Chasing Anne

Bayside Brianna

Anne was still fast asleep when Mark entered her room the morning after his father had shown him the car. Dawn lay at her feet, snoozing happily under the edge of her master's blanket. He couldn't help but smile. Why was she becoming so much more beautiful day by day? He sighed, thinking back on his father's words.

'Mark, I see that same love in you for Anne. I also see it in her for you . . . Pray about it first, all right?'
Would he one day soon wake up beside her? He reddened slightly and a tingle shot down his back. He'd spent most of the night before praying, just as his father had said he should, nodding off to sleep only a few times from exhaustion. He'd been able to keep himself awake until about four in the morning when he finally let himself sleep for a meager four hours. But by then, he was already sure that he had an answer to his prayers. His alarm had woken him up at eight and while he would have liked to sleep longer and could have hit the snooze button, he'd thought against it and had forced himself out of bed. Anne was simply more important. He smiled and walked closer to her, his footsteps as quiet as possible. Dawn flicked an ear in his direction and opened an eye, catching a glimpse of him. Her tail immediately began to thump against her Master's leg, wagging with joy at seeing her friend. Mark put a finger to his lips to quiet the dog down, but Dawn scrambled to her feet and grinned wide in the funny way a dog smiles. Mark rolled his eyes and walked over to the husky, ruffling behind her ears.
"You are trouble!" he whispered.
Dawn just let out an excited bark and wagged her tail harder.
Anne groaned. "Dawn, go back to bed. I don't want to get up."
Mark chuckled softly. "Well, she's not getting up anytime soon, is she?"
Dawn whined and wagged her tail even harder, leaping off the bed to the slippery floor. Whining again, she nuzzled Mark's leg, as if she were asking for something.
Mark rolled his eyes. "No, I didn't bring you breakfast."
Dawn's tail stopped wagging and she barked once more, moving toward Anne and whining again. Mark frowned. "Okay, you're not hungry. You want me to wake up Anne?"
Dawn's big pink tongue flopped out of her mouth in a wide dog grin. She began wagging her tail again and turned a circle, anxious for Mark to come closer.
Anne groaned again and rolled on her back, stretching. "What do you want, Dawn?" she asked, her voice gravelly.
Mark smiled and moved closer to the husky, patting her on the head. "She wants you to wake up, Anne," he said softly.
Anne smiled and laughed. "Like that's going to happen this early, Mark."
"It's already 8:15, Miss McCourtney. Not quite as early as you think it is."
Anne opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him. "I can't imagine you've been up much longer than I have."
"I actually didn't sleep all that much. I stayed up until four, but by then I couldn't keep myself awake any longer so I slept from four until eight. So I guess I only beat you by fifteen minutes."
Anne nodded. "See? I didn't sleep in that much, but I still wouldn't mind going back to bed." She yawned. "Why were you up until four?"
Mark smiled. "I can't tell you yet."
Anne scrunched her eyebrows down and scrutinized him. "Why not?"
"Because it's a surprise for tonight."
"Tonight? What's tonight?"
Mark grinned wider. "You'll find out," he teased, sitting down on the edge of her bed and taking her hand.
Anne rolled her eyes, but it was simply too difficult to stay upset with him. Besides, he would tell her if she needed to know something. She smiled and gave his hand a squeeze, propping herself up into a sitting position with her free arm. Mark wrapped his arm around her and let her lean against him, sighing deeply. For a moment, they were completely silent, Mark simply holding Anne in his arms and Anne cherishing the warmth of his embrace. Neither wanted to let the other go.
"Did you sleep well?" Mark finally asked, as she nearly fell back asleep.
"Yeah, I did," Anne replied, sitting up slightly so that she would have a better chance at staying awake. "I would ask the same of you, but you didn't sleep for some reason, so there's no point in that question."
"I promise you, Anne. I had good reason to stay up that late. It's not like I wouldn't do something like that without a purpose."
"But what is your purpose? Why can't I know?"
"Because it's not the right time to tell you."
Anne sighed deeply, closing her eyes. "Well, then I'll be content with that."
Mark rubbed her shoulder and kissed her cheek, chuckling. "I love you, Anne."
Anne smiled. "And I love you," she replied.
