We're very sorry that this took so long to prepare, but we had work and studies so... you know. Thank you so much for your reviews and alerts - they help a lot. And they're much appreciated.
So, enjoy and tell us what do you think of it;)
Love, Chandni&Yarrow.
4 years later
Dark, heavy clouds hung gloomily over the city, promising the long awaited rain. Stuffy, hot air gave no rest to the residents of the city throughout the whole day. And now, when cool and blissful night came, people looked forward the salutary rain that would wash away the dirt and oppressive stench of the tiring day.
Baltimore.
One of the twenty largest cities in the U.S., with three universities, naval base, numerous museums, art galleries, houses and churches from the eighteenth and nineteenth century. Actually, the city like many others in this huge country. But his true pride, that distinguished Baltimore from other cities, was USS Constellation, moored in the Inner Port. The one and only sailing ship of the United States launched since the period of civil war.
The city was good to live in, like any other city truth to be told, except that Anthony really liked this place. It was easier to blend in the crowd and simply disappear. Although people here were just the same as they were in other big cities of US. Pace of life was quick, they stood in queues, bought the same products at the neighbouring supermarket... Sometimes someone was missing. Sometimes someone had been murdered, and occasionally, someone simply jumped out of the window ...
Police car stopped by the roadside and a young man got out of it, looking a bit like that average guy from the boysband. Slicked back, dark blond hair was probably stylized with a help of the gel. He wore green polo shirt, which emphasized the perfect shade of his eyes, and black pants. Darker tan testified more about the natural sunlight than visiting a Solarium, but today you could never been sure.
A smile never left his face. He carelessly threw his backpack on the shoulder and said to the driver:
"Thanks Frank"
"Take care of yourself, kid" replied older man without getting out of the car. "See you tomorrow" he added, then drove off in his own way.
"Yeah ... " he sighed, adjusting the backpack that threatened to fall from his shoulder. He couldn't get rid of this strange feeling that something was about to happen tomorrow, something that will affect his life for good. The thing was, that he wasn't entirely sure to what an extend, and recently, he just wasn't particularly fond of surprises.
He went ahead with nonchalant step, constantly looking at the overcast streamed blue sky. On his way, he passed rushing people, who almost run, to escape the storm. His house was close enough, there was no need to rush for him. He cut the street briskly, not wanting to become a victim of a careless driver. He turned to the gate of an old house, after a while he found himself in a stairwell leading to his apartment located on the second floor.
Shutting the door behind him, he carelessly threw a backpack on the floor, turning on the answering machine on his way to the fridge. Between "beeps" he managed to get a hold of a bottle of beer, pleasantly cool against his hand.
Beep. "Hey man, you're still on for today? Trey is preparing a damn good party, he invited hot cheeks. You must be there dude..." he heard the first message and casually looked at his watch. He belched loudly, then again, for a good measure. He didn't want to go anywhere today. He knew that if he left now, tomorrow he wouldn't be able to get out of the bed and as a result he'd be late for work. Not to mention massive hangover. Even family's patented remedy for a hangover wouldn't have helped. He sighed. No, no parties for him. Not tonight.
His train of thought was stopped by another message.
Beep. "Anthony, this is Uncle Louie. I hope everything is alright. I remember of today's anniversary... you haven't called for several months. Margaret sends her love. Give us a ring, anytime..." he sighed heavily.
He thought he already forgot about that painful even or at least thought that it doesn't hurt this much anymore. On the other hand, he couldn't be angry with his uncle. It was thanks to him, after all, that he was here.
He turned on the TV with remote control, which was on the table. Then he left his bottle of beer, half empty, or maybe half full, and went to take a shower.
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About six p.m. alarm went of, waking him up effectively. Annoying sound. He tried to switch it off, with few smacks, then managed to untangle himself from sheets on his bed, muttering curses under his breath as he did so.
His hair was a mess, like each morning when he went to bed right after the shower. How many times he repeated it himself, not to fall asleep with wet hair, not to fall asleep with wet hair ...
He narrowed his sleepy eyes as he stared at himself in the mirror, at the same time wondering how did he managed to cross the distance from his bed to the sink. But it was soon forgotten as twenty minutes later he jogged through General Sam Smith Park, wearing a loose shirt and short gray shorts.
When he decided that he ran a sufficient distance, he stopped and bent over to calm down his breath. He checked the time. Time to work, he thought, but it was still plenty of time till 8 am.