A Touch of Sunshine (gxg)

Part 9

The next week at school whenever I would see Jillian we would smile at each other when we would see each other in passing.

I noticed that she was usually by herself, but sometimes with other girls from the soccer team.

Having this secret...whatever it was...going on with her was exhilarating.

It was making my life in general a bit more enjoyable. I was dreading the coming weekend- it was the ceremony to announce that Ken would be courting Headley Short. And my ceremony would be in a couple of short months.

I was dreading it.

The whole week Anna was avoiding sitting with Leisha, Helena, Ellie, and I. I was trying to see what would be a good moment to speak with her on my own. I got my chance when at the end of the day on Thursday, I saw her walking by herself to her dorm building.

"Anna! Wait up." I called out to her.

I saw her stop in her tracks. She then turned around and looked at me.

I thought she was going to keep walking, but she didn't.

When I caught up to her I said, "Let's walk together."

"Okay." she said, her voice monotone.

"I wanted to apologize." I said to her, "I'm sorry for how you're feeling. I would hate for you to think that I just came in and ruined your friendship with Ellie."

Anna stopped and looked at me. I stopped as well. Then she said, "I don't want to think that. Lucy, you honestly do seem very kind. I just feel as though Ellie has stopped paying attention to me since you came to the school. And I hate feeling like I'm losing my best friend."

"Anna, Ellie is my cousin. She kind of has to talk to me. But that doesn't take away the fact that she's your best friend. And I'm sorry if you haven't felt included in conversation or upset in any kind of way. I would like for us to be friends too." I spoke to her.

I saw her expression soften. "I would like to be your friend too, Lucy."

"So how about you eat lunch with us tomorrow?" I asked Anna.

Anna seemed like she was thinking for a moment. And then she nodded, "Sure. Okay, I'll eat lunch with you all tomorrow."

I smiled at Anna softly, "Good. I know Ellie has been missing you. She is too stubborn to admit it, but she does."

Anna chuckled, "That Ellie. She's a stubborn one."

"She is. She has been ever since we were little girls."

Anna then grinned at me, "I'm looking forward to getting to know you better, Lucy."

"Thank you for giving me the chance." I said to Anna.

The next day at lunch I could tell that Ellie was very happy that Anna joined us.

Toward the end of lunch Ellie said, "I'm going to bring Anna to the courting ceremony tomorrow."

"Lovely." I said, "I'm excited to have you at my home."

"While I am not a stranger to large homes, I have never quite been to a castle." Anna said.

"Did you grow up in a large home?" I asked Anna.

"No, my mother runs a cleaning business and I would help her out growing up. She most recently got a permanent position cleaning the Maddow family's home. She lives in a cottage on their land." Anna said.

"Very nice." I said, giving a fake smile, "I'm sure your mother works hard."

I'm sure she works even harder cleaning up all the booze bottles and drug paraphernalia at the Maddow home.