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“Thanks, for accepting my invitation,” he said to her as she removed her shoes. She looked amazing, nothing compared to how she had looked the first day he had seen her.

She just smiled at his comment and continued to look out into the waves splashing into the sand. She didn’t know really why she had accepted his invitation but now here she was in his back yard, which by the way was amazing. “I love your back yard; you don’t need a pool when you have the beach as your back yard.” She smiled as she remembered the night at the beach with him back in Palm Beach.

He smiled at her comment, “thanks, and your welcome anytime you know that.” It was a dark clear night and the breeze was just right, he sighed as he looked at her silhouette just inches away from his. Yet it felt like miles away, he still hadn’t spoken to her well enough. Now he was glad she accepted to talk to him after her show. “I bought the other one. That way they won’t be apart,” he said trying to get the conversation going. She just looked like she didn’t want to talk; she just stood there looking in the night.

“I guess that’s good, you can hang it up next to the other one. But you didn’t have to,” she told him finally turning around to face him. He was only inches away and she couldn’t help but shiver. “So,” she said not really wanting to talk, but she knew that she was here instead of being with Marco. Besides it was late and she knew she had to head back to her hotel soon. Marco had been pretty comprehensive when she told him she was going to go somewhere else before going back to the hotel.

“Well where can I start really, I just need a friend right now. As I thought through my head which friend I should go to, I realized you’re the one I need. Because you understand the real me, I need a friend right at this moment,” he said as he fought the tears threatening to come out. He looked through his pocket till he found what he was looking for, without hesitation he lighted a cigarette. When he was caught of guard and felt her arms wrap around him. He discarded the lit cigarette and hugged her back. He felt relieved like a big weight had been lifted away from him, she had forgiven him. Or at least that’s what he took it as.

“Is preparing for a wedding really this stressful?” she asked as she finally let go of him. “I would think it would be more exciting you know,” she wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the breeze a little cool.

“It isn’t when you’re not sure anymore if you want to spend the rest of your life with that person,” he said as he took of his shirt and handed it to her. He saw her take it hesitantly, but smiled when she did use it.

She turned to him, was he trying to tell her something. Was it was she thought it was? She took a deep breath and spoke, “well if you want to talk about it I’m here.”

“Ok,” he said as he stared at her. He just stared at her for a while and finally seeing how uncomfortable she looked, he spoke, “I am screwed My Mona Lisa, I did a really bad thing…I kissed another woman that was not my fiancé!” he looked at her as he said it. “I think I am in love with her too,” he let out a sigh as he finished.

Was she hearing right? Had he said he had fallen in love with her? That sounded like music to her ears, but she also heard the pain as he said. She did not want to be the one that made him feel pain; she loved him well she thought she did. She could not do that to him, “I am sorry AJ and I don’t know what to say but that I am sorry…”

“I don’t want you to feel sorry for me Lisa; I want you to tell me what to do! I am lost, should I go through with the wedding or should I not? I know Sarah does not deserve this, but I know I have no chance with Hailey… she’s married. But, I do have really deep feelings for Sarah though. I have so much to thank her for she’s been with me through all my shit! Not any easy task when I was such a screw up.” He sighed in frustration, as he finished his explanation to her.

She had to breathe in deeper as she heard him, how could she be naïve and think AJ was talking about her. Of course AJ did not see her like that; he was talking about some other woman. She knew she shouldn’t have put her hopes up like that it was only her fault. She cleared her and spoke, “Wow, you’re in deep waters my friend.” She tried to lighten the situation; she wanted not to feel stupid. “I think you don’t love Sarah, your just trying to love her cause you think you owe it to her. I think that if she loves you like you say she does, she will understand you. I say you should postpone the wedding and just stay away from it all concentrate on that album you and your friends are working on. Don’t think about love and if Sarah is the one AJ she will wait. So who is Hailey?” she asked with caution, she wanted to know what that Hailey had that she didn’t. The truth was she was not all that jealous she had Marco right?

“That’s how my mother sees’s it. I guess you both are right, I should do that. Hailey was my therapist back in Cali, she’s just amazing. I don’t know how I fell for her but, I did. Talking about that I want to apologize for my actions, now I know how it feels to be rejected. I love you Lisa I do but like my friend and I don’t know what happened that time in your house. I really wasn’t thinking with my head, I just want you to know that I am really sorry.” He smiled at her, she was just quiet listening to his every word well at least he hoped she was.

“It’s not your fault AJ, I should have known better. How could someone like you even think of someone like me in any other way, besides you always told me I was just your friend.” She ran her hand through her hair as she continued on, “I now know that I really didn’t like you though, I actually have found someone. Like you told me remember?” she bit her lip she knew she was lying when she told him she did not love him, but he was tormented enough to not worry him more. The truth was she was in love though, Marco was an exceptional boyfriend.

