Smile

11 Chapter

Dear readers, I'm very sorry, that I needed a lot more time than usually to update this story, but at first I got distracted with the holidays and I struggled with one of my other stories. In addition the problems with Wattpad are annoying at the moment and made me avoid it as much as possible. After one of my chapters completely disappeared after I published it, I decided to wait till Wattpad fix all their big problems. However I'm still in love with this story and no worries I will continue it. Thanks for waiting. I hope you will continue reading, ClaudiaCleland

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After talking with Robert on the phone, Rory realizes how much she misses him. However, as an overachiever, she always follows her plans. She tries to create the perfect clue for the next scavenger hunt.

Thinking of her time at Yale she searches on her huge shelves through hundreds of books for her photo album of New Haven. She takes her time as she scans the photographs in the album of her favorite time in her life. Studying at Yale was hard, but she enjoyed it. Living with Paris drove her crazy; but there were times when she missed the trivial arguments between Paris and Janet. This was a carefree time in her life, time where she thought she could do and achieve anything. She enjoyed the challenges it brought, even dating Logan with the no-strings was a challenge at first, but being with him and his crazy friends was an adventure. They pushed her comfort level and she did things she never thought she would do.

Looking through the pictures at Robert she notices that he also seemed to be more lighthearted in contrast to the way he is today. Something happened since then and maybe making him remember the good times at Yale would make him feel better.

The next morning Robert is excited to head to his club to get the next clue.

"Good morning, boss, seems like someone is happy to see me." Scott teases.

"Good morning, employee," Robert chuckles. Hiring Scott was an excellent idea; he's a great guy, with a good sense of humor and a diligent worker.

With a smirk, Scott tosses him an envelope which Robert hastily opens. Smiling he rereads the newest hint while Scott tries to get a glimpse at the paper. "Said gap twixt 'd' and 'f' shall not slip from lips in any word this hint allows."

He chuckles thinking that Rory found her old notebooks from their first LDB event, and decided to use that whole sentence to write the next clue. He laughs to himself as his thoughts drift to her annoyed face that day they first met. It was so much fun teasing her with their crazy game, and he admired her ambition to get the story.

He continues to read the hint while walking to his office, "You can't buy happiness, but you can buy coffee. Go in your favorite café and order a liquid hug for your brain. Don't forget the rule for your visit."

Looking in his schedule for the day, he decides, he wants to go to the café at lunchtime.

Around 12 o' clock he walks tothe café "Mudspot". Ordering coffee without using the letter 'e' is a challengefor him and he wonders how he will be able to do it.

He strolls in the crowded café.The interior is like a mixture between a bar with bar stools and a classic caféwith wooden tables and vintage chairs. The outer walls are plain brick but thewall behind the bar is covered with tiny mosaic tiles, in shades of red.

Robert chose a seat at a table toavoid small talk at the bar. An attractive red-haired waitress arrives at his table.Looking at her he smiles and orders, "A plain black, today."

The waitress looks like she knowsthat he wanted to say please, but didn't say it. She seems puzzled about hislack of good manners.

He clears his throat to cover theabsence of the polite form, adding, "Thanks."

The waitress replies, "You're welcome", then leaves and takes the order from a larger group of people at the table next to Robert's.

After Robert receives his coffee, he positioned his camera and takes the self-portrait with him and the cup. While concentrating on taking the picture, he doesn't notice the curious man who strolled directly towards him.

"Robert, I know you're narcissistic, but isn't a cell phone enough for a selfie?" Finn smirks.

"Finn!?" Robert bursts out. Sure, the crazy Australian must walk in at the one moment he's only allowed to talk with the silly rules. Robert was pretty good at that game in Yale, but it was long ago and the other players always knew the game.

"Where's your mysterious girlfriend today, mate? Still on the hunt or have you hunted her down yet?" Finn chuckles while wiggling with his eyebrows.

Finn is still very curious about this mysterious woman, but momentarily he wonders why Robert puckers his eyebrows before he replies.

"No girls today, I'm still hunting," Robert grins, especially after avoiding all words he's not permitted to say.

Finn sits down on the bench after he ordered himself a coffee and flirted shameless with the waitress.

"Now we're both hunting," Finn grins, tucking the telephone number of the gorgeous redhead in his jacket. "However, it seems that I am more successful than you, my poor little friend."

Robert chuckles at his friend's behavior. He is still astounded at how many girls are immediately falling for this dramatic Australian.

"I'm in no doubt, Finn. Lastly, I will win," Robert responds dreamingly.

"Whatever," Finn continues teasing, "No scavenger hunt adventure today? Had the lovely lady already abandoned you?"

"N..," Robert wants to exclaim, before he recognizes that 'never' is not allowed.

Finn watches Robert curiously while his friend bites his lower lip, lost in thought.

"Oh, I get it," Finn blurts out excitedly, "I'm part of it again. Awesome! Please tell me, what the hint is this time, please, please..."

With a big grin Robert leans in and whispers in Finn's ear, "Said gap twixt 'd' and 'f' shall not slip from lips in any word this hint allows."

Robert smiles mockingly, because he knows Finn was never a fan of this game, he always was too impulsive and lost after the second sentence.

"Oh no," Finn pouts. He folds his arms in front of his chest," I hate that bloody game."

Robert laughs. Finn's eccentric behavior is just so funny.

Thinking for a moment, Finn decides it would be more amusing to tease Robert by asking him a lot of questions and try to get him to say words with an 'e' in them.