"How is life?" dad asked Edwin as we were gathered on the table having dinner

"Good" he kept his answers short the whole time, I guess he finds this whole thing awkward too.

"Work?"

"I am taking over the tv station"

"Xhat about the rest of the corpo?" Joshua asked

"My sister is taking over our food chains, and my stepbrother, is taking the hotels"

"And you're only taking the tv station?"

"He was always interested in photography that's why" I explained instead of him, which was a reckless move from my part since I got every kind of look from my family. Mostly the smug kind of look, which was noticed by Ed as he grinned widely, looking at me from across the table before he turned to look at his plate.

"Well that's a good thing, choosing what you're interested in is better than being greedy" dad stated as the rest of us nodded in approval.

Thanks for the save dad!

"Heard you were into acting" Ed turned to Aiden and all he got was a nod as that kid kept munching on his food "Well if I get some scenario that is worth sponsoring, I will try to get you in auditions"

"YOU WHAT?!!"

"Don't" I interrupted firmly, making sure to block this whole exchange between them.

SIS!" he whined like the little kid he was; shaking his shoulders and throwing his head back to prove that he was somewhat annoyed but his huffing and puffing doesn't work in this family.

"You will go to auditions on your own, no use of relationships" I glared as a warning for the way he was behaving. He noticed it and chose not to indulge in this subject anymore.

His annoyance, on the other hand, wasn't overlooked by my part as I noticed his every move; him fixing his posture and sitting up straight, him holding his fork and stabbing the food before pulling it to his mouth to munch on silently... He was being childish.

Ed seemed to notice the way the two of us tensed and how no one was interfering "It's fine, I don't have that much of authority. Well for now, at least" So that was his attempt of mending the situation.

I averted my eyes from Aiden to my glass of water on my right, lifting it to my lips "Don't encourage him" I said before I put it to my lips, taking a sip.

"But -" he didn't finish when I glared at him still with the glass in contact with my mouth as i kept gulping its content.

"You two are acting as if I'm your child and you're deciding my future for me" Aiden muttered shutting both of us up. But also making the rest of them burst out laughing.

"That was some skill right there." that was the phrase Edwin chose to announce his presence in the kitchen with me, after staying with the rest of my family in the living room.

The dinner was over, after sharing simple questions and indulging in small conversations, and before I insisted on dealing with the cleaning as the others accompanied our guest.

But here he was joining me, as I was about to complete my task.

"What skill?" I asked, rinsing the dishes with cold water, not even bothering to turn and face him

The sound of his footsteps got closer to where I was standing before he covered it with his own "Your food was to die for"

"Really now?"

"Really" he affirmed and I noticed how his voice came from right behind me before he maneuvered his body to stand right beside me grabbing my attention with his wide smile... Genuine wide smile.

Something good came off of those five years I guess...

WAIT!..

Why am I thinking about them now?!

"Honored to know that, mister Edwin Snow"

"Any time, miss Amanda PARKS" he chuckled taking the dishes from my hand, wiping them with the piece of cloth he found hanging in front of him

I don't know what made me freeze and just look at him, the fact that he was here and I was back home as Amanda parks or the fact that I am. Amanda... PARKS

I thought I was conscious of everything, that a month alone was enough to clear my head and get myself ready to go back on track bu-...

"Get in. I will do it after I finish washing" I turned my head away from him and concentrated on the task in front of me hoping it would help me look over the feeling I was getting in my stomach.

"You don't want me to get in, so stop trying to be polite"

"Do I?"

"Yeah "

I chuckled blocking every negative thought and feeling for now, and enjoying what was left of the night...

That night with Edwin and my family was simply over with goodnight wishes. And new days came, with me getting myself back on track and going back strong...

I believe I just needed more time to get used to things around me, as those feelings I got, managed to vanish with the passing days.

My Work?

Doing great, thank god. I'm advancing quite well in my career.

Family?

Having so much fun with them. I was back to being a kid at home.

Friends?

I made a couple of new ones at the studio, one of them being Madeline

Lover?

Well that was the question I just got

"You're twenty-nine already? Have you not thought of marriage?.. I mean, you are not getting any younger. You need to have kids and stop running away from responsibilities. Your career shouldn't take up all of your life.." one of the guests for today, asked me in front of the whole staff. But it was more of an attack than a question "I can introduce you to my husband's friend, he is... NICE" she smiled at the end.

"Then I am not worthy him" I smiled at her, then dropped it giving her a blank face "Since I am NOT nice"

"Burn, baby, burn" Madeline muttered passing by me, opening her water bottle and sipping on it "You have a photoshoot today, Amanda! You didn't forget did you?" she turned around and called for me when she was at the exit of the studio.

