A Sad Murder

Anna Greg is eighteen and she's the only child of the Greg's. She's a beautiful girl with round blue eyes and a long black straight hair. She's not chubby, she has just the perfect body shape and height of Sabrina Carpenter the famous actress and singer. Sabrina loves listening to rock music and she's also good with playing rock guitars. She's not the typical nerd girl, but she's a smart and brilliant girl which always have her A's and B's. She just got an admission into Trinity University her dream campus to study microbiology and she's so excited about it.

The campus was in another city called Dublin which was just 6hours away by car from England, while on flight is an hour 15minutes.

Despite the short distance of both cities, Anna's parents weren't cool with her leaving them to another city to study. They wanted her close to them and even advised her to apply for a school in England. But that wasn't what Anna wanted, she wanted to leave home and start her own life. She loves being independent, so starting up in an early age was a way she thought she could become what she desired. And today she'll be taking that bold step that she has always wanted.

It's a sunny Saturday afternoon and Anna was in her room packing up her bags and everything she needed to live in the new city. While she was doing that, she heard a knock on her door.

"Come on in, mom" she yelled out and the door squeak open. Her mom walked in with a sad face. Anna's mom, named Hannah is an older version of Anna. They look alike so much that people often mistake Anna's mom to be her older sister.

"Mom" Anna called in almost a whisper and dropped the cloth she was holding on the bed and walked up to her mom and hugged her.

"I'm going to miss you so much my baby" her mom cried hugging her so close to her body.

"I'll miss you too Mom" she whispered back to her mom and patted her back. "I promise I'll always video call you everyday and I'll come visiting once in a month" she continued and released her from the embrace.

"Once in a month is quite a long time, Anna" she sniffled and Anna felt sad as she stared into her mom's eyes.

Anna has been holding back her tears, she didn't want to start crying right now so she won't change her mind on going.

"Mom, at times you just have to accept some decisions you can't change. I know you care for me, but sooner or later I'm bound to leave your side. It'll be better you start getting use to it now than later" she tried consoling her mom.

"I understand my child, but I don't think you understand how I feel" she sniffled and touched her cheek.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine" Anna replied holding her mom's hand. Her mom nods slightly and glanced at her baggage on the bed. "Would you like to help me finish up packing?" she asked her mom.

"Of course, it's the least I could do now" she smiled and walked over to her daughter's bed.

Anna smiled and followed right behind her. They both sat on her bed and began folding up her clothes to her bags while her mom makes fun of some of her daughter's undies.

"This one looks too sexy, is it for your new boyfriend over there?" she teased wiggling her brows.

"Mom, would you stop teasing me?!" Anna scolded her playfully and laughed.

"Huuuuu.... This one looks like something you wanna wear on your first night of having sex" she teased again holding a black lingerie that came with a bra.

"Mom, stop!" she whined reaching out to collect it from her hand but she raised it higher.

"Do you have a boyfriend already and you didn't tell me?" she raised a brow at her daughter and she gasps.

"Of course not! I don't have any boyfriend. Can't I just buy some sexy stuffs that I like?" she asked with a pout and her mom laughed.

"Sure you can, but this ones are too....."

"Okay, enough mom, I don't want you to help me out anymore, please leave my room" she said playfully.

"I'm sure you didn't mean that" her mom replied while she reached out for another of her daughter's undies. The one she picked up this time around was a pink bikini that Anna had bought while she was doing her last shopping few days ago.

"Leave my room mom, I don't need your services" she said and snatched it from her hands. Anna mom frowns and folded her arms to her chest.

"My daughter is sending me away from her room, where did I go wrong to have a daughter named Anna?" she whines not making a move.

"You know I'm the best daughter in the world, you can't find someone like me so just stick to me" Anna replied and winked at her.

"I hate you, Anna!" she half-yelled wiping out an imaginary tears and Anna laughed so hard.

"I love you too momma" she replied blowing her a kiss.

This was Anna and her mom, they are both full of fun and act like sisters. Anna made her mom the best friend she could always talk to at any time and she'll not feel bad that she did. The love and trust is higher than the little misunderstandings they do have some times.

