Author's Note: Okay so the story has almost all the characters having jobs and soon getting a place of their own. About eight years has passed and every one is grown up. (It seemed like it was only yesterday when they were 11- ahem) Anyways, hope you enjoy!
Eight years later…A young woman at twenty years old, stood at the edge of the wall that viewed the sea. All the gondolas went by with lovers, families or tourists in its seat.
The young rowers singing their hearts out if requested and a few people watched as the sun rose from the sea.
Her name was Kristina; she was a successful writer and became accepted with a good business that was outside the country. It was a promising opportunity. She was living her dream.
But she didn't know this dream would affect the ones she loved. Today she had to break it to her fiancé. They had been dating since five years ago in their teens.
Their feelings for each other were strong, but Kristina didn't like distant relationships. She wasn't a very loyal person and she knew this, but she didn't want to hurt anyone.
Today she practically flirted with her neighbor, until later on she finally caught herself. It was a bad habit she didn't know how to kill.
And who knew? Maybe her fiancé will find someone else while she is gone and suddenly say that it wasn't working out anyways. Kristina didn't want to take that, so she was going to end it herself.
"Kristina, sorry I'm late, Bo needed someone to be with him during his interview." The young man came to his love and kissed her on the forehead. "So what did you want to talk about?"
"Well, actually, this has been on my mi-." the man interrupted her.
"I can't wait until you come back." They started to walk. "I'll have everything for the wedding all set. You'll be amazed." He smiled dreamily to the sky.
Kristina stopped, her heart was so close to crying out in pain, "Prosper, I can't have this relationship with you, anymore."
Looking down, she wondered what kind of reaction he had on his face.
"What do you mean? Isn't everything going fine already?"
"Prosper," her eyes started to tear, "it's not going to work out. I thought about it and I don't think I can live as far as the other country to be without you."
"I'm not so sure that you would still have interest in me after three years of working far away from you."
"So you're saying that you don't trust me? Is that it?" he asked calmly, but she could hear hurt in his voice.
"No, its nothing like that."
"Then what, is it someone else!" he was almost screaming this time.
His accent slacked a little.
"NO, I JUST CAN'T TRUST MYSELF WITH WHAT I FEEL!" she looked up at him this time.
Prosper's brown eyes started to water. How could she say something like that?
"Every single day, there is someone new out there that I meet and I wonder if I can really be trusted with a relationship like this."
"But you can't…" His accent started to get scratchy. "Not now, not like this…"
"I have to," she started to cry, "so that I won't hurt you."
She took off her ring and put it in Proper's hand.
"It's me with the problem, it has nothing to do with you at all. You are a great person Prosper, and I'll never forget what you've given me."
Then she turned and walked away, leaving Prosper with the ring clenched tight in his hand.
CatarinaBoth girls woke up early that morning. They didn't live in the convent anymore, now they lived in a small condominium.
It wasn't a lot, but as small as it was, it had a very nice paint job that the first owners did themselves, which gave the room a homey feeling.
By the time Natalie was eighteen, she was allowed to buy the room with a good price. Catarina was sixteen by then and she was able to work in a café.
Natalie and her started saving up money to buy a place for them, and it paid off.
They had nice neighbors that helped each other like they were all family.
Three years passed and they were living in what they thought was paradise. Everything seemed great.
The two still didn't have enough money to buy a lamp with a bulb, but they didn't need it.
Candles were cheap, so they used that. And as much as they could, they tried not to use so much electricity.
The sun looked through the windows of Venice waking the people up, letting them know it was a new day.
Catarina woke up second. Today she had the morning and night shift, so she had to close up the café tonight. Her break was in the afternoon, which was good so she could start on dinner when Natalie got back.
The white curtains started to move with the breeze that was let in by the window.
Catarina did her morning routine, fixed her bed and looked out the window. Holding on to her necklace she said to herself 'I wish you could see this.'
Her window looked over rows of houses and the sun that always hit her window when it rose in the morning.
Catarina's room had a hanging canopy that was left behind by the previous owners of the room. She had her own bathroom, a white dresser about her height, given by the neighbors, and the mattress Natalie allowed her to sleep on when they first met.
Natalie gave Catarina the room with canopy because she was the youngest.
Coming into the kitchen, Natalie already had breakfast on the table for the two of them.
