Pinky Promise

THREE

ANA

"I missed driving," Nate said after a while. We drove through the streets of Brooklyn. Like every Friday night we sat in the car and drove through the streets without a destination.
"Did you drive around alone when I was gone?" he asked me.
"No. Mom and Luke thought it was too dangerous."
"Because then you would be alone. Yes, it was probably really better that way.
"How were the people in London?" I changed the subject.
"In the boarding school were some quite strange guys. Really, really strange guys. But there were also those who were really cool."
"Probably had its advantages being at a boys-only boarding school. " He laughed.
"Oh yes," he replied and seemed to reminisce. Nate smiled and turned left after the traffic light. There wasn't much going on on the streets, which was amazing for a Friday night. Nevertheless there were still some on the way. Girls in short dresses. Couples on their way home. Groups entering clubs and also people on their own. In the houses there was also light and lanterns lit up the streets. It was really fascinating how different people and their lives looked. While some lived alone and were lonely, the others spent their time with loved ones. Many worked into the late night and turned every cent over three times before spending it and others literally threw their money out the window. Everyone had different worries and problems. Wishes and needs that they dealt with in different ways. Fascinating how mankind functioned. Really fascinating.

"Do you know what happened to me today?" I asked him sometime after we had been silent for a while.
"Hmm," he made and looked at me briefly. I told him about my embarrassing meeting with our new Australian neighbor.
He made fun of me by laughing at me.
"It was incredibly embarrassing! He probably made fun of me just like you did afterwards," I said and hit him on the arm.
"But you were also stupid! It was clear that he would notice you if you watched him like that. You are not invisible, Annie, other people can see you!"
"Really? Thank you for telling me that. I did not notice it before. All the time I thought nobody would see me," I replied and twisted my eyes.
"With pleasure. Always with pleasure!"
"Idiot!"
"Right back at you", he turned to me and grimaced. I raised my hand and showed him the middle finger.
"Did the guy have long hair?" he inquired.
"Yes, why?"
"I think I saw him."
"When?"
"When I arrived. He was in the elevator. He was wearing a white shirt."
"Yes, yes! That was him. He looks good, don't you think?"
"Yeah. But not my type."
"I wonder why Jess never said anything about him."
"Maybe she didn't think it was important. Besides, she has enough to do with Rayne. A cousin from Australia is unimportant."
"Hmm. Yeah, maybe you're right."
Of course, a cousin from Australia was unimportant when you just gave birth to a little daughter and were raising her alone and that at 20! She also had to somehow finance her life and pay bills. The only help she had was George and Shawn, who at least helped her every now and then. Since we were relatively good friends, I often helped her out by cleaning up at her house, or by taking care of Rayne for an hour when the boys didn't have time. Mom also had a weakness for Jess and tried to help her as much as Jess would let her. Nate had an equally good relationship with her. Otherwise, she was on her own; she had no contact with her family for a while now. At least I thought so, apparently she still had her cousin, with whom she had to get along well, after all he had moved in with her. Whether his moving in was temporary or forever, I didn't know, but maybe I would find out soon.

Nate drove into a drive through and ordered two big fries and two vanilla milkshakes for us. While he was parking, I took the paper bag and unpacked the food. He unbuckled and I handed him his portion. He drowned his fries in mayo, but I did a little on the side so I could decide the amount of mayo I wanted on my fries.
"How's Claire actually?" he asked chewing and tried to make it sound casual.
"Pretty good, I guess. Why do you ask?"
"Just so," he said and drank his milkshake. I looked at him skeptically and waited for him to give me the true answer. "I saw the picture of you two. On her Instagram."
"I thought you had unfollowed each other after the breakup."
"We are."
"So you stalked her on Instagram?" I raised a brow.
"No. It was shown to me purely by coincidence," he lied.
"Purely by coincidence. Of course."
"Since when are you friends with my ex-girlfriend? You two couldn't stand each other's blood."
"I know. That had also been the case, but then it just turned out differently."
"I want to hear the whole story," he demanded of me. I rolled my eyes and drank my milkshake. "Anastasia!" I sighed annoyed.
"It happened once in school. And she was there and didn't want to go. I told her to leave me alone, but she was stubborn and stayed. The whole time. She even brought me home, took care of me and waited until Luke came home and after that she didn't tell anyone anything. I didn't know this side about her. The next day she came to visit me and to make sure that I was fine. And over time we spent more and more time together."
"How come you never told me?"
"I didn't want to admit that I liked her after all. She is also your ex-girlfriend and I am your sister. I can't be friends with your ex. That is against the code."
"Against which code," he asked amusedly.
"Against my code! As your twin sister, I hate the people you hate. I'm on your side and I'm always backing you and accordingly I can't be friends with your ex-girlfriend!"
"Ana, that's bullshit", he said and smiled, "You can be friends with her even if you are my twin sister and she is my ex-girlfriend."
"Nevertheless." He shook his head and took some fries.
"Besides, I was right," he suddenly said self-satisfied.
"With what?"
"I told you she was great. You didn't believe me! I was right and you were wrong!"
"I was right and you were wrong," I mimicked him.
"I was right and you were wrong", he mimicked me. So it went on until we broke out in laughter sometime.

I hope you like it! xx