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"What are you doing here?"

He released my wrist. "For a night stroll."

"I meant, what are you doing here? In New York?"

"You . . .ย  . wouldn't understand", he said quietly.

I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms. "Try me."

He stared down at me, debating whether to tell me or not. After a few seconds, he said. "Come with me." Then, started to walk past me.ย 

I followed him.

While we were walking, I received a few stares and they were mostly from older men. Honestly, I felt a little uncomfortable but as always I ignored it.ย 

All of a sudden, Charle's gently placed his hand on my waist and tugged me close beside him. My side brushed against his hard chest. I looked up at him and he was looking forward with his jaw tensed.ย 

Kristine, push him away.

At that second, I zoned out.ย 

15 minutes later

I must've been too lost in my thoughts because we've already stopped walking.ย 

"Kristine." I heard Charles call and looked up at him.ย 

"Hm?"

He lowered his brows and his eyes analyzed my face.ย 

"You alright?", he asked softly.

"Yes."

"You look -" He sighed. "We're here." He released my waist.ย 

I looked at the front. We were standing in front of Lincoln Centre for The Performing Arts.ย 

"I always wanted to come here, but never did." I smiled while looking up at the building. It looks even cooler at night.

"I've played in many places around Europe, but one place I've always wanted to play in . . . is here." I looked up at Charles and he was looking up at the building with hopeful eyes.

"I'm sure you could. Why don't you?"

He sighed. "I don't know. I've never performed out of Europe. Performing here means everything to me. What if I get nervous and mess up everything?", he muttered and his jaw tightened.ย 

I stayed silent for a few seconds.ย 

"Do you trust yourself?", I asked suddenly. He looked down at me confused, "Do you trust yourself, Charles?"

His eyebrows furrowed. "Why do you ask?", he questioned.ย 

"Answer the question."

"I don't", he answered bluntly and looked away.ย 

"I don't either", I mumbled. "I'm sure you've gotten nervous for lots of your performances. Am I wrong?"

He shook his head.ย 

"It's alright to be nervous. It just means something important is happening", I told, "You succeeded - you survived, Charles. The nervousness only lasts before the importance happens, but while it happens, you're too lost doing that one thing you love - that you forget all about that nervousness." He looked at me. "You want to hear a quote?" I smiled.

Hesitatingly, he breathed out, "Sure."

"Trust yourself. You have survived a lot and you will survive whatever is coming", I said softly and he looked at me with furrowed brows. Looking up at him, I smiled and shockingly his eyes softened. "I've been told the things I say, never make sense", I paused, "But sometimes you just need to hear the things that don't", I laughed lightly and shrugged my shoulders.ย 

He stared down at me, studying me through my eyes.ย 

"It .ย  . .it made sense", he said, "But I needed it."

I smiled and he gave me a small one in return.ย 

"Do you come to New York often?", I asked him.ย 

"A little. I came this weekend because I got this urge to play in front of this place. Getting jet-lagged is a risk I was willing to take." He chuckled and gazed up at the building.ย 

"So why don't you?", I asked and he looked down at me, "Play your violin."

He scoffed. "I have the urge. That doesn't mean I will fulfil it", he muttered bitterly.

"Fulfilling something is always up to you", I said, "It's either you want to or you don't. So . . .do you want to?"

He looked down at me and we locked gazes. There was this flicker of emotion in his eyes, and he looked like he was having a debate with himself.ย 

"I do."

"Well then, it's up to you to fulfil it" I smiled.

While looking down at me, he gulped deeply. He stuffed his hands in his black coat pockets and looked away.ย 

"There's always a choice", I said.ย 

โ‡โ‡โ‡

Next day

"What are you doing tonight?", Paulette asked.ย 

"Depends, why?"

"Let's have fun tonight, at our usual place."

Fun.ย 

No matter how many times I hear that word, it always sounds new to me.

"Let's do it." I nodded. "I'll see you tonight. Text me the time and place."

