ANNA (Canyon Queen)

Chapter Three ~ One Thirty Two

F

or the next week, Anna thought of nothing but the green eyes that had been haunting her dreams, popping up whenever she did anything. She even felt as though those eyes were watching her while she showered or got dressed in the morning. Today, however was Tuesday and she knew that tomorrow, she would go to Beachwood and feel as though he was there. Even though he may never come back to Beachwood, she'd hold onto that evening for the rest of her life. She put her record player on, playing her '70's Love Songs' vinyl gently on the turntable and tingling as the she heard the crackle when the needle hit the record. She swayed to the gently hush of Eric Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight'. She longed for someone to love her as this song obviously was written for a special woman. She wanted to get ready infront of someone who would look at her with love, not caring about her stretch marked thighs or how big her chest was. She wanted to brush her hair and look at the reflection of someone in the mirror, watching the gentle strokes, smiling with happy eyes. She wanted to ask if she looked alright and get a reponse like the one in the song, 'you look wonderful tonight'.
She stopped swaying when there was a knock at the door. She turned the song down slightly and rushed to the door. Her beaming sister stood on the step. "Jen!" she smiled and hugged her sister, leading her in to the kitchen.
"It's like walking back into the 70's"
"What do you mean? The decor hasn't changed" Anna giggled.
"No I know. Well Eric's playing and look, you're wearing flared jeans, your Bowie boots and mum's vintage top.
"Ah well, I like what I like"
"You're literallt the only person who can pull the look off. How come you look good in EVERYTHING."
She smiled, "You were born in the worng era"
"Yeah I know, I wish this really was the seventies"
"So, I was talking to Sammy, and we wondered if you could have the boys tonight? After school? We thought we'd go out for dinner?"
"Of course"
"It's just we haven't had any time together lately, and we just wanted to ask you, if you have plans, don't worry, I just"
"Jen! Stop, it's fine. When do I ever have any plans? It's fine Jen, thos boys are like my own"
"Well, you have always been the maternal one"
"Enjoy it, you deserve it, you both do"
"Thank you. I'll drop their things round at 4, me and Sammy can see them that way?"
"Fine by me. I'll take them to school"
"Thank you, Ans. I promise, when you have kids, I'll have them ALL the time"
Anna laughed, "Mhm sure"
Jen slapped her gently and tutted. "See you later, love you"
"Love you"
The front door shut and she returned to her records.

Harry slumped down on the studio floor. "For God's sake" he moaned.
"What?" Louis asked.
"I can't concentrate. I can't write. I can alwasy write"
"Someone's in his head" Zayn teased and fist pumped Niall.
"This is serious, we have to get these songs"
"H, calm down. It's fine"
"You know what, boys. Let's take the afternoon off, do something to take our minds off the album. You never know, between now and tomorrow afternoon something might happen to inspire the next big single" Louis joked.
Harry picked up his phone and walked out of the studio, apologising to the boys for his mood. They knew it wasn't his fault, they were all stressed about the album and it was obvious to them that he had other things on his mind.

"Auntie Ans!" Joey shouted, running up to his auntie as she squeezed him. "Where's mummy?"
"Well, sweetheart. You and Noah are staying with me tonight. Mummy and daddy will come see you later though. How does that sound!"
"Yes!!!" He squealed and she laughed, kissing his head. "Let's go and get Noah from Nanny's house.

"Hey mum" Anna said, as her mum embraced her. "Hey Noah!" She said, as the little bit crawled up to her, dummy in mouth. She picked him up and received a slobbery wet kiss in return. "Lovely".

"Night night sweetheart" she kissed the two boys on their heads, before turning the light off. Those boys were her everything and came along at a time she didn't realised she needed them. Anna went downstairs and spent the evening drinking tea, eating chocolate and sobbing at The Notebook. It was really late now and knew she had to be up early, so put her cup in the dishwasher and turned the lights off, rubbing away some stray tears. She cracked open the boys door and smiled at their content soft snoring and went to her room. She brushed her wild hair and put it in a plait before washing her face and sank into her mattress.