More Issues Than Vogue | ✔️

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

I was walking down the street without anyone following me. After a few days, the paparazzi may have gotten tired of scouting the front of the apartment building, waiting for me to come out. When I peeked outside the window this morning, there weren't discreetly parked cars along the sidewalk or suspicious looking people with cameras hung around their necks walking past, pretending to be neighbors

I sneakily exited out the back door into an alley that led to the opposite side of the street. Of course, since the New York winter snow made the crisp air chilly with snowflakes, it was a perfect excuse to hide behind a large scarf that I had wrapped around my head, underneath a wool jacket hood.

I couldn't pinpoint exactly what caused me to step out today. It could be that I was itching to escape from the walls of confinement in the apartment that had started to look like a prison cell. But there was also this voice in the back of my head that was telling me to go out and find something.

I wish I knew what it was. All I had planned was to head over to the bookstore, order some coffee, and relax by a warm fire with a good novel until they closed.

I felt like my old self. Independent Haley burying herself behind shelves of books. I was excited for the first time - I hadn't been able to do something pleasurable for on my own besides testing out to see how many pounds of Rocky Road my stomach was able to contain.

Looking down at my boots making footprints in the white blanket of snow that's covered the sidewalk, I tried not to shiver from the cold. I knew the bookstore was down this street but it wasn't for a few more blocks. Though it was the coldest winter I've ever been through, there was something comforting about being in the snow in New York. It's as if-

"Oof!" I grunted when I collided head on with someone's heavy body. The impact tore initial shock and I took a few steps back to regain my balance. I reached my arms out to try and grab whatever was around me for support, trying not to slip on the icy ground.

"Sorry!" The other persons strong hands gripped my forearms before I could fall flat against the wet ground, lifting me forward until I was able to stay solid on my feet.

When our eyes make contact, it took an instant to realize who I've bumped into. 

We're frozen in place.

Well.

What are the chances?

"Nate," I say, a cloud of frost escaping my lips. The tips of his hair were a nest of snowflakes. My stomach dropped to the ground at the sight of his glorious but perplexed face.

He wasn't expecting to see me either. "Haley."

It's now that I realized we're both still clinging onto each other. I quickly let go of his arms and stand upright, now completely conscious about my appearance. Did I have to choose the scarf that was the same color as snot? And I probably looked like a four year old child in these yellow rain boots.

"Uh..." He's just as nervous as me. "H-how are you?"

I blinked at him. "I-I'm good. Uh, you?"

He nodded and clasped his glove covered hands together. "Yeah, good too."

There was a necessary uncomfortable silence that fell upon us. I wasn't sure how to react, or feel, or think right now. All I could do was stare at the man that once knew everything about me.

Now, we were strangers, speaking as if this was the first time we've seen each other.

"I-I'm sorry, I don't know what to say," He rubbed the back of his neck nervously.