... old friends ... [[mathis]]

[CHARLIZE CECILIA RUTHERFORD]

It had been only a few days since CeeCee had arrived back in New York City ... the place where she had spent most of her time in. Where she had grown up and where she had been shaped into the person she was today ... more or less. She had expected to fit right back in easily, Manhattan had always been in her blood. The cold concrete, the wind, the style and luxury and the way everything seemed so much more sophisticated than everywhere else. The parties, the stores, the people ... hell, even the drifters were. After all Marc Jacobs invented the 90's hobo chique inspired by New York's less than fortunate citizens. The city was just a greatly inspired place and once you were born into this it was hard to get away from. After all, you could take the girl out of New York but you can't take the city out of the girl.

Entering the Empire Diner, one of the last remaining deco places with real aluminum paneling and original menu, CeeCee chuckled mildly at the ringing bell above the door and the way all the faces casually turned her way if only for a second. Strolling past the seating booths the 20 year old lingered onto the counter expectantly. Back in the day she'd been here quite often and now, living in Tribeca and working with DvF in the village this place was not too far off her daily route in the morning and had soon become a routine. "Hey Michelle!" the petite girl that has recently gone a bit blonder as part of the whole 'moving on' concept chimed smiling. Being greated back pleasantly by the older waitress she already got her coffee to go and a donut from underneath the transparent plastic hood. It was that moment that the bell at the door rang again and in the manner of the place even CeeCee looked over quickly realizing a younger man entering before rerouting her attention to the fine smelling brew. Though, soon enough something in her mind clicked, an old memory, looking back at the man she instantly realized her face while her own lightened up with a wide smile. "Mathis?"

[MATHIS HENRI MOREAU]

Mathis had been in New York for four years now but the French citizen showed no signs of losing his accent. He had no intention at all of trying to assimilate or change who he was. Mathis' parents had taught him to be proud of who he was, but stopped short of having him shout 'Vive la France' all the time.

Walking down the street, Mathis felt at home here. He had learned to enjoy America and had come a very long way from first being skittish and unsure about it. Everything had been so different and difficult to understand at first but the boy learned.

He learned to live with the fast pace of New York city that had once intimidated the boy who was used to wide open spaces and the old world charm of vineyards in France. Home was nice and he still missed it but that was what summers were for.

Mathis still returned home when ever he had the opportunity to. It was nice to get back to his roots every now and then and just relax and enjoy the silence and fresh air. Even the views were très magnifique and the food! Que c'est délicieux! But this was like a second home to him now. Mathis was in New York so much that he learned to love it and its differences.

As he entered the small diner, Mathis barely even bothered to look around. It had become a familiar place to go to after all these years. It was something of an escape to come here and be able to just sit in a booth with his coffee and relax. He even new the layout so well now that he was certain he could navigate the space with his eyes closed and hands tied behind his back.

Pushing the door open, Mathis was used to the chime and the sideways glances that any new customer would get. He wasn't sure if it was out of curiosity or just a normal reaction to the sound but even he did it from time to time.

Slipping off his sunglasses, Mathis folded them carefully before sliding them into his pocket before having a quick look around for a suitable spot. His search was temporarily halted when he heard a familiar voice call out his name. Mathis turned to the source and smiled when he recognised the speaker.

"CeeCee, 'ow long 'as it been?" he asked rhetorically as he walked up to her, looking her over quickly. She looked about the same as he remembered. Having no drastic changes definitely helped him recognise her. "You look well," he said with a smile. "Are you back now or iz dzees a short vizit?" he asked.

OUTFIT

[CHARLIZE CECILIA RUTHERFORD]

Thinking back on how life on the Upper Westside had been CeeCee could think of many flaws to her then existence. She'd not been exactly a picture book citizen, daughter or friend. Many things had gone wrong when the teenager had tried to test her boundaries and skills in manipulating people. Truth be told she probably had done more growing up in the past 2 years than her entire life before. Everything though mostly out of necessity rather than wanting to. Being alone in LA on herself, having to cope with college, friendships ... love. It had all turned out to require a lot of maturing on the petite brunette. At one point then ... not sure exactly when ... CeeCee had finally realized the person she was going to become was by all means an improvement to who she had been when leaving Manhattan. This was more evident than ever now that she was back here in the deep skyscraper canyons where the air smelled of adventure all year 'round.

