The next two weeks pass by quickly. I have some more time off of work and with it decide to spend a little more time at home with my family. We catch up with one another, making up for all the time we don't get to see each other when I'm too busy working all the time to come back home. I get the chance to press pause on the tape which is my life right now, a tape which has visuals continually breaking up and that is honestly sort of stuck right now.

I spend my days cooking with Baba, or gardening with my dad, or just talking with Lexi and binging shows. We all celebrate Orthodox Christmas together, round two of presents and way too much eating taking place. I even find out from Lexi that she has told Mason, her ex-boyfriend, that she is pregnant with his child, before I return to my other home, Brooklyn, where I'm reunited with Jess and Charlie.

We catch up with one another's lives for hours before she reminds me of something that I had been trying to forget.

"So, I know you probably don't want to be reminded because you're weird and are one of the few people who don't like them, but you've kinda got this thing on Friday where we celebrate another year passing since your birth. There's usually presents, some cake, maybe a little wine. We sing a little song and all that. Sound familiar?" Jess says, sitting on the other end of our couch cross legged as I am while we absently watch a movie together.

"Jess, I don't really feel like doing anything for my birthday. It's just my twenty-fourth birthday. Nothing exciting." I explain.

"Elizabella Adams, every birthday is exciting. Which horrible place did you come from that taught you otherwise?" she taunts.

"Gee, I don't know Jessica Cartright. Maybe the exact same town as you." I tell her.

"Hmm, I don't know about that. Must have been those Aussies down under." she jokes.

"Oh, yeah?"
"Yep. Must be what happens when you kick boots with one."

I laugh.

"Kick boots?"

"Yep."

"Wow." is all I can say.

"Indeed." she replies, shoving more pumpkin in her mouth smugly while I try to hold in my laughter; not wanting to encourage her.

"Anyways, I think we should totally just call a few people over," she continues, "Have some pizza, some drinks, a little cake and voila! Birthday shebang over and done with."

"I don't know Jess. I kinda just wanted a chill day. I've had enough excitement and all. I'd just like a plain old night with you and maybe Lexi sharing some cake and watching some movies." I tell her, very much aware that I sound boring.

"Oh come on Elle. It's nothing crazy. Let everyone make you feel a little special. It'll be fun." she continues, clearly not done trying to convince me.

"I don't know...."

"Please Elle. Have some fun. You won't regret it." she pleads.

I think it over one last time. I did say that I would try be a little more fun, socialise and do more besides just working.

"Okay, but nothing big and if by the end of the day I regret the decision then you can't try and make me do anything next year. Promise?" I tell her.

"Promise."

And so with that I am to have a little get together on Friday night for my birthday. I am told by Jess to leave everything to her and to just tell her what I want. So a simple request for pizza and chocolate mud cake is made and my limited guest list is made. I pass on invites to Chloe, Damon and Lexi, and Jess extends invites to a few of our mutual friends. My dad and Baba say they can't make it that day, especially since it'll be at night and Baba is quite the early bird (and I don't blame her since I am too), so they tell me they'll come by for a visit over the weekend.

Before the weekend ends I get everything back in order at home, unpacking my belongings and cleaning up the apartment. I even sneak in a little night out with Damon after he invites me out to watch a movie. Then it's back to work after nearly three weeks off. The week goes past quickly as we are all thrown right back into the work, no easing into it for any of us.

By the time Wednesday comes around I'm already exhausted and eager for my next break. I'm at least provided with a decent break in the middle of the day when Monique goes off to a meeting for a few hours and I catch up on all of my work. Jess happens to conveniently message me when I just finish all of it asking me if I'm free to catch up for lunch. She's just finished up a shift at the hospital, which is close by, and is wanting to grab something to eat before she heads back home.

I accept her offer and we decide to go the cafe which has quickly become a favourite of mine and Monique's, The Shed. Jess is actually the one to first suggest it, having also heard good things about it from her coworkers, so I simply agree. We're both free so we decide to both leave for the cafe immediately, not having anything to wait for.

I quickly grab my belongings, stopping by Chloe's desk to invite her along but she has too much work to do. So I simply ask her to tell anyone who may ask for me that I'm just on my lunch break and I'll be back soon before I begin to make my way to the cafe.

