A First Date

It's midnight and Anna's phone kept buzzing disrupting her perfect sleep. She ignored her buzzing phone and changed her sleeping position to laying face flat on the bed and using her pillows to cover her ears. To her she felt it was too late for anyone to be calling her.

The phone stopped buzzing for a moment and then in few seconds it was back to buzzing. Anna woke up upset and reached for her phone.

"Who the hell is it? Don't you know the rules for calling me?"

"Woah. Take it easy Missy, I'm sorry I didn't know you've got rules for taking calls, perhaps I'll have to read them before calling you next time" the male's voice answered calmly. 

"And who are you?" she asked rudely causing the caller to sigh heavily.

"It's your new boyfriend at the grocery store" he said in humour and laughed.

"Why are you calling so late? Don't you sleep at night?" she asked smoothening her hair with her hands.

"I'm sorry I'm calling late, is because I just got home from work and I couldn't wait till morning to hear your voice".

"That sounds creepy" she replied yawning tiredly and he laughed.

"You should be blushing when I said that" he said and she frowns.

"C'mon, I'm not one of your crushers who could easily melt with your cheesy words" she retorted and lay back down.

"You're such an arrogant young lady. But I like you that way. Anyways I'm calling to confirm if the number you gave was the right one and..."

"You already did, so go to bed and allow me catch some sleep" she cuts in her voice beginning to go groggy.

"I'll do just that after the call. Thanks for dropping your number, I wasn't expecting you to".

"Perhaps next time I wouldn't give you my contact number".

"C'mon, don't act all hard on me, I don't usually do this because I'm not good at it. Can I ask you for something before I let you enjoy your sleep?" his voice went soft and he sat on his bed.

"You've got 30seconds to end this call" she replied in a warning tone and he snorted.

"I'll love to see your beautiful face again and most of all hang out with you. Can you make that happen later today?".

"I don't know, I'll think about it and get back to you. Good night" she said and hang up the call. Drake stared at his phone in surprise.

"She didn't even ask about my name" he thought aloud and lay down on his bed thinking. "I just hope she gets to say yes to my date" he sighs and kept his phone on the nightstand.

Anna slept till noon and when she finally woke up she dashed to the kitchen with her phone on her hand to prepare what to eat. Her long straight hair was scattered all over her face like she had a fight with someone while sleeping. She dragged her feet to the fridge and grabbed a box of sealed cookies out of it. She open it and took a round shape cookies and threw into her mouth and munched it.

She got her jar of liquid milk and pour it in a cup and added three cubes of sugar to it. She sat down on the stool in the kitchen close to the kitchen counter and she ate heartily the whole box of cookies and drank her cup of milk. She rested her head on the counter to sleep again but then her phone rang.

"S-t-o-p" she drawled and her left hand kept touching the counter trying to trace her phone while she was still lying down. Her phone kept ringing and she kept romancing the counter with her hand until she finally got hold of it.

"What...do you... want?" she drawled as she picked up the call.

"Oh my baby, you're still sleeping, sorry I woke you up" her mom's voice rang on the phone and Anna sat up.

"Mom, sorry, I didn't know it's you" she replied removing the strands of hair covering her face and tug it behind her ear. "You called so early, is everything okay?".

"So early? It's past 12pm Ann that's why I called since I didn't see your call".

Anna's eyes widens and she glanced at her phone to confirm if her mom was right. "Wow, I never knew time flew that fast" she gave a yawn and stood up. "How are you doing Mom?".

"I'm fine but just missing you badly".

"I miss you too Mom. How is my dad?" she asked and reached out for a glass cup to get some water from the tap on the sink.

"He's right here listening to our conversation. Let's FaceTime so you'll see him" her mom suggested and did a FaceTime with her. "Anna! What happened to you?" she yelled seeing her daughter looking so unkept.

"C'mon mom, I just woke up and I've not brushed my teeth nor taken my bath" she replied in a bored tone and drank out of the glass of water.

"Anna did you go to a club last night?" her dad yelled dramatically taking charge of his wife's phone.

"No! I just got here dad, I don't even know anywhere. Can you both stop panicking over me? I'm not a kid, jeez!" She exclaimed and drop the glass cup angrily on the sink.

"Ann we know that already, we just wanted to be sure you're okay" her mom said staring at her daughter through the phone with those motherly eyes.

"I'm okay Mom, don't worry about me. I slept off late that's why I couldn't wake up early" she replied and walked out of the kitchen to her living room and flop her body on the couch.

"Okay, please always take care of yourself".

"Sure I will. I've got to go, I need to put things in order here. Bye Mom, bye dad".

"We love you" her dad replied and she smiled.

"I love you both. Do take care for now" she waved goodbye to them and they waved back blowing her kisses, she gave a grin and hung up.

She picked up the TV remote control and switch on the TV. She flipped the channels until she finally settles for a music video. When she stood up to go clean up her kitchen and prepare a proper meal her phone beeped once, it was an incoming text message. She picked her up iPhone and had a glimpse of the message.

Hey pretty face, I'm still waiting for your response.

She furrowed her brows at the message and stared at the sender's number and typed:

Who are you?

She stared at her phone waiting for a reply  and took a sit back on the armchair of the couch.

Your grocery crush.

That was the reply that came in few seconds later and she snickered.

I should have known. Did you call me last night?

She typed and sent to him.

You're such a deep sleeper. Do you mean you forgot that you accepted to be my girlfriend last night?

She gasps and stared at her phone with wide eyes like her pupil will pop out of her socket. Her hands fumble on her phone keyboards and wrote:

That's a lie. I can never accept to do something like that even in my dreams.

🤔You trust yourself that much? 

His text came in almost immediately.

