“Did you get any sleep last night, Ana?” Anya Monroe asked her daughter while they sat the table across from each other. Anya knew her daughter hadn’t been sleeping, not since the tragedy of a few months ago but there was nothing she could do. Anastasia didn’t believe in sleeping pills, but that was because of her father. Anastasia only shook her head, she had been up all night staring at the paper Alex gave her.

smile pretty, you’re too gorgeous to frown

Since the first day they met, Anastasia had seen Alex every day at the café. She did her best to give him a real smile but she had a suspicion that he could see right through it. Anastasia had never had a proper conversation with the boy but she had grown fond of him; he always left inspirational words on her cup. Anastasia wanted to talk to him, to apologize for the first night, but she could never find the words. “Anastasia,” her mother said loudly. Anastasia snapped out of her thoughts and looked at her mother, “our neighbors from the down the street are coming over for dinner.”

“Do I have to be here?” Anastasia asked her mother. Anastasia didn’t want to get close to anyone. The pain she felt, she never wanted to feel it again.

“Yes, Anastasia,” Anya said, rubbing her temples. “I know what happened was tragic but you can’t continue to hide away in those books. You need to go out an meet people, Ana, I hate seeing you like this. I just want my outgoing little girl back.”

“I don’t know if you’ll get her back, mom,” Anastasia told her mom softly. “I’ll be down for dinner around six.” Anastasia brought her dishes to the sink and then put them in the dishwasher before going up the stairs into her room. Anastasia grabbed some Jane Austen novel and sat down on her bay window and opened up to the very first page of the book, ‘just like Miss Bennett, you’re always doing the unexpected.’ Anastasia smiled a little at the words, he always knew what to say, always writing in her books. Anastasia read over the calligraphy, her fingers lightly running over the script, remembering the day she first read the words. Anastasia shook her head gently, trying to stop thinking of him, and turned to a page she could actually read.

The time passed rather quickly, not noticing the time or how hungry she had become in the last few hours. Anastasia felt the warmth of the sun radiating from the sun against her skin and she knew it was late afternoon, early evening. Yawning while she stretched out, Anastasia climbed off of the ledge of her bay window and went to her closet to find something to wear for dinner. Anastasia grabbed a pair of cut-off levis and an oversized white blouse to put on, she put on the shorts first before sliding the almost transparent blouse on over a black camisole. She threw her hair in sloppy but eloquent bun on the top of her head, leaving a few curled strands hanging in her face. She glanced at herself in her vanity mirror before going downstairs to see if her mother needed any help before the guests arrived.

“Hey mom,” Anastasia said with a light smile. “Do you need any help before the guests arrive?” Anya did not realize that her daughter came downstairs so she jumped a little when Anastasia spoke but turned around, pleasantly surprised her daughter had come downstairs.

“I love when you push your hair away from your face,” Anya said, commenting on her daughter’s appearance. “Could you set the table? You’re dad should be here for dinner so make sure you set a place for him?

“Daddy’s going to be home for dinner?” Anastasia gave a genuine smile. She felt like she hadn’t seen her father since they moved and there were times when she just needed her dad.

“He hasn’t called with any emergency surgeries and he is off in a half hour so keep your fingers crossed,” Anya bit her lip and crossed her fingers hoping her husband would be home for dinner. Anastasia nodded, “there will be a total of six place settings.”

“Okay,” Anastasia picked up the plates and silverware to set the table with. Anastasia had been sent to etiquette class since she was young, only because of grandmother. Anastasia just finished setting up the table when the doorbell rang. Anastasia froze, her eyes wide while she stared at her mother. Anya could tell her daughter would not answer the door so she went to the front door while Anastasia went into the kitchen to pull the food out of the oven.

“It’s lovely to meet you Alexander,” Anya said with a smile, ushering the family of three into her house. Anya had only met Peter and Isobel Gaskarth when she was on her early morning run a few mornings ago. Their son Alexander had been at work so she never had the chance to meet him. Anastasia stopped at the mention of the name ‘Alexander’. She glanced around the corner to see the one and only Alex from the café. Anastasia’s eyes were wide and she went back into the kitchen to cut up the chicken her mother had cooked in the oven. “Ana,” Anastasia looked up from the food and looked at her mother, “these are the Gaskarths. Mr. and Mrs. Gaskarth and their son, Alex.”

