Chapter Two

Angie.

I stared wide-eyed at the man before me. Oh yes, he was handsome. Very handsome at that. And he stood just inches away from me, sharing the same air, lost in each other's eyes, wanting the same thing. To be lost in each others' arms. That was easy, What wasn't easy was holding the laugh that bubbled up my throat at Gabriel's serious expression. I stomped a foot on him...hard.    

  "Ow! Angie?!" He released a sharp groan causing the hold I had on my laugh to loosen. I released a loud very unladylike laugh at his pained face.

   "Cut!" Sami yelled at the crew. Causing the laugh that was going around to cease instantly. That was how scary Sami was.

So why did I distract the crew? Simple. I just couldn't resist. Plus, I made a bet with Gabriel and Emma on who could do the best distractions. This was a good chance. Any slip-up after this and whoever the misfortune landed on was probably dead meat.

  "Angie, What was that?" Sami turned a cold look my way. Words stuck in my throat at his tone and I caught Gabriel laughing from the corner of my eyes.

  "You know what? Time out! We'll continue this later guys. And Angie! No more slip-ups from you.” He spoke in a tone that said" no kidding". Ok. Maybe the recklessness went a bit too far this time.    

  "Yes Sami" I muttered, Emma gave me a pitiful look, casting a cold glare at Gabriel. His shoulders raised in a gesture that said "Hey. Not my fault".

  "Ok kids. Everybody out!" Sami bellowed once again. This time everyone strutted out. Probably already done watching me get scolded. Jerks!

  "So that little stunt uh?" Gabriel whispered close to my ears, his breath fanning my neck.   "Leave her alone Gabi.” Emma retorted.

  "Oh. Of course not. She won the bet and it's my turn for revenge." I laughed at his dramatic tone.    "Yeah? What could a pussy-whipped human like you do? You looked so ready for that kiss didn't you? Too bad I spoiled your fun." Gabriel only gave me an angry look in return. Not even bothering to deny my accusations.

  "Aww. Is little Gabi having a severe case of blue balls?" Emma cooed right back before we both burst out laughing. His face was truly priceless. Oh my God!   "Annoying swans. I'll go have lunch somewhere else. And you guys are paying for it.” This only made us laugh harder.

  “Let little Gabi be, Angie. He needs to address his "little situation". I held my ribs to avoid toppling over to the ground in laughter.

  "Fine! Think whatever, you two." He stomped away from us. And only then did our laughter calm down a bit. Sad to say, but that was seriously hilarious. “Did you see his face? It was truly priceless." I said to Emma. She clutched her side staring at Gabriel's retreating form.

  "We should probably get going, Angie. You're already on Sami's bad list. Don’t push your luck." I wanted to retort that I wasn't scared of Sami. But an image of him scolding me immediately shut me up.   " Well yeah.”

                 *******

We finally get to the McDonald’s close by, which reminds me of the ones in New York. Was there any city without a McDonald's restaurant? The waiter interrupted my thoughts to take our orders.  "What would you be having miss?" I glanced at the mouth-watering menu, thinking of the best way to combine all my favorites in one.

  "A big mac combo, large fries and a hot fudge sundae." I finished off proudly, giving the waitress a killer smile. She grinned back at me. The scowl on Emma's face deepens. "We know you don't need to go on a diet like the rest of us Angie. No need to rub it in." she groaned.

  "I'll have a side salad and some chicken please." A small smile hung around the corners of her lips.    

  "Oh, but I'm merely having lunch Em. Not rubbing anything in." I giggled at her facial expression.

  "But you know if I ate just half of that I'll be bloated like a frog." she whined, picking up her menu. I didn't know for sure if that was true through. Emma's been a sucker for dieting ever since I knew her. She's never even tried "not doing it" so how could she predict the outcome?

  "Well, you'll only know if you try Em." I shrugged. I looked around the restaurant. It was almost empty, only a handful of people here and there. And nobody our age. The vibrancy of New York came to my mind again. I missed the beauty of the country and all the splendor it had to offer.

  "I should try putting on extra weight?" She gave me a look like I was crazy

  "Of course not that Em. I'm just saying, you've never tried not going on a diet before you know?" I stated calmly.

  "Cause I always need to keep my body in shape." she gave a boring look like that answer was the easiest thing to know.  

  "Well, suit yourself then. When it comes to food? Count me out of any diets." Emma chuckles just as the waiter arrives with our orders. I picked up a fry while taking a big bite of my big mac. It not only smelt amazing but looked amazing too.    "So, how was your date last night?" I threw the question at her without looking up from my meal.  She released a groan

  "Awful." One word. Actually the same word Emma used after every blind date. "Why don't you just stop going on them Em?" I didn't understand it. You couldn't find love by meeting up with numerous strangers every day right?

  "Going on what?" She asked, slicing delicately into her salad.

  "The dates Em, what else?"

  "Oh! Those? I think you're right this time though. I might just need to stop anyway." She leaned into her seat tiredly,

  "Last night was that bad then?" She gave me a lopsided grin.

  "You won't believe his mom was listening in on the whole conversation while on the date, Such a mommies boy." I almost choked on my fries.

