By the hour she called Devon had already made it back to his apartment and was ready to call it quits. The chance of him finding a girl that could fool the prince was so very slim and this girl’s refusal was down hearting. Who turned down a chance as riches? Was she playing some sort of saint? He stashed the leftovers from the restaurant and rubbed his face. It would be nice to blame his father for being such a good man- his dad’s death had left his mother heartbroken and uprooted them. They never had they money to move away but she had been running from his ghost, so to speak. An eventual poor family was what they became. He didn’t finish school. His life was a wasted one in some ways for it but they had needed an actual income. Now that he moved back to the town it all started- part of him believed he’d find what had been lost all those nights ago. His chance at being more, having more. It was stupid. That girl would not even agree. She had something to aim for and that future she seemed unwilling to surrender for a lie. It sucked for him. That was all.

He was just about to shrug off his coat when his phone rang and he reached into the pocket instead. The number wasn’t one that he recognized. This girl had expressed no desire to ever cross paths with him again, why did she call? Eh. Well, one was never suppose to look a gift horse in the mouth. He had to snag this before she changed her mind. “I’ll meet you at Lakeside Park by the west entrance.” With a glance at the clock we continued “six am.” That would give some time for sleep. “Bright and early.” Once he confirmed that she did know the location in mind he ended the call and retired for the remainder of the night. He didn’t want to push her but really- he wondered why she called so late…

---
There was a set of benches just outside of the massive steel gates and the decorate archway marking the main entrance to the park. That was where Devon found a seat, sinking against the back boards and started on his cup of coffee. Marginally regretting his decision to pick this time. BUT the morning was starting out nice- a soft glow emerging over the cityscape while the sky took on hues beyond usual expectations. It was shaping up to be a good one. Assuming this girl actually showed up.