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Post by Thursday on Jun 26, 2006 22:44:02 GMT -5
I drove home and this time I didn't put my keys on the rack where anyone could get them. Ahem...Christina. I put them in my purse and vowed to keep it hidden at all costs. "I'm home!" I called not really expecting an answer. But much to my surprise I got one. "Oh hi honey!" says my mom as I walk into the kitchen. She is wearing her normal at home off work clothes jeans and a tee-shirt but doing the most unthinkable thing. Baking. My mom is baking. The woman who hasn't cooked a real meal as long as I've known her. "Mom? Where are you doing?" She sighs and goes back to peering intently at a recipe book. "I'm trying to bake a pie." she says finally. Dragging out the words as though they cause her physical pain. Which, knowing my mom, they just might. "For what?" I ask increduously as I pour myself a glass of orange juice and sit down at the bar. "I don't know!" she wails and joins me. "Does this have anything to do with your 'lunch date'" I ask. She puts her head down on the table. "Yes," she groans. "I haven't dated in years and now this one guy and I'm going crazy!" This is so bizarre. My mom talking to me about her dating difficulties? Has hell frozen over? If not I think a little of it has crept up to Waldorf, Maryland because this has been the day from hell. "You're dating him?" I ask. "Yes..no.. I don't know. He's single, he's my age, he's good looking, and even has a normal job!" "Then what's the problem?" I question as I get up and rummage around in the bread box locating my favorite after school snack a blueberry bagel. "I don't know. I'm almost fourty? i have three teenage daughters?" "Gee, are we really that much trouble?" i say not really meaning for it to sound venimous. She shoots me a look. I put up my hands in surrender. "Okay okay okay! But I really don't know how I can you help you with this...unless you want me to bake the pie? What are you going to give it to him as a housewarming gift? You said he was a client, right?" Her whole face brightens up. "Could you Anna? That would be so great. I'll give you gas money for the week! Could you have it by tommorow? Oh and make it apple. He says he's been craving, real apple pie! Thank you so much sweetie!" she says. "Yeah, sure no problem. Can I have a friend over for dinner?" I ask. "Sure who? Chris?" "No. Do you remember Owen Thomas?" She laughs. "Owen Thomas? Your shadow from junior high? Of course! Is he back in town?' 'Yes and yes. Is it okay? Of course. We're just having pizza." "Great," I say and turn to the counter littered with baking supplies. "Just great." Meanwhile my mom heads off up the stairs still laughing and muttering, "Owen! Owen Thomas!"
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Post by Thursday on Jun 27, 2006 1:29:41 GMT -5
I finish the pie pretty soon because unlike my mother I do have the ablilty to cook some what edible food. Her mystery guy's pie was in the oven by 6 and I was just cleaning up when the doorbell rang. I go and answer it not expecting anyone so I don't worry about the flour and various apple pie ingredients I'm covered it. It's Owen. Grinning like crazy. "Don't you look adorable?' he says. "Ha-ha. I was just doing something nice for my mother,"I say as I stand aside to let him through. "Like what?" "Baking." "Well that much was obvious," he says with a laugh. I hit him playfully. "Ouch. That hurt Anna. All the pains I go through just to be here tonight..." "Save it," I say. "I'll be back in a minute. Make your self at home." "I will thank you." I roll my eyes at him over my shoulder but laugh anyway. I can't help it.
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Post by Thursday on Jun 28, 2006 18:48:06 GMT -5
I ran upstairs to my room and changed into a pair of shorts and a cherry print tee shirt that actually looked okay on me. I also stopped my the bathroom and washed my face and fixed my hair. I come back downstairs but couldn't find Owen. "Owen?" I called. "In here!" he called back. His voice came from the kitchen. Oh crap! The pie! I ran in and found the pie perfectly cooked and cooling on a rack and Owen with an oven mitt. "Oh thanks," I say. "No problem. "he says. "Where is everyone?" "Mom's upstairs and I have no ideaq where the sisters are."
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Post by Thursday on Jun 30, 2006 23:46:28 GMT -5
"Do you think Christina got a ride?" he asked with a smirk. I snort. "Like I care!" "Same old Anna, hating her sisters." "i don't hate them...per se... I just can't abide them right now. Chalk it up to teenage horomones." Owen laughs. "Do you want a drink?' I ask, playing the hostess. "Sure. What do you have?" I open the fridge and look inside. "Let's see...Dr.Pepper...tea..and water." "I'll have Dr.Pepper." Owen says looking around. I grab two cans and pull some chips from a cabinet and then join Owen at the bar where he has sat down.
