Chapter Fourteen:

APOV:

Oh how I've missed him, really missed him…he hasn't changed at all, his appearance anyway. When Kate first asked me to do the interview for her I refused straight away, I wasn't ready to face him again, mostly because I wasn't sure on how he would react, I didn't want him to hate me. She begged me for three days straight until I gave in early this morning as her flu had gotten much worse, I told her to go back to bed and I would make her soup and bring it to her. As I did this, she gave me all of the questions that I needed to ask him, she even made a joke about asking him if he was gay, I wanted to say something, I wanted to tell her he wasn't, I knew first hand that he wasn't but then that would open a whole new bunch of questions and I wasn't ready for that yet.

I'd met Kate four months ago, she gave me a place to stay. Since leaving Christian I was determined to get my life back on track, for myself and for him, I may not have had him by my side but all I had to do was think of him and I was able to face anything that was thrown at me. It wasn't easy at first, I had no plan so I did end up back on the streets for about a month but then I managed to start turning my life around and luck started to go my way for once. I started to eat a little more and more frequently, day by day I was becoming a little stronger. I'd managed to get myself a job at a bar, it wasn't exactly what I wanted to do with my life but it was a paying job so I couldn't afford to turn it down and that's how I had met Kate, she often comes into the bar with friends for drinks but this time she was on her own asking if she knew anyone who was looking for a room to rent, we had spoken several times, I found it easy to talk to her and once she realised I was looking for a place to live, she offered me the spare room straight away, now though, four months on, it's more like our apartment now, I don't just rent a room, we live together and we've become good friends, I'm still not much of a socialiser and I don't go out that much but I have met a couple of her friends, Jose, he's become a friend to me, her brother Ethan too. I've met boyfriends too but when she told me about Elliot, I felt a little uneasy around them, not because I didn't like him, he was great from what I've heard it was just that he was Christian's older brother and I didn't want Christian to find me, not yet anyway. I had to make sure I was far enough away for Escala so I didn't give in and go and see him but I did stay in Seattle so I could feel close enough to him. I knew he would be looking for me so I always had to be extra careful, he knew the park I did sometimes sleep in, he ran through it most mornings so I couldn't go there anymore, I had to change what I did and where I went day by day. It was difficult because I wanted to see him, I wanted to be in his arms more than anything but I had a reason I did what I did, we both needed space, we both needed to figure things out for ourselves, I needed to concentrate on my own problems before I could help him concentrate on his.

Now though, as I walk out of GEH and out onto the streets, I feel different, being around him feels different, I know I still have the same feelings for him as I did before, if anything they had grown stronger each day we had been apart but now, I feel as though we could be together, that's if he still wants to be. I know the man he used to be, he told me all about his casual flings of his past and I can't help but wonder if that is still his lifestyle but on the other hand, he always told me I was different that he wanted more with me, that he wanted an actual relationship with me, and then I got up and left. My thoughts are interrupted by my phone vibrating in my pocket, a text message and I grin as I realise it's from Christian.

I've said it once but I'll say it again, I've missed you Ana, what are you doing this Saturday? I've checked the weather forecast, I can take the boat out? Christian x

I've missed you too, I'm free during the day on Saturday but I have work at 8pm so I will have to be back for then. I'm looking forward to it. Ana x

I don't have to wait long for a reply.

Saturday it is, where are you working? C x

In a bar called Fifty's, I work there Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights and during the day Tuesday, Wednesday. A x

That's not a safe place to work Ana. C x

It's perfectly safe Christian. A x

We will talk more about that on Saturday, I have another meeting now. C x

Great…well at least I know that part of him hasn't changed, he can't stop me from working, I don't care what he says, it's took me long enough to finally get a job and I won't give it up that easy. I push my thoughts of Christian aside as I realise I am almost home, I wonder if Kate is feeling any better. I open the door and I can hear laughter coming from the living room, I'm guessing she is and I'm also guessing she isn't alone either.

"Ana?" I hear her shout, if she's faked this illness, I may actually strangle her. I follow her voice and into the living room, I guessed right, she isn't alone, Jose and Elliot are her too. Jose shouts hello as he's watching TV as Elliot approaches me.

