To my Dearest Friend

I don't understand

'She's charming isn't she? Florian asks. I feign a smile and nod 'She likes you! Leopold says. "Do you know how rich her family is?" Oskar says. "Gentlemens, you know she only danced with him! it's not like they got engaged" Akiva says in and effort to calm these childlike people down. I smile and at him, thankful for his efforts, altough they most likely will be in vain. I want to smile and say something but it seems I forgot how to smile, I feel numb. I don't know what to do. Katherina approaches me. I smile, Katherina grabs my hand in a rather swift movement. 'Shall we leave these gentlemen behind?' she asks. 'That would be the greatest of pleasures.' I say with a flirty smile. I hate this version of Yves, he's pathetic. I am pathetic.

We walk away from all the people in the room, we walk into the dark garden, not even the brightest star could guide you there and it's also freezing, just like my heart, my mind and my soul. We breathe out little clouds of words we would say but I am too afraid to say. She is only wearing a dress, without long sleeves. 'You must be freezing Katerina.' I say as I offer her my jacket, it is not strictly ettiquette but it's better than letting her freeze to death. 'You are a charming gentlemen Yves'

I don't know how to respond, I am not sure if she means it or if she is trying to make a joke. I decide to chuckle 'Do you say that to everyone? I ask jokingly, 'Ah, I see my reputation in communities like Leopold precedeeds me.' she responds with a beautiful smile. 'I did not mean to say that miss, I, I, I did not mean to call you...' She puts my her fingers against my lips. It surprises me, but also intrigues and amuses me, that's exactely how you would describe her, a lioness, you know you should be scared of her but you admire her mоrе. But at the same time I do not trust this woman at all, she has a strange aura surrounding her. And I don't even know how old she is.

'I never said he was wrong did I' She says with a sultry voice. I am utterly confused, how would somebody react to this? I am not entirely sure, how would I respond if she were Cyril? I take a deep breath and smile my crooked smile, 'Well, perhaps I will only believe it when I see it dear Katherina.' She bats her eyelasnes. 'Perhaps you shall see mister Montague.' I smile, perhaps, just maybe I will like her, 'you certainly have a lot to live up to.' I say jokingly. 'Well you sir, do not, everybody in this high society knows who you are but no one truly knows a lot about you. Who are you Montague?' I smile and say under my breath. 'Perhaps you'll be the first' She chuckles, but not in an innocent way, she giggles in a way as if we share a secret. I am puzzled by her, she seems like such a innocent lady and she doesn't seem to be like that at all apperantly.

'So you're English correct?' She asks. I look at her, she reminds me of a more feminine Eleanor, 'I am most definitely.' I say. 'How come you have no accent?' she asks. 'I learned from the best. I answer. 'Who?' she asks, I feel a sting in my heart. 'My aunt.' I say with a smile. 'A woman. that's tather modern.' I nod, 'It really was.' 'How rich are you' she asks out of the blue, a question no one would dare to ask back home. It's strange but I actually appreciate the abrasiveness. 'Richer than Leopold.' I say. She smiles and writed down an adress, 'Good, you are allowed to bring your friends, be here tomorow on this adress, it's not a gala so don't expect that my naive little brit' She says with a smile.

'What did she say?' Oskar says. 'She gave me this adress, tomorrow there's some kind of party but I am not sure what I should wear she did not specify if it was a dinner party, she only said it was not a gala.' Leopold grabs the card. 'Did she say anything else?' 'I was welcome to bring you too' I say still a bit hazy from all the confusing thinge she has said to me. I feel like I am not ready for a woman like that, she seems to be too adventurious for me, I love adventure if you mean intelectually but not like this. It's utterly confusing, there's a strange transaction between people which shouldn't be normal when they're not in love. I do not understand her at all. But I might be a bit too tired, it  seems that is the cause, I am too tired, it's not cause I imagined Cyril. I feel misplaced, I feel as if I am a river that has just found the sea but does not understand what to do next. Well how could he know? He has always been a river. Leopold looks at me, his mouth agape.

'Yvie! This is her private residence. you are invited to...' he looks around. and whispers 'convivial society.' 'Oh that's not true!' I say the other look at me with the expressions that it is true. I can't help but sigh in a almost disappointed manner. 'Not everything is about that I say. Well, when talking to her it is, unless you have enough money to manry her. Which you have ives. Leopold says. 'I just met her?! I whisper yell through my teeth. 'Let's celebrate our friend. Leopold says. 'Wait, I'll be back in a minute.' I grab akiva by his arm. 'Akiva, I originally planned to take you to the opera tomorrow and a week later but would you be okay if I would take Katherina tomorrow instead of you? we'll go later. I do not want to' I clear my throat. 'You know umm, I don't want to. I want to get to know her before.' He puts his hand on my shoulder. 'I am familiar with Vienna, I'll find something to do!' He says and I smile. 'Thank you Malachi, I would not know what I would do without you.' I walk up to her.

'Katherina?' She turns around and smiles, 'Ladies this is Yves, the one I just told you about.' I smile at the ladies and they giggle and whisper. I take a deep breath. 'Katherina, I realised I have tickets to the opera tomorrow but I would like to take you with me if you would enjoy that.' she smiles. 'A true men of culture,' she brags to her friends. 'I would love that Yves.' 'Than I will see you then" I say and kiss her hand.