I had met her years ago. It was the kind of introduction you wait for all your life. You see her smile and you smile. You shake her hand and you could melt because she smells so good. But there was something wrong tonight.
I had been dating Sheila for a couple of months when I met her friend Donna. Sheila was nice but it was nothing serious. I asked her to come see me after my rehearsal. She insisted on bringing her friend.
I was still in character so I wasn't as shy as I usually am. I met Sheila and her friend Donna at the Sandwich Shack like we planned and immediately liked Donna. Sheila did the introductions. "Charlie, this is my friend-."
"Bella, right," I interrupted? "It's nice to meet you." She was about my height with blonde highlighted hair, pink lips, hazel eyes and a smiling like Times Square.
"Donna," she said as she giggled and batted her eyes at the compliment.
"Donna. I'll have to call you Bella Donna then. I love the eyebrow ring!" It's funny because I know I was with Sheila, but at that moment it was as if she was not even there.
In the coming days I kept in touch with Bella just chatting on the computer. She gave me her number but didn't pick up when I called.
I transferred colleges the next semester and moved away. Shortly after moving Sheila and I parted. But I continued to stay in touch with Bella as much as I could. We would chat online for hours sometimes. I loved talking to her. Even though we had only met once I felt like I knew her really well. I asked her to see me and she told me she couldn't, that she was involved with someone. I understood, but still I tried. I would call her, but still she wouldn't pick up. Then she wouldn't sign on for months.
When she returned to the computer I'd talk with her immediately. I asked her where she had been for so long. We flirted and talked and it was like we were close. Then she would disappear for months.
Things went on like this for over 2 years when she signed on again. As soon as I noticed it was her I wrote to her. I asked her how she was and if I could call her. She said yes. There was something about this girl that I never forgot about. After one meeting and 2 years of sporadic conversation I was about to hear her voice again.
When she picked up and I heard her voice it's like I was back in character again. Charismatic and powerful. Flirtatious and smooth. Not the shy kid I had always been. I asked her to see me and again, she said yes. I was so excited, but something was wrong.
At this point in my life I was almost done with college and was working steady as an actor to get by. I had just come into some money that had been given to me by a shady source for some information that I supposedly had. Federal Agents were knocking on my door and I was getting weird messages from a rather supportive guy named Denki. I was realizing the truth about the world when all I wanted to do was go on a date.
A few hours before the date with Bella I received an emergency message from Denki. I had to meet him immediately. I knew what this meant. On the way out of the apartment I grabbed my cell phone to call Bella. As I dialed her number the phone rang. Denki told me to ditch my phone so that I am not traced. I had only a moment to contact Bella. I typed the words "Ill come back 4 u" into my phone and sent the text message to Bella's number. I tossed my phone away and ran.
*****
I had taken the red pill and my life was different. I was no longer Charlie DeNiro, college student and actor. I was now Vesuveus, soldier. There were benefits to this life. The truth, the power and the knowledge. But I would still wake up sick to my stomach sometimes. I would wake up cold on a barely cushioned, metal bed inside a cold metal room on a cold metal ship. I would shiver and sweat and miss my life.
I ran a search to find her and jacked in. Lt told me it was dangerous. Kail and HateLife told me not to do it to myself. Denki understood and told me to be careful. I was compelled to see her again, to smell her scent. I would find her and see her and never approach her. I hid behind my leather trench and shades. And when I saw her, I felt sick in my stomach, like I had woken up on a cold, metal ship, shivering in sweat. I didn't miss my life, I missed my chance; my chance with her.
I wondered if she thought about me. When I had the opportunity I asked the Oracle if Bella was ok. She assured me that Bella was a strong one and advised me to keep watching her to see if I saw Bella as she saw Bella.
I continued to watch Bella when Denki promoted me to First Mate of the HvCft Orion. I knew what my first mission would be.
I offered her a choice and made it clear the consequences of the red pill. I put both pills in my right hand, shook them up, closed my eyes and opened my hand. I felt her pink fingernails scratch my palm as she picked up one pill. I closed my hand and opened my eyes to see her glass half full. "A pink pill would have at least matched my shoes." I opened my right hand to see a blue pill. My face exploded into a smile and we hugged. I felt her body in my arms and I didn't want to ever let her go.
She calls herself Meretrix Meretricis due to her Latin study. Denki requested to keep her on the Orion. And even after Denki was promoted and docked the Orion indefinably, Meretrix and I keep each other warm on board the HvCft Eudai of The Trust fleet.
A year after her extraction and our beginning, I decided that I cannot live without her. We lived our lives apart and we will begin a life together.
Fri, July 28th. Mara Central Church, Tabor Park Reception.
Wedding
