Marina was sitting in her cafe drinking tea. She was listing to the comings and goings of the people. Everyone talks about there life, there loves, money, everything. Marina doenst hardly talk about anything. Some people wonder if she even has a past. Maybe she just appeared one day without having come from anywhere. Marina hadnt even told Jenny anything from her past. Not one time when they where together. She didnt think she needed to tell anybody anything about her. The only person that knew was Fran, and looked where that had gotten her. She used it against her. To prove she was a better person that Marina. To put Marina in her place when she was getting out of line. It had been 12 years since she had met Fran. They had met in Paris. Fran was doing some movie and Marina, well Marina was doing Genevieve Oceane. A supermodel she had met at a party. She started to think back to her 23rd birthday. That is when things started to happen.

1992 Paris

Marina and Genevieve had been lovers for about 8 months. They had met throught mutual friends. They where compatable but not in love. They lived apart and saw each other every few days always making sure to have dinner at least 1 a week. Genenieve was busy with an up and coming fashion show that she hadnt been able to spend much time with Marina. She knew her birthday was coming up and that she would be sad it they didnt spend it together. She was going to arrange to have some dinner with friends at there favorite restraunt Les Olivers. It was a trendy restraunt on the Rue Jeanne-d’Arc close to the Eifel Tower. Only people such as Genenieve where able to get reservations to such a place.
Marina worked at the University translating english books in to french. It was a well paying job and it allowed to Marina to add her own twist and finesse to the books to make them more european. Most days she was sit in a cafe reading the book and then start to decifer it page by page. She loved being at the cafes. She didnt even go to into her office any more. She only worked at the cafe. As long as she met her deadline no one cared where she worked. The cafe is where she met Francesca. She had come in with her American friends to have coffee and biscotti. They where loud and quite annoying. There was 3 of them and they just happened to choose a table right behind Marina’s. It was getting harder and harder to read. Marina was listing to one of them tell about there previous nighly conquests. Marina turned her head slightly to see who was speaking. It was a very attractive lady around 30. She had faded red hair that almost could have been mistaken for a blonde. She was very beautiful.
“Ok back to what i was saying so i took her back to my room and she took off her clothes before i even shut the door. So i stripped and i fucked her on the floor.” Everyone gasps and then they start to laugh.
“I thought you where too good for the floor Francesca.” Francesca kind of smirked and they resumed drinking there coffee. Before long they where again laughing and Marina had had enough.
“Excuse me do you mind. Im trying to read.” It was not like Marina to be so uptight but she wanted to finish her book before her dinner tonight with Genevieve.
The brash americans turn to face Marina. Only Francesca had understood what she had said. She quickly apologized to Marina and explained they had just come from a very long film shoot and where a little wired. Marina quickly accepted the apology and apologized herself for yelling. She looked at Francesca as she spoke and coudnt belive how beautiful she was. Now that she had her attention Marina was in awe.
“Please let me make it up to you.” Francesca had definatly taken notice to this beautiful exotic woman. She looked very young, almost too young to seduce. She coudnt tell her nationality but she was definatly not French. She left her friends at there table and moved up to Marina’s.
“Im Francesca Wolff. Im a costume designer from America. Do you speak english.?”
“Yes.”
“Good, now how can i make it up to you for being so loud.” Marina was almost embarassed. This american was very charming and Marina swore she was checking her out.
“That is not necessary. I was only reading. It is my fault trying to read at a cafe full of people.” Marina smiled to show she was sincere.
“Oh but I insist. What is your name?”
“Marina.”
“Very beautiful. How about i send over one of my personal creations for you. Your a size four right. Oh this dress will look wonderful on you. Black, criss cross in the back, v- slit in the front yes it would look very good on you. Gime me your address and i will have my assistant send it over to you tonight.” It was almost on order and Francesca part. Marina didnt have the courage to say no. Perhaps she could see this american again. Marina did as she was told, and excused herself since had a dinner engagement to go to. Francesa called her assistant and told him to wrap up the dress and to come and pick her up at the cafe. She was going to deliver the dress today. She had to see this Marina again. Francesca had just know she was *****. She could feel it.
Two hours later Marina had just stepped out of the shower when she heard a knock at the door. She grabbed her silk robe and went to answer the door. It was the american.
