Chapter 13: Chapter 13

XII

"Hello, sweetie, how are you?" Anne sweetly smiles at me as I finally see her for the first time since I've arrived to work. She bends and starts helping me restock the shelves.

"I've been good. Really good, actually." I answer.

"Oh, has Tom something to do with that?" she asks me, and my smile fades a bit.

"No, actually, I've ended things with him." I reply. Over the time she became my friend and we tell each other a lot of things, she doesn't really feel like a boss to me, more like a mother.

"Oh. Honestly, sweetie, I'm glad about that. You seem happier already, he wasn't really good for you." she replies honestly and I chuckle at the fact how everybody seemed to see that I didn't have feelings for Tom.

"Yes, well, remember the boy I sometimes talked about?"

"The one you cried so much over? From Missoula?"

"Yes, he's back." I say and her entire face lights up.

"Really? Oh, sweetie, I'm so happy for you! He's here? In this town?" she asks and I nod. "Well, tell me how he looks, I want to know if I'll happen to see him somewhere that it's him. I can also tell you if I see him doing something he shouldn't be doing." she winks and I wince at the thought of that.

"He's really tall, with lots of tattoos, and he has dark brown curls, green eyes. He's really handsome, in a bad-boy way." I describe him.

"Oh, he does sound handsome. What's his name again?" she asks, picking up the milk to put on a shelf.

"Axel. Axel Jarvis." I smile, picking up another carton myself, when I hear something hit the ground, and I look at Anne, wide eyed, mouth open in shock, and her carton on the floor, thankfully not spilled.

"Are you okay?" I ask, grabbing her shoulder. "Anne?"

She shudders and shakes her head, before looking back at me, closely looking into my eyes.

"Sweetie-" she begins, and gulps, "it's fine. Everything's fine." she smiles, but I know her well enough to know it's not genuine.

"Are you sure? Here, you should sit down-"

"I'm fine." she cuts me off and bends to get the milk that fell, placing it on the shelf. "I need a minute, okay? Just finish this, then we have the entire isle of hygene supplies to refill." She then leaves to the back of the store, while I stand there, confused. What just happened?

She was fine, and then just...

I shake my head, she's fine now, that's what matters, right? My phone buzzes and I reach into my pocket, pulling it out, and a text from Axel makes me smile.

I'm already missing you. Get your hot ass back home.

I press the reply button.

I'm working, geez. Can't you entertain yourself for a while?

I put the phone back in my pocket, but it buzzes half a minute later.

Obviously not. You're quitting your job.

I raise my brows at my phone in disbelief. He did not just write that.

Excuse me? Absolutely not.

I don't even bother to put my phone back and I just wait for his reoly, which comes as quick as the previous message.

We'll talk about it. I'm still picking you up at ten, right?

I roll my eyes at how demanding he is.

Sure. Now stop texting me and do something productive.

Trust me, this is very productive to me. It'd be even more productive if you'd send me some photos.

He's not seriously asking me for naked pictures of myself.

I'll stop replying now. Go walk Wolfie.

I put my phone away and go back to restocking the shelves, ignoring the buzzing of my phone.

After the fifth buzzing I can't take it anymore and I look back at my phone.

Ooh, so demanding. I like it. I already walked him though.

Wait, so you were serious when you said you'll stop replying? Come on, it's not like that shit job can be so strict that you can't reply to me.

Sophie. Reply. Now.

Oh come on. I'm seriously fucking lonely.

I'm coming there.

What?! I force my fingers to reply as quickly as possible.

No, you're not. Stay at home, I'll be done in two hours anyway. I'll be very angry if you come here. Now stop bugging me.

I huff out in annoyance. He thinks he can control me, yeah right.

Fine. He replies and this time, I put the phone away for good.

In two hours, I'm pretty exhausted and I haven't seen Anne since she left. I went looking for her once but I couldn't find her, so I go looking for her again.

The store is mostly empty, only the few workers and two costumers are in it. It's not surprising, considering the store closes in five minutes. I can't wait for Axel to come pick me up, it's so unbelievable that I actually got him back, that I don't even realize it. Just thinking about how I'm going to be able to cuddle up to him tonight while watching TV makes me all giddy, like a twelve year old girl.

I go into the back of the little store, but still no sight of Anne, so I go through the store once more, and by some miracle, I find her at the cashier, looking if the amount of money is okay.

"Anne, here you are! I've been looking everywhere for you." I exclaim and she looks at me. "Are you better? I've been worried."

She gives me a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just closing for the night. Do you have a ride back?"

"Yeah, Axel's coming to pick me up." I smile and her brows shoot up.

"He's coming? Now?"

"Yes, do you want to meet him?" I smile and her mouth is open, staring at me, before she starts shaking her head.

"No, I have to go, Robbie will be missing me."

At that moment, I see Axel's car pull up through the big windows.

"Oh, come on. I want you to meet him, Anne, you're like a mother to me. He just came. It'd be nice if you let us take you home as well, you've been acting strange today." I try to convince her, but she just shakes her head.

"Oh, don't be ridiculous. I'm perfectly fine. I really should go, though. The money's okay. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?"

She seems so eager to leave, it seems  shady to me, and suddenly, I really want her to meet Axel. "Well, I heard that the back door is blocked before. Someone apparently tried to open them in the wrong direction and you know how bad those doors are, so the only exit is through the front door. Let's just get our things and leave, okay?" I smile at her and she looks like she may be sick, but she forces a smile and nods.

I walk close to her, ready to catch her if she'd faint. Even if I sense something weird about her, I still care about her and don't want her to hurt herself. We both quickly grab our stuff and as we start walking towards the front exit, I can see Axel out of his car and walking towards the store. He must've became too impatient and came to get me.

Anne starts shaking as we reach the front door and I suddenly feel terrible for making her meet him. As she finally sees him, her eyes fill with tears and Axel's whole relaxed posture from seeing me tenses, and just by the way he's holding himself I can tell that something's definetly wrong.

Very wrong.

"Mom?" Axel asks, staring at Anne.