We both kissed each other on the cheeks and I walked out of the studio while putting on my sunglasses. We were both discussing my new ideas and let's just say that those ideas will become a reality.ย 

"How did it go?", Antoine asked once I reached the car.ย 

"Great." I smiled and he returned a grateful one before opening the car door for me. Once I stepped in, he closed the door and made his way to the driver's seat.ย 

I leaned back in my seat, crossed my legs and stared out the window. While driving, we passed by ANGELIX and I couldn't help but smile.ย 

I actually did it.

"How does pie sound to you?", I asked the two with a smile.ย 

"Delicious." Lucas chuckled.ย 

"Antoine?", I asked.

"Why not?" He smiled. "The usual place?"ย 

I nodded.

Antoine told Levi and Mesia through his earpiece and we made our way to my favourite pie place in New York City.ย 

1 hour later

With a small hand towel in my right hand, I wiped off the sweat on my face, down my neck, to my collarbone. I've just done pull-ups, sledge pushes and battle ropes.ย 

Currently, I'm in the New York outpost. We leave weapons here, we train here. We also work out here, all of us have no choice but to maintain the figure, muscles and stamina we have now, it's part of the job. There's another outpost in Paris, one day we'll have more.

The outpost here was very modern, with multiple floors, SMART screens in the lounge area, automatic doors, a kitchen on the second floor, swimming pool on the third floor. I designed everything.ย 

I wrapped the boxing hand - wrap around my hands and walked towards the punching bag.ย 

"Is she alive?"

Breathe.

"Barely."

Breathe.

"Run!"

Channelling the tragic fragment of memories, I started punching the bag with all my strength. Punching at a fast speed, I did a swift turn and kicked the bag hard, letting out all the bad energy.ย 

"You need to toughen up, you're too soft."

"Hopeless."

At this point, I'm punching to the limit where the punching bag will fall off the chain. Approximately 15 minutes later, I was done with the punching bag and removed the hand wraps. Making my way towards my duffle bag, I took out my water bottle. While drinking my water, I walked toward one of the weapon walls.

"Training hard?", I heard a voice and by instinct, I grabbed one of the daggers. Swiftly, I turned around and threw the knife toward the voice. I smiled. It landed directly on the human target board's head.ย 

"That was close." Antoine chuckled.

"I never miss", I grinned proudly.

Antoine turned to peer over his shoulder and looked back at me with a smirk.

"Clearly", he said and I smiled.

"It's already 5:00 o'clock?"

He nodded.

"I didn't notice", I muttered.ย 

"Of course, you didn't."

"What that's supposed to mean?" I arched a brow and walked back towards my bag.ย 

"You don't notice a thing when you train, especially time. I had to come to get you in the basement at 1 am in the morning the last time", Antoine said.

I turned to look at him and shrugged a shoulder. "Sometimes I don't know what else to do", I mumbled, glancing at the punching bag. "Thank you though, for being there." I gave him a small smile and he returned it with a nod.ย 

"It's my job", Antoine said.

I put on my black hoodie jacket over my white spaghetti strap sports bra and left the zip open. After placing my duffle bag strap on my shoulder, I started walking towards the main door, which meant walking past Antoine.

"Yes, it is." I stood in front of him. "Remind me we need treadmills here. I now need to go for a 1 hour run in the gym back home." I smiled and started to walk past him. But he grabbed my arm. I looked at him over my shoulder to find him giving me a challenging grin, which I returned.

We both started to do hand to hand combat. Antoine was about to land a punch but I grabbed his fist and laid a forward kick to his abdomen. He groaned loudly and crouched. Before I got a chance to throw a punch, he straightened up and head locked me. Placing both of my hands on his arm, I groaned at his tight grip.

"You lose", he whispered.ย 

I sighed before smirking to myself. I elbowed him hard, which made him stumble backwards and grabbed his arm before twisting it around his back.ย 

"I win."

1 hour 30 minutes later

"Switchin' the positions for you, Cookin' in the kitchen and I'm in the bedroom", I sang to Positions by Ariana Grande while searching through one of my wardrobes.ย 

"I'm in the Olympics, way I'm jumpin' through hoops, Know my love infinite, nothin' I wouldn't do."ย I placed my chosen outfit on the dressing table.

