Chapter 4: On Laundry and Interrogations
Anya and Owen had made plans to hang out and watch movies together after school. Owen had hockey practice after school, so Anya decided to get a head start home to get the snacks and movies ready. Although we're probably not going to eat or watch much of the movie… Anya thought to herself, goose bumps forming up her arms.
Upon entering her house, Anya looked around for her mother, figuring she should get in her good graces if she wanted a boy to come over.
"Mom?" Anya called out, not wanting to replay their game of hide of seek from this morning.
"In here, hun!" her mom yelled out from the laundry room.
She actually answered me, Anya thought, pleased that she had already made some progress from this morning.
"Hey mom," Anya said, entering the laundry room. Anya seemed to instantly calm once she smelled the lavender fabric softener that her mom used. Piles of clean laundry were folded in laundry baskets. Anya noticed a basket of her clothes, and instantly felt guilty that she had been so bad to her mom, and yet she still did her laundry.
"Hi, Anya! How was school?" her mother asked. Anya was so confused at her mother's chipper attitude, which was miles from her dragon-lady attitude this morning.
"Uhhh, good! Great, actually. Got a lot of stuff done. And since I'm on a roll with getting stuff done today, I wanted to apologize for how I acted last night. It was totally wrong of me, and as my best friend and mom, you didn't deserve my attitude. I guess I was just upset about university and it was the last thing I wanted to talk about." Anya was fiddling with her necklace again, waiting for her mom, who had been folding laundry as Anya was talking, to reply.
Her mom set down the sheets she had been folding.
"It's ok. I gotta say, it was a shock, but I understand why you were stressed and upset. I shouldn't have pushed your future on you just then." Smiled and gave her daughter a long, strong hug. Once their embrace was over, she added, "But if you ever disobey me like that again, I'll hang you by your thumbs and make you eat lima beans for a month!" she joked, knowing how much Anya hated lima beans….and being hung by her thumbs.
Anya couldn't help but chuckle. Her mom always managed to get humor out of anything.
"For sure, I promise. And I am definitely open to talking about future plans" Anya assured, smiling form ear to ear.
"And the planets have aligned. Now, be a good little daughter and put the laundry away," her mom ordered playfully.
Anya proceeded to grab a basket of laundry and headed towards her room. Remembering something she needed to ask her mom, she ran back.
"Oh wait! I forgot, can a friend come over later? We were gonna watch movies and stuff," Anya asked, clutching the heavy basket of laundry.
"Sure, honey. Who might this friend be?"
"His name's Owen," Anya answered, knowing the interrogation would start right about now.
"Ahhhh, so it's a boy thing!" her mom said excitedly. "So? Tell me about him!"
"Mom," Anya complained.
"Oh, come on!"
"He's just a boy from school, who I really like, and I would really appreciate it if my sweet, caring, wonderful mother wouldn't embarrass me in front of him!" Anya answered with a smile that could make anyone listen to her.
"Fine. If I embarrass you that much," her mom teased. "But I insist on meeting him, and then I'll have an impromptu grocery run."
"Thanks, mom!" Anya beamed, turning around to put her laundry away.
A couple of hours later, Anya heard the doorbell ring from her bedroom. She threw her magazine down and sprinted towards the door, hoping to beat her mother.
To no avail, her mom had beaten her to the door, and was already chatting up a storm with Owen. Her mom was good at combining friendly small talk with interrogation questions, all while seeming nicer then the Easter Bunny, who's pretty darn nice. All the while, Owen was politely answering the questions with a little smile on his face. The perfect gentleman, Anya mused, wanting more then over for her mom to stop talking.
Once the interrogation was over, her mom theatrically looked at her watch.
"My, look at the time! I have to go get groceries," putting an emphasis on "get groceries". Anya had to force herself to not smack her own forehead in embarrassment. All Anya could think was that she was glad her mom didn't take up acting as a career.
Anya quickly grabbed her mom's purse and car keys.
"Here ya go! Take your time! Really there's no rush, bye!" Anya yelled, practically pushing her mom out the door.
"Well she's nice," Owen said, obviously noting how overly nice she was.
"Yeah, a little too nice," Anya responded, adding a little chuckle.
"I see where you get your charm," Owen teased as he snaked his arms around her, giving her a kiss that made Anya's face red with fluster.
Anya finally pulled away, catching her breath.
"So, I picked out movies! You pick." She shuffled over to a pile of dvd's. "Your options are A Walk to Remember, The Breakfast Club, PS I love You, or The Last Song."
Owen stared at the array of films, not looking very enthusiastic about any of the choices.
"What great choices…" he teased. Anya smacked him on the arm.
"Hey! These are all wonderful movies. Only someone with exquisite taste could have picked these out."
"I'm sure," he answered, eyeing her playfully. "You pick."
"Hmmmm. I think today is a Breakfast Club kind of day."
Owen was relieved, because of all of them, that one seemed like it had the most substance.
"Sounds good," Owen responded, plopping himself on the couch. Anya put the movie in the dvd player, and snuggled next to Owen.
As he put his arm around her, Anya's hand brushed over his sweatshirt pocket. She heard the slight crinkle of plastic, and Anya wondered if it was what she thought it was. He still has the coke, Anya discovered. For whatever given reason, Anya had the sudden urge to take it from his pocket, forgetting everything that she had accomplished today.
Knowing that she would make a horrible pickpocket, she had to think of a way to distract Owen. Without saying anything, she grabbed Owen's face and started kissing him, much to his surprise. As she kissed him, her hand slowly crept into his sweatshirt pocket. She grabbed the little baggy and slipped it into the back pocket of her pants.
Owen pulled away, breathless.
"Wow," he breathed.
"Couldn't help it," Anya smiled, enjoying the boyish smirk on Owen's face.
Completely forgetting about the movie, they leaned in to kiss again.
All the while, as Anya's heart was pounding, in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but feel proud and relieved that she had gotten the drugs back.
What was happening to her?
(Dun dun dun. What do you guys think thus far? Anya's really good at making bad choices, isn't she? I hope the story isn't getting too boring, cause I haven't gotten to the really good stuff yet! But don't worry, I'll be typing away and I'll keep the story coming! Sorry I've been taking so long! Comments are appreciated! Thanks guys! 3 )