Soulmates || Joakim Noah {Slow updates}

Chapter 2.

"Anna! Your dad is here! Dinner is almost ready!" Mom shouted to me a few hours after we'd gotten home from shopping. 

"Okay, I'm coming." I replied, closing down my laptop and going downstairs. I really miss my dad during the day, since he's always working. I admire him, but at the same time I hate that we don't have a close relationship. 

 "Hey, Anna. How was your first day in Chicago?" Dad asked once we'd sat down at the dinner table. 

"Just fine, I guess..." I mumbled softly. 

"Paul! Want to know what happened today? It was amazing. I'm so excited for tomorrow." Mom kept talking at a very fast speed while explaining the events from earlier today to him. I kept looking at my plate, losing my appetite. "Sweetheart, relax, what happened?" Dad asked. "We saw Cécilia! At the supermarket, and she invited us at her house to have dinner with them!" Mom continued. Mom was so excited to see her best friend...but I wasn't, at all. I was scared shitless, mainly because I don't want to see Joakim again. 

"That's fantastic dear! I really miss Yannick, he was such a good friend. It's a shame that work separated us all." Dad replied, completely oblivious to the fact of how uncomfortable I was. I was getting really tired of this conversation; I just wanted to go to sleep. 

"Anna, are you happy? You are going to see Joakim again. You two were inseparable as kids." Dad asked, making me look up at him. 

"About that, Paul, I don't think she's happy at all. She had such a bad behavior when Cécilia talked to her." Mom said. 

"Mom, I already told you that I wasn't in the mood, I'm tired because of the travel and going on the same day to the supermarket. I told you that I would apologize tomorrow." I said angrily.

"I hope so. Because I know you, you're my daughter, I know something happened. Something that I don't know, and I don't like that at all sweetie." Mom said. 

"Angelique, leave her alone, if something happened, she will tell you when she's ready. I am wrong Anna?" Dad asked me. 

"No dad, You're right. Now, can I go to my room? I'm really tired, I need some beauty rest." I said. 

"Anna, you barely touched your food. Are you sure you don't want to try to eat some more?" Mom asked. 

"No. I'll eat a big breakfast tomorrow, don't worry." I smiled tiredly. 

"Okay sweetie, sleep tight. Love you." Mom and Dad said. 

"Love you too," I climbed up the stairs and went inside my room, locking my door. I did my nighttime routine and sat on the bed. I was so stressed about tomorrow. I didn't want it to come. Joakim hurt me so bad the day his family left France. I still can't get over the fact he left without telling me. He was my best friend, and I had very strong feelings for him. I still like him, and apparently my heart didn't care about the pain he caused. My heart still wants him so bad. My eyes started to get heavy, and I eventually cried myself to sleep.

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"Anna! Rise and shine! Good morning sweetie!" Mom said almost screaming. She opened the curtains and started to make noises to wake me up. 

 "MOM! OKAY I'M WIDE AWAKE. JUST STOP!" I said shouting. 

"Young lady, don't shout at me, I'm your mother, have some respect Anna." Mom said sternly. "Yeah, whatever, sorry mom..." I said not really caring. 

"Your breakfast is waiting for you sweetie. I cooked two plates because you didn't eat last night." She told me. 

"Thank you mom. Just let me go to the bathroom real fast." I brushed my teeth and brush my hair a little bit. My hair is really curly, so it's a real mess in the mornings. I got to the kitchen and stared at my two plates. "Mom...this is too much. I can't eat this much. I'm going to explode." I said with my eyes wide. 

"C'mon sweetie, you didn't eat at all last night. Mom is just worried about you. Eat at least one plate and a half. Please." She told me worriedly.

"Okay...I'll try. But I can't promise anything." I said looking at her. 

"Okay, I guess this is fair." My stomach was aching. And it was thanks to the dinner with the Noah's. I had a really bad feeling. Tonight something will happen. I'm pretty sure of it. The day passed by quickly and before I know it I was getting ready for the dinner. I was so nervous, I thought I was going to throw up. I was grabbing my iPhone and purse when mom shouted.

"Sweetie, let's go! Dad is waiting in the car. C'mon Anna!." 

"Okay...I'm coming." I said. "Oh sweetie you look so amazing today!" Mom said. "Oh so I don't look amazing any other day? Thanks mom." I said. 

Mom rolled her eyes. "You know what I meant!" She said. 

It was about a 20-minute ride over to the Noah's house, but when we got there it didn't ease my nervousness. "C'mon sweetie, we're here." Mom told me, drawing my attention away form the window.

"I know...Mom...I don't feel well, I think I'm going to call a cab and go home..." I said looking for my iPhone. 

"You're lying, don't lie to me Annabelle! Get out of the car and you better start walking to the Noah's house." Mom said really angry. 

"Okay mom..." I replied reluctantly. I was getting really sick, I was ready to pass out. I walked really slowly and my mom noticed it. 

"C'mon, I know you're nervous, don't be, you know them, you don't have to be nervous at all Anna." Mom walked fast and rang the doorbell. Cécilia opened the door and hugged my mother like they didn't just see each other yesterday.

"Oh my God, I'm so happy this is happening! I'm so glad I have my best friend back!." Cécilia exclaimed happily. 

"I'm so happy too, I think I'm going to cry!" Mom said. I rolled my eyes and looked down. I wasn't going to have come face to face with Joakim. Not today at least. I was getting so sad that I almost started crying. 

"Hello Anna! I'm so happy to see you again!." Cécilia told me, grabbing me by the shoulders. "Hello Cécilia, me too. I really want to apologize for my behavior in the supermarket. I was just really tired for the travel and not in the best mood, sorry." I said looking down. 

She hugged me and said, "Don't worry sweetie, apology accepted." She said smiling really big. "C'mon Anna, get in, Yannick and Joakim are waiting for you in the living room. C'mon I will show you the way. Joakim is so nervous to see you, he really missed you all this time. He was a mess."

"Oh. I was a mess too. But now I'm just fine." I said trying to look strong. "Anna, I know you too well, I know you aren't 'just fine'." She said. "Okay, here we go. Guys! Anna is here! I'm going to the kitchen with Angelique and Paul okay?" Cécilia said. 

"Okay Céli." Yannick said not really looking at me at first. "Oh my. Anna! Gimme a hug! I missed you, dear!" Yannick said giving me a really strong hug. 

"Okay...I missed you too Yannick, but let me go, I need oxygen." I said. "Oh sorry Anna, I was too excited to see you." He said. "Well, I'm going to talk to your parents. Be good you kids." Yannick said. 

He exited the room and left me alone with Joakim. "Hello Annie. I missed you so much." Joakim said, walking towards me and opening his arms to give me a hug.