"And the sleeping beauty awakes," she made a small curtsy, " too bad it wasn't prince charming that woke you up."
Catarina smiled, "Someday, but I don't think I'm ready for that kind of stuff."
"Yes you are," taking a bite of her English muffin, "and someday you will. Jam?"
"Thank you." Catarina took the jam and spread it across her muffin.
"I need to find you someone." Natalie teased. "Your too pretty to be single."
"So are you." Catarina replied, "What about all those guys that you turned down while you delivered the morning papers?"
Natalie just shrugged, "There just not the right ones. I'll find him someday, but not now."
Catarina got up and washed her dish and drank her milk. Natalie grabbed her things and went downstairs.
"Good morning girls." Greeted Miss. Leon
"Good morning Miss. Leon." They replied
"Oh, Natalie, could you ask Mr. Massimo if he can hold the flowers being delivered today?"
Mr. Scipio Massimo was the owner of Ivory Condominiums. He would always do anything he can for the people living in his building.
Miss. Leon always delivered flowers when she had the chance, but sometimes she had arthritis in her legs so Natalie, Catarina or someone else in the building would help with the deliveries.
For close friends of hers, Miss. Leon would charge half off the flowers. That was the great thing about her.
David Melsiva, who lived on the third floor, called her theperfect flower, camelia.
"Sorry Miss. Leon, but I have full shift until seven tonight. But Catarina can do it during her break." Natalie hopped on her bike and waited for Catarina at the edge of the stairs.
"Catarina could you?" Miss. Leon begged.
"No problem Miss. Leon." She stood on the pegs of the bike and held on to Natalie. "Do you want us to keep some in our room?"
"Oh not today, I have a small delivery." She smiled and went inside her room. "Have a good day you two."
The sun started looking over the buildings and houses and soon was reflecting its light on the sea and golden tips of the gondolas.
The people started their work again and children started their routine preparing for school.
"I'll try and come home early today okay?" Natalie called
"Okay, if you don't I can just walk home."
"Be careful when you do okay?" Natalie peddled off
"It's not that far you know!" Catarina yelled back.
Walking through the back door she changed into her uniform and put on her apron.
"Buongiorno Catarina!" called the manager.
"Buongiorno Mr. Dimesso."
"Here's your schedule," handing her the paper, "you have the morning behind the desk and tonight you can take orders."
"Yes sir." She smiled saluting.
He laughed, "Alright get to work."
The sound of coffee boiling and the sizzling of food cooking filled the back of the café. Behind the desk Catarina took the orders from the people that sat in the high chairs, then made the coffee or called to Frank, the chef, the order.
"Hey Catarina, are you tired?" called a man from behind her. Catarina turned around, in front of her sat a twenty-year-old man with blond hair and brown highlights wearing a polo shirt with khakis.
"No Jonathan, why?" Catarina turned around and continued making an espresso.
"Because you've been running through my mind all day." He smiled. Catarina laughed.
"Jon you're so corny." Catarina walked a few seats down and gave her customer his drink.
"It's been a long time since we've talked," the man looked at the woman in front of him up and down.
"I've been busy lately. What about you?"
"I'm taking a job in teaching, once I graduate, I'm going to teach in the best colleges. Maybe I could tutor you."
"I told you, I'm already being home schooled by my neighbor."
"But it would be good experience for me."
"Well, I don't need it, I'm sure you can find someone else anyways."
Jonathan shrugged, "Okay then. Hey on your break, would it be okay if you and I got somewhere, you know, just us."
"Um, not today, I have things to do, maybe some other time." Catarina replied. She turned around and stuck her tongue out in disgust.
'I don't really like Jonathan all that much, I mean, I only see him as a brother.'
"Okay then how about Friday, I'm sure you're off early. We could grab something to eat"
Catarina put on a stressed look, "Um, sure, but I'll have to make sure I'm free that day."
"Okay then it's a date." He smiled and left, 'Well that wasn't so hard' he said to himself.
Catarina sighed. 'This is insane'
ProsperIt was around afternoon after Prosper called Scipio telling him about the news.
"What? But why would she say a thing like that?" Scipio was at Ida's place. Victor was with them as well, everyone in the house was so worried about Prosper.
