Dinner Date #1 - Anna meets a stranger whilst waiting for her sister to arrive

As day turned to dusk, the city took on a different vibe. What hit you the most? Maybe your eye was taken by the way those futuristic office blocks started to sparkle, as the glow of interior lights was soon met by the reflection of those down at street level. Perhaps it was the way the streets suddenly came alive with city slickers at the end of their day, some rushing back home to family, and others intent on enjoying just a few more hours before the night ended. If neither of those grabbed your attention, then for sure you'd be taken in by the abundance of bars and restaurants, some subdued and sophisticated, others bright and buzzing, all popular, all rapidly filling up.

It was to one of said bars, a softly lit sophisticated cocktail lounge come restaurant, that Anna was heading. She kept herself to herself as she weaved her way through the masses, ignoring the occasional call outs from over-enthusiastic city workers. Don't get it wrong, the twenty-six-year-old blonde noticed the gestures towards her, and even took a little self-satisfaction that she was pretty enough to be noticed, but they were not why she was here. The only thing on Anna's mind was reaching her destination, and meeting up with her sister, Chloe.

For all she may have blended in, especially in the dimming light of dusk, Anna didn't belong here. The city was the haunt of her sister, but not of Anna. Oh yes, she enjoyed herself every time she came into the city, but she never felt at one with the place nor, sister apart, its people.

Anna and Chloe may have been sisters, but life had taken them in quite different directions. The worlds they lived in were like chalk and cheese. Chloe had one of those brand-new swanky apartments overlooking the river, perfect for her and whoever was the latest in a line of executive boyfriends. Anna, on the other hand, lived out in the suburbs, her tiny two bedroomed terrace being functional rather than flashy, yet still more than big enough for just the one of her. Sometimes Anna wondered what it would be like to switch places, even if just for a few hours, but that was all it was... an idle fantasy.

The one thing Anna knew was that the city was out of her league. You might not have noticed from appearances. At five foot eight, slim build, and with her blonde over-the-shoulder length hair down rather than being up in its usual pony tail, it was no surprise that Anna got herself noticed, especially when she dolled herself up as she had done that very night. Even her outfit wasn't so out of place, unless you glanced closely at labels--A..read more