“Hello,” Anastasia replied quietly. “Mom everything is ready,” Anastasia directed her eyes at her mother before peaking at the other family, her eyes finding Alex’s immediately. “Hi Alex,” Anastasia smiled a little.

“Hi beautiful,” Alex whispered in her ear when they sat down at the dinner table. Mister and Misses Gaskarth sat across from Alex and Anastasia while Anya sat at the head of the table.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Anastasia,” Misses Gaskarth told her with a genuine smile forming on her lips, “you’re very pretty.” Anastasia blushed and looked away bashfully, a small smile forming on her lips.

Anastasia stayed quiet throughout dinner except when spoken to. She didn’t have much to say anyways. Alex joined in the conversation fully, trying to leave a good impression for Anya, looking at Anastasia every so often to watch her response. Anastasia only observed, knowing that the Gaskarths would quickly become a close family friend. Once dinner was finished, the two teenagers did the dishes. “You look pretty tonight,” Alex commented, “your hair looks good like that.”

Anastasia stayed quiet but nodded in thanks, a blush rising to her cheeks slowly. Her eyes stayed on the dishes she was washing. She glanced over at Alex with only her eyes, a smirk was on his lips, knowing that she was looking at him. Anastasia looked back down at the dishes and finished cleaning them and put them up to dry. The adults were in the family room with glasses of wine blabbering about nothing, quickly becoming closer friends. “So, do you want to come up stairs?” Anastasia asked, she didn’t wait for an answer and just walked up the stairs into her room, Alex following close behind her.

Anastasia sat down on her bed, just staring at Alex, neither of them really knew what to say so they just sat their staring at each other. “You read a lot,” Alex commented, his fingers running over her books. “This is one of my favorites,” Alex said as he picked up A Farewell to Arms, he opened it up and looked over the page, “never let your taste for adventure subside.” Alex looked at Anastasia, she had a smile but the tears in her eyes told him that someone other than her wrote those words. “Who wrote that for you?”

Anastasia looked away. She couldn’t answer. She couldn’t even say his name, after all it was her fault. Alex put the book down and sat down next to Anastasia but didn’t say anything to her. Alex’s eyes rolled over her. Beautiful, he thought to himself. “Alex, don’t waste your time on me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t waste your time trying to figure me out,” Anastasia told him. “There’s so much that you don’t want to know, I’m not worth the time. Don’t waste your time trying to get inside of my head.”

“I won’t be wasting my time,” Alex whispered to her. “I’m already inside your head, doll,” his breath was hot against her ear while his fingers played with the buttons of her blouse. Anastasia gasped a little and pushed him away from her, standing up.

“I’m not some naïve little girl, Alex,” Anastasia fumed, her eyes wide and knuckles clenching. “I’m not going to fall for your cute lines and your good looks and if you think I’m a cute little girl that has no idea what guys want than your mistaken.” Alex stared at her wide eyes. He could see her anger. That was a first for him, but he should have known that she wasn’t naïve enough to fall for his tricks. Anastasia picked up the book she had earlier and sat at her bay window and began reading her book. “I thought you were different, Alex, but once again I was wrong.”

“I am different.”

“Yeah, you completely showed me that you are by trying to play on my vulnerability,” Anastasia rolled her eyes. “I’ve heard about you, Alex. Your friends call you Casanova. However, I disagree, a Casanova can get a rational girl to fall for him. The girls that fall for you are easy and can’t stand on their own two legs.” Alex just stared at her. He liked when girls stood up to him. It only made him want her more.

Anastasia stared at him, daring him to make a move, wanting him to make a move. Anastasia didn’t know Alex all that well but she knew that Alex was not the type to give up easily, but she didn’t mind, after all Alex was attractive. Alex smirked at her before walking towards her. He liked challenges and if he had to be honest he found Anastasia more attractive knowing she had a real personality. Anastasia just watched him curiously, wondering what he was going to do. He accepted her challenge and walked towards her. Alex leaned down to her ear.

“Challenge accepted.”

Notes

I'm still not sure if I like this chapter, hope you guys do.

Finals are coming up. Organic Chem and Calc have taken over my life. This probably won't be updated again until after finals in two and a half weeks.
I'm too stressed to write/proof read at this point.
#lifeofapremedstudent