Falling In Love with Peter Ballard.

CHAPTER THREE: Alone Together.

September 12th, 1978.

Anastasia's POV
Its been a couple days since my first day as an orderly. Some kids have gotten used to me while others just don't care. Sixteen has gotten close to me. I absolutely adore him. Along with Peter. He has been extremely nice and helpful.

Each night we're ordered to bring the kids to bed then clean the rainbow room for the next day. Peter and I told Alec we can do the cleaning after we all put them to bed. Peter told me Alec has been working here for a long time, so I decided to basically take over his tasks for him to get more breaks. And to be around Peter more of course.

Anyways, I put on my uniform then made my bed. Then I shut the light off and walked out my room labeled "004". While making my way to the breakfast hall I wondered what my parents were doing. I always thought about them.

"Good morning, Anastasia." A soft voice said to me. His voice.

I looked up at his tall frame and smiled softly, "Morning, Peter."

He smiled back at me and got in line behind Alec. Today they were serving a basic breakfast for us staff. I got in line behind him and grabbed a tray. As we made it down the line I kept trying to sneak glances at him.

Once he got to the end of line he looked down at me, "Would you like to sit with me?"

"I'd love to." I smiled at him as we made our way to a table near the back.

We set our trays down and began eating. While sitting in a comfortable silence I felt his eyes on me as I ate. I didn't look at him since I was too nervous.

He set his fork down, "How'd you sleep?"

"I slept alright. My bed is finally comfortable so that helped." I shrugged and looked at him.

He nodded and rested his elbows on the table, "Was your bed as a student uncomfortable?"

"Very. It was a twin bed, which was highly uncomfortable, but now I have a bigger room for a full bed. Its way better." I finished eating and pushed my tray aside.

He finished as well and put his tray onto of mine, "Well that's good."

I nodded in agreement and looked around the mini cafeteria. I saw a few familiar faces. Some women I worked with in the first aid section looked very tired. That was a very stressful and busy job to do. While others looked somewhat tired, but awake. But to be fair it was 6:30ish am.

"Are you ready to go?" Peter asked me while setting our trays on a countertop.

I nodded and stood up, "Yes, I am."

Both of us walked out the room and headed to where the children sleep. Alec, Peter, and I went down the hallways and woke them up. They usually start lessons at 7:00 so Papa always wants us to get them up around 6:40. After we finished waking them up, we made our way to the rainbow room and all sat down in the corner on a makeshift couch.

Peter and Alec held a small conversation while I zoned out, listening for Papa to come in. While zoning out I felt eyes on me. I snapped out and looked at Peter who was looking at me. He sent me a small smile as Alec continued to talk to him. I blushed a little and looked away.

Then Papa walked in, "Good morning." The three of us stood up and greeted him back, "Today I will be doing group private lessons with around 2-3 students, but the rest of them won't be in here. They will be in the room next door observing through a one-way mirror. I will need at least one of you in that room." He explained to us.

We each looked at each other and shrugged a little before Alec spoke up, "I'll watch over them." Papa nodded then motioned him to leave.

"You two stay in here until we're finished. Once at least a few are done I'll send them in here." He said to Peter and I before leaving the room.

We both sighed and sat down on the couch, "Well I suppose we have at least some time together. What shall we do?" I looked at him.

"You could tell me about yourself." He said while looking at me.

I nodded a little then turned my body to face him, "As long as you tell me somethings about yourself."

"I don't really have anything to say since I've practically been here my entire life doing tests." He laughed a little.

I chuckled lightly and nodded, "Fair enough. What do you want to know then?"

"How about your family?" He asked me.

I nodded and looked around the room, "Well, I'm an only child. My parents, Faith and Atlas, are divorced so my mom and I moved here when I was only 8 years old. My father stayed in Maine, which is where I was born. He most likely remarried after a few years."

"How about your mom? Did she remarry?" Peter asked while narrowing his eyebrows.

I shook my head then looked at him, "Nope. She didn't want to leave my father. Before I got taken we got into an argument. It was about my father. I told her how he didn't care or love her anymore, since he doesn't, but she kept trying to convince how he does and will show up someday." I sighed and held back a few tears, "And now looking back at that day, I wish that didn't happen. She probably blames herself for me being gone."

Peter grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze, "Have you tried finding her with your powers?"

I shook my head and sighed, "I'm too scared to. I don't want to find something I don't want to see." I shrugged my shoulders and looked down at his hand as he rubbed his thumb against the back of my hand.

"Maybe someday you can do it while I'm in the room. I'll be with you the entire time." He said softly while following my gaze.

I smiled softly and squeezed his hand gently, "I'd like that a lot actually."

"Well its set then. On a day off maybe we can try." He smiled to himself and looked at me. I looked back at him.

We held eye contact for a few moments before he looked away. I frowned a little and pulled my hand away from his. Peter placed his hand on his knee and looked around the room.

"Anything else you want to know?" I asked.

He looked back at me propped his elbow on the top of the couch, "Did you attend school?"

"Yes, I did actually." I sighed through my nose, "I haven't even started my middle school years yet. At least I don't have to worry about grades"

He smiled a bit, "Do you miss it?"

"Not really. Even though I was a good student, I was never a fan of it." I shrugged.

He nodded then looked at the door which had opened. In came Eleven with 5 other students following her. She shyly looked at us then walked over to her usual area to play. The other kids separated and went their own ways as well. Peter and I got up off the couch so the kids could play with the marbles. I went to one side of the room while Peter went to the other.

After more time passed, we both stayed in the same spot for hours until their break for lunch. After they left to eat, us orderly's got to eat too. We went into the staff cafeteria and got our food, sitting in the spot where we ate breakfast. Once again, we sat in a comfortable silence. Once we finished, Peter and I started walking back to the rainbow room.

"Anastasia, if we try to find your mom, do you think I could join you in the void?" Peter asked me quietly in the hallway.

I glanced at a camera in the corner of the hallway and nodded, "Sure. I think that'd be fun don't you think?"

"Yes, indeed." He agreed as we walked into the room.

I started to walk to my spot, but stopped, "When do we get a day off?"

"Tomorrow. We could do it then?" He stopped too and looked at me.

I nodded quickly and smiled, "Sounds good to me." Then walked to my spot.

AUTHORS NOTE:

Hmmmm they're going to be alone together again, but in the void to find her mother. Interesting? I think yes.

...

Now I have to think about how tf I'm going to write that...🧍‍♀️