"Andrew told me that you can walk today," Mark continued. "That ought to excite you."
Anne shrugged. "I suppose. I find it strange that I have to relearn how to walk. I'm twenty-three for goodness sake! I should know how to walk!"
"It won't be that hard to relearn it. Andrew just said that you have to remind your brain of how it was when you were standing up. That's all. Your body just needs to remember."
"And if it doesn't?"
"Then I'll be there to catch you," Mark finished with a tender smile. "Just like I said I would. 'I'll always try to be the one to help you back up again.'"
Anne sighed. "That night on the hill seems like forever ago."
"I know, but I still remember like it was just yesterday. We were sitting side-by-side, just like this, weren't we?"
Anne nodded. "We were. You had your arm around me and I was leaning against you as the sun set." She smiled. "That night was a miracle, Mark. Did you really plan that?"
Mark shrugged. "Well, it wasn't like I didn't have a plan to win back the girl of my dreams," he answered. "I was hoping that someday we'd meet up again. I didn't know it was going to occur because of your dad, and I would rather it have been on better terms, but it worked out."
"Mark, if you didn't find me that day, in that situation, right at the time you did, you would have lost me completely. I would have been too afraid of losing you that I wouldn't even consider loving you."
"That's why I'm glad you didn't shut me out. You certainly could have."
"And what a mess I would have been then," Anne muttered.
Mark smiled. "We made it though. Somehow, by God's grace, we made it here."
"And I never want us to be apart again, Mark," Anne whispered. "I don't think I'd be able to make it through losing you."
"Well, you're stuck with me. At least, as far as I know. I'm not going anywhere. Besides, I wouldn't be able to take losing you. Not again."
"Well, you're stuck with me too. I can't even walk!"
"You will soon though," Mark encouraged, giving her a squeeze. "Just as soon as Andrew gets here."
"Well, right now I'm content just sitting here, so he can take as long as he wants," she said with a smile, laying her head on his shoulder.
Mark laughed. "Come on, Anne. You have to get back on your feet sometime! If you don't, I'll never be able to dance with you again!"
Anne sighed. "I suppose. But still, I don't want to move right now."
"Neither do I," Mark replied, his voice low.
Silence fell again, though neither Mark nor Anne cared. Being together was all that was on either of their minds in that moment.
But, as fate would have it, Andrew knocked and Dawn's ears shot up. She barked and crouched, growling at the door and slowly approaching it. Anne frowned. "Dawn, come here! It's just Andrew. You can come in!"
Andrew obligingly obeyed and opened the door, holding out his hand to Dawn. Dawn barked once, the fur on her back standing on end, but as soon as she recognized that it was only Andrew, she timidly wagged her tail and nuzzled his hand.
"Good morning to all of you!" he exclaimed cheerfully.
Mark smiled and nodded. "It is a good morning, Andrew. "How are you?"
Andrew smiled. "I've never been better. How's Anne?" he asked, picking up a clipboard from his desk.
"I'm finally starting to feel like my old self again," Anne answered. "Well, as close to my old self as I can get anyway."
"No nausea, serious fatigue, soreness, or anything else that you've felt in the past few days?" Andrew asked, scribbling something down on the clipboard.
"Nothing other than my head still being sore."
"That's good news," Andrew continued, writing a few more notes down. "You're recovering faster than expected. Much faster. Two days ago, I thought it would be a week before you'd be back on your feet. I guess Mark's return did more than we may have thought."
Anne blushed. "His return was more than a miracle, Andrew. You know that."
"Yes, his recovery was nothing short of that. But speaking of that, Mark, how's your arm?"
"Completely fine."
"And your leg?"
"It's hasn't bothered me at all."
Andrew smiled. "It's nothing short of a miracle. I'll tell you that. You would still be in bed right now if it weren't for God's mighty healing."
Mark nodded. "I know. I can never thank him enough for it."
"But, Miss McCourtney, I don't want to force you into anything, so if you're going to tell me, tell me now. Are you ready to try standing? If you're not, I don't want to push you into it. Scaring you could throw off everything."
Anne glanced at Mark who gave her a reassuring squeeze. She sighed. "I might as well try," she said softly.
Andrew nodded. "Well then, whenever you're ready. Mark will spot you, but I want you to try to get up on your own."
