The Secrets Hidden In The Scars

      It’s a new day. Lunchtime. Daniel is sitting at home even though he was supposed to go to the studio to work on songs. The man is still furious because of the conflict with Peter, which almost turned into something more horrible. If not for Terrence, these two would have killed each other at the studio. However, Daniel is a little thankful to MacClife for not letting these two literally start a bloody mess.       Of course, the fact that Peter and he were hand in glove makes Daniel a little sad. But the fact that the blond betrays his band like this makes him much angrier at that man. And openly mock him because of the things that he just kindly joked at.       Sitting in the living room on a sofa with his guitar in his hands and plucking the strings of it, Daniel thinks about what will happen later. Being too busy with his mind, he does notice that a short, cute girl with bright red hair and a baby face comes to him very quietly from behind. This is Anna Seymour. She is the best friend of Raquelle and Natalia, who is two years younger, and has always supported the girls in any situation. When her friends fought because of Simon Ringer, the red-haired beauty gave great support to Natalia, who was madly grateful to the girl for. But she did not forget about Raquelle. She supported her, but was not always by her side, and she believed Ringer when he made everybody sure that Raquelle was mentally ill. Nevertheless, the girl was worried about her friend and understood that she had done a stupid thing.       Anna is also a girlfriend of Daniel, whom she met at a nightclub where she came with her friend Natalia. The man quickly got her attention and gave her a nice impression. None of the friends knew they started to date some time later after they met because they had been hiding it from everybody for a long time. The friends of the couple were happy for the lovers’ happiness. But Anna’s parents were not pleased with that piece of news and the fact that she was speaking to Daniel. They banned the girl from meeting this man and even leaving home. But her strong feelings and the support of her friends made Anna find the courage to run away from her home, where she felt very badly. Luckily, Daniel suggested that the girl live with him, and she agreed some time later.       “Shouldn't you be in the studio now?” Anna asks quietly, coming to Daniel sitting on the sofa with his guitar in his hands.       Daniel shakes slightly, turns on her, and exhales quietly.       “Oh, you scared me…” Daniel pronounces and puts the guitar aside. “I didn’t hear you coming…”       “As far as I remember, you’re supposed to be in the studio.”       “No, I won’t go anywhere today!” Daniel throws coldly. “I always came there on time and was never late. But now it's my time to disappear nobody knows where.”       Daniel reaches his hand to his mobile phone, which is placed on a coffee table near the sofa, and starts to search for something. Anna sits on the sofa next to the man and folds her hands in front of her.       “Is everything so bad?” Anna wonders with sadness in her eyes. “You were all inseparable, but now it seems like a black cat ran across you.”       “Oh, honestly, I don't know what happened to us,” Daniel replies in a low voice with a heavy sigh. “After the tour with 'The Loser Syndrome,' we became different. I mean, we didn’t change. Rose did go insane. He became kind of wild and absolutely irresponsible!”       “Why don't you try to come together and talk? You could quietly discuss all the questions that you worry about and find a compromise.”       “I have nothing to talk about with that psycho,” Daniel cuts off coldly. “I do want to beat him strongly and wash his brains that he lost.”       “But why did you fight so hard, honey? You were friends for so many years, and you were always together. But now you have almost become enemies!”       “Because he is a scumbag! The scumbag that I really wanted to kill yesterday.” Daniel sharply runs his hand over his hair. “If Terrence hadn’t been with us, I would’ve surely killed Peter right there. That irresponsible weirdo got arrogant and lazy!”       “My gosh, Daniel, don’t say that!” Anna gets horrified, softly caressing Daniel’s hand.       “I’m saying what I think. And I don’t want to hide that I could attack that man right now if I saw him one mile away from me. May everyone think I’m a psycho, but that scumbag really makes me wild, and I want to beat him strongly.”       “Can’t you solve your problems verbally? Why would you get your hands loose and beat each other’s faces? If only one of you didn’t bring another to the hospital after beating too strongly.”       “That man doesn’t understand anything in another way!” Daniel clenches his hands into hard fists. “Stupid blond ugly that nobody needs! Now I understand why he doesn’t have friends! They couldn’t stand speaking to that irresponsible idiot.”       “I don’t understand you, sweetie,” Anna says with pity in her eyes. “How can you be so cruel towards that man? What did Peter do to you to hear such terrible things about himself? Just don’t tell me you’re also mad at Terrence!”       Anna looks at Daniel for two seconds and glances at her hands.       “I'm so sorry for him…” Anna shakes her head with sadness in her eyes. “He’s tearing apart between you and trying to get you reconciled so hard… The people, who are his friends… And who Terrence can’t speak with at the same time. Because after meeting, one of you gets enraged. Yesterday, you fought so hard that he barely broke you up!”       “I swear, Anna, I'm also sorry about what’s happening…” Daniel replies confidently. “And I know Terrence feels bad. But he does know that Peter and I will no longer have a good relationship. I can’t stand him, he’s mad at me.”       “Of course, he is! You can’t go by him quietly without starting a scandal. Peter just defends himself and doesn’t let you hurt him.”       “Don’t defend and whitewash him. He is guilty of our fight because he was the first one to start it. I’m defending myself and trying to do just something to save the band that is about to break up because of that moron.”       “Don’t you feel sorry about fighting with him so hard? He isn’t a stranger to you, Daniel. You should care about it.”       “I do care. Really. This situation makes me really sad,” Daniel glances aside and says nothing for two seconds, swallowing up nervously. “You know, Anna, I would’ve never thought I’d fight with that man. Peter and I really got on well and spent a lot of time together… He’s helped me so many times, I’ve helped him out at hard times several times… But he decided to forget about all of that by doing one thing…”       “Try to talk to him quietly,” Anna says softly, tenderly caressing Daniel’s cheek. “Don’t blame him, don’t insult him… If you aren’t aggressive, Peter will get softer and probably understand you and take the first step to your reconciliation. The band will really be about to break up if you don’t make peace. Your career is just getting started. You got such a chance to get famous. It would be stupid to miss it because of your conflict.”       “No, sweetie, I don’t wish to talk and reconcile with him,” Daniel says coldly. “It’s disgusting for me even to stay with Rose in the same territory. I wouldn’t listen to Terrence or anyone else and beat that asshole until half-death!”       “Daniel, please, don’t say it! You scare me!”       “What can I do if he always provokes me? He even punched me in the face first! It goes without saying, I couldn’t take it silently. I showed that running into me would be a very bad thing.”       “Instead of waving your hands, you better find out the reason for his strange behavior. Maybe, he is worried because he doesn’t have a girlfriend? You and Terrence always laugh at him, but it’s hurtful for him to hear it.”       “Rose is guilty of still being single! He’s had very many chances to start a love affair with a girl. But he rejected everyone and didn’t try to meet anyone. With my pretense, he rejected many quite cute girls that wanted to get to know him.”       “There is a reason for that! But instead of helping him solve the problem, you press on him and laugh at him because of his failures in love. Peter is not guilty of not meeting a girl that he would like. And how could you call him impotent? What were you thinking of? Would you like to hear someone say you’re worthless at sex?”       Daniel runs his eyes around the whole living room.       “Yeah, you're right, I really cut it too fat,” Daniel exhales sharply and locks his fingers tightly. “And Terrence isn’t innocent, I don’t deny it. But I swear we didn't mean to humiliate or injure him.”       “But it might be humiliation for him. Put yourself instead of him, and think about how you would feel if you were called the one not to be able to communicate with girls and make love with them.”       “You're right again, Anna,” Daniel inclines his head down, doubling down. “I wouldn't really have the pleasure to hear something like that…”       “You can see it,” Anna smiles slightly. “So, think about what you’re doing. And fix your mistakes before it’s too late.”       “Yeah, but I think our conflict is just a part of the trouble. Peter has lately visited nightclubs very often and drank a lot of alcohol. And then he has a headache and pain all over the body the next day. If Rose keeps drinking without control, he will become an alcoholic, and we'll lose the drummer and have to look for a new one.”       “Excuse me, Daniel, but if it keeps happening, you will lose your drummer and the band.”       “Yes, I know, but I wouldn't like to let it happen. Of course, we didn't think everything would be easy, but none of us could suspect anything like this…”       “You can’t get everything easily,” Anna shrugs with a slight smile. “You did choose this way and should be ready for any difficulties.”       “That's right…”       Daniel thinks for a second and glances at Anna, who looks sad and is truly worried about what’s happening. The man embraces her tightly and kisses her cutely on the cheek, caressing her head tenderly.       “Okay, sweetheart, don’t think about it,” Daniel says softly. “I will solve this problem somehow. You shouldn’t worry about what you don’t have to do with.”       “But I do worry and want everything to be fine,” Anna replies shyly. “And I would be distressed if I never saw you singing your own songs on a big stage because of this conflict.”       “Even if our band is broken up, I will be looking for ways to get into the musical world. I want to do that. I like to sing and play guitar. My hobby has given me enough money after a few years of playing in the band that performed at restaurants and somewhere else.”       “Is there not a chance that Peter and you would make peace and save the band from a breakup?”       “Nope, I will never call that man my friend again. If he did such a disgusting thing, I’m not going to forgive him.”       “I’m sure a quiet talk would put everything in the right places. And you would maybe not be friends, but at least would start to speak well.”       “See no meaning in it. I will not go to make peace first and forgive him, even if he comes to me and apologizes.”       “Well, okay…” Anna shrugs, looking down. “As you want… He’s your friend… You should solve the problem with him…”       Daniel smiles slightly, embraces Anna much tighter, and kisses her on the temple.       “By the way, I would like to know, did Natalia tell you something about Edward?” Daniel asks. “Before he disappeared, that guy helped us write songs.”       “I don't know, she says he has some very important business,” Anna shrugs.       “Yesterday, Terrence said his friend had not shown up yet. And he thinks Natalia doesn’t almost speak to him.”       “Raquelle said something like that… It’s all so strange, to be honest… Edward disappeared almost at the same time when the tour of ‘The Loser Syndrome’ started, and Natalia was going to Mexico.”       “And the fact that Natalia doesn’t know anything about it is suspicious. She said nothing to Raquelle about that guy…”       “You know, sometimes I think something is happening between them. Natalia strangely reacts to moments when someone talks to her about Edward.”       “Really? Why do you think so?”       “I don't know. Natalia could just be talking about how much she liked Edward, and how happy she was for hours. But now she doesn’t kinda wanna pronounce his name…”       “Fought because of something?”       “Maybe, I can’t say anything. But Raquelle doesn’t like it all, either.”       “Maybe, they decided to talk about their relationship less to let personal things be personal?”       “I doubt it. Just because you and I were hiding our relationship from everyone for a long time doesn’t mean those two decided to become secretive.”       “Yes, but it was your idea.”       “I was just afraid my friends would tell my parents about us. Of course, I'm still afraid of what might happen if we meet my mother or father someday. But I don’t doubt the girls wouldn’t tell them about me. And they wouldn’t come to them… Or maybe, they don’t care about me and are busy with their work…”       “I don’t think they forgot,” Daniel takes Anna's hand softly. “I’m sure they haven’t forgotten you and still want to find you. Your parents probably often called your old number, but nobody answered, 'cause you changed it a long time ago.”       “My friends didn’t find out that you and I were dating at once. So, if my parents had asked Raquelle or Natalia where I went, and why they couldn’t call my old number, they would’ve said nothing.”       “I think they worry about you. Any parents, even the worst ones, would always care and worry about their children.”       “I don't think they loved me. For them, I was a trophy that people proudly showed to everyone… They always wanted to boast before their friends about how talented and clever I was. I was always made to get high grades, and they read me a lecture because of the smallest delinquency. But for what? For my parents to prove to their friends that they were proud of me!” Anna falls into silence and sighs heavily. “They always controlled me. They let me go out somewhere with my friends with a reluctance. I was mad ‘cause they didn’t allow me to do literally everything. Their stupid rules got me more irritated every day.”       “I understand you,” Daniel says softly. “And I don’t judge you for the wish to run away from home… I would also run away and never come back if I was controlled so hard. You do know I’m freedom-loving and don’t like when someone sets limits for me.”       “So, I wanted some freedom… And some love of Father and Mother that I never got… I wasn’t almost hugged, kissed, or told nice things. My responsibility was only good studies and perfect behavior. But sometimes I wanted to bully a little… My parents and grandparents didn’t care about me. They cared only about my success and behavior. And a wish to make me live with someone that would give them a benefit.”       When Anna inclines her head with a heavy sigh, Daniel slightly grabs the girl’s chin, raises it, and raises it, making her move her sad eyes into his eyes.       “Sometimes people prefer loving their children, saying nothing and not showing their love for them,” Daniel notices. “But it doesn’t mean they don’t love them. It’s just a type of person. People, who don’t want or can’t show their emotions and feelings.”       “No, Daniel,” Anna sighs with sadness in her eyes and quickly runs her eyes over the whole living room. “If they had done, they would’ve let me do what I wanted. They knew I would never do anything that would harm me. But they didn’t allow me to do even what would be better for me.”       “I know,” Daniel smiles slightly. “I think your parents had to do with the fact that you never do anything bad. Thanks to them, you behave like a real lady and could easily become a part of an aristocratic circle. You would be one of them.”       “I think I will definitely be grateful to them for that,” Anna tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.       Daniel embraces Anna tightly again, kisses her cutely on the temple, and rubs his nose against her soft cheek with a wide smile as she pressses herself to him with pleasure, feeling absolutely relaxed in his strong arms.       “You know, my sunshine, I must confess that I’m even happy I didn’t go anywhere today,” Daniel says thoughtfully with a sly smile.       “Really?” Anna wonders. “But why?”       “Haven't you realized it, young lady?” Daniel runs his fingers through Anna’s hair with a sly smile. “For us, it may be a wonderful chance to spend some time with each other.”       Daniel tenderly caresses Anna’s cheek while she puts her head on his shoulder with half-closed eyes and a slight smile.       “I haven’t enjoyed spending time with you enough since I was back from the tour with ‘The Loser Syndrome’ and started to get stuck at the studio all day long, almost,” Daniel notices softly and kisses Anna tenderly on the lips, holding her by the chin.       “It’s definitely a great plus,” Anna says with a sly smile, tearing her head off Daniel’s shoulder, moving her eyes to him, and caressing his cheek softly. “If you don’t wanna go to the studio, stay home. You’d have some rest, but I will help you relax.”       “Exactly! Now I don’t want to go there and see those, who have to do with the band. I wanna be with you…”       Daniel gets Anna involved in a more continuous kiss on the lips, stroking her hair first but later tenderly caressing her throat with his fingertips. The girl answers him back, putting her hand on his cheek that she tenderly caresses and moving closer to her sweetheart.       “So, would my beauty stay with her sweetheart and help him relax?” Daniel asks quietly, breaking the kiss for a while.       “Suggesting that you look into my eyes, so you see my answer,” Anna smiles slyly.       “M-m-m, so, you agree,” Daniel purrs with a wide smile, caressing Anna’s cheek and looking into her expressive green eyes.       “Then just kiss me…” Anna runs her fingers through Daniel’s soft hair and puts a warm hand on his chest that she tenderly rubs to set up a fire inside him. “And show me how much you can drive me insane.”       “You do know I can do it very well…” Daniel leaves a couple of short kisses on Anna’s lips and two more on the curve of her neck, making her shake slightly with closed eyes. “I can’t leave anyone indifferent. Because I’m imitable…”       “Show it then…” Anna exhales quietly with a slight smile. “Show me everything my lion can do.”       Daniel smiles widely and brings his face closer to Anna’s lips, holding her by the back of her head and getting her involved in a tender kiss full of true and clean love. One hand of hers continues to slide over his torso, and a second one strokes his hair. Their tender and shy kiss slowly becomes more passionate and confident. So, their hearts start beating much faster, and their breath is getting heavier and deeper. The tender warmth warms up every single inch of the body, and the abdomen gets nice cramps. The man’s hands confidently caress the curves of her waist, back, and knees, being happy this beauty belongs to him. And she caresses his face, shoulders, torso, and neck with a heavy breath, literally getting weak because of the unforgettable caress of the man and being ready to obey him in everything.       A little later, Daniel slides down to Anna’s neck and covers it with tender kisses with a heavy, loud breath. It makes her shake and literally stop breathing after every single touch of his soft lips on her sensitive skin. While his hands slide down to the girl’s knees and thighs and caress them confidently. And she pulls his hair or runs her fingers through it and keeps her hands on his chest, through which she can hear the heart that’s beating crazily.       At some moment, the man softly pushes the girl, so she lies on the sofa, and she obeys his wish silently. Her eyes are set into his piercing brown eyes, which could easily make her do anything for their owner. Daniel raises himself above her and continues to kiss Anna on her lips, neck, and collarbones with special pleasure. The man tenderly caresses his sweetheart’s belly, which he opens a little later and covers with kisses. That’s why she does not hide her sensual moans, breathes heavily and deeply, and enjoys every single moment. She feels absolutely relaxed and confident and completely trusts the one, who can make her body bend backward along with the sounds of his flute.       However, later, Anna easily lies Daniel on the sofa, sits on him, takes the initiative, and seduces him with dizzying kisses and an incredible caress of the whole body. He enjoys the love of his sweetheart, relaxes much more, and forgets about his problems. The man lets his hands confidently caress her back, the curves of her waist, thighs, and buttocks, easily giving up on the charming beauty, who knows all his weaknesses and does not doubt what he would like much more.       

