Disclaimer: Same 1-3.
After hitting snooze for the third time, Anna finally made herself sit up in bed. She yawned and rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands as she attempted to rouse herself from her slumber. The room was dark as it always was when she woke. It made her wonder why the world had to wake and begin so early.
Reluctantly, she looked at her phone and saw 4am staring back at her though she was squinting.
She jerked herself out of bed when she realized she had only given herself twenty or so minutes to get ready for the day. This happened to her more than she would like to admit. It was so easy just to hit the snooze and lull back to sleep, especially when it was still dark outside.
She stormed into her closet and changed into a presentable work outfit. Time kept ticking by as she quickly went through her bathroom routine. She had got it down to a science, but that was what one had to do when they liked to sleep in. Earrings and heels were the final touch before she grabbed her phone and went out into the living area.
With great efficiency, she boiled a kettle, made her tea, and packed her breakfast and lunch. She smiled at the butter cake as she packed a slice of it, wondering if he had had his cupcake yet.
Checking the time again, she groaned.
Hurrying, she collected all her items and headed for the door. She locked up and made her way down the stairs. As she descended, she made sure to look just in case she met him on the stairs again. She reached the lobby and looked around. No one was there but her. Disappointment was the prominent emotion she felt at not seeing him again that morning.
She did not have time to think about it, however, and set off towards her car for work.
John could not believe it. He was sure his phone was broken. He looked at the time like the phone was mad. There was no way he had slept until 10am. When was the last time he had slept until then? He couldn't even remember. What he did remember was not falling asleep until sometime after two.
He felt odd to be waking up with his room lit up. The sun had made its appearance hours ago. Feeling out of sorts, he got himself out of bed. It felt too late in the day for his robe, so he bypassed it and instead decided to take a shower and get ready for the day.
The water was helping to clear his head though he felt good. He hadn't had a straight eight hours of sleep in ages. He guessed his body had needed it, otherwise he wouldn't have slept so well.
After the shower was done, he finished getting dressed and cleaned up. He walked into the kitchen to see the cupcake sitting on the counter.
Anna. He felt a little irritated with himself for having missed her that morning, but then again she probably hadn't expected to see him every morning in passing. Last night he had made mental plans to eat the cupcake on the way to collect the newspaper just so he could tell her how good it was while he was eating it. He rolled his eyes at himself. How cheesy was that? Who planned out how and when to eat a cupcake just to possibly try to let the other person see them? Maybe that was why he had slept. It had been to keep him from looking foolish.
He left the kitchen and went to collect his paper. The flights of stairs were still an adjustment to his right knee, but it could have been worse. He could have been placed on a much higher floor. It was the silver lining and all that.
Once back inside his flat, he switched on the kettle. He unwrapped the cupcake from it's little paper wrapping and placed it on a small plate. The cupcake didn't have icing, so he placed it in the microwave for a few seconds to warm it up a bit. The kettle whistled and he poured his tea. It had been thoughtful of her to bring him some of the cake. She didn't have to bring him anything, but at that very moment he was glad to have it. He had well more than missed his regular breakfast time. This was more like a snack before lunch.
He brought the plate and his mug over to the table and sat down. He lifted the paper with one hand, scanning over the front page, while he lifted his mug to his lips with the other. He was reading something about Brexit when he decided to sit down his mug and pick up the cupcake. He took a bite of the warm cake and hummed. He didn't have sweets or puddings very often, but the cake was just right. It wasn't overly sweet, though he assumed it called for a cup of sugar. He smiled to no one but himself as he recalled how adorable yet how incredibly attractive she had looked standing there with her measuring cup.
After finishing the cake and draining his tea, he poured himself another cup. He took his mug and paper into the living room and sat down in his arm chair. It was going on eleven, and he remembered Anna had asked him if he ever watched the local news. Curious, he turned on the telly, to one of the local stations. He realized he didn't even ask her what channel she worked for. He watched for a bit, sipping from his mug to see if this was the correct one. When a tall bloke came on to make an announcement he'd be doing the weather report at noon he knew it wasn't. He sighed and flipped to the next one. He almost spilled his tea on himself when not even five seconds later Anna was on his screen.
"Remember to join me live on Facepage at eleven for weather questions with Anna before our noon weather update."
Then she was gone, and someone else began talking. He looked to see what channel he was on. Channel 6.
Facepage? He didn't have one, but for some reason he really felt the need to suddenly have one. Sitting his mug on the table beside him, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and downloaded the app. Of all days for his data to go slow, he thought. He muted the TV while he waited.
Finally loaded, he went about setting up an account. He had thought about setting one up in the past but never got around to doing so. Several people had told him it would be good for his business, but what he was thinking of at that moment was Anna was on a live stream.