  "What? How is that even possible Em?"

  "That was my exact reaction when he reached for his phone too and asked her if she found me "adequate", she’d been on speaker the whole time we were supposed to be getting to know each other, Can you believe that Angie?" I couldn't stop laughing, this is just too funny.  

 "Well, at least he's better than the guy who offered to take you to bed before the date even started?" I reminded her, and she groaned I'm sure also remembering the incident

  "Yeah. Bret and his big cock. How can I ever forget that?" By now people in the restaurant were staring at us like we were lunatics. We finally subsided the laughter.    "At least I'm better than someone here who hasn't had some action in ages." she whistled delightfully.

  "You know my concept of love Em. I can't imagine meeting up with so many people every day.” I raised my hands in exasperation. Just the thought of it was stressing me already.

  "Fine. Just one then.” she gave me a puppy-eyed look.

  "If I meet someone who has an effect on me, I'll know it Em. I don't need to be sitting across some expensive restaurant from them.”  

  “Well, how would you meet someone who has that effect if you don't even go out?" Not this again. Emma has been trying to get me to start dating again, probably since I moved back to Finland.

  "I'll feel the sparks Em. Cause true love creates such sparks. The tension would be palpable and intense..." I trailed off in reverie, the thought of falling in love entrancing me. "Cause that's what love is in my world.” I finished off as Emma gave me a round of applause.

  "You need to get into the dating game, Angie. And get rid of such fantasies. Love isn't like that in any world." she muttered dryly. I knew she was speaking more out of the experience than anything, so I chose to remain silent.

  "Yeah. But for now, I'm good." she gave me a small smile, her eyes wandering around, my gaze followed hers. "You know, I really miss New York Em," I said softly. She gave me a sad look.

  "Me too. But we couldn't be happier anywhere else Angie." And from the look in her eyes, I knew she damn well meant it. I decided to remain silent about these instead.

  "So? Any more gigs?" This time Emma gave me a bright smile.

  "Oh yes. I got this gig. A short one though and definitely not one anyone would love."

  "So why do you sound so happy if no one will love it.” She laughed at my confused expression.

  “Oh, Angie, I didn’t mean no actress will love it. I'm playing the role of the sister who slept with my elder sister's husband. The fans would definitely be hating on me for a while." she released a breathy laugh. I smiled too.

  "Well, I'm happy for you Em." We stared at each other fondly. If there was anyone I loved and couldn't imagine living without, it was Emma. She was not only my best friend but my soul sister.

                   *******

I wiped a trickling of sweat off my glistening forehead while giving a bright smile to the person I am planning to buy groceries from,  "Oh hey Mrs. Cyril." I greeted my number one favorite shop owner. She gave me a warm smile

  "I've told you to call me Hilda Hun." I rolled my eyes playfully at her.

  "Of course, not Mrs. Cyril. It's like calling my mom, Kaarina" I laughed, she laughed along with me.

  "Ok, my lovely child. So what may I get you today?". I am doing some grocery shopping. Immediately after I got home, my stomach reminded me that although it had just taken lunch, dinner was close by. Which brought me to Mrs. Cyril's grocery supermarket. “ Just some pasta and canned soup. I'll come by some other time again". She grinned widely

  "More time to see me eh?" I always loved seeing Mrs. Cyril. She reminded me so much of my mother. Well, she was very good friends with my mom anyway.

  "So how's Kaarina doing child?" She gave me a concerned look, she knew my mom was lonely in New York and wanted me back there. I just couldn't go back.

  "She's ok. The usual. You know how much Ma loves the city."

  “Oh yes. Kaarina loves the boisterous life of those crowded cities. Never understood what she saw in them anyway. Thankfully Ben came and swept her off her beautiful feet." she laughed at this. I couldn't help but smile at my parent's love story.    

  "Thankfully, Mrs. Cyril. Or they won't have gotten a pretty daughter like me right?" I teased.

My mom was New York based but fell right in love with my dad, Benjamin Mathers. Finally, she agreed to move to Finland but didn't last long here since she always missed her home, New York. My dad loved her so much that he picked his life up and settled in New York with my mom. That was the kind of love I wanted.

  "Which reminds me of love. Some cans of soup stayed over. They expired yesterday and nobody wants them." I smiled brightly

  "Oh please let me buy them Mrs. Cyril.”

  "Buy? Oh, no need for that child. You can have them. Here, they're all yours.” she handed me about 4 cans of soup. They should stay ok for at least a week more or so.

  "No, I can't take them all for free. You know one of these costs 3$. Please at least take 10$. I'll keep the 2$ ok?" But Mrs. Cyril was already shaking her head at the offer.

  "No one would have bought it child. So I could at least give it to you free." I ran a hand through my hair. I couldn't let her loose 12 bucks just like that.

  "Ok. Please  Mrs. Cyril. Just take 6$ then, pretty please." I saw her resolve to weaken.

  "Fine Hun. Only cause I knew you wouldn't stop pleading." she winked at me. I bade her goodbye and turned to leave. But instead, accidentally bumped into someone...