Years passed, the group graduated from college and most went their separate ways. But a small portion of their group had decided to move to New York. After Amaras mother had passed on, a year after she had graduated college, she sold her house and the studio. With the money Gilbert, Amara and Matthew decided to move to New York. They bought an apartment building in the Chinatown district, renting it out at a pretty fair price considering it was New York City. It was a four floor building mashed between two much taller buildings. On the roof Amara, and the woman who rented out the basement level, had turned it into a garden of sorts. Small flower beds, herb garden and but mainly tea leaves and vegetables. Ludwig and Feliciano lived a few blocks away in the Italian district where Feliciano and Romano had grown up. Alfred and Irina had decided to stay in Springfield and much to everyones shock had gotten married and were now expecting a baby. Amara of course had attended the wedding but hadn't stayed long, knowing that Ivan was probably going to show up. She and Irina had become close after the unfortunate parting between the couple. She still worried for him, but Irina would show her postcards from his travels around the US and that helped to ease her somewhat. She hadn't seen Ivan until their graduation day, and they had studiously ignored each other.
Time had helped her to move past all of her woes and worries. She had a job as a 911 call center operator, Gilbert had started work as a psychologist, and Mattie was working at the library close to their apartment.
"Hey the tree lighting is happening next week, are we going to go?" Matt asked her as they went down the streets of Chinatown occasionally popping into the small basement shops. "Heck yeah man! I've always wanted to go to the lighting of the tree, I've heard it's pretty packed though!" She said messing with her now short, Bob styled, chestnut hair. "So how are things going with Alfred? Is he excited about the baby?" She asked and she saw Matthew grin, he was so happy to be an uncle. "Yeah, they finally found out that they're having a little girl." Amara squealed ecstatically, doing a small dance of joy which garnered a few stares. "He is gonna be such a funny dad, he sure has grown up though. Goofy kid no more, though I'm amazed Irina is putting up with him working a beat." Alfred had long since joined the police force in Springfield, it wasn't a dangerous job considering the town was fairly quiet but Irina had expressed her worries to Amara more than once. "You and I both know if the worst should happen Ivan would drag him back from the dead and kick his ass." She would've laughed but the mention of his name still sent a pang through her heart. "You know he's living in New York now right?" Matt asked, he knew better than to bring Ivan up but he knew he should be the one to tell her considering that he and Gilbert had gotten to hanging out lately. "Really?" Amara blandly replied, she didn't really want to think about running into him someday. "Yeah, but hey don't worry about it I'm sure he lives far far away from here, Gilbert says he's some big CEO now." She was happy he was doing so well, that they had both moved on. The mark she carried in her shoulder still remained there but aside from the occasional glimpse of it she would catch in the mirror she'd forgotten all about it.
Reaching the apartment the two went their separate ways. Amara lived on the fourth floor, Gilbert on the third, and Mattie on the first. who was a widow with no children lived in the basement, though she spoke very little English she and Amara had become close. Amara taught her bits of English and she tried to teach Amara Mandarin, which was a lost cause she could only talk about food and tea not very well at that. Shrugging off her coat as she entered the foyer she could hear Gilbert banging around down stairs, Should I Stay Or Should I Go just barely heard by her which signaled he was playing Rockband. Shaking her head and opening the fridge, pulling out leftover pasta from Felicianos last visit. Heating it up on the stove top she tidied up her kitchen a bit and looked out at the dim streets of Chinatown. The few trees outside were barren of leaves, the chilly winter air blowing the crunchy leaves around on the sidewalk.
Settling on to her couch once she'd finished her dinner she started reading a book Mattie had grabbed her from the library. She wasn't sure when it was that she actually fell asleep she was only awoken when Gilbert crashed into her apartment and dove on her. "Get up frau! I need your help!" He yelled almost directly in her ear, which was met with a sleepy but dead on backhand. "Come on Gil really?" She groaned, then she saw the sunlight streaming through the windows signaling that it was early morning. "I have coffee but I need you to come vith me!" He yelled, she was still dressed in her jeans and long sleeved shirt from yesterday and she arose with a groan. "What are we doing?" She asked but her only response was his 'kesesese'.
Once she had woken up and drank her coffee she and Gilbert were on their way, to where she had no clue but she followed him anyway. When he entered a large, very fancy, building Amara followed him hesitantly. "What are we doing here Gilbert?" She asked and he finally turned to her with his large toothy grin. "Well I may or may not have taken it upon myself to set you up." He said now Amara glared at him an eyebrow arched. "Oh? With who might I ask?" They entered the elevator and he hit the button for the top floor, then quickly jumped out. "You'll see! Now you have an appointment for an interview but never mind that, good luck Klein frau!" The doors closed and she didn't even have a chance to yell at him, she had a damn job why the hell would he do this? The straightened out her light blue blouse and tried to make her hair look somewhat better. The doors opened to a quiet office setting, there was a large conference room and a few desks that were set apart by borderwalls. She went to the front desk where a young woman, her belly rounded out from pregnancy, sat. "Hi my name is Amara I have an interview?" She said, shifting awkwardly on the balls of her feet. "Yes! Just go right to that office right there and take a seat." With a nodded and a mumbled thank you she made her way to the office, opening up the frosted glass door and stepping inside. It was empty but she took a seat in front of a large mahogany desk. It was devoid of any sort of decoration or personalization but she didn't think much about it.
It was only when the door clicked open and the owner of the office stepped through that it all suddenly made sense. In walked Ivan, in a suit and tie, he looked not older but more distinguished. His face was serious and professional right up until he saw her, then it was total shock. Amara decided she was going to kill Gilbert, she was going to bring him back and then kill him again. "Uh hey." She finally managed to speak with a smile and an awkward wave. Still staring at her, man she had missed those violet eyes. "So you're..." He looked at his paper and she had to stifle a laugh at what he said next. "Mrs. Futeinmouth?" The look he was giving her was both confusion and maybe annoyance. "Apparently, blame Gilbert...so how've things been?" She asked, shifting awkwardly in her seat as he sat on the edge of his desk. "Good, as you can see I help run a pretty big company now, imports and exports between the US and China." He explained, man the tension between the two was palpable. "Well that's great, I'm happy for you." She gave a smile which he returned. "But I'll let you get back to actual work since I have a pretty good job already." Standing she was surprised when he also stood and grabbed her arm lightly. "You don't have to leave, you were my only interview today and I was going to get lunch if you would like to join me?" There was a split second of hesitation, she knew what she could be diving back into if she accepted. "Why not, though with that suit I doubt we're just gonna go grab pizza." He gave her a smile, that smile that used to melt her heart and that even after all this time still did. "I suppose I'll just have to surprise you." As they made their way from his office and out to his car, no longer a beat up truck but a brand new Mazda, she couldn't help but feel like everything was falling into place. Oh how wrong she was.
Tell me what you thought of the first chapter of My Hell! I never got a review for My Heaven and I need to know how you guys think the story is progressing! Now what's going to happen in the next chapter tune in and find out! For now Cupcake out!
