Blast from the past. Part 1:the art of love

"he had beautiful eyes

The kind you could get lost in

And i guess I did. "

                             s.b

°°°°Emily's point of view°°°°

Barely even twenty four hours later and we're already settled in Nico's apartment. It's African designed inspired Natalie to create her new fashion line, Nicolas said he had gotten the inspiration when he went to Africa, two years back for work.

It had taken me thirty minutes to dial the phone number and three hours to hit call as I picked up the phone, holding it close my ear - hoping after nearly seventeen years that Lukas hadn't changed his phone number after three rings I finally got an through "Grayson!" seriously like what crawled up his ass an died. "uhm - Lukas?"I asked into the phone "who the fuck-" I cut him off before he could finish "first, Lukas don't swear it's unbecoming and second, I'm your fucking best friend so be nice!" there was that silence, that long silence as if he were trying to remember and then he finally he broke it "oh! sorry". I smiled, he's such

a kid sometimes "its been awhile" he said again "yeah! It has, are you at G.E.H yet?" I asked, in the hopes he would be "No I'm at home" right why haven't I thought of that? It's Friday maybe he has his Fridays off or something "OK, I'm sorry for distributing you. I'll swing by your office tomorrow then" - why am I nervous about meeting him?- "No I'll be at the office in thirty minutes" thirty minutes, great I'll get ready "So how about we grab lunch? I have a few business matters to attend too before 12pm so I'll be at your office around 12:30? We have business to discuss!" looking at my watch I've got four hours to get ready. I patiently waited for a response "yeah sure." he said. He sounded sad for some reason I'd ask him later "so lunch?" I asked again, making sure. "yeah sure see you then" and then the line went dead. Those words - yeah sure see you then- were the last words he said when I last saw him nearly seventeen years ago.

Getting ready would be easy, I'd be able to head to my meetings and to lunch. Ringggg, Ringggg. My phone rang, I recognized the number instantly. I placed the phone to my ear "Good morning, Emily speaking," I said. "Good morning, Ms Matthew's. This is Claire from Doctor Madison office. I was wondering if you're still available for your appointment at 11am today?", shit. That's in an hour and it's a forty-five minute drive from the doctor's office to Lukas' office. "Ms Matthew's are you still there?" I cleared my throat to answer, "urgm, sorry about that Claire, yes the booking is correct and I'll be there at 11am".

°°°°

When her mother picked her up dressed in a navy blue dress which matched her eyes and a pair of black kitten heels, with her strawberry blond hair tied back with Bobby pins and long sworled earrings - Cristina couldn't help but stare, her mother's face had look ten years younger and all the males, including her new teacher Mr Smith was staring at her mother. Cristina felt a ping of jealousy towards the Goddess of who's footsteps she had to follow, she loved her mother but everywhere they went everyone always stared at her as if Cristina didn't exist.

They barely spoke, but she noticed her eyes starting tear up. A part of her wanted to hold her mother, the other part - the dominant part - kept quiet. "I have to go see an old friend from high school for lunch, would you like to join?" the question was dangerous and Emily knew that but she still asked. Cristina would one day meet him either way, she could prevent the inevitable. Lukas was a big part of Crissy life too and I would hurt knowing she left her daughter with nothing. "you have friends?" Cristina asked, "what's wrong Crissy? You've been moody since you I saw you. Care to share?". Emily looked at her daughter from the corner of her eyes. "I'm sorry, sometime I just feel like I'm living in your shadow. You're wealthy and pretty and everyone loves you", Emily's laughter filled the car and in that moment Cristina realized how dumb it was to try and compete with her mother is sixteen years older than her, her mother who had to give up her childhood. Her mother who studied, ran a multi million dollar company and still made time to be at every soccer game, award ceremonies and anything she found herself completing in. Her mother who helped her with her homework every night and wouldn't let her go to sleep without knowing she was loved. So  that strange ping of jealousy left her body, as she stared at her mother - she knew what type of woman she to be one day. "so whose your friend we're meeting?" Cristina asked, feeling lighter than before. "Lukas Grayson, he - we..." "I know who he is." Cristina confessed "you had a crush on him in high school right?" Emily was stunned that Cristina remembered those bedtime stories, "yes I did, he was my best friend" "you know what mom, are you able to drop me at the mall on seventh Avenue? There are some friends I'm meeting up with. Enjoy your though and behave please" before Emily could get a word out Cristina said, "if I need anything I'll call, I have you and Nico on speed dial. Lighten up mother, have some fun but be home by the time I get back," Emily couldn't contain her laughter anymore, "shouldn't that be my line?" she asked pulling up to the mall parking lot.

Emily watched as her daughter's copper locks and gray eyes got swallowed up by a crowd of shoppers. She prayed for her daughter's safety and she indeed would behave herself today.