Hey, I'm back! Sorry that I didn't update for so long, but real life happend :/ anyway, I hope you can still enjoy the story :)
John breathed a sigh of relief as he walked out of the newspaper building, it had been a long day and he was looking forward to his and Anna's next date later this week. He had only just closed his car door, when he heard his phone ring. Taking it out of his pocket he saw Mary's name lighting up the screen. John was a bit surprised, but picked up anyways.
'Hello Mary. Did something happen?'
'No. I just wanted to talk to you about Anna.'
John was a bit hesitant before replying. Did his best friend's daughter have objections against him and Anna dating? 'Um. Alright.'
'You know, the orchestra's director has given her her first solo. It will be in four weeks.'
'Oh, that's very nice!', he said, slightly relieved. 'But I don't know what that has to do with me.'
He could hear Mary groan audibly in exasperation. 'John, I have never her seen as happy as she is since you are dating. So please, don't mess this up, alright? Oh and maybe try to do something romantic?'
'Oh, sure', John replied, getting the cue. 'Now that you said it, I actually have an idea for today evening.'
Now it was Mary's turn to hesitate.'Alright. Just promise me not to break her heart or try anything weird, okay? Because you can count on the fact that I will find you.'
'Sure', John responded chuckling, even if he knew that there was a hint of truth behind Mary's words. 'Bye.' Mary's only answer was to hang up on him.
John arrived at Anna's apartment building while some teenagers were storming out of the front door, so he got in without having to speak through intercom. He wanted this to be a surprise. But shortly before he arrived at her apartment door, doubts began seeping through his mind. Wasn't he crossing a boundary, randomly showing up at her home? Wasn't it too much to come to her house with flowers and in a suit after just five months of seeing each other? But brooding wouldn't do anything to help that, he knew it. So he knocked on the door and waited anxiously.
Anna only just sat her tea cup down on the low table in her living room, when she heard a knock on her door. An irritated sigh left her lips. Could she not just have some time for herself after a long and exciting day? But eventually, she relented, went to the door and unlocked it. Anna was quite surprised when she saw John standing on the threshold, in a very dashing suit and a beautiful bouquet in his hands no less. Suddenly she became self-conscious of wearing an old hoodie and sweatpants. For about a minute they just stared at eachother smiling, until John cleared his throat and said 'Hello. Um...Mary told me that you will have your first solo in a few weeks so I thought I'd congratulate you.'
Anna couldn't help but blush at his thoughtfulness. 'Hello. Uh. Thank you. Do you want to come in? I just put the kettle on.', she said with a slightly nervous smile.
'Only if it's no trouble.'
'It's not, I'd like to have you here actually.', she blushed at her own admission. 'So...will you do me the honor or not?'
'Of course.', John responded, still smiling.
While Anna led him down the hall to the sitting room, she explained: 'Sorry for the mess, I just wanted to clean up a bit later. Make yourself comfortable, but I'll pop over and prepare your
tea.'
'Sure, thanks.', John said, settling down on her settee. This was the first time he had been at Anna's place, so he looked around curiously. From what he had seen, her flat was very cozily furnished and tidy. He assumed that what she had described as a mess to him were the couple of books on the coffee table and some laundry on a chair. Just then, she came back in and put his mug on the small table, right next to hers, and sat down.
'So, how was your day?', she asked.
'A bit stressful, we had to write some articles last minute. But that doesn't matter, tell me about your promotion!'
She smiled shyly, then said: 'It's hardly a promotion, I'll just play a solo and that's it.'
He looked at her suspiciously, knitting his brows together. 'So you're not excited about that opportunity? Not a tiny bit?'
'Alright, you caught me.', she released a laugh, 'I just didn't really think about that possibility until now, I guess. All I ever wanted was to play music.' And to be with you since we met, she added in her thoughts.
'I think you're doing wonderfully. And that the solo will be perfect.', he answered, smiling that particular way it made his eyes crinkle and always made her knees turn to jelly. 'Is there a certain piece you have to play, or can you choose?'
'I am allowed to choose, but I don't know what I want yet. There is still time, thankfully.', she said, sipping her tea. She seemed to be lost in thought for a few seconds, until she put her mug back on the table, turned fully towards him and took his hand into her much smaller ones. John couldn't help but wonder about the sudden change in Anna. Was something the matter? Before he could ponder on this question for too long, however, she spoke up: 'John, I … have been thinking a lot lately. About us, I mean. And I came the to the conclusion that I love you.' He opened his mouth to reply something, but she continued before he had to the chance to. 'I love that eye-crinkling smile that you barely show, which just makes it all the more special. Speaking of eyes, I just love drowning in yours. I love talking to you about books and I like that you want my opinion on the articles that you write, even if I don't know a thing about journalism. I just simply feel like I have known you my whole life.'
John didn't know what to answer to this, so he couldn't help but stare at Anna, trying to comprehend what she told him. His silence started to worry her, had she said too much? Was it too early?
'John? Please say something. You don't have to say it back, I just wanted to let you know.' She bit her lip to silence herself, but before the silence could get too awkward, John broke it: 'I love you too, Anna. And I mean it, I don't say that to make this less awkward. I was just so surprised by you saying all these things, because I wouldn't have thought I'd ever feel this way for anyone or that anyone would feel like that for me.'
At his reply, she just couldn't help the grin that lit up her whole face. 'Do you really mean that?', she asked, a giddy giggle bubbling up.
'I do.', he almost whispered, his smile crinkling his eyes once again. In the very next second, it seemed like their lips were inevitably drawn to one another. When they finally met, it was gentle at first, but soon her hands started playing with his hair, while he pulled her closer by the waist. They have kissed before, but it was never with so much fervour and passion. When the need for air became too much, they pulled away, however, it left them both panting with need.
When her pulse had finally calmed down, Anna suggested: 'Would you mind terribly, if we continued this in my room.'
John couldn't help but give her a surprised look. 'Do you mean...?'
'Yes, Mr Bates.', she answered, drawing out his name in a teasing way. Anna stood up and walked towards the door, turning around when he didn't follow her. 'What, are you coming now or not?'
'Uh...yes.', he murmured, still unable to figure out how he had gotten so lucky.
