Always With Love - Chapter Ten
Title: Always With Love
Genre: Romance/Fan Fic/Drama
Pairing: Theo James/OFC
Characters: Theo James, OFC, OC
Warnings: Language, Adult Situations
Disclaimer: a strict work of fiction, I own nothing except the original characters and the plot line. In no way am I affiliated to any of it.
Summary: For the last ten years, Theo has loved Lindsay. For the last three years, Lindsay has been a bit of a prisoner in her own life. For two people who were supposed to have it all, life sure turned out to be cruel. Caught up in life and all the dismay it sometimes brings can be challenging, even more so when the person you love is slowly slipping away.
Chapter Ten
“I have made a decision, I need you both to back me up.” Theo spoke clearly. Squaring his shoulders and clearing his throat. “I am taking Lindsay with me for press.”
Now probably wasn't the greatest time to discuss this, everybody was fully feeling the buzz that alcohol created and on top of that, this was supposed to be a fun evening. No work. No drama. No sad faces. Those were the only rules that Lindsay and Shailene had handed out to everybody, before they sat down to dinner. Several drink and laughter filled hours had passed, leaving the small crew to their own fortunes of the evening's events. About an hour ago, Lindsay and Shailene had disappeared into the bedroom to look for a clean shirt, since Lindsay had accidentally knocked a bottle of red wine over and had most of it cover her shirt. About ten minutes into their venture, Ansel had found the two of them passed out in bed, sleeping like rocks.
Not ready to let the good time go, Theo convinced Anna and Ansel to stay anyway. After all, the two girls in the bedroom had began drinking much earlier and everybody knew that neither of them held their liquor overly well. As the alcohol began to dwindle so did the party mood. Sobering up a little with each passing minute, the trio now sat on the living room floor, comfortably placed around the coffee table. In the middle of the table sat an array of shot glasses marked with an X or an O. As Theo brought up the subject, he moved his O glass, cutting off Anna's X which forced her to take the shot.
“Are you sure about this?” Anna asked, downing her shot and handing the glass to Ansel to line up with the other empties.
“I am.” Theo nodded. “I spoke with publicists, managers, anybody I needed to. I feel it will be better, if I have her with me.”
“And everybody is okay with this?” Ansel raised his brow.
“As okay as they can be.” Theo confirmed. He cursed when Anna lined her next glass up, winning the game. Theo took his last two shots and wiped his hand across the back of his mouth.
“Thee, I don't mind staying with her while you are gone. If it makes it easier, she can even move in at my place.” Anna offered.
“No, I can't risk it. There have been times when she doesn't remember you. I'm sorry, Annie. It isn't your fault, this is just for my own peace of mind.” Theo gave her a sympathetic look.
“Of course, I understand. I just want this to be easiest for everybody.” Anna quietly replied.
Ansel frowned, momentarily giving up on refilling shot glasses, he placed his arm around Anna giving her a light squeeze. “What can I do?” he asked.
“By chance is your mother doing the press tour?” Theo asked, knowing that sometimes Ansel's mother liked to tag along.
“She can, if we need her to.” Ansel shrugged, his arm still comfortably around Anna's shoulder. “Lindsay sitter?”
Theo nodded.
“What if Annie here came for that job? I mean Lindsay is comfortable with her and Anna knows Linds way better than my mom.” Ansel suggested. He hated the crushed look Anna wore when Theo made his previous comment. Theo had said it knowing Anna understood that he didn't mean harm, but it must have still hurt a little.
“Annie here can't take that much time off from work, not if she wants a job when she gets back.” Anna spoke up smiling a little at Ansel.
“That sucks.” Ansel commented making a face. “I guess I'll tell my mom to change her plans.” he let his arm stay wrapped around Anna, while he continued to fill the rest of the shot glasses with his free hand. “Could you maybe come for even part of it?”
He had an idea and Ansel was pretty confident it would work, not just because he was drunk either.
“What do you mean?” Anna looked at him with curiosity.
