Stirring The Soul

Chapter 13

Within a minute you get another text message and you're about to turn off the notifications when you see it's from Layla. Damn, I haven't spoken to the girls in over a week.

/// Dude, where have you been? I can't believe you flaked on us last Wed! You are totally gonna make it up to us tomorrow. Meet us at The Breakfast Club at 11 for brunch. Mmmm American pancakes here I come!

Laylsssss xxxx ///

You consider whether you're up to meeting with the girls, but you conclude that brunch with them might be just what you need right now. Everything recently has revolved around school and JK, and maybe you need some perspective or distraction, whichever one could help.

/// Sorry about Wed!! I will defo be there tomorrow, can't wait to see you!! xxx ///

You put the phone on silent and fall asleep straight away. When you check the time the next morning, you see that you've slept for a solid 10 hours. It doesn't take you long to remember what happened the night before. On the one hand, it had been so amazing to kiss Jungkook, feeling just as you'd imagined it would. You remember how it felt so natural and sublime that you wondered what it would have been like if you'd taken it further. On the other hand, however, it scared you how comfortable you felt kissing a much younger man whom you'd only met a few days ago. You immediately chastise yourself for thinking that Jungkook was just another man. Whether it is his upbringing or growing up as an idol, or his own ability to discern things for himself, he stood out from the crowd for all the right reasons, you had to admit that.

Ok, forget about Jungkook today, just get ready and enjoy your time with the girls......well.....once you've cleared the dishes from last night.

You try not to remember what happened by the sofa or the fun you had in the kitchen last night whilst you cleared everything away. You do sigh a lot though as you wash the dishes. Once everything is back where they should be, you get ready to face Mia and Layla. Mia is there first who, as usual, is on her phone updating her social media feed. Layla will be there soon. You join Mia in the queue outside the restaurant, holding onto her for warmth. You both catch up on how busy work has been and Mia tells you that Layla has started an office romance, to which you respond, "Another one? What happened to the last guy she was seeing?"

"Oh well, Layla ditched him as soon as she realised he was still living with his parents," Mia replies, rolling her eyes. Then, as though knowing she is being discussed, Layla suddenly appears behind you. "What are you two girls giggling about? Mia, you better not have told Anna lies about my love life." The banter between you three continues until you are shown to your seats. As expected with such a popular place, it is packed with happy customers. You have been here before and the food is to die for. Jungkook would love this place. Dammit! You'd forgotten about your decision not to think about him.

When your food arrives (pancakes for Layla, full English for Mia and waffles for you), you all eat, talk and laugh at the same time. You feel like some of the heaviness from the previous night has been lifted off your shoulders. There is some flirty banter between Layla and your waiter, which you smirk at with Mia. "What? He's cute! And he promised to put extra chocolate sauce on my sundae," Layla says coyly.

"Ah, so the going rate for getting freebies is open flirtation? I must remember that for next time," you joke.

"Speaking of which," Mia suddenly stares at you. "What's happening on that front with you Anna?"

"Me? Nothing. You know me, I have no time for guys," you say looking down at your coffee.

"What about girls then?" persists Mia.

You almost splutter over your drink. You laugh as you say, "Girls? Well I have tried to hook up with one or two but I don't think I give off a gay enough vibe," you say laughing hard. The girls know you well enough to know when you're joking and when you're hiding something. Layla squints at you and says, "Anna, don't even try it. You haven't called or text us once since your birthday bash. And short replies to our messages don't count. Something's definitely up. Don't say you've been busy, we know when we're being fobbed off," she complains. You fiddle with your coffee cup and take a deep breath. Should I tell them now? There's really nothing to tell, hardly anything happened.

"Ok, you got me. I was interested in a guy very briefly but it's on hiatus now," you say, careful about what you disclose to them. Let's test the water and see how they react.

"Hiatus? What on earth is that about when you're interested in a guy?" asks Layla.

"Yeah, does that mean you're on a break? What on earth for? I thought that kind of thing only happened with Ross and Rachel. Just kidding. Seriously though, why would you be on hiatus? Spill, missie!" demands Mia.

"Fine, but hear me out," you say, still not planning on revealing everything. "This guy is younger than me," but before you can finish you are hit with a barrage of questions and exclamations.

"What??!!! Go Anna!! You cougar, you!"

"Oh my God, be quiet Layla," you try to hush her her, looking around to see if other diners are watching.

"Younger than you? How much younger? Where did you meet him? Was it that cute guy at the bar?"

"Yes, only a few years, Mr Brown introduced us, and no, that was you, Layla," you reply quickly, hoping they missed some of it.

"I can't believe you kept this to yourself for more than a week!"

"Well exactly, it's only been a week, so really there was nothing worth mentioning yet," you defend yourself. All the previous outbursts have come from Layla, and not Mia, who has been quiet and carefully watching you, which you are aware of. You look at her nervously because she's the slightly more astute of your two friends. "So, you've been keen on this younger guy for about a week and you've already called hiatus on it?" she asks. You hastily reply, "Actually I think I'm not going to pursue it at all, we really don't have that much in common. I don't know why I said hiatus." You look at Mia, hoping she doesn't see through your lie. Mia simply shrugs her shoulders and says, "Well, good on you for at least considering going out with someone after all this time. If he could make you happy, why shouldn't you go for it? Who cares if he's younger, I'm sure you'll show him the ways of the world," she winks knowingly.