Moving Forward Or Falling Behind

Ch 3

Luca

It was almost two in the morning when I heard a car pull up to the house. I look out the window and see Anya struggling to make it to the front door and trying to figure out the locks. She opened the door and seeing her messy ass drunk just made me mad. Her make up was smudged. The straps of her short tank top dropped off her shoulders exposing the top of her black lacey bra underneath the shirt. Her hair was messy and tangled from her dancing and she smelled of liquor.

Her eyes connected with mine and she stopped in her tracks. Trying to hold as still as possible like if she didn't move I wouldn't be able to see her, but her body swayed from the alcohol in her system. I took a step closer to her ready to catch her if she stumbled over. She shuffled inside more and kept telling herself to be quiet to not wake Lee Anne. I rolled my eyes but kept by her side. She made it to the couch, falling into it face first, giggling to her self then shushing herself again.

"Hi Luca" she greets me in a not so quiet whisper while rolling on to her back trying to gather the blanket from under her in the process. I grab the blanket and her leg to lift her up some and pull the blanket from under her to help her.

"Did you have a good time?" I ask as I lay the blanket over her.

"Yep. Devon and her boyfriend and his friends were very sexy." she smiles wide. Her eyes struggle to focus on me.

"I think you drank too much Anya" I tell her as I sit in front of the couch moving the hair out of her face.

"Nah. I'm okay. I had a good time I love when the world is dancing. It's fun to watch."

"Let me get you some water. You're going to regret this in the morning"

"I would regret not enjoying my youth, Luca. Missing out on opportunities and adventures with people I love. If I'm not going to tell you I love you then atleast let me enjoy the rest of my life." She rolls to her side so her face is to the back of the couch. I sit there confused and shocked for a moment until she shoots up from the couch and runs to the bathroom holding her mouth. I follow behind her and hold her hair back as she throws up in the toilet as she hovers above it. After a few spills and some dry heaving, she sits on the cold floor whimpering to herself. I get a hand towel run it under some warm water and clean up her face as she lays her head on the seat.

"Are you okay now?" I ask her quietly.

"I feel gross. I need to shower" she pulls her small shirt over her head exposing all of her lace bra in front of me.

"Anya!" I call out alarmed, not wanting Benji to see this and get the wrong idea or confuse Lee Anne more than she already is about our family situation. I grab a towel and wrap it around her.

"You can shower in the morning. You need to head to sleep now. OK? I'll get you a clean shirt to wear and get you back to the couch to sleep okay?"

"Mkay." she clings to the towel wrapped around her. I sneak into my bedroom and grab a shirt from the top drawer in my dresser. I go back into the guest bathroom and dress my best friends's little sister, I get her back to the living room and on the couch. She takes a few sips of water, lays down and rolls on her side facing the TV. I cover her again with the blanket and sit beside her until she falls asleep.

I go back to my room and get myself in bed and start falling asleep to the thoughts of the sweet drunk girl on the couch.

We all met when I was in the fourth grade. I remember walking home from school seeing their moving truck in their drive way. When I got home my mother was ready with a plate full of cookies to go greet our new neighbors. Our mothers hit it off and shoo'ed us children away asking me to take Benjamin and Anya Jesperson to the park a few blocks over saying they would pick us up for dinner. So awkwardly we went. Benjamin was a grade older than me and Anya was two below me. We all got along together. Benji liked to pick on his sister for no real reason, but I always thought she was nice. Growing up an only child I was envious of Benji for having a sibling to play with when ever. She was always close to us. As we got older and were able to venture out on our own more, she was always with us like a package deal. It was always Anya and the boys.

In high school, I saw less of Anya. Between sports, parties and girls I could have almost forgot she existed. Until she would call me when Benji would leave her abandoned around town. Soon even those calls died off once she got her license. I'd see her briefly at a party my junior and senior year but after graduating I hardly saw her. She made an appearance at my wedding. I went to her graduation and briefly saw her through out the last summer before she went off for college and a few scattered time between then and now. When we started to grow apart exactly I couldn't tell you, but something ached in my heart when I think of all the things I missed in her life.

I couldn't tell you when she grew up from being Benji's little sister to this beautiful young woman, but now that I've seen it... I dont know if I can unsee it.