Anne nodded and Mark withdrew from her. Anne missed the comfort from his embrace immediately, but she tried to focus on her task instead. Bracing herself on the edge of the bed and sliding her legs off of the mattress, she slowly slid forward and lowered her feet to the floor, keeping her weight on her arms. Her socked feet touched the floor and slowly, Anne began to transfer her body weight from her arms to her legs, pushing off of the bed. Her legs trembled and Anne could feel an ache building up in her knees, but she ignored it and continued to add weight to her legs until she was almost completely reliant on them. But by then, her legs were trembling and aching miserably. She glanced at Mark, her heart pounding. Mark's green eyes met hers and he instantly moved to her side, not having to be asked. Andrew opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it when Mark gently slipped an arm around Anne's waist and helped her steady herself. She let out a breath she'd seemingly been holding and smiled, releasing her grip on the bed. Mark carefully helped her take a few steps forward, gradually releasing his grip on her little by little. And little by little, Anne started to walk forward on her own. Andrew smiled, but said absolutely nothing as the couple worked together. It was truly amazing to watch.
When Mark finally found the courage to let her go completely, Anne could walk on her own. At least, she made it ten steps. Mark still stood beside her, but he kept his arms to himself, wanting Anne to take over. After she'd taken ten steps, she gasped and her knees nearly buckled, but Mark simply re-wrapped his arm around her waist and she tried again. But soon she was walking solo once again, Mark's careful eye upon her. She carefully strode to the door, touched it, then turned around and made her way back to the bed where Mark was waiting. When she reached him, she threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly, laughing.
"I did it," she whispered. "I can walk!"
Mark nodded, wrapping his arms around her and laughing with her. "I know," he whispered. "Now we can dance!"
Anne smiled and looked up at him, her blue eyes meeting the green of his. "You're incredible."
"Speaking of dancing," Andrew interrupted. "Your dad is having a banquet dinner tonight. Both of you are invited."
"A banquet dinner?" Mark asked. "What?"
Andrew tried to think of a backup line. What was he supposed to say now?
But, to his relief, he didn't have to have one, a knock interrupted him.
"Come in," Mark called, helping Anne to a chair.
"Mark?" Brianna asked, peeking into the room.
"Brianna!" Mark exclaimed, whipping around to face her.
Brianna smiled and slipped into the room, running to his arms and giving him a hug.
"I was so worried about you!" Mark exclaimed.
"Worried about me?" Brianna asked, surprised. "Why would you be worried about me?"
"I just haven't seen you in a while," Mark admitted. "That's all."
"It's only been a few days, Mark. I've been fine. Dad's been taking great care of me."
"Oh, about Dad. Is he having a banquet dinner tonight?"
Brianna nodded. "Yes, he is. Why?"
"Well, Andrew said we were invited."
"Yeah, I thought Dad told you. He didn't?"
"No, he just showed me my car. He didn't mention anything about a dinner."
"He said he would! To think I set up a whole shopping spree with Anne when Dad didn't even tell you what it was for!" Brianna laughed. "Well, anyway, there's a dinner tonight and Dad was supposed to tell you that he invited you two. Cindy, Jackson, Andrew, Mitch, and Dad are all going to be there!"
"And Brianna," Andrew added, raising a brow.
Brianna blushed and nodded. "Yeah, me too."
"But how come he's having a banquet all of a sudden?" Mark pressed, sitting down beside Anne and letting her lean against him. "What made this come up so abruptly?"
"Well, it's the first time both you and Anne can attend a dinner with him. Why shouldn't he make it a big deal?"
Andrew raised an eyebrow. How was Brianna pulling this off so beautifully?
"And you arranged a shopping spree for Anne . . . why?"
"Now, that I can't tell you. Otherwise, it ruins my surprise. You just need to trust me."
"Brianna, I don't want Anne going off somewhere without me. Not this soon."
"I can go with them," Andrew offered.
"Andrew, Mark, we'll be fine. It's supposed to be a girls' outing," Brianna insisted. "Cindy, Anne, and I are the only ones going."
"Brie, you don't understand," Mark countered. "You, Anne, and Cindy probably will be fine going out together, but . . . it would just make me feel a lot better if someone, such as Andrew, went with you. That is if I really can't go.