When the account was made, it wanted him to set up his page. He kept tapping skip on all the different things it was prompting him to do until he was able to search. He quickly typed in Channel 6 News Yorkshire, and it pulled up the page. He was prompted to 'like' the page when it came up on his phone. He did so and scrolled to see Anna talking but no sound was coming through.
He tapped on the video which made the sound come through. He turned up his volume so he could hear her better.
"Hello, YorkshireGirl4Lyfe, and thank you for your question."
He could see people writing comments while the live stream was going. She was responding to what people were writing to her. He saw a heart float upward on the screen. He would need to get used to what everything meant.
She was answering whatever question someone had asked as he looked at her. She was at her work station but off camera. Her hair was up in a neat pony tail and she was wearing a light pink button down top. He listened back in to what was being said.
"Wow, Oliver, good thing you got inside on time. We always want to practice safety during inclement weather."
He noticed some people had their names and then some had more like usernames. He had put his name in like the application had prompted. Could she see he had joined the video? If she could did she notice? Looking toward the top of the screen he saw 110 other people watching it with him. It was doubtful she had noticed if it did pop up somewhere.
As he watched her interact and answer questions, he felt like she was in her element. She was lively, friendly, and intelligent. She made it easy for viewers to communicate with her and have a good time.
"Do we have any new viewers with us today?" She asked with a smile.
Should he write a comment? Would it look like he was stalking her? Was he stalking her? Was this stalking?
He brought himself back from his line of thinking. This was a Channel 6 video. This wasn't a private account, so no it wasn't stalking. He thought maybe he should hold off on commenting until he knew what he was doing.
"How has a half hour already gone by? Thank you for joining me. I always enjoy chatting with you before our noon broadcast. Have a wonderful, sunny day!"
The video ended, and he exited the app.
He decided he would tidy up the kitchen and check his email before the noon broadcast.
Later in the day, a little before 3pm, he heard Anna's door close. He had been wanting to talk to her about the cupcake all day since he had been asleep all morning. He shook his head at that. He still couldn't believe it.
He worked on a website for another hour or so before he came to a stop. He walked to his front door and suddenly wondered what he would say if he knocked on her door?
Hello, I would like to talk about the cupcake? No. Hi, I watched your live stream and noon broadcast? No.
He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand trying to think when it came to him. He smirked and walked into the kitchen. He knew he had some somewhere. He had just put them in a drawer a few days ago.
"Aha!"
He found the item he was looking for, walked back to the door, put his keys in his pocket, and opened the door. He walked out into the hall and closed his door.
The walk was very brief and then he was standing at her door. Before he could talk himself out of it, he knocked and waited for her to answer.
He felt his sense of anticipation heighten as he heard the door being unlocked.
Anna pulled the door open to see John Bates standing there with a measuring cup in his hand.
"Hello," he greeted with a shy smile.
"Hello, Mr. Bates. What might you be doing here?" she replied playfully.
"Could I borrow a cup of sugar? It seems I am out."
His eyes crinkled at the corners from his smile. Was this adorable, handsome man really at her door asking to borrow a cup of sugar?
"Are you? How did that happen?" She asked as she propped her side up against her door frame.
"I know it will be hard to believe, but my neighbor took all of mine."
"Hey!" She giggled. "Said neighbor did not take. Said neighbor asked and was given."
"Well, may this neighbor please borrow a cup?"
The almost puppy dog eyes he was giving her made her melt.
"What might you be making?"
"A cake."
"Is that so?" She inquired. "What kind?"
He hadn't thought that far. Oh God, now he would have to make some form of cake.
"Lemon."
"Hmmm. Sounds delicious."
She backed up and opened her door wider.
"Please come in," she offered.
He stepped inside and the space felt instantly inviting.
"How about I take your measuring cup, and we go to the kitchen for a cuppa?"
"Only if you aren't busy."
"I'm not. I was just pondering what to have for dinner. I know it's kind of early, but I try to be in bed between eight and nine," she replied as she took his cup.
He smiled at her, and she gave a breathy laugh.
"I know. I sound like I'm ninety. Don't tease me."
"I'm not. I don't blame you for going to bed. That's a difficult time to wake up for most."
"Shall we?"
They walked into the kitchen and John offered to help.
"May I fill your kettle?" He asked as he pointed to the electric kettle.
"What a gentleman. Thank you." She placed his measuring cup on the counter.
"My pleasure."
He worked on the kettle while she gathered two mugs and a couple of tea bags.
"I prefer loose leaf, but most days I'm in a rush so bags it is."
"Same for me, but it does the trick."
"Do you take anything in it?"
"No. I take it black."
She looked over her shoulder from the fridge.
"Not even sugar?"
His eyes twinkled. "If I have sugar with my tea, I prefer it in cake form."
Enjoying their banter, she quickly collected some cream from the fridge and closed it back. She sat the cream down next to the mugs and looked back at him.
