If You Change Your Mind You Know Where To Find Me (Book Two)

No One Knows It's You

Brendon:

I grab my guitar and notebook and start heading down the stairs. I don't know why I'm going back if she doesn't know what she wants but I'm not going to turn her away while she tries to make up her mind. And I can't act like the thought of her sitting by herself in her hospital room doesn't make me extremely depressed. Once I reach the bottom floor of the building and step outside I hop into my car and start heading over.

New York traffic is never forgiving and I'm trying to figure out why I went through such a busy part of town at this time of day. I tap my fingers against the steering wheel along to the beat of the songs on the radio but my attention is caught by a glimmer of blonde hair in the afternoon sunlight. I watch her closely, there's no way. I pull my car into the first parking metered spot I find, open the door, and start rushing after her. 

"Caroline! Caroline, hold on!" I call out and I see her freeze and try to figure out if it's really me that she's hearing. It is, Caroline...and I'm sorry. She turns to her friend and then I see her shoulders rise and fall, as though she was taking a deep breath. When she sees me I see her expression fall.

"What are you doing here?" she asks quietly.

"I live out here. What are you doing here?" I ask as I try to catch my breath. 

"My friend and I decided to try and take a vacation to clear our heads. But, here you are." He green eyes go cold. 

"Do you mind giving us a minute?" I ask her friend and, though she looks offended, she nods.

"I'll be in here, Caroline. Call me if you need me." She heads into one of the shops near us and Caroline looks away from me and at the busy New York street.

"What else could you want to talk to me about?" she asks. She won't look at me.

"I...I guess I want to make up what I did to you. I feel like I was a monster. And I just, I know there has to be a way to make it up to you." Her brow furrows but her gaze stays on the street. Her short blonde hair sways in the breeze. There's something very beautiful about Caroline. She's very different from Asteria. Her face is angled and her nose is pointed at the tip where Asteria is very round faced and she has a more angled nose. Their lips are both full, Asteria's fuller. But she's also beautiful. Her body is so delicate and frail...How did I never notice that? Without thinking I gently take her wrist and put her small hand between mine. 

"Let go."

"No." She finally looks at me and lets out a long sigh.

"Brendon, I really don't want anything to do with you. You can't fix this. And you're probably only doing this because you need something from me."

"Well, I do want your advice, but that's not why I pulled the car over. I'm actually on my way to go visit Asteria in the-"

"She's still with you? God, that girl must be some kind of saint. Either that or she's just an idiot."  I start to get irritated but try to be calm and remember that if I want things to be right in my life they also need to be right with Caroline. 

"Caroline, please don't talk about her like that. Can we meet for coffee this week? When do you leave?" I ask. 

"I leave in three days," she sighs and she rubs her temple. 

"Can we get coffee tomorrow?" She looks at me again, glare in full effect.

"Fine. You have my number. Where are you meeting your girlfriend?"

"She's in the hospital."

"What do you mean she's in the hospital? How could you put her in the hospital?" She asks and half laughs.