Author's Note posted below.
Chapter 28
Savior
Two Months Later . . .
"How was school, Ana?"
"It was actually nice," I actually have a lot of words to say but when I start saying words like statues or murals or paintings, that would pull the trigger in Christian's know-it-all personally. He just knows a lot about history. It's not that I don't want to learn historical lessons from him. It's just that if I let him talk, he'll talk unstoppably and I won't get to watch the movie anymore.
Big Boss said that it's classic movie week so I have to randomly choose classic movies and do a critique. This is the third one of the week and I chose Casablanca, a romance film from 1942. I've watched this movie multiple times and I cry each and every time. This is like The Notebook for those who lived in the era of black and white romance films. For now, I am not going to watch as a normal girl but I am going to watch to give criticism. There's a difference with that.
By studying Arts Journalism, I have come to learn that being human is so beautiful. What separates us from other beings is that we are able to form emotions and these emotions are expressed through art. It may be through sculpture or through song or through films; it's the conveying of emotions. I appreciated humans as I study. I think this is really for me.
I look at Christian right now and I can't help but feel so much more in love than I already am. We really have grown. It's been two months since we agreed to date and everyday he has shown me how he's changing. I love this man because he has proven to me that in every closed door there is another door waiting to be explored. He's also the proof that sometimes the plans we make for ourselves are denied not because they aren't good for us but because they aren't the best.
With that, I slam my mouth against Christian as hard as I can and he's surprised by that. It takes a while for him to respond but he has done so.
"What was that for?" He asks as soon as we pull away.
"For being the best plan I've never had," I sound cheesy it's awful.
He doesn't mind though. He kisses me again.
We're in my space watching the movie and it's pretty cozy sitting down the blood red cushion with Christian's arms wrapped around me. We are focusing on the movie and he yawns from time to time. He expresses how he wants this classic week to be over. It amazes me how Christian loves animated films. Deep inside him is a little kid and I adore him for that.
He's very supportive with my studying and my profession while I'm supportive of his therapy sessions. I don't really do the counselling with him but I spend my time in the waiting room and each time, his face seems bright. I don't get a chance to speak with Dr. Flynn since A LOT of people are waiting for him but I sure am grateful. Christian seems to feel better each time they have a talk. I am not surprised why Dr. Flynn has been hailed as the most sought after psychiatrist in America for ten years straight.
I rest my head against his solid hard chest as the ending credits roll. Tears slip out from my eyes and it's just so sad how things have ended this way for the two main characters. Well, this was 1942, right? Wasn't there a war when this movie was shown? Didn't they think that it's depressing to make people sadder than they are? I have to include that in my article!
Whoa! I sound like a serious journalist.
"Finally! It's over!" Christian says after his one hundredth yawn.
Being a huge fan of this extremely beautiful film, I was about to bombard him with words like "how could you not have a heart?" or "how can you feel sleepy after watching that?" but that didn't go as planned because my phone rings and I have no choice but answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hey Ana," Elizabeth says and I am about to go irritated again. She has been calling me seven days straight just because she can't make her mind up about Jose.
"What is it now? Jose is good. You should be together. Bu-bye!"
I almost hang up when she says, "Stop! Ana, stop! This is not about Jose, okay? I forgot to tell you something."
"What is that?"
_oOo_
It turns out Ethan and Mia had a weekend getaway in Kansas and they stopped by Mom's grave. Seriously, Elizabeth waited one week just to inform me about that?
As soon as I found out, my heart just melted. The first thing that I really thought of is that there is still hope for Mia and me. She still cares about my family and somehow that means everything. Elizabeth even mentioned that Mia treated my family for dinner and Ethan sang classical songs. I wished for nothing but to be there.
The old Ana would disregard Mia's actions but the new Ana says that there is still hope so why not try that hope? I am waiting for Mia in a Japanese restaurant. Christian was the one who talked to her about the meet up. I am not really matured so I needed guidance. Just like Christian's convincing powers, he manages to get Mia to agree.
Speaking of Mia, she just arrived and she gives me a little smile.
"Hi Mia!"
"Hi Ana!"
The two of us order our meal and as usual, she orders a lot of sushi. It's practically a whole platter and that's just for herself.
"So how's Kansas?"
"It was pretty fun," Mia replies.
This time, I get to really look at her. I see the dark shades ringing her eyes and some age lines forming. It turns out that she isn't really the perfect Mia I pictured her to be. In fact, she's very imperfect. Of all people, I am supposed to be the one to know that because I was her best friend. I knew that she could be a bit shallow, she got anxious for no reason, and she doesn't know how to spell "autumn". How could I ever think that she's perfect?
I tell her, "Mia, I would like to thank you for visiting my mother. Thank you also for the kindness that you extended to my family."
She smiles, "Oh, it's nothing, Ana. They're really amazing. Ben is such a sweetheart! He's a little pilot, isn't he? Marcus and him can be really good friends!"
I can sense that she's trying to take all of the negative energy out but we cannot escape from that. I take a deep breath and finally tell her what I've been hiding since the beginning of our friendship.
"Mia, I was always jealous of you."
She doesn't respond.
"Since we became friends, I just wanted nothing more than to be like you. You have everything I could ever ask for. It's like the whole world was made for you. You are pretty and you are rich and you can have anybody you want. You are beyond a girl can ever ask for and I hated you a lot but I loved you. I don't know! I am just pure jealous of you! I mean yeah, you get my point, right? I wanted to be you."
She lets out a laugh and my brows furrow at that. How can she laugh in serious talks like this?
"Ana, can I tell you something?"
"What?"
Mia turns serious now, "I have been the one who is jealous of you."