“You can't come for the whole press tour, but what if you came for the first few days? Ya know, give Linds a chance to settle in, then once she is comfortable you come back.” Ansel explained his absolutely flawless plan.
Anna didn't reply immediately, letting Ansel's idea sink in. Theo on the other hand had grasped the idea the second Ansel had said it.
“It's brilliant!” His voice boomed, slamming his hand happily against the coffee table Theo made Anna jump. A few drinks spilled over a little, causing Ansel to groan. “What do you say, Anna?”
“Guys, I really don't know. I want to help, you know I do.” Anna sighed. Seeing the desperate look in Theo's eyes, she nodded. “I'll ask my boss and beg if I have to.”
Theo smiled in approval. “Thank you.” he picked up his almost forgotten beer and tipped it toward Anna before taking a drink. “Lindsay will appreciate this.”
“I know she will.” Anna grinned. “Which is why I am going to ask if I can get the time off.”
“And if they say no, then I will just have to call them myself.” Ansel added his thoughts on the subject.
Jokingly asking just how Ansel would persuade Anna's boss into letting her have the time off, Theo opened an entirely new topic to discuss. Listening to Ansel drunkenly explain his ideas of how he could get Anna's boss to agree was rather hilarious. This went on for at least an hour, Theo and Anna adding in a few ideas here and there, when Ansel would get stumped on a situation or a cheeky comeback. Despite the loud shouts and over the top laughter from the living room, down the hall remained quiet and still.
Lindsay would have loved to been part of this, but sleeping off the alcohol in her system was likely the best place for her. Theo decided that he could sleep else where for the night, no sense in moving Shailene if she was already asleep. If he woke either one of them up, he risked them wanting to continue a party and they were in no shape for that.
After a while and a few more drinks, Theo's eyes began to grow heavy and the yawns every few seconds seemed to grow. Smiling sweetly at him, Anna made the suggestion he go to sleep as well. She and Ansel were adults, they could call a cab and find their own ways home again. Agreeing to Anna's statement, Ansel too began to urge Theo into bed.
“C'mon bro.” Ansel urged him with a smirk. “Come morning those two little ladies are going to feel like shit, they're going to need someone to wait on them.” he teased.
Proven fact was that Theo was at less of a risk for a hang over than the two girls already asleep. There had been times when Lindsay had been the one handing out the hang over cures come the next day, but it wasn't often.
“It'd be rude to leave you two.” Theo tried to insist.
“Rude? Theo, you're exhausted and drunk. Go to bed.” Anna laughed as she tried to pull herself up off of the floor. Slowly standing, she groaned a little before reaching out for Theo's hands. “Don't make me put you in bed, Theodore.”
The mere idea of Anna physically making him do anything had reduced Theo to the giggles. She was just so short compared to him. Successfully on his feet, Theo gave Anna a tight hug, telling her just how much he really did love her. Patting Theo's back and telling him she loved him too, Anna kissed his cheek and pointed in the direction of the spare bedroom.
“Bed.” she was as firm as she could be, trying to hide her own fit of giggles.
Watching Theo trudge down the hall way and into the spare bedroom, Anna relaxed her firm stance. Sometimes that man was impossible, which as part of the reason he and Lindsay fit together so well. Turning to find Ansel sunk into the sofa, Anna smirked and continued to chuckle a little. He too looked like he needed a nap. Anna hadn't saw herself, but she knew well enough that she probably didn't look much better.
“You look cozy.” she commented, tugging at the bottom of her skirt.
“Anna.” Ansel spoke from where he sat on the couch. “I don't think I can make it home.”
“Then just stay.” Anna suggested with a slight shrug. “They won't mind, besides getting a cab at this hour would be almost impossible.”
“I like the way you think.” Ansel informed her with a dopey grin.
“I'm not leaving, so we may as well camp out here together.” Anna added, bending down to pick up a half full bottle of rum that was sitting on the coffee table. Pouring a little in two glasses, she furrowed her brow and scanned the room until she found the bottle of Coke that had been left behind.
“Can I ask a question?” Ansel piped up from his relaxed position. Anna nodded, carefully eyeing the drink she was mixing. “How long have you known Lindsay?”
