"You were right, Anna! Gatsby… and Daisy!" I was at Nick's house and the rain was stronger than ever. We were in the living room, and the cakes were sitting on a shelf in the kitchen. I had been there for about half an hour, and we were more relaxed, no, I was more relaxed around him than I had ever hoped to be.

"So, Jordan finally told you? I'm sorry I couldn't, I wanted to keep it a secret." I laughed and tried to toss my hair, failing miserably.

"Anna, is it right to do this? I hardly know Gatsby, and Daisy's my cousin!" He looked a little worried, and I didn't know the answer either. I secretly smirked at him saying that he hardly knew Gatsby. But it was a valid question. I decided to say how I felt.

"Do you want my honest opinion even if it goes against yours?" I said it like a trivial matter. To be honest, I was terrified. Terrified that he would see my weaknesses through my opinions, terrified he would hate me.

"Well, I try to reserve all judgement." I slowly started letting go of my reserved manner.

"From what you've said, Daisy isn't having a very happy relationship with Tom. And she must really love Gatsby to wait for him for a long time. However, she had to marry someone rich to keep her life going and keep up her family's reputation. Gatsby must also really love her to build all his fortune for her. We can see if she still loves him today, then we can possibly make both of them happier." I kind of stuttered, but I was satisfied that I hadn't panicked and froze.

"Thank you, Anna. You have a logical mind."

"I'm just speaking from experience."

"Oh! Are you engaged?" He was taken aback, and I felt a certain pride that he was shocked. Maybe even jealous? No, couldn't be. Nick wasn't that type of person. It was just my imagination.

"No. It's just what my mother told me. I shouldn't say I was speaking from experience." I scolded myself inside my head and told myself to regain confidence.

"Then again, maybe it makes sense somehow." That wasn't how I was supposed to regain confidence!

"I'm glad I didn't have to tell you not to undermine yourself, Anna." Then again, maybe it was.

"I'm slowly improving as I advance into society! Wait, did I say that out loud?" I covered my mouth, then burst out laughing, then covered my mouth again, but laughed so hard that I fell off of the sofa. I couldn't stop laughing, even though I kind of hated myself for it.

"You're the most dramatic person I know. In a good way!" He was trying to suppress a grin as well. Meanwhile, I clutched to the edge of a table and tried to stand up. The table toppled over, and I laughed even harder. A kettle of tea spilled on to the floor, onto my dress, and I gasped.

"This is when it should stop being funny…" I continued laughing though, even though there was a tea stain on my new dress. It was a tight black dress covered fully with indigo threads that trailed off after the dress ended. To compliment the outfit, I had on a bracelet that was magenta with a hint of black and sprinkled with white but mixed with sapphire blue then tinted. In my hair there was a white, azure, and indigo swirled flower on the side of my head. My hair was put up in a side bun that was casual yet considered quite pretty.

The flower fell off and landed inside the tea, and my hairdo fell apart as well. I finally stopped, and came to my feet.

"Well, I guess I'll have to go make more tea."

"Do you mind? I can go make some more. Actually, that would be better.

You can stay here."

"No, I insist. I'll enjoy another chance to cook. My servants almost always insist that I never cook. I hardly get a chance. Making tea doesn't count as cooking, but I want to see if what I make is still edible!" Wiping my dress with the back of my hand, I went to the kitchen.

"Nick, do you still want the tiramisu? It's in very bad shape…"

"Don't throw it away! It can't be that bad!" He came over to look with me.

"The cream is getting stale, the powder is stuck, it's a little sour… there's a lot of things wrong with it! I'm throwing it away." I dumped the contents into the trash and put the bowl into the sink, starting to wash it. The water washed out all the remains down the drain, and I wiped the bowl, putting it away.

"Remind me. Why am I here again? Other than the fact that everyone loves me?"

"Gatsby's having tea with Daisy. He wants to meet her after the five years."

"Yes. Daisy and- " I was interrupted by the honking of cars outside. Nick rushed out, and I followed him.

"So, do you want me to stay?" I gestured to the door.

"Actually, would it be a bother to- nevermind, it's raining."

"Yes?"

"Can you wait outside for me? I'll take a moment, but I'll be leaving Gatsby and Daisy to give them a little privacy."

"Of course. I rather I like the rain. It's very calming." Nick didn't want me to leave? He didn't want me to leave! He didn't want me to leave!

But did he? The question still haunts me today. The rose on his grave slowly decays, but I know he's still there. I can feel him in my dreams. Only one decision remains.

I would gladly head out into the rain for Nick Carraway. I would go anywhere. Of course I would head out that day. I almost eagerly went, and took cover beside a tree. The time passed quickly, as thoughts of Nick filled my mind every second. He came out to the same tree.

"Thank you for keeping me company, Anna. It will get a little lonely by myself."

"I don't like being lonely. Which is why I always put up with Lily. I kind of have to." That was the first secret I told to Nick that I had never told anyone else. It wasn't the last.

"I understand that. But with you and Jordan, I'm fine." Of course. Jordan. She hadn't been forgotten. What was I to think that he would just leave her for me?

"I'm honored." Conceal, don't feel, don't let it show!

"You're not corrupted by society yet."

"Is that your idea of a compliment? Try harder, Mr. Carraway." I teased him.

"I'm trying to be completely honest. Would you rather have me tell you that you're perfect?"

"So that isn't true?" I was smiling so wide that I looked silly, but I was happy.

"Fair point." The rain was drowned out now.

Nick was the first friend I made who I made. Lily had taken me as her friend because of her bubbly personality and how she thought I was too shy when I first moved. And Nick?

I hoped that despite everything, our friendship could last. And if even one day, I confessed my feelings to him and he didn't return them, I hoped that nothing could change and that he wouldn't see me any differently. I would still want to be with him, even if we were just friends.

After we talked and talked, laughing and sometimes debating or just thinking in silence, he went in. A moment later he came out again.

"Do you want to come to Gatsby's mansion with us? He's taking Daisy on a tour and wants me to come."

"Are you sure, Nick? Would he like me?" Say yes, say yes! My heart screamed.

"He'd be charmed by you."

"But are you sure?" I was still hesitant. Would he agree? Did he want me to go? Was it just manners?

"I'm sure. Let's go, Anna." Then he stretched out his hand. My breathing nearly stopped as everything froze and my heart raced. It jumped up and down and sang happier than it had ever sang before.

I took his hand.