***

      Since she has a day off today, Blair decided to walk in the city and enjoy the good weather. All the servants of the MacClife family got two free days to have some rest and visit their close people. Blair has already visited her family and spent some time with them. But now the young girl decides to breathe in some fresh, cold air, using the moment when she does not have to rush.       “Many people started telling me not to fall in love with Mr. Parker,” Blair thinks, slowly walking on a walking road placed near an auto road. “Although I'm not gonna fall in love with him, I really wonder if people tell the truth about him. It seems like everyone has known that person all their life ‘cause they’re too sure he is bad and could betray someone. I think he's quite gentle… And it’s so nice to get some gifts from him… It’s amazing, but that man did even send me my favorite flowers two days ago. My favorite asters. I don’t know how he guessed it, but getting attention from such a sympathetic man is so nice to me. And…”       Blair rounds her eyes slightly.       “Hey, stop!” Blair thinks. “What am I thinking about? I must think only about my family and ways to help my relatives. I don't want to think about anything else except that. Get these things out of your mind, Blair, think about your family. It needs you.”       Blair sighs heavily and keeps going somewhere. And some time later, she turns aside and sees a well-known masculine silhouette. The girl looks at that one much better, trying to understand who that is. But a little later, the man turns on her and starts getting closer to her slowly but confidently. The closer the stranger comes to Blair, the more she starts to realize that it’s Benjamin Parker, Terrence’s best childhood friend. A tall, confident man with dark hair and hazel-green eyes, who does not doubt his awesomeness and knows he would easily seduce any girl.       “Oh, hello, Mr. Parker,” Blair says hesitantly. “I did not expect to see you here.”       “Hello, Miss Stewart,” Benjamin greets gently, showing his perfect smile. “I did not expect to see you here, either… Do you have free time?”       “Actually, the servants in the house of your friend got two days off. They let us see our families and friends.”       “So, why are you not spending time with your family?”       “I have already spent time with my family until lunch,” Blair replies with a slight smile. “But now I decided to walk a little to put my mind in order.”       “I got it. I'm also walking now. I don't see any reasons to stay home. The weather is good…”       “Yes, the weather is very good.” Blair glances aside while her cheeks get blushed, and her hands are shaking slightly from the excitement.       “Wouldn’t you like to make a company for me?” Benjamin asks with a slight smile. “I would be very happy if you agreed to spend some time with me.”       “Alright, I agree to make a company for you,” Blair agrees amicably.       Benjamin smiles slightly and starts slowly to go on a path along with Blair. At first, they walk silently, and every one of them thinks about something. And then the man finds the courage to start speaking first:       “Excuse me for my immodest question, Ms. Stewart. Are you afraid only of me or all the men you know?”       “Erm, why do you think that I’m afraid of you?” Blair asks in a little shaking voice, trying to hide the fact that she is very nervous.       “Well… Your voice is shaking… And you do not know where to put your hands…”       “Actually, I've always been so shy. I do not know why it happens to me, but I need time to get used to someone and feel comfortable with one or another company. It's hard for me to be with people I do not almost know.”       “Do you feel comfortable with me?”       “With you?” Blair asks amazingly. “Well, it's interesting and easy to speak to you.”       “That's also interesting for me to speak to you, to be honest. And I think you are quite a clever and educated person, who could always talk about some things.”       “I can’t rate my education or my knowledge. But I’m glad you think so.”       “I just often meet people, who may be too stupid and not interesting to talk with.”       “I get it… But thank God, I’m surrounded by people, with whom I can always talk about something with.”       Benjamin smiles shyly and says nothing for two seconds, but then he puts his hands in the pockets of his jacket.       “Miss Stewart, I’m sorry about behaving probably obsessively toward you and looking like I’m insisting upon speaking to me.”       “Why do you think you behave obsessively toward me? I think you have never acted like this… You want to speak to me, and I don’t think it’s something bad. Vice versa, that’s great you aim to meet new people.”       “Really? Don’t you get confused by the fact that I often make surprises for you and go home where you are working?”       “Of course, no! And yeah, two days ago, you sent me a very beautiful bouquet of asters… I would like to thank you for sending me my favorite flowers.”       “Are asters your favorite flowers?”       “Yes. How did you guess it?”       “Erm, I didn’t actually know you loved them… Just saw a beautiful bouquet in a flower shop, bought it and sent it to the MacClife house with a delivery man.”       “Anyway, thank you so much,” Blair smiles shyly. “I have the bouquet in my room at the home of your friend.”       “No need to thank,” Benjamin replies gently. “Just wanted to do a nice thing to you.”       Blair smiles much wider and says nothing for two seconds.       “By the way, Mr. Parker, excuse me for my immodest question, but why do people tell me I should not trust you?” Blair asks hesitantly. “Fewer people have told me to be careful.”       “Should not trust?” Benjamin rounds his eyes. “What do you mean? Who thinks so?”       “Do not take offense, but your friend, Terrence, says much about me keeping myself far away from you. He doesn't have any claims for you… He just thinks you can do… Do something bad to me.”       “So, do you want to say I would dare to hurt you?” Benjamin asks surprisingly.       “No, I just…”       “I swear I have never hurt girls because I think it's a dirty thing. If only you knew how much I judged Terrence when he didn’t behave like a real man. I think you know what happened between him and Raquelle a few months ago.”       “Yeah, I know…”       “I always aim to break up with girls in a good way. And I don’t answer them if they want to beat me. My mother has always taught me to respect girls and women and never show aggression or psychic force to them.”       “I believe you. But if people say you should not trust someone, you need to listen to them and be careful. Yes, of course, there are enemies that want to tarnish someone, but sometimes what seems to be slander is true.”       Although Benjamin smiles slightly, he feels a little hurt from hearing these words that hurt him. However, the man does not show it and keeps smiling as if nothing happened.       “I think I must agree with you,” Benjamin says amicably. “But you can trust me. I will not hurt you and will not insist that we communicate if you do not want to.”       “I would be happy to speak to you now,” Blair smiles shyly.       “So, maybe, you like to go to a café? We could talk and get to know each other better. And I would be your company on the way to your home…”       Blair does not think too long and decides that nothing bad would happen if she just spent time with Benjamin and talked with him at a café.       “I agree,” Blair agrees. “I will spend time with you and drink a cup of coffee with pleasure…”       “So, since you agree, I know a café that is located not far from here. We could go there.”       “I think I know the café you are talking about.”       “So, let’s go then?”       “Yes, sure.”       Benjamin and Blair go to the nearest café along to sit there and talk a little, having a nice talk on the way and feeling quite comfortable with each other.       

***

      It's about five or six o'clock. Raquelle does not have appearances or shootings today, and Terrence did not go to record songs in the studio because Peter nor Daniel did not show up and answer his calls. So, they decide to spend time with Natalia and Edward, who showed up for the first time after a long absence.       Natalia comes to the house of her friends alone, in her car. The girl looks a little excited and does not kind of wish to go to dinner. But when she leaves the car, she exhales sharply and makes herself smile widely, raise her head, and spread her shoudlers. After looking around and saying a couple of words to the guards that know her well, Natalia comes to the hall door of the residence she needs and rings the doorbell. Some time later, Raquelle opens the door and smiles widely when seeing her friend, whom she had madly missed.       “Natalia!” Raquelle exclaims happily.       “Raquelle!” Natalia pronounces with a wide smile.       The girls take each other in a tight hug with quiet whoops and share an amicable kiss on the cheek.       “My gosh, we’ve finally met!” Natalia says enthusiastically. “I missed you so much! We didn’t meet like forever.”       “Aw, I missed you so much too, honey,” Raquelle replies with a wide smile, stepping back from Natalia. “I couldn’t wait for the day you’d be back in New York.”       “But this time, I told you where I went and didn’t disappear, regularly contacting you on Facebook.”       “And that’s great! But I realized that sending messages on social networks wasn’t enough. I missed the real you. Talking to you in real life, our walks…”       “But now, when I’m back, we must choose a day and go somewhere,” Natalia says confidently. “Go to stores and buy some stuff…”       “With great pleasure! Go to stores whenever you want.”       “Aw, honey!” Natalia hugs Raquelle tightly again, but steps back two seconds later.       “Don’t be shy, come in the house,” Raquelle suggests softly and steps back from the doorstep, so Natalia comes in. “Feel like home.”       “Thanks,” Natalia replies with a smile.       Natalia enters the house quite confidently and looks around with interest.       “Hey, why are you alone?” Raquelle asks, closing the door. “You were supposed to be here with Edward…”       Raquelle comes to Natalia, who bites her lip slightly, looking at her friend a little scarily.       “Erm…” Natalia looks at the watch she is wearing on her left hand. “He has some business now… He will come a little later.”       “Really?” Raquelle wonders. “But what kind of important business does he have?”       “I don’t know, friend…” Natalia pulls her words strongly. “And I… I didn’t ask, honestly…”       “Is that something serious?”       “Probably… I know nothing… Nothing…”       “I got it,” Raquelle smiles as if nothing happened, thinking Natalia’s behavior is suspicious, hugs Natalia around the shoulders and takes her to the living room. “Okay, we have the whole evening ahead. So, we don’t rush.”       “But don’t worry, he will surely come,” Natalia smiles slightly. “He’ll solve his problems and come…”       “I don’t doubt,” Raquelle laughs shyly. “He will not miss a chance to mock Terrence a little. Who can’t also wait to mock his little bro.”       “Yeah, at least, someone can get your irresistible handsome guy back to the earth and make him remember he is not so unique.”       “Oh, yeah, that’s our MacClife”       Natalia and Raquelle come to the living room with a quiet chuckle and sit comfortably on the sofa next to each other.       “Oh, how are you doing here?” Natalia asks, putting her purse next to her and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I heard you were at the premiere of the movie ‘If Today Was Your Last Day’ with Terrence.”       “Yes, we spent a good time two days ago. The movie was just incredible and met my expectations. The creators worked on it well.”       “Did you and your fiancé manage to talk with the actors from that movie?”       “Yup, we know many people from the cast. And Terrence already let the director know he would like to act in his movie.”       “I know, I watched your interview. I hope his dream will come true someday, and that man will find a decent role for that handsome guy.”       “I wish it happened,” Raquelle smiles shyly, running her fingers through her hair.       “By the way, I found photos from the premiere and must confess that you and Terrence looked stunning,” Natalia says with a wide smile. “The media already pronounced you the most beautiful and stylish couple at that appearance.”       “Maybe, they would get interested in that and forget what happened between us a few months ago at least for a while.”       “Someday they will get sick of discussing it, and everyone will forget about your canceled breakup. But you shouldn’t care about it, ‘cause the important thing is that you’re happy and love each other. And decided to have a wedding.”       “Yeah, I still can’t believe I’m gonna get married soon.”       “Are you happy with Terrence?”       “Aw, sweetie, I feel madly happy,” Raquelle sighs with a wide smile. “I’m so happy we didn’t break up… And a joint vacation made our relationship much stronger. We got much closer to each other.”       “I’m very glad you established your relationship,” Natalia smiles shyly, caressing Raquelle’s hand. “I hope you won't lose such an amazing treasure.”       “No, never! Now I will not let Terrence go and give him to anyone! That man belongs only to me.”       “How it’s nice to hear it!”       Silence settles in the air for two seconds, during which the friends just smile at each other.       “Hey, where’s Terrence?” Natalia asks, looking around. “Why isn’t your irresistibly handsome man meeting his favorite friend?”       “He’s on the back of the house,” Raquelle laughs shyly. “Having a talk with a person from the studio. His manager and producer…”       “The band’s business?”       “Yup, something like that…”       “By the way, what about his band? I heard Daniel and Peter should’ve been at the premiere where you two were. But they weren’t there, and Terrence excused it with some personal problems.”       “Ah, Natalia, they have serious problems…” Raquelle sighs with sadness in her eyes. “I'm afraid their band might disband soon.”       “Really?” Natalia rounds her eyes. “But what happened? They perfectly played their shows of the tour with ‘The Loser Syndrome’ that invited them to be an opening act. And the guys got an offer to sign a contract for the recording of an album.”       “Yes, but their problems are about their personal relationship.”       “Did someone fight?” Natalia frowns slightly and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.       “Yes, Peter and Daniel fought strongly. I don't know what happened between them, but those two can't be at the same place for more than one minute.”       “Peter and Daniel? But Terrence said they were best friends and always got on well!”       “Yeah, but now they can’t stand each other. Everything is so terrible that those two started a fight right in the studio yesterday and could’ve killed each other. But that’s good Terrence meddled and barely broke them up.”       “My gosh… Do you mean Terrence is kind of between two fires?”       “Sort of. He's trying to reconcile them, or just to make them start to work together. Because if they don't start writing stuff for their album at the nearest time, their contract may be canceled. But unfortunately, those two men refuse to make peace.”       “But why do they fight? There must be a reason for that! They got on well but then suddenly fought to the hell!”       “I don't know, they changed much after the tour. Those two had been very good friends before their band started to play shows.”       “Oh, what a tangled story…” Natalia sighs heavily.       “I have a suspicion that the lads just went too far because of their jokes about Peter having no girlfriend. I can’t confirm it’s true, but it’s the most possible reason for fights. Daniel was mocking Peter much more than Terrence.”       “I guess it’s true. He probably annoyed the guy so much that he told him everything.”       “Oh, it’s hard to say who started that because Peter blames Daniel for everything, and Daniel blames Peter. They blame each other for all sins… But I think the one to provoke a fight is Daniel… Terrence said that guy called Peter an impotent yesterday, and that guy shortly attacked him with fists.”       “My gosh…” Natalia closes her mouth with a hand, shaking her head. “But why? Why Is Daniel so happy about Peter’s failures in his personal life? Didn’t he see it was a painful thing for his friend?”       “He has been mocking him because of that from the beginning. Terrence has always been a witness to Daniel joking about Peter’s relationships and possible inexperience. I remember that he also had doubts about his sexual preference.”       “Is Perkins so heartless and terrible? Was Anna wrong when she started to date him? Is it fine to mock Peter because of that so openly? Even joking about that is not funny! What was that idiot thinking of?”       “I haven't talked to Anna about it, but I will try to find out her opinion when I meet her. If Daniel is really so bad, Anna should run away from him… First, Peter became his victim, and now our friend might be caught.”       “You’re right…” Natalia agrees thoughtfully. “We need to let her know she should be very careful with that guy. He seems to be insolent and cold for a reason. Even if he tries to hide it and be kind and soft.”       “Maybe, we have reasons to worry about Anna before we know the whole story. Of course, she can decide what to do, but she should know Daniel is not the most trustworthy partner for her.”       “Let’s meet her tomorrow or after tomorrow and talk about this situation. I can contact her on Facebook, say I’m back, and suggest a meeting.”       “Hey, how long ago did you contact her? I thought you knew at least something about what happened between Daniel and Peter.”       “Oh, you know, because of the excitement and plans to move Grandmother to our home, I got exhausted and didn’t almost contact anyone. I only replied when you or Anna texted me… I cared about Grandmother… Comforted her and begged her to believe in her recovery.”       “By the way, how is she feeling? Sorry, I should’ve asked about her shortly after you came, but I started talking about other things.”       “It's okay, Raquelle, don't apologize,” Natalia replies quietly, caressing Raquelle’s hand. “I know you worry about her, even if you don’t ask me about it.”       “Is her therapy going on successfully?”       “Thank God, everything is okay with Grandma. The doctors say forecasts are positive, and therapy is quite effective.”       “That’s good your parents are provided and can pay for any high-costed therapy.”       “Yup, I know, we're lucky in this case,” Natalia smiles slightly, looking down for a second. “Or my grandmother would’ve been dying of tortures… I’ve read so many horrible things in one year that Grandma Adriana has been fighting cancer… I can’t literally sleep at night… So many people have died from that horrible illness…”       “Don’t think about it, sweetie,” Raquelle says softly, taking Natalia’s hand and smiling to encourage. “Since the doctors say that therapy is helping, and your grandmother doesn’t lose hope, everything’s gonna be fine. Yes, that’s gonna be a hard and long way, but Mrs. Lascano will get well.”       “I’d like to believe it. But the doctors’ words give me hope…”       Raquelle takes Natalia in an amicable hug for a few seconds. But they step away when Terrence, who was at the back of the house and talking with someone, goes to the living room. He looks a little sad and morally exhausted. But he smiles shyly when he sees such a wanted visitor, who gets up from the sofa as well as her friend does.       “Natalia!” Terrence exclaims happily. “Hey, friend! It’s been a while!”       Terrence hugs Natalia tightly and shares an amicable kiss on the cheek with her.       “Same to you, Terrence,” Natalia replies amicably with a slight smile and steps back from Terrence. “I already missed you.”       “We all missed you when you were out,” Terrence smiles shyly. “And I’m so happy you’re back.”       “Nice to hear it.”       Terrence smiles much wider and says nothing for two seconds.       “Oh, did you come here alone?” Terrence frowns slightly. “Won’t Edward come here for dinner?”       “No, Edward will…” Natalia cracks a smile, taking off her black light coat and putting it near her purse. “He just has some problems. But he promised to come shortly after solving everything.”       “Is that so important that he can’t save it for later?”       “I dunno…” Natalia shrugs, glancing aside. “He tells me nothing about his business… And I don’t meddle…”       “That's how! Okay… I’m at least glad he’d actually come…”       The fact that Natalia came here alone and tries to excuse it by Edward’s business becomes a first suspicious sign for Terrence. It lets him know his gut does not betray him, and something is happening to the lovers.       “Hey, you had a sad face before you came here,” Raquelle notices, crossing her arms over her chest and putting a finger on her lip. “Something happened?”       “Yes, I noticed it, as well…” Natalia nods. “Do you have problems, buddy?”       “Oh, I don’t know where to hide from these problems…” Terrence sighs tiredly and jumps on the sofa, running his hands over his face, while Raquelle and Natalia sit down together opposite the man. “It's because of my band. I got a call from George Smith, a manager, and producer of ‘Against The System’… He said he needed to view the material for a new album in the next few days. And when I told him I could give him nothing, he got enraged. And he added that if we don't start to work, he’ll refuse to collaborate with us.”       “Is everything so bad about you?” Natalia wonders with sadness in her eyes. “Raquelle just told me Peter and Daniel suddenly fought and actually attacked each other with fists yesterday.”       “It’s true. I thought those two would’ve killed each other even with my pretense… Or I would’ve suffered from these two furious buffaloes…”       “But what happened? You did say those guys had always got on well and been inseparable!”       “I think Peter, who hangs out at nightclubs, has a headache the next day, refuses to work, and literally pisses everyone off, would answer your questions…” Terrence sighs tiredly, running his hand through his hair. “Or Daniel, who gets excited when he sees Rose a few miles away from him…”       “That guy did a terrible thing to Peter by insulting him like that. What did he do to Daniel that your pal got so mad and started literally bullying him?”       “I don’t know, Natalia… I’m trying to get just something out of those two, but nobody wants to speak. They blame each other. I suspect the problem might be about Peter’s sudden irresponsibility and everyday hangouts or the problems in his personal life, because of which Daniel is mocking him. But I can’t be sure because nobody confirms it.”       “Oh, what didn’t those two men share?” Natalia frowns slightly. “And what made Peter start to drink? Why did Daniel start to humiliate him so openly?”       “I don't know, but our band will be disbanded very soon… Because of those two, who can’t stay together in the same room and had a serious fight.”       “Maybe, everything isn't lost?” Raquelle asks with sadness in her eyes. “You need to come all together and discuss all the questions quietly, without crying. Persuade Daniel and Peter to talk about their problem and give all their claims. I’m sure you would find a solution…”       “I would do it with pleasure, Raquelle. But I'm afraid you or Natalia would have to talk those two into making peace. But I’ve got no energy and wish to run after them and pray to work.”       “Won’t you be trying to reconcile them?”       “I’m sick of trying to be a benefactor. Yesterday, I barely broke them up and didn’t let them beat each other. But the fact that they’ve been ignoring my calls all day became the last drop. Peter and Daniel both didn’t come to the studio, and Perkins actually turned his phone off. I didn’t expect it from him, ‘cause he had been very responsible.”       “I guess he's at home with Anna,” Natalia assumes. “I don't think he'll descend until starting to go to nightclubs.”       “He’d probably spend time at his home with Anna because those two feel incredible together,” Raquelle adds. “But to be honest, we’re worried about her ‘cause Daniel is humiliating Peter like that…”       “Do you think he might be mocking her?” Terrence frowns slightly.       “Excuse me, Terrence, but your friend doesn’t look kind,” Natalia says hesitantly. “Raquelle and I have nothing against Daniel and won’t blame him earlier. But Anna needs to think better and be very careful with him.”       “No, girls, I don’t think so. Of course, Daniel is a plucked peacock that loves pretending to be cool. But he’d hardly hurt a girl like that. Perkins often says about how much he loves Anna, and how lucky he is.”       “Nevertheless, we’ll warn her,” Raquelle says confidently. “Even if she knows everything, we will let her know that Anna must take all her things and run if he shows any kind of aggression toward her.”       “Of course, that’s right, but Daniel will not hurt Anna the way he’s hurting Peter. I’m absolutely quiet about it in this case.”       “We’ll see, honey… I wanna repeat Natalia’s words: we have nothing against Daniel and won’t blame him for anything earlier. At first, we’ve gotta find out the reason and then think if there’s a threat to Anna or anyone else.”       “Now I’m not gonna be running after them and begging to start working. May those two do what they want: the first one can keep drinking, and the second one can seek comfort in his girlfriend’s arms… But I will live my life… I’m gonna have a wedding! I’m gonna think about it. And even if our band disbands, I won’t get upset. I will be looking for ways to start a solo career. Maybe, I’d agree with the studio about a contract for recording my solo album… I don’t know…”       “Nice position, Terrence, nice!” Natalia exclaims, clapping her hands. “I like the fact that you don’t give up and keep reaching your dream.”       “It's mainly because I'm supporting him,” Raquelle replies with a slight smile, sitting down next to Terrence and pressing herself close to him. “If I wasn’t by his side, everyone would forget the man named Terrence James MacClife.”       “Ah, Raquelle, how right you are…” Terrence chuckles kingly, answering Raquelle’s hug. “But be sure, girls, I will get famous as a musician. With these two or without, I will make the entire world talk about me.”       “That’s right! We don’t doubt your talent and think you must show it.”       “And something tells me the studio wouldn’t like to say goodbye to you,” Natalia smiles mysteriously. “They’d easily say goodbye to Perkins and Rose, but they won’t let you go and will suggest you become a solo musician.”       “I think so,” Terrence replies confidently. “And I’m sure I’d get lucky this time and really start a career as a musician. No lies, no false promises…”       “It will happen, sweetie,” Raquelle smiles shyly.       Silence settles in the air for two seconds, after which Terrence glances at Natalia. While she looks down with sadness in her eyes and kind of nervously pulls down a sleeve of her light coat.       “Hey, Natalia, how’s your grandmother doing?” Terrence asks.       “Thank God, everything’s fine now,” Natalia cracks a smile. “I’ve already told Raquelle about it, but I can repeat: the doctors say there are high chances to get well, and my parents are determined to settle my grandmother at our home.”       “Really? They want to take her to the USA?”       “Yup, it’d be easier for us to take care of her. Because flying from one country to another is very exhausting.”       “I know… At least, the forecasts are positive. So, it means there are good chances to get well.”       “Yup, we need to do a lot for her to get well, but the first steps are taken. Although Grandma Adriana feels exhausted, she doesn’t lose hope, smiles much, and always jokes about something.”       “People say positive thoughts help us get well sooner.”       “You’re right…” Natalia cracks a smile.       Terrence smiles slightly, and the doorbell rings the doorbell some time later.       “Oh, I’ll open,” Terrence says quietly. “I guess my bro has been pleased to come.”       Terrence gets up from the sofa and goes to the door to open it. Then he sees Edward, who does not hide his shy smile and looks quite funny and cheerful.       “Howdy, Terrence!” Edward whoops happily. “Here I am!”       “Oh, hey, the disappearance of the century!” Terrence smiles widely, throwing his hands. “I thought my friend decided to never contact me again!”       Terrence shakes Edward by the hand and hugs him tightly, clapping him on the back.       “Did you think I forgot you?” Edward wonders, stepping back from Terrence. “No, dude, I was dreaming of kicking your ass every single day.”       “Oh, we’ll see it, kid,” Terrence shakes his head with a sly smile. “I was also dreaming of mocking you. I really missed that.”       “I thought you missed your dear friend…” Edward crosses his arms over the chest. “But you just missed the moments when you kicked my ass…”       “Hey, of course, I missed my buddy. And I was worried about you! Although you’re an annoying rugrat, I’m really glad to see you.”       “Same, buddy,” Edward smiles shyly. “I knew it!”       “Oh, Edward…” Terrence ruffles Edward’s hair a little with a quiet laugh, takes him in a strong amicable hug for two seconds again, and steps back. “Okay, come into the house. We were waiting for you.”       Fixing his hair, Edward slowly comes into the house and goes to the living room, looking around with interest while Terrence closes the door. After coming to the living room, the man sees Raquelle and Natalia, who are talking about something and laughing quietly, but now turn on the visitor and get up from the sofa. While Raquelle smiles truly, keeping her promise about treating him well for her fiancé and her friend, Natalia does not rush to attack him with hugs and gets very nervous, feeling not as confident and relaxed as she was before.       “Hey, Edward,” Raquelle greets. “Welcome back!”       “Hey, Raquelle,” Edward replies amicably. “Glad to see you.”       Edward and Raquelle hug each other tightly and share an amicable kiss on the cheek.       “I’m glad to see you, too,” Raquelle says amicably and steps back from Edward. “We didn’t meet in a while. That’s so great you’ve shown up.”       “I’m happy I’m able to communicate with all of you much more again,” Edward replies with a slight smile. “And I really missed you all…”       “We also missed you very much and thought of you almost every single day.”       “Just like I did…” Edward falls into silence for two seconds. “Yeah, you look well. So fresh, cheerful…”       “Thanks,” Raquelle smiles shyly. “Your friend is the main reason for that.”       Edward smiles shyly and says nothing for two seconds. And then he hesitantly glances at Natalia, who is tightly locking her fingers. The man glances aside for a while and then looks at the girl again, not feeling comfortable.       “Erm, hello, Natalia,” Edward greets coldly and hesitantly. “Sorry for making you come here alone… I had a very important business.”       “Hello,” Natalia replies quietly, crossing her arms over her chest. “It’s alright, it’s okay. I get it.”       Natalia swallows up nervously, shifting her weight from one foot to another and definitely dreaming of running away from here. But then Edward blinks at the girl kind of strangely and looks at her not in a very kind way. As if he wants to say or do something. After applying some effort to overcome awkwardness and even a wish not to see each other, Natalia and Edward take each other in a hug without happiness and a slight smile on their faces. They look like they must obey protocol and welcome even those they do not like.       Raquelle and Terrence, who just came to the company, do not like this cold greeting of the lovers. And while the lovers look at each other and doubt that everything is alright more and more, none of them hears Edward and Natalia saying something very quietly.       “What the hell?” Natalia throws coldly in a whisper. “Why was your phone turned off? You said we would come here together.”       “I had a business,” Edward replies much colder. “And actually, I would have regretted it thousands of times if I had gone with you.”       “Then you should not have the fuck started all of that,” Natalia chants, rolling her eyes.       “Shut up and do what you were told to do. Now we will step away and smile as if nothing happened.”       Edward and Natalia sharply step away from each other and put on too false smiles on their faces. Silence settles in the air, during which Terrence and Raquelle frown slightly and look at each other, feeling that the relationship between the couple got sharply colder.       “You aren’t happy about the meeting…” Raquelle notices thoughtfully. “As if you are not happy to see each other.”       “Yeah, are you okay, guys?” Terrence asks hesitantly. “You're behaving strangely and don’t look like you’re happy to see each other after a long separation.”       “Erm, no, no, it's okay,” Natalia replies in a little shaking voice and smiles falsely with sadness in her eyes. “It’s okay…”       “You strangely reacted to each other’s pretense,” Raquelle notices, pulling every single word. “Natalia, you’d been so relaxed and confident before your boyfriend came… You changed, too, Edward…”       “Why do you think so?” Edward wonders as confidently as possible, smiling shyly with a slight scare in his eyes and breathing heavily enough from the excitement. “If everything hadn't been alright, we would’ve hardly come here, knowing we would be here together.”       “Listen, if you feel embarrassed when being together, you could say it,” Terrence says thoughtfully. “Raquelle and I didn’t think it would make you so confused. We thought you’d be happy…”       “No, we’re really very happy,” Edward replies as if nothing happened and hugs the tensed Natalia by the waist, while she swallows up nervously but does not think of getting out. “This dinner is a wonderful chance to meet each other and you two after a long separation.”       “Well, you know, none of you looks really happy about meeting each other,” Raquelle frowns slightly, crossing her arms over her chest. “As if you’re doing this by force.”       “No, you’re wrong, friend,” Natalia tries to hide her excitement as hard as possible, nervously pulling a sleeve from her dark brown blouse. “I’m very glad to meet Edward, and I madly missed him.”       Natalia moves closer to Edward and looks at him with a false smile. He answers her back, swallowing up nervously and hugging her by the waist with a second arm, as if he is standing so close to the girl for the first time in his life.       “I’m also madly happy I’m back in the city and able to see my girlfriend more often,” Edward says quite confidently with a false smile and caresses Natalia’s head, while she is next to him but seems very cold and distanced.       Terrence and Raquelle look at each other questioningly, realizing that people, who are really in love and miss each other, would hardly act like their meetings are something like torture. The soon-to-be spouses decide to watch Edward and Natalia closely with the hope that they will find out something more.       “Erm, okay then,” Raquelle smiles shyly. “In this case, don’t be shy, feel like home…”       “Oh, listen, guys, let's sit at the back of the house,” Terrence suggests amicably, putting his hands on Raquelle’s shoulder. “We could sit at the table and talk quietly about all the latest news. And then Raquelle will cook something for us.”       “Yeah, the weather is quite good…” Raquelle adds, biting her lip. “And I could give you something to drink.”       “Okay, we’re in,” Natalia replies shyly.       “Yeah, we agree…” Edward chants under his nose, taking off his gray coat and putting it on the sofa.       “Let’s go, then…” Terrence pronounces, pointing at the door leading to the back of the house.       Edward and Natalia slowly go forward. After they notice they are not seen, the lovers sharply step away from each other, keeping some distance and not trying to share a look. When Raquelle wants to go to the kitchen and take something to drink, Terrence carefully takes her under an elbow and softly presses her to himself.       “Watch these two very closely,” Terrence whispers. “I don't really like their behavior.”       “I don't like it, too,” Raquelle says quietly. “As if they wouldn’t have come to us if they’d known they’d be here together.”       “I knew my gut didn’t betray me. Something really happened to them.”       “Yeah, they’re kind of strange.”       “Let’s just watch them and the way they’re gonna behave.”       “Try to seat them together. So we see if they feel so disgusting from being together.”       “I think they’ll do it anyway. To prove to us that everything is fine.”       “Maybe… Okay… Then go after them, and I’ll come to you now.”       “Sure.”       Terrence nods and confidently follows Edward and Natalia, who look gloomier than a cloud and are waiting for the lovers while standing near the door.       Natalia, Edward, and Terrence come to the back of the house, where there is a small table and a big pool, in which the lovers often swim as well as many of their friends when they come to visit them. The slight wind is blowing and does not give anyone discomfort, and there is a breathtaking view of high mountains placed somewhere far away. Raquelle and Terrence’s house is surrounded by a few different houses, in which people are living. It's located far from the city on a territory that is under a good view. So, suspicious people are not able to come to the private place.       After coming to the table, the three sit down. While Raquelle is still in the kitchen and just going to come, Terrence sits in front of Natalia and Edward. As the man assumed, they sit down together, even despite a great wish to leave this house and not to see each other. These people prefer keeping a distance, try not to look at each other and glance aside, at their hands, or at Terrence sitting in front of them.       “Hey, Edward, where did you disappear so suddenly?” Terrence asks, folding his hands on the table. “You said anything to anyone and disappeared, but we didn’t know where to find you.”       “Well, I had some business that made me leave the city…” Edward replies hesitantly, looking aside for a second.       “But what kind of business? Is that something serious? Could I help you somehow?”       “No, no, don’t worry, buddy, nothing serious. I’ve solved everything.”       “But why didn’t you text us even once? We called and texted you so many times, but you sent only a couple of unclear messages.”       “Erm…” Edward scratches the back of his head with a thoughtful face. “Sorry, I was so busy with my business that I didn’t check my phone…”       “Well, at least warn us when you leave the city. We can think up terrible things… Or believe you don’t wanna speak to us.”       “Terrence, what are you talking about?” Edward rounds his eyes. “How could you think I wouldn’t love to speak to everybody anymore? I was looking for you for so many years not to forget you a few months later. As if I left the city forever, and we could’ve never met again.”       “But I must confess that was the first thought of mine when Daniel, Peter, and I came back from the tour with Liam, Zach, Brad, and Nate.”       “You can forget it forever. I won’t stop speaking to my family and will warn you if I have to leave somewhere again.”       “Okay, I’m quiet about it then,” Terrence smiles shyly. “The important thing is that you’re back in the city.”       Edward smiles shyly, and two seconds later, Raquelle holding a plate with four glasses of juice comes to the back of the house. Natalia just glances at her and keeps looking at her manicure made in neutral colors, sometimes pulling a sleeve from her blouse.       “I hope everybody loves apple juice,” Raquelle says, putting the glasses in front of the three. “We had a little bit, and I thought we could drink it…”       “I don’t care what,” Edward shrugs with a shy smile. “I’m not fussy about it.”       “But if someone wants something different, let me know.” Raquelle sits down next to Terrence and drinks some juice from the glass placed in front of her.       “You know, Edward, I must confess that my band really needed you,” Terrence confesses with a glass of juice in his hand. “When you disappeared and stopped helping us write songs, we lost our inspiration, and our work got boring.”       “So, do you need me so badly?” Edward laughs shyly.       “Badly… We could be sitting and writing nothing for hours… I don’t know the reason, but you kind of kicked our asses and inspired us… With you, it was easier for us to write songs…”       “Not gonna hide my pride,” Edward moves a strand of hair off his eyes with a proud look and a sly smile. “It’s nice to hear it.”       “No, of course, we wrote something, but that’s not so good to make everyone delighted.”       “If you want, I will keep helping you, Peter and Daniel write songs. Moreover, I’ve got some new ideas that you’re gonna love. I took a few notes somewhere not to forget anything.”       “Oh, I don't know how to tell you, but it seems like we mightn’t need your help,” Terrence exhales quietly. “And we’d hardly need your songs.”       “What do you mean?”       “Too much happened here while you weren’t in the city.”       “Really? What happened while I wasn't here?”       “The band is breaking up,” Terrence replies in a depressed, low voice.       “Breaking up?” Edward sharply sets his shocked eyes at Terrence. “Are you serious?”       “Very serious. The story of ‘Against The System’ might be over without even starting.”       “Did you fight with Peter and Daniel again?”       “No, I didn't fight with them. They do fight with each other. They kind of literally got loose and can’t be in the same room together.”       “But they got on so well and were long-time friends? What didn’t they share?”       “I dunno. I don’t know what happened to them, but those two men refuse to explain something, blame each other for everything, and don’t care about saving the band.”       “And how long has it been happening?”       “After we were back from the tour and started to work at the studio. Before a certain time, everything was fine, but later they began to fight and disrupt the work. Not only that… Peter also started to go to clubs very often and drink to the hell. So, he suffered from a hangover and disrupted the work when Daniel and I were ready to work.”       “Does Peter have problems?” Edward frowns slightly. “Why did he start to drink?”       “I don’t know, Edward, I can get nothing outta them,” Terrence drinks some juice from his glass. “And yesterday, they actually fought at the studio and almost sent each other to a hospital after Daniel had called Peter an impotent.”       “That's good Terrence broke them up and didn’t let them kill each other,” Raquelle adds.       “Gosh, what a story…” Edward shakes his head and drinks some juice from his glass. “Did Daniel get Peter furious with jokes about his relationship?”       “It’s the only thing we can assume. I think Peter was taking it for a long time, but someday he just got excited and took it out on Daniel.”       “Yeah, not only does Peter give Daniel claims but also vice versa,” Terrence notices. “So, there’s something else… Maybe, it even has to do with Rose’s hangouts… But I also don't like the fact that he drinks too much and is literally about to become an alcoholic… And refuse to work…”       “Did you try to talk to them face-to-face?” Edward asks.       “I did and got nothing.”       “So, what are you gonna do? Rose and Perkins must reconcile, or you’d really have to disband the band.”       “I don't know, buddy,” Terrence shrugs. “But the band is getting ruined before the eyes… And before you and Natalia came, I got a call from George, our manager, and producer, who is promoting our band. He said if we didn’t start writing songs soon, the studio will cancel the contract with us. And then, we will confidently say, 'Goodbye, the worldwide fame!'…”       “But you’ve written some songs! Give the texts to George and let him read them.”       “Show a couple of unfinished songs, the release of which would be a shame? It’s not enough! We have nothing more! What can I do if the band refuses to work? But I’m honestly sick of trying to save it alone. Today, I decided not to run after those two and beg them to make peace. Stop! I’m sick!”       “But aren’t you gonna forget about your dream of becoming a musician, even if the band is broken up?”       “Of course, no. Even if Peter and Daniel don't find a compromise, and our band breaks up forever, I'll be looking for other ways to come into the musical world. The girls and I talked about it and are sure the studio wouldn’t love to break a contract with me and would love me to record a solo album. And trust me, it’s a real chance this time! ‘Five Seconds Records’ is one of the most famous labels in our country that works with the best artists. They would help me start a career as a musician and reach for my dream that I’m not gonna give up on because of two idiots.”       “That's right! That's cool you don't lose a positive spirit. I’m sure the studio wouldn’t let you go and would offer you a contract as a solo singer. I’d feel sorry if the guys and you disbanded your band. But I feel those two don’t care about it too much ‘cause they don’t even try to save it.”       “I’m also sorry, but I will never forget our tour with ‘The Loser Syndrome…’” Terrence smiles shyly. “After that, I made absolutely sure that I wanted to become a musician. A big stage, lots of people, an expensive electric guitar, a cool sound, deafening whoops… Cool! I still get goosebumps on my back from those memories…”       “We’re sure you’d make the world talk about you and make them sure you were born to be a musician,” Raquelle says proudly with a wide smile.       “There are the people, who motivate me.”       Terrence runs his hand over Raquelle’s cheek with a slight smile, while she puts her head on his shoulder for a second. Natalia gets a little sad and looks at her hands with a quiet sigh. While Edward shakes his leg nervously and looks at her with pity but offense, the girl quickly looks around and decides to speak:       “By the way, guys, where are your servants?”       “We let them go for two days, so they see their families,” Raquelle replies shyly.       “They don't see their family for months,” Terrence adds. “So, we decided to give them some free time.”       “But I thought you got mad ‘cause they knew everything about you and talked about your life,” Edward replies funnily. “And decided to fire them.”       “We’re famous people, Edward, and used to being discussed,” Raquelle says amicably, taking a little sip of juice. “The important thing is that the servants do their work well, and we pay them because they deserve it.”       “Can you do it without servants?” Natalia asks amicably, taking a sip of juice. “I think you've gotten out of such things as cleaning, cooking, ironing, and others.”       “Maybe, the servants do all of that for us, but I can do it by myself if I have to,” Raquelle laughs shyly. “We often let the servants go, and I can cook something, clean up home, and wash and iron clothes. It’s not hard. We just don’t have time for that due to work. So, we have to ask servants for help.”       “You were just raised in a common family that had no servants. Your grandfather and aunt taught you to watch cleanliness and do any type of homework.”       “Yeah, they taught me a lot…”       “Hey, how are they doing? Do you often visit Mr. Cameron and talk with Alicia?”       “I don't forget about Grandpa and help him do homework at times or buy something. And I talk to Auntie on the phone at times and tell her what’s happening here.”       “Wouldn’t she like to come here and spend time with you?”       “Aunt Alicia said she’d come when she had free time and money.”       “Well, I think she will come to the wedding of Terrence and you.”       “Sure. Grandpa and she can’t wait for my wedding. They were so happy when I told them about my engagement.”       “Cool!”       “But now she’s busy with adopting a girl from an orphan house. She said she needed to do a little before my aunt was able to take that baby with her.”       “I think she's gonna be a great mother,” Natalia replies with a slight smile. “Alicia is so kind and caring… She’s always treated you like a daughter.”       “I can’t wait to meet that girl, who’s gonna be my cousin.”       “Soon, honey, soon.”       Natalia and Raquelle continue to talk about something quietly, while Edward decides to talk with Terrence about his family, bending at him across the table.       “Hey, Terrence, how is Mrs. MacClife doing there?” Edward asks. “I madly miss her and wanna see her.”       “Mother is doing fine,” Terrence smiles slightly. “By the way, she asked very much about you and is also missing you. She’s worried ‘cause you suddenly disappeared and haven’t visited her for a long time.”       “I wanna visit her and talk with her someday. And I’m dreaming of eating a couple of her donuts, which she cooks incredibly well. I was thinking of her sweet food when I wasn’t here…”       “Don’t eat too much sweet food, buddy,” Terrence smiles slyly. “You know how big your ass would get if you ate too much of it.”       “Yours hasn’t gotten bigger because of eating like an elephant. Yes, I adore sweet food and feel bad if I don’t eat at least a little piece of chocolate every day. But it doesn’t mean I’m gonna be eating it all day long.”       “Aha, but it happens that you eat almost all donuts or the half of a cake that Mother cooks.”       “What I can do if I've never eaten such delicious food before,” Edward smiles innocently. “I’m sure Mrs. MacClife would offer them to me if I visited her at home.”       “I’ll find out when you’re gonna visit her out of spite and go with you. You must share Mrs. MacClife’s food with your friend.”       “Actually, I don’t have to give you my food.”       “Wait for a while, buddy, when the girls aren’t near us, I will kick your ass enough,” Terrence threatens. “Now, I don’t wanna destroy your big haycock on your head. That you didn’t probably brush when you woke up in the morning.”       “I’ll surely strike your invisible crown off your head and put it on. Why I can’t feel like an irresistibly handsome man that all girls around the world drool over.”       “There is only one, who is like me. You’re too far away from me. You’ll always be just a cute guy with a pretty, pretty face.”       “Sympathetic guys also get attention.”       Terrence makes fun of the way Edward speaks and gets a slight clap on his head, after which he laughs quietly. And then Natalia and Raquelle stop talking.       “Oh, guys, don’t start it, at least now…” Raquelle moans tiredly. “You just met, but you’re thinking about how to kick each other’s ass.”       “Yeah, why we always talk about other people,” Natalia says amicably, folding her hands on the table and trying to behave like she is alright. “Tell me how you and Raquelle are doing. I really want to know how you are.”       “We’re fine,” Terrence smiles shyly. “We don’t regret canceling a breakup, got much closer to each other, and aren’t gonna break up.”       “Have you picked up a wedding day?”       “Nope yet. We haven’t talked about it. We’ve got too much to do and don’t wanna rush.”       “Hey, I heard you were invited to the premiere of the new movie,” Edward notices. “It seems like ‘If Today Was Your Last Day’… They promoted it too hard that I heard about it literally all the time.”       “But promoting it was worth it,” Raquelle smiles slightly and drinks some juice. “Terrence and I managed to attend the closed premiere of the movie earlier than the movie was realized in cinemas. And that was so great… Fans, as always, were very sweet, photographers couldn’t stop taking photos, and reporters tried to make a sensation out of nothing.”       “Anyway, we spent a great time,” Terrence adds cheerfully. “We managed to talk with the actors, who played in that movie. And I personally liked it… That was really wonderful.”       “Do you think it deserves our attention?” Natalia asks.       “Yes, the movie met all my expectations.”       “So, I’ll be waiting for it to be released in cinemas,” Natalia replies with a smile. “I’ve wanted to see it for a long time… I’m interested in a storyline… And a couple of favorite actors…”       “M-m-m, I even know who…” Raquelle smiles slyly. “I’m gonna say more, I talked with that man, who was very sweet to talk with.”       “And he’s so handsome…” Natalia rolls her eyes up with a slight smile. “My gosh, why are there so many handsome actors in the show business? I literally don’t know who to keep an eye on! I don't know who’s better, and who could find the man of my dream…”       Edward throws a gloomy look at Natalia, as if he is not happy that she calls someone handsome. But the man quickly begins pretending that he heard nothing and continues to talk as quietly as possible. However, the girl’s words also make Raquelle and Terrence suspicious. They are surprised to hear her saying it with the pretense of her sweetheart.       “You know, I wouldn’t personally mind watching it again,” Terrence confesses, drinking some juice. “And I will surely buy it when it’s out on DVD or Blu-ray.”       “Let’s wait for them to start selling tickets to the movie and go to watch it all together,” Edward suggests with a slight smile.       “Good idea!” Raquelle exclaims. “I’ll go to the cinema and watch that movie again with pleasure.”       Natalia says nothing and just smiles kind of nervously.       “Okay, I think you know everything is fine about me and Terrence,” Raquelle says thoughtfully and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Now it’s your time to tell us how you’re doing, my dears.”       “Erm, everything’s okay about us,” Edward replies in a little shaking voice with a false smile. “You can’t imagine how much I missed Natalia when I had to leave the city for my business. I was thinking of her and couldn’t wait for the day I would see her.”       “Yeah, I missed Edward very much, too…” Natalia smiles too falsely, as if she is unsuccessfully trying to play along with Edward. “Although I was busy helping my parents take care of Grandma, I always thought of him and wanted to see it. Sadly, we didn’t even manage to say goodbye because everything happened too quickly.”       “By the way, how is she doing?” Edward asks with half-closed eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. “Is her therapy successful?”       “Yeah, everything is fine. The doctors say she will get well soon.” Natalia puts on a false smile. “So, everything will be alright soon.”       “That’s good,” Edward pronounces in a low voice, leaning back in the chair and setting his dead eyes on the glass of juice placed in front of them. “I’m glad.”       Edward sharply turns upon Natalia and looks at everything around him like he does not care about the state of the relative of his girlfriend. Natalia and Edward’s strange behavior makes Raquelle and Terrence much more suspicious. They frown slightly and look at each other, letting know that their guesses have more reasons.       “Hey, Natalia, you did something to your hair,” Raquelle notices, closely looking at Natalia. “No more black strands…”       “Yeah, I wanted something new…” Natalia smiles shyly, takes a thin elastic band off her hair, and runs her hand through it. “I got sick of the black strands and decided to get rid of them. And change my hair a little. As you see, I kept the length that I had on the back and got cascade on the front as.”       “Are some changes gonna happen? You often change your hair when something happens in your life.”       “Nope, no changes will happen… I just wanted to change something about myself… That’s all… But you know that I also wanted to get a straight fringe but changed my mind at the last moment. And a hair master at a salon said this hairstyle would look better for me.”       “No, no fringe,” Raquelle replies with a smile. “You look very good with this hairstyle.”       “Thanks a lot,” Natalia smiles shyly and starts to look at Raquelle’s hair. “By the way, you also changed something about yourself. You didn't have this fringe before…”       “Yeah, I cut off a few centimeters of my hair with split ends and also got this fringe,” Raquelle says with a slight smile, fixing her fringe brushed on the left side. “Actually, I also wanted to get a straight bang, but later, I thought I'd look bad.”       “Great, you look good,” Natalia smiles shyly.       “Thanks a lot, friend.”       Silence settles in the air for two seconds, during which everybody drinks some juice from their glasses.       “So, what are anyone’s plans for tonight?” Edward asks a little hesitantly. “Would we have only dinner? Or are there other suggestions?”       “I don’t have shootings scheduled for today,” Raquelle shrugs. “So, I’m all yours for the rest of this day.”       “And everything went wrong in my case because Peter and Daniel weren't pleased to come to the studio,” Terrence replies. “The phones of those guys aren’t available… But as I said, I’m sick of running after them.”       “I have a feeling that Daniel also decided to play this game and not to go to the studio,” Edward assumes, knocking at the table with his fingers. “Something like why Peter skips work and comes when he wants, but he doesn’t do it.”       “I think so. Before, Peter came to the studio late, even with a headache, and Daniel always showed up at the right time. But now neither of them came there today.”       “Oh, yeah, and you have to suffer because of those two,” Natalia sighs quietly.       “You're right, I should really tear myself apart between them,” Terrence sighs tiredly, leaning back in the chair. “Honestly, I never had to tear myself in two between friends.”       “Yeah, it's hurt,” Edward agrees with sadness in his eyes. “Don’t they understand you’re suffering because of them? If they have a real reason for a conflict, what’s the point in hiding it from you, swearing and having fights at the studio?”       “I don’t know, Edward, but now I don’t care about it. They can keep dragging our band down and bring everything to an imminent breakup.” Terrence scratches the back of his head with a thoughtful face. “But I don’t like everything that’s happening now.”       “I know, but don't worry about it. I don't think everything is lost. Or even if it is, it's not the reason to give up and forget about your dream.”       “I know, but it's unpleasant anyway… The thing is not about that we're the band. The thing is about our friendship. Despite their shortcomings, those lads are very good. They’re very interesting to talk with. Perkins and Rose got quite close to me after we met a few months ago. But because of these fights, I’m not able to spend time with them two, only with one of them.”       “Maybe, someone would love to tell you why they fought and are ready to kill each other.”       “Maybe, but I think I won’t care. Because we’ll hardly save the band… And I think our friendship won’t be the same as it was before. My relationship with them will definitely be different.”       “As if you’ve got no friends but Daniel and Peter. What about your childhood friend, Benjamin? Do you spend less time with him than before? Or don’t you speak to him?”       “I really, rarely communicate with Ben,” Terrence sighs with sadness in his eyes, running his hand over his hair. “We didn’t fight, but we meet much rarely than before. There was a period when we were hanging out together every day. Or took a couple of friends with us.”       “Don’t you wanna meet him?” Natalia asks. “Invite him to your home or visit him yourself! I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you.”       “Maybe, I’ll visit him someday… Talk with him and his mother, who I’ve always got on well…”       “Mrs. MacClife kind of knows that woman well…” Edward says thoughtfully. “She somehow told me about Ben’s mother…”       “Yup, they know each other but also speak very rarely. However, when they meet, they’re always happy to see each other.”       “Then take her with you and go visit them. Mother would talk to that woman, and you’d talk to Parker about something.”       “Oh, I doubt that Mr. Parker thinks of his childhood friend,” Terrence smiles slyly and locks his fingers. “The case is that he got a chance to meet one of our servants. Of course, I don’t know how a guy like him got attracted to the girl, who does differ from his ex-girlfriends, but Ben is determined to conquer her heart.”       “But Terrence and I don't want it because that girl is suffering too much,” Raquelle adds with sadness in her eyes.       “You have only three servants, among who there’s only one young girl…” Edward recalls. “The others are about twenty or older.”       “Yup, Benjamin fell in love with Blair, the youngest one of the servants.”       “Wait, do you mean the short, young girl with dark hair?” Natalia specifies thoughtfully. “She doesn’t use cosmetics and has all the same topknot…”       “That’s her.”       “Yup, I'd feel sorry for that girl if she fell in love with Benjamin, and he left her,” Natalia leans back in the chair.       “We mean the same,” Raquelle says with sadness in her eyes. “That man can't love seriously, ‘cause he easily leaves a girl, who falls in love with him. Parker is a womanizer and runs after everything in a skirt…”       “We want to save Blair from that,” Terrence adds, taking some sips of juice. “I don't think she’d feel good if she fell in love with my friend.”       “Haven’t you talked with him about it?” Edward asks.       “I’ve done. We've argued about it many times. And he is conquering very confidently: making surprises, inviting her to a café… And he recently sent her a bouquet of flowers.”       “How does Blair take it?” Natalia asks.       “Quite positively,” Raquelle smiles shyly. “She likes all those surprises and doesn’t refuse to go somewhere with him. But she makes us sure that she isn’t gonna fall in love with him.”       “Maybe, it leads to something good?” Edward assumes, drinking some juice. “What if Benjamin just needs to find a girl that he would fall in love with very much? For real love, he’d do his best to change himself and stop running after everything in a skirt.”       “Are you kidding?” Terrence laughs quietly. “That man is twenty-seven, but he's still looking for that girl. Mr. Parker hasn't found the girl, for whom he would stop having love affairs. However, I doubt that the long-time womanizer would sharply stop looking at other girls even after totally falling in love with someone.”       “What if? I know it’s almost impossible, ‘cause when a man hangs out with girls, he keeps doing this over and over. But what if a miracle happens?”       “Don’t make me laugh, Edward. I’d rather stop being superstitious and start to believe in a supernatural power or magic than Parker would suddenly become a family man and not cheat. I’m actually surprised that he hasn’t become a daddy after hanging out with girls. Any girl could’ve given birth to a child from him and made Ben pay alimony.”       “Right, that’s amazing…” Edward drinks some juice from the half-filled glass. “But you know, buddy, I’m ready to bet that Parker starts to change himself after meeting the girl he needs. Maybe, not at once, but he will do it someday.”       “Do you believe Benjamin could really change?” Terrence laughs shyly.       “Yes, I do!” Edward says confidently with his head proudly raised.       Terrence thinks for a while, then smiles slyly and, being absolutely sure that Edward would be wrong, decides to do something.       “You know, kid, let's make a wager?” Terrence suggests, bending to Edward across the table. “That Parker would not fall in love with Blair and would leave her. Just like he did it to all his girlfriends.”       “I agree!” Edward clicks his fingers. “Beat for a wish! A loser will make a winner's wish come true.”       “Get ready to lose, my dear bro. And take the fact that you’re gonna owe me.”       “Ha, we will see, pretty boy. Don’t forget that your great self-confidence might play an evil joke with you.”       “Don’t turn up your nose. I see you’ve become too sassy.”       “Okay, so, let’s bet on a wish and watch what’s gonna happen,” Edward points a hand to Terrence for a handshake.       “Deal!”       Edward and Terrence shake each other by the hand and break their handshake with a sly smile on their faces a little later.       “I hope your wishes will be adequate,” Terrence expresses hope. “If I made this wager with Peter or Daniel, they would offer me what would make me kill them.”       “Well, knowing that they're idiots, I couldn’t disagree,” Edward laughs shyly.       “Yeah…” Terrence nods with a thoughtful look.       Edward chuckles and says nothing for two seconds. And then talk with Raquelle, Natalia, and Terrence about something that does not have to do with them or anyone surrounding them. Natalia and Edward do not look at each other even once all this time. They try to keep the distance, do not hold each other’s hands, and do not hug each other. Raquelle and Terrence see it very well and make absolutely sure that this couple surely has some problems. Even though they keep behaving as if nothing happened, thinking about what they could do to find out what happened between those, who were crazy about each other some time ago.