"Okay, see you soon!" Anna nearly shouted through the phone. She's definitely peppy, that's for sure.
After our meeting this morning I had gone home and started cleaning furiously. My former childhood home had become my dorm room. The pizza boxes and soda cans piling up from my attempts to live on my own needed to be cleared.
I took my time putting clean sheets on the bed in the spare room. I tidied up the shared bathroom, putting all of my junk I had been leaving on the counter away. How did I end up here? I barely talk to people, much less offer them a home. What's up with you Elsa? Just then my phone buzzed, snapping out of my daze.
"Hey Elsa," it was a text from Anna, "I missed my bus -_- going to take me awhile to get there. Sorry to make u wait." I shot her a text back quickly.
"no worries. Do you need a ride?" I glanced up at the window. It's getting dark. I slid my phone back into my pocket and continued working on scrubbing off the counters. A few minutes passed before my phone began to ring. I pulled it out from my pocket, Anna's name glowing on the screen. "Hey, what's up?" I asked.
Her voice was soft, very different tan her text sounded earlier. "I.. I could use that ride if you're still willing." The way her voice shook when she spoke worried me. "
Where are you at?" I asked, the concern heavy in my voice. There was the sound of a door slamming in the background.
"I've got to go," she said hurriedly, "I'll text you the address."
Before I could protest, she had hung up. I threw on my shoes and snatched my car keys off of the rack by the door. I hopped in my grey Kia Soul and entered the address she texted me onto my GPS and began to follow the line. Thankfully, she was only a couple miles away so the drive was short.
As I rounded the corner I saw her instantly, her red hair a beacon. She was seated on the curb, clothes scattered all around her in the grass of the front yard. I pulled up to the curb and hopped out, hurrying up to her. She looked up at me, her eyes red from crying.
"Anna?" I said quietly, unsure of what to say. All she was able to offer me was a small wave, clearly unable to speak. "Are all of these yours?" I asked. I threw a glance toward all the clothes littering the front yard before looking back at her. She gave me a small nod.
"The car is unlocked; why don't you go get in while I gather all of these." I began gathering all of the clothes that were scattered around. She stayed where she was, still seated on the curb. "Is this your boyfri- sorry... Ex-boyfriends house?" I asked.
"Yeah," she said, her voice even softer than it was on the phone. Well she's talking at least. I walked the mound of clothes I had gathered and dropped them in the back seat of my car. I opened up the front passenger side door and looked at her.
"c'mon," I said, offering her a small smile, "let's get out of here." She climbed into the car and I softly closed the door. I walked around the front of the car and lowered myself into the driver seat. I pulled away from the curb and headed off towards home. "did you wanna grab some food?" I asked while trying to glance at her out of the corner of my eye. Again another nod.
"what sounds good?" I asked.
"whatever you'd like," she said quietly. God what did he do? I didn't think she could be this quiet.
As I pulled up to a red light I saw a Nimarcos on the corner and quickly turned into the parking lot. I looked over at her, "this place has the best pizza." I got out of the car and walked up to open the door. We ordered two slices each plus drinks and a salad to share.
"That'll be $22.67." The cashier said, glancing at me. I reached back to my back pocket, but it wasn't there. I checked the other but couldn't find it. Then I felt a nudge. Anna was holding my wallet out to me.
"It fell in your seat." She offered quietly.
I pulled out my card and paid, grabbing the number sign and heading to a table; Anna close behind. Once we got settled at our table, I grabbed the cups and stood back up. "what do you want to drink?" I asked, prying the cups apart.
"just water please," Anna answered, "with a lemon, if they have any." A small smile graced her lips, sparking a smile on mine.
She seems to be feeling somewhat better. I filled both cups with ice and then squeezed a lemon into both cups. I filled hers with water and then mine with tea. I wrinkled my nose as I took a small sip of my drink. Needs sugar, this tea tastes fake. I grabbed a packet of sweet n low and headed back to the table.
I slid her cup in front of her and handed her a straw from the dispenser on the table.
"Thank you," she said, tearing her straw from the paper and dropping it in her drink, "sorry I've been kinda spacing out on you."
"it's ok, you seemed a little scared so I didn't want to push you," I said honestly.
"I stopped by to get my clothes, and he was very rude." She said, an irritated look flashing across her face. "probably shouldn't have punched him... but the look on his face was worth it."
"You punched him? Like… in the face?" I stared at her appalled.
She smirked and began to speak before a waitress slid our plates down in front of us.
"two slices of pepperoni for you," she slid a plate to Anna, "and two slices of the Popeye for you." She smiled as she got the order right. "anything else you two need?"
I smiled and shook my head. "No thank you."
"ok!" she said with a smile, "enjoy your meal you two." She smiled slightly as she walked away from the table. What was that all about?
"She thinks were dating." Anna said, pretty much reading my mind.
I glanced quickly to Anna and then back at the waitress who shot a wink at the both of us.
"You ok Elsa? You're looking pretty red." Anna said.
Why would the waitress think that? Well, I guess we are eating dinner, alone, that I paid entirely for and drove her to. But that doesn't mean it's a date. My thoughts were interrupted by a hand waving in front of my face.
"Earth to Elsa," Anna was staring at me.
"uh… What? Sorry I spaced this time." I gave a shy smile, still feeling my face burning.
"don't worry," she gave me a small smile, "it's not a date." Her smile got a little bigger and a little more mischievous. "well, unless you want it to be." She finished her statement with a wink.
And my face is flushed again. I'm such a prude. I looked away, embarrassed.
She placed her hand on mine. "Sorry," she said, her assuring smile lopsided, "I won't joke about that anymore."
I cleared my throat and swiftly took a bite of my pizza, content to drop the topic. I glance up at Anna's plate to find that she is finished with an entire slice, and scooping herself some salad. We eat in silence for a few minutes.
"So how big is your place?" Anna breaks the longstanding silence.
"Well its one story but has 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms. The backyard is a little small but the inside is renovated so it is pretty nice." I said, covering my mouth as to not show my food.
"And your parents aren't there? Why's that?" she asks, her eyebrow quirking up.
"well my dad moved for his job but I had already started school. So I've been living here. I stay in my old room and leave the Master open for when my parents visit." Uh oh, "I forgot to tell you, my bedroom and yours share a bathroom, is that ok?"
Anna smiled broadly at me, but then seemed to rein herself in. "yeah that's fine! It feels nice to hear that it's my room. So when to I get to see it?"
I noticed that the sun had completely set and it was now dark outside. I glance at my watch. "Crap, when did it get so late? Let me grab a box and we can head out."
Anna giggled a little at how flustered I am making me smile at the sound. Your so whipped. I grabbed a box and quickly loaded my one slice and the rest of the salad into the box. I patted my pockets. Keys, wallet, phone. Not forgetting anything this time. "Come on," I said to Anna smiling, "Let's go home, er, I mean to my home."
She gave a small smile, seeming troubled. "Okay."
Author's note:
*Thanks to those of you that read my first part! Honestly I was really trying to see if anyone would have an interest in my writing. I'm sure you could tell it's my first attempt so thank you for your constructive criticism and not ripping me to shreds. Im still trying to work together an overall plot and endgame but I can already tell this will be something I want to continue. Feel free to let me know what is good and what could be better!*