[b]Before the Blackout[/b]
Amanda instantly became suspicious of the man who suddenly uttered words in which she had no interest. She had fallen victim to random strangers speaking to her about superfluous subjects many times before, most of which intended to impose their erotic fantasies that lay dormant in their twisted minds upon her. Amanda was utmost uncomfortable in the presence of the man who with all intentions wished them well, allegedly. When the man excused his rough and poor choice of words he ogled Amanda from top to toe, but casually so as not to raise suspicion or hostility from the girls. Even though Amanda did not witness it, as she kept her stare to the pavement on which they trod, she could feel his vile intentions. Disasters often tended to bring the worst out of people, masked by deceitful benevolence. “Let’s just go…” Amanda whispered to Nicole, who subsequently thanked the man for his kind warning.

Amanda’s heavy steps echoed in their immediate surroundings …klick, klack, klick, klack… and some manner of older ladies and refined women who passed them by in the chaos must have thought it appear utmost uncomfortable, perhaps even painful. But the girl’s poor choice of shoes for the situation actually shifted her focus from the tragedies all around them to something less disturbing — the pain which slowly crept its way down her ankles and into the length of her feet was a proper and welcomed distraction that forced Amanda to think clearly. The worst stage of her shock receded with the pain from walking rapidly down the streets and when the girls reached scenery of pure destruction and disorder, Amanda could surely make a better judgment than just a few moments ago.

The Chéruit Collections were fabrics and abstract design fashions of pristine value, worth a small fortune to the everyday philistine droning and slaving a profession for which they had no passion. But the outcome of them being stolen by looters was rare. If the studio was broken into, the trespassers would with utmost certainty ignore the score and turn around. Who would want to steal a heap of fabrics and strange clothing in times of duress? Amanda considered her options carefully. She assumed the situation to be temporary and since the studio was locked and secured, it did not seem to be in any immediate danger. However, the inner workings of Amanda’s mind was for Nicole to be revealed another day.

“You’re right… let’s get out of here. Where do we go, what do we do?”

[b]Present Day[/b]
“You could always petition the Ministry of Internal Affairs for a reassignment,” Nicole said. Amanda burst into a slight chuckle at the comment. “Yeah, right…,” she said.

“Otherwise, why not try to switch up how you run your Thursday gatherings? Perhaps introduce a concept that you’re excited about? Obviously make sure the little brats are on board and stuff. That shouldn’t be a problem with you though. You were quite the convincer back in university,” Nicole said. Amanda put her plate away. She had either suddenly lost her appetite or realized that she was well fed already. However, to say that Amanda was well fed could be perceived as quite contradictory: she was underfed if anything at all, considering her slender figure.

“To hell with it, I shouldn’t complain… it puts food on the table. But whatever, forget about that. How are you doing, sweetie? You are not going shot at out there, are you?—because I’ll kill you myself if are putting yourself in harm’s way, you know,” she said.

Amanda carefully heeded her friend’s words as they were spewed out onto the table and into the air around them, somewhat pessimistic in nature. At the end of the rant that could have gotten the girl into quite some trouble or perhaps raised serious concern with a psychiatrist of some sort, Amanda gently placed her hand on top of Nicole’s and embraced it slightly, holding it in comfort and welfare. “It’s okay, love. This is why I’m here, for you to have someone to do this with. I’m always here for you, I hope you know that. Just like you were there for me that night when all of this first began.”