Call Me Anna

Chapter 4-Date

I watched out of my bedroom window so I could see a car coming. I didn't go downstairs so Mamma wouldn't see me. Call me crazy, but I preferred to keep to myself. The minutes passed as I rested my head on the window. I glanced at the clock. It was seven fifty six. So I kept waiting.

Finally, at eight oh two, a little black ford pulled up to the curb just outside of the driveway. I strained my neck to see who the driver was, and it was Henry. With a smile of exultation on my face, I skipped down the stairs and out the door. I didn't even see Mamma on my way out.

I stood just outside of the door, and Henry motioned for me to hop in. I opened the door and stepped in. I was relieved to see that I wasn't the only one who had put on better clothes.

"You look nice," Henry complemented me when I was seated. He pulled the car away, and we were off down the road.

"Thanks," I said, blushing slightly. "You too."

"Thanks," he replied. It was silent for a minute.

"So, where are we going?" I asked.

"Well, I was thinking that we could go to this cute little restaurant just outside of town... how does that sound? It's never too busy, and the food is delicious. I've been there a few times."

"Perfect."

"So," he said. "Where do you go to college? I think you mentioned that earlier."

"Yale," I told him. "I'm studying writing and English literature and all that." 

"That sounds interesting," he said.

I couldn't help it. I turned to stare at him. "Really? Most people assume that I should be doing something more substantial. More money, with my parents and all."

"Well, as I don't know your parents, that's not really an issue, is it?"

I smiled, looking back out the window. It was my favorite time of night, still light out but with the sun low enough to cast a warm glow over everything. "I guess not."

"And I think you should be able to do whatever you want to. That's what I've always done."

"Then what do you do?" I questioned.  "I feel like you keep hinting at something, but I don't know what it is."

"I'm in the military," he said. "My parents didn't like it, but they don't technically have that control over me anymore. It's mostly to pay for college, because I think I'm going to do that next year."

"Huh," was all I could say. He kept talking.

"I'm on leave right now. I have to go back September. You see, I grew up in the next town over, so this was a natural place to come back to, even though my parents live in California now. No ties there, you know?"

"I guess so," I said. I started to wonder what it would be like to come back from college and stay here without Mamma and the house that I grew up in. 

"Sorry, I'm boring you, aren't I?"

"No, no! Of course not!" I told him earnestly. Listening to him talk was like a breath of fresh air. And so I said, "I like hearing about you."

I thought I noticed a hint of a blush on his cheeks. "No, my life isn't really that interesting."

"Not any less interesting than mine. Plain and simple."

"I'm sure something interesting has happened at some point."

I laughed. Nothing ever happened to me, he had no idea. "There's not that much to say. I was born in this town, I have no brothers or sisters, and I've never moved. My mom and dad divorced when I was seven, and my dad lives in Arizona now so I haven't seen him in years. My mom and I still live here, and she's very intent on being socially, well, perfect. And expects me to be that way, too. I like to escape whenever I can. This is my second year at Yale, and I'm on break right now. Mamma insisted I spend it here with her. And that's all."

"That's not to boring."

"Yes it is."

"Anna."

"What?"

"Your life is just beginning. Live it. Make it whatever you want it to be."

I bit my lip, staring down at my hands in my lap. Something unfamiliar was fluttering in my stomach. "Thanks."

He smiled without taking his eyes off the road. "Anytime."

There was something in me that made me want to continue talking to this boy I'd only just met. He had to understand now, and I had a feeling he would. "You see...I'm tired of all the money. I know I'm lucky and it seems like I'm just throwing it away, but sometimes, I want to be just Anna. Just me. Not Miss Anna, or Miss Smithe, or any of that. You know?"

"I can't say I do, I've never been in that situation. But I can sympathize." Then he laughed, pretty much refuting that statement. I rolled my eyes. "And I promise I will never call you Miss anything unless you want me to."

"That means you're planning to see me again after tonight," I said slyly.

"I hope to."

Sitting back in my seat, I commented, "Wow, this is kind of a lot for the first date, huh?"

"Well," he said, that smile sneaking back on to his handsome face again, "maybe that's the way it will be with us. One step ahead of where we are." 

Us. Logically, I knew it was way too soon for that, but I liked the sound of it rolling off his tongue. 

"You know, that works for me."

After all that, the rest of the evening was relatively normal. We talked and laughed, and Henry was right, the food was amazing. I had never felt anything like this before- it was liberating. He was so different than the boys Mamma paraded through the house with their rich families; more down to earth than the legacies with old money that I ran in to when I was at school.

But I've got to say, the best part of the night was when it was almost over. We were strolling along outside with our hands intertwined, wasting time before he took me home.

"We should probably get going," I said reluctantly.

"You're probably right," he agreed.

We were standing close together, so close. In that moment I knew exactly what I wanted, and what I wanted was to feel like this all the time. I leaned into him just the slightest bit, tilting my head up with a sad smile. 

"I've never met anyone quite like you, Anna," he said quietly. I could see a flash of humor in his crystal clear eyes. 

"I hope that's a good thing," I whispered. 

Our faces were mere inches apart. Slowly, Henry brought his lips to mine.

The kiss was soft and toe-curlingly sweet, and I felt every muscle of my body melting into him. Our hands were still entwined down at our side, but he brought the other one up to cradle my face. I let my hand rest on his arm, pressing up a little bit more on my tiptoes.

It was over all too soon. I pouted slightly, and he laughed.

"That's only the first kiss," he said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. I nestled into him, and couldn't help but smile.