Ella didn't even knock properly before walking in.
"Anna, get up. I have news."
I didn't move from where I was lying. "If it's not food, I don't care."
I was really really hungry, I hadn't had something to eat that morning, laziness.
"It's better than food," she said, dropping her bag.
I finally looked at her. "That's a lie already."
"We're going swimming this weekend."
I blinked once. Then sat up slowly. "Who is we?"
She pointed between us. "Don't act like you don't know."
I stared at her for a second, then laughed. "Oh, you're serious."
"Very."
I shook my head, still smiling. "Ella, I don't swim."
"So?" she said. "You'll learn."
"With who? You?" I asked.
"Yes," she said confidently.
"That's even worse," I replied. "You'll leave me in the deep end and go and start doing TikTok."
She gasped. "I would never!"
"You would," I said, laughing. "You'll forget I exist the moment water touches your body."
She pushed my shoulder lightly. "You're so rude."
"I'm realistic."
She sat beside me. "Anna, you actually need to come out more."
"I go out," I said.
"You don't count those random outings," she replied. "You go, you smile small, then you disappear inside your head."
I raised a brow. "Wow. You've been studying me."
"I always study you," she said casually.
"That's actually scary."
"You should be scared," she replied, grinning.
I laughed again, shaking my head. "You're not normal."
"Neither are you, so it works."
There was a small pause, but it wasn't heavy.
Just comfortable.
Then she nudged me again. "Come na. You don't even have to swim. Just sit there, look pretty, judge people."
"I already do that from my room," I said.
"Exactly, now come and do it outside."
I smiled a little wider. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"
"No."
I sighed dramatically. "Ella, I don't like water like that."
She tilted her head. "You don't like water or you just don't want to try?"
I held her gaze for a second, then looked away with a small smile. "Both."
She studied me briefly, then didn't push further.
"Okay," she said finally. "But I'm not giving up."
"You can try," I replied.
"I will."
I shook my head, laughing under my breath.
"How are you though, you still hung up on , you-know-who? I asked with concern.
"Yh yh I'm chill, he's just a guy anyway. If anything I'm upset, because I actually believed those lies he told me" she said trying to demonstrate her anger with her hands.
I burst out laughing "well like my mum would say- men are evil. She's right though".
And she really was right.
Ella looked at me " your mum is right" .
And then I said "You know what there's this party that's going to take place this Saturday, it's strictly denim on denim"
Ella looked at me with wide eyes expecting me to say the words.
I laughed. "We should go"
"Finally" she said, her voice enthusiastic.
"On one condition, I'm lost looking for my clothes so you'd come over that night so we could go from here" I said, bargaining.
Ella gave me a handshake "Deal, anything to get you out of this house".
Ella's timer went off, it seemed she had a tutorial to attend. We didn't attend the same tutorials. We decided it'll be too distracting.
Immediately she left, I rushed to make some noodles, it could be done within ten minutes. I put on my headset and began cooking. Music brings good vibes.
Who quoted that? Well if no one did, I just did, I laughed to myself.
Later that evening, Ella was texting me the deets on how their swimming went. She was going on and on about it, sending voice notes and messages like she couldn't keep it in one place.
Apparently someone threw up in the pool because of too much alcohol. I laughed so hard when I read it.
When I left our chat, I saw Jay's chat.
I felt like inviting him over. He's always been someone I can talk to, someone who actually shows up when I call.
So I texted him.
Come over.
Seen.
I stared at it for a second and shook my head a little.
"Geez, he didn't even reply," I muttered, but I wasn't even annoyed.
Within the next thirty minutes, there was a knock at the door.
I opened it and Jay was there.
The moment he saw me, he paused slightly, then smiled.
"You look happy," he said as he walked in.
"I am," I replied, stepping aside.
He looked more relaxed too now, like my mood had already affected him.
"You called me for a movie?" he asked.
"Obviously," I said, grabbing the remote.
He sat down, still watching me with a small smile.
I started the movie and sat closer than usual, talking more than I normally would, laughing small at random scenes.
Jay noticed, but this time he didn't question it. He just stayed with it.
At some point, he leaned back slightly. "I like you like this."
I smiled. "Like what?"
"This version of you."
I looked at him for a second longer than I should have, and pecked him on the cheek.
Then I said it before I could stop myself.
"I'm really happy you came into my life."
I paused.
My lips parted slightly like I wanted to say more.
Something deeper. But I stopped.
Jay noticed immediately.
"What?" he asked softly.
I shook my head. "Nothing."
He didn't push it.
And I turned back to the movie, but I wasn't really watching anymore.
Because I knew I almost said something I wasn't ready for ,
-or rather he wasn't ready for.