The green swan

Part i) - Wandering souls

The melancholy hasen't felt so sweet since 16. I hushed myself out of the crowd as if anyone in that gathering knew my first name, and coincidentally found myself in front of a swan shaped bush, when the only thing which came to my mind when the word s
Swan popped up was how ethereal my sister would look in her pure white wedding gown with the details of a swan on them. I need to shut up and maybe focus on what people would say about me when they realize there isint only one daughter in the Vasilakis family. My hands find their way towards the perfectly combed hair and instinctively mess it up, why do I make myself this preppy if I know there is no value.

"Excuse me?" A voice seeps through, I look to my side. Oh lord, What is he doing here? Please don't tell me he's related to the grooms side anyhow. "Yeah?" I reply with a slightly hesitant undertone,  Ambrose  was about as mighty as the people who talk of him say. Maybe he actually wants to converse with me, atleast I'll get something good out of the night

"Do you know where the washroom is by any chance?"

All the expectations that I built up in the 50 seconds of meeting him were already crushed.

"Well it wouldent be outside the main building for sure."

His stiff, almost statue-like face turned more relaxed, his voice calmed itself before he settled himself on the lean lining of the swan shaped hedge.

"I usually just say that to check if you'll bust me for sneaking out.."
His voice changed to, and he let out a rather hearty chuckle. This definitely wasent what the people said about him.

"Oh, alright.." I already ran out of topics to talk about, God I'm such a mess, no wonder despite bei-

"So, what's your name?"

Okay.. this is new

"I'm Emerald, Emerald Vasilakis."

"Oh are you a cousin of the brides side? How come I've never seen you?"

As if I wasent already feeling pretty useless with everyone else not knowing my first name. The worst part is he sounds genuine.. besides you can't really hate anything which is coming from that face, those eyes.
"I'm.. The brides sister, The Older one."

"WHATT..! How have I never seen you?"

"eh..well, I.. " I couldent tell him I wasent even living in this country or that I'm only here for barely a months time.. he wouldent care anyway. Why should I? "..I don't get out of the house often."

He looks at me with a mixture of eager anticipation to get to know me more.. as if I was a package ready to be opened.

"It's probably on my part, it's just Oscar never mentioned Dia had a sister.." Dia? He already got close with her enough to call her Dia? Her name is Diana. She was supposed to be named Diamond but because of my tantrum when I was barely 9, which is that a Diamond is more valuable than an Emerald they changed it to Diana.. it still doesent stop everyone from calling her Diamond. But, really, Dia? And she hasent even mentioned it to me. I don't know why my attention is so rigid on this.

" I'm on the more introverted side of the couch you see."
Lie. Pinocchio would be jealous if he saw how much I got away with. I was desperate to move on with the topic, anyway what does a man love talking more about, than himself.

"You're Ambrose right? You're name spreads faster than fire so I kind of already knew you were gonna be here."
"..Right."

He seemed disappointed.
he was the first and only child of the family, he was social, charismatic and described as way too alluring. Something tells me he's self-conscious.
"Actually I was hoping I wouldent hear my name for tonight.. a primary reason I came here."

His voice sounds like gold, I feel like I'm objectifying him. God I'm weird. And I don't know if he's self knowing makes him more attractive or less.

"Uhm.. Then.. what if we come up with fake names, like you can be uh.. Ross." His face sort of lit up, I was planning on saying more but something tells me he already came up with another idea.

"That's exactly what I needed for tonight. If im Ross, youre.. Emi."

I had never been close enough to someone to get a nickname from them. Emi? Not too bad.

"Well then, Ross, you want to accompany me to some place which will serve something cold to drink?" Ambrose, I mean Ross looks back at me, and links his arms with me, with a look which tells me he'll enjoy this too much.

"I know this house inside out, there's a secret bar which they keep for overstaying guests."
"Are we even allowed to do this?"

"Oh c'mon Emi, you aren't that scared are you?"
Right. I'm not Emerald-

"Well then"
I find myself an unopened bottle and try to open it with my teeth, .. I failed miserably. Ross laughed at me, and took the bottle from my hand swiftly, and did what I was desperately trying to do.
He poured us both drinks
"Cheers Emi." His face gleams with a mischievous smile
"Cheers to you too Ross."
And down goes the drink.