I then remembered Paulette's earlier text message.

We're having fun, no work talk.ย 

Maybe I should try a little more teen casual look. Placing the outfit back in one of the wardrobes, I opened the one next to it. After a while of searching through it, I found a nice dress.ย 

Kristine's outfit


Once I put on my dress, I took a seat by my closet vanity. After tying my hair in a low ponytail, I started to apply face powder. Then, I applied mascara before applying a little blush to my cheeks. For my lips, I applied red lip gloss on my bottom lip and rubbed my upper and bottom lips together. Lastly, sprayed Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia before letting down my hair. My naturally wavy hair flowed down my back.ย 

I grabbed my silver strap heels, matching silver sling bag and my black trench coat. After putting on my heels, I walked toward the full body mirror and looked at myself.ย 

I almost laughed.ย 

"Nothing changed", I smiled sadly. I keep forgetting I'm 17 because looking at myself now, I realised I'm only a kid. A teenager. I haven't changed much since I was 15, instead of a little weight loss and taller.

Looking at my dress one more time, my smile faded.ย 

This was the dress he bought for me during the trip.ย 

William bought this for me.ย 

โ‡โ‡โ‡

Paulette smiled.ย 

"Tu es vraiment trop jolie.ย (You really are so pretty Kristine.)"

There really was something I felt when people tell me I'm pretty or beautiful, I felt the urge to tear up. I'm an emotional person but nobody can blame me for it.ย 

"I know that", I smirked and she chuckled.

"I've known you since you were what? 11?.ย  . .it already feels like I've watched you grow up." She looked at me with soft eyes.ย 

"There's still more to watch. Only 17, I have years ahead", I smiled sadly. Do I?

She nodded.

"Honestly, I just want to watch you get a boyfriend and get married." She chuckled.

"Not anytime soon, I can tell you that."

"There's no rush to get married . . .but boyfriend . . .", she hesitated.

"Can wait."

Paulette leaned back in her seat and folded her arms.ย 

"What about the three hotties?" She quirked a brow.

"What about them?"

"Could one of them be a possibility?"

"You never know." I shrugged and started drinking my cocktail.

"So that means one of them could!" Her smile broadened." Or maybe . . . . all of them?", she smirked and I choked. I started coughing a bit and looked at her in disbelief.

"Excuse me?" I raised my eyebrows at her.ย 

"What?" She shrugged her shoulders, "It's not entirely impossible for you to have multiple boyfriends at one time."

"The moment where I really question our friendship is now."

"Ok, maybe my imagination is a bit too while."

"And this is you sober. What a waking nightmare it'll be if you were drunk", I said calmly.ย 

She scoffed.ย 

"You do not want to see me drunk, hun." She pointed a finger.ย 

"No. I do not." I leaned back in my seat.ย 

There was a short silence between us then.

"But as I saidย  - if there is a chance, please take it. You'll never know, these guys may be the real deal", she said.ย 

"Having multiple boyfriends at one shot?"

"You most likely already have hooked up with multiple people at one time though" She furrowed her brows and I rolled my eyes.ย 

"'Hooked up', that would mean nothing and no I have not done that", I paused. "'Boyfriend', that's serious."

Silence.ย 

"Sophia said the same thing", I said.ย 

"What?", Paulette asked.ย 

"About taking a chance", I answered and looked at Paulette.ย 

"See?" She smiled and I sighed.ย 

Tearing my gaze away from her, I looked around the cafe. This was my and Paulette's usual night out place in New York. Every night there will be live music playing. Paulette liked to dance and I did too. I liked to sing and she did too. There were times when she would encourage me to step up on the cafe stage and sing, but I refused all the time. Antoine and Mesia sat a few tables away from us. Lucas and Levi stayed inside the car parked in front of the cafe. I told them all that they didn't have to be here, but of course, they insisted on doing so.ย 

Looking around the cafe, my eyes locked with a pair of hazel eyes.ย 

"Oh my god", I mumbled.ย 

"Is something wrong hun?"