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Post by Thursday on Jul 6, 2006 23:08:24 GMT -5
"So you and Chris, huh?" Owen asked taking a sip of his drink. "Yes, me and Chris. What about you? Do you have a girlfriend?" I ask popping a whole chip in my mouth. "Not currently," he says. "Previously?" I ask. "Yes," he says with a grin. "Several." I snort. "I remember when you were afraid of girls," I say with a smile. Owen sighs wistfully as if remembering the good old days. "Yes, I remember. Everything was so much easier back before dating...and sex..."he says. I practically spit out the sip of Dr. Pepper in my mouth. "Just kidding," Owen adds quickly with a grin. "You should have seen your face!" "Ha, ha. So are still a virgin?" I ask. I couldn't help myself. It was just looming there, hanging over my head waiting to be asked. It was totally inappropriate I knew but we were friends well we had been friends and I think we're going to be friends again. Keyword: think. "Well, " says Owen reddening slightly. "Yeah.." he finally says. "For now," he adds with a wink. "So what about you and Chris? Have you..." he trails off suggestively. I roll my eyes. "No, but not for lack of trying. We keep getting..um interuptted." Owen laughs. "I can just picture it! So are you?" "Am I what?" I had spaced out thinking about Chris and forgetten what we were talking about. Oh. Now I remember. "Um..." I say, my face turning as red as the cherries on my shirt." Yeah, I am too." An awkward silence follows. "Well now... ," I say just to break the silence. "What movie do you want to watch?" Owen smiles. "You're letting me pick?" "Well no but I was letting you suggest something," I say laughing and just like that it's like the old days. Us bickering about movies and laughing together. I guess when you ask the hard questions first everything else seems easier.
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Post by Thursday on Jul 9, 2006 0:52:54 GMT -5
Later that night after pizza and movie and a lot of laughing and catching up, Owen was leaving and Melissa was coming in. "Hi Melissa!" Owen said brightly to her. Melissa glanced up at him and then did a double take. "Um..hi," "Bye Anna, I'll see you tommorow!" Owen called as he walked out onto the front porch. I shut the door and found Melissa standing there staring at me. "Who was that?" she asked in a slightly dazed voice. "You don't recognize him?" I ask. "No," she says in that same voice. "That's Owen! Rememeber him? We were best friends in middle school?" "That nerd you used to hang out with?" she asks narrowing her eyes. "Yes," I answer rolling my eyes. " The one and same." I expect her to say something mean about him but she doesn't. "Wow, he's changed." "Yeah he has..." I add trailing off. "He's hot!" "Melissa!" "Well he is! Don't deny it! You may have a boyfriend but your not married!" "Still it's Owen!" "Whatever, I think I might have to get to know him..."she says and then runs upstairs. I shake my head. Sisters. But as I walk into the kitchen, cleaning up the dinner mess I think about what she said. He's hot! Your not married! I rub my twmples trying to get her voice out of my head. "Come on Anna!" I say to myself. 'You can not think he's hot! He's Owen!" But still as I'm falling asleep later that night it's Owen's face I keep seeing, not Chris'.
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Post by Thursday on Jul 9, 2006 23:47:47 GMT -5
I'm standing on a stage and a bright light is shining in my eyes. Owen is on one side of me and Chris is on the other. "You have to choose," they keep saying. The light keeps getting brighter and brighter and suddenly the obnoxious ring of one of my alarm clocks goes off right next to head. I groan and sit up in my bed. What a weird dream. The sun has barely risen and half my room is still bathed in moonlight. I hit the snooze and lay back down but another alarm goes off on the other side of my room. This is a little trick I have to play with myself. I have 4 different alram clocks and they all goe off 5 minutes apart and are placed in diiferent parts of room so I have to get up to turn them off. What can I say? I am not a morning person.
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Post by Thursday on Jul 14, 2006 1:14:52 GMT -5
I ran around my room stumbling in the dark, turning off all my alarms. I walk downstairs still in my boxer shorts and tee-shirt and pour myself a bowl of Trix. I trudge back up the stairs and settle down in an arm chair in the living room and start watching cartoons. I am addicted to cartoons in the morning. First of all nothing else is on and second it's just nice to start the day laughing. I finish my Trix and hurriedly get dresses. Today is an early day for me as I have to meet some friends at Starsbucks. It's our once a week ritual since we don't get to see each other much during the hectic days of school and homework and other extracurriculars. I have my art while Emily is a talented singer and practically lives in the choir room. We all have our things.
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Post by Thursday on Jul 14, 2006 1:24:57 GMT -5
Lydia on the other hand is convinced she is the next Audrey Hepburn so drama is her department. The scary thing is she just might be right! She is always cast in the lead roles and our drama club has won every competition they've entered with her in it. The teachers rave about her talent and while a drama scholarship is a rare almost unheard of thing, Lydia already has college drama professors watching her plays. She is quite the over achiever. I've never thought of my art as a career choice. My parents don't for sure. They just think it's an expensive hobby which I guess it is but when I'm painting or sketching the whole world melts away and my art is the only thing I see. I can paint for hours on end as long as the light's right and my subject isn't alive.
