Emerald Eyes

A beautiful beach on the outskirts of San Diego, bathed in the rays of the august sun, was the right choice for Maya to gather her company to welcome some dear person. Her happiness was enormous when Ivana arrived, her best friend with whom she spent unforgettable study days in Zagreb, the Capital of Croatia.

And the beautiful Ivana Jurkovic, a graduate of the Zagreb Faculty of Architecture, was brought to sunny California with the desire to continue her master’s studies at the prestigious University of San Diego.

Ivana is a girl who, wherever she was, captured attention with her appearance. Feminine and well-groomed city girl with pedigree, from a respectable and conservative family, was treated like a princess all her life. The manners of this blonde beauty, her butter-colored complexion, unique smile and perfect body leave no one indifferent.

A certain Lauren Miller had a huge credit for her arrival and admission to the university. Lauren is Maya’s boss and a good friend whom Ivana wanted to meet as a sign of gratitude for the effort she put into her arrival, even though she didn’t even know her.

And while she was enjoying herself in a bar by the sea with a group of cheerful girls, Ivana’s attention was drawn to a game of beach volleyball that was taking place in the immediate vicinity. No, Ivana is not a fan of volleyball, but an interesting person from the field caught her attention. She watched in disbelief as a beautiful fiery dark haired girl, with a toned body, tattoos on her arms, threw male opponents to the ground with phenomenal moves. Ivana, not hiding her enthusiasm for the skills of this stranger, provoked genuine laughter from Maya.

What’s funny? Ivana is confused.

Maya: Pull up one chair, we are waiting for her.

Ivana: I don’t understand, who is she?..Ivana is still confused.

Maya: It’s Lauren. She is often there with her volleyball team and as soon as she finishes this game, she will come..

Ivana: Are you kidding, it’s Lauren... I can’t believe how she looks, I imagined her completely different. That’s nothing, you’ll see her when she comes closaly... replied Maya.

Not long after, someone suddenly appeared behind Ivana’s back and said: This must be the beautiful architect we are all eagerly waiting for, gently placing his hands on Ivana’s shoulders as a sign of greeting. Seeing a tattooed woman’s hand on her shoulder, Ivana turned around and was petrified by the apparition behind her.

Lauren was just unreal. A fitness instructor with perfect proportions, to whom half the city comes for training. Rumor has it that her appointments are full for the next few years, which is probably an urban legend, but Lauren really looked like a dream that only a few can achieve.

Ivana somehow regained her composure and started talking to her. Lauren was unusually curious about Ivana’s future plans, and she answered all her questions in her breath. They talked so long that they didn’t notice anything around them and the other girls didn’t disturb this pleasant gathering either. It seemed like they had known each other for years. Lauren ordered a food for the whole company, and after a while there were countless delicacies on the table and the feast could begin. The girls enjoyed hanging out late into the night...

While the freshness of the morning crept in through the open windows, Ivana and Maya were looking over last night’s fun with their morning coffee.

Ivana: Thank you Maya for last night, it was great. Your girls are awesome and so much fun...

Maya: I see you really clicked with Lauren?

Ivana: God, she is beautiful. She is so smart and interesting. We talked about everything last night...and what emerald eyes she has, I couldn’t stop looking at them.

Maya: Oh yes, she is really beautiful. I don’t know did i tell you more about her?

Ivana: Come on, tell me, I only know that you work for her.

Maya: Lauren is the co-owner of the famous shopping moles “Cosmo” and manage the centers in California. I am her manager for luxury stores and through work we have become very close and we hang out. As a woman who is so successful and wealthy, she is unusually approachable and a desirable boss. She doesn’t live in that fake jet-set world and she doesn’t care. By the way, she completed her studies in sociology and is skilled in communicating with people. She owes her perfect body to fitness and volleyball, and she is also crazy about motorbikes.

Ivana: Motorbikes?!

Maja: Yeah, don’t ask, I always worry about her, although male bikers say she’s a better driver than half of them. I sat down with her once and never again. I know, it’s unusual for our girls in Croatia to drive those powerful sports bikes, but it’s quite normal here.

Ivana: Oh, she’s impossible... and that powerful tattoo over the whole arm. I rarely see it on my homeland girls, but it suits her so well.

And so while they were exchanging impressions from last night, Ivana proposed to Maya a plan for the evening.

Ivana: Listen Maya, I was planning to go shopping later, I have to prepare myself for the first days at the university and at the same time to wander around San Diego. Are you coming with me?

Maya: I’m sorry dear, because of my obligations there’s no way to go with you, but I think I know who has...wait! Maya reached for the phone and after a relaxed chat, said to Ivana: Be ready at 5pm, Lauren is coming to pick you up.

Ivana: Lauren? Why are you disrupting her plans becouse of me? I’m really uncomfortable now.

Maya: If she can’t, she would say, and you can’t have a better company for shopping than her. She seems really happy to see you again. She said that you are now our sweetie and that we have to take care of you.

Ivana: Hahaha she’s completely crazy... you girls make my first days here full, thank you both.

A few hours later, according to the agreement, Ivana, dressed in jeans, in a light summer shirt and sneakers on her bare feet, was waiting for the company in front of the block. From a distance, under the shade of tall California palm trees, a four-wheeled beast was approaching on the road.

A black Chevrolet Camaro, sounding like a jet plane, pulled up right next to the sidewalk, and a cheerful Lauren behind the steering wheel smiled at her companion and nodded her head to get in. Ivana nestles into the leather seat of the Camaro, Lauren pressed the pedal and the powerful beast roars down the boulevard, disappearing into the distance. While Ivana looked around beautiful San Diego from the comfortable seat of the sports machine, Lauren showed many important places in the city. They finally arrived at the center which was teeming with visitors.

After shopping together filled with laughter and good mood, Ivana arrived at the checkout. Even though she prepared the card to pay her bill, the kind girl at the cash register is ahead of her... you don’t owe anything, lady, we wish you a nice day. She remained confused, but seeing Lauren at the exit with a smile on her face, she knew who was to blame for the covered guild. Nearby lounge bar was the right place to take a break with an ice coffee and Ivana seriously reproached her for paid her bill, but for the careful Lauren it was not a problem...

Lauren: Letting you get waste money in my own center, no way. While you are with me you will have whatever you want and don’t ask for the price.

Ivana has not felt such care and respect for a long time, especially not from a person she did not even know until yesterday.

Hanging out with this beautiful and interesting American woman became more frequent, and every new day with her was like a dream for Ivana.

On one occasion, in the yard of her beautiful house, by the pool and a cold cocktail, they had an interesting conversation. The topic was love.. They casually touched on their love problems, lamenting to each other about their recently ended relationships. Lauren confessed to her about an ex who suddenly ended up in Phoenix with another, and was involved in some shady dealings. On the other hand, Ivana touched on her relationship with one boy from Zagreb, whose jealousy and possessiveness made breaking up the only option for her. She admitted that this interruption was one of the reasons for coming to study in America to escape from everything.

They confided in each other and an unbreakable closeness grew between them.…