"Mmmm, that smells delicious," Starla told her mother, who was a cooking a huge, English breakfast, as she walked into the kitchen. She gave her mother a light peck on the cheek and hoped that she wouldn't notice the bruises on her face. Starla was pretty sure she had covered them up well, though.........She should have, considering the fact that she'd had more than ten years of practice doing it.
"Thank you, darling," her mother replied, flashing her a smile. "Hopefully your father will like it." At the mention of her father, Starla immediately tensed up.
"He's home?" she asked, trying to keep her voice neutral. She'd figured that he'd already be long gone. That's what had happened the last several times he had paid her a late night 'visit'.........she'd wake up in the morning and he'd already be gone, staying away for at least a couple of days. She wondered what he was doing home, now.
"Yes. He was going to leave earlier this morning for an important business trip but his flight was set back a couple of hours. He'll have just enough time to eat a nice breakfast before leaving."
Starla, having no desire whatsoever to run into her father, made her way to the coat closet and slipped on her jacket. "Well, I'm off to the cafe," she told her mother. "I'll see you in a little bit."
"Aren't you going to eat breakfast first, Star?" her mother asked, concerned.
"No, I'm not really hungry right now." She grabbed her black notebook and headed towards the door. "See ya later."
(two hours later)
Starla, her brow furrowed in concentration, stared at the blank sheet of paper, willing the words to come. For the past several years she'd done most of her writing at this little cafe in SoHo. It wasn't the sort of place she'd have the misfortune of running into someone from her father's elite social circle and that's exactly why she liked the little cafe so much. She could spend hours just sitting at her table writing or people watching and she'd just be another annoynmous face in the crowd.
"Excuse me, Miss," a pleasant voice enquired, bringing Starla out of her thoughts. "Would you like a refill?" She looked up and saw a cute, dark-haired waiter studying her appreciatively.
"No thank you," she answered with a polite smile. She glanced down at her watch and, noting the time, realized that she should be leaving soon. "Please bring me the check, though."
"Are you sure you know where you're going?" Justin asked Lance as he looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Yes, I'm positive. I ran across it last time we were in NYC and it's not a place you can forget easily." Lance answered.
"Well.....okay....." Justin said, still not entirely convinced Lance knew where he was taking them.
"Aha!" Lance exclaimed triumphantly. "I told you I knew where I was going." They stopped in front of a small little cafe, barely noticeable against the two buildings it was squeezed between. It was the sort of place you'd pass without even giving it a second glance.
"It looks kinda deserted," Justin commented as he peaked inside one of the windows.
"Yeah, well that's what's so great about it," Lance told him enthusiastically. "We won't have to worry about being mobbed in here. And they have the best cappuccinos!"
The two friends entered the cafe and made their way to one of the many empty tables. As they neared the table, though, Lance felt a small, soft body collide with his. Before he could react, he was surrounded by a bunch of papers, fluttering around him.
"I'm so sorry," a gentle voice said, apologetically. Lance looked down and saw a girl kneeling on the floor, hurridly trying to gather up the papers. He couldn't see her face very clearly but something about her seemed familiar. He bent down to help her retrieve her papers and, when she finally looked up at him, his eyes widened in recognition.
"So we meet again," Lance said as he stared into the familiar, violet-colored eyes. Starla was speechless. She blinked her eyes a couple of times, sure that he imagination was playing tricks on her. He couldn't possibly be real......could he?
"I don't think we've been properly introduced," he continued, smiling. "My name is Lance."
"I-I'm Starla," she murmered as she placed her slender hand in his outstretched one. She felt a shiver run through her body at his soft touch and she quickly brought her hand back. "Well, it was nice meeting you. I have to go now. Bye." She hurried out the door with Lance staring thoughtfully after her.
"So what was that all about it?" Justin asked curiously.
"Remember that girl I ran into last night? Well, that was her."
"Oh, so that's the girl you couldn't get off your mind. She's amazing looking...it's no wonder you couldn't stop thinking about her."
"No it's more than that," Lance replied as they sat down at a table. "Granted, she is exceptionally beautiful, but there's this deep sadness about her. I can't explain why but I feel this protectiveness towards her."
"I thought you weren't the type of guy to fall for some mysterious stranger," Justin teased, quoting Lance's earlier words.
"I'm not falling for her.....I just feel sorry for her, that's all."
"Sure...." Justin smirked. "Now let's hurry up and order. I have to be at the airport in about forty-five minutes."
"Oh, man...I totally forgot! Chas is flying in today, isn't she?"
"Yep," Justin replied happily, a huge grin on his face. Chasity Phillips, Justin's girlfriend, was flying up from UCF to spend winter break with him and the rest of the guys. They hadn't seen each other in several months and they were both really excited that they were going to spend the holidays together. "I can't wait to hold her in my arms again."
"Justin!" she called as she rushed towards him. He scooped her in his arms and spun her around, both of them laughing like school children.
"Oh, baby, I've missed you so much," he told her as he reluctantly put her down. Now that she was finally in his arms he never wanted to let her go.
"I've missed you too," she replied as she gently stroked his face, making sure he was really there. "These past few months without you near me have been awful!"
As the couple stared lovingly at one another the crowded airport seemed to disappear; they were the only two people on Earth.
"I love you Chasity."
"I love you too," she whispered before his lips came softly down on hers.
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A very attractive, blonde-haired young lady walked out of the airplane terminal, her sparkling blue eyes searching the crowd for someone very special. As she spotted the familiar, curly blond hair and the mischievous blue eyes her face immediately broke into a smile.