"I know! I'm on my way there!" I kept my eyes on the woman in front of me then gave her a last smile and turned to leave, but of course, not before catching the last word she muttered "bit**"

Trust me I try not to disappoint your kind.

"Here, your usual iced tea" Mad left the cup on the table, the same table I stayed with Edwin at when we first met again.

"Thank you" I said still watching the outside world.

"Don't take it to heart"

"I didn't"

"It's not a sin to be single at the age of twenty-nine. And since when was twenty-nine old? What is wrong with that woman? Like it's so great to have a husband!"

"It's normal, that's the tradition of the world. If you were born a woman, you need to get married before twenty-five at least, pass that and you are a goner in the eyes of society"

"Then I'm a goner"

"You're still young"

"I'm twenty-five already, almost twenty-six "

"So what? Look at the bright side. Even though I don't know what it is exactly, but yo-"

"Whatever! I don't want to indulge in this subject anymore so let's talk about something else"

"Sure."

She sipped on her coffee before she perked up again and stared at me for a while like a little excited puppy about to get a treat for being a good boy all day "How are your brother and Victoria? "

Of course! What was I even expecting from her?

"Never thought that you like to gossip" I laid back, resting my body fully on the chair, letting my tense muscles rest as she got all excited.

"Honey! Their story is so interesting!"

"You don't mind that she came right when you were about to get to know him?"

"Better than appearing after us getting to know each other... And she is cute" her eyes penetrated the table while her brain went through her memory lane to the day she spotted them shopping at the mall "Cute as heck! Can't hate her at all" she shook her head like she was proving a point there

"Can't hate HER and what about my brother?"

"look at the bright side" she threw my words back on my face "He didn't play me while being confused about his feelings and I am so thankful for that" Her hand reached for mine across the table holding it and giving it a little squeeze "Don't worry about me Amanda, I am truly okay with it"

"I know, but I wanted you to say it and hear it" I said getting an eye roll from her in return

"Back to that psychology stuff aren't we?" she pulled her hand away and cupped her coffee cup instead

"Unfortunately, yes. It's a way to affirm your feelings and thoughts, cause sometimes we think we know what we feel but we don't so it's better to talk about it, and get asked about it, so that every answer we give right at that moment, either confirms or disconfirms our beliefs "

"Thank you, doctor" she looked to her right turning her body slightly like there was a camera there "We will be back after the break "

She gained a laugh from me before our names were called "Amanda, Madeline, the shoot is about to start in thirty minutes! We would appreciate it if you got ready, now!"

"What floor?" Madeline asked the staff that came for us

"The seventeenth floor!" one of them yelled, running back inside like her pants were on fire, which is the right thing to do when you're at your workplace not like what the two of us were doing here

"Yhank you!" Madeline yelled back then turned to me "Let's go" she shot up in a hurry but made sure to remind me when she was taking her coffee along with her "Get your tea girl! It's going to be a long day. You'll need it"

"Okay boss! Thanks for the heads up!"

"You look drop-dead gorgeous in that suit"

I was wearing a white buttoned-up shirt, jacket, and pants, with a black-tie and heels, looking all professional and giving the vibe of a psychologist with the choice of color 'white'

"Thanks. You too. That dress fits you and the blue works wonders with your eyes"

"I know" she flipped her hair chuckling as she passed by me getting ready for her turn since I was over with my first shots and I needed a change of clothes.

Moving through the narrow hallway, I got into the dressing room. The moment I did, the stylist gave me a feathered skirt with maroon shades and a golden top over it not even waiting for me to breathe the air in this room, I eyed the clothes she handed me then looked at her with an awkward smile on my face "So... I need to make sure not to put my hands up at any cost"

She chuckled "Yeah, this fits so good with the skirt, and I had a hard time finding something that matches your style. You want to cover most of your body which is in our generation a hard task when we're trying to make you look somewhat appealing"

"Thank you, I appreciate your effort. However, do you really think these colors fit me? Maybe we should just stick with simple black and white"

"Honey! Hazel eyes and brown golden-hair! YES! it fits YOU!! With some slightly smokey eyes to bring the power in those orbs and a maroon lipstick, with a thin neck hugging gold necklace and your hair in a high pony! You are then good to go."

"That sounds exhausting"

"It isn't and we don't have much time, so hurry. I will go fetch your heels"

"Okay" I said and turned to the makeup artist

"Shall we?" she asked pointing at the chair in front of her after she witnessed the whole conversation

"You heard her. I have no other choice" I rolled my eyes and that made her smile holding her weapons to start her mission

They always tell us to look at the bright side in every situation that we encounter and this time... All sides were bright...

LITERALLY!! ...

This photoshoot might make me go blind!!!