Author's Note:
Thank you so much for all the positive response to the story! I'm so honored. And thank you so much to all those who have reviewed my story, I can't even put into words how grateful I am. Please keep it up! Enjoy!
Ana POV
We made it home in good time as the traffic was light and Kate, due to her mood, was laying a little heavy on the gas.
We go to our separate rooms as we both have plenty of studying to do and Kate also has to figure out a plan B for the graduation issue of the school paper.
I had two finals left this week before it was time for graduation next week. Both were subjects I felt fairly secure in, so I wasn't too nervous about either. At 5:30, I decided to take a break from studying and cook us both some dinner. While making the sauce for Kate's favorite lasagna, I felt my phone vibrating in my back pocket, I feel my pulse quicken in hope that it's Elliot. Getting my phone out, I see that it's an unknown number so I quickly accept the call.
"Hi," I excitedly say.
"Hi Ana, it's Paul," Great... It's the younger brother of my boss Mr. Clayton. He's been asking me out every time he's in town for the past few months and despite my constant declining, he doesn't seem to get it.
"I was just wondering if you had any more shifts at the store before the big move to Seattle?" he asks me.
"Uhm... Yes, I have one shift left," I answer him, purposely leaving out when that is, in the hopes that he won't be there.
"Great! Then we'll see each other soon, I have a little goodbye present for you," Oh no... Now I really wish I could avoid my last shift at Clayton's Hardware but I know Mr. & Mrs. Clayton have arranged a little goodbye gathering for me, so I could never get myself to not show up after all they've done for me through the years.
"Oh... Well, I guess I'll see you then. I gotta go, bye Paul," I hurriedly say and hang up on him. I sigh knowing I won't get out of seeing him.
I finish up the sauce and put together the lasagna and put it in the oven to finish. I go knock on Kate's door and let her know dinner will be ready in about 30 minutes,
"Hey Ana come in here," I hear Kate's muffled voice through the door. I open the door and see Kate sprawled out on her bed with her laptop and tons of books, notebooks, and miscellaneous papers spread out around her.
"So I got an interview with another businessman from Seattle who is also a big contributor to the university, a Mr. Lincoln of Lincoln Timber. A lot of his funds go to the English Department so I was wondering if you would answer a few questions on how his funds have helped English majors,"
"Of course anything to help," I offer, still feeling bad for her after what happened today.
"Great, I've scheduled the interview with him on Friday as I have to finish the article by Sunday. So I was thinking I would talk to you on Thursday after our last exams since I know you were going to head to Montesano on Friday to see your dad before the ceremony next week, is that okay?" She asks already having the whole thing planned out.
"Yes, it sounds fine. Are you still planning a huge night out for Thursday?" I ask her, knowing that this interview could be my way out.
"No but don't worry, I've talked to everyone and we've moved it to Monday night, that way we can also celebrate the graduation issue of the paper coming out. And we'll still have two days to recover for graduation on Thursday, so it's perfect!" she says excitedly. Of course, she already has the entire thing planned out to perfection, such a Kate thing.
"Great," I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Come on Ana! We're graduating. We have to celebrate!" Kate squeals while jumping off of her bed to grab me and start twirling me around in the middle of living room. I can't help but join in on her laughter and silly dancing.
Our dancing and horrible singing mixed with laughter are interrupted by the ringing of my phone, I'm so excited hoping that it's actually Elliot this time, that I practically leap for my phone laying on the kitchen counter.
"Hello," I say slightly out of breath from dancing and running for the phone.
"Hi Ana, it's Elliot... Uhm from the coffee shop," he sounds a little nervous, which is surprising since he seemed so confident this morning.
"Hi Elliot," my voice slightly breathy. Damn Ana, get yourself together. I can feel my cheeks heating up under the blush that has no doubt taken over my face. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Kate gaping at me with wide eyes probably from hearing me talking to a man, that she doesn't know, and the blush starring my face, which is getting deeper under her stare.
"I'm glad you haven't forgotten me already" he slightly chuckles, already sounding much more confident than he did a second ago.
"I hope you had a good drive back to Portland and that your friend is okay," he continues.
"The drive was fine, traffic thankfully wasn't bad and Kate will be fine, she's already found her next victim to interrogate," I laugh. I can still feel Kate's eyes boring into my skull while I purposely try to ignore her.
"I'm glad. You had your last final on Thursday right?" he asks.
"Yes that's right, I finish at 3 pm," I tell him.
"Great. Would you like to go out to dinner Thursday night then?" he asks all hopeful.
"I would love to Elliot," I tell him not even bothering to hide my excitement.
"Great, I guess I'll see you on Thursday, although I'll definitely talk to sooner. Now I'm guessing you're probably studying for your last finals, at least from the little I got to know you this morning," he teases.
"Hey! Don't make fun of me"
"I would never make fun of you, I like that you're actually smart! It makes it possible to have an actual conversation about other things than the Kardashian sisters and shit" he says. I can't help but burst out laughing. I remember Kate talking about the reality show 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' but it's never really interested me.
"Girls actually talk about stuff like that on dates?" I ask giggling.
"Oh god yes, you would not believe some of the painful conversations I've had to endure sometimes. It's horrible," he chuckles. God his chuckle practically makes my knees buckle.
"Anyways I'll let you get back to your studies. Laters baby," he says.
"Bye Elliot," I laugh.
The second I hang up the phone, Kate is all over me, asking me who I was talking to and how she knew nothing about him. Fortunately for me, she is interrupted by the oven signaling our dinner is ready, therefore giving me at least a little extra time before the Kavanaugh inquisition begins. We eat in relative silence as we're both starving from studying all day as well as our travels this morning.
Kate pounces on me as soon as we're finished with the dishes and putting away the leftovers.
"Okay, no more stalling! Now, who is Elliot? And how do I not know about him?"
"His name is Elliot Grey and I met him this morning at the coffee shop while I was waiting for you to finish up the interview with that business mogul. All the tables were taken, so he asked if he could sit at mine, and we just started talking," I tell her.
"Wait! Did you say, Elliot Grey? As in the brother of Christian Grey, the asshole I interviewed this morning? As in the manwhore of Seattle?" Kate exclaims.
"I guess," I say quietly, suddenly feeling very insecure and mostly wanting to bury myself under my comforter.
"Oh, honey I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that. You know how it is, gossip is always exaggerated and it probably is in this case as well," Kate says, obviously trying to make me feel better.
"So did I hear right, that he is going to take you out on Thursday after your last final?" Kate asks, trying to steer the conversation away from what she just revealed to me. But it's not helping. All I can think about is the fact that Elliot is the brother of Christian Grey, a self-made billionaire and that he is known to be a manwhore. While I, little Annie Steele, is still a virgin at 22 years old and comes from a modest family. We are from two completely different worlds and I'm feeling even more anxious about the date than I was before.
"Yeah, Thursday," is all I can manage to tell Kate.
"I'm going to go study some more before I go to bed. Night Kate" I mumble before disappearing into my bedroom closing the door behind me.
I decided to just take a quick shower and then get under my comforter to try and get some sleep.