The leer of two Worlds

The day was like every other, The sky beamed down with dirty clouds; Mucous like rains poured over the sour earth, killing life as they beat down on each dieing blade of grass, each crumbling stone and drowning insect. The local stray animals got hold of a good idea and hid in alleys under boxes or whatever could act as shelter. In the streets the homeless majority could be seen cowering for some kind of protection or relief from the rain, One homeless women with two kids had actually crawled in a dumpsters for protection and this, this was home...

"Disgusting"

"What's disgusting?"

"This"

A dark looking young man pointed over the horizon as if to be hexing the city with the curse of his glare, In his eyes you could see he hated, no Despised it; Yet he drove commute every day to be part of it.

"Its not so bad B, its home, I have been here my whole life, besides you own a multimillion dollar company and live the life of king, it can't be that bad"

The women speaking to him was Ashley Armenion (Whom co workers deemed Ash), she was a perfect tall and gorgeous creature, standing there next to the large window only heightened her beauty it seemed greater as it reflected against the poverty sticking streets.

"I don't care ash, I want out. But to be honest the thought of leaving scares the hell out of me." Brad L. McGarrhan was his name and clearly he was not at home here, he was used to California with its heat and expenses; he was used to a home with friends and family, but mostly he was used to Christine and her mindless chirping. 'I wonder what she is doing right now. Wonder if she is thinking of . me' he thought to him self of old times.

~Elsewhere`

"Denis will you please wake the hell up, I am not paying you to follow me and stare at my ass"

"Yes Miss. Collins." Twitched the shell-shocked assistant as he raced down the hall to keep up with his high stakes but even higher heeled boss.

"Denis I have a memo, pay attention: One call C.E.O of the inductile company and plan a lunch."

They sharply turn a corner,

"Two Call the lawyers and see how divorce settlement is sinking"

She opens a door and flies into a new hall, Dennis following close behind,

"Three call customer research and pull the files on consumer reports for all California, France, and New York fashion shows dealing in foreign wares"

She opens another door and finds her seat sits down as Dennis strides along side her,

"And last but not least call Mark and see how the mergers going, I want a full report and all these tasks done by 4:00, its 1:30 giving you 2 and a half hours to finish, any problems?"

"No miss Collins"

"Good, get to work"

With that he turns to leave the room,

"Oh and Dennis, any later then 4, and your fired"

Denis swallows all the Silvia in his mouth and exits the rooms.

Now sitting alone Christine Collins has time to just think and stare off in to space, with Dennis handling the biggest tasks she has a moment to drift off and daydream a little bit until more tasks come her way, but this was her life, should she choose to except it.

"You have 3 new messages," points out the answering machine with the touch or her long precise finger (with an excellent manicure I might add)

"Message 1, Friday April 23, 5:34 pm: Christine this is yourself speaking, don't forget to file the Armani report so Susan can write it up before Tuesday, she has to write an article and has very little time to do it before vacation.

'Damn it' thinks Christine "I should really start checking messages the day I receive them and not three days later"

Message 2, Friday April 23, 7:14 pm: Christine it's your self speaking, don't forget your dress at the cleaners, you need it for Thursday, Try and make a good impression this time.

"Wow I call myself a lot," she thinks.

Message 3, Saturday April 24, 12:33 pm: Um hey Christine, its Brad ... I know its been a while, but I would like to see you, I am free Thursday, and well if your up to it lunch would be nice; call my cell 555-7632 and maybe we can set something up later.

"Oh my god! .. Brad called. "

~New York City~

"Brad. BRAD. are you theerrreee" Ash waved her delicate hand in a now comatose brads face.

"Oh um I'm sorry I was thinking and it may have taken over for a second" replied a very distant Brad.

"So anyways I was thinking, if we add the Do's and Don'ts of fashion underneath Jessica's article then we may be able to insure space, It really doesn't need a page of its own. And besides she never uses the whole thing anyway" Explained Ash well pointing at a large board with magazine pages pinned up.

"Good thinking, then we can finally let David fill that page with the stories of when good dates go bad, which should be a big hit for the more humor inclined readers." (With no real lives) thinks Brad

"Alright then I'll be on it immediately" Ash walks gracefully out of the room and gets to business leaving Brad alone in his giant office with the reminding window.

"Disgusting"

Now standing alone Brad has time to just think and stare off in to space, with ash handling current affairs he has a moment to drift off and be unimportant, which for the owner of a mega popular women's magazine is a nice twist for a change.

"You have 3 new messages imported form your cellular voice mail," say's the answering machine in its usual matter-o-fact expressionless tone.

"Message 1, Thursday April 22, 2:00 am: Brad hey its yourself, you have too remind Ash to check over the photo shots for next Fridays issue.

"Yes, already did that." thinks Brad as he strums his fingers down his desk.

