This is the first part of Anya's journey
The second book is in the making.
~*~
Anya moves to London, after a series of tragic events. A bit late in life, she decides to aim for the dreams she never had courage to go after. Soon enough, it seemes as...
Soon enough I felt a light touch on my shoulder. Peter had arrived, and by his side was Toshimi. The first thing I tought was that it was really strange to see Peter in a suit.
"Oh God, hi Peter!" I shouted out in swedish. I felt eyes on me from those I'd just turned away from. "And Toshimi — so nice to finally meet you."
Toshimi and I shook hands, and she smiled sincerely back to me.
"You look absolutely stunning!" Peter said and Toshimi agreed.
"Well, look at you two!" I said. Toshimi wore a black dress with silver details and a deep back. She looked beautiful. "I didn't even know you owened a suit Peter."
"Oh, ha-ha" he said. "But I can't deny that I despise them."
Right behind them came Tom and his wife, Charlotte. She was a darkhaired beauty with a cool apperance — I couldn't describe her better than that. We greeted one another and the five of us stood there talking for some time. Charlotte asked me a little about my career and I told her that it wasn't much to tell. Just that I was insanely lucky to be there.
Cary called us inside after a while, so we marched inside and everyone was asked to collect a new glass of champagne if needed. As I walked back to stand with Peter and Toshimi, I noticed that more of the actors had arrived. Butterflies started to swirl in my stomach as I watched Cillian, Ralph, Jessica and Travis join the party. My eyes met for a nanosecond with Cillians icy blue across the room, and I immediately turned my eyes towards Cary instead. Damn, Cillian looked fine. Maybe my sister was quite right having an obsession for him.
Cary took the word, and started out thanking us all for beeing there. The producion was successful so far, and everything was according to schedule.
"But enough worktalk—", he said and raised his glass. "I am honored to celebrate this new year with you. Let's make art!"
Everyone raised their glasses and yelled "Cheers", me among them. I toasted happily with Peter, Toshimi and Laura who had joined our side. Peter came to my side afterwards.
"How does it feel then?"
"Weird", was the only word I could find. He laughed.
"Hey— I think it would be good for you to mingle." He looked into my eyes with a knowing look, and I nodded. After that he showed me away to meet new people.
I of course started at the bar. The second glass of champagne had gone down like nothing, but my nerves were still all over.
"Hey— you still got your coat on?" Tom had just joined, with one arm on the bardesk and his body facing mine. He looked fantastic. He grinned.
"Oh— right. I forgot" I said and grabbed my coat. Ready to take it off.
"Let me" Tom said and took the coat of my shoulders. "I'll go hang it in the closet for you."
"You don't have to do th—" I started.
"Yes, yes I do" he grinned. "You get yourself another drink now. I'll be right back."
I smiled and remembered that I had forgotten to breath for the last three minutes.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"What can I get for you, love?" the bartender asked.
"Uhm, a Negroni please" I mumbled out. If I was to stand here talking to Tom Hardy, then I'd need something a bit stronger.
Some minutes later, Tom hadn't come back, and I started to feel a bit foolish. He was obviously occupied talking to everyone, unlike me. Or he'd taken off with my coat.
The thought had just run trough my mind when I spotted Cillian. He seemed to be walking around, minding his own buisness. My heart started racing when his eyes fell on me, and he started walking my way.
"So let me guess—", he said, putting his hands in his pockets, "You're the croupier-girl?"
My mind almost went blank. But I had to play it cool. As his eyes swept over my body, the task did seem alot harder. I was suddenly very aware of my cleavage going down all the way to my belly button. My throat was all dry.
"I'm Anya" I said, after just standing there, looking at him for a bit too long. I reached out my hand and he took it.
"Cillian" he said. "What more than Anya?"
He had an irish accent. Oh, so pleasant.
"Frost" I mumbled out.
He raised his eyebrows. "Cool name."
"Thanks. I like yours too."
"Meh—", he said, and took place right by my side at the bar. "It's alright. Is that an accent I hear?"
Damn it. I always lost my language when I was nervous.
I felt myself looking caught off guard. "Swedish."
He smiled. "Really. Same as Peter?"
"Yes." I figured it'd be best to say as little as possible, to not start mumbling about how Peter had grown up in a city right next to mine, but several years earlier.
Cillian suddenly smiled at me, as if he was amused by me being shy. That of course made me a little annoyed - 'cause that's just how I work - and didn't want him to feel as if he had the upper hand. He ordered a scotch from the bartender — so typical, but it was my loophole in to saying:
"Aren't you suppose to hate scottish things?"
"Hm?", he looked a little confused.
"Aren't you irish?" I made myself into forming a little grin on my face.
Cillian pointed his finger at me. "You got me there. Simply can't deny this stuff, though. Too good to pass up."
I nodded. "I actually think it's good too."
"A girl who drinks whiskey— fancy that!" he laughed and I smiled. "So what are you drinking then?"
"Negroni", I told him. "I have no idea why though. I'm really a champagne girl, but I just wanted something stronger."
"Really— that bad here, huh?"
"Oh, no—" I said quickley, "absolutely not. I'm just a little nervous around these people, I guess."
He watched me, with his icy blue eyes, and I desperately wondered why. His face was somewhat remarkable. Like no other.
He seemed to be thinking before he said: "Why?"
"Uhm, you see - Cillian Murphy - this whole thing is quite new to me. But you actors are not. Seeing everyone outside the screen is a little overwhelming."
I was beeing a little blunt, but I thought - hey, what more non-ordinary than beeing sincere?
He twisted his lip a bit. Then he took a big sip of his scotch. "So you know who I am now, do you?"
I could tell he was beeing ironic, because of course I did. "Well, for starters - Inception is one of my favorite movies."
He smiled, and then he suddenly grabbed my wrist, gently. Turning my palm upwards.
"Well, I couldn't help but notice this tattoo here." He stroke his tumb over the black writing on my wrist. It was in elvish, since I was a LOTR-fan for life. I felt a little shiver from his touch.
He turned his eyes up in mine again. "So you're a nerd, aren't you?"
I couldn't help but to laugh. He grinned.
Next part of the new year's party in the next chapter.