Anna stopped what she was doing, her face scrunched up a little as she tried to work it out. “Uh, probably fifteen or sixteen years. We've been friends a long time.”
“Is it hard for you? I mean, when you realized she wasn't doing so well?” Ansel didn't have to put his questions into complete thought. Anna knew what he meant.
She had never been asked these questions. Lindsay had been her best friend and Anna never gave much thought to her own feelings toward all of this. One day, it just seemed to have happened and the next, she had to find a way to deal and make the best of it. Hard wasn't a word Anna would use to describe the situation. Devastating, tragic, maybe crushing were more the words she would have used. Knowing that her best friend was slipping away and there was no way to save her, it terrified Anna.
“I worry, ya know.” Anna handed Ansel the drink she had mixed for him. “About Lindsay and Theo.”
“They're so content and then you look at things deeper, it's not fair.” Ansel commented making room next to him for Anna to sit. “They're nice, decent people and they are getting the short end.”
“They certainly are.” Anna nodded, crossing her legs and staring into her drink. “Sometimes I wish this never happened. I'd really like this to be some sort of fucked up dream or something.”
Ansel scoffed. “I hear ya.”
He hadn't known Lindsay and Theo as long as Anna, but he cared for them. They were his friends and sitting by watching, never really being able to help was hard.
“I can't imagine life without Lindsay.” Anna stated.
“Theo and I have never really discussed Lindsay's condition in too much detail.” Ansel confessed. “I know the basics, she has delusions and they started a few years ago, but that is about it.”
“Worst case is she has to be put in a special care facility.” Anna informed him, as much as she liked Ansel this wasn't her place to give much details. “Eventually, the doctor thinks Lindsay may slip far enough that she can't live a normal life. Not that her life is normal now.”
Ansel shifted uneasily, fidgeting about for a second, he took a drink to avoid talking until he collected his thoughts. In the time he had known Lindsay and Theo it was pretty evident that Lindsay had gotten worse, but Ansel never knew what would happen to her if she got too far gone.
“Wouldn't that be good? Well, not good,” he shook his head, “but easier for her?”
“Even if she does go to a care home, it won't do any good. Besides, despite what Theo says, he'd never let her go.” Anna sighed sipping her drink. “Theo will never move on, he'll just be more miserable than he already is.”
“Do you think he'd ever find somebody else?”
“Not as long as he can see Lindsay.” Anna shook her head. “I understand that a care facility is a good idea, but I hate having to think of my best friend living like some trapped animal.”
“Maybe she won't have to?” Ansel hoped he sounded more reassuring than he felt. “Isn't there a medication or something they can try?”
“Not unless you're going to invent one.” Anna sighed. “They've had her on almost every drug they can try. Lindsay is only getting worse. Eventually she isn't going to be safe on her own. Even with Theo around, what happens if she has an episode and forgets who he is? Or where she is? It's not safe.”
“I feel useless.” Ansel took another drink. “I wish there was something I could do for them.”
“Join the club.” Anna finished her drink, sitting the glass down at her feet. Placing her hand on Ansel's knee, she gave him a faint smile. “Thanks, by the way.”
“For?”
“Letting me unload my thoughts like that. It's hard to find somebody to listen. I know Theo will listen, but he doesn't need my pathetic ass getting all emotional on him. He has enough.” Anna replied with a shrug.
“Anytime you would like to me listen, I would be more than happy to lend an ear.” Ansel assured her with a warm smile. “Really, you can call me whenever you need someone to listen. Or if you ever need a bowling partner, somebody to hide a body. I'm serious, I am always available to you.” he teased, lightening the mood a little.
“You're cute, Ansel.” Anna chuckled at him. “But it's good to know you offer such a variety of services.” Ansel nodded firmly. “I don't bowl, often and I am currently out of bodies to hide. I don't suppose you do dinner?”
“Are you asking me on a date, Anna Martin?” Ansel sat up straighter, in mock manliness.
“Maybe. Do you want to go on a date?” Anna flashed him one of her big smiles.
