THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US

Episode 9

Ann watched happily as Lisa admired herself in her wedding dress in the mirror in the dressing room. Lisa looked so happy and one could tell from the expression on her face. She kept her hands on the ball like dress in front as she smiled in the mirror.

"Do you like the dress" Mike asked as we both watched Lisa

"No, I don't" she said and then Mike and Ann's facial expressions changed into confusion until she said the next word.

"I love it" she added with a big wide smile as she faced Ann and Mike. As they both let out a big sigh of relief.

"I am glad you do" Mike uttered

"Me too" Ann added

"I want you two to be at my wedding, I will send the invitation" Lisa said excited and there was no way either Mike or Ann could refuse such

"Please don't say No" she added

"We will go" Mike said "yeah" Ann added in agreement.

Mike was still busy with Lisa when Troy's face time call came in and Ann immediately excused her self yo pick it up.

"Hey babe, how are you doing" Troy asked

"I am good, Thanks alot for the package. It's the best thing I have received this year. I miss you so much" Ann said

"I wish I could do more actually because you're worth that and even more" Troy flattered and Ann just blushed

"So, have you decided on when you will be coming to New york" Ann asked curiously. She couldn't wait for him to be here already. She missed him so much.

"This project is taking so much of my time and the due date just got extended too" Troy explained. He was stressed with work but still wanted to talk to Ann and see her everyday. The project was taking too much of his time but he still always found a way to put Ann in his schedule. She was top priority to him and he wouldn't have it any other way.

"Take care of yourself love and stop stressing too much, it's all going to work out eventually" Ann assured.

"Bye love, talk to you later" Troy said.

"The material we need for the next bride isn't in the store, I will be going out to get some" Troy said as Ann got back from where she had gone to answer the face time.

"Can I come along too" Ann asked

"Sure" he agreed. They both put on their jackets then head out of the shop.

"Sophie told me you finished from New york fashion school, what was it like there"Ann said as they both walked along the street

"Yeah I did and let's just say i had the best times of my life there" Mike said as memories of the place came into his head. That was were he had met Rina too.

"I had always loved fashion and when I finally got the opportunity to go to a school all about that, I was the most excited person ever" Mike explained excitedly. Ann could see the passion in his face, designing was really what he was meant to do.

"And you, why didn't you study it. You are pretty good in what you do" Mike inquired.

"I don't know, I just never really thought of it. Always just thought of it as a hobby and probably that's why I majored in something different" Ann requested.

"Can you please take a picture of me" Ann requested excitedly as they got to time square.

"Okay" Mike agreed as he collected her phone from her.

"Here you go" Mike said handing over Ann's phone to her after helping her with the pictures.

"Thank you" Ann said retrieving her phone from Mike as she immediately sent the pictures to Troy as she and Mike continued there walk. Mike couldn't understand why one would invest so much into loving another person. He had lost all hope in love and that's why after Rina he had made a promise to his self to never date again.

"So, tell me about you love life" Ann asked as they both walked further. She knew the kind of answers to expect but she just wanted to hear them from him.

"I don't have a love life" Mike said abruptly and even though Ann had not been surprised, she acted like it.

"So, you don't have a girlfriend" Ann added.

"I don't believe in relationships" Mike affirmed. He was sure of everything he wanted in life but a relationship wasn't really one of it.

"We are here" Mike suddenly said as they got in front of a big store of fabric Preventing Ann from asking any further questions.

They both walked into the big fabric store to get the materials needed. Mike and Ann split up to cover more grounds and be easier to get the material.

"I found it" Ann exclaimed after several minutes of both of them looking for it. They paid and got out of the shop then Mike suddenly remembered he had left a piece for work at home.

"I really should go home and get it" Mike said.

"I can come with you though, it's not like I am doing anything really" Ann suggested then they both decided to go.

Mike's home was your typical bachelor's place. It was nicely arranged with great furniture. Ann entered as she looked around admiring the whole place.

"Please sit here while I go and get the material" Mike said offering Ann a seat.

Ann sat on the coach as Mike went into the bedroom. Ann was still looking around when she found something which looked like a box with pictures at the side of the table. She brought it out as she picked up the stuffs out one after another. They where majorly pictures and frames too. Ann say countless pictures of a girl which she immediately knew could be Rina. She looked through it intensely that she hadn't noticed when Mike got in until he spoke.

"You really shouldn't be looking at those" he said as he immediately removed the pictures and box from where Ann was.