"I'll really miss these" Anna said quietly and locked gaze with her mom. She's beginning to feel her mom's absence, starting a new life with new faces isn't going to be easy for her.

"We'll miss us" her mom replied and she nodded. "It's for good, we'll get through this" she added and kissed her forehead. "C'mon, let's finish packing your things up before your dad arrives".

They both packed Anna remaining things in silence. "I'll be right back" her mom said few minutes later and she left her daughter's room. Few minutes later she was back with a small box.

"What's that, mom?" Anna asked as her mom took a sit beside her.

"Open it" she instructed grinning widely at her daughter. Anna slowly opened the box and a broad smile spread on her face when she saw photos of herself and her mom when she was just 2years old.

She took it out and then she noticed there were still others inside the box. She brought out all of the pictures and glanced at each of them. Some of the pictures were taken with her parents while some was just herself alone. She chuckled when she saw a picture of herself at age 5 when she first ride on a bike.

"Do you remember how I fell on my butt on my first attempt of riding a bike?" she asked her mom and her mom nodded laughing.

"Of course, I still have all memories here in my head" she replied pointing to her head.

"Thank you mom for keeping this pictures for me" she said and hugged her for a moment.

A car horn startles startled them apart, "that should be your dad" her mom said and she stood up. "Make sure you keep that safe" she reminds her pointing to the box on her daughter's hands.

"Definitely" Anna replied and put it in one of her bags and zipped it locked. She went to her wardrobe, carried her rock guitar and hung it on her neck.

"I thought you were going to leave that behind" her mom joked.

"Never. This goes anywhere I am" she replied and they both chuckled.

"Someone wants to become a Rock star" her mom teased.

"It'll be so damn cool" she replied and played more than one strings while her mom laughed.

"I don't think I have a say on that" her mom said and Anna shook her head.

Anna picked up one of the baggage and her backpack while her mom carried her second bag and they both head out of her room to go meet her dad outside. Her dad was already waiting outside his car in front of their bungalow to give his daughter a ride to the airport.

"Hey Dad" Anna greeted as she and her mom got out of the house. She walked over to her dad and pecked him on the cheek.

"So you're really leaving us?" he asked sadly staring at his daughter. Anna heaves a sigh and squint at her mom before returning her gaze on her dad. "C'mon, let's leave so you'll catch up with your flight" he said collecting her bags and putting it in the car trunk.

"Dad, we've already talked about this, why are you feeling upset right now?" she asked walking over to him.

"I'm not upset Anna" he replied and walked over to carry the remaining baggage his wife was holding.

"You say something different and act contrary to what you just said" she retorted.

"What do you want me to say, Anna? That I'll miss you so much that you shouldn't leave? You of all people know I've said that a million times but you've made up your mind to leave so I can't hold you back!" he half-yelled and slammed the car trunk and walked to the driver's seat.

"Dad you're being so dramatic right now. Do you think is easy for me to leave you and Mom and go to a place where I'm not familiar with?" she yelled back.

"Then why not you abort your decision if is not easy as you just said?" he asked.

"Because I can't dad. I can't just decide not to go anymore, is all I ever wanted. Dad I'm not going to live with you and mom forever, someday I'll get married and build my own family. So what's the difference with now?".

"The difference is you're just eighteen, you're still young" he answered.

"Can you stop treating me like the five years old little girl that I once were? I'm a grown-up now, I'm eighteen and in three months time I'll be nineteen. So, for once just let me be happy with a decision I've chosen. You can't always decide for me" she yelled and rushed up to the car. She opened the front door and got inside and then she slammed the door.

Greg stood there awestruck with all his daughter just said. His wife walked up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Honey" she whispered and he slowly turned around and stared at his wife.

"Did you hear all she said?" he asked calmly and she nods.

"Anna is leaving us for good, what she's going for concerns her future. Let her chase after her dreams please. She's all ours, she's never going to abandon us just because she's going to campus. She'll always visit us or we can always visit her and spend time with her" she replied.

He stared at his wife in awkward silence and then he glanced at his car and returned his gaze back to his wife. "I'm just trying to be a protective father. I'll miss her so much, she's my baseball game mate. Who do I pick as a replacement now?".