"You must be Ana, Kate's told me a lot about you" Elliot says enthusiastically pulling me into a hug.

"And you must be Elliot" I say back, once I'm free I go and sit down.

"How did it go?" is the first thing Kate asks me.

"It was fine" she frowns when I don't add on.

"Just fine?" I nod, it's then Elliot turns back to me.

"Kate told me you went to interview my dear brother instead, I hope he wasn't too much of an arrogant bastard" he jokes whilst grinning, Kate playfully slaps his arm.

"Surely he can't be that bad at work?"

"Babe, trust me, I know my brother, and he's the most cold, arrogant bastard I know. Although he has changed quite dramatically over the last year or so, he's not so cold towards us anymore and he actually turns up on Sunday at our parents' house for dinner, before we was lucky to even see him once a month, maybe two months, something changed his attitude, I just don't know what, I overheard my Mom talking to one of her old friends once, Elena, about a girl but that's all I got…" I want to beg Elliot to carry on talking but I know I can't, the mention of the name Elena sends a shiver down my spine and I briefly wonder just how Christian has got her out of his life, it was also clear that his family didn't know anything, or they did but Elliot wasn't saying anything, hopefully he will tell me about all this on Saturday.

"Maybe he has a girlfriend, maybe that's the girl?" Jose then pipes up turning away from the TV and Elliot starts laughing.

"I doubt it…"

"That reminds me, did you ask him?" Kate turns the attention back to me, I know what question she means.

"Ask him what?" Elliot asks and I shake my head.

"I kind of wanted to know if he was gay or not so I wrote it down" Kate says sheepishly and Elliot bursts out laughing, Jose joins in too. I however remain silent.

"Oh please tell me you asked him?" Elliot asks me, I just nod.

"You did? Ana, I actually believe you asked him that" Kate exclaims.

"Well you did write it down, and for your information…" I pause whilst I stand up to walk out the room.

"He isn't gay" I say irritated to them and then walk out. All three of them start laughing and shout me to come back but I ignore them and head for my bedroom to lay down for a little bit. I must have fallen asleep because I'm woken up by a knock on my door, I call to enter and Kate walks in.

"Sorry we was laughing, I hope he wasn't mean to you" she says whilst sitting down on the edge of my bed.

"Don't worry about it and he wasn't…he was polite, that's it"

"You sure?" and I nod.

"Ok, well we were just thinking, you have this Friday off work and we think we should go out, go to some bars and clubs, what do you think?" she asks hopefully.

"I don't know Kate…"

"Please, come on, it will be fun, you're not doing anything Saturday during the day so you can recover before you go to work, you haven't come out with us in so long"

"Ok fine, I'll come out for a bit"

"That's all I'm asking" she says smiling and then leaves my room. I sigh and lay back down on my bed, I stare at the ceiling for a few minutes and then I hear my phone go again, it's ringing this time, I don't bother looking at the caller ID before answering it.

"Hello"

"Hi" I smile widely as I recognise that voice instantly.

"How was your meeting?" I ask.

"Dull in comparison to an interview I had earlier on today" his reply makes me smile.

"Really?"

"Yes, without a doubt, she made my day"

"You made hers too you know"

"I hope so Ana"

"Your brother is here?" I tell him changing the subject slightly.

"I'm guessing I was brought up?"

"They only asked how it went today" I don't fancy bringing up the 'gay' topic or Elena for that matter, especially over the phone.

"Ok, so Saturday then?" he asks.

"Yes, I'm looking forward to it"

"Me too, I'll pick you up at 9am"

"That's early" and I hear him chuckle.

"I want us to spend the day together"

"Ok"

"I have to go, I have another meeting…"

"Ok, but I'll see you soon"

"Yes you will but we'll talk before then"

"Goodbye Christian" I say smiling.

"Bye baby" and with that he ends the call and I'm left grinning like a fool. It's only then I remember I'd forgotten to tell him about Friday night, I briefly wondered if he would want to come with us but I knew then that we would be asked a lot of questions from Kate and Elliot so I decided against it, I can wait until Saturday to see him, I know I can.