“ANNA! ANNA! ANNA! ANNA! ANNA!” Mickey – Nick’s little
sister was squealing in an attempt to wake me up.
“Mickey! Hi beautiful! Why are you up so early...”I asked,
my voice was crockey and a massive hangover was coming my way.
“I missed you Annie, I haven’t seen you since my 4th
birthday party!” She laughed sitting next to me on the bed.
“I know, did Nick give you your present from me?” I asked
trying to orientate myself.
“Yesssssssss I love Barbie movies, how did you know?” She
asked staring into my eyes.
“I’m not telling you...” I winked at her, only then did I
notice Nick standing in his doorway with a cup of coffee for me. Suddenly
memories from last night flooded back to me, the confession, and the awkward
pauses. It was almost too much to bear.
“ANNA! Is it true she’s here?” I heard Nick’s mum Lillian bellowing
out for me, Nick just shook his head, “She’s in here mum!”
We had a lovely reunion in Nick’s bedroom, my bra half
hanging off and my make-up was smothered all over my face. Nicks mum was this
awesome bohemian woman; she wore long floral skirts and always left her red
hair wild untamed. She was carefree and absolutely beautiful. Her husband Greg
was the complete opposite, he was serious and definitely not a bohemian man.
But you could tell he was completely infatuated with her, and he always looked
truly happy when the whole family was all together.
“So what are you doing after I make you breakfast?” Lillian
asked.
“I’m just going to get my dad to pick me up. He should be
done with the farm stuff early today.”
“I’ll just drive you home it’s not a problem.” Nick said, it
had been one of the first things he said to me all day. I simply nodded a
reply, all while Lillian was giving us a strange look; she was too intuitive
for her own good.
After a painfully awkward couple of hours of hanging out
with Nick and his family they finally let us leave, now it was time for a
painfully awkward car ride.
“Anna can we talk about last night?” Nick asked.
“I don’t think I want to, I would very much like to forget
about last night...”
“So what, you didn’t mean it then?” He asked, sounding a
little bit angry.
“What does it matter Nick? Regardless nothing could happen.
Your reaction last night...it proved it.”
“For fucks sake Anna, it was a huge surprise...you want me
to just react like I was expecting this?”
“No of course you weren’t expecting this, because it hasn’t
been obvious, especially over the last six
months.”
“Actually Anna it hasn’t been. Yeah you’ve been acting
differently the last few months, I just that had something to do with
your...new look.” He said.
“Ah yes my new look...which you failed to even mention.” I
said a little bitterly.
“What am I supposed to say Anna? You look good since you
lost weight.” He practically yelled.
I was shocked that he got so angry, I just sat there staring
at him.
“I didn’t mean it like
that. I am dealing with a lot of shit right now Anna, like a lot. Millie and I
just broke up…this is just too much for me right now.” He said looking at me
like he was genuinely pained.
“Just pull over please, just let me out of the car, I get it...”
Tears threatened to spill on my cheeks, I think a few did.
He just sighed as he pulled over, and I realised that things
would definitely not be the same for a while.