Disclaimer: Sadly I only own my original characters

Florin: Thanks for the review, I really appreciate the encouragement.

Chapter 2

The Reunion

"ARRGH! I give up!" Myra shouted, "Why don't you ever do what your told?"

She was standing in front of her mirror trying, and failing, at styling her long dark hair. She'd never been able to do anything with it anyway. Why'd she think today would be any different? Just then the doorbell rang. "Can you get that?" She shouted to Jade, her roommate. She then proceeded to put mascara on. She stopped just short of doing so, looked at her reflection and thought the better of it. She put it away and went to finish getting dressed.

She'd chosen a blue, multi-length skirt and the black top with the flared sleeves. She wanted to look her best today. Then she started putting on her favorite boots. "Back less than a week and you're already giving orders," a voice said from the doorway.

It was Jade. She looked much like Myra except her hair was straight and her eyes were green. She was holding a package in one hand. "I was in no position to answer it myself," Myra said without looking up, "So who was at the door?"

"Just this package. Its for me, do you think I should open it?"

"Sure," said Myra, "You won't know what it is until you do."

Inside was a beautiful necklace. It was a silver rose on a black velvet cord. There was also a small note. "Well, what dose it say?"

"'Trust her.' That's funny. They're usually a little longer than that."

"What's usually longer?"

"Well, every once in a while, I get these packages with gifts in them. They have notes like this, but they usually say things like 'Congratulations on your Graduation' or 'Happy 12th Birthday,' stuff like that."

"Hmm. That's not much longer. I wonder who you're supposed to trust?"

"Oh well, it doesn't matter. Hurry up! We're going to be late."

They ran out the door and jumped into their car. Today they were going to have a reunion of sorts. Their group of college friends had been separated for some time, each choosing different career paths. Today they were all going to meet at The Glade Cafe, named so for the way it was decorated to look like a rain forest. It was where they used to study and chat during their college days. They'd all reserved this day in their schedules over a year ago so they'd have an excuse to catch up.

When Myra and Jade got to The Glade a few friends were already there. Mike, Sara, and Roland were sitting in their favorite booth chatting animatedly. Mike and Sara had gotten married in the previous year and Sara was now pregnant with their first child. "How goes it in the life of an archaeologist?" Roland asked Myra as they walked up to the table.

He looked exactly the same as he used to. His curly, light brown hair was unkempt and his brown eyes sparkled in the morning light. "Oh, same ol', same ol'. " she replied, " I just got back from a dig in Mongolia. We just uncovered what appears to be the oldest ruins we've ever found. How about you? What are you up to now?"

"I've just been doing some traveling. I couldn't stand being in one place too long." Myra nodded in agreement, she knew the feeling. Just then four more people entered the cafe, talking loudly. It was Jonathan, Nicole, Tristan, and another woman they'd never seen before. Jonathan looked every bit like an Indian Brave would be described. He had long, black hair, no facial hair whatsoever, and a very stoic natural expression. He went immediately to the counter and ordered something. "Typical." Myra thought.

Nicole, a tall, blond woman with slightly sharp features, came and sat down first. "Hey guys," she said," Sorry Daniel couldn't make it. He had an....emergency at work." That was typical too; he seemed to be a very important person, though he never discussed his job. And Nicole, being his girlfriend, was left to make excuses.

Tristan was a handsome man by anyone's standards. His dark eyes never missed a detail. He glanced in a mirror on the other side of room and ran his fingers through his hair, hair so dark as to be almost blue. The woman on his arm was very beautiful, though not like the girls he usually had around. She looked as if she didn't know how to have fun.

Her dark hair was pulled back into a tight bun and her face looked to be one that rarely smiled. They walked over to the table. Jonathan followed carrying a large tray of food. He sat down and started to eat. "Hey! Is some of that for us?" Roland asked. Jonathan glared, and tossed him a french fry, which hit him square in the nose.

"Well, now that we're almost all here I guess it's a good time to introduce you to my girlfriend." Tristan stated, "This is Nayda. We met when I was flying to France. I just had to bring her to meet you. Nayda, these are my friends, Myra, Jade, Mike, Sara and Roland," he said gesturing to each of them in turn."The other two you already know. That just leaves the twins. Where are they?"

As if on cue they entered. Willow and Drake both had the same gray eyes and long, dark hair, though Drake always kept his tied back. They also came and took their usual seats. There was hardly a dull moment in their conversations that day as they reminisced and got re-acquainted. Tristan was constantly telling them about all the big business deals he was negotiating. (Though everybody knew it was a lie. Myra personally thought he liked weapons too much to be a computer-marketing technician.)

Nicole was the only one to be unusually quiet about what was currently going on in her life. Myra also found this to be slightly odd. They usually couldn't get her to shut up about Daniel and how great work was. Finally as Myra and Jade were leaving Drake pulled Myra aside. "I wanted to give you something before you left," He said, putting a slightly bulging envelope in her hand, "Just in case I never see you again."

"What!?"

"Well, we're all going away. Just promise me you wont open it for a couple of days, alright?"

"Alright, whatever you say." Then she and Jade departed for the long drive home, Drake looking sadder than he ever had before.