Ansel had to suppress a giggle. Yes! Yes, he wanted to go to dinner with Anna very much. This wasn't just the alcohol either, nope, because he had been waiting for this moment for a while. Of course in Ansel's mind he had asked her and it was way more casual and romantic. Ah hell, he'd take it!
“I think that would be great.” Ansel agreed. “I'd love to take you on a date.”
“Except, I'm taking you.” Anna corrected wagging her finger at him.
For a guy so young, maybe younger was a better way to put it, Anna liked Ansel a lot. He was laid back, fun, and pretty wise beyond his years. Unlike most guys his age, Ansel didn't come with an abundance of annoyance and stupidity that would only leave him in time.
“It doesn't matter who is taking who.” Ansel waved it off. “Details, details.”
“You're sure you want to go?” Anna looked hopeful.
“I am very sure that I want to.” Ansel grinned. “Hey, Anna.”
“Mmm?” Anna hummed, she could feel herself slowly starting to dose off now. Once she got over the nerves and just asked Ansel out, she was a little more relaxed. It was amazing how a person could relax after getting something like that out.
“I uh, I just wanted to tell you that...never mind.” he shook his head.
“What is it?” Anna prompted.
“This is cheesy, but I'm glad you sort of came with the Lindsay and Theo package deal.”
Theo and Lindsay, like any couple got wrapped up in one another and sometimes, when Ansel was hanging out with them it left him feeling a little third wheelish. When Anna was around, it was impossible to feel anything but welcome and Ansel liked that about her, among other things. On top of that, Anna was kind and patient, always there to help when Theo or Lindsay needed her. Ansel admired her and personally, he felt she went a little under appreciated.
When looking at Lindsay's situation it was easy to feel bad for Theo, but nobody ever felt bad for Anna. As Theo slowly lost his love, Anna was losing a best friend. Never could Ansel imagine losing such a close friend, which was part of the reason he wanted to do anything he could to help Anna, along with Theo and Lindsay. Anna said there was no real way to help, but Ansel was certain there had to be something.
Genre: Romance/Fan Fic/Drama
Pairing: Theo James/OFC
Characters: Theo James, OFC, OC
Warnings: Language, Adult Situations
Disclaimer: a strict work of fiction, I own nothing except the original characters and the plot line. In no way am I affiliated to any of it.
Summary: For the last ten years, Theo has loved Lindsay. For the last three years, Lindsay has been a bit of a prisoner in her own life. For two people who were supposed to have it all, life sure turned out to be cruel. Caught up in life and all the dismay it sometimes brings can be challenging, even more so when the person you love is slowly slipping away.
Chapter Ten
“I have made a decision, I need you both to back me up.” Theo spoke clearly. Squaring his shoulders and clearing his throat. “I am taking Lindsay with me for press.”
Now probably wasn't the greatest time to discuss this, everybody was fully feeling the buzz that alcohol created and on top of that, this was supposed to be a fun evening. No work. No drama. No sad faces. Those were the only rules that Lindsay and Shailene had handed out to everybody, before they sat down to dinner. Several drink and laughter filled hours had passed, leaving the small crew to their own fortunes of the evening's events. About an hour ago, Lindsay and Shailene had disappeared into the bedroom to look for a clean shirt, since Lindsay had accidentally knocked a bottle of red wine over and had most of it cover her shirt. About ten minutes into their venture, Ansel had found the two of them passed out in bed, sleeping like rocks.
Not ready to let the good time go, Theo convinced Anna and Ansel to stay anyway. After all, the two girls in the bedroom had began drinking much earlier and everybody knew that neither of them held their liquor overly well. As the alcohol began to dwindle so did the party mood. Sobering up a little with each passing minute, the trio now sat on the living room floor, comfortably placed around the coffee table. In the middle of the table sat an array of shot glasses marked with an X or an O. As Theo brought up the subject, he moved his O glass, cutting off Anna's X which forced her to take the shot.
“Are you sure about this?” Anna asked, downing her shot and handing the glass to Ansel to line up with the other empties.
