Chapter 2 The First Encounter

"Be careful Anastasia! You're going to walk straight into a pole or worse you might trip" Chloe said with a teasing laugh. Skipping a few steps ahead, the cold night air making her cheeks pink.

Anastasia hugged her paper bag of baking supplies to her chest, trying to keep up. "You're the one walking like you had three scoops of sugar" she said shaking her head but smiling.

She still had on her apron which had bits of flour on it, a sign of a long day at the bakery. The delicious smell of pastry still clung to her, soft and inviting.

Craig walked beside her balancing the tray of unsold bread as though it weighed nothing, his hair was in its usual messy tangle. He gave Chloe a tired look, "Chloe slow down" he said, calm but firm "if you trip I'm not carrying you all the way home"

Chloe twirled around, her ponytail swinging. "you wouldn't even have the strength to carry me all the way home anyway" she laughed.

Craig frowned giving her a not so funny look.

Anastasia chuckled "He is actually stronger than you think Chloe, now let's hurry up and go have some ice cream before the shop closes"

The small town was quiet at this hour with only a motorbike parked far away and a dog barking now and then breaking the silence.

As they passed an old fountain Anastasia looked at the soft glow of the shop light ahead. She didn't notice the broad shouldered man walking towards her direction until it was too late.

The bump was sudden and unexpected, Anastasia's bag slipped from her hands, flour spilling out and scattering across the streets.

"Oh my God I'm so sorry" Anastasia gasped, bending quickly to pick up her things.

The man stopped, tall and standing in a long black coat that brushed the ground. His ocean blue eyes looking down at her was cold, distant and with no sign of kindness or sympathy for her flour that was scattered all over the floor.

"Watch it lady" he said, his voice low and cold with sharpness.

Anastasia's hands that was trying to salvage the little she could off the floor stilled, her cheeks burning in embarrassment.

"I, I, didn't mean to" she tried apologizing again but he was already walking away, the hard sound of his shoes fading into the night.

Craig stepped forward his jaw tight. "that was really uncalled for!!" he shouted after the man's fading silhouette before crouching down to help his sister. He shoved the remaining packet of flour that they could salvage back into her bag with a little more force than necessary. "you okay sis?"

"I am fine" she quickly replied, brushing off her apron and putting on a false smile refusing to let the unpleasant encounter with the unknown man sour her mood. "it's nothing, let's just hurry up to the ice cream shop before it closes"

Chloe however wasn't done "what was with his attitude? we should have emptied some flour on his head" she grumbled, and Anastasia just gave a weak smile at her statement.

"Vanilla for me!" Chloe shouted, changing the topic to shake off the tension.

"Strawberry for me" Craig said, balancing the bread tray in his hands he glanced at Anastasia "still chocolate chip?"

"Still chocolate chip" she confirmed with a little laugh.

The bell above the ice cream shop's door jingled as they stepped inside, the sweet and delicious scents of sugar immediately welcomed them in.

"Good evening, what can I get for you?" the shopkeeper asked smiling brightly at them.

"Strawberry please" Craig said, taking out a few bills from his pocket.

"Vanilla" Chloe beamed "Chocolate chip" Anastasia added.

They took a table close to the window, each spoonful took away the day's stress. Chloe mourned in satisfaction "this is the best feeling I've had today"

Before Anastasia could reply to her comment the bell rang again.

"TASIA!!"

Anastasia turned and immediately a bright smile lit up her face "Crystal!" She stood up pulling her best friend into a warm hug "how did you know we were here?"

Crystal short length hair framed her face that seemed to radiate so much joy of seeing her best friend after not seeing her for weeks because of her busy work schedule.

On hearing Anastasia's question she winked at her "I have my ways you know, thought I'd surprise you" she said her grey eyes sparkling with mischief.

