Looking Up

-----Elle's POV

It was finally Monday and my father was thankfully out of the hospital and back at home with my mother. She told me I should head back to Philly and get back to Sweetie Pies. I take the afternoon train back to Philly. I had waited so late to go home today since I wanted to see my sister, Jen, whom I hadn't seen since my graduation in May of last year. Seeing her made me feel a lot more positive about this weekend's tragedy. She is always so strong and optimistic- it's amazing.

As I board the train, I can't help but smile since I know I'll be seeing Steve in the next few days- well hopefully. To make the ride pass by fast, I pull out my laptop and watch my DVD of Mean Girls. I try to stay engaged with the movie but it is pointless. Steve is all I can think about. His voice dulls out the movie's audio, and the image of him walking beside me, laughing with me, is all I can see.

Soon, I give up trying to distract myself from Steve by watching Mean Girls, put in my headphones, and start listening to music. I close my eyes and stop trying to keep my brain from thinking of Steve. Before I know it, my eyes are closed and I start to daydream about him.

"You look so cute in your sundress Elle." He sighs contemptibly.

"Thank you so much Steve" I can't help but to smile.

He reaches down, picks a daisy from the flower patch that is next to the bench we're sitting on, and sticks it in my hair next to my left ear.

"Now you look even more perfect. Thank you for coming here with me, it's becoming my favorite place ever since the flowers have bloomed," he says to me with a smile.

"I'm glad you're making Philadelphia your home now. I'm so happy you're showing me this place."

"There's no one I'd rather share it with Elle."

He shifts towards me, facing me more. He takes his right hand and cups the side of my face, stroking my cheek with his thumb. He smiles and starts to lean in to -

"NEXT STOP 30TH STREET, PHILADELPHIA"

I gasp and my eyes fly wide open. I start to shift in my seat to sit up straight and look around to see if anyone noticed.

"You alright sweetie?" the rather large woman across the aisle asks me.

"Uh- yes- sorry about that," I reply, rather shaken up. She chuckles a bit and goes back to reading her Cosmo.

I let out an exasperated sigh. "Of course I get woken up at the best part," I murmur to myself.
At around 6pm, the train pulls to a stop and I get off the train with all of my belongings. Within 20 minutes, I am back to my apartment and I put all of my clothes into my hamper. They reek of the hospital's distinctive smell.

As I sink into my couch, a feeling of sadness overwhelms me. C'mon Elle pull yourself together- stay strong. As tears start to form in my eyes, I decide to go to the bakery to get my mind off my father's cancer. I can't just sit here and wallow in my own depression.

When I get to the bakery, I tell my aunt and uncle to go home since it isn't busy. I just want to be alone and the bakery is an escape for me whenever I'm feeling upset. It's like my own Fortress of Solitude.

As I am pulling some freshly baked cupcakes out of the oven, I hear my phone going off. I set down the cupcakes and run to my phone, who's calling me at this time?

I look down at my phone and butterflies fill my stomach- Steve fucking Mason, that's who. I try not to giggle like an excited little school girl, and take a couple deep breaths. This is his first time calling me and for some reason I feel so nervous.

"Hi Steve!"

"Hey Elle!"

"Whatcha up to?"

"Nothing much, just taking a walk around the city to clear my mind. I've been pretty bummed about not playing yet in the series so far- but anyways, was the bakery busy this weekend?"

"What?? OH! Yeah- super busy. A lot of people bought Flyers cookies and cakes for their playoff parties," I failed to remember- of course- that I had told him that I was here this weekend at Sweetie Pies. I roll my eyes at myself, smooth Elle.

He chuckles at my mistake, "What'd you do? Forget you were working all weekend?"

"Sort of- I mean- I'm sorry I'm just really tired," I shake my head, "I'm still here though baking a couple of things!"

"You're always there- isn't sort of late to be baking?"

"It's never too late to bake Steve!"

"Well it's a good thing you look cute in an apron." I cover the speaker, squeal quietly, and do a little dance when I hear him say this; I swear he can feel how big my smile is through the phone. "And the dance you do when I call you cute is pretty adorable too."

I freeze immediately. My heart starts to pound heavily in my chest; I turn around and see him standing in front of the shop window. He hears me gasp and starts to laugh. I can't help but to smile, of course he's here.

------Steve's POV

When I see her facial expression, I start to laugh even harder. She has one hand on her hip and one on her forehead and is giggling and shaking her head. I hang up the phone and start to walk into the bakery. I feel so relieved finally seeing her- I didn't realize how much I actually missed her smile and laugh while I was in New York.

Elle is like a breath of fresh air. When I was in New York, she relieved all of my tension. When her name popped up on my phone with a text message, I would always feel my shoulders relax, and my headaches melt.

When I look up, I see her looking at me with one eyebrow raised, sneering at me playfully. "You just love to catch me off guard and see me embarrass myself don't you?"

"It's only one of my favorite things to do Elle." She giggles, looks up at me, and gives me a sweet smile.

We sit down at a near table and start to talk. I'm surprised we don't feel all that awkward since we've never spent a lot of time together in person. All I know is that I want to get to know her better.

"Alright, Elle. How about I ask you a question, you answer it, and then I have to answer it myself- no repeats."

I watch her face get redder and she bites her lip to keep her from smiling big, but it fails.
"Sounds good to me!"

With every question we answer, we lean closer and closer in towards each other.

-
"Pets?" I ask.

"Beans! He's a corgi. You?"

"George- he's a bulldog."
-
"Favorite food?"

"Hmmm, I'd have to say Italian."

"Uhm- Chinese"
-
"Let's see Elle... favorite color?"

"Orange!"

"Of course it is- you're a Flyers fan," I say and she scoffs in return, "I'd have to say... red"
-
This question game went on for about an hour and a half and before I knew it, it was already 9pm. I start to get a rock in my stomach since I know I have to go since game 3 is tomorrow and I am going to be backup goalie. The last thing I want to do is leave.

"I am so sorry Elle, but I have to go- I have to rest up for tomorrow's game."

"Oh yeah- I totally forgot you're some 'big shot' goalie," she teases.

We lock eyes and smile at each other- the mood suddenly changes in the room. Several seconds go by before I say anything else, just savoring the moment.

"It was great to see you again Elle- I'll see you soon." I say in a low, soft tone, looking into her green eyes. Before I get up, I grab her hand gently, and stroke it with my thumb. She looks down at the table trying to hide her blushing face.

She looks up, "See you soon Steve." She smiles and gives a light squeeze to my hand.
I get up and walk backwards towards the door, still smiling at her. Just as I turn around, she yells, "Oh! Hey Steve?"

"Yes?" I turn to face her.

"Good luck tomorrow!"

We say goodbye again and I start to walk towards my apartment.

I feel so silly feeling this giddy; I'm not used to feeling this, but I love it. Happiness surges through my body and I can't hold it in any longer. I jump up and hit a passing tree branch over head with a huge smile on my face. I've never felt so positively about someone in my life.

Notes