“Come on Nessie, you know you can’t just come into my room whenever you want and take my stuff.
Even superstars need to ask people for permission too.”
“Yeah but when I’m a rich superstar I won’t need to borrow peoples things Leste”.
I giggle, spinning around wearing Celeste’s big floppy hat and her one shade of lipstick in Neon pink.
“I’m going to be the biggest pop star, you just wait and see Leste and if I hurt myself. You can come and
take care of me like big sisters do. Or..Or will you be too busy looking after the kids in your class?”
Stopping me in the middle of my spins Celeste laughs and pulls me down on the bed with her.
“I’ll always have time for you Nessie, No matter what or where I am l will always be there when you
need me. Always”
“I bet your gonna be like Mrs Aroha, She’s the bestest teacher In the whole wide world” I excitedly say
as I think of my teacher.
“That’s because Mrs Aroha loves to eat kids for dessert..” She growls as she starts to tickle me in the
ribs.
“Nah-uh..” I laugh wildly. “She wouldn’t hurt a hair on our heads, she loves us.”
“Damn, I was really hoping to have eyeball soup. I heard it’s scrumptious when you use 6 year olds
eyes.” Leste moans l, licking her lips.
“Are you serious Leste cause if you are then..” I trail off not wanting to finish my sentence.
“No.. You Silly Billy!” She laughs loudly at me.
“Phew.. Cause I was gonna say we can no longer be sisters then.” I giggle.
“You lie.” Leste starts to fake cry.
“Maybe, but I’d love you forever Lester bear. Never doubt my love for you.” I say to her.
“Never babe and ALWAYs remember I’ll love you always.” She says as she lightly kisses me on the
forehead..
“Besides, us Maddison sisters have to stick together”

I snap awake in a pool of my sweat.

“Us Maddison girls have to stick together”
She once said.

Only she never did stick around. She left, she left me behind with so many unanswered questions I
thought to myself. I haven’t dreamt of her in awhile either. Must have something to do with meeting
Luca last night and his claim of knowing us. I throw my blankets off and get out of bed, I strip the bed
pulling the damp sheets off. I walk towards my door and dump the sheets into the laundry hamper.
Coffee.

I need some coffee to shake the uneasy feeling I suddenly have. A feeling I haven’t experienced for
awhile. I head out towards the kitchen and walk past Chrissy’s room, the doors open and her beds still
made. Clearly she hadn’t come home. I walk into the kitchen and look at the time on the microwave:
6.23am. Two things shock me.
Firstly, how late in the morning it is and secondly, Chrissy hadn’t come home which was so unlike her. I
grab the jug and fill it with water setting it back onto the bench top switching it on. I walk over to the
other side of the kitchen and pick up my phone that’s laid next to my bag on the countertop. I’d walked
in this morning and just dumped it on the countertop before heading straight to bed. There’s one text
message and I open it.

Luca: I hope you managed to get some sleep, Have dinner with me tonight. Luca.

Hmmmmm... 5.34 Am. Does the guy not sleep? Like seriously.
I reply back to him.

Vanessa: Slept okay thank-you and the answer is still NO!

I tap out and open a new message to send Chrissy. My phone makes a ding sound. Not second guessing
who it is I continue to message Chrissy.

Vanessa: Where are you, please let me know you’re okay

I push send and open the new text I received.

Luca: Did you dream of me?

This guy seriously needs to find something better to do.

Vanessa: Nope, You didn’t cross my mind one bit.

I put my phone back down on the counter and walk back towards the jug grabbing a mug to make my
coffee when another ding occurs. Ignoring it knowing, it’s probably Luca. I continue to make my coffee. I
take my coffee and grab my phone then head back towards my room. I need to start making myself look
presentable for my Care Bears.  what seemed like 5 minutes turned out into forty minutes.  My phone
dings again. I pick the phone up hoping Chrissy has replied and she's okay. I open the messages and
there is one from Luca and one from Chrissy. I open Chrissy’s message first.

Chrissy: I’m so sorry Nessa, I lost track of time and just decided to stay with Conrad. I’ll tell you everything when I get home in a few hours or so. L.Y.
So she stayed with the barman, Good for her. Let’s just hope she used protection.

Vanessa: Just got worried, hope you gloved him before you rode him. L.Y.2.

I open the other message from Luca.

Luca: All in good time Cara Mia. I will be starring in all your dreams.

I stare at the message and shake my head.

Seriously?

I suppose you cant be dangerously good looking without having an ego to match your shoe size.
Such a shame.
I put my phone back down and quickly finish getting ready for work.

