Annabelle

"Three more days until the concert, Anna. Three more days until I finally get to meet you." Tyler greets me as I answer the phone.

This boy must be the most direct person I've ever met. I'm not sure if it's just confidence or something more than that, maybe a bit cockiness too?

"Hi Tyler." My voice is doing a poor job at concealing the excitement that rushes through my body at his words. Even though the excitement is slowly but surely starting to blend with a mixture of nerves and nausea. The thought of actually meeting Tyler, this boy I've started liking a lot - maybe more than I should - makes my stomach turn. I'm not what you'd consider boy-savvy. Actually, I don't really have that much experience with boys, period.

"Hey, listen. I'm not sure how to say this, which is kind of part of the problem." I can't believe that I'm actually trying to talk to him about this, but it's a lot easier to do it now than later in person.

"What problem, Anna? You're still coming to the show, right?" He sounds a little panicked.

"What? Oh. Yes, yes of course. We're still coming."

"Good. You got me all worried there for a second. Then everything is good. So what did you want to tell me?"

I let out a big breath. "Well see, I don't really have that much experience with guys to be honest. I'm just really awkward around them. I just...I just don't want you to be disappointed when we meet. Everything with us has been very unorthodox, so I just wanted to keep things real I guess and warn you beforehand."

Nothing. No response whatsoever.

"I'm ruining things right now already, aren't I? I should have just kept my mouth shut." I groan in frustration, letting my head fall down into my free hand.

"Are you kidding me, Anna? No, of course not. You're not ruining anything. How can you say something like that though? I can't remember the last time I've had so much fun talking to anyone." He sounds sincere, so I slowly take my hand away from my face .

"Really?" I want desperately to believe him because I feel the exact same way.

"Absolutely. Plus, you've never been awkward with me, and I'm a guy the last time I checked." I can hear the smile in his voice, and I automatically have to smile too. There's that confidence again. I wouldn't mind some of that sometimes.

"Things are somehow different with you, I can't really explain it either. It's probably just because we're talking on the phone and not actually face-to-face." That must be it, right?

"That might play a part in it, but I'm still not worried, Anna. Stop thinking about it. It'll all be fine. Wanna play now?"

"Sure." I have to laugh quietly at the way he always seems to handle things with such ease. Admirable.

"Alright. We don't have much time left, so let's get this party started. If you had to choose to live without one of your five senses, which one would you give up?" He says it all so fast, that I'm glad I can make out the actual words.

"Mmh. Maybe smelling? It's hard to actually imagine yourself without any of them. Yeah, I think I'd choose smelling. It would be sad to give it up but probably the easiest for me."

"Fair enough. I'd pick tasting. I like to taste good food as much as the next person, but I love smelling more. Plus, I'd put up less of a fight with my trainer if I couldn't taste all the super healthy stuff that he always wants me to eat. Your turn, Anna. Pick a good one."

"Sure. No pressure or anything." I feel like sticking my tongue out, but that would just be silly. "What's the craziest thing you've ever done?"

And there it is, my new favorite sound in the world, Tyler laughing.

"Anna, I don't think you're ready for that yet. Maybe another time, ok?"

"Hey! That's not fair!" I say it teasingly, wondering at the same time if he might be right. I have to admit that I probably haven't been living the most exciting life. "Ok, tell me five things I'd see if I walked through your door."

"I'm in a random empty room right now, so I have to imagine my bedroom right now. Let me think. You'd see guitars, clothes - since I'm terrible at putting them away -, my tablet, laptop, and some snacks. How about you?"

I like getting a little bit of insight into his life. Somehow it feels exciting. "Ok. First off, no clothes anywhere for me."

"Ha, you don't say. Why am I not surprised, Anna?" He interrupts me, laughing as usual.

"Whatever, Tyler. What you would see though is a lot of books, my laptop, my camera equipment, lots of pictures everywhere, and a big bowl of jellybeans. There, those are pretty much my favorite things."

"Jellybeans, huh?" He asks, chuckling.

"Yup. Best thing eeeever." I draw the word out like it has ten syllables instead of two.

"I'll try and remember that." He's still clearly amused by my enthusiasm about some candy. "They're calling for me already, Anna." The amusement is now gone and frustration in its place. "We'll talk again tomorrow, ok? Have a good night."

"No problem Tyler, I understand. You have a good night, too."

I'm ready to hang up when I can hear him again. "And Anna, I'm really looking forward to seeing you in three days." With that he hangs up, leaving me alone with my thoughts of how our meeting will go.

*****

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