Big Apple Besties

New Beginnings

"I guess this is it" Harry said as he set his bags down next to the airport window.

"I guess so." Elle said softly, unable to meet his eyes. After some encouragement from her friends, Elle decided to wish Harry goodbye at the airport. She planned on sobbing in her bed all day and ordering five meals from the restaurant, but Teddy and Roxy practically forced her out the door.

"I just want you to know, I won't ever forget our time together." Harry said as he lifted Elle's chin to look at him. Elle smiled widely but with tears in her eyes and said,

"We'll always have New York." Tears threatened to fall down.

"We'll always have New York." Harry repeated. The two of them hugged tightly, then let go as they both knew it was time. Harry grabbed his bags and gave his ticket to the lady at the counter. Before retreating into the tunnel, he waved at her. Elle waved back with a bright smile. She wanted him to remember her smiling when they said goodbye, not snotting over her face.

And, as quickly as he came into her life, Harry left.

~

On the way back to the Penthouse, Elle picked up Starbucks for her friends as a way of thanking them for looking out for her: Even if she nearly broke down in hysterics when the barista asked if she was having a good day.

When she walked in, Teddy and Roxy immediately got up from their seats at the dining table and hugged her.

"We're really proud of you, Elle. You did the mature thing." Roxy said with a slight smile.

"I'm glad I did it. Gave me closure." Elle said as quietly as possible as she set down the bag of breakfast on the table.

The three of them sat and ate their croissants and coffee. At first, they were totally silent, then they started to make small-talk and after a while they were laughing together.

Ok, everyone's in a good enough mood. I think I should tell them now. Teddy's heart beat fast as he opened his mouth.

"Guys, I have some news." Teddy said. Roxy and Elle lifted their heads.

Uneasily, Teddy took a deep breath, then said, "Oscar's asked me to move in with him."

Roxy let down her fork and Elle looked at him with confusion.

"What?" Roxy asked.

"Look, I mean, the apartment's only across Central Park, I mean we can still easily see each other like every day." Teddy justified but he wasn't getting anywhere.

"You know, nothing but bad things have happened to me in New York but I'm still here aren't I?" Elle said with passion.

"I mean... how long have you known this guy anyways?" Roxy asked genuinely.

"Yea. And we moved here because of you!" Elle allowed for her voice to be raised, but regretted it and sat back in her seat.

"We'll still see each other." Teddy insisted.

"No. Oscar doesn't like us." Elle quickly responded.

"What? That's not true. Roxy, you know that's not true." Teddy waited for Roxy to back him up, but she instead looked away.

Elle, shaking her head, rose from the table. "I'm not very hungry anymore."

~

"You ready sweetheart?" Jack said sarcastically as he passed by her. His scenes were done for the day.

"More than I'll ever be."

Roxy was about halfway through filming her movie. Her turmoil at home and in her mind was making her performance as the troubled waitress spot-on. The director and producers would surround her after each scene, widley praising her capturing a character so different from herself. Roxy wanted to say, pain is pain, but instead she took the compliments with a half-hearted smile.