“I am.” Theo nodded. “I spoke with publicists, managers, anybody I needed to. I feel it will be better, if I have her with me.”
“And everybody is okay with this?” Ansel raised his brow.
“As okay as they can be.” Theo confirmed. He cursed when Anna lined her next glass up, winning the game. Theo took his last two shots and wiped his hand across the back of his mouth.
“Thee, I don't mind staying with her while you are gone. If it makes it easier, she can even move in at my place.” Anna offered.
“No, I can't risk it. There have been times when she doesn't remember you. I'm sorry, Annie. It isn't your fault, this is just for my own peace of mind.” Theo gave her a sympathetic look.
“Of course, I understand. I just want this to be easiest for everybody.” Anna quietly replied.
Ansel frowned, momentarily giving up on refilling shot glasses, he placed his arm around Anna giving her a light squeeze. “What can I do?” he asked.
“By chance is your mother doing the press tour?” Theo asked, knowing that sometimes Ansel's mother liked to tag along.
“She can, if we need her to.” Ansel shrugged, his arm still comfortably around Anna's shoulder. “Lindsay sitter?”
Theo nodded.
“What if Annie here came for that job? I mean Lindsay is comfortable with her and Anna knows Linds way better than my mom.” Ansel suggested. He hated the crushed look Anna wore when Theo made his previous comment. Theo had said it knowing Anna understood that he didn't mean harm, but it must have still hurt a little.
“Annie here can't take that much time off from work, not if she wants a job when she gets back.” Anna spoke up smiling a little at Ansel.
“That sucks.” Ansel commented making a face. “I guess I'll tell my mom to change her plans.” he let his arm stay wrapped around Anna, while he continued to fill the rest of the shot glasses with his free hand. “Could you maybe come for even part of it?”
He had an idea and Ansel was pretty confident it would work, not just because he was drunk either.
“What do you mean?” Anna looked at him with curiosity.
“You can't come for the whole press tour, but what if you came for the first few days? Ya know, give Linds a chance to settle in, then once she is comfortable you come back.” Ansel explained his absolutely flawless plan.
Anna didn't reply immediately, letting Ansel's idea sink in. Theo on the other hand had grasped the idea the second Ansel had said it.
“It's brilliant!” His voice boomed, slamming his hand happily against the coffee table Theo made Anna jump. A few drinks spilled over a little, causing Ansel to groan. “What do you say, Anna?”
“Guys, I really don't know. I want to help, you know I do.” Anna sighed. Seeing the desperate look in Theo's eyes, she nodded. “I'll ask my boss and beg if I have to.”
Theo smiled in approval. “Thank you.” he picked up his almost forgotten beer and tipped it toward Anna before taking a drink. “Lindsay will appreciate this.”
“I know she will.” Anna grinned. “Which is why I am going to ask if I can get the time off.”
“And if they say no, then I will just have to call them myself.” Ansel added his thoughts on the subject.
Jokingly asking just how Ansel would persuade Anna's boss into letting her have the time off, Theo opened an entirely new topic to discuss. Listening to Ansel drunkenly explain his ideas of how he could get Anna's boss to agree was rather hilarious. This went on for at least an hour, Theo and Anna adding in a few ideas here and there, when Ansel would get stumped on a situation or a cheeky comeback. Despite the loud shouts and over the top laughter from the living room, down the hall remained quiet and still.
Lindsay would have loved to been part of this, but sleeping off the alcohol in her system was likely the best place for her. Theo decided that he could sleep else where for the night, no sense in moving Shailene if she was already asleep. If he woke either one of them up, he risked them wanting to continue a party and they were in no shape for that.
After a while and a few more drinks, Theo's eyes began to grow heavy and the yawns every few seconds seemed to grow. Smiling sweetly at him, Anna made the suggestion he go to sleep as well. She and Ansel were adults, they could call a cab and find their own ways home again. Agreeing to Anna's statement, Ansel too began to urge Theo into bed.
“C'mon bro.” Ansel urged him with a smirk. “Come morning those two little ladies are going to feel like shit, they're going to need someone to wait on them.” he teased.
