Forever Etched

Chapter 1 Painted Pictures.

Mondays are always busy. Challery Monti spent most of her 20° days editing photos, posting and printing. She loved working at MMedia downtown LakeCity in Athenia more than anything. Hey, $5000 biweekly was not that bad for a 23-three-year old without kids. But all she wanted to do was to find love. It is what every resident in the beautiful city of Athenia lived for. Challery had never dated a guy before and really wanted to keep herself for that very special someone. She couldn't wait to talk about starplanets, timetravel, photography and the wonders of the world with this guy. What did he even look like? To be the mother of a tribe would be pretty amazing. In Athenia they say that when you find love a mark grows on your skin, unique to you and your complete opposite. And you develop abilities that you never had before. Challery's older brother Max found his soulmate when he was sixteen and he had the power to read his girlfriend Misha's thoughts, fly and time travel. She developed powers identically. While her sister Malory who was four years older than she was, was in pain from having her boyfriend Randy and twin flame who seemed to take forever to return from the army. They often drew messages on their palms to communicate. Challery had to fight the jealousy and lonliness she felt.
The trim, fit, chocolate brown model reset the settings on her 70D Mark III Canon Camera sending photos to be printed for the MMedia's new fashion magazine. She turned down the airconditioning and reached for her blue Nokia Lumia to check out the company's Instagram feed. Busy, busy Monday she thought. She was about to look outside when she heard a faint noise outside her studio.
It was a knock of sorts but before she could get across the burgandy carpet a head full of curly hair popped around her nutmeg stained office door.
"Hey CM, there's an emergency meeting with the editorial heads so you can leave early today."
Challery looked up to see Yusuf Luke her editor with a worried look on his face.
"Okay sure. I just sent the photos for the JetSet Magazine," she said cool, calm and confident. She was just in time to meet her deadline and tried not to look as bothered as she felt.
"Can you check them out Yousuf?"
"Sure kiddo, I guess it's better for you to head out now then and leave any brushing up until tomorrow?" He suggested to Challery tilting the remains of his smoothie to his face.
He said he always used them to cope with his soulmate Val when he was missing her.
"On the greens again?" Challery hinted at the empty smoothie cup in Yousuf's sweaty palm.
"You know how it is when your wife wants to travel to the moon for dinner. Its a lot of pressure," he said cocking his head to one side then pointing to her photos.
"I totally know what its like..." Challery said giggling.
"I know you'd understand but hey these prints looks really good CM."
"Yeah, but I prefer them without smoothie drip. Take it easy I like this job," she said chuckling as she quickly removed the prints of teen models from Yousuf's hand.
Yousuf seemed all over the place.
Next he was looking out her office window at the extremely beautiful city below with tall buildings and twin flames celebrating March the month of love.
"So the moon? " Challery ignored Yousuf's sense of panic and busied herself locking up drawers, packing up camera equipment and throwing out old magazine covers.
"Yeah, I found out I own a spot on the inside of the moon after Val and I became twin flames. She has the key and I have the lock to our very own forest way up in the sky."
"Wow thats amazing. Well, I would love to hear more but I guess I can call it an early evening. I would have really liked to finish these prints." Challerly was a consientious and dedicated employee.
"Yea, do what you must." Yousuf turned to leave.
He finally closed the door when Challery heard him walking down the Hallway singing.
"I would like to visit the moon on a rocket ship high in the air..." boy was he off key.
MMedia was a small company but the clients they provided prints and magazines to were multimillion dollar organizations and she loved the team she worked with over the past two years.
Challery logged out of her pink themed MacBook. Closed her window shades by directing the atoms floating around and turned off the light to her office as she usually did by clicking her tongue.
One time she was in a manic bipolar mood and the light blew completely out of its socket.
She walked down the hallway to the receptionists' desk. It was about 5 in the evening now. Challery stopped for a quick chat with her.  The receptionist was always a chatty soul and many clients liked her.
"I'm heading home Deborah.Can you request a pay slip for the month of February I didn't get one from Accounts..." Challerly asked the plump receptionist leaning slightly over the pastel yellow counter.
"Sure thing Challery. I got you girl."
Deborah always had a way of highlighting her words with black lingo which made Challery feel like she was smelling her grandmothers Sunday food.
"Thank you Debz. How is Hugh?"
Deborah's face lit up. The stories about her soulmate were always sweet and hilarious.
"Well, its nothing to laugh at this time. We caused a lighting strike the other day. You know how I told you I get those same electric shocks you told me you had in Ecuador? Well, we were celebrating for our 10th year as twin flames and Hugh looked into my eyes with so much passion. I just started to create electricity.
The sparks were beautiful. If we ever get into trouble I can use them as a defense. They eventually erupted into fireworks," Deborah said sighing.
"Thats really beautiful," Challery lived for stories like these.
Deobrah saw the look of concern on her face.
"Don't worry girl when you find your special someone all this wait will be worth it. Anyway don't let me keep you."
"I'll see you Wednesday. Remember I told you about my scholarship offer for my Masters? Well, I have to see about that tomorrow."
"All the best sweetie. The universe is on your side."
Challery waved at Deborah who hurridly got up to head to the meeting with Yousuf and the team of managing directors.
The parking lot was neat and Challery quickly made her way to her cherry red jeep. She loved being a heavy roller. Big wheels, a surfboard on top and plush leather seats.
The ignition started and Lauryn Hills music blasted on the set.
"Its funny how money change a situation..." Challery rapped along.
She got an electric shock in her hand as she stuck the clutch in for first gear.
Dang why does that always happen she thought to herself.
Its always the same time on Mondays when that happens 5:35...
The freeway was a cool drive out of the city towards the country where she lived in Amstead County.
Athenia has purple and red lights everywhere. March was always a popular month for soulmates to meet. She saw a marching band pass by and a gymnastics team.
The highway swerved on but the red jeep turned up a hill and disappeared behind thick trees.
Home sweet home.
Beep-beep-beep.
Challery's parents were both home and so was her older sister Malory who had her truck parked outfront.
"Hey ma!"
The smell of soup filled the air.
"Hey Chall. How was your day?"
"Oh you know. Trying," Challery said as her mom fixed her a hot bowl of chicken soup.

"I'm heading to the shower first so I'll be back in a few." Challery placed her cardigan on the rack and set her sunglasses and keys down.
"No worries baby. I put this bowl here to cool for you."
Mrs Monti was a loving soul. Trim, of medium build with dreadlocks down her back and she always held a serious but kind face.
Challery took her time as she dried between her toes. It was a habit she had when her mom used to bathe her and always relaxed her on extremely tiresome days. She laid back and called up her best friend Ariel who was a pure spiritualist.
"Hey A...I'm heading to your place in twenty minutes. We gotta talk," Challery said quickly.
"Hey chica and sure no problem," Ariel said. She found her soulmate Jasper two years ago and found she  could see through electricity and laughed at Challery who was still babying her toes.
"Okay I'm heading on out. See you in a few?"
"I see you but yea sure," Ariel said chuckling.
"Oh yeah of course."Challery replied.
She found it interesting how her best friend painted pictures.