She couldn't quite remember HOW or WHEN she had met Mathis for the first time. But back then it had been pretty much 'en vogue' to have at least one or two French friends. If only to take them to Fashion Week as means to get a double foam vanilla soy latté and not a low carb no caffeine triple caramel espresso. One thing CeeCee could remember though was how much fun the boy had been, how she had enjoyed his typical foreign accent that sounded like sex put in words. His caring yet also carefree attitude that brighten almost every day. Sure, in retrospective that sounded like they had been pretty close though Charlize wasn't entirely sure that was how they really were towards each other. She was friends with MANY people back in the day, roaming Manhattan's party scene every night, always a large crowd of people around her. Always some Waldgraves, Vanderbilts, Montclairs and evidently one handsome Moreau. "God! Way to long!" the blonde exclaimed cheerfully pulling the boy into a hug flamboyantly.He may have wanted to play it coy to not offend her but CeeCee wasn't like that.

Letting go after a few seconds she held the French by his shoulders at arms length looking him over briefly, still, the most prominent feature were his cute dimples and the boyish smirk. "Well ... thank you!" she replied to his compliment. "You look great yourself!" Mouth slightly open, still slightly in disbelief of the circumstance CeeCee was subtly reminded by the waitress that her stuff was ready to be cashed. Picking the wallet from her Hérmès bag the petite girl didn't take her gaze off the old friend while placing some bills on the counter. "No actually ... I work here now, could you guess?!" she chuckled self ironically. The girl Mathis knew back then probably didn't yell steady income. "It's only an apprentice position but ... I have to start somewhere, right?" She shrugged. "And what are you doing?"

[MATHIS HENRI MOREAU]

Mathis hugged the girl back, still smiling. He was happy to see a familiar face after all this time. It had been two years which really was a little too long. It had been fun before 17/18. They were younger then but it was so much fun with all the things there was too do.

There was fashion week and expos and charity balls and all kinds of other events and Mathis knew enough people to always be able to find someone to go with or talk to there. CeeCee was one of those people that you just had to know if you were going to be social and be at all these different events.

"Merci mon amie," he said with a grin. Mathis glanced up for a second at the waitress when she tried to get CeeCee's attention to pay for her things. He smiled again when his friend spoke.

"Where are you working?" he asked, wondering what she might have found to do here. From what he knew of her, Mathis could conclude that it would be something artistic, maybe design or something similar to it.

"Fourth year," he told her simply, holding up his fingers as he said the words. He had this year to finish up and then he was done. He had spoken with his parents of course and it seemed he could take a few years off, and do whatever it was he wanted to do. Perhaps learn or travel and it then he would go back to France and take over a vineyard, work on the brand, make it that much more popular and take over the entire company and eventually run the parent company that all these brands under it. This would be when his father decided to retire but the way the man was going, Mathis wouldn't be surprised if he kept doing it until he was eighty.

[CHARLIZE CECILIA RUTHERFORD]

"Pas male!" CeeCee replied kindly with a slightly dismissive gesture as Mathis thanked her for the compliment. Her French wasn't perfect by far but it got her places. God, she had been in Paris as a child so many times with her mother, every Spring, every Fall ... Fashion week was the brackets the whole year revolved around it seemed. Surely some of the fashionista genes had also developed roots in Charlize slender frame, though she'd never follow that cliché socialite path and become a fashion designer like Nicki Hilton, Ivanka Trump and the kind. All girls she loved to socialize with but not necessarily agreed with their life's choices. So interior design as maybe not the most inspired choice after all, yet it was something the 20-year old loved to do and she knew she was good at it. Sooner or later her boss would see that too. "Well ..." CeeCee started out teasingly taking her sweet time. "... I am working for the visual merchandising department at Diane von Furstenberg ... as an apprentice to the shop concept interior designer."

With a certain hint of pride in her voice Charlize knew fairly well it sounded much more glamorous than it actually was ... most jobs in - or related to - the fashion industry were. "I mean it's just to start off, you know, trying to make something off my own." Shrugging innocently CeeCee let the wallet drop back into her handbag and picked up the coffee, taking a sip outta the paper-cup. "Fourth year, huh? You still attending that crap hole?!" she chuckled lightly amused. All Manhattan prep schools, back then and nowadays, had a bitter rivalry going. She hadn't attended the Roosevelt school for girls but the Convent of Sacred Heart was surely the most formidable enemy of them. "I mean come on, they all know every eligible bachelor attends St. John's!" Winking at Mathis playfully CeeCee soon realized he was still standing close to her empty handed. "Did you .. want something?!" she inquired nodding sideways toward the space behind the counter where the waitress was buzzing around. "If you order to go you could walk me down to DvF!" Smiling cutely she was sincerely hoping to catch up a little more on the pleasant things before she'd have to be at work.