Proven fact was that Theo was at less of a risk for a hang over than the two girls already asleep. There had been times when Lindsay had been the one handing out the hang over cures come the next day, but it wasn't often.
“It'd be rude to leave you two.” Theo tried to insist.
“Rude? Theo, you're exhausted and drunk. Go to bed.” Anna laughed as she tried to pull herself up off of the floor. Slowly standing, she groaned a little before reaching out for Theo's hands. “Don't make me put you in bed, Theodore.”
The mere idea of Anna physically making him do anything had reduced Theo to the giggles. She was just so short compared to him. Successfully on his feet, Theo gave Anna a tight hug, telling her just how much he really did love her. Patting Theo's back and telling him she loved him too, Anna kissed his cheek and pointed in the direction of the spare bedroom.
“Bed.” she was as firm as she could be, trying to hide her own fit of giggles.
Watching Theo trudge down the hall way and into the spare bedroom, Anna relaxed her firm stance. Sometimes that man was impossible, which as part of the reason he and Lindsay fit together so well. Turning to find Ansel sunk into the sofa, Anna smirked and continued to chuckle a little. He too looked like he needed a nap. Anna hadn't saw herself, but she knew well enough that she probably didn't look much better.
“You look cozy.” she commented, tugging at the bottom of her skirt.
“Anna.” Ansel spoke from where he sat on the couch. “I don't think I can make it home.”
“Then just stay.” Anna suggested with a slight shrug. “They won't mind, besides getting a cab at this hour would be almost impossible.”
“I like the way you think.” Ansel informed her with a dopey grin.
“I'm not leaving, so we may as well camp out here together.” Anna added, bending down to pick up a half full bottle of rum that was sitting on the coffee table. Pouring a little in two glasses, she furrowed her brow and scanned the room until she found the bottle of Coke that had been left behind.
“Can I ask a question?” Ansel piped up from his relaxed position. Anna nodded, carefully eyeing the drink she was mixing. “How long have you known Lindsay?”
Anna stopped what she was doing, her face scrunched up a little as she tried to work it out. “Uh, probably fifteen or sixteen years. We've been friends a long time.”
“Is it hard for you? I mean, when you realized she wasn't doing so well?” Ansel didn't have to put his questions into complete thought. Anna knew what he meant.
She had never been asked these questions. Lindsay had been her best friend and Anna never gave much thought to her own feelings toward all of this. One day, it just seemed to have happened and the next, she had to find a way to deal and make the best of it. Hard wasn't a word Anna would use to describe the situation. Devastating, tragic, maybe crushing were more the words she would have used. Knowing that her best friend was slipping away and there was no way to save her, it terrified Anna.
“I worry, ya know.” Anna handed Ansel the drink she had mixed for him. “About Lindsay and Theo.”
“They're so content and then you look at things deeper, it's not fair.” Ansel commented making room next to him for Anna to sit. “They're nice, decent people and they are getting the short end.”
“They certainly are.” Anna nodded, crossing her legs and staring into her drink. “Sometimes I wish this never happened. I'd really like this to be some sort of fucked up dream or something.”
Ansel scoffed. “I hear ya.”
He hadn't known Lindsay and Theo as long as Anna, but he cared for them. They were his friends and sitting by watching, never really being able to help was hard.
“I can't imagine life without Lindsay.” Anna stated.
“Theo and I have never really discussed Lindsay's condition in too much detail.” Ansel confessed. “I know the basics, she has delusions and they started a few years ago, but that is about it.”
“Worst case is she has to be put in a special care facility.” Anna informed him, as much as she liked Ansel this wasn't her place to give much details. “Eventually, the doctor thinks Lindsay may slip far enough that she can't live a normal life. Not that her life is normal now.”
Ansel shifted uneasily, fidgeting about for a second, he took a drink to avoid talking until he collected his thoughts. In the time he had known Lindsay and Theo it was pretty evident that Lindsay had gotten worse, but Ansel never knew what would happen to her if she got too far gone.