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Post by Thursday on Jul 22, 2006 13:35:44 GMT -5
I grab my purse and hop in my car and ten minutes later I'm running into Starbucks. "Anna!" someone calls. I turn and find my friends seated at our table in the back. I hold up a finger and go to the counter to order. Starbucks always overwhelms me a little. There are just so many choices. How can a girl choose? The hunk behind the counter was quick to suggest a few things. His name is Jason and Lydia is completely gone on him. We tease her about it all the time. I grab my latte and join the girls. "Doesn't Jason look completely dreamy today?"Lydia is saying with a goofy look on her face. "Completely," Emily agrees but throws an eye roll my way. "So did you and Chris get together last night?" she adds. "No, he cancelled but Owen came over." Emily raises her eyebrows and gets this strange look on her face. "What?" I ask. "Nothing," she says. But there is something. I can tell.
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Post by Thursday on Jul 23, 2006 12:08:47 GMT -5
After catching up and finishing our coffee we head out into the bright sunshine. It's one of those beautiful spring days where a cloud dare not show it's face. It's warm but not hot. The kind of days people dream about for mowing their lawns. The air is filled with the smell of sunshine and freshly cut grass. I stop and breath it all in, trying to ignore the fact I'm going to be holed up in the dingy, fluorescent lighted school for 7 hours. Sometimes life just isn't fair.
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Post by Thursday on Jul 23, 2006 12:21:05 GMT -5
Emily groans. "I really don't want to go to school today," she whines. "When do we ever want to go to school?" I ask. "Never," Lydia says. "But we have to," I say. Emily sighs. "I guess. I'll see you guys there!" shes says and then runs to her Beemer. Her parents are both super rich though divorced so they both paid half of her car. Lydia doesn't have her license yet so Emily and I take turns chaffuering her around. We hop in the car and I pull on my sunglasses. "So..." Lydia says after we've pulled out. "So what?" I ask.
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Post by Thursday on Jul 23, 2006 12:28:54 GMT -5
"Have you thought anymore about being in the play?" I groan outloud. The school is producing yet another play and are short on girls. "Do I really have to?" I ask throwing her my best puppy dog face. "Oh, come on Anna! You'd be great at it! Not as great as me of course," she adds with just a trace of show offyness. "Of course," I reply. "Please, please, please!" she begs. "It will be so much fun! Maybe you can get Chris to try-out with you?" I snort. "Yeah, when hell freezes over. Have you forgotten basketball season just started? He will have no time and he hates all the dorky school plays." "Well, what about Owen?" I turn to her when she says this. "Why Owen?" "You guys are getting pretty chummy again and it would be a way to get to know each other again." "I guess it would. I'll think about." But we both know I've all ready caved. I really need to work on my refusal skills.
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Post by Thursday on Jul 23, 2006 22:52:49 GMT -5
At school I head straight to my first period, desparate to escape the rushing hoards of students. The art studio always has a calming effect on me. I'd always been reluctant to take a school offered art class, convinced they were a waste of time and I'd learn nothing usefull. But then I came to high school and met Madame Suzette. Okay Madame isn't really french and her real name is Lisa Franklin. But once you meet her you know why such an ordinary name doesn't fit her at all. She is probably the craziest adult I've ever met and many students still speculate to this day how she got the job of a high school art teacher in the first place. First of all she wears nothing but orange. I'm serious. Yellow- orange, pumpkin-orange... Name a shade she's worn it. When asked about the odd color choice, Madame gave a little knowing smile and simply said, " I like bright colors." She is way into astrology and will often comment on which of your painting will turn out better due to Mars' alignment with the earth or some such nonsense. It's a lot to take but her class is nver boring and when it comes to art, Madame Suzette is a genius.
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Post by Thursday on Jul 24, 2006 14:13:13 GMT -5
I breath in deep the smell of paint and canvas and paper. That wonderful scent of art that seems to make my whole day brighter up. Well the coffee helped too.I wander over my easel and sit down on my bench and stare at the blank piece of paper in front of me. I hear Madame Suzette talking on her cell phone in the supply room. "No, no, no! I can not have a gallery opening on a full moon! I refuse!" I hear her say. I laugh and start to pull out some charcoal pencils when a voice beside me says," Who is that?" I turn and find Owen at the easel beside mine. "That's the teacher. Are you taking art?" "Yes. Disappointed?" he asked. "No, surprised," I answer. "I took art all through middle school, remember?" "Yeah, I do but you never really talked about it." "Well, it was a little embarassing. I mean all the other guys were doing basketball, football." "I get the picture." i say with an evil little smile but are you sure you can handle this class?" I ask and nod towards Madame Suzette who is now saying, " Of course it matters! All the spirits are out on a full moon! What about Tuesday! Venus and Mercury are in orbit and it's a great time for Taureans like myself!" Owen grins. "With you by my side, I can handle anything." I smile and don't say anything because suddenly I can't look into those hazel eyes of his. My pulse is suddenly faster and my heads are sweating underneath my pencil. What did he mean by that? I shake myself out of it as other students start pouring into the studio.
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