Monika's reply

"Ana, come on! We're going to be late meeting everyone at Boondock Saint!"

Ophelia called out to her best friend from the the other side of the living room barrier. Boondock Saint, it was a local dive bar located at the baseline of Bourbon Street. Named after a cult movie, the girls went to this intimate Irish pub to soak in the variety of food and drinks; but tonight was no ordinary get together. In fact, tonight was a special occasion. Anastasia and a few of her friends had received their acceptance letters from one of the colleges that they to together. Tulane University. That school was at the top of their list. It was a private institution that ranked highly as it excelled widely in excellence. Their parents were so proud of them for this accomplishment that it was only fair they'd be allowed to go out and celebrate how they wanted to.

Anastasia found herself strutting around the living room, completely panicked as she couldn't find her favorite purse and hearing her best friend scream out to her wasn't bring her any solace. Pacing around the couch, she watched as their family dog, Chewbarka, lay splayed out across the cushions. Underneath his short-haired belly was Anastasia's small cartoon bear print purse. "I know that I left it around here somewhere. It has to be here." She muttered underneath chaotically frustrated breaths. Her fingers gripped at the Davian throw pillows, tossing them around the room until she noticed the accessory resting beneath her loyal companion. "Chewie, you little deviant. You were going to let me tear the house apart like a crazy person when you were napping on it all along?" Anastasia said as she reached underneath Chewbarka to grab the purse. She smiled softly as the sweet fur baby rubbed his head against her dress, begging her for even the slightest of head rubs.

Pressing her hand against his head, she massaged his scalp on circular motion and listened to him pant in contentment. It was peculiar just how Serene she suddenly felt in that moment. Just one touch from that little ball of fluff could cure a sour mood on even the coldest of hearts. Turning her head to the side, Anastasia could hear the soft clacking of high heels storming across the floor. In a few swift strides, heels scratching against the hardwood floor caused a loud screeching sound. Glancing upward, Ana captured a glimpse of Ophelia staring at her with her arms folded across her chest.

"Seriously, Ana? The uber is waiting for us outside and you're playing with Chewbacca?"

"His name is Chewbarka!" Anna snapped back as she kissed the dog's head before walking over towards her best friend.

"Whatever, close enough. Let's just get out of here. We have a lot to celebrate." Ophelia rolled her eyes, grabbing Anastasia by the hand. The face that was once decorated in the look of disgust was now fully garnished in a pleasant smile as they walked out to the car.

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It didn't take long for the group to reach their destination. Bourbon Street. The lights were dim, the streets nocturnal - but also embellished by the slight aura of neon lights. It embodied the life of a party town and it drew crowds in from all over. Beads decorated the balconies, something tourists loved about New Orleans. God, what a beautiful place it was.

Stepping into the dive bar, Anastasia smiled as melodic
chords of Irish tunes filled the vicinity. For the past few months, she had been putting on a facade of happiness in order to down play how off-putting it felt to be loving in a new City; but now? Now she actually felt good about being here. She actually felt like she was apart of something. She had her family, new friends, and now a place where she could continue her studies? She couldn't possibly desire more.

Her slender form passed through a sea of people within the bar, but as she turned her head left, there was one woman entering Boondock Saint that caught her gaze in particular. She was above average height as she looked amongst Anastasia and her friends. She had a willowy build, thin but not sickly. Her complexion was bronzed and her eyes - almond shaped and green. She was breathtaking, but she reminded Ana so much of herself. The resemblance in certain ways was almost harrowing.

Anastasia was quickly pulled back to reality as one of her friends tugged her over towards their table. However, the young girl still couldn't shake the feeling of the woman's eyes burning into her flesh like spilth of light out of the crashing of shooting stars. Her face, it was so familiar. She'd seen her before, she was sure of it and it only took her a few seconds to figure out where. Whenever Ana went out shopping in the French Quarters with her sister, that women was always there. Every turn and every glance, she seemed to grow closer and closer to their territory. Now she was here, just staring Anastasia down like a hawk.

"Ana, are you alright? You look a little distracted." A male spoke out as he placed a hand upon her shoulder. His hair was brilliantly dark, his eyes as blue as the artic ocean. Anastasia shook her head slowly, harshly reaching up to pinch his fingers so that they'd slip away from her shoulder. "I'm fine, Dante - but if you touch me again I'll rip your fingers into twelve pieces." She threatened him. Her petite form leaned forth, capturing a glass of fireball whiskey in between her thumb and index fingers before taking it down within a few seconds. This woman, her stare had Anastasia on edge. Of course, it could have been putting coincidence that she'd been seeing her over and over, like she'd been hexed with violent visions of obsession and paranoia. To say that this woman was a stalker would be far fetched.

"Her presence...it feels so...strange to me. Like I know her more from just seeing her around town."