When I reach the cafe I find Jess waiting inside sitting at a table she's grabbed for us, still clad in her light green scrubs. Once she notices me she waves me over. I quickly join her, the cafe not too full today. I've never actually sat down to have lunch here, usually just grabbing something to go. I also try not to indulge in buying food from here too often, usually preparing my own lunch to bring to the office as it saves money, is probably more healthy and saves me time.

I give her a quick hug before I take a seat across from her.

"I haven't ordered anything yet so here's the menu," she tells me, sliding the menu which is in front of her on the table across to me, "Let me know when you're ready to order."

So I immediately begin my scanning of the menu, not wanting to make her wait too long. I quickly decide on French toast with ricotta and she goes to put in our order at the counter. When she comes back we catch up while we wait for our food. We literally saw each other last night but it was for barely ten minutes, the both of us exhausted last night and the nights before from work to converse much.

She tells me about the crazy stories she witnessed at the hospital while I fill her in on Monique's antics and what the magazine has planned this month. Our food soon arrives, looking absolutely amazing and incredibly insta-worthy, as most meals at restaurants or cafes just have to be nowadays. It doesn't earn a spot on my Instagram story today because I'm just too hungry and tired to bother, but it does earn a spot on Jess'.

I swear, I don't know how that girl does it. She can just come back from a gruelling long shift at work and pretty much always still be her same perky self. And she always looks damn amazing. That bit is just not fair. Meanwhile, if I don't get more than seven hours of sleep I look like a zombie.

Once we've essentially inhaled our food, we talk a bit more before we have to leave so Jess can go her own way and I back to work.

"Are you heading back home?" I ask, as we begin to grab our things from the table and lift ourselves up from our seats.

"No, I was going to grab a few things from the shops. Do you need anything?" she responds.

"I don't think so. What do you need? I thought you went grocery shopping the other day?" I ask, curious.

"Well, don't tell her, but there's kind of this girl who has her birthday on Friday and I need to buy her birthday present." she answers, ever the sarcastic devil, even when tired.

"Oh okay. I'll be sure to keep my mouth closed then," I reply back with equal sarcasm, pretending to look my mouth and throw the key away, "Just as long as you don't spoil this girl too much because I think you already promised her to keep things small."

"Yeah, yeah." she says, swatting at my arm as we reach the front entrance to the cafe.

Jess moves forward to open the door for us but is beaten by someone opening it from outside. We both move aside so they can make their way in first but they remain where they stand, holding the door for us to make our way through instead.

"Thank you." Jess says, as she walks through first ahead of me.

"No problem." the man responds, as I get distracted by the vibrating of my phone in my coat pocket.

I pull out my phone and am reading a message from Chloe saying that Monique apparently has someone delivering a package for her that I need to sign for in about half an hour when a voice interrupts my focus.

"Ella?"

I look up and sure enough Theo is the man behind the door, still holding the door open for me which I had been too rude to acknowledge as I was distracted. Surprisingly, I had completely forgotten about the fact that he frequents this cafe often, distracted by my catch up with Jess.

"Hi." I respond meekly, standing beside Jess. She has moved to the side, obviously having been ready to leave before the interruption.

"Hi," he simply says back, in the same tone as me. "It's good to see you."

"You too." I respond, as I begin a quick and hopefully subtle observation of his appearance.

Today he is wearing the standard button up top and black pants but also has a grey coat which compliments his eyes and a black scarf laying loosely around her neck that contributes to his handsome wintery look. He's let his facial scruff grow again since I last saw him, the longer stubble look appealing to me too.

"Oh, I forgot. Theo, this is Jess. Jess, this is Theo." I say, making the necessary introductions.

Theo finally lets go of the door handle, moving slightly away from the door too so he's not blocking anyone's way and can move to outstretch his hand to Jess in a handshake.

"A pleasure to finally meet you Jess."

"You too, Theo." Jess replies as her hand meets his.

Their hands return back to their sides before he turns to look in my direction once again.

"So, how've you been?" he asks me.

"I've been good. You?" I reply, keeping my responses simple and short.

