Annabelle

"Hey Tyler, I didn't expect you to call today. I thought your days were booked." I'm surprised but happy to hear from him.

"Anna, I was able to get 15 minutes of freedom so I can talk to you. I had to lock myself into a room so no one would disturb me." He sounds proud of himself which makes me laugh.

"I'm glad you were able to sneak away for a little bit."

"For you Anna, any time. The schedule and work had already been crazy before they added on additional commitments. I love this job, but I'm definitely ready for a break once this tour is over."

I was just about to reply when he continues.

"Doesn't matter now though, Anna. I promised myself I wouldn't waste this precious time with you. I want to get to know you better, so let's continue with our questions, shall we?"

"Uh ok, sure." I can already see that I'm on the top of my game again. Or not. Sometimes when I talk to Tyler it feels like I just got out of a thick fog, trying to find my footage after being disoriented.

"And just so you know, I'm not planning on asking the typical unimportant questions. I want to get to the bottom of it all right away. Are you ready?" This guy can make me nervous in two seconds straight.

"I'll try my best." And I mean it. I'm excited to learn more about Tyler too. And if he comes up with the weird questions even better, since he has to answer them too.

"Are you an optimist or a pessimist?"

First question and I'm already caught of guard. His questions are just so random. "I have a tendency for both, but usually the optimism wins."

"I have my bad moments too, but most of the time I'm pretty optimistic about things. I think otherwise I'd lose my mind in this industry. Your turn."

"Ok." I haven't had a chance to come up with any deep, meaningful questions, so my mind is working overtime right now. I look around my room, hoping that it might bring some inspiration. "Do you judge a book by its cover?"

"I used to for a bit when I was younger, but this job has shown me that not everything is as it seems. That can go both ways though."

"What do you mean?" I think I know what he means, but I want to make sure.

"Well, there's so much fakeness going on, it takes me a while to figure out who is real and who isn't. I've met a lot of people who are portrayed badly in the media, and at the end they are actually really nice. Then there's the other side, where I thought people are super awesome, and then they turn out to be total jerks." He sighs loudly into the phone. "Your turn. How about you?"

"I try not to. I've learned in the past that we never truly know what other people have gone through, so it's really not fair of us to judge them."

Tyler is silent for a moment before he speaks again. "Ain't that the truth?" After another slow exhale he says. "Do you think money can buy happiness?"

My best friend Sara and I have talked about that before, so I don't really have to think about my answer. "Yes and no."

"How so?"

"Well, I don't think you can be happy if money is the only worthy thing in your life so to speak. But if you have a great family, awesome friends, and a job you can at least tolerate, I think money can definitely make you happier by allowing you to enhance what you already have. It definitely can't replace all of those things though. Does that make any sense?"

"It does. I completely understand what you mean and couldn't agree more." He sounds sad again, and I wish I knew what triggered it. That way I could stop talking about the things that pull him down.

Ok, Anna, think about a question that won't make him sad.

"If you had to be an animal, which animal would you be and why?"

"Ha. Good one. Let me think. I think I'd be a dog. They have their moments when they are loud and a bit crazy, but usually they're are just pretty nice and laid back."

"I love dogs." I blurt out, and Tyler bursts out laughing. How embarrassing.

I just leave it at that, too afraid that I'd only dig a deeper hole if I said anything else on that matter.

"I actually took a test for that years ago and it said I'd be a deer. Apparently I have a lot in common with one."

"Oh yeah? Why is that?" He sounds genuinely interested.

I tell him what I'd learned in the test. "Well, let's see if I can remember. They are quiet, observant, and thoughtful. And it seems like they are often seen as being sensitive and trustworthy."

"Interesting. And that assessment suits you?"

"Mostly, yes. I can certainly live with the results." Others might have a problem with those descriptions, but I don't.

"That's great. Anna, listen-"

He stops mid sentence, but I know what he's about to say. "Time is up, isn't it?"

We both let out a sigh of frustration.

"I'm afraid so." Tyler says. "But I'm so glad we got to have this time."

I couldn't agree more. "Me too." I whisper quietly into the phone, already sad that our conversation is over.

"Ok. We'll talk tomorrow again somehow, ok? I'll let you know."

"Sounds good, Tyler."

"Wait. One last question, Anna."

"Ok. Sure."

"Do you prefer regular panties or thongs?" He can't even get the whole sentence out before laughing loudly.

"Good night, Tyler." I can't help but laugh quietly too.

"Sorry Anna, I can't help myself around you. Have a good night too. Sweet dreams."

I can still hear him laugh when we both hang up.

That boy.

*****

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