"I'm right here, I'll be her replacement" she replied smiling and he snorted.

"You don't even know what baseball game is all about" he retorted and she chuckled.

"You'll teach me" she replied and he groaned.

"That's like telling me to teach a five years old how to play a baseball" he teased and she swats his chest.

"That's so unfair for you to say" she frowns and he laughed. Anna peeked her head out from the car to see what was going on.

"Thanks for lightening up my mood" he said tilting her chin up.

"That's my duty" she replied and winked at him.

"Should I order an Uber ride to the airport?" Anna yelled out from the car and they glanced back to her direction.

"You can pay the money into my bank account instead" her father replied and his wife laughed.

"Screw you, dad" she retorted and relaxed back to her seat.

"Your daughter is losing her proper use of language" he told his wife and began walking up to the car.

"She's also your daughter, so teach her the right language to use" she grinned widely behind him.

"Young lady you should get behind the backseat you're not my wife" Anna dad said as he got inside the car.

"Who wants to marry an old man like you?" Anna retorted teasingly and got out of the car.

"Hannah, did you hear your daughter? She called me an old man" he whines and his wife laughed and got into the front seat.

"Of course you're too old for her but you're ever young to me" she giggled and a wide grin spread on his face.

"Could you say that again?" he asked locking gaze with her.

"You're my forever young love" she said and he moved closer to place a kiss on her lips.

"Can you two stop acting like some horny highschool lovers?!" Anna half-yelled causing them to startle apart.

"You see what I told you, she's loosing her use of proper language especially to us her parents. We should send her to the school of nuns" Anna's dad said and turned on the car ignition.

"Hell no! You wouldn't do that!" she exclaimed and her mom laughed.

"Your dad is kidding sweetie, he once told me he hates it there" Anna's mom said.

"Maybe I changed mind after so many years ago" he replied driving out of the garage.

"You can't change your mind when it has to do with my daughter" she defended.

"Whatever" he replied and glanced at the rearview mirror. "So, Anna, tell us about your new city. What does it look like?".

"Finally, someone got to ask of my new abode" Anna replied with an eye roll.

"I think I know a nun school not far off from here..."

"Dad! Fine, I'm sorry" she apologized with a giggle and her parents chuckled. "It's actually a beautiful place. Until I get to my rented apartment, I wouldn't really tell much".

"Okay, make sure to call us immediately you get there, okay?" her mom said and she nods.

"I will" she replied.

"And if you don't like it there, you're always welcome home" her dad added.

"Okay" she replied. "Please can I hear my favorite song from Dierks Bentley?".

"Must you always request for that song whenever I'm driving?" he groaned aloud.

"At least for the last time" she pouted.

"You don't have to say it's for the last time, it sounds like you're not going to ever come back to us" her mom said frowning.

"Mom don't jinx it. I'm just saying it's no longer going to be often I'll get a ride in dad's car".

"That sounds better than the latter" her mom sighed and reached out for the radio. She turn it up and 'hold on by Dierks Bentley' began playing.

It's just an old beat up truck

Some say that I should trade up

Now that I got some jangle in my pocket

But what they don't understand

Is it's the miles that make a man

I wouldn't trade that thing in for a rocket

What they don't know is my dad and me

We drove her out to Tennessee

She's still here, and now he's gone

So I hold on

It's just an old beat up box

Its rusty strings across the top

It probably don't look like much to you

They sang along to the song and nodded to the beats. This was Anna's favorite song as a rock music lover. She made her parents fall in love with the song and now they can sing the full lyrics of the song off-hand. She's been in love with this particular song since when she started playing guitar at fifteen. They continued singing to the lyrics.

But these dents and scratches in the wood

Yeah, that's what makes it sound so good

To me it's better than brand new

You see this here flat top guitar's

Had my back in a million bars

Singing every country song

So I hold on

To the things I believe in

My faith, your love, our freedom

To the things I can count on

To keep me going strong

Yeah, I...

Couple of minutes later, they arrived at the airport.

"It is time to shed some tears" her dad said turning his head back to stare at his daughter.

"I'll really love to see you cry" she replied smirking at him.

"Men don't cry" he said and glanced away.

