What was Frank Sinatra singing in one of his songs?

"I want to be a part of it. New York. New York."

Damn, I am so excited. When the plane flew over the city, we're watching it lights down there through a window, in expectation of new adventures and a bunch of fun for the whole of July. You should've seen our smiles at that moment. The words that first come to your mind to describe it are "bright", "rhythmic" and... Hmm... "Unbelievable", this city touches your soul. I don't even care 'baut the foul territory of the airport or this irritating crowd. It does not matter...ok, it does, but only for pessimistic jerks who only see negative stuff. Not me, that's for sure, I see and remember the good things only.

"Mel, what's our destination?" I ask my friend, putting my stuff in a trunk, as soon as we catch a taxi.

"Oh, yeah. We need 57th street, Manhattan, skyscraper One of 57, have you heard of that?" Mel says addressing to a taxi driver.

"Sure." He smiles and gets in the car.

As soon as we get ourselves comfortable on a backseat of the car I take out my cell to text Neal that we've landed and everything is going well with us, the plane's ok, and we haven't even destroyed it!

"Are you sure, you've named the correct address of the place I've booked for us? I thought it was the Upper East side." I look at Mel and see that "Get your butt ready for Epic Adventures!" smile of hers.

"We're gonna stay at "Donor's!" She announces, and I whimper a protest

I knew it! That girl has a great talent of getting us in troubles. She can easily get us in jail or somewhere outta town with someone we hardly even know so that we have to get back home trying to catch a car on a highway.

"Fuck, Mel! Imma kill ya!" I am so pissed off.

"Oh, come on. Why not? I mean the "Donor" has shown up saying he wants to be at least a small part of my life, and I think he must earn it first. So, I told him we were coming to New York and he was happy to invite us to stay at his place for an uncertain period of time. Don't you think it's a great chance to save some cash and instead of paying for rent we can get us some new stuff! Maybe I could also make him get me a new car ... or two, or even my own apartment or something. He seems to be quite a rich guy. No... Quite a rich son of a bitch." She expounds on that; I roll my eyes and click.

"You must know I hate it when you do shit like this." I grumble. Mel giggles.

"And I hate you are grouchy. You become a real predator."

"Just don't tell me he's gonna be around all the time! Are you sure there will be enough room for us? How 'baut his wife and kids or pets, maybe? Has he got any?"

"Oh, Chloe, I know nothing about him. All I know – he's outta town now. Somewhere in Spain or Italy... chilling with his whore. Mom says he's been left with someone for around three or five years, not sure about that. So, relax, girl, this summer is going to be a memorable one! I mean he wanted to see what his lil girl has grown up into...ok... I'm just gonna bring it on!" Mel seems to be quite satisfied, and that makes me feel sorry for that man already.

"Oh, yeah he has also added twenty thousand of bucks to my card so that his lil girl could get anything she needs."

"I don't remember you telling me you've seen your father."

"A "donor" you meant to say...I haven't; I just flipped him off and went out for our senior albums with ya."

I am quite surprised. "Haven't you even asked him what the hell he's been doing for the past eighteen years?"

"Why should I? I don't remember you giving a fuck to what your father has been doing for the past twenty."

Mel shrugs.

I turn my head to look out of the window. "I just think it's weird ..."

And it's not true, actually, I do care, I'd really love to know where he is. It is just I've learned to accept the truth and forget about the feelings. Moreover, I have to admit that if he hadn't bought us a home that was in a different area, that could not have been as easy as it was.

I had to stay in the same grade for another year, cuz I had to change from a public to a private school. They just decided that I need one more year to recall on the curriculum, that's how I met white-haired and shy Mel. And since my mom decided that I wasn't ready for school and I entered primary classes later than kids usually do, I turned to be twenty when we were in our senior grade, which means I was the eldest among the graduators. Do I feel sorry about that? I wouldn't say so; I don't really care about my age; I mean those are just numbers. I don't feel my age; I feel like a ten or eight years old one.

