An Angel's Love

Reality

**Michael's POV**

It had been six months since Elera's closest friend, Riley, had moved to New York to live with her.

Damn, a full year without seeing Elera. How much longer could this take?

I knew I had promised to wait, but I never imagined it would be like this. A year without seeing her was enough, but what made it worse was that since my career had been doing so well, I was constantly flying to New York. I was so close to her, I could feel it.

I had arrived last week and was about to leave my hotel when I got a text.

If you want to see Elera, meet me at the cafe by the library on the NYU campus in ten.

Who is this? I asked, but got no answer.

I decided to go. I know it sounds pathetic, but I needed to see her and if this were to be the only chance I got, then I'd take it. Plus, nothing could really go wrong on campus.

I arrived at NYU and headed to the indicated location. I asked everyone there if they knew anything about Elera, but no one did. After I was sure I had asked everyone there if they knew her multiple times, and every person said no, I took a seat at one of the tables. I took my phone out and starred at the last picture taken of us. It was pretty cliché, but we had a picture of us hugging at the airport before she had to leave me. I looked at it every day, I remembered that moment every second of every day. I remembered how her hair smelled, of coconut and vanilla. The way her arms lingered around my neck for too long, because neither one of us wanted her to leave.

"You're pathetic, you know that?" I turned around, confused at first. Then when I saw who it was, I smiled.

"How so?"

"Well," Riley started. I watched as she cocked an eyebrow and put her hand on her hip. I knew I was in for it now. "You haven't even made the effort to see her. In a year. A god damn year Michael-"

"Riley, you wouldn't understand-"

"No, I don't. You're sitting here looking at a picture of her when you could be holding her in your arms! You love her, don't you?"

"Of course I do!"

"Then why don't you do anything!" I sat there and looked around us. Everyone around us was watching, but I didn't care. Not anymore.

"I need to keep her safe."

"And you think staying away from her is going to help? No, Michael. You need to protect her by staying by her side."

I let these words sink in. She was right, I was being an idiot. What's worse is that I don't even know how to be there for her again. "What do I need to do?"

Riley smirked when she knew I had given in. "Don't worry, I have it all planned out."

She grabbed my arm and we ran to my car. She told me to drive to my hotel, and I did. We went to my room and she sat on my bed, pulling stuff out of her bag.

"What're you doing?" I asked, watching her scribble things and circle things on papers.

"Finding good places for you to get a tuxedo around here."

"A tuxedo, for what?" I asked, thoroughly confused.

"My cousins wedding. It's next weekend, and Elera's going to be singing for them." She said, still not looking up.

"Okay, so I need to go see her there?"

"Correct."

"Why? Can't I just see her now?"

She shook her head and sighed in irritation. "Don't you want to be the least bit romantic?"

"Yes," I nodded. "But I really want to see her now."

"Understandable, she wants to see you to. Just do this for her, please?" She looked at me with puppy dog eyes and pouted.

"Fine, but I need a favor, if we're doing this."

She snorted. "It isn't enough that I'm setting you up?"

"It is, but I need you to ask if I can perform, as well."

She smiled. "Perfect. I'll arrange that."

"Thank you."

She nodded and we went on planning our own little special moment for Elera and I. She was going to love this. And hopefully, me.