Found Along The Way

Chapter thirteen

The past 3 months involved a lot of 'facing it together' between Anya and Lina. Facing the hostile crowd of judges in the writers group, and setting them straight by proving Lina's passion hadn't shifted in the slightest, facing the orange walls of Anya's old room and painting them a light purple for the nursery, and most importantly facing the incoming speech she would do. That was today.

"Lina I am SHITTING myself."

"You're going to do amazing," Lina responded, noticing the untouched pancakes on Anya's plate. "Anya honey, I understand that you're nervous but if you don't eat those pancakes I absolutely will. At 9 months you'd think I'd have gotten used to the cravings."

Giving her friend a sarcastic shocked face, she cut off a piece and shoved it into her mouth, guarding the pancakes from Lina and her seemingly endless hunger. You wouldn't think she ate half as much as she did by how small her frame was, aside from the bump. Anya was convinced it was 90% pancakes in there.

Lina set herself down on the couch, looking over at her best friend, who's face had returned to the same worried expression it had been in all morning.

"Sweetie your dress looks beautiful, your speech is perfect, and most importantly you deserve to be there! You are SO talented."

"It's not those things I'm so worried about." Anya groaned, dragging herself in her spotty PJ's across the room to sit next to Lina. "It's how she's going to be there. And HE'S going to be there."

"I know there's nothing I can do about that. Apart from glamming you the hell up so you can show them just how damn good you look 18 months after the breakup. You are STUNNING in your dress."

Anya chuckled in response, grateful for how her best friend was always able to hype her up.

"Speaking of Ann..." Lina said, squeezing her hands as the door opened to show Joe and Lucas suited up and holding the girl's dresses.

"Two dresses for two beautiful ladies..." Joey announced, showing them off to the excited girls.

"And two hot dates for those beautiful ladies" Lina responded suggestively, reaching her arms out to Joey so he could help her off the couch.

Anya winced at Lina's words but shot Lucas a cute smile anyway, she knew he looked hot. He always did.

Anya and Lucas had been living happily together for the past 3 months, as friends. Despite the undeniable chemistry between the two, and the fact that they had the whole house to themselves, they never took action. It was clear they liked each other, they'd stayed up 'til crazy O'clock some nights, laughing, cooking, talking. It mirrored so many nights with Daniel, but she never thought of him once, not how she used to. These nights between the two were unforgettable, yet they never defined what they were outside of roommates and friends, they never even said they were going to try dating again. It was an awkward, unspoken cliff-hanger. One that drove Lina MAD.

"You two are awful. It's like watching a really shit sitcom where nobody ever talks about their feelings." Lina would say.

"Seriously lady?"

"Mhm."

Admittedly, Anya would've loved to think of Lucas as her date to the ceremony, but she wasn't sure if he thought the same. So apart from the cute smile, she let the topic slide and grabbed Lina's hand.

"Guess we should go get glam then..."

"See you for the big reveal boys." Lina announced.

After the girls hurried upstairs, leaving a trail of giggles behind them, Joey and Lucas began to clear up the plates from breakfast which the girls had messily left out due to their excitement.

"Dude, if having a kid is even half as messy as living with those two I am gonna STRUGGLE." Joey joked, running the tap.

"Ha, luckily I haven't encountered too much mess living with Ann, but we'll see."

"So, how is living with Anya?"

"Good, it's pretty cool, she's cool and living with her is... cool..."

Joey shook his head, smiling, "Cool, huh?"

Lucas could tell his awkwardness did not go unnoticed, and with a sigh he admitted,

"Man I get all kinds of frozen up when talking about her. She's... pretty damn awesome."

"Lucas, you're living together, you clearly like each other, and you're basically her date tonight..."

"I am?"

"Dude, of course."

"But we've never actually said that-"

"Which is why you should talk about it! Be a man and let those feelings be known." Joey turned off the tap, looking at him expectantly. Lucas knew he was right, he was a smart guy, he'd just never heard the words out loud before.

By the time they'd finished the dishes, the sound of footsteps on wooden stairs were approaching. Joey turned to see his beautiful girlfriend waving at him, smiling that infamous smile he loved so much. She was wearing a low cut, dark red dress with a silky, long skirt that flowed over her bump and met at her ankles to compliment the perfectly cute heels that tapped the floor. He walked over to her on the stairs, and held out his hand to guide her.

"How chivalrous." Anya joked, standing behind her. The sound of her voice made Lucas's gaze dart to her, and notice her. She took his breath away.

Anya always looked beautiful, but it was rare to see her fully glammed up. Her hair was twisted and braided- half up, half down, with fluttering tendrils playing around her sparkling face. Her dress was light pink, sleeveless, with a slightly poufy ballerina style skirt that came down to her shins, and white kitten heels. He had never seen her look so graceful and princess-like.

Mimicking Joey, he put his hand out for Anya and guided her down the stairs. When she met him at the bottom he smiled at her, taking her other hand,

"You ready?"

"No, but it's not like I have a choice." She giggled nervously.

"We're gonna face it together girl." Lina chimed in, putting her arm around her.

Anya took a deep breath, smiling at everyone. "Together."