PHASES OF ELI | OPEN |

[ELI VINCENT DIASTONE]

His first single had instantly hit Itunes and youtube a day ago. Ricky, his agent and executive record manager at Bayside Records wanted to get Eli's presence into the public as soon as possible, so Eli had learnt and recorded a prearranged song written by a few different hired songwritters. It was titled "Broken Bridges" and was an alternate rock like song. He didn't mind it, but the press was fuming. It wasn't everyday new talent showed up in San Francisco like this, but it seemed that Eli had been seen by the city and really, all he wanted was like twelve baggles and a caffeine overdose, not a rampage. As soon as he got out of his truck, he looked around and saw heaps of press around him and a bunch of random teenagers. "Mr Diastone, can we get an exclusive?" "Mr Diastone, did you write Broken Bridges yourself?" "ELI! ARE YOU SINGLE!?!" It was all flying at him really quick and he really didn't know what to do. In the early morning where he was already late for work, he was stunned with the loud questions and lights. He tried to get out of the way, trying to move passed. He wasn't used to this - like at all. It had been a day, and the single was going to be out in about a month. So he had a lot coming for him, but he really did want his baggle. But as he started moving through, he realized that he wasn't getting out of here anytime quick. Then it snapped; maybe he should go with it. "Broken Bridges was written by me, yeah. I was inspired by leaving my crappy life in LA and - having this fresh start. And no - I'm taken". He playfully winked into the crowd of girls with a drop-dead-gorgeous smile as they giggled and he walked into the cafe. The press wouldn't go in there because for one it was Starbucks and two everyone got coffee here.

Now away from them, he had people looking at him because of that instant commotion. He looked at them but then turned back to getting his breakfast. But one thing, he couldn't get the smile off of his face. That wasn't as terrifying or annoying as he thought it was going to be. It was - fun. He actually liked it, and looking around he wondered if there were any other people around. "Um, coffee black and twelve baggles. Four with jam, the rest plane thanks". He said, and then thought some more. That bet anything else. Commemoration, interest and admiration. He never thought he would ever be that shallow to actually like that - and thrive off of it. But maybe he was, and he was okay with that. It was an amount of respect that he never had. Frowned upon by people in LA, even if they didn't mean it. He grew up with his shitty father telling him how shit he is, and will go no where will music. He loved that he could show up his dad now, and just kept smiling as he sat at a table and waited for everything to get ready. He just sat there smiling to himself, thinking of those press. Just think, in a few months he could be on TV, and people seeing him everywhere. Sure he took credit for the song, but what singer doesn't. But he just felt really, really good right now as a coffee was sat in front of him. Usually he would smile, thank and tip. But he gave her a look, and let her leave. No big changes right? "Mr Diastone...". He smirked to himself, mocking them. But it didn't take a rocket scientists to see how flattered he was.

[Ai Yomato]

Ai stepped from the bathroom and walked out smoothing her skirt. She had to laugh at the commotion outside, it seemed that the poor celeb hadn't gotten used to how to blend like a New Yorker against the paparazzi yet. Normally they didn't bother people as long as they behaved like ordinary members of the New York Streetscape and got away with it... This poor fool however...

Was her poor fool! Ai nearly collapsed out of shock seeing that familiar face. "Well, well," she muttered to herself with a smile and a tilted head. Eli looked good and he seemed happy, more then she could say for the last time they'd seen each other. She started towards the counter as well, and signaled the barista, one who knew both Ai and Stepanka, that she was paying for the boy.

"You know, not all of your friends back home were the little people who abused you Eli. You shouldn't tell such lies about me," she said in his ear, trying to lean over his shoulder. She hoped that all the people in the Starbucks would hide her scent from him till she spoke. Nevertheless she was still smiling at him when he would notice her. Typical Ai she was in her own design, and dressed to the nines.

She smiled at Eli and winked. "You know the last person I took under my wings that tried to hide from me went all Psycho on me latter... I think he even attacked your friend Everette..." She pouted, but couldn't maintain it long. She reached around him and paid his tab, the barista wrote Ai's name and usual order on the cup and zeroed out the tab. "How have you been my love? Still haunted by visions of before?"