I snuck glances at my compact mirror studded with a detailed but unwieldy ruby as I sat on a glass chair, overseeing the cooking.
"I think there needs to be more salad, and wait- no- it's fine. Stop! That's too much lemon bits in the cake! Quickly add some more sugar!" I pointed left and right, flustered.
"Stay calm, Anna!" Lily gave me a gentle shove.
"The only reason I let you come was so that you could help me decide on my outfit, not so you could annoy me! Stay calm?" Flustered, I rose from my chair and stomped down the hall in silver high heels to the bathroom. Flinging open the door, I brushed my hair yet again.
"Is my hair straight enough? Did I wash it enough times?" I said to no one in particular.
"Um, yes? You've been asking me the same thing all afternoon! What time is he coming?"
"At about six thirty. Listen, you still have to help me! Pick another outfit! I don't think he'll like his one!"
"Don't you trust my solid judgment, Anna?"
"I don't care about your judgment at this moment!" I came out of the bathroom and hurried up the stairs to my closet. I started throwing to the ground elaborate gowns and dresses that I wore approximately every five years, disliking each of them. Soon, on the floor lay a pile of glittery, expensive, and trendy garments that I hardly even looked at.
"There- has- to- be- something…" I searched through all the boxes I had.
At six thirty, I heard a knock on my door as I fidgeted while I waited, mumbling greetings.
"NickI'msohappyyouarrivedhellowelcomeinside!" I squealed as I stepped aside for him to go in.
"Anna! You look… good! Glad to see you!"
"Thank you. I must confess that I do have a penchant for compliments."
After decades of searching, I came across a box of dresses my mom had left for me when I was eighteen. I had argued with Lily about which one would suit me more. I wanted a simple and short black dress with tights, but she forced me to put on a long, flowing gown that covered the ground with black silk. It had straps, and on the upper half, was covered with a silver and gold beaded design. At the waist, there was a strip with gold and silver alternating arrows and a silver diamond design in the middle. Then, there were two gold shells embroideries, with silver strings trailing off. I put on a simple cherry blossom shaded lipstick, but covered my eyelashes with dark eyeliner.
I led him to the dining room, where I had illuminated the the table with all my candles.
"I apologize for the lack of lighting…" I had a sense of déjà-vu, and it was making me feel queasy.
"I had to spend my inheritance on more sensible matters."
"You see, this is something I have to say to get worries out of the way."
"Will you please explain?" I found myself repeating mechanically.
I felt like time had stopped and tension was making the atmosphere unbearable. I couldn't move, as much as I wanted to run away, I wa frozen in place and my mind was frozen as well. I could feels his eyes intently looking into mine's as my palms closed together and I tried to lean Nadia but I couldn't. In my urge to escape, my elbow knocked over the edge of the tablecloth and part of it fell to the floor. My breathing was rushed, unnatural. The candle near me extinguished, and the room instantly grew darker. I could only see part of his face. There was nothing but us at that moment. I was going to accept whatever he had to say next.
"Are you sure you were fine at the party? I was really worried." All the air went rushing out of me.
"Yes, I was, I can assure you. I was a little upset, but nothing of consequence."
"That is fortunate." Just then, the salmon mousse on sliced bread came.
"I hope you enjoy everything, I organized the menu myself." I shyly and wistfully smiled at him.
"You didn't have to, Anna!" The tension between us relaxed.
"I enjoy cooking sometimes. It can be very interesting, even if it's very difficult."
"I've never really thought about it. I have someone to cook breakfast for me. I've recently moved here."
"Really! Welcome, then! Are you content here? Is it tiring living next to Gatsby?"
"Actually, not really. I can look at the party through my window."
"And did you like going to the party?"
"It was a bit too chaotic for me, but yes." I liked having a normal conversation with him, but there was something I needed to know.
"Does your cousin Daisy know Gatsby personally?"
"No, I don't think so. Do you know Daisy?" He seemed confused by my questions, so I dropped the subject.
"Yes. I saw her before, at a party at her house. I'd like to know more about her."
"She's a very charming girl, and she's married to Tom Buchanan with a daughter called Pammy. They live in the East Egg and are very wealthy. I used to know Tom when I was at Yale."
"Are they living well?"
"Yes, she's very fortunate and happy. But Tom has a mistress in the Valley of Ashes."
"Valley of Ashes? Is that a landmark?"
"The wasteland between West Egg and New York City."
"Well, then, how is Daisy fortunate?"
"Well, it probably doesn't affect her. However, she's told me that she's had a bad time and that she was pretty cynical about everything."
"I feel sorry for Daisy. It must be hard for her. I wish her the best. I used to despise her, but this changes everything. She's had many suitors, and many girls have thought that she was stealing them."
"Sounds like Daisy." We laughed, and I gazed at him, smiling.
"Anna, are you going to finish your salad?" I noticed that I hadn't taken a single bite, and that the Caesar salad, plate of meatballs, mashed potatoes, and pastry pigs had been served already.
"I think I made too much food…" Along came the lemon cakes and tiramisu. "Good thing the lemon cakes can be preserved for a few days."
"Well, if I need any cake, I'll definitely call you!"
"Thanks, Nick. Can you also take half of the tiramisu?"
"Okay. I'm presuming you know where I live?"
"Why?"
"You can visit me anytime." I nearly jumped up and down and shouted like a giggly and immature schoolgirl.
"So this means we have a healthy relationship? Oh, I'm so sorry, that came out the wrong way… I'm so sorry. I apologize dearly. No, sincerely. No. Wait what?"
"You're very sweet, Anna. We're on good terms."
"I admit, the only other friend I have is Lily. I'm desperate to meet new people." I wanted to give myself a reward. Now he wouldn't suspect a thing!
"I'm sure you can find more friends quickly. You're a very nice person."
"Who doesn't interact with anyone else."
"That's not necessarily a fault!"
"I give up. I can't argue against that. Let's talk about anything else."
"If you say so, Anna. I like the arrangement of candles you have. Is it always like this?" The rest of the evening passed very amiably. We talked about everything, and I slowly felt more and more comfortable, yet more and more in love.
Two days later, I received a phone call. I picked it up, half asleep as the rain poured outside wetting my windows.
"Anna, I need that lemon cake and tiramisu now! You can come over."
