the way I treated him.

"Look Ana..."

"Its fine Eric," I closed my eyes and shook my head.

"No it's not. I just wanted to say that...

"There's nothing to say. It's my mistake and..."

"Ana please hush," he said in a tone that stopped any argument from me and I sat down at a stone bench waiting for him. "I have wanted to know you since the moment I saw you. I was physically attracted to your smile and your eyes and how innocent and desirable you looked to me. Then whenever we're together, I realized that it was more than just a physical attraction for me. I feel like I want to tell you everything. I feel like I want to share everything about myself with you. But that has to work both ways. I need to know that if we try this again, that I'm not making the mistake of being the only one to put myself out there. I need you to know that you can trust me. I need to know that I can trust you. Do you think we can do that?"

"Yes," I answered with a timid voice that caused me to clear my throat. "Yes," I said in a louder tone.

"Good, because I've missed you," he told me.

"I've missed you too."

"Let's talk everything out over dinner."

"Okay," I nodded and turned to the window to see him standing by the glass. I sniffed and wiped my face again and looked away.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you by not giving you an answer back there in the office. You have to understand that this is very frustrating for me Ana. I," he stopped and let out a deep sigh. "I have more demons in my past than the devil himself. And when I first saw you, I saw someone who looked pure, caring and honest. But there were a couple days where you were someone else and I don't want that."

"I've been reluctant because I've been hurt before Eric. I don't want to make the same mistake twice either."

"What is his name?"

"Excuse me?"

"What is his name, the guy who's hurt you?"

"Cain," I answered.

"What is my name?"

"Eric," I answered confused.

"You don't sound so certain that is who you're talking to," he chuckled.

"Your name is Eric Coulter," I repeated in a confident tone and gave a quick nod.

"Right off the bat I can tell you that you won't be making the same mistake because our names are different and I can assure you that he is not me and I am not him. We're not the same person Ana." I wanted to protest and I guess he could tell because he repeated his previous offer. "We'll talk more about it over dinner."

"Yes, dinner," I agreed.

"Do you work or..."

"I have classes tonight. I should be finished by eight thirty, depending on how well I do on my exam."

"Alright then, I'll see you at eight thirty one," Eric confirmed as I smiled.

"I'll see you then," I replied.

"Oh and Ana?"

"Yes?"

"Good luck with your exam."

I hung up the call and put my phone back in my bag before turning to see him still standing by the window. I had never felt so relieved to be getting a second chance. I wondered if Eric had felt the same. I had been a fool. I had been indecisive. In a way, I had been playing games and toying with him. He offered to talk things out and he offered to do it tonight. He wasn't going to wait. And it was then that I realized he and Cain weren't the same person. Cain would have refused to talk about it and ran to his friends' house, leaving his mother to clean up after our disagreement. Eric wanted to talk it out. He wanted to talk everything out. It felt great to have someone who wanted to discuss things openly with me.