He was caught of guard when he heard her say she had found someone. His Mona Lisa had found someone, he felt happy yet sad. He didn’t understand why, maybe it was just the fact that now he was not going to have her attention only. “I am glad, was it that Marco guy? By the way you look stunning my Mona Lisa, you truly have done a 360. I didn’t recognize you at the gallery; my mom actually had to point you out for me.” He laughed softly at his comment, how could he not recognize his own friend. The truth though was she had really changed, heck his mother and he had only helped her with the tip of the iceberg. But who ever had helped her now had done a complete head to toe makeover and she was hot. His Mona Lisa was a hottie, the good thing she did not let that go to her head.

“Yeah how you guess? Marco is a great guy and he is a writer!” she smiled at the thought of Marco, his kisses were amazing. She closed her eyes as she remembered his kisses, that man drove her a little crazy.

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“Ok Mr. Reynolds, I have your results in this folder. I am afraid I have bad news for you,” she looked the young man sitting the room. He looked worried and sick; no one was here with him for this. It made her sad; he didn’t look to old hell he looked like her son’s age. Young people not protecting themselves, she thought so many young men and woman getting this condemning disease.

He chewed on his lower lip, as he heard the words he had prayed not to hear. At that moment he finally thought of her, his Lizzie where could she be? How much he wished he could go back to when she had tried to stop him from going down this path. “Well just say it Doctor,” he said bluntly looking at the elderly lady with the results in hand.

“Honey, you are HIV positive,” she said slowly watching him start to cry. She hated giving bad news, but that was her job. “Now son, I am going to prescribe you four different antiviral drugs to start fighting this ok. You can continue with your normal life, just make sure you take this in the recommended amounts, I will have a nurse explain to you as well to the side effects of the antiviral medicines.” She went up to him and hugged the young man, as he continued to cry. “I know how you feel son, but don’t let this get you down, many people live for very long time with this disease, we live in America, and you will get all the treatment you need.

He was hearing what his doctor told him, but he just couldn’t accept that he had just heard the doctor say that. “Maybe those are not my lab test, you might have confused them with someone else’s do them again. This can’t happen to me I am in the best part of my life, I am in Broadway for crying out loud.” He cried harder and wished that the results really were not his and someone else’s. That his doctor would apologize and say that they had mistaken his results for someone else, god he needed Lizzie here with him.

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She awoke to the light breathing of someone beside her, and then she felt an arm on top of her. She smiled as she remembered where she was, “she looked at the arm around her and started to trace the tattoos on it. She couldn’t help but smile, she and AJ had now made peace, “AJ?” she asked softly at first, she saw his fingers move. She laughed when she heard him moan, “AJ get up, I need to go back to my hotel if not Tommy is going to get mad.”

He had felt her fingers on his arm, but he was too tired to open his eyes. It was a moment like this that he had been wanting. A sleepover, per say they had talked till they couldn’t anymore only to then realize that it was very late. He couldn’t let her go like that late so he offered her a room, little did he know that he would also stay in that room, but they had so much to talk about. He didn’t really remember who fell asleep first but, here they were sleeping in the same bed. “How long have you been awake?” he asked as he finally moved his hand away.

“Not long, I see you never made it back to your room,” she smiled as she sat up and tried to straighten he wrinkled dress. “I should get going, I still have to pack we leave tonight to Tennessee. Just call me after your talk with Sarah, I hope everything goes well. I know she will understand, she looks like she really loves you AJ.” She stood up and hesitantly looked into the mirror, to her dismay her hair was back to her untamed self.

“Wait, I’ll drive you to the hotel,” he said as he too stood up.

“No, it’s cool get some rest your going to need it.” With that she pushed him back into the bed.


“Fine, but now that your Latin lover is heading back to New York whose going to travel with you?” he asked as he sat on the bed.

“Nobody, I guess” she said she put her shoes back on. She looked at the watch and knew she better get going. “Hey can you call a cab for me?” she asked him as she continued to search for one of her shoes.

“Well can I join you; I mean after I go back and call the wedding off with Sarah. I just think I shouldn’t be in Cali for while after that.” he asked subtly hoping she would say yes. The truth was he was happy; he really had missed her company.

She stopped searching and stared at him with a questioned face. She felt her heart jump higher than usual. She had to admit that she loved his company, now he was her only friend. She smiled and spoke, “that’s fine with me,” she didn’t hide her excitement well. She was going to have AJ with her for god knew how long, she liked the idea. She was brought back out of her thoughts by the shoe being waved in front of her face.

“I had it all along I just wanted to see you search,” he said with a grin as he handed it to her, “besides if you would’ve declined my offer, well lets just say you would of left with out a shoe.” He laughed as he walked back to the bed and again sat down.

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“So are you going to tell me who that was?” he asked her as they both sat in the airport waiting for there flights. He would head back to New York and she would head to Tennessee. The truth was he wasn’t jealous, it was just curiosity right. It was killing him though to know that she had not come back to the hotel till that morning.

