"Jace? Jace, snap out of it!"

I smile as I look at my best friend."I'm here Emi, Just thinking."

Emi's little mouth smirked, "You sure were, I've been calling you for ten minutes, Mum wants us."

You follow her to where her mother is coaching the dancing girls. "Janice, Emberlynn, it is time to eat, come along."

Emi and I rolled our eyes; Marie had been trying for weeks to set up a luncheon with the new owners of the New York opera house. She insisted we go, "They have a nephew your age." she reminded us for the fifth time. "Quite handsome I hear"

Emi was annoyed to no end, "We know mother, they're very rich, and it would be considered an honor to be courted by such a polite young man."

"Well I'm sorry if I want only the best for my girls," Marie said sternly, "most mothers do"

We sighed as we entered our rooms to change, I swooped down on Emi, "Emberlynn, serenade me with your beautiful voice, and I will give your mother all my money." I took her hand and pretended to kiss it, while she hid giggles

"Jace! She'll hear you!"

I picked her practically weightless figure up bridal style, "let her hear, I will run away with you and we will wed under the moonlight."

Emi giggled some more, as she fought her way to the floor, "You're impossible, we're going to be late!" she scolded picking herself off the floor

"You take the fun out of everything." I said changing into a jean skirt and red fitted top.

We arrived at the small cafe just as our party was sitting down. Marie greeted them happily. "Mr. Delatant, I am honored that you could lunch with us."

"Ms. Cheris, the pleasure is mine." He motioned to his wife, "Allow me to introduce my wife, Kelly, and my nephew, Chris." at that moment I looked up and met his eyes

"Jace?" Chris asked, voicing both of our shocked faces

"I daresay you two know each other?" Mr. Delatant asked

I nodded, "We went to school together, in California

"And who are you

Marie smiled pushing the shy Emi forward, "this is my daughter, Emberlynn, and her best friend, Janice." I grimaced, I hate my name.
We had a pleasant lunch, Emi could hardly keep her eyes of Chris, unless he looked at her, she was too shy to meet his eyes. I learned that Chris was staying with his Uncle for a year, while his parents were touring Europe.

After lunch, Marie whisked us away to do last minute preparations for our show that night. Emi couldn't stop talking, "I can't believe it! You grew up with him?" I nodded, "Come on, Jace! Spill!"

"There's nothing to spill. We were good friends

She raised an eyebrow, "only friends

"Well, maybe slightly more then friends, but that's it

Seeing she was getting nowhere she went to go find some girls to make jealous.