The car stops in front of a high mirrored building; you can see the reflection of the streets in it, gosh, it looks amazing...I smile.

"Not bad," says Mel getting outta the car, I pay for the drive.

We take our stuff and enter the hall, Mel walks to the reception and says something to a girl there, and she nods in a reply and passes an envelope to Mel.

"And?" I take my bag.

Mel opens the envelope. "Hmm...We take the elevator, floor eighty-nine." She gives me the note "Look. He's sooo sweet... Makes me sick."

We enter the elevator.

"Dear Melanie. I'm glad you've accepted my invitation to stay at my place. You need floor eighty-nine, there you use the Keycard and enter the password 0327654RVF. You, girls, can choose any bedroom you like, feel like home and make yourself comfortable. If you need anything give a call to Don +13474556576. He's working for me; he'll do anything for you while I'm gone. Have a great weekend, darling.

E.F"

That message puts on an ironic smile on my face; I give it back to Mel.

"Do you at least know his name?"

"Eric Ford." She grumbles, as soon as the red-light changes to green she opens the door, we're on our floor. Mel walks to the door, puts the keycard in the locker and enters the password.

Oh, You've gotta be kidding us! We're shocked, exited and swooned.

There are no lights, but you don't actually need 'em, cuz the city lights that come in through those panoramic windows let you see a vast living room and a spiral staircase to the second floor.

"Holy crap!"

"Is he a relative of Donald Tramp or something???"

"I need five cars!" Says Mel, I giggle.

"Ok, girl! Let's see what we've got here." We leave our suitcases where they are and stroll along the living room, on our right we notice a long dining table as for the royal family, and I suppose there's the kitchen behind it. We walk around the couches and Aphrodite-style sculpture there's another table with chairs.

Mel sniffs at it. "Gosh, seems like he's always eating!" She walks up the stairs to the second floor. There we see five bedrooms each of 'em was designed in a different color. The one with a spectacular park view is obviously occupied; we realize that's the place the "Donor" dwells in.

Mel enters the wardrobe as if it's hers, turns on the lights to see a whole bunch of outfits. That looks more like a store than a closet.

Mel makes a step to hangers with women's clothes. "Oh, I guess that whore lives here too... well, she'll have to leave, if he wants me to be here."

"Mel, c'mon, why can't he have someone, that's his life."

"Don't even try, Chloe, no excuses for him! Mom had to marry Sebastian, just not to be ashamed 'cuz of her pregnancy, while this son of a bitch was chilling in fucking penthouses with all of those hookers, for all of these years he had never thought of us!" Mel takes theуwhite dress decorated with rhinestones, "He's gotta pay for that ... I don't want him to be happy...Look, this one's custom-made, that's gotta cost an arm and a leg. She holds the dress as it was poisoned.

"C'mon, Mel! You mustn't complain your family had enough money to give you everything you ever needed."

Mel throws the dress on the floor, running out of the closet. "Such an Asshole!"

I sigh and pick up the dress, put it back where it was like no one has ever entered this room.

I find Mel in a "Beige" room; she's standing there, looking out of the window, hands folded around her shoulders.

"Mel, are you sure you wanna be here? Maybe we better stay in a hotel?" I come to her and put my head on her shoulder. "Maybe you should just leave it the way it is. You're strangers to each other – that makes it easier; why try ruing your lives."

"It's not fair, Chloe. He wasn't there for me for all these years, and now, when finally, when all my dreams may become real... He has this bitch with him; hate her... I hate both of them!" She is almost whispering that ready to cry.

"Ok..." I make her turn around to look in her face. "Let's just think about it tomorrow," I try to sound cheerful. "Just don't forget – we're here to start a new life, to kill this Big Apple, just you and me like we always wanted! And, if needed- we'll move to a Hotel, but if you decide to stay here – you have to learn to deal with the situation." I finally see a slight smile on Mel's face. «We're gonna crack this Apple with our awesomeness."