“Hi Marina. I just wanted to bring this dress for you since i heard you had dinner plans. I think this dress will look beautiful on you.” She was definatly bold. She asked her in and took the dress to her room. She returned to Francesca and asked her to sit down.
“Thank you for the dress. You really didnt have to do that for me. I accepted your apology.”
“Well I thought the dress would siut you, so i just wanted to bring it over. Besides you’ll have everyone jealous at your dinner since the dress was made by an american.”
Marina just smiled. She did like Francesca. She was so different from Genevieve. Bold definatly bold.
“Well i dont mean to hold you up.” She did really.
“Well they cant eat without me since the dinner is for me!”
“Any why is that.”
Its my 23rd birthday.”
“Well happy birthday. Here is my card. Where staying at the French Hilton. I’ll be in town for a few more days. Come by and see me.” Francesca turned and left the appartment. Marina was in shock. She was really becoming smitten by her. She went to go and look at the dress and she was amazed. It was beautiful, and just as she had described. She put the dress on and it was a perfect fit. Marina looked amazing in it. She was sure to know Genevieve off her feet.
Dinner had been a disaster. Genevieve had been almost 1 hour late, and she didnt like the fact that some ***** american had given Marina a dress. Marina had told her how they met, and Genevieve had become jealous. Marina had been embarassed since most of the people there where Genevieve’s friends not hers. She had left the dinner early and took a cab home. She reached into her purse to get money when she found Francesca’s card. She ordered the cab driver to take her to the hotel. Marina didnt want to be alone right now, and she would tell Francesca the dress had been a hit.
“Im sorry to come by unexpected, but i wanted to thank you again for the dress. You where right everyone loved it.”
Francesca had invited her in and they had some wine. Marina was feeling pretty good. Francesca never let her cup empty and they talked for hours. Finally at 11pm Marina was begining to get tired. She had a wonderful time talking to Francesca and almost didnt want to leave.
“It is getting late, i had better be going. I had a wonderful time talking to you.”
“Oh i hadnt realized it was getting late. Please let me walk you to the door.” Francesca had taken Marina’s hand and held on to her until they had reached Francesca’s door. Francesca had let go of Marina’s hard and had turned her so they where facing each other.
“You know you dont have to go if you dont want to. You could spend the night with me here.” Marina just looked into her eyes. She didnt want to leave and with Francesca being so close she didnt think she was going to have the will power to. Francesca had touched her face lightly. She started to touch her hair and she pulled Marina very close to her. They where very close and Marina’s heart was beeting very fast. Francesca leaned in and kissed Marina on the lips. Gently at first and then she opened Marina’s lips with her tongue. The kiss deepned and she pushed Marina back into the door. Marina was kissing her back and grabbed ahold of Francesca’s waist. Francesca had stopped kissing her and pulled her back to her bed, stripped the dress off of her and made love to her. It was the first time Marina had felt so good next to some one. Fransecsa wanted her to spend the night so she did. They made love 2 more times that night and fell asleep in each others arms.
In the morning Marian woke to Francesca bringing her coffee in bed. She had a smile on her face and kissed Marina gently on the forehead.
“You know i normally dont have anyone sleep over, but i like you Marina. I like you a lot. I could open up your world if you let me too. I have to go back to the states in a few days, but i want you to come with me.” Marina didnt know what to think. She had just met her and now she was inviting her to go to america and live with her.
“Im sorry i cant just leave. I have a job and obligations. Maybe i could visit another time.”
“Yeah another time.” Francesca got up from the bed and went into the bathroom and shut the door. She coudnt just leave. She had her job and Genevieve. Genevieve who was jealous and cold and … She could go on and on. Maybe this was her chance to start over. She walked into the bathroom and saw that Francesca had gotten into the shower. Marina got in with her, and kissed her. She told her she would go, but that she had to wait a week to clear up some things. Francesca had agreed and they made love again in the shower.
One week later Marina was just finishing packing up her suitcase. She had quit her job moved out of her appartment and told Genevieve it was over. Genevieve had tried to tell her not to go that she loved her. Marina didnt listen. She had finally found someone that listned to her, that let her have an opinion. That would do anything for her.
Present time West Hollywood
She hadnt found out how cruel and controlling Francesca was until it was to late. How 12 years have gone by so fast. All Marina had now where her cafe and her memories of how Francesca used to be, and how Jenny loved her first.