“Wouldn't that be good? Well, not good,” he shook his head, “but easier for her?”
“Even if she does go to a care home, it won't do any good. Besides, despite what Theo says, he'd never let her go.” Anna sighed sipping her drink. “Theo will never move on, he'll just be more miserable than he already is.”
“Do you think he'd ever find somebody else?”
“Not as long as he can see Lindsay.” Anna shook her head. “I understand that a care facility is a good idea, but I hate having to think of my best friend living like some trapped animal.”
“Maybe she won't have to?” Ansel hoped he sounded more reassuring than he felt. “Isn't there a medication or something they can try?”
“Not unless you're going to invent one.” Anna sighed. “They've had her on almost every drug they can try. Lindsay is only getting worse. Eventually she isn't going to be safe on her own. Even with Theo around, what happens if she has an episode and forgets who he is? Or where she is? It's not safe.”
“I feel useless.” Ansel took another drink. “I wish there was something I could do for them.”
“Join the club.” Anna finished her drink, sitting the glass down at her feet. Placing her hand on Ansel's knee, she gave him a faint smile. “Thanks, by the way.”
“For?”
“Letting me unload my thoughts like that. It's hard to find somebody to listen. I know Theo will listen, but he doesn't need my pathetic ass getting all emotional on him. He has enough.” Anna replied with a shrug.
“Anytime you would like to me listen, I would be more than happy to lend an ear.” Ansel assured her with a warm smile. “Really, you can call me whenever you need someone to listen. Or if you ever need a bowling partner, somebody to hide a body. I'm serious, I am always available to you.” he teased, lightening the mood a little.
“You're cute, Ansel.” Anna chuckled at him. “But it's good to know you offer such a variety of services.” Ansel nodded firmly. “I don't bowl, often and I am currently out of bodies to hide. I don't suppose you do dinner?”
“Are you asking me on a date, Anna Martin?” Ansel sat up straighter, in mock manliness.
“Maybe. Do you want to go on a date?” Anna flashed him one of her big smiles.
Ansel had to suppress a giggle. Yes! Yes, he wanted to go to dinner with Anna very much. This wasn't just the alcohol either, nope, because he had been waiting for this moment for a while. Of course in Ansel's mind he had asked her and it was way more casual and romantic. Ah hell, he'd take it!
“I think that would be great.” Ansel agreed. “I'd love to take you on a date.”
“Except, I'm taking you.” Anna corrected wagging her finger at him.
For a guy so young, maybe younger was a better way to put it, Anna liked Ansel a lot. He was laid back, fun, and pretty wise beyond his years. Unlike most guys his age, Ansel didn't come with an abundance of annoyance and stupidity that would only leave him in time.
“It doesn't matter who is taking who.” Ansel waved it off. “Details, details.”
“You're sure you want to go?” Anna looked hopeful.
“I am very sure that I want to.” Ansel grinned. “Hey, Anna.”
“Mmm?” Anna hummed, she could feel herself slowly starting to dose off now. Once she got over the nerves and just asked Ansel out, she was a little more relaxed. It was amazing how a person could relax after getting something like that out.
“I uh, I just wanted to tell you that...never mind.” he shook his head.
“What is it?” Anna prompted.
“This is cheesy, but I'm glad you sort of came with the Lindsay and Theo package deal.”
Theo and Lindsay, like any couple got wrapped up in one another and sometimes, when Ansel was hanging out with them it left him feeling a little third wheelish. When Anna was around, it was impossible to feel anything but welcome and Ansel liked that about her, among other things. On top of that, Anna was kind and patient, always there to help when Theo or Lindsay needed her. Ansel admired her and personally, he felt she went a little under appreciated.
When looking at Lindsay's situation it was easy to feel bad for Theo, but nobody ever felt bad for Anna. As Theo slowly lost his love, Anna was losing a best friend. Never could Ansel imagine losing such a close friend, which was part of the reason he wanted to do anything he could to help Anna, along with Theo and Lindsay. Anna said there was no real way to help, but Ansel was certain there had to be something.