Brianna was frustrated, everyone could tell, but Mark didn't look like he was giving in any sort of ground to her. Finally, after a long moment of silence, Brianna sighed and let her shoulders loosen. "All right, Mark. Andrew will come with us. Is that all right with you?"
Mark nodded, glancing sideways at Anne. "As long as he promises to keep her safe."
Andrew nodded and smiled. "I promise."
Mark sighed and slumped slightly. "Then I guess I have no further argument. Is that all right with you, Anne?"
Anne nodded slowly and reached for his hand. "I'll be fine, Mark."
"Come back in one piece, okay?" Mark asked, a smile flickering at the edges of his mouth as he took her hand and squeezed it gently.
Anne smiled. "I will."
Mark sighed again and lowered his gaze, hesitantly letting go of her hand. Anne looked back at Andrew and bit her lip, nodding to the door. Andrew nodded and beckoned for Brianna to follow him outside. Brianna looked hesitant, but then complied.
As soon as they were gone, Anne retook Mark's hand. "I'll come back, Mark," she said softly.
Mark took a deep breath and nodded. "It just scares me. I don't want to lose you."
"You won't."
Mark slowly nodded his head and then taking a deep breath, he smiled and turned to her kissing her cheek. "I guess I'll see you tonight?"
Anne beamed. "And then we'll have a dance; just you and me."
Mark chuckled. "You can count on it."


Andrew had never imagined going with Brianna, Cindy, and Anne would be so boring. He had to admit that it was quite amusing at times, but the ratio of the time he was amused to the time he was bored was a sad 1/100. He sighed and leaned back into the chair he'd nearly conformed into, closing his eyes. Since arriving at Bayside Boutique, Cindy . . . well, she'd been driving Anne crazy, to be honest. Cindy didn't like any of the dresses that Anne was trying on and Anne was plumb tired of trying on the gowns. It had already been an hour and the two of them had gone through at least twenty of them! At least, from what Andrew had paid attention to there were twenty. He'd lost interest in the activity as soon as Anne had shown Cindy the first one. In his opinion, he liked the first one that Anne had tried on the most out of all the gowns he'd seen so far. Anne had picked it off of the racks herself and seemed more than pleased with it, but Cindy had said it was too plain. So it went back on the rack much to Anne's disappointment.
Now, here they were an hour later, and it looked as though his cousin was on the very brink of losing her sanity. He sighed and stood, rubbing his eyes and walking over to his befuddled cousin.
"Cindy," he said softly. "How about you go and look for your own dress while Anne looks for hers?"
Cindy sighed and nodded. "I suppose so. Perhaps I can go and find Brianna."
Anne choked back a gasp and sat down in a navy armchair behind her, shaking her head. "Good luck with that," she muttered.
Andrew smiled and shrugged. "Maybe she'll match up with Brianna's style better than yours. You never do know."
"She certainly has her own taste, that's for sure. Absolutely nothing simple! For goodness sake, I don't want to look like glitter!"
"So she likes sequence and you don't. You're bound to find something."
"Well, what do you think of this dress?"
Andrew smiled and shook his head. "I am not one to judge that, Anne. Brianna should."
"No, honestly. I want your opinion."
Andrew sighed and looked over her dress, shaking his head side to side. "I like the one you picked out first, Anne. But I think you should go with blue. It matches your eyes."
Anne instantly blushed. "Are you serious?"
Andrew rolled his eyes. "I told you that I wouldn't be any help."
Anne frowned. "Look, I'm no good with this sort of thing. Mark's never even seen me in a dress before!"
"He hasn't?"
"No, we've never been in a formal situation together. The times we've spent time with each other have . . . well . . . it was just the coffee shop or a completely casual dinner. So please, I need all the help I can get. Besides, there was nothing wrong with what you said. It was one of the sweetest things someone's ever told me."
Andrew raised a brow. "Really? Has Mark never mentioned your eyes before? I find that hard to believe."
Anne blushed. "Never mind. I'm going to go and ask the clerk the first dress in blue."
"Gray-blue," Andrew corrected. "You want it in gray-blue."
But he wasn't sure if he'd been heard or not. He sighed. Tonight was truly going to be something. He just wished he knew what that something was.