Of course I do. I wasn't drunk so I remembered our last conversation on call.

She replied and stood up and walked to the kitchen with her phone on her hand. Her phone beeped again and she read his reply.

Since you remembered our last conversation then I take it you're aware we're seeing today. So can I have your address so I can come pick you up?😉

She stared at his reply for a moment tapping her phone. 

I'm waiting even though I'm impatient.

His message popped up again. She snickered and started typing her reply.

Barntown Street 4pm.

She sent the message and slide her phone in her black and pink joggers pocket and went inside the kitchen to clean it up and prepare a meal for herself.

By 4pm Anna was ready for a date with her grocery crush. She was dressed in a black leather pants trouser paired with an orange crop top and a black leather jacket. Her black and combination of orange color design sneakers matched perfectly with her outfit. Her hair was packed in a ponytail and her face was make-up free.

A roaring sound of a motorcycle came to a stop in front of Anna's apartment. She rushed to the window to see Drake seated on his blue Power-bike. She stared in awe finding it hard to believe he'll arrive at her her house with just a text message.

She watched as he removed his helmet and got down from the bike. She rushed to the door and opened it up and she met him halfway to her doorstep. She stared at him in a gape.

"Surprise?" he asked flashing her his gorgeous killer smile.

"You can say that. I see it wasn't difficult for you to find me" she replied and stepped forward.

"I'll find you wherever you hide" he said and stepped closer to her. They both locked gaze for a moment.

At a distance someone was watching them. His face was covered same way like yesterday when Anna was on a call with her mom. The only difference was the color of his face-cap which was grey.

"Let's get going before I change my mind" she broke the awkward silence and Drake grins. 

"I'm still wondering why you haven't asked of my name yet or do you prefer to keep calling me your grocery crush?" he wiggled his brows as he said that and

she snorted and began walking towards his Power-bike.

"Where are we going?" she asked while still walking and he jogged to her side.

"Somewhere cool" he replied and got to his bike. He removed the helmet from the backseat and handed it to her. "Put it on" he instructed and picked up his own and wore it on his head.

He sat down first and she sat behind him, he turned on the engine of the bike and it roared to life. "Instead of grocery crush I'll prefer you call me Candy crush" he said smirking without glancing back at her while Anna raised a brow at his words. "My driving skills are so poor, for safety purpose hold on to my waist" he added trying to scare her.

She wrapped her arms around his waist with a pout and a broad smile spread on his face. "Enjoy the ride" he said in almost a whisper and drove out of Anna's new home to the major town.

Drake drove Anna around almost half the city of Waterford and she was no doubt enjoying the ride. The last place he took her was The Rock Of Cashel, the day was getting darker when they got there. He took her hand and led her up the Rock. 

Anna stared in awe admiring the Cashel. "It's amazing!" She exclaimed grinning widely.

"Do you love my little surprise?" he asked standing behind her and she nods.

"I'm getting chills" she giggled and he chuckled.

"I always come here when I want to be alone. Would you like to go inside?".

"Uhmm would love to but not today. Let's just sit out here and enjoy the night view".

"Okay". They both sat down on the grass and stared up at the sky. 

"So, who are you?" she asked and glance briefly at him.

"I am your boyfriend" he laughed and she nudge him.

"Silly. Just start talking already" she replied.

"Okay. I'm Drake Walter, I'm the first child of my parents, I have two younger siblings and they're females. My dad is resting in his grave and my mom is diagnosed with leukemia. So I work two jobs to take care of my mom and my siblings and also to keep up with bills including paying for my siblings education" he forced a smile like it was not a big burden to him while she stared at him in disbelief and sympathy.

"I'm so sorry to hear that, it would have been so tough for you to handle all of it alone" she took his hand and held it.

"Yeah, it's a tough one for me especially combining going to campus just so I can get a better job when I graduate and most of all achieving my dreams of being a biochemist. I believe in a year time I'll graduate and things will start falling in place because I'll be more focus in earning more to care for my family".

"I can only imagine what you must have been going through. Which campus do you go to?".

"Trinity University. What about you?".

"Wow, same with me. I'm a freshman" she replied smiling widely. She is happy to find out her new friend is in the same campus as hers.

"Welcome newbie" he ruffled her hair chuckling and she fake a frown.

"Hey, you just messed my hair up" she scolded playfully and he did it again and laughed. She ruffled his hair too and giggles. It was so soft and smells so nice.

He stopped ruffling her hair and pinched her nose lightly and she stopped laughing and locked gaze with him. They both stared at each other in silence.

"You're shivering. Let me take you home it's getting late, you have to be in school on time tomorrow" he said breaking the deafening silence and took off his wine color jacket and wore it on her body. "Wear it to keep you warm".

He stood up and extended his hand for her to grab onto. She held his hand and helped her up. They walked over to his bike and hopped on it.

Two hours later they were back to Anna's apartment. Drake walked Anna to her doorstep and they both halted.

"Thanks for honoring my request. I enjoyed every moment we spent together today. I'm happy to have a new friend like you even though I didn't get to know much about you. I'll love to have another date with you... that's if you don't mind".

"Our first date wasn't so bad, so...."

"It's a yes" he cuts in completing her sentence and they both laughed.

"Don't rush me like that next time" she giggled and he nods.

"Yes ma'am" he smiled. "I beg to take my leave. See you tomorrow at school" he took a step closer and kissed her cheek causing Anna's stomach to do a summersault.

He stepped back, "Goodnight Ann" he said and turnaround and walked back to his bike.

"Goodnight Drake" she called out to him and he turned on his bike and waved her good-bye. 

Anna stood there smiling all to herself before unlocking her door and she got inside while her stalker watched her from the woods without approaching her.

Thanks for reading!