Tristan pulled his bike into the garage, Anna did the same, they cut their bikes off.
"So, I'm guessing this is your handy work?" Tristan looking her bike over,
"Yep, I saved him from the junk yard, just a heap of metal, I built him back up, now he probably runs better than he ever had in his first lifetime," Anna seriously.
"You did good, nice frame and everything," Tristan getting down and inspecting it.
"The guy I bought it from said it was cursed, that it had been bought over and over again and no one has ever made it out alive," Anna explained.
"Damn, so how long have you rode it for?" Tristan having a shocked look on his face,
"A year now, but see I don't believe in curses and curses only work if you believe in them," Anna pointing out a fact.
"Still, I don't either, just be careful on that thing," Tristan unlocking the door,
"So, what made you decide to come and see me all of a sudden," Tristan opening the door, they walked in,
"My grandfather, he died," Anna trying to stay strong.
"The one you were so close to?" Tristan asked,
"Yeah, I didn't have anyone to turn to so I'm here," Anna's eyes watering,
"Anne, I'm so sorry, come on, lets sit down on the couch," Tristan leading her to the couch, he sat down and pulled her into his lap. She curled into a ball and cried,
"It's okay baby, I've got you, I'm here," Tristan petting her hair.
"I couldn't take it being around family, don't make me go back, please," Anna cried.
"You can stay here as long as you like," Tristan seriously,
"Thank you so much Tristan, you are the only person that doesn't think I'm dumb or stupid, you humor me when I need to be humored, and for that I thank you," Anna hugging him so tight.
"Anna, I'm sorry but your mother needs to leave you the hell alone, you aren't dumb and you can do or be whoever, whatever you want to be," Tristan strongly. Anna smirked,
"You really think so?" Anna asked,
"Well, I believe everything your grandfather ever told you, you are smart, you're nice to look at and be around, most of the time, and your grandfather is always going to love you," Tristan smiling.
"Thanks, my mother has been talking to me like I am a stupid idiot, I'm not dumb, I've been agreeing with her lately," Anna pulling away.
"And your grandfather's funeral pushed you over the edge, am I right?" Tristan asked,
"Yeah," Anna playing with her hands,
"Come on, why don't you go shower, I'll fix the bed for you and breakfast will be ready when you get out," Tristan rubbing her arms.
"I'll shower but I can't sleep, I've got such a headache and all this shit raining down on me, I'm a great swimmer but this shit, it's like quicksand, I can't get out and I struggle and sink deeper," Anna sighing,
"Hey, you just need a break from it all," Tristan understanding most of her problems.
"Yeah, that's part of the reason why I came here, to get away from it all," Anna softly,
"You can chill here anytime, you are like a sister to me," Tristan seriously,
"I've always considered you as a brother, hey, since I'm going to be staying here for a little while do you know of anybody hiring around here?" Anna thinking she was going to need a job.
"Well, I could check the club where I work to see if they are hiring," Tristan seriously,
"When do you go back in to work?" Anna getting some orange juice to drink.
"Tomorrow night, but we could go down tonight, that way you can check it out," Tristan seriously,
"Sounds good, after we eat and everything can you show me and around town?" Anna trying to keep her mind moving and not to dwell on the things that were plaguing her,
"Sure, staying in one place for you right now isn't the best thing," Tristan coming over to her and rubbing her arms,
"Look Tristan, do this because you love me like a sister, don't do it because you pity me," Anna explained.
"I don't do this because I pity you, I'm your best friend and you are mine, that's why I do this," Tristan sternly. Anna looked at his eyes,
"I love you BB," Anna hugging him, he hugged her back,
"I'm always here for you," Tristan pulling away with a confused look on his face,
"What?" Anna seeing the confusion,
"BB, how did I get that nick name?" Tristan trying to see into her soul through her eyes,
"Big Brother, duh," Anna smirking.
"Go, go take your shower, I'm here if you need me," Tristan strongly,
Anna still had a smirk on her face, she walked towards the bathroom. Tristan laughed a little,
"To think she didn't need anyone in high school, now she needs me, I'm glad you came around Anna," Tristan seriously, he made Anna and himself some pancakes. Finally Anna emerged from the bathroom wearing a skimpy under shirt with a long sleeve white shirt on top of it, it was still unbuttoned,
"Pancakes, I haven't had pancakes in a long time," Anna sitting at the kitchen bar with him.
"Enjoy them, you can cook for me tomorrow morning," Tristan smiling,
"I will, it's the least I can do," Anna seriously.
"You know I was joking around with you right?" Tristan seriously,
"I wasn't, I'm going to get a job and help you pay bills too," Anna strongly.
