Good Luck Anna

Masochist

 Thomas

   When we get off the train, Anna drags me into the nearest supermarket to retrieve Christmas decorations, clearly inspired by our London trip, I follow behind her, carrying all the supplies.

   Anna is relieved when the apartment is void of her brother, excited to surprise him - though I doubt it will be a good one for him - regardless being completely whipped by her I help decorate the house like Santa's fucking workshop.

   A huge fake tree next to the wall of vinyl almost touches the ceiling, how she is going to cram that big gold star on top is beyond me. She winds gold and red tinsel together sticking them along the side of the breakfast bar, fake snow, a snowman who sings every time any of us move and another smaller tree in Anna's room rounds out her collection of decorations.

  While finishing disposing the boxes, I arrive back in the apartment to find Anna glaring at the top of the tree, star in hand. Creeping up behind her asking "Do you need help?"

  She jumps almost taking my eye out with the star in the process. "You really are trying to give me a heart attack aren't you?"

   Grinning at her I get down on one knee before her instructing, "get on then."

    Anna stares at me confused, eventually recognition flits over her face at what I'm offering. "Oh no, no Thomas I'm way too heavy, you can just put the star on." Scoffing in response knowing that I can easily lift two times the weight of her.

   The way she clings to the star with both hands makes me think that this perhaps used to be her job in the past and I'll be damned if she stops now.

   "You insult me Anna, do I look so weak that I wouldn't be able to carry someone as tiny as you?" Slapping my hand to my heart faking pain, while whining "you wound me."

   For the second time today, Anna buckles over cracking up and for about the hundredth time today I've mentally called Emma a fucking idiot for letting this gem slip through her fingers.

  "Sorry I did not intend to insult the great zombie hunter, may I climb upon your mighty shoulders." Now it's my turn to lose it laughter roaring out of us both.

  Once we have both calmed down enough for my shoulders to stop jostling, I turn my back to her again. "Climb aboard fair maiden." She snorts at this but complies, shakily slipping one leg then another over my shoulders.

    I'm starting to believe that I may be a masochist.

   Gripping onto her little legs, slowly we rise. When I'm at full height, Anna exclaims "Oh wow is this what it's like to be tall!"

"Yeah, how's the weather up there" she giggles at the question I have been asked by almost every short person my entire life.

  "Wonderful thanks." Then continues giggling making my shoulders sway. When she realises this her thighs clench around my head sending a wave of heat heading straight south.

    Struggling to control myself around this beauty I rasp, "any chance of putting that star on at some point today?"

   She ruffles my uncontrollable hair still silently laughing while reaching out to the tree, when she still can't grab the top, I step forward getting a face full of tree and tinsel in the process.

   A muffled 'got it' finds me so I step back, to observe our handy work, when a fake cough had us swinging around like a wonky totem pole.

   Alex is by the door amusement clear on his face when he says "good evening, you've been busy."

   Anna finally getting over her shock shouts "surprise." A full smile flashes through him, fuck the way his face completely changes is insane. Anna jiggles on my shoulders , making me need to lock my hips in place, so I don't drop the little monster.

  "I'll just get changed then start dinner." The way he just assumes that I will be staying stirs a long-forgotten emotion in my chest.

   Placing Anna back on the floor she whisper shrieks "Oh my god! Did you see that smile! That's the best one I've gotten so far." She shakes her arms and ass in opposite directions doing a little happy dance.

            Jesus, definitely a masochist.

   After a mountain of cheese filled ravioli Anna and I collapse on her massive bed about two seconds from slipping into a food coma. She turns on the T.V but it's pointless since there is no way that she's still conscious ten minutes from now. To be honest I'll probably be the same, we can just have a little nap then I will get up with plenty of time for the last train back.

   Next time my eyes open, its immediately obvious that I've fucked up, the T.V has been inactive for so long that it has turned itself off. I'm so lethargic that we must have been out for hours.

   Anna's leg is slung over my waist, head rested on my outstretched arm. We really are subconsciously drawn to each other. Unable to stop myself I stroke my thumb across her cheek, she is so fucking beautiful it's almost painful to look at.

   Lifting my head to look at Anna's clock my fears are confirmed, half twelve last train is long gone. Shit. In an unusual move, it's me who is crawling out from her arms instead of the other way around.

   Wandering into the living room where I know I will find Alex still awake. He is clearly drained, as always struggling to sleep. Movement catches his attention as our eyes meet, "is it ok if I stay over tonight."

   "Thomas, you don't need to ask every time the answer is always yes." Fuck well that stings, we have met a handful of times and he is already opening his home to me.

   Swallowing through the lump in my throat, gasping out a "thank you."

  "There's extra toothbrushes and razers under the sink. I should have some grey trousers and a shirt that would fit, if you need them for school as well." The care in his voice has that lump growing.

   Only being capable of nodding in response, he continues, "promise me you won't hurt her."

   So, he has seen right through me clearly, I'm not as good at hiding my feelings as I thought. "I will never do anything to cause her pain, you have my word." With a swift nod he gets back to work as I escape to the bathroom trying to quell the surge of emotions whirring inside me.