"That's a lie, you cried in the church on our wedding day" her mom replied and Anna burst into a fist of laughter while her dad rolled his eyes and bowed his head to the steering wheel.

"Mom, why didn't you tell me this little secret all this while?" she asked giggling.

"I never knew it's going to be a weapon tool to break his ego" her mom replied and winked at her. Both of them burst into more laughter and Greg groaned frustratingly.

"I just wish you'll miss your flight" he said and that caused both ladies to stop laughing.

"Dad, why do you choose to be so mean to me today?" Anna frowns and unlocked the door.

"Don't mind him sweetie, you won't miss your flight. He meant to say he'll miss you" her mom replied.

"Whatever" he said and unbuckled his seatbelt. His wife smiled at him and unbuckled her seatbelt and they both got out of the car and took out her baggages.

They walked into the airport terminal and entered the arrivals. "I guess this is where we get to say our goodbyes" her dad said in a low tone with his hands in his pocket.

"Yeah, I'm going to miss you both so much" she replied glancing from her mom to her dad.

"We'll miss you badly my baby" her mom said at the brim of tears and pulled her to a hug.

"You're not leaving until I get a hug" he said stepping forward.

Anna snickered and released herself from her mom's embrace. "When would you stop the tough guy thing huh?" she asked jokingly and hugged him.

"I love you so much, Anna. I'm going to miss you so fucking much" he whispered as he wrapped his big arms around her body.

"I love you too, Dad. I'm missing you already" she whispered.

"C'mon, you need to get in there before you miss your flight" he said releasing her from the embrace.

"Okay. Please do take care of mom. And make sure you teach her baseball" she giggled after saying that and grabbed her baggage.

"That's going to take like forever" he replied and squint at his wife and she nudge him while Anna laughs and waved them goodbye. They waved at her back and watched her leave. She blew kisses to them couple of times before she got into the departure room.

Anna got to her new apartment in Waterford Lismore Ireland, it was a bungalow which had a furnished room and a parlor combined with kitchen utensils and bathroom. Here she felt safe and comfortable since she won't have to share anything with anyone just like it is in the hostel. When you talk about privacy, Anna Greg so much get freaked out with it. She singlehandedly put her belongings in her wardrobe and she flop her body on her mattress.

"This is so perfect, I love it here!" she said excitedly rolling back and forth on her bed. While she was still giggling and rolling on her bed the song of Zara Larsson ft Mnek titled Never Forget You came alive, immediately she sat up and dig her hand in her pocket and brought out her iPhone and placed it on her ear. "Hey mom, missing me already?" she shrieked smiling.

"I was missing you even before you left me. Have you gotten to your apartment?" her mom replied on her end.

"Yes, just got here. Mom the place is really beautiful and spacious just like I wanted it".

"Can you give me a tour around the house?"

"Of course, let's switch the call to video call" she suggested standing up to her feet. The call was switched to a video call and both ladies were smiling at each other. "Okay Mom, let's start from my room. I'm in my room right now, can you see it?" Anna asked moving the phone around for her mom to have a glimpse of it.

"Your room is beautiful" her mom said and Anna giggled.

"Not really beautiful to my taste though, I'm still going to get some fancy wallpapers and have a change of my blanket and even the wall paintings to white and blue" she blabbed and her mom laughed.

"You're always too creative which is one of the things I admire in you. Now take me to your living room let's see if there's going to be any changes as well".

"Okay, we're going out of my room now to the living room" she replied taking a walk out of her room to the living room. "Here we are mom, welcome to Anna's small palace" she laughed and her mom grin widely. "How do you see it?".

"Wow, it's beautiful, I love the white painting, the couch and the structure of the house. It's well furnished, I love it, I can't wait to come visit you".

"Soon mom, soon. Would you like to see the kitchen?"

"Yes, I'll love to see everywhere including the surroundings".

"I got you covered, we're heading to the kitchen now. Where's dad?"

"He stepped out few minutes ago".

"Okay. Here we are in the kitchen, it's not looking bad right?" she moves her phone from left to right for her mom to have a view of the medium size kitchen that was well designed with dark grey wall tiles that matches the kitchen cabinets.

