Fast Lanes and Headlines - Toto Wolff

Anna

Her grave was withered, completely abandoned in the corner of the cemetery. Back when I came every day, I made sure to at least keep it clean enough so you could read the engraving. Her parents had asked me to write it because she was hardly ever home.

''Here lies Anna, hidden in the dark, she brings light to your life''

June 2025 (9 years ago)

''There is no way''

''you wanna finish the project as fast as we can or not?''

''I do but why here''

With a slight look of disgust, I look at the overgrown corner of the cemetery where Anna had brought me. There is probably a million spiders and bugs. Not to mention the buried dead people. 

''Because no one ever comes here and we wont be bothered''

Why would she come her on her own free will?  Graveyards creep me out. She walks over the grass with her boots and pulls off her jacket. I watch as she lays it down and pats for me to sit.

''Better princess?''

I roll my eyes because she keeps calling me that. She is convinced I'm some goodie two shoes that's way too spoiled. At least I'm not her. With my arms crossed, I sit down. She flops down in front of me and pushes her bright ginger hair out of her face. I notice she has way more freckles than I had realized.  They actually look quite cute but she is wearing this dark eyeliner that matches her whole goth vibe. God who wears so much make-up at 14...or is she older than me?  If mom finds out I was sitting in the grass, she will get angry. God, why did I agree to this?

''Alright, lets get this done''

Our teachers had assigned some annoying creative writing project. We had to come up with a small story that includes some sort of reality, which meant some research had to be done. Writting wasn't the problem. The problem was that I had to do it with Anna, and we literally have nothing in common.

''Any ideas?''

I raise my eyebrows at her

''Not really, you?''

She leans back into the grass, her body almost disappearing behind all the wild flowers. Just watching that makes my skin itch. Great, seems like I will have to do most the work. I pull a notebook out of my backpack and a pen.

''Maybe...what vibe are we going for?''

''something dark''

''Of course something dark''

''Whats that supposed to mean?''

She doesn't sound much offended but still crocks an eyebrow. Ive seen her sketch in class and it's always these scribbles with a black or red pen that fill her homework page. The teachers always look deeply unhappy when she turns in her stuff but I guess they never say anything given she always does her assignments correctly. 

''nothing, just I dont want to make it like depressing''

''Alright, whatever you want. You are the writer here''

What? Why me? I look up from the paper and give her a confused look

''Didnt you used to write all the time?''

I did...but I stopped about a year ago. How did she remember?

''You used to always have that note book with you and you'd always be sitting in some corner writing away. I always wondered what you were doing or what was so interesting to write about''