March first. March first. March first.

The day kept circling through her head.

It would be a year after that crazy party last year. The year where everything went wrong and broke. They hadn’t been together for weeks now – months even – nor had they talked. Just silence after the storm.

His mum knew all about it. He never was the boy to don’t tell a thing. She’d tried to talk to him.

She and her daughter-in-law (or was it ex now?) were close. She’d seen how broken both were. But even those two lost contact over the weeks.

That’s why the Latina had not expected a – secret – invitation to his birthday.

Of course, she’d known it was coming along and she’d kept track of news about him, but she hadn’t expected this.

‘Oh, come on, you’re still his best friend, he’d want you there, I’m sure of it.’

Friend.

‘Where are you going, Sel?’ one of her best friends leaned on the door frame, her tanned arms crossed, her brows furrowing over her brown eyes. Selena just ignored her. ‘Well?’

‘It’s almost March first. I’m going to visit him on his birthday.’ They needn’t asking questions; they knew who he was.

‘Oh. Have fun.’

‘Not quite sure if that’ll happen.’

  ‘ – but I gotta keep my eye out for Selenaaaaaa.’

There she was, standing in the over-joyed, screaming crowd, watching him dance, giggle and laugh while her name was said. She smiled faintly.

He had yet to notice her, standing there and watching him proudly.

  Click, clack. Click, clack. The wooden soles of her shoes clicked against the stone floor of the long, silent hallway, the only people were him and his crew at the other end.

He didn’t turn around.

It’s only in your head, Justin, you’re imagining things. Take deep breaths. You’re hallucinating.

The clicking kept on resounding in the hallway, and he stood still as stone, not daring to let his thoughts run free. It’s not possible that she’s here.

The clicking stopped a few feet behind him; he saw a familiar person from the corner of his eyes.

He turned around slowly, taking deep breaths.

And there she was; the girl he’d dreamed about seeing for the past few weeks. His eyes started to water, his heart bursting with joy.

‘Selena?’ he murmured, not daring to believe his eyes.

She smiled and nodded, her arms moving a bit, as if saying it was okay to come and hug her.

And without a warning or sign, they started to walk, jog, run towards each other, forcing their legs with much speed as they could muster.

It was as if there was no one in the hallway. No one else mattered.

At the same moment they’d reached each other.

His arms clasped around the small of her back, hers around his neck, her face buried into his shoulder. A gasp escaped her lips when she touched him for the first time in months. He spun her around like a little child.

After one spin he put her down on her feet again. Her fingers tangled themselves in his hair.

‘Selena.’ He murmured again; this time out of pure happiness.

They both let the salty tears drop; they’d missed each other so much it wasn’t bearable. They hadn’t even realized it.

She wrapped her arms around his neck more tightly, as if stating she wasn’t letting him go, never.

‘Shhhh, I’m here,’ she whispered into his ear, her voice thick with emotion.

No one in the hallway paid attention to them.

They couldn’t get their tears to stop; the emotions, which had been bottled up for too long, poured out at once like water out of a tap.

She kept whispering calming words – to both of them – but they wouldn’t calm down.

‘I thought I’d lost you,’ he finally let go, placed his forehead against hers and looked her into the eye, both of them had red-eyes with emotion.

‘You wouldn’t. I can’t live without you.’

No doubts, glances, awkward silences. He just kissed her softly on her dry, split lips.

There was no denying that spark.

He swept her off of her feet and placed her in his arms bridal-style, happy he could touch her again.

‘Put me down!’ she giggled.

‘But then I can’t touch you anymore, and I missed you.’ He kissed her forehead.

‘You’re so corny,’ her giggles went smothered in his broad, sweat-covered chest. ‘And you really need to shower. You’re sticky.’

They reached his dressing room, and threw her onto the couch, jumping on top of her, his weight lifted on his hands so he wouldn’t crush her.

‘Oh, am I now?’ he kissed her everywhere he could without crushing her.

‘Yeah, you are.’

He placed his knees on other sides of her and used his hands to tickle her.

‘Really?’

‘No, no, no I surrender!’ her voice shook with laughter.

‘Thought you would,’ he placed a sweet kiss on her mouth, but it quickly turned into a make out session with her laying on her back on the couch, hands wrapped around his neck.

‘And now you go shower and we go watch a movie,’ she muttered out of breath, and completely red in the face.

‘Your wish is my command, ma’am,’ he kissed her cheek sweetly, before walking off into the bathroom.

She made herself comfortable with his iPhone, looking through all the pictures.

‘Better?’

‘Much,’ she snuggled into his warm, freshly-showered embrace.

They went to his hotel quickly after; her luggage was already there.

They turned on the Notebook and plopped onto the couch, where they spent the rest of the night cuddling and talking and kissing.

They eventually fell asleep in each other’s embrace, the Notebook’s credits filling the screen.