"Listen Anna, I know of a place you would probably like it, its rent to own, if you want to move here, I mean it would be nice to have you in town, I can show you the place, you can see if you like it and you can get a job and stay with me till you get some money saved up and we could fix that place up and move into it," Tristan shrugging.
"I don't know Tristan, I mean, I eventually have to go back," Anna thinking,
"Anna, there is nothing back there that's waiting on you to come back, and your parents are going to stress you out, stress will kill you Anna, you want that? Stay with me Anna," Tristan sternly as he stared her in the eyes, Anna thought about what he had just said and he was right, there wasn't anything back there for her and no one was waiting for her to come back.
"Okay, lets look at this place," Anna nodding, she stared back at him, she knew he was the only one she could trust and count on,
"Tristan, have you ever felt like someone was watching you," Anna confused,
"Where is this coming from?" Tristan kind of laughing,
"Its just, I've always felt like someone's been watching me ever since I fixed that bike, but I love that bike, I wouldn't give that bike up for anything," Anna explained.
"Maybe the person that died on the bike is protecting you from the curse," Tristan throwing out an idea for her, Anna laughed,
"What, you are complaining about someone watching you, maybe I'm right and they are going to make sure you don't die," Tristan seriously.
"I've always loved how you thought," Anna smiling,
"Not many people have, my girlfriend likes the way I think too, I think she may be the one, my soul mate," Tristan shrugged as he ate,
"Girlfriend, Tristan, you should have told me, I probably should get a hotel room," Anna putting her fork down.
"Anna, its perfectly fine, I told her that you were coming, she loves that I have a good friend that I can call a sister," Tristan putting his hand on top of hers, Anna looked at him,
"Are you sure its okay for me to be here?" Anna wanting to make sure,
"Yes, she wants to meet you, we are actually taking these classes that will prepare us for marriage, but anyway, you'll get a chance to meet her at the club tonight, she works there," Tristan explained.
"Okay," Anna feeling a little uncomfortable about being at Tristan's house.
"Just chill, its okay for you to be here," Tristan seriously.
"I think I'll check out that apartment today, I don't want to ruin anything between you guy," Anna sternly.
"Okay, but Anna its perfectly fine for you to stay with me till you get on your feet, she'll even tell you that herself," Tristan trying to make her feel better.
"What's this chick's name?" Anna sighing,
"Sandra, I think you'll…" Tristan being interrupted,
"Break up with her, I'm telling you as a friend, you've got to do this," Anna having a bad feeling about it all, Tristan looked at her strangely,
"Are you having one of those things again, one of those feelings?" Tristan confused.
"Yes, I don't know about her but that name, its bad, Tristan, please trust me on this, you've got to get away from this, you are all I have left in this world, that Sandra is bad news," Anna almost crying, Tristan knew it was serious when she looked as if she were going to cry because he never once saw Anna cry till now.
"Anna, calm down, just meet her tonight if you still have that strong feeling after you meet her then I will stop dating her," Tristan explained.
"Okay, but that name, its bad," Anna letting a tear fall. Tristan gently wiped away the tear with his thumb,
"Hey, I'm not going anywhere, if you want you can die before me, that way you aren't left all alone," Tristan smiling,
"No, we die together, no family gets left behind," Anna sternly.
"Okay, we will grow old and die together," Tristan smiling,
"Promise?" Anna seriously, Tristan took out his pocket knife, cut his hand then cut her hand,
"With your blood and my blood, I promise," Tristan grabbing her bleeding hand and pressing his bleeding hand to hers.
"I promise to die old and by your side," Anna squeezing his hand, they hugged each other and slowly pulled away, they were silent, Anna still had chill bumps from the name of his girlfriend.
"Its going to be okay," Tristan petting her head,
"I guess, Tristan, I really don't want to know Sandra, the name freaks me out even," Anna seriously.
"Okay, but if she comes over to you I can't stop her," Tristan seriously,
"Maybe working at that club isn't the best thing right now," Anna having second thoughts of going to work at the club.
"You are still going with me to the club tonight, right?" Tristan wanting her to go,
"I guess, but…" Anna being interrupted,
"Honey, chill, we'll dance, we'll drink, and you stay far away from the bar," Tristan grabbing her plate and putting it in the sink along with his plate.
"Come on, we are going to check out that apartment," Tristan seriously,
"Okay, maybe I'll feel better about the apartment," Anna hopping off the stool,
"Maybe," Tristan thinking she was going to like it, they walked across the street and a couple blocks down,
"Here it is," Tristan showing her,
"Wow, this is something," Anna getting a strange eerie feeling, they walked in and talked to the guy that had it for sale.
"Well, lets go take a look at it," the guy taking them up to the apartment.