Message 2, Friday April 23, 5:14 pm: Hey Brad its Drew, I have the lip gloss reports, there as dull as dirt you may want to re think the article, none the less I faxed them to Ash yesterday Just wanted to know if you got them.

"Yep I got them, and Oh yeah they where dull, but woman seem to like it, and it puts cash by the ass so in it goes" He says to himself still strumming his fingers.

Message 3, Saturday April 24, 1:00 am: Brad . its Lilli, I am sorry to call so late.. But I am so lost.. I need you, call as soon as you can, 950-9093.

Stops strumming fingers.

~*~*~*~

"What on earth could Brad want? He made it quite clear that this was right. that we should stay away. After Graduation I thought we would be together, I was to optimistic, I actually though he could love me. And I him. "Christine climb's out of the bath and puts a robe over her slim wet body "Stupid stupid! That's what it was stupidity" she says aloud to herself "You don't suppose he has come back to rekindle lost feeling's do you." She walks into the kitchen and pours a cup of coffee; the black liquor of the night, and damn was it good. "How would I react? Could I set my self up again. for the pain . would I?" She climbs the stairs and makes her way to her room, going through the large walk in closet she tries and re tries clothing on, sorting through the tightest blackest, and sexiest things she owns. basically everything (except for the white cheetah print shorts, those are awful, but she loves them, well when no one else is around at least.) At last picking out a nice white button up with a short tight black skirt and vest ensample she is ready for her date, in the unreadiest fashion possible.

~*~*~*~

Brad is driving, looking like a million bucks, yet feeling like a wreck

Christine is driving in a flaming hot skirt that screams "I am ready for anything" and yet her inside whispers "go away"

Brad turns down the corner and parks in a convenient spot in front of the restaurant, He parks neatly and efficiently begging for a mistake to be found.

Christine rams her damn car in the closest spot not caring how unaligned the bloody thing is (which it is), and she flies out of the tin box like a bat out of hell.

As he gracefully strides down the sidewalk and begins to turn the corner he thinks of her.

As she feverishly storms down the sidewalk and begins to turn the corner she thinks of him.

They find their restaurants, their seats, and their dates and life progresses.

"So Matt, you're a doctor, that most be so fascinating?" Christine swivels her drink around as she 'pretends' to enjoy his mindless dribble.

"Blah blah blah blah blah money, blah blah blah bills, blah anus blah blah" Oh he is indeed talking normal, she's just is hearing it this way cause its so boring. (Did he say anus!?)

"That's so interesting, you are just full of stories aren't you (Oh god please don't be)" Christine bats her eyes at him.

"Oh I have tons, like this one time." (Oh man his mouth it just won't stop, its not fair that I should have to take this abuse, no this torture. Is he talking about surgery or sex? I can't tell anymore.) Christine is obviously bored with the date and wants out, she checks her watch sighs, and orders another drink, (I can fix this).

"So Matt"

Christine goes for the kill,

"Have you ever seen a magazine company's office? It really is amazing, full of work, all the desire and passion being poured in to one little booklet of paper and staples, its sort of, well tingling, to see how one human can be so opinionated to write something so indeclinable yet still do it for the sake of being heard, it makes my blood run, Ohh matt, just talking about it makes my blood run, do you want to see it Matt, The office and all the heat it generates?"

Matt clears his throat and pulls at his collar a little "Uh well isn't it kind of late to be there, and I am sure the drive is most unnecessary."

Uhhh Matt the passion of it all, the sheer desire, it doesn't matter what time it is or how far away, just take me!"

"What" asks Matt quizzically?

"Take me there!" Christine stands up in drops a check on the table, "I got dinner and now I will show you what I have planned for your midnight snack" she walks out to the car, and like all her good prey do, he follows.

~*~*~*~

"Aha, a mass production theory, when major conglomerate businesses attack are minds with ads and propaganda. sounds exciting!" (Kill me! Kill me now!) Brad obviously not enjoying his date either makes chitchat. very dull chitchat.

"Yes I know, and with my new book maybe people will change their Gucci buying ways and relies it's just a name on some cloth, not a god. (Now Brad being the owner of a magazine depends on those "Labels on cloth" to sell, so he is completely disinterested by her rants."

Being less tactful and more blunt Brad strikes,

"So Liz, do you want to head to my place for a little after dinner party between the two of us?"

He catches his prey,

"Why Mr., McGarrhan, quite the instigator aren't we?" she giggles and blushes "Are you trying to buy me in with your own menacing propaganda" she slides her now shoeless foot up Brads pant leg.

And all ways manages to take home the kill.

~*~*~*~

-In Christine's office alone with her date-

(There are loud love noises, trust me that's all you need to know

-Inside Brads bedroom during the after dinner party between Brad and his date-

(Really now, do you have to ask what he's doing?)

.