I don't know how to behave around him anymore. I swear, every time I get comfortable around him something just has to happen that throws me completely off all over again.

"Yeah, good. Busy at work." he responds.

"Same."

He nods.

"I was just coming to have a quick coffee and lunch break. Hopefully it's not too busy in there." he adds.

He turns around for a second to look inside and Jess takes advantage of those few seconds to nudge me and mouth "wow" while making a gesture with her fingers in his direction as if to say "top stuff".

I roll my eyes at her just in time for Theo to return his eyes in our direction. He might have caught a glimpse of the eye roll, as he looks slightly confused and is looking back and forth between the two of us, but I don't think he would have caught Jess expressing her approval regarding his appearance.

"Well, the line seems to be okay now." he explains slowly, still questioning whatever had just happened between Jess and I.

"Okay, well, we better head off then," I say, speaking far too quickly for my own good but eager to escape this awkwardness, "I have to be back to work soon for a delivery."

"Right. Yeah, I should probably go too," he responds, scratching at his facial hair, "It's good to see you Ella."

"You too." I say giving him a timid and awkward smile before I look to Jess to begin walking away as Theo begins to.

"Wait!" Jess calls out before Theo can even turn around properly.

He stops his movements, turning his body back to look to her and await further explanation for the sudden exclamation. I look to her too, not sure what she could possibly be stopping him for and honestly a little anxious. You can never know what Jess is up to, especially when she keeps pushing for you to get together with this certain guy.

"We're throwing a little something for Ella's birthday on Friday night. Just a few of us friends getting together," she begins, my eyes instantly beginning to widen as I anticipate what she is about to say, "You should come past if you're free." she finishes, obviously not picking up on the daggers I'm sending her with my eyes or the threats I'm mentally sending her.

I look to Theo to try and gauge his reaction. He seems to be doing the same, looking to me from the corner of his eyes.

"Uh-" he begins, before he is promptly cut off by Jess.

"You are friends, right?" she asks, I think to the both of us this time.

"Right." I answer as he says "Right" too, still looking at me from the corner of his eyes as he responds to Jess.

He continues, "Look, I've got a few things on at work on Friday but I'll try and pop past."

"Okay great." Jess responds, obviously pleased with her matchmaking efforts as she looks back and forth between the two of us as we too look at one another to try and observe any further reactions. "Well then, we better let you go then. I wouldn't want to keep either of you waiting. We'll see you on Friday then Theo. It was nice to meet you, again."

"You too Jess. Bye then." he says.

"Bye." she replies.

He turns to me now, hands in the pockets of his coat as he sheepishly says, "Bye Ella."

"Bye Theo." I say back as I give this weird little wave to him before I walk away with Jess. I want to slap my own face for whatever that awkward wave thing was.

She struggles to keep up with me as I walk away rather swiftly, doing a quick mini jog to finally reach me. I'm too tempted to look back and see if he is still there so I distract myself with my speed walking, stopping myself from turning my head once or twice.

"He just walked inside." Jess tells me as she reaches my side.

"Huh?" I respond to her, feigning confusion.

"Theo, who you clearly have wanted to turn around and check on, just walked inside so you don't have to be tempted or worry anymore." she elaborates with a smug grin on her face.

"I wasn't." I tell her.

"Sure you weren't." she replies, that grin not going anywhere.

"You know I'm going to kill you. Your future birthday planning duties have officially been revoked." I warn her, slapping her arm.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't see any problem with inviting your friend to your birthday gathering." she argues.

I give her a blank look, internally screaming 'are you serious?'.

"Damon, pregnant Lexi and Theo in one room. Gee, I wonder what could possibly go wrong." I complain, making Jess erupt with laughter.

"I'm sure it will all be fine." she tries to reassure me.

God, I damn hope so. 

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Finally back! So sorry for the long lag if there is anyone who was actually missing the story. Excited to get back into writing new chapters now that I've taken my time going back through the story and edited it. 

Would love to hear what you think about the new chapter and what you hope to see up next. So grateful for the continued support I've received for the story even while on my extended break and while editing. Hope you've enjoyed this chapter and the next to come!

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TheFictionDreamer

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