"Why don't you come home early my dear. Your brother is here and so is everyone else." Ida said.
"No that's okay, I'll just take a walk for now, I'll be a while." Prosper replied
"Don't KILL yourself!" called Scipio.
Prosper laughed slightly, "I won't, promise." He could just imagine the worried look on Ida's face.
Not knowing where to go, he headed for the nearest, quiet place he could go to.
"Vita Tranquilla (quiet life-such an ironic title for a place.)A café is somewhere I probably need to be." Prosper took a seat in one of the high chairs and looked at the menu.
Across him was a young woman working on the espresso machine.
"Buon Pomeriggio (good afternoon) sir. What would you like today?"
Prosper looked up from his menu, "Um, I'll just have a cream puff with coffee."
The waitress shook her head and went off to get his order. 'I've seen those eyes before' Prosper thought of the waitress giving his order. Her hair was long and brown and her eyes were the same, brown and deep.
He shook his head, "No it can't be, could it?"
"I'm sorry sir?" the waitress asked.
Prosper hadn't realized he was talking out loud. "Oh, n-nothing… I was having a hard day." He shrugged.
"Oh," she poured his coffee in a cup and added the cream, "work was hard today?"
Prosper took a sip of his coffee as she gave him his cream puffs, "Actually no, I um…my fiancé broke up with me this morning. I loved her a lot, we were together since… we were fifteen."
The waitress sympathized, "Oh no I'm so sorry. That's a shame, you look like a really nice person."
He smiled, "It's nothing really. I'm sorry; I'm pouring my heart out to you. You must be annoyed."
"Oh no! Not at all. It happens all the time with our guests." She smiled.
"I'm sorry, but it was a hard thing to get over." He took a bite of his cream puff. "I just needed someone to talk to, and I guess you were the closest person I could tell." He smiled
She laughed, "Well I have my break in a little while, we can still talk if you want?"
He shook his head, "Yeah, I'd like that."
That afternoon was cloudy, as the two walked, the people of Venice walked around the stores finishing up their day. Fortunately, children were done with the day. It was around four o'clock when the two walked along the canal stream.
Prosper was talking the whole way, the waitress just listened. At some points of the conversation, she would give some piece of advice or put in a comment.
Prosper told all of his memories with his fiancé to her. Every detail, when they first met, their first date, the great days they spent together, everything.
"Well, at least you both had some really good times together." She smiled, "Those never fade, they always stay in your heart."
"That's really nice. Where'd you get it from?"
"Actually I learned it from life's experience. And also from my sister." She looked around searching for a clock. "Do you know what time it is?"
Prosper looked at his watch, "Yeah, its ten minutes pass five. Do you need to be somewhere?"
"Yeah, I have an errand to run." She sighed, "Well it was great talking to you. I guess I'll see you around."
"Oh, wait." He turned to the nearest flower stand and took a white rose and gave it to the waitress. "As a thank you, for being a good listener."
"Thank you." She smiled. "I haven't had a chance to ask your name, sir."
"Prosper."
"Catarina. It was nice meeting you Prosper." And she turned and walked away.
"You too." He called back. 'That name sounds so familiar.'
Arriving at home Prosper could hear the 'clatter' of silverware and roars of laughter.
"Oh, Prosper your home dear." Ida came to Prosper and hugged him. "Come and sit down, Bo was just telling us a story."
"You feeling alright Prosper?" Victor asked. "Do you want us to talk to Kri-?"
"Would you be quiet already Victor! Listen to Bo's story." Ida scolded.
"Yeah Prop, remember those girls I came up to when we went to buy food for Ida." Bo smiled at him. "She was sick that time."
Bo laughed, "You should've seen the look on Prop's face when I came back."
"Yeah, what were their names again?" Prosper asked without thought.
"Um, the older one was Natalie, and her sister was Catarina." Bo answered.
Then it hit him. The waitress he was talking to for the whole day was a girl named Catarina also, but then again, there are many Catarina's in this world. Could that really be her?
"Where's Scipio?"
"Oh, he had to check on his guests at the Ivory. Seems he had to hold a load of flowers for one of his guests." Ida replied.
Prosper laid in his bed that night thinking all about Kristina at first, then the waitress at the café. That could be her…
Author's Note: This may not be a really interesting chap. But I hope you liked it.