"What?!" At that moment, the whole world just stopped. How can the great Mia Grey ever feel jealous about me? I have to pinch myself to make sure that this isn't just a dream. It's bound to be reality, right? Mia is really jealous of me! It's shocking! It's like finding out that Darth Vader is Luke's father in Star Wars!
"Ana, yes, I am rich but my parents aren't around like ninety five percent of the time. I did get the lead roles in our plays and I did join a lot of contests but they weren't there. I have a big brother but he lacks the warmth for a baby sister. I just needed to be the priority. I needed to feel like my parents are proud of me in everything I do. I need to have a sibling whom I can have fun jokes with or even fight with. After all, Christian's really boring. I just needed to be loved and to be first. I needed to be like you."
I can't help but think deeply about that.
After a long pause of just staring at each other, Mia gathers the vibrant energy around her and says, "Now that we've said everything, can we be friends again? This time, no jealousy allowed!"
"Of course," I confirm without telling her that I cannot comply the "no jealousy" policy. I am jealous of her for having a baby with the man she loves, but I don't need to tell her that.
Instead, we eat our Japanese meal while we talk about what we've missed out on. I never knew that she's really into crochet right now. She tells me all about the patterns and she goes Mathematician on me when she says she wants to find the algorithm in the crochet patterns. I don't know what she's talking about but okay. At least I know what crochet is.
She also listens to me when I talk about movie reviews. I tell her about classic films and Hollywood icons and she seems interested. Little did she know that I know that she doesn't really understand everything I'm saying. The truth is that's what makes people friends. We don't really fully understand each other but we try to.
We talk about a lot of things that we don't even notice that we've been chattering for four hours. We head out of the restaurant without breaking our conversation.
"Ethan's sister, Kate hasn't slept for two days because her boyfriend left her for another guy. I mean they've been together for four years and she gave way too much TMI."
"Like what?" Oh, this has got to be juicy!
"They've been dating for four years but they never had sex. It turns out he's really into guys."
I feel pity for this Kate, "Oh, poor girl."
Mia gives me a bright idea, "Why don't we set her up with Elliott?"
"Oh my gosh! Mia, YOU ARE A GENIUS!" I scream and jump because it's really amazing! She's so smart! She should do matchmaking while crocheting. That's going to be fun! I am getting so hyped about the thought of Elliott and Kate together! Wow!
I keep on squealing like a girl in a One Direction concert when an ice cream truck passes by and Mia orders two cones for us.
She tells the ice cream man, "Two strawberries one with sprinkles and one without."
Right then I knew that I have my Mia back.
_oOo_
"Ana, come on. Why are you so silent? Stop acting like you're mute!"
We're in the park with her brother and she just can't get why I want to stay quiet, huh? It goes like this: I rehearsed the whole night just to get the role of Aurora for our play while Mia does nothing to prepare. How come she has gotten the part while I only get to play one of the three fairies? I would've been speaking right now if I am Maleficent but no, it doesn't work that way. The world works on Mia's way and not mine.
"Ana, come on! We didn't come here to the park just to walk Milkshake!"
"I am not in a mood," I say curtly.
Mia rolls her eyes. I understand her though. Her dog is too lazy to walk, her best friend refuses to talk, while her brother sits down just reading a book. I snicker haughtily at that. She deserves this for getting Aurora without working hard!
Then, an ice cream truck passes by and Mia gasps, "This is exactly what you need."
She runs to it and after a few minutes she comes back with two cones.
She hands one over to me, "Strawberry flavoured one with sprinkles and one without." Although I try not to, I still get it from her. She guffaws and sooner than later I join her.
This is so silly! I am supposed to be mad at her for being perfect! How can an ice cream change my mind?!
"Sometimes all you need is a little sprinkle."
She's about to sit down when Milkshake smells the scent of a sausage from a passer-by. The poodle barks out loud and runs to that person. Mia immediately runs after her in total fiasco. It's so funny! Mia is doing better than most of the marathon players. I guess that's what dogs to you.
Mia leaves me with her brother and I don't mind. I can totally live a year ignoring his presence next to me. I almost lick my hair along with my ice cream because the wind just loves to antagonize my day. However, I only lick the ice cream because Christian grabs my hair.
He tenderly takes a grasp and I am breathless. There's definitely a spark between us. It's too strong to be denied.
"Thank you," I whisper getting lost in his eyes.
"Yeah," he mutters coldly and the sparks are gone.
_oOo_
It's one of those days when Christian needs to have therapy while I stay in the waiting area. Each time he comes out of the door, it's like the weight of his world gets lifted off his shoulders. I know that it's all about self-blame and self-hatred but I'm glad that it's slowly disappearing. Christian needs to love himself and I am glad he's finally let himself admit that he really needs this.
Unlike those days, the waiting room isn't full. It's just me and another girl. Christian steps out and greets me by kissing my forehead. He's supposed to say something when his phone rings and he goes to the corner to answer it.
Then, my attention is taken when Dr. Flynn emerges from the door with a very professional attitude. He's very polite with everybody. This time I stand to introduce myself to him.
"Dr. Flynn?"
"Yes?"
"I am Anastasia Rose Grey." Technically I am a Steele now but I will be a Grey again because we were . . . oh, never mind! It's a long story.
"I am Dr. John Flynn," he introduces himself like I don't know him.
"Yeah, uhm . . . I am Christian's wife."
"No, you're not his wife!" He says all too seriously.
Oh right, he knows everything about Christian. He probably knows that we're exes now who are dating and . . . oh, never mind!
Instead of saying anything I've ever expected, Dr. Flynn says, "You're his savior."
Author's Note: Guys, thank you so much for reading this chapter. What's left? Chapter 29, Chapter 30 and Epilogue!
Please do stay with me until the end.
What do you say about this chapter?
Thank you.
Margo.
