A/N New year, new fic! I like to keep my first chapter short so people can get the gist quickly. (Ch 2 available now though) :D As always, I plan for other chapters to be longer. It's my first modern AU ever, so enjoy!
"Like a virgin, hey!
Touched for the very first time!
Like a vi-i-i-ir-gin…"
John groaned in annoyance as the music pounded through the wall into his skull. He'd always fantasized about being woken by Madonna, but this wasn't quite what he'd had in mind. His orange tabby, Kumquat, jumped good-naturedly from his chest to the floor as he rolled to glance at his ancient alarm clock. 6:30 on a Sunday morning - the sun was hardly up! He hoped this wouldn't be a habit for his new neighbor.
It's just as well, he thought as he scrambled out of bed, careful not to trod on the stretching Kumquat. He wanted to get a proper day's writing in before reviewing his first few weeks' lesson plans. It wouldn't be long until term began again. He ambled slowly into the kitchen to put the kettle on for coffee, wincing at a sudden sharp pain near the bone in his right calf. He'd have to do a bit of stretching himself before taking Shelley for her morning walk. The golden retriever was already seated by the door, tongue out and tail wagging hopefully.
John didn't yet know what to make of the petite blonde who'd moved in next door. She'd come alone and appeared to have brought only what had fit in her tiny blue car, a beat up yet hardy old thing that looked as though it had never seen a car wash. She looked like someone who could make herself comfortable anyplace and who didn't hold much stock in material possessions. It's a useful mentality, he thought as he scooped the ground coffee into his French press.
He'd have offered to help her with the boxes, but he knew he'd have been useless other than maybe holding the door. Besides, she'd planted a small stack of what appeared to be textbooks for that purpose. John wondered if she was still studying or if she'd recently graduated. She did look a bit older than the traditional university student, not that he felt he could accurately guess her age. She appeared to be rather ageless. Her face held a brightness that looked as though it would be youthful forever.
Filled with a sufficient amount of caffeine, Anna turned up the volume on her laptop and pulled her hair back before beginning to unpack. The small flat wasn't "home" yet, but it wouldn't take much to make it so. Anna didn't bother with a huge wardrobe or too many knick knacks. She moved far too often to be toting such frivolities everywhere she went, not to mention she didn't really have the funds. But she did have two weaknesses: books and teapots. It wouldn't be home until the entire collection of each was in its proper place.
Anna's new job started tomorrow. Well, the training for it anyway. There would be a full 80 hours of it before she'd officially begin. She was both thrilled and terrified, not about the job really, but about starting over - again. She was determined to get it right this time, determined not to turn her job into her life, determined to have some real relationships, some fun. She'd earned that after all this time.
Much to her annoyance, Anna had an incurable habit of turning friendships into mentorships. She couldn't help being the mother hen. It was ironic, really, considering she was the younger of her and her sister, but it had always been that way, even when she was small. It made for very one-sided friendships - always giving, never taking, never willing to burden others or risk placing her trust in another. She wondered briefly what it might be like to be on the receiving end of the cup of tea and listening ear, not that she'd ever needed it of course. Anna relied only on herself. And why not? She was the most reliable person she knew.
No matter, she told herself happily as she redirected her thoughts to organizing her extensive book collection and began bopping joyfully to the peppy 80s tunes. Today, we begin again. I'm going to be exactly who I've always wanted to be.