Audrey hummed "Wannabe," the Spice Girls song she and Cinda had belted out walking in another park - was that ten years ago? - when they had their sights set on a pair of boys hanging out nearby.

The song wavered when the nostalgia caught in her throat. High school had been so carefree. No worries about jobs. Life was less complicated, with parents to depend on and only dreams of the future to propel you forward.

Across the pond, a figure moved. Audrey shaded her eyes and squinted to bring the man to focus. Another gust of wind ruffled through his light-colored hair, but his face was indistinguishable in the distance. He stood facing her, looking directly at her and Audrey suddenly felt self-conscious staring back at him.

A door slammed and Audrey turned reflexively. She was standing in her living room.

"A little help," Cinda called from the kitchen.

Audrey blinked several times, confused by the abrupt change of scenery. She glanced back and forth between Cinda and the painting and wiggled her toes. There was only carpeting beneath her feet. Had she imagined her interlude in the landscape? Squinting, Audrey tried to find the image of the man she'd seen across the lake, but there was only water and grass and trees.

She gave the painting one last curious look. Audrey took a deep breath and spun on her heel. "Hey. Remember that park we used to hand out at when we were in high school?"

Cinda unpacked cartons of Chinese carryout on the counter. "If you wannabe my luvah, you gotta get with my friends..." she sang, then laughed. "Gawd, I can't believe we actually liked that song! Those were fun days, though."

"For you! Remember that day we met Steve and Bob? How did you end up with the good end of that deal, anyway?" Audrey pulled two plates down from the cupboard and opened the silverware drawer.

"You were always too uptight with men. That's why it didn't work out for you and Bob."

"He was the dud. Steve was better looking and had more personality." She flipped the ends of Cinda's short black hair. "You hair used to so long."

Cinda loaded a plate with food and carried it into the dining room. "Yeah, but Steve was a burnout. What made you think of them, anyway?"

"I bought a painting." Audrey squeezed duck sauce onto her plate, and then added an egg roll, a spoonful of fried rice and orange chicken.

"With your bonus? Good for you! It's about time you thought about something other than work." Cinda pushed a pile of Audrey's work papers to the corner of the table. "Can't you do all of this at the office?"

"Not enough hours in the day." Audrey looked toward the painting. "It's getting to where I'm not sure when I'm awake and when I'm asleep anymore."

Cinda wolfed down a fork load of food and washed it down with a gulp of water. "So where is this painting?"

Audrey nodded while she concentrated on cutting off the end of her egg roll. "It's hanging in the living room."

Cinda pushed away from the table and walked through the arched doorway. Folding her hands, she tilted her head. "This is nice," she said without much enthusiasm.

"Well I like it." Watching her friend scrutinize the landscape, Audrey sat back in her chair. "Tell me what you see."

"Is this a trick question?" Cinda turned on the floor lamp beside the picture. "I see woods, a lake, the sky, grass..." She looked back to Audrey. "Am I missing something? It does kinda look like the park."

Audrey nodded. "Yeah, but do you see any fauna? Other life forms?"

"Negative, Captain. They must be employing their cloaking devices." Cinda turned the lamp off and walked back to the dining room. "Was there supposed to be something else?"

Audrey shook her head, stabbing another bite of her egg roll. "Just a weird feeling."

"Weird how?"

"It was nothing."

"You must be working too hard or something." Cinda's bright blue eyes trained on Audrey. "Which reminds me, what's up with Paul?"

"We're supposed to go out tomorrow night. I'm still a little nervous about dating someone from the office."

"Well at least you don't have to worry about him complaining about your hours. He should already know how much work goes into being an events planner." Cinda jammed another fork full of food into her mouth. "So what is it about that picture?"

"I wish you wouldn't talk with your mouth full," Audrey complained.

Cinda rolled one hand in front of her, inviting Audrey to speak.

With a scowl, Audrey pushed the food around her plate. "When I walked into the gallery today, I didn't even look at anything else."

"So?"

"It was like I stepped inside of it, just before you got here."

"Pain fumes."

Audrey laughed and almost choked. "That must be it."

Cinda leaned one arm on the table. "I gotta hear this. What happened?"

Audrey shook her head, embarrassed by the experience. "When I look at it, it's almost as if I'm standing in the meadow."

"Ok," Cinda encouraged Audrey with an exaggereated nod. "And?"

"I thought I saw someone standing on the other side of the pond."

Cinda started laughing. "You've got the best imagination."

Audrey smiled shyly. "Stress. And nerves. I probably thought it was Paul and I was subconsciously trying to keep him on the other side."

"You've got the walls up before you even go out? How are you going to find the love of your life with an attitude like that?"

Audrey shrugged. "Who says life has to be a romance novel? I don't need some guy getting in the way all the time, telling me how much I should weigh or how to wear my hair..."

"Hey, did I tell you I got an appointment to do my hair tomorrow? I'm going to do those dark red hightlights."

Audrey smiled. Cinda's mind switched topics faster than anyone she knew.

Cinda leaned on her arms again, scrutinizing Audrey. "You know  what would look cool on you? Add some highlights, some lowlights...it would really make your hair stand out."

"I don't think I want to stand out." Audrey pulled her hair away from her head and crossed her eyes.

Cinda laughed. "You know what I mean. It would look so pretty, instead of just flat brown."

"So now you're telling me my hair is ugly?"

Cinda rolled her eyes.

"I get nervous about my hair. What if it comes out green?"

"It won't come out green. I think highlights would be really pretty on you. Want me to see if they can do you, too?"

"I have a date tomorrow night, remember?"

"Oh yeah. Hey, what time is it?" Cinda turned her wrist to check her watch. "We're going to miss the movie. Maria's probably already singing on the mountain." Cinda put one hand to her chest and began singing in a mock operatic voice. "The hills are alive..."

Audrey smirked. She went into the living room and turned on the television. "It hasn't started yet. Bring the orange chicken."

Cinda grabbed her plate and one of the cartons, following Audrey. "On the coffee table?" She set the food down and reached for a strand of Audrey's hair. "You should really think about the highlights."

"I'll think about it." On her way back to the dining room, Audrey glanced at her painting and then took a second look. Was it her imagination or was there someone sitting on the opposite side of the pond? Fighting the impulse to study the picture, Audrey forced her attention back to dinner. It was probably just a shadow.