The girl named Harmony (a story in Actor Mark's point of view)

Chapter 1: Damien's "special friend"

     Actor Mark's point of view:

     This tale begins at a time before I was wed. Before I'd even considered the idea of courting Celine. Before Damien was elected Mayor. Before everything, when life was fresh and things still felt new and exciting. I had my manor, my wealth, a well-known name, and all mine at a relatively early part of my life. 

     The first time I'd heard about her was from Damien. The man had met up with me for tea at my manor. He had arranged that the girl and I finally meet at a party I was holding on a later date, a meeting long due as he'd known the girl for several years, the same as he knew me. And all that day he couldn't stop raving about her. His "close friend" he was dying to introduce at long last. I didn't know what I was expecting, only that Damien said he had a very special friend of his he'd like me to finally meet. Only now do I understand why he was oh so pleased to introduce her... 

     Only now do I understand why he spoke about her so...

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     Regular Point of View:

     "I know you will like her as soon as you meet her. She's wonderful, and clever, and kind, and she's seen a good handful of the movies you've starred in Mark. Ha! We even watched one together. I couldn't tell you how excited she was when I told her she'd finally meet you," Damien said, proceeding to take a sip from his tea.

     Damien had spoken of Mark, William, his sister Celine, and more of his friends to this girl, promising her that they should meet someday. She had of course met Damien's sister Celine a number of times, seeing how close Damien and Celine were. 

     "She sounds lovely, Damien," Mark stated a tad indifferently, taking a bite from a cookie.

     This girl would be the same. The same as any woman who was a fan of his. She'd be speechless, he was sure. A bright excited smile on her doe eyed face. Another acquaintance he'd have to keep track of, even more so since she seemed so close to Damien. And since she was oh so close, why was it Damien had never mentioned her nearly as much before? Or at the very least, why was she never seen with him? Wouldn't Damien have introduced her sooner? It brought a few questions to Mark's mind.

     "Oh but she's not just lovely, Mark. You'll understand once you see her. She's just...," Damien sighed, a dopey grin snaking it's way into his face.

     "Ah~ So that's what you mean by special friend then?" Mark smiles knowingly.

     A secret lover then? Had to be. That would clarify some of his questions.

     "Huh? What do you mean?" Damien asks.

     Mark's always known the man to be more on the naïve side, a bit slow to catching on to generally obvious things. However, Mark had to wonder whether Damien would play dumb to hide his secret.

     "Sounds to me like you have a thing for this girl~" Mark chuckles.

     "Wh-What!? N-no, don't be ridiculous, Mark. She's just my dear friend. Nothing more," Damien replied, his cheeks beaming a hot red.

     "That's not what it sounds like to me, Dames. Come on. You can tell me. If there's anyone you shouldn't tell, it'd be William. Goodness knows the whole block would find out anything you tell the man," Mark laughed.

     "...I.. I don't. I'm not in a relationship with her... but.. *sigh* oh, Mark. My heart can't help but want to leap out of my chest and rush to her when she's near. She's beautiful, yes, but that's merely the surface of her loveliness. She's the most incredible person I've ever met. And.. to be with her. It's almost too good of a prospect. Like a dream."

     "So what's the problem then?" Mark asked. 

     "I don't think she sees me in such a way," Damien admitted.

     "Well have you asked her?" Mark interrupted.

     "Asked her what?" Damien replied.

     "Asked her where to find the bakery... Whether or not she likes you, Dames! Honestly," Mark stated.

     "Of course not! If I asked her... she'd know how I felt. And.. I don't want to ruin our good friendship. I'm happy with how things are..." Damien said.

     "For now... Well, whatever you choose to do, listen close and take my advice. If she's as fine a catch as you claim, you'd best swoop her up before another hungry wolf does," Mark said.

     "What on earth is that supposed to mean?" Damien asked.

     "Damien. Men will eat a girl alive if she isn't claimed after soon enough. You want her that bad, then you'd best buck up the courage and ask her fast before some other with a backbone does," Mark replied.

     "...I'll take that into consideration. Thank you, Mark. I'm so excited for you two to meet. I think you'll find you have a lot in common with her," Damien smiled.

     "All this talk of her this, her that, and you haven't even told me the girl's name," Mark chuckled.

     "Harmony," Damien sighed.

     "Harmony," Mark repeated. "Interesting name. Well then, my friend, I'll dress to impress, haha!"

     The two continued chatting away with their teas and pastries till the sun began to set. And then it was time for Damien to head home, claiming he promised to spend dinner with her. Mark waved him goodbye and walked back into his manor.

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     Actor Mark's Point of View:

     Finally, the day of my party came. As I said, I was dressed a little nicer than nice, adorned in a fine red suit, the lapels laced with black and gold rose patterns, along with thorny vines. My shoes were shined, hair slicked back, teeth pearly white. I couldn't be more ready. 

     How wrong I was. Nothing could have prepared me for that moment...

     The party in question was not celebrating anything specific. Simply a good time with good friends. Drinks and food. Dancing and the like. Why have such an extravagant home with no one to fill it every now and then? The guests began to filter in, mostly in pairs as I said a plus one was permitted with each admitted guest, the girl Harmony coming as Damien's. All was well as my staff served drinks and greeted people at the door, a highly recommended live band played, and people mingled in endless chatter, ready to party the night away.

     As I finished my first drink of the night, my eyes landed on the expected well dressed man, his hand was holding another's. The owner of said hand was coming round the corner beside Damien and... my heart nearly stopped. 

     This young lady was the darling special friend of Damien's.

     The girl named Harmony.

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     Author's Note: That's the first chapter for "The girl named Harmony"! Get ready for a ride, cause this is just the beginning! As always, critiques, comments, questions, and more are always appreciated, and I'll see you guys in the next chapter! Have a lovely day~