NOT GIVING UP ON FOREVER

Chapter 32

"Coffee?" Mark entered the room with a tray and two cups.

Anna had just opened her eyes and looked around lazily.

"Yes, would do the trick," she smiled modestly. "Been up long?"

"Yes, but you slept for, like, ages." He smiled back. "You have an interview soon."

"What? It can't be! How long did I sleep?"

"It's noon."

"Phew. Don't scare me. Plenty of time."

"Not that plenty. It's the capital. Everything is crazily far apart. To get to your school will take us about three hours."

"Three hours!" blurted out the girl. "I'll need to get a place closer to work, that's for sure!"

"What? Moving out so soon? I thought you liked me." He winked at her.

Anna coughed.

"You don't live close. And I only asked you for temporary help, just to get my bearings and shoot something decent, if the interview goes smoothly."

"It'll go perfect, Anna. They need a professional like you. We all know that. But even so, you can always live with me. I'll be only happy. I don't see the point in you spending money on rent if you have me."

"Thanks, Mark. But I..." Anna got lost, not knowing what words to pick to sound more polite.

Her phone rang. Anna looked at the screen, and her brain seemed to stop working for a moment. Randall. How to answer him? What to say?

"Answer it, Anna. I guess that's your boyfriend Randall..." Mark sighed, leaving the room.

Anna just stared at the flashing screen. The call was insistent and didn't seem to be the first one. She didn't understand what was happening to her. That Randall was her boyfriend never sounded the way she wanted it. She was afraid even to say out loud the idea that they were a couple. Not because she didn't wish that, but because Randall never even hinted at it. She had never seen him denoting an actual relationship between them, not a holiday romance or just sex.

She wanted to hear with all her heart that she belonged to him, that he loved her, that they date, that nothing would ever destroy them. But he never determined such an outcome. Inside, she was torn by some dirty, incomprehensible feelings as if she had betrayed him, cheated on him, even when her mind tried to explain to her that she was single. Randall himself decided not to clarify the status of their relationship. But such arguments helped little.

"Hello?" she finally squeezed out.

"Anna! Finally, beautiful!" she heard a soft voice. "Where are you? I wrote and called. Wasted so much ink. Fingers hurt from typing. It's been days since you left me. Is that what you decided to do to me? Used me for a purpose and dumped me?"

They both laughed. His voice seemed so sweet, caring, charming. She fought back the tears.

"How are you, Randall?"

"Great! What about you?"

"I came to the capital, and I plan to get a job and move here."

"Wow! That's news! Anna, this is amazing! Congratulations, well done!"

"Thank you. So far, these are only plans. I thought I'd rent a place and invite you... You'd come, right?"

"Of course! I promised I would. I miss you so much, Anna."

"Me, too. You have no idea how much." She couldn't hold back her tears. "Randall, please come to me. I can't be alone without you."

"Hey, hey! What up with crying, beautiful? I'm here. I'm not missing, am I? I will come as soon as I can."

"When can you?"

"Do you want to see me in a month?"

"I do."

"Then it's settled."

"I love..."

The front door slammed shut.

Mark hurried out of the apartment.