And I Love Her

Chapter 18 - Guess Who?

James' POV

"You're crazy," Marcelo tells me once again as soon as I get out of his car.

"Maybe I am," I shrug and put on my backpack which I take from his backseat, Marcelo steps out right after me. "But I won't just sit back and wait. What if nothing happens?"

"Then nothing happens," he says and steps onto the pavement.

"Sir, you can't park here!" A security guard yells over at us.

"Gotta go," I give Marcelo a smile. "Wish me luck!"

"Good luck!" He yells after me, seemingly frustrated with me, as I enter the terminal and head towards the airline taking me to New York.

"Naomi," I begin as someone answers the number of the home phone I was given. "Perfect, be my translator."

"Oh my God," she says.

"I've been emailing with Chelsea too, is she there?"

"W-What? Yeah. Hold on?"

"I can't really talk right now, but ask her to fill you in and send me the directions, please."

"Okay," Naomi barely mutters.

After I board the plane I find myself fidgeting a bit. Nerves, most likely. I decide it's best if I sleep and waste the time away and I manage to do so an hour into the flight.

Hours later, I didn't even feel the plane land; a flight attendant had to wake me up.

"Sir," she shook me lightly. "We've landed."

"Thank you," I barely speak.

I grab my bag from the floor and head out to get a cab outside the terminal.

I open up the newly received email from Chelsea whom I've been speaking to ever since Salomé told me to find Kat; along with Naomi, but Chelsea has been helping plan it out more.

I still laugh at the fact that Salo told me I have to find Kat since I "lost her." I hope she remembers Kat.

I head over to Chelsea's apartment which she shares with Naomi, Vivian, and Noori and find one of them at the door.

"Noori?" I ask as she stands in the doorway. "Nice to finally meet you, I've heard a lot-"

"Come in," she doesn't smile at me. "You can leave your things in my room."

"He said it's nice to meet you," Vivian comes toward us.

"I know," Noori crosses her arms.

"Did I do something wrong?" I ask Vivian, who is serving as a translator.

"No," she shakes her head, confused as I am. "Follow me."

We all go into Noori's room and I leave my stuff there. As I chat with Vivian, Noori begins to speak.

"Tell him that Kat isn't ready for this."

"What?" Vivian asks.

"Tell him," Noori insists.

"You and I both know that Kat was going to see him next week."

"I know Kat-"

"And so do I," Vivian interrupts. "If she messes things up, it's on her. If she thinks this is what she wants, it's on her."

"Tell him I'm sorry, then," Noori frowns.

Vivian explains everything to me and I understand. I leave the apartment in good terms with Noori, but I fully comprehend what she meant about Kat.

I greet Naomi and Chelsea before leaving and they all wished me luck. I take the subway by myself and head over to her office building, just in time for the end of her day.

As I wait for her to come out into the lobby, I find myself pacing by the doors and rehearsing what I planned out earlier.

I hear the sound of heels, something familiar in the lobby, but these are near and come to a sudden halt, causing me to look up.

"James," I have the pleasure of hearing her say my name again.

"Kat," I hold back my smile.

I can tell she does the same as she begins to talk.

"It's good to see you again. What are you doing in New York?"

"Just a couple of days off," I explain and inch towards her. "Thought I'd visit an old friend."

I look into her eyes and she finally smiles at me. Every feeling comes rushing back to me.

"You did well," she says, confusing me. "You landed the romantic film ending right, that's for sure."

I begin to chuckle at her response and look down at my feet right after.

"Let's go for a walk," she surprises me.

We don't say a word to each other as we walk up to Central Park. The only explanation is the feeling of being back together.

"I got in touch with Chelsea and your other roommates," I start. "They told me what train to take and everything. I didn't get lost."

"Look at you," she jokes. "So, what's with the surprise?"

"Long time, no see, Kat," I say. "The radio silence has been killing me."

"You still have that little crush on me?" She looks up at me.

"Crush is too kind of a word. Besides, how are you doing?" I genuinely want to know.

"Well, I've just gotten over Neymar if that's what you're asking," Kat states.

"Listen, Kat-"

"No," she interrupts me. "I wasn't done. I still need some time, James. Be it another month, or another year, I still need some time. I want to be with you, I do, but even though time has passed, things are still a mess and I still need to figure some things out. But I've missed you, I know that much for sure."

I let out a laugh and stop in my tracks. Good God, this girl is something.

"Same old, Kat," I just smile, then start to walk again.

It stung a little to hear her say that, but I understand. I really do.

I hear her run a bit to catch up then I feel her hand on my arm.

"Did my friends tell you I was planning on seeing you in Madrid next week?" She asks, surprising me. "You could've waited."

"Waited for the same speech?" I mock her.

No witty comeback. I saw her look at me like she used to and I was about to kiss her when she placed her hands on my jaw and neck and pulled me into her. Her lips on mine before I so eagerly kissed her back with all my might and all my love.

"Did you really mean what you said?" I ask when I disconnect our lips.

"About missing you?" She questions.

"About wanting to be with me?" I smirk.

Kat lets out a chuckle.

"Always," she smiles.