She nods. "Can I wear some of your clothes? And tomorrow we are going to spend a whole bunch of his money!" She says pursing her lips.

"Sure! So, which of the bedrooms is mine?"

"You should take the vinous one; I think it reflects your temper, as "vamp" as you are!" She gives me a wink, and I nod.

It doesn't actually matter as tomorrow I am going to persuade her to leave this house.

We go downstairs, while Mel is looking for the light switch, I take my suitcase closer to a couch. She finds a control remote and presses all the buttons at once starting a fucking light show. We burst with laughter trying to blow the hell all of the lights in the house. As soon as we did with that, we take my suitcase upstairs. My room is next to the Host's bedroom.

Well, it seems to be quite comfortable with modern design, expensive bedclothes. There are a lil closet, balcony and a personal bathroom. There's also a TV-set there.

Ok, I should admit this place is awesome, but I would feel more comfortable in an area that I have chosen for us to stay in.

Somehow, I just don't feel safe here, like I don't belong here, I'm not supposed to be here.

However, I have no choice. I take only part of my stuff outta suitcase, hoping that I'm gonna leave this place soon. Mel takes a pair of jeans and a shirt.

"I'm hungry!" Cannot deny that either. "Let's check on the "Donor's" fridge." We run downstairs hoping like cavemen. We find a kitchen exactly where I thought it was.

It turns out to be not as bombastic as everything else in this house. There one-color beige cabinets, big refrigerator and a bar counter.

While Mel rummages in the fridge, taking out everything needed to make some sandwiches, I walk through the kitchen to find myself in the angular panoramic sitting room with a bar and a couple of chairs.

A glass bar cabinet catches my eye; I make a step closer to look at the bottles in it.

***

"Have a drink with me, bae," the visitor asks. I put the fourth glass with whisky in front of him. "I don't drink at work," I say.

"Then quit and get over here," he takes the glass and drinks out of it pointing at a bar stool next to him.

"What a swill." He pishes.

"Well, the exit is over there, and you're always free to go." I am quite offended by this comment; my brother spends quite a time to find only the best suppliers.

"I see you're quite devoted to your boss." He hems.

"Well, I am so sorry that we have nothing worth drinking, your majesty!" I take a towel to wipe the table off, hoping that that was sarcastic enough of me.

"I'm just into Dalmore-50. How 'baut you?" Damn, will that smart ass ever leave me alone?!

"Like I give a damn...Listen, if you just need someone to talk there are enough of Sniffs here, I bet they'd be glad to chat with ya for a couple of drinks, so why don't you stop distracting me!" I look in his eyes, and my expression says, "shut the fuck up."

The man gives me this disarming smile; he lifts his hand to reach the top button on his shirt. I watch him unbutton it... slowly. My body feels a heavy pumping of blood flowing throughout, I for the first time in my life I get this intense pool of heat between my thighs, I swallow. Suddenly he puts his hand over mine, I look at him, and I'm confused, but can't take my eyes off him.

I cannot stop looking, and I sink in his eyes, in these vibes between us. It is a new feeling for me: so weird, intimate and flash. I am losing my mind, and I get goose bumps.

"Have a drink with me, bae. I feel so lonely now." His voice is so quiet. He quietly says, caressing my hand, my pulse gets faster, he can feel it with his finger on my wrist. I nod instinctively.

***

"Nice choice!" Mel's voice brings me back to reality. I jump back from the cabinet.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I see a plate full of sandwiches in her hands.

"Nothing, it's ok, I was just daydreaming." It feels like I am still there; I can hear my heartbeat..."I think I go to bed, Mel, ok? Feel tired, and I'm kinda having a headache". I lie to her.

"Sure, and I'm gonna have my sandwiches and, maybe a drink," she kisses me in a cheek. "See you in the morning, girl." I smile at her.

I almost run into my bedroom, close the door and sit on the floor.

"Chloe, please, just forget about it!" I beg myself. I put my fingers in my hair and sigh.