"Did you enjoy the cupcake then?"
"I did very much," he complimented.
"Is that why you're making one of your own?"
The kettle whistle broke them from their conversation. John poured the boiling water into each cup.
"Have you eaten?" Anna asked as they steeped their tea.
"I did earlier today. The butter cake I mean."
"You can stay for dinner if you'd like. If you have other plans then maybe some other time."
"I'm free if you're sure."
She smiled and poured some cream into her mug. "I am though I am not sure what I have to work with."
"I'm not very picky."
She pulled the bag of sugar out of a cabinet and added a tablespoon of it to her tea.
"I'll be sure you get your cup of sugar before you leave," she assured him.
"Thank you."
They both took a sip of their drink and relaxed a little more.
"So, how was your day, Mr. Bates."
"Please, call me John."
"Very well. As long as you call me Anna," she replied as she started looking for what she might have to make for dinner.
John continued to stand as he watched her investigate her pantry.
"My day was interesting."
"Really?" She interrupted her own self by asking, "How about BLTs?"
"Sounds great."
Without missing a beat, she continued, "What happened?"
"I slept until 10am."
Anna gave him a mock shocked look. "Oh my Lord. How scandalous, John."
He gave her a playful scowling look for teasing him. He also liked the way his name sounded coming from her.
"You don't understand. That is a rarity. Here let me help."
He hooked his cane to the worktop and looked around for her cutting board and a knife.
"The cutting board is in that drawer and knives are just there," she said, pointing.
She collected a frying pan and began frying up the bacon.
"Well, I wish it had been me who was sleeping until ten. My days do go by pretty quick though, and it's nice to have more than just the evening at home."
John began slicing a tomato as he replied, "I was also able to catch the Channel 6 noon broadcast."
He wasn't sure if he should mention the live stream. It wasn't as though he was well versed in it anyway.
Anna turned her head to look at him. He could see her cheeks turn pink. He liked the sight of it.
"You were?"
"Yes, I now know it will be sunny for a few days but possible rain at the beginning of next week."
Anna turned over the bacon as John began working with the lettuce next.
"Was it alright? Did I sound alright? Did I look okay?"
He could sense she was feeling a little insecure from having been watched, though he wasn't sure why. She was watched by thousands of people a day.
He stopped what he was doing and looked to her.
"I have never heard a better weather report than that one in my life. I'll never be able to get my weather update from anyone ever again."
"Oh, please." Anna waved her hand dismissively.
"I'm serious, and you looked amazing."
"Charmer. You're just saying that because I'm feeding you."
John acted affronted. "I am offended."
Anna turned off the hob. She brushed her hand along John's back as she reached for the toaster.
"Fine. You look rather handsome yourself, Mr. Bates."
"You're only saying that because I let you have my bag of sugar."
She put some bread in the toaster and replied, "I'm watching you you cheeky beggar."
He grinned.
"Where might I find plates?"
"Oh! That cabinet there. Did you want anything to go with your sandwich? I have some crisps."
"That works."
When their sandwiches were made, they sat at the kitchen table and began to eat.
"Was work busy for you today?" Anna asked.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin and responded, "Well, I got a late start and then worked for a few hours. I'll do some more editing tonight sometime."
"What types of websites are you currently working on? If you can say that is."
Anna took a long sip of her tea as she listened to his reply.
"My newest one is for a company selling essential oil products."
"Ohhhh. What like diffusers and candles?"
"That and several other things."
"Are you making the website look nice?"
John chuckled, "I sure hope so. If I don't I doubt I'll keep their business. I'm also working on a car dealership's site. I'm getting close to being done with that one."
"My. My. A man of creative mind."
"It pays the bills."
Anna shook her head and smiled.
When they had finished their meal. They tidied up the small amount of mess they had made. Anna then poured out some sugar into John's measuring cup.
"There we go," Anna stated after she was done.
"Much obliged."
She set to work on cutting a good sized chuck of the butter cake and put it on a plate. She then placed the cup of sugar on there as well.
"What's that for?"
"For in the morning, silly."
"I don't want to take all of your cake."
"You aren't, and I am looking forward to trying your lemon cake."
Blast, he though to himself. He had already forgotten he'd have to make a lemon cake. He'd have to go to the store.
"Who says I'll share?"
She lifted the plate and said, "You'd better after I'm sharing with you."
"You make a compelling point."
"Of course I do," she replied with a hint of cheek.
"Well, I will leave you to the rest of your evening. Thank you for giving up part of it on my account."
"It was a pleasure, John."
They smiled, and he took the plate from her. She walked him to the door and opened it for him.
"Goodnight, Anna."
"Goodnight. Have a good day tomorrow."
"You as well."
He stepped out into the hall, and Anna closed her door.
A/N: Facepage is of course a fictional social media in this story.