It was like all the things I never expected, happen. Expect the unexpected right? Well right now, there stood Charles by the bar dressed in his usual black coat. The next thing, he started walking toward our table without breaking eye contact with me.ย 

"Kristine?", I heard Paulette's voice.

"Hm?" I looked at her and she just looked at me confused. She turned to look behind her but halted her gaze at the tall male, who now stood beside our table. Looking up at him, her eyes widened.ย 

Damn.

I looked up at him and he was already staring down at me.ย 

"Kristine." He greeted me with a simple smile.

What the hell? He smiled.

Like really smiled.

"Charles." I returned the smile.

There was then a silence between us as we continued to have a staring contest. Then I remembered Paulette. I looked at her and she was still looking up at Charles wide-eyed - mouth ajar.ย 

"Paulette." I smiled. "This is Charles." I looked up at Charles, "Charles meet Paulette."

"Pleasure." He greeted her but didn't spare her a glance. His eyes remained on me. Honestly, I started to feel nervous but didn't let it show.ย 

I cleared my throat, Paulette was still gawking at Charles.ย 

"Oh right. Um . . .hi." She gave him an awkward smile.ย 

Charles continued to ignore her existence and remained staring at me.ย 

"What brings you here Charles?", I asked him.

"I like coming here sometimes. The live music." He glanced at the stage, where a band was now stepping on.ย 

I just nodded my head. Noticing the way Paulette gave me a look, I know she wants an explanation of how I know Charles Harrison. When the band singer made an announcement, all of our attention was on him. After that, the band started to play one of my favourite songs ever.ย 

I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing by Aerosmith.ย 

I smiled when they started to play and the singer started to sing. A hand was extended out towards me and I looked up at Charles.

"May I have this dance?"

My breathing hitched. The reason for that was because this was my favourite song and I always imagined dancing with a guy to this song. But that has never happened, until now. Never in my life would I imagine it to be with Charles Harrison.ย 

"Um . . . I don't - ow!" Paulette kicked my shin hard. I glared at her and she signalled me to say yes.

"Take a chance."

Looking back up at Charles, I gave him a small smile and placed my hand in his. He returned a faint smile and I stood up. Paulette started smiling like a complete idiot as Charles led me to the small dance floor in front of the stage.ย 

The moment the chorus came, Charles pulled me towards him and he placed his hands on my waist. As our eyes locked, I wrapped my arms around his neck.ย 

I don't wanna close my eyes

I don't want to fall asleepย 

'Cause I'd miss you, baby

And I don't want to miss a thing

We both swayed with the music, not breaking eye contact for a second. When the second chorus came, Charles gently took my hand and twirled me around. I smiled when I came back to him. He smiled softly while looking down at me.ย 

He twirled me again and I giggled. When I came back to him, he leaned his face down so our foreheads were almost touching and I felt the side fringe of his hair graze my forehead. The rhythmic movements of his hard chest against mine, the feeling of his hands pulling me closer to him and his spicy male scent intoxicating me.ย 

The last chorus came.ย 

"Don't want to close my eyes. Don't want to fall asleep. 'Cause I'd miss you, baby. And I don't want to miss a thing."ย I smiled while singing. I could feel Charles's chest vibrate against mine as he chuckled, inaudibly.

While we both danced to the ending of the song, we both continued to smile while staring at each other. The feeling I had right now, couldn't be explained. I'm finally dancing to this song with somebody. No longer singing along to it in the car alone.

ย There was a feeling of relief and joy.

ย When the song did come to an end, slowly I removed my arms around his neck. I took a step back but Charles held my waist firmly and pulled me back against him. I looked up at him, questioningly.ย 

While looking down at me with soft eyes, he smiled. He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, tenderly and I could feel his fingers traced down the helix of my ear. After, he took a step back.ย ย 

He smiled, again. Not a full smile, but he smiled.

While I was lost in my own world, I felt his hand take mine and he led me back to Paulette. Once we reached her, she was still smiling like an idiot. Her gaze went down to my hand in Charles and she looked away with her hand hovering over her mouth.ย 

"Um . .ย  .", I started.ย 

"I'll see you back at the academy", Charles said softly. I turned to look at him and nodded with a small smile.

He

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