[MATHIS HENRI MOREAU]

Mathis grinned when she spoke French. It wasn't often that he heard familiar words in his own language. It was nice when people attempted to do it, even if they got it wrong. Some might get annoyed when the language is used badly but Mathis loved it.

"Ahh, Diane von Furstenberg. Not bad," he said with a smile, it was a good place to be and quite impressive that she had managed to get the position easily enough. Not that he knew anything of the effort that might or might not have gone into it.

Mathis had never really paid as much attention to fashion but he knew the names and the designs. He had kept up with enough of it to help him in a conversation should it come to that. It was important to know these things when it came to the elites and yes Mathis dressed well and paid enough attention to his image. After all, these things were important in high society.

“It iz a very good place to start,” he told her. It was entry level when it came down to it but not many people jumped straight into something big. What she had going was good and she should be proud of the accomplishment. After all, there was probably a lot of work that had to go into it.

“Oui, it iz still the same. Dzere is no chance at all but at least it will end soon for me,” he said. It was still school and thus still the same as it had been in the beginning except now he was in his final year there and thus a little ahead of the newer students and perhaps had more power socially, only from having been there all that time.

Mathis laughed a little, “Oui, it iz true. Because I am not at dzat school, no one will want dzis,” he said jokingly as he gestured at himself like he was really nothing special and not the least bit eligible. The smirk helped to show he was only kidding though. Mathis was never egotistical or arrogant but he had self-confidence and he knew who he was and what he had to offer, he just never took it too seriously.

“Ah, I should,” he said with a smile before turning to order his drink. “Are you working today? I would not want to get in your way or take too much of your time,” he told her before getting his drink and paying for it.

[CHARLIZE CECILIA RUTHERFORD]

Rolling her eyes funnily at Mathis' comment about him not being desirable CeeCee know it was just as much meant for a joke as her comment preceding his. They may not have attended the same schools back then - mainly because hers was an all girls school and F.D. Roosevelt had always been only for boys - and maybe not even sister schools but Manhattan was still an island and there was 25, maybe 30 good looking teenagers from good breeding and filthy rich homes so naturally, they all knew each other. It was a small world, an elite circle and being a part of it was both an honor and hard work. A little government of its own, with a hierarchy that Charlize had once been on top of, for a while. Now though, naturally, something younger had stepped into her place ... it had been two years after all. Did she want to earn that place back? Maybe ... though right now she had neither the scheming potential nor the mental capacity to focus on social trials. Though the ones who were in charge now better watched their backs.

"Oh shush you ... the only guy more eligible at your school is Dom Perignion!" the petite blond joked pushing Mathis shoulder playfully with her hand that was also holding her cell-phone tight. "I mean who else can order wine with such knowledge and grace as you? I mean sure ... you keep the first sip in your mouth way to long and swaying the glass reciting all those things you can taste from the mere grace of your taste buds may be slightly pretentious but come on ... girls love to stare at a handsome guy knows what he's talking about!" Concluding her little honest praise with a deep gasp for air CeeCee watched the French guy order his beverage with a chuckle. He still liked his coffee that way ... somethings oddly never changed. "Yes ..." she agreed with a decisive nod. "... it's weekdays and the working girl has to do some more copying and errand running!" Putting a slightly pouty face on looking at mathis Charlize collected herself only a few seconds after descending from the barstool she was half sitting on. Picking foam cup and paperbag up alongside with her handbag she stopped next to the boy expectantly. "You want to walk with me?" she asked nodding at the door smiling.

[MATHIS HENRI MOREAU]

Mathis just smiled when she spoke. "Moet et Chandon, you know I have been to their headquarters in Épernay. It iz not very interesting dzere," he said with a slight shrug. They were the competition. That company owned something famous and their owned just about everything else that counted.

"My parents were thinking of buying dze company but it iz all still in negotiation," he told her. It was mostly to do with his parents buit for at least two years now he had been kept in the loop and he knew most of the goings on with his family's company.

