"But the plans I made still have you in them. Then you come swimming into view."

The Background, by Third Eye Blind
 

June 2, 2005
 

Willow strolled happily along Fifth Avenue, swinging her packages in step with her walking. It was just about summer time, Willow’s favorite season, and the beautiful weekend weather elevated Willow’s mood a few degrees higher.

<Summertime in New York, could there be anything more beautiful. > Willow smiled at the irony of her thoughts. Willow had grown to love New York’s crowds and she didn't even mind the incessant heat of the summertime. During the day the temperature had only gotten to a high of 68 degrees with the sun shinning pleasantly, not incessantly. The day had been perfect for shopping, and now the evening was perfect for doing some aimless wandering.

Willow stopped at the corner to study her To Do list. She and Kaitlyn had accomplished a lot that day. They’d gone everywhere from Harry Winstons to Bloomingdales. The majority of their day had been spent in the bridal registry office of Tiffany and Co. where they had been bombarded with choice after choice of ideal wedding gifts. Willow couldn’t even remember half the things they had chosen though they had all been breathtaking. Of course, Willow would have been just as happy registering at Bed, Bath and Beyond, but Kaitlyn and Robert’s family came from old money. Somehow, she couldn’t picture their friends and relatives doing their shopping at such a quaint store.

<I’m going to be married. I’m marrying Robert in less than a month. > Willow found herself constantly having to remind herself that she was, in fact, going to be married; that it wasn’t a dream. Of course, saying it was never quite enough to satisfy Willow. She held out her left hand, smiling at the way the diamonds of her engagement ring caught the light, sparkling magically.

Sometimes Willow felt like pinching herself to make sure the last 6 months hadn’t been a dream. Ever since Halloween, the night of Robert’s party, the night Willow’s life had changed forever, Willow had felt like she was living a dream. That night had been one of the greatest in Willow’s life. That night, her dream of being with Robert, of him having the same feelings for her as she had for him, came true. And from that night on, they had been inseparable. They’d started out by spending their lunch hour together. Soon, there was hardly a Saturday night that went by that they didn’t have a date. The more time they spent together, the more serious they got about each other. Robert grew out of his anti-monogamous ways and dedicated himself to his relationship with Willow. He still flirted with other girls, Willow knew she’d never be able to change those particular spots of his, but it lacked it’s previous seriousness and innuendo.

In February, Robert had asked Willow to move in with him. A month later, during their five month anniversary dinner, Robert had asked Willow to marry him. By that point, Willow had fallen head over heels in love with Robert. Her fears that her attraction to him had been purely physical, that their relationship would end after the sex stopped being new, was unfounded. Underneath Robert’s overly confident, playful exterior, Willow had discovered a guy who was as unsure of himself as Willow had been when she was 16. There was a childlike vulnerability in Robert that touched Willow’s heart. He was one of the most gentle and caring men she had ever known. He was Willow’s dream come true.

Willow glanced at her watch. She still had an hour until she had to meet Robert at the 68^th Street Sony Theater for their date. Through some incredibly fancy talking, Willow had convinced Robert to take her to see the re-release of Gone With The Wind, complete with previously lost footage. Willow was a sucker for romantic epics though she understood Robert’s reluctance in sitting through the expanded version of a romantic girl's film that was already incredibly long. Still, in the end Robert had given in, as Willow had known he would. Robert never denied Willow anything she wished.

Willow debated going home to take a shower or stopping off at her favorite restaurant for a quick bite to eat. <Food or shower, food or shower. They’re both so equally appealing. > Willow debated the issue till she got to her car, the rumbling in her stomach making the decision for her.

Twenty minutes later, Willow was seated at a window booth at Silver Spurs, sipping a vanilla milk shake, enjoying the array of sights the village at night always had to offer.

At first, Willow’s eyes passed over the figure of a man walking past the window. Willow didn’t pay him any particular attention until she began to get a sense of familiarity about the way he walked. It tugged at her mind, bothering her as she stared at his back. When he turned and stared right at Willow her heart began to race in recognition. She jumped up from the table and ran outside after him. Stuck at the corner traffic light, Willow caught up with him easily. Breathless, Willow called out, "Angel!"

He tensed at the sound of his name being calling, and Willow knew it was him. He turned slowly to face Willow, his face strained, his shock at seeing her mixed with some other emotion Willow couldn’t quite identify.

They stood in the middle of the sidewalk just staring at each other oblivious to the people rushing past them. Willow was in too much shock to think of anything to say, and apparently Angel was in the same situation.

Finally, Willow asked the question that was burning in her mind. "What are you doing here?"

Looking sheepish, though Willow couldn’t understand why, Angel replied, "I was just on my way home."

"Where’s home?"

"300 Mercer Street."

Willow gaped open mouthed at Angel. "Mercer Street, as in the Mercer Street 3 blocks from here." Willow processed the information slowly, trying to figure out what exactly it meant. "How long have you been in NY?"

Angel winced. "I’ve been here going on seven months."

Willow formed her next question slowly, reluctant to hear the answer she knew was coming. "Did you know I live in New York now? That I’ve lived here for the past 2 years?"

Angel seemingly at a lose for the appropriate words, nodded.

"You saw me in the restaurant just now, didn’t you?"

"Yes, I did."

Willow couldn’t stop the tears from forming in her eyes. All she could say was, "I see."

A pained expression crossed Angel’s face. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it quickly. Willow, not knowing what else to say, turned to leave.

"Congratulations."

Willow turned back to face him, not caring about the tears openly streaming down her cheeks. "For what."

"Your engagement. I hope you two are happy together."

Willow couldn’t read the tone of his voice. He seemed to be filled with emotion, but which one Willow wasn’t sure. Willow was too hurt by the implications of all he had said to take the time to analyze him. She just said, "Thank you, we are," Then turned and walked away. Willow quickly paid for her food then hurried back to her car. She refused to see if Angel was still standing at the corner, watching her. She walked away, her mind shutting down from the pain of all he had said and the implications.