Chapter 6
"Dad, can you please just get me the magazine?" I ask him. 'Seventeen' magazine has just come out with a new issue, and I'm the only girl in my class that hasn't read it yet.
"Belle, the news agency is on the other side of town, and I'm nearly home. Can't you just get it tomorrow, or borrow it off one of your friends?" Dad sounds really tired, and he probably needs some sleep, but I really want the magazine.
"C'mon Dad, everyone else has read it, and I want to read it tonight? Why don't you just get it from the local servo or something?" I could hear car horns honking in the background, Dad obviously stuck in traffic.
"Okay, fine Belle, but if I get it, you need to make sure you have done all of your chores, or I won't give it to you. Do you understand?"
"Yes Dad, thank-you so much. I love you!" I hang up the phone excitedly and finish unpacking the dishwasher.
"Anna!"
I sit up really quickly, breathing heavily, to find Christina leaning over me with a worried expression on her face.
After assuring her that I'm fine, I stand from the couch and spot a copy of 'seventeen' magazine sitting on the coffee table. I shudder.
"Harry and Jack just went into town to get some Chinese food. They shouldn't be too much longer, but while there gone, I have a surprise to share with you. Since its Jack's birthday on Saturday, I want to do something for him, but he isn't really big on birthdays. I have 2 ideas. I was thinking of throwing him a party, and inviting everyone over for some drinks, but then I thought that maybe he would rather go spend the long weekend at California? What'd you reckon?" For some reason, it makes me really happy that Christina values my opinion enough to ask for my advice for her husband's birthday celebrations.
"Uh, I definitely think California; it's exciting for him, but not too extravagant, as he doesn't like to make a big deal out of his birthday." She nods along as I speak, and opens up the lid of her MacBook, typing some stuff in, as she leans on the bench, continuously taking small sips out of her wine glass.
"Okay, so, 2 nights at California, everything booked, and we can leave on Friday, which is tomorrow, so make sure you pack tonight. Oh, and bring some nice stuff as we'll go out.."
"What?" Why is she telling me to pack? Does she seriously want me to come?
"You need to pack, and so does Haz. I'll pack for Jack, so we can kind of make it like a surprise."
Oh gosh, I'm going to California tomorrow! God, I love life right now!
.....
I look through my clothes, selecting my best swimsuit, shoving it into my suitcase, ticking it off my list. That's the last of it. Not going to lie, I am definitely a list writer. Writing lists just makes everything better, because that way you have less chance of forgetting anything. I zip up my suitcase, placing it right near my bedroom door, before leaving my room and trailing down the stairs. It's 12:03am, but my throat is really dry and I need water!
I just stand in the kitchen, sipping my water, minding my own business. I'm so excited for tomorrow. California is going to b...
My thoughts are cut off as I hear the elevator ding. It takes me a moment to realise that no, Chris and Jack are not being robbed, as whoever is coming in through the elevator must have a key to the apartment. Wait... everyone who lives here is in bed. The whole family went to be a couple of hours ago.
"Shh, you've got to be quiet. They'll hear you." Harry's quiet voice echoes throughout the first floor of the apartment, and I notice that he doesn't sound drunk at all. So why is a he sneaking a girl into the apartment?
"Hey Harry, hey Harry's friend." I walk over to them, and they blush, they actually blush, embarrassed that I caught them in the act.
"Hey Belle, this is Sam, my girlfriend. Sam, this is Annabelle, the girl taking over Chris' spot. She lives here at the moment.
"Hey Annabelle, nice to meet you. Although, I kind of wish we got to meet under different circumstances, you know, without you catching us sneaking around like some horny teenagers."
It's official. I like her.
"You too, but just call me Anna. Annabelle sounds so formal, I don't like it." They both laugh, and start walking into the kitchen. Harry says he'll get us some drinks, so Sam and I take a seat next to each other on the large leather couch. We hit it off immediately, and don't even notice when Harry comes into the room with drinks. We all chat over hot chocolate, and when it gets to 1:00am, Sam declares that she is going home. I kind of feel bad. They probably think of me as some kind of living, breathing cock-blocker.
"I'll walk you down Sam." Harry goes to put his coat back on, but Sam stops him, insisting that she will be fine, and she will call him when she gets home, so that he knows she got home safely. She kisses him on the cheek, before leaving through the elevator.
I put all of the mugs into the dishwasher, before standing back up to wash my hands. I am startled when I bump into Harry on my way out of the kitchen.
"Are you coming to Cali tomorrow?" I nod my head at his question, before turning off the lights, and walking up stairs together, heading into our own rooms.
"Night Harry."
"Night Belle." I visibly shutter at the nickname, which doesn't go unnoticed by Harry.
"What's wrong?"
I contemplate for a moment, before telling him the truth.
"I haven't been called Belle in a really long time, that's all."
"Oh," he smiles, "you don't mind me calling you Belle, do you? It's just that everyone calls you Anna, so I thought it would be cool to say a different nickname, you know?"
I giggle, nodding at his cute logic, before wishing him a goodnight one last time.
"Goodnight to you too, Belle."