"You know, dzere is a lot more to me than dze wine. I like other things too," he told her with a smirk. He knew that she knew that of course but he just felt the need to throw that into the conversation.

"Of course," he said stepping forward with her. With his drink in hand and everything sorted out, Mathis followed her to the door and moved forward to hold it open for her. Good manners were some you had to learn and most people in certain high levels of society liked to ensure that their children knew the basic rules.

Sipping his drink as he moved down the street, Mathis wondered again what it was she did. She did say photocopying and errands. He suppose he knew already that it was the basic thing they would do.

In fact he had some idea of it already. At his parents company there were people who were purely there to run errands and do the little things so that the other employees didn't have to. It was more like a starting point bu when Mathis thought about it, a job like that was quite essential. It was important for each person to have their roles and get thigns done in order for a place of business to work well and efficiently.

"It iz nice to have you back here," he said finally. Life in New York had been much the same as it always had been but it was nice to see a familiar face and have that bit of difference in his day to make it more interesting.

[CHARLIZE CECILIA RUTHERFORD]

It was funny how easy it was to reignite some old friendships. CeeCee had thought when she came back to NYC most people would've moved on and maybe not be interested in seeing her again. She couldn't have blamed them! She was away for TWO years ... and she had left for very selfish reasons. The fault may have not been hers but the brunette understood that it was probably easy to put it on her and not the guy she left for. The more surprising and welcome it was that everyone she had cared about still seemed to be there for her. She loved that despite only just having met again, Mathis and her were already back to the ways they were before her unfortunate departure for 2 years of studying the arts of interior architecture and how to avoid a tan-line. She had always admired the French's kind and well-fairing nature. He was an awesome guy, truly and yes, he was much more than just the wine. Was he a romantic interest in any capacity? Probably not ... just because CeeCee wasn't comfortable dating 'good' guys. It made her feel on her tip toes all the time trying to tone down whatever bitchiness or madness she just wanted to let out at the time.

"Yes, I know there is more to you than whine ..." CeeCee intentionally used the alternative word with the similar sound. "But it's what defines you as a person, there's nothing wrong with that!" she shrugged as they strolled down the sidewalk slowly. "You've always been the whiny ... I am the meddler and Carter the grump ... it worked perfectly fine so many years now WHY do you have to go and make yourself more than a label?!" Of course she wasn't serious ... it was great they all had moved past their teens in such a graceful way ... well, more or less. Of course she was still meddling but only because most other people were to insipid to do things the appropriate way! "Well, it's great to be back too!" the petite brunette cheered nicely. Lacing her arm around the boy's waist she pulled him close while the walked resting her head against his shoulder in a temporary sideways hug. She didn't need a boyfriend really for as long as she had people care about her just as much as if she was their 'significant other'. Of course there was always the sex part but Manhattan wasn't know to be the town of the prudes.

"So tell me! Senior year ... I remember it like it was yesterday! All I could think about was graduation, my dress for them Prom, my date for the Prom ..." CeeCee chuckled nicely. Well hadn't she been one signature debutante all her life. "... and last but not least of course my senior year vacation! So tell me ... what are your plans? I can totally advice you on what are absolute no-goes this season what Prom couture is concerned." Pulling her hand back from around Mathis waist CeeCee made big gestures in the air as if to envision the things she talked about better as they walked. "Definitely no skinny pants ... they may be in style but people don't call you 'frog legs' for a reason! Go with classic, a nice elegant tux paired with some colorful accessories. OMG! Red patent-leather shoes and matching bow ... they will die!" Getting herself into and somewhat ecstatic stance the brunette was certainly in her element by being the fashion adviser. Actually: Misguided life-coach was the more appropriate term.

[MATHIS HENRI MOREAU]

Mathis knew she had her reasons for leaving. He had only the basic facts down but he knew it had been for a guy and for that reason it was understandable. He did not like to bother reading the gossip columns but when a friend was involved, exceptions were made. He hadn't really kept a close eye on it but whenever CeeCee's name cropped up, he would have a look at what was going on so he knew that things had ended between her and Waldgrave which was why he didn't question it or even bring up the subject at all. Mathis was just much too polite for that.