“Lord help me and give me patience.” I whisper.
                                                       

                                                        *****************

I stroll through the door just after 6pm. I'm Tired, hungry, and feel as if my feet are going to curl up and
fall off. I quickly change into a pair of sweats and a loose fitted tee. Then, I walk back to the kitchen and
make myself a quick sandwich and a large coffee. Its all I can be half arsed bothered to do right now.  I’m
just gonna let this be my pre dinner before Chrissy and I decide on what to eat. Not long after I take a
seat Chrissy walks through the door.

“Wow... Chrissy look at you, Talk about a rough night huh?” I chuckle as I take a bite from my sandwich.
She looks like a complete ravished train wreck as she saunters closer towards me with a twinkle in her
eye.

“Ravished... Hell yeah, But a train wreck? I doubt it” She flicks her hair and snatches my cup of coffee up
from the counter and parks her butt on the stool next to me.

“Mmmm Coffee” she takes a long sip as if her life depended on it.

“Nessa, Conrad is just… Just amaze balls!” She says dreamily with a goofy smile planted on her face.

“Nice one Chrissy, You finally found a man with balls that he can truly amaze you with huh?” I glance
back at her and we both start to laugh.

“Yeah, amaze balls with a sex appetite of a starved man. I don’t know how I managed to keep up with
him... But, I did and he wants to see me again.” She grabs the other half of my sandwich.
She takes a bite and groans with appreciation.

“The man obviously forgot to feed you in the process” I laugh as she finishes off the sandwich.
She looks at me and giggles.

“Oh honey, He fed me alright and I swallowed every inch he had to offer” Slipping off the barstool she
kisses me on the forehead.

“I’m going to take a long hot soak in the tub before crashing out. Wake me up when you’ve ordered us
dinner, I don’t care what you order as long as its eatable and can feed a small army. We’ll definitely talk
more later” She says over her shoulder as she walks off with a bounce in her step.

I spend a few hours reading my Care Bears creative writing projects, most of them have some exotic tales to tell and the others.. Well,
they have very little to no imagination what so ever. Maybe Journal entries on a daily basis might help them excel in their writing and reading skills too. I make a mental note to grab some Journals when I’m
out and about next.
                     
                                                        *************************

We sit in front of the T.V eating Chinese take-out with a glass of white wine.

“So……” Chrissy begins to ask.

“Please, tell me you at least got
some action from the taxi driver?” She shoulder bumps me playfully.

I look at her and my cheeks slowly turn red.

“You cheeky bitch!” She laughs.

“You did, didn’t you? Well, come on... spill.”

I tell her how I was literally knocked off my feet when I met Luca. I go on and describe how godly he
looks and the way my body reacted to him.

“He texted me this morning. He asked me to have dinner and I declined him.” I sigh.

“You text him back and tell him you’ve changed your mind first thing in the morning do you hear me?”
There’s a slight bite to her words.

I sit in silence for a brief moment when there’s only the noise of the T.V echoing in the background.

“I’m scared... He knows who I am and what happened with Celeste. I cant help but feel slightly drawn to
him.” I set my plate on the coffee table then pour myself another glass of wine and lean back against the
sofa glancing over at Chrissy.

“You know you can’t keep running from the past Nessa, It’s just not realistic. You’ve got to learn to face
that part of your life and take charge. I’ve watched it eat you up inside for years. You live half a life and
that half still remains in the past” Leaning in closer and laying her head on my shoulder she continues.

“Maybe you should go out and have dinner with this Luca guy, He obviously isn’t the type of man that
takes no for an answer lightly. In fact he seems more like the Alpha male type: demanding and always in
control and that’s just the type of man you need hon.” I take another sip of my wine and let what she
says sink in for a bit.

“I don’t need a man, especially one like Luca. I'm happy on my own and I love my new job” I mummer.
“Besides, I’m trying to move forward and I can’t really do that with someone who is a blast from the
past.”

“Sure you can. He’s probably just what you need. Don’t let your past define who you can be Nessa. You
deserve to be happy too you know?” She looks at me with loving eyes.

“I do, you have a habit of reminding me.” I smile at her.

“Did you have a good day, was your head banging?” Chrissy sits up again.
I let out a deep sigh.

“Yeah I did to answer both of your questions. I just hope I'm good enough to fill their brains with
knowledge.”
Chrissy shoulder bumps me.

“Don’t sweat it hon, you’re fucking amazing and those kids.”

“Care Bears” I correct her

"Care Bears.. Are lucky to have you.”
She raises her glass. “Let’s make a toast. To new careers and new lives”

I raise mine and tap my glass against hers.

“And to us!” I smile. “ Ten years down the track and we’re still inseparable.”