Chapter 1 - EmmaI suppose that with my new look came a desire for a new life. I loved my job and housemates but I decided there was surely something more to it than that. I needed love.
Cyclone and Stiles weren't ever options for me because we'd bonded too well as friends. I know that any romance would just be awkward and, to be honest, neither of them are really my type. Something in my mind told me that I'd maybe find some answers up on the hill.
I took a short taxi trip and ended up outside a rather grand pink mansion. I'd yet to really introduce myself to it's residents so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity.
And it was then that I met him. Nick Alto. As we introduced ourselves, I felt a little leap in my heart. Could he be the one?
We got chatting and I started to feel it more and more. He was older than me and not fantastically good looking but could this be love?
We had a great night of good conversation and he escorted me to the door. I had to find out before the night was through...
So I kissed him.
That pause. His face. How would he react? How would
you react if some random girl turned up on your doorstep and kissed you? I started to regret it straight away. How could I be so stupid?
But then he pulled me into his arms. He loved me and I loved him back.
A young girl came out the house but I paid no attention to it at first. It was only when Nick started to resist my affections that I realised something was up.
"Emma," Nick said. "This is my daughter, Holly. And... I'm married. I'm so sorry."
At first I didn't want to think about what he was saying.
"You're
married? Why didn't you tell me?" I exclaimed, feeling both outraged and heartbroken.
"I'm really, truly sorry, Emma. Please, let me come with you." he replied.
"So that you can become young with me again? Because you're tired of being tied down?"
"No, it's because I fell out of love with Vita a great many number of years ago and Holly, well... we're not close."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"But I feel like you can give me life again, Emma. Please."
So that's how we ended up in Nick's car, speeding away from his glorious mansion to my house. What would Tamara and Cyclone and the others think?
They were all rather uneasy about him at first, because they'd heard how powerful he was in the business world. But soon they came to like him.
We converted our garage into a kind of recreational area. There was originally a treadmill and a weight machine, but we decided to replaced the weight machine with a second treadmill, because personally I find I get a better workout on them.
Nick immediately got to work on his fitness, which wasn't really what it should have beeen. Nick put it down to all those cakes and doughnuts he'd consumed over the years while working at the office. That's our fatal flaw: we just love food too much!
It's nice to run beside him. We support each other.
Cyclone seems to find it funny but Cyclone seems to find
everything funny.
Cyclone is a big fan of the new arcade games we installed in the garage/den. He's a pro at all them, obviously. I really think he needs to get out more.
After he'd slimmed down, Nick decided to have a full makeover. He said he felt young again.
Stiles picked up a strange machine which he said would adjust your body shape to anything you desired. Nick tried it out, to
lose a little muscle. I'm not a big fan of muscles.
Ah, much better.
But with all of this came my doubts about Nick. Did he really love me or did he simply want to be with young people, have a young girlfriend, live in a young man's world? I couldn't have been more wrong.
One evening, shortly after he arrived, he passionately kissed me out of the blue. I was absolutely thrilled!
Tamara wandered in and rolled her eyes at us. Typical Tamara.
And then he dropped to one knee. I knew what he was doing almost straight away and gasped, not with shock, but with delight.
"Emma Louise Hatch," he began. "In the last few days, you have changed me. I feel like I've awakened from a long, dark sleep. You woke me up and I could not be happier. I love you Emma. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"
I exploded with happiness. I jumped up and down and squealed in delight.
We couldn't wait, we just couldn't! We had to get married right there, right then.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Tamara, staring at us. This time, she didn't roll her eyes, she didn't make pretend vomit noise or laugh. She just stared.