"It looks beautiful, I'm sure you're going to enjoy your new place".

"Yes I will. Let me show you the last view which is the outside of where I'm staying" she shut the kitchen door closed and came out from the main entrance of the house.

"Mom can you see it?" she asked walking around the front of her new home. Her new home was in a secluded area surrounded with a well trimmed flowers and thick bushes was just down the road. And a few distance next to her apartment was another bungalow painted in white.

"It looks calm, but don't you think is a little bit too lonely and far away from the city?"

"C'mon mom, it's not lonely as you think, the town is just fifteen-twenty minutes drive from here. And besides, I won't even be staying much at home, I'll get a job soon probably by Monday and I'll be working after school".

"Okay, sounds better to me" she smiled and anna smiled and tug the strands of hair behind her ear. A few meters behind Anna someone stood behind a tree watching Anna. He was dressed in a black hoodie, dark-shaded glasses and a black mask was covering half of his face. He peaked his head behind the tree to stare directly at Anna who wasn't even cautious of her environment.

"Who is behind you watching you?" Her mom asked and Anna glanced back to see nothing.

"Who are you talking about mom?"

"I don't know, I just saw someone few seconds ago before you turnaround, he's probably hiding now".

"Mom, stop, you didn't see anything, maybe is just my neighbor who was passing".

"He wasn't passing, he was standing and staring at you. Just be careful honey, okay?".

"Okay Mom, just don't get overly worried over what you saw. I've got to arrange my stuffs. I'll talk to you tomorrow".

"Alright, bye sweetie, love you" she blew kisses on the phone and Anna giggled and blew hers.

"I love you Mom, bye" she hanged up and glanced around to find no one before she went back inside.

Couple of hours later, Anna was in one of the grocery store int the city to get some food items she'll be needing. Being a pretty young lady with round blue eyes and beautiful smile that showcasees her right dimple the stares she was getting from both young and old male and females was beginning to make her feel uncomfortable. She hastily did her grocery shopping with her cart and went standing in the queue. She was the next customer to be attended to and when she stood in front of the counter she stared directly at the sales rep, he is a young handsome dude with a charming smile that could easily attract more customers to the store, his name is Drake.

"Hey, can I ask you a question?" she asked.

"Sure" was his reply as he kept checking the prices of her items.

"Is there something obscene on my face?" she asked and that got the sales rep to stop what he was doing and paid attention to her.

"What do you mean?" he asked looking a bit confused.

"I mean is there a dirt on my face, scar, mask or something odd not meant to be seen?" she repeated the question more explanatory and he chuckled.

"No, your face looks perfect. What makes you have that feeling that you're not looking beautiful?".

"Since I got in here the stares has been so crazy that it almost made me trip on my steps a couple of times" she explained. Drake burst into laughter and that landed him so many stares from the customers and his colleagues.

"Sorry, it's nothing serious" he said to them and his gaze returned to Anna and his grin became so wide.

"You think that was funny?" she asked with a frown and he shrugged and smile.

"Well it's quite amusing. I guess they're wondering who is this beautiful princess in a small town like Lismore".

"Are you teasing me?".

"Hell no. I don't like telling ladies what I'm about to tell you because their reaction gets me running away from them, but I must confess you're really pretty that's why you're getting all those stares. Your boyfriend must be lucky to have you".

Now it was Anna's turn to laugh at his comment and he raised a brow at her. "Unfortunately I don't have a boyfriend" she replied and tug her strands of hair behind her ear.

"Okay, can I apply for that position?" he grin cockily at her and she chuckled.

"Hey dude, she's not the only one that needs to be attended to!" Someone yelled from the back of the queue and Anna and Drake snickered.

"You're a distraction. If you'll give me your contact number I'll love for us to finalize if I'll be hired to fill in that post" he winked at her and gave her a pen and a small jotter and she laughed.

"We'll see" she collected it and wrote down her number while he sum up her total amount of items she got. She paid with her credit card and collected her packed goods from his hand.

"See you soon sunshine" he half-yelled and a murderous glare came right from the men on the queue.

"Try this next time and you'll be fired" one of the men threatens and Drake snorted and bowed his head in apology.

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 it 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.