Espion | Book One

Seventeen.

"So, what are your plans for today?"

Anna stopped what she was doing and looked at Mina. She was standing in the doorway of the bathroom, barely one foot into the bedroom before her roommate shot the question out. Her hand relaxed and she dropped her arm, the semi wet towel hanging limply on the tips of her fingers.

"What?" she asked for repetition. She heard what Mina asked, she just wanted to make sure.

Mina was only more than eager to comply. She tossed aside her magazine and propped herself up on the bed, her knees sinking into the soft mattress. Her eyes shone with excitement, more than usual. "You don't have any plans, huh? I kind of figured but I had to ask to be sure."

Anna padded softly over to her side of the room and sat on the bed. Half naked, she looked at Mina. "What do you want?"

"What makes you think I want anything?" Mina asked with an innocent blink of her glistening green eyes. At Anna's look, she continued. "Okay, I want you to come with me and Dan to the mall."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because, he finally asked me out."

Anna knew she was to be happy for her, so she smiled. Every day since the night Mina had told her about her plan to make Dan fall in love with her, she had not failed to update Anna on every failure and every success of the plan. Anna endured it, just barely. She guessed that's why she felt genuine happiness at Mina's huge accomplishment; finally it'll get her to shut up about it.

"That's great," she said. "And you guys chose the mall?"

"It was the safest place I could think of. I thought of the movies but that's the sort of date you go on with someone when you don't really want to talk that person, you know? I mean, between watching the movie and all, the most you guys can do without talking is make out and I definitely don't think Dan are at that stage. Yet," she added with a wink. It made Anna laugh. "But, the mall! The mall is perfect. There are enough distractions so we won't have to focus on each other all the time but we're also in an environment where we need to interact, do you get me?"

"I get you."

"But, I'm scared."

"Why? You guys have been hanging out every day this week."

"Yeah, but that's when you and Jessi are there. I'll be all by myself."

"I distinctly remember you trying to push me away from you guys so that you could be alone," Anna remembered with a smirk.

"That's ... that's different. I was still in Step Thirteen: get Dan to notice my seduction skills and it was awkward with you there."

"Remind me again how many steps are in this plan?"

"Twenty."

"Ah, right. And what step are you at now?"

"Eighteen."

"Which is?"

"Go on first date with Dan and let him realize how great I am to ask me for a next one."

"Right, right."

"Anyway," Mina jumped off her bed and ran over to Anna's. She sat beside her, eyes wide and pleading before she remembered. "I'm sorry, I forgot you don't like people on your side of the room."