Begin Again {Sequel to Sleepless Nights}

Chapter Six

     "Anna?! Are you okay?" Shane called down the stairs.
"Yeah! I just lost the grip on the bowl. I'm sorry!"
"Don't apologize. I'm just glad you're okay."
I walked into the kitchen and grabbed the broom and started sweeping up the pieces of glass and popcorn. I laid a wet towel over where the glass shattered and wiped the floor, tossing the towel in the laundry basket.
"Hey, what made you drop the—" He turned to see the episode. "Oh Anna." Tears were forming in my eyes but I swallowed the lump in my throat and just smiled at him.
"What?" He laughed.
"Do you think he misses me?"
"I think he does."
"But do you think we'll ever be able to work it out?"
"That's something only you and him can decide."
"He uploaded a video the other day. He seemed really happy."
"You don't know if he was actually happy. You know Mark's a good actor."
"I don't know Shane."
"Why don't you actually call him or something?"
"What about Joey?"
"You've been living with him for two months and the most I've seen you two do is him kiss your head. Call him. Now." He handed me my phone and I clicked Mark's contact, my hands shook as I placed my phone to my ear.
"Hello?" I opened my mouth to speak but words wouldn't form. "Anna?" I sighed and pressed the red button.
"What the fuck was that?"
"I didn't know what to say."
"You better think quick, because I'm sure he's going to call you back." My phone started vibrating in my hand and Shane smirked.
"Hello?"
"Hey, why didn't you say anything to me?"
"Oh, I had something to tell you but when I first called my mind went blank." He lightly chuckled, making me squeeze my eyes shut at the familiar sound.
"Are you okay? Your voice is a little shaky."
"Yeah I just dropped Shane's popcorn bowl and shattered it. I'm just a little stressed out."
"Do you want to come over? Felix and Marzia are here."
"Oh, yeah. I can come over for a little while." Shane clapped his hands together, jumping up and down around me. "Yes bitch. Fuck yes!" He whispered as he jumped around.
"What's that noise?"
"That would be Shane."
He chuckled again, making butterflies form in my stomach. "I'm getting ready to head out."
"See you in a minute."

                                Mark
  "Shit!" I cursed to myself as I ran my fingers through my messy hair and fixed my shirt.
"Aye man. What's going on?"
"Anna's coming over."
"Oh shit. What for?"
"I invited her."
"I'll be damned. It's late though."
"She won't stay for too long."
"No." He chuckled. "That's not what I meant. I'm saying that it sounds like she wants to talk."
"You really think so?"
"Don't get your hopes up man. But it's eleven and she's coming over." He patted my back and Chica took off running down the hallway, jumping at the front door.
"Hey Anna."
"Hey Mark."
I wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked but I stopped myself. She pushed a lock of her hair away from her face and smiled at me.
"Is Jackson asleep?"
"He hasn't been down for too long."
She nodded and sat down on the couch, she looked over at me and gave me a small smirk.
"Where's Felix?"
"He's upstairs with Marzia. I think they're asleep. Are you hungry?"
"Starving."
"Let me see what I can do about that."

I stood over the stove, watching the noodles cook. Anna sat with her head propped up, watching me cook.
"Do you remember when you cooked for me?"
"Which time?" She chuckled.
"You always loved to cook. Do you remember when I came home from the hospital?"
"And we got into that argument."
"We fought over our child that wasn't even here yet."
"It's crazy isn't it?"
She nodded and took a drink of her water.
"Remember the hockey rink?" I asked, looking to her and smiling.
"You fell so hard." She started laughing uncontrollably.
"It's the thought that counts." I said, defending myself.
"I had a dream about that the other night."
"Oh really? I dreamt about our picnic."
"That was such a beautiful night."
"It really was." I started adding in the sauce, Anna walked up beside me and leaned against the counter.
"I miss you." She said, breaking the silence. I looked over to her, butterflies forming in my stomach.
"I miss you too." She inched closer to me, her breath hitting my jaw.
"Can we talk after dinner?"
"Yeah, I'd like that."
She nodded and walked back to the table, propping her head up and watching me. I made Anna a plate and set it on the table and then made myself a plate. I sat across from her and watched her enjoy the pasta I made.
"Aren't you going to eat?"
"I'm not very hungry."
"Mark, you have to eat something."
"Anna–"
"Mark please. For me?" I crackled my knuckles and just looked at her. I wanted to tell her that I would do anything for her, but things were going so well and I didn't want to mess it up. I listened to her plea and started eating, my stomach was relieved the more I ate. I'll admit, I was thankful that Felix went grocery shopping, because right now, Anna would be hungry and I wouldn't be able to help.
"I'm going to a therapist." I blurted, I was desperate to keep a conversation with her.
"How's that going?"
"She prescribed me some medicine. And we just talked."
"That's really good. I've considered going."
"I think you should. One session helped me a lot."
"I'm so glad to hear that."
"How are you?"
"I've been bottling my feelings."
"And what did I tell you about that?"
"That it's better to talk to someone rather than keeping it bottled up."
She sighed and wiped her mouth and took her plate to the sink.
"Do you want to go outside to talk?"
She nodded and we walked towards the sliding door, I flipped on the light and we sat at the table.
"Mark?"
"Anna."
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you the one apologizing?"
"Because I was very immature about this entire situation. I kept Jackson from you-" She wiped a tear and tried to smile.
"Anna, it's okay." She started to cry and I didn't know what else to do but tell her to stand up and wrap her into a tight hug. She clenched onto my shirt and softly sobbed.
"I'm so sorry."
"Don't apologize. I should be the one apologizing."
"What happened that night?"
"Are you really going to listen?"
She nodded and wiped the corners of her eyes. I shifted uncomfortably in the chair and tried to think where to start.
"It was after I came by Joey's. I wanted a drink, so I went to the same bar that you picked me up from. For awhile I just sat at the bar by myself. The bartender had poured me a drink but I didn't touch it at first. When I finally drank it, I asked for another one, leading to having a couple of drinks. Well, a girl stumbled up to the bar, she was a mess, she was slurring her words and laughing. She asked why I was alone and all I could tell her was I had a bad day." Anna nodded, wiping a tear that was falling down her face. "She said that after a bad day that I shouldn't be alone and asked if I wanted to go home with her. I couldn't say yes, but I couldn't say no. We left and got a cab and went to her house."
"Then?"
"She was all over me."
"Were you all over her?"
"No."
"Bryan said–"
"Anna, I told her multiple times to stop. I had to get physical with her and push her off of me. When Bryan saw me, I was buttoning my shirt and fixing my belt. Just because it looked like I did something, doesn't mean I actually did."
"If you didn't actually cheat, then why didn't you tell me this?"
"I couldn't get a hold of you."
She nodded and put her head in her hands.
"I just want things to be the way they were before."
"That's all I want." She looked up, her gorgeous green eyes glistening under the porch light, tears still forming. 
"I love you so much Mark. And I want things to work. But the question is, can we do that?"
"Look at all the other stuff we worked through."
"We've been through a lot." She weakly smiled.
"Anna. Please come home." The words slipped right through my lips.
"I will under one condition."
"Anything you want."
"I want you to talk to Shane and Joey."