Found Along The Way

Chapter fifteen

"Anya that was incredible!" Lina said hugging her best friend tightly, before giving anyone else a chance to speak to her at the end of the ceremony.

"Well the credit should go to Lucas, he took my thoughts and made them into that great speech."

He smiled at her, slightly blushing,

"It was all you Anya." Lucas said sweetly, touching her arm.

Anya would be lying if she said she didn't feel a spark at that very moment, but it was brief considering Joey took the opportunity to bring up the dreaded topic, Tricia's speech.

It wasn't something Anya particularly wanted to speak about, but when Joey asked

"How do you feel about seeing Tricia? Her speech was total shit right?" she laughed. She couldn't help it, because her friends always made something painful into something not so bad, even funny.

"It was ridiculous Joey. But I still felt stung. It was like she chose to speak about love just to spite me."

"She's a stone cold bitch. Impossible to think she even knows what love is." Lina stated, half joking.

"I know... God, I've still yet to see Daniel, do you think he's even here?"

"Lady stop worrying. We're going to go to the after-party and have a good time, celebrate your success, and stop thinking about those two morons."

"You're right Lina." Anya said with another sigh, "Okay let's go!"

She and Lucas were walking behind their friends as they navigated the halls towards the exit, when Lucas took the opportunity to talk to Anya.

"I noticed you were looking at me, in your speech, and I couldn't help but wonder why you chose me? I mean Lina was there and-"

"You reassure me Lucas. Looking at you made me feel safe, if I'm being totally honest."

He smiled, causing Anya to do the same. She liked his smile more than she could say, it could light up the entire room and every time she saw it, she couldn't resist smiling back. As if some higher power was telling her that this man was the one she should give all her smiles to.

"I'm glad I make you feel that way."

He put out his hand for her to take, and she did, instantly.

Lina turned around to see the two walking behind her, joined at the hand like schoolchildren, and swiftly faced forward again, smiling to herself.

With Daniel, Lina had always felt something was off. Probably because he would always have a beer somewhere near him in any situation, and because even though nobody would notice the times he caused Anya pain, she'd notice. She tried to bring it up with her a few times but Anya didn't have the strength to do anything. Yes he'd drink, keep his secrets, and shout or stay completely silent, but it wasn't so bad in Anya's mind.

"He's not abusive Lina, he loves me. He'd never lay a hand on me."

"He drinks too much Anya, and he hurts you emotionally."

"But... he makes me happy, he's not bad all the time..."

"Look, I notice these things. I notice when you flinch at him speaking too loud, and I notice when you panic if he doesn't respond to you."

Anya knew deep down that all this was true. But clouded by his kindness that she and everyone saw so often, Lina's words went unheard.

After another car journey, this time accompanied by some harsh wind and rain clouding the evening sky, they arrived at an elegant looking mansion.