Anastasia laughed "you never change but anyways I'm so glad you are here" she parted an empty chair eagerly "sit with us"

Craig froze mid scope when crystal sat down next to him. "H...hey" he stammered then immediately dropped his spoon, it clattered against the table top earning a giggle from Anastasia.

"Hey there Craig, it's been a while" Crystal said, smiling at him.

"Yeah it has" he smiled nervously

Chloe noticed the changes in her brother, she tilted her head amused "you okay bro? you looked like you just saw a goddess" she teased

"I am fine!" he said, his voice higher than he intended it to be.

Anastasia and Chloe exchanged knowing looks, Chloe whispered "He likes her"

"I know" Anastasia whispered back, trying not to laugh out.

Anastasia and Crystal have been friends since high school. Crystal was the only one who stood by her through thick and thin, their bond grew stronger after the death of Anastasia's parents when everyone deserted them, even her parent's relatives. Crystal was the only one who was there for her. Although Crystal isn't from a wealthy family but they were comfortable, both her parents work in the same company one as a secretary and the other as a delivery man for the company.

Both Chloe and Anastasia has always noticed the slight changes in Craig whenever Crystal was around. At first they weren't sure but with each time Crystal comes to visit the suspicion became clearer, he had a soft spot for her best friend.

They were happy for him because he has never dated anyone before, but the sad part was that they were not sure Crystal felt the same way because she has never or even given as little as a reaction or sign that maybe she might like him as well.

They ordered Crystal a Strawberry cone and soon the four of them were talking and laughing over old memories and small gossips. Crystal's laughter was infectious and Craig was bewitched by her beauty. He was just so silent sitting there but was very attentive whenever she spoke.

When they were done with their ice cream Anastasia suggested they sit outside for some time. The bench under the tree was cold to the touch, the night's air clean and refreshing, the stars in the sky looked so pretty and the soft chirping of crickets filled the quiet spaces between their words.

"Look at that star over there" Chloe pointed upward "it's brighter and prettier than the others"

"Yeah it's really pretty" Anastasia agreed softly but her mind strayed briefly to the bakery. This was the second day without her oven and she hasn't been making sales like usual, and also thoughts of the little loans she has been getting from people to help assist her and her siblings, because they are currently on her neck to pay back the debt and she doesn't want to keep disturbing her friend with her burdens. She decided to push all those thoughts aside for now.

Crystal grinned suddenly "remember that time we went camping and got caught in the rain?"

Anastasia laughed "yeah I do, you screamed at a frog"

"The frog was huge" Crystal groaned, hiding her reddened cheeks.

Chloe puffed up "I would have caught it"

"No thanks" Crystal shuddered just at the thought of it and everyone burst into laughter.

Craig's gaze stayed on Crystal, the corners of his mouth lifting into a shy smile. "you don't have to be scared, you are braver than you think" he said

Crystal's eyes softened "Awwn. thank you I appreciate, and you are sweeter and so cute than your bullying sisters"

He quickly looked away his face burning. Anastasia nudged him playfully with her knee under the table, earning a glare from him which only made her grin wider.

Eventually the night deepened and they decided to head home after saying a good night to Crystal. In less than 15 minutes they got home, the familiar building comforting. Anastasia took out the keys and unlocked their apartment.

"Good night to you two" Craig said, his voice a little bit dazed.

"Yeah, sweet dreams you two" Mia said as she rushed to the stairs and into her room.

Anastasia quickly changed her outfit and slid under the blankets, fatigue pulling out her limbs and immediately she drifted off to sleep.

But the sound of a car engine woke her up. She pushed aside her curtain, her heart thudding all of a sudden.

A sleek black car was parked Idly, close to her window, the headlights off. Through the dim glass she could make out the outline of someone in the driver's seat unmoving.

And then just as quietly as it came, the car drove away into the dark.

Anastasia frowned. But on a second thought shook her head. 'probably nothing, just a late night passer by'

Even after that reassurance she gave to herself, she still couldn't sleep quite as easily that night.