Mathis shook his head but still had a smile on his face. “I'd rather be defined by my actions and not my circumstances,” he told her, though not in a forceful tone. He knew that it was what people saw when they knew about it but really, Mathis liked to be seen as the guy who went to these charity events, the one that was incredibly tolerant of the differences of others and the one who was just nice and quiet and easy to be around. He didn't want to be seen as the young man who stood to inherit an entire wine and champagne empire that stretched across the globe and raked in the cash like nobody's business.

“But CeeCee, why would you want labels? Dzey are for things and we are people, no?” he asked, feigning passion on the subject with hand gestures and a flare for the dramatics before grinning and laughing a little at it. He did not really mind either way because he knew that those who knew him would see that there was more to him than that. Mathis kept to himself a lot so those that did manage to get close enough tended to have a better view than anyone on the outside and that was all that mattered to him.

Mathis gladly welcomed the physical contact when CeeCee's arm managed to snake around his waist. Things had always been platonic between the two and although Mathis could be with both sexes, he did prefer men and thus found them more attractive than women which made it easier to see CeeCee as just a friend and nothing more. In fact, it would be very strange and even feel wrong to think of her that way but still, Mathis had always enjoyed being comfortable enough around someone to be affectionate or friendly and his relationship with CeeCee definitely allowed for that.

“I 'ave not given it much thought,” Mathis admitted, blue eyes glancing up at the sky as though challenging it for vibrance in their color. Mathis would win of course, even the bluest skies was no match for those perfectly crystal clear orbs. “But I tink you can help me wiz dze clothes, no?” he said, deciding that she would indeed be the best one to offer up an opinion when it came to his attire.

Mathis just grinned and continued to walk on with her as she talked about the fashion and the clothes. He had his own sense of style of course, one that was classic but stylish, yet never overstated. He erred on the side of caution when it came to clothes and never dared venture too far into the obscene or the edgy.

“Red?” He asked, trying to picture it himself. “You don't tink it's too much, dze red?” he asked. Clearly she didn't since it was her that suggested it but to him it seemed too bright and might stand out perhaps a little more than he'd like. Mathis was the quiet wall flower that let people come to him if they decided to. He never pushed for anyone to notice him and that was the appeal he had. That quiet confidence and subtle charm.

[CHARLIZE CECILIA RUTHERFORD]

Letting the hug break between them CeeCee felt the cold creeping back at her side and instantly decided to just lace her free arm through the loophole that was Mathis' with his hands tucked into his coat pockets. It was an acquainted gesture but not as forceful and as private space invading as actually keeping the half hug up for the time being they walked side by side. Hell, friends walked arms hooked all the time ... it wasn't reserved for those in a romantic relationship. It felt good to be comfortable enough around someone that things like these didn't matter ... no fear to be inappropriate or rejected even. It was what made great friends. The feeling of being entirely comfortable around each other. There was now wrong or right ... mistakes were accepted as part of the deal and Charlize was very fond of her little elite circle of friends. Even more so that she was able to be 'just' friends with guys other than Carter's insipid sister who thought the only way to a guy's attention was through a blow-job.

Laughing at Mathis talk about them being people not objects CeeCee was pleasantly remembered how she loved his humor and the funny innocence he possessed. That paired with the French charm and accent pretty much made up for the man he was. Despite maybe not being her type she could surely vow for his qualities and the fact he was a GREAT guy. "It's not about me wanting labels ... I mean ... they are not even labels, just sarcastic nicknames between friends?" Shrugging cutely to make her case, glancing at Mathis somewhat pleading Charlize hoped that he'd just take her explanation and leave it be ... but looking into his stunning blue eyes the truth broke through rather sooner than later. "Alright ... everyone at school used to call you 'whiny' ... it's true and they didn't even mean it as nicely as I did." Even though admitting that was kind of sad since even back then Mathis had been a really nice guy but Charlize also knew that he was confident enough not to have it phase him to much. He knew he got friends who loved him and who he could count on no matter what. Patting his shoulder for a short moment, giving him the feeling she was one of those, the two continued their little passagiata.