“That is my friend AJ; he is going through a really bad time right now and wanted to talk. He’s Denise’s son, we haven’t had a good conversation since I moved to New York. He was there for me so I have to be there for him.” she said in a hurt tone, why was he so anxious to find out about who AJ was? Was he jealous? She had to admit that thought made her feel wanted for once. The truth was he had nothing to worry about right? AJ was clear like water about the type of relationship she wanted with her. Besides now that she had him she didn’t really care about AJ in any other way. Friends that’s what they were; she had to repeat that in her head though.

“He’s very different to what I would picture your friends to be. No offense though, I am glad you were able to help him though. Listen Lisa I’ve been meaning to give you something,” he reached into his pocket and flashed her, a simple silver ring with hearts on it. “I saw it before I left New York in this jewelry shop and well I knew you would like it. I just hadn’t found the right time to give it to you, I want you to wear it here,” he grabbed her left hand and put it on her ring finger. “It’s a promise ring Lisa and the promise is that I will only love you. I want you to remember me every time you see it on your beautiful hand.” He kissed her hand and then her lips.

She returned the kiss, as she felt fireworks he really did like her. Did he tell her that he loved her? She felt tears come done her cheeks, they were happy tears though. This was the most romantic thing to ever happen to her…”Its beautiful Marco, I will wear it with pride,” she told him after she broke the kiss.

“I’m glad you like it,” he said with a big smile on his face. That’s when he heard his call for the flight back to New York, “I guess that’s me, baby I will see you soon and I will call every night ok? Duty calls, I have people to drive around,” he said as he kissed his girlfriend good-bye.

“Bye,” she said as she watched him disappear from her sight. She was going to be alone for the Tennessee gallery, but now she had this ring to remind that someone was thinking of her. She walked back to where Tommy and the rest waited for the call.

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He kissed her back trying to record her kisses in his head. Somehow he knew she would not understand him, “We need to talk Sarah,” he said as he went into his house his luggage still in hand. The truth was he wished the earth would just swallow him whole right then and there. He knew that his mother and his Mona Lisa were right he could not keep playing with her feelings when he didn’t know if she was the one for him.

She didn’t like the way he spoke, she knew something was up. Suddenly he was indifferent to her he was up to something and her heart told her it wasn’t something good. So many things ran through head, she loved this man and she just hoped that her intuition was wrong. “Ok, sure what do you want to talk about?”

He looked at her and felt his heart sink could he really do this? She was beautiful and was just one of a kind really. She knew how to please him in every way yet apparently not if his heart made him come to this conclusion. The truth is Hailey had put a spell on him and he could just not continue to hurt people he cared for. Sarah was one of those people he may not feel love for her but, he really respected and cared for her. He felt a huge lump form on his throat but, he knew there was no turning back, “I – want to call off the wedding. I can’t marry you Sarah,” he felt his tears come down this was harder than he had thought. Then he felt it, the burning sensation on his left cheek all he did was bring his hand to the stinging on his face. He deserved that and more he knew that, “I am sorry…I just need time Sarah I want to be sure you’re the one for me,” he finished.

“More time?? How much time do you need Alex? I’ve been with you since…” she sighed as she felt her heart hurt. She was in pain she had given herself completely to this man and it all came back stabbing her right in the heart. She let out a cry, her tears started to flow nonstop. “I love you,” she said between sobs, god her heart ached to know that the man she thought was as crazy as her in love wasn’t? “What are you looking for Alex? Dam it! Love is right in front of you and your letting it go…Just answer me one thing. Does that Lisa girl have anything to do with this??” she had to ask that, the truth was she just felt that since his return from his mother’s house he wasn’t the same.

“Nooo, god Sarah it has nothing to do with her, it has to do with me! I am the one that can’t decide what I want. If you want to blame someone blame me…” he sighed and spoke again, “I have to tell you something else though. I have to so I can feel sane, I kissed my therapist and after that I started to have doubts,” he said slowly as it would help in someway. That’s when he felt it again another burning sensation, he knew he deserved it though, he saw the pain this was causing her.

“Get out Alex, get out! I know this is your fucking house, but leave me here alone come back in a few hours I will be completely gone by then!” she pushed him and punched never had she felt so much anger. She was angry, sad, hurt and destroyed. How could this happen to her??

He just let her hit him, she needed to release the anger and deception she felt at that moment. He too was disappointed in his lack of maturity; Sarah really was a great girl why couldn’t he just accept her. He knew he wouldn’t have to worry about her not loving him back, she truly did he had always known that. “Don’t worry Sarah take your time, I am leaving again and won’t be back in a while so take your time in leaving,” with that he grabbed his luggage again and walked out of his own house. He sighed as he knew exactly where he was heading.