"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart ... Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens." -Carl Jung

Tony

I had been working for my father at Prito's now since I was fifteen. My brother, Nic, had been too. We worked during the summer while we were in college and now I was here almost full time.

My future, though I had studied business, was still uncertain. Things left open, choices still to be made. But for now I was content to just sit here, behind the register, at Prito's and polish the counter top.

Nic was in the kitchen making the days first batch of garlic bread. The aroma filled the air, pungent and warm. I loved it here. The only place that I could still feel young, or rather, like I was back in high school again.

My friends and I always hung out here when we were younger. It was everyone's favorite place. But now that we were older it had changed.

Biff was actually planning on starting his own business here in town like us. His neighbor was moving away and owned the gym down the street. Biff had purchased it from him with financial help from his parents and fiancee, Hope.

Now that Joe was back I knew that he Frank and his father would once again be a detective team. Just like always. Both Frank and Joe had families already. That was something I had never even thought about. In fact, girls in general were not all that high up on my list right now.

Chet had up and moved to England with his fiancée. Everything was changing, slowly but surely. I knew it was bound to happen eventually, but it still caught me off guard.

I heard the front door opening and the little bell ring. My thoughts dissolved and I looked up.

"How can I help you miss?" I asked the girl who had just walked up to the counter in my father's restaurant.

She was new in town, I knew that much. Her hair was an inky black, short and jutted out every which way. She was strikingly beautiful, a pixie face, tall, slender figure and the most remarkable golden eyes. She couldn't have been more than a year different in age than me. When she spoke her voice was soft and seemed to almost melt in the air between us.

"Hello, my name is Akacia Heart, I would like to apply for a waitress job if that's possible?" she asked, extending her hand. I shook it, her hand was so delicate, like I could crush it if I wasn't too careful.

"Uhh, yeah, here you go," I said reaching under the counter and pulling out a form for her to fill out.

"So, Antonio," she said reading my name tag, "Do you own this place?" I let out a loud laugh.

"Oh no no, it's my dad's place, my brother and I just work for him," I corrected her.

"Oh I see, so Antonio..."

"Please, call me Tony."

"Okay, Tony, do you like it here in Bayport?" she asked not looking up from the application in front of her. I thought it was a strange question to ask someone you just met, but I found myself answering her without even thinking.

"Oh yeah, well it's been my home since my mother and father immigrated here from Italy when I was a baby. I like it here, I've got a lot of friends, a good job, a college degree, what more could I ask for?" I babbled. I didn't know why I was telling this strange woman in front of me my whole life story, but there was something about her, like she had a hold on me. This is kind of weird.

"No girlfriend?" she asked point blank. It caught me way off guard, but despite what my mind was thinking my mouth kept flapping.

"Well...uh...no, not at the moment. I haven't really had time to date lately," I spat out. What are you thinking? Shut it Prito, you're making a fool out of yourself! To save myself from the horrible path this conversation was going down I changed the subject, "So you're new here right? Where'd you move from?"

"Ukraine."

"The Ukraine?" I exclaimed, then quickly composed myself, "Umm, sorry. The Ukraine huh? You don't have much of an accent." She couldn't help but laugh, and I couldn't blame her, I was being a complete moron. But I can't help it. I get all jumpy around girls, especially girls as stunning as Akacia.

"I wasn't born in the Ukraine, my father moved there for business purposes. I'm originally from in New York City. My step brother went to college there," she explained, then lowered her eyes, "He died a few months ago, right after my father and I had moved to the Odesa."

"Oh I'm sorry that's tough," I muttered.

"Nah, it's alright. We weren't very close, he was a lot older than me, by like thirty years," she said with a smile.

"Wow, how does that work?"

"Don't try to make sense out of it. I've stopped, my family is weird. His birth mom died about twenty five years ago. Then my dad found another wife and that's when I came along, but then she left when I was a baby, it's a long story really," she attempted to clarify. I just nodded. She gazed at me with those extraordinary topaz eyes. I couldn't look away from her, she was so...alluring.

"Well, uh..." I cleared my throat and looked away from her, you're doing it again, "Uh, are you done with the application?"

"Oh yes," she said and she actually blushed, the cutest shade of pink.

"Okay. I'll give it to my dad, but I'm sure you'll get the job," I smiled, don't push it Tony.

"Yeah, so I guess I'll see you around then Tony. It was nice meeting you."

"Yeah you too," I responded as she got up to leave, okay nows your chance, give her your cell number, "Hey wait Akacia, uh let me give you my number, maybe we could get together, I could show you around Bayport."

"That sounds nice Tony," she said getting her cell out. We exchanged numbers and I stared as she walked away, then glanced down at my cell phone, yes!

...

"Ah I know that look, you were just talking to a girl weren't you?" my younger brother, Nic said tying a white apron around his waist.

"What are you talking about?" I said with my best confused voice.

"Look at you, you're as red as dad's marinara sauce," Nic laughed, "So who is she?"

"Nobody."

"Nobody eh? C'mon Tony, is she pretty? Did you ask her out? Spill," Nic pleaded as he pulled up a stool and watched me clean the counters for the umpteenth time. It was nearing opening time and Prito's was empty except for us and our father in the kitchen.

"If you must know, her name is Akacia," I said leaning over the counter with a smug look.

"Ooo exotic," Nic joked. I just hit him over the head with the rag in my hand and rolled my eyes.

"She gave me her number, and she is going to be working here," I explained and smiled when I saw Nic raise his eyebrows.

"Tony the 'ladies man'!" he exclaimed, smiling widely. I just rolled my eyes again. What is it with little brothers?

A/N: Feedback? Thanks for your reviews! Don't worry the mystery is just picking up...