"Well, it doesn't have to be an alarming red ... I am not talking Georgia Michael in Freeek. I mean like a subtle Bordeaux red!" Perking her tongue out at Mathis for the wine reference CeeCee chuckled. They just rounded the corner to the street DvF was on, the headquarters building, a former warehouse, dead ahead. Catching an eye of the logo covering the facades the petite brunette took a deep breath knowing that it only meant her having to say goodbye too her friend soon and going back to work. Not that she dreaded her job but hanging with Mathis was much more inspiring right now than making more worthless xerox copies. "The red is what's gonna set you apart ... it says: 'Look at me, I am Mathis Moreau and I have style!' Is that not something you'd want?" Stopping by the main doors of her employment place CeeCee turned around to stand in front of the tall boy now. Fixing the collar of his coat nicely she smiled up at him. Of course she knew that attracting attention - unlike her - was not a favorite hobby of his. "We can always find you something classic but stylish, yet not overstated!" she smiled proudly at the compromise, ready to head back in once the said their good-byes.

[MATHIS HENRI MOREAU]

Mathis was completely comfortable with how they had things. He was still attracted to women but at a much lower level than he was to men so being this close to her was not a problem at all, especially since they were close friends anyway. Despite being away two years, things seemed to have slipped right back into place quite easily and Mathis loved the fact that it didn't require much effort at all to even do that.

CeeCee was nice after all. She was a great lady with her ability to laugh at his stupid jokes and make much better ones. She had her ability to dress well and offer great opinions when it came to clothes and she was just generally easy going and fun to hang out with.

"Auh Oui, of course dzat is different," he said, pretending to really believe that and be serious about it while throwing in another smile. He didn't mind of course. Nicknames were definitely find between friends and he could always trust that they would be on his side and know him well enough to like him for who he was so a joke here and there was definitely fine.

"Dzey did?" Mathis asked, not really knowing that. He didn't really care but to be seen that way wasn't nice. He was sure no one would appreciate it but still, Mathis was happy to let it go. It took more than that to really hurt him. Having someone close to him hurt him in someway would probably be a more effective way to go about it.

"Well, dzey don't know me, so it doesn't matter," he said, shrugging it off. It was only those closest to him that could hurt him but so far it hadn't been too much of a problem for Mathis. Things were great and he had great friends like CeeCee to be there for him so there wasn't much of a problem.

"Maybe that might be okay," Mathis said, finally warming up to the idea of wearing some red. He could probably pull it off with the right shades and the right look and if anyone could put all the right pieces together it would be CeeCee.

"I have style," Mathis retorted before realizing his sense of style was much to subtle and subdued to ever really stand out and say those words. "Perhaps with your help it would be more obvious," he said with a grin that brought out those dimples quite nicely.

"Dzat sounds perfect!" he told her happily. Classic but stylish that definitely described his sense of style. He was glad CeeCee knew him well enough to be aware of that at least but then he figured it was to be expected. She had known him for that long so learning what he liked to wear wasn't that difficult to do.

[CHARLIZE CECILIA RUTHERFORD]

CeeCee couldn't help but smile at Mathis justification of having style indeed. Sure he had, a sophisticated and mostly understated one. He knew what he wanted to wear and didn't fling something random on for the sole purpose of being covered up. That was what separated the boy from those neanderthal primates who shopped at American Eagle or Abercrombie ... why would someone buy stuff at a store that advertises with lack of clothes?! Mathis wasn't one of those ... although he owned some Old Navy boxers which Charlize had already mocked him for in the past. There was nothing wrong with dressing beyond ones comfort zone one in a while though. A little skirt shorter than socially accepted or something sparkling ... in the French boy's case though maybe some colorful accessories to his classic tuxedo? There wouldn't be any harm and despite the reluctance at first he'd realize - that was CeeCee certain of - that it could only benefit his appearance and the way people would perceive him.

"Well, well see what we can do about that!" Smiling kindly the petite blond leaned in for a quick kiss on Mathis' cheek before brushing some imaginary dust from his shoulder as she pulled back. "I'll see you around? ... Call me!" Nodding at her friend CeeCee was more than happy that people like him were making her settling back into NYC so easy. It could've been a lot worse. Her old friends could've been hurt by her leaving and not wanted her back. She couldn't even blame them ... she had upped sticks for LA totally egoistically and suddenly. All she had wanted was to break off with her past and all people in it - one of them especially. The funny thing in the end was ... now that she was back in her old live Carter wasn't in it anymore. So had those two years abroad been in vein? Only the future would tell. For now the big apple had one of his old starlets back, slowly glowing up on the dark sky again ... hopefully not becoming a shooting star anytime soon ...


FINISHED