>>>>One Week and Three Dates Later<<<<

I jolt awake to a loud noise in my ear. Stupid alarms. Stupid work. Grrr. I grab my phone to turn off my alarm. Instead, I see a text.

-Matt: 'Morning Beautiful.'

I grin like an idiot as I read the text. Sent at 5:30 in the morning, but it was there. I immediately text him back.

-Me: 'Have a great day! x'

I get hesitant about sending the 'x'.

Aww fuck it. I press send and away it goes. Into cyberspace, never to be taken out again. I set it back down on my dresser as I get out of bed to change into laid back clothes. My phone buzzes against my nightstand, and I rush towards it and open the text from Matt.

-Matt: 'Its even better now that I think of you. Xx'

-Me: 'I'm flattered Matthew.'

-Matt: 'You should be. Anybody in their right minds would be thinking of you Annalise.'

I blush, even though he can't see me

-Me: 'You're too kind.'

-Matt: 'Only for you, Annalise. As much as I hate to cut this conversation short, I just got yelled at by my boss, so I have to go. But I will be taking you out again tonight. A dress is required this time. Xxx'

I smile and shut off my phone so I can get ready for work. I took the week off because of my family visiting, who left last night, and now I am so ready to get back. I work at a small, but surprisingly popular music and book store, and I completely love everything about it: my boss, my coworkers, the customers and the whole place itself.

I go to the bathroom where I shower, dry and brush my hair, and change into my uniform shirt and a pair of jeans. After that I get a quick breakfast and brush my teeth; the usual morning routine. I get in my car and drive to work.

^^^^^^at work^^^^^^

"So how was a week with your hillbilly family, Anna?" Aaron, my co-worker asks me, trying to pull off a southern accent.

"It was just like any other time. And I only had to make fried chicken once." We all laugh.

"Why can't you just go to KFC and get their chicken?" Lucia (A/N IT'S PRONOUNCED LU-CHIA XD) asks me.

I look at her in shock, "Because that chicken is a disgrace to any form of natural chicken that's actually Kentucky fried." I say to her, "No one wants that generic shit." I say, causing everyone to laugh.

"Well I'm glad you're back, and I'm loving this reunion and all, but can we get back to work?" Zane, our boss says to us from the back.

"Got it!" We all say.

^^^^^^closing time^^^^^^

"Hey guys! I'm going to close up shop if you wanna head on home." I call out.

"Where Chia?" Aaron asks me. (A/N THAT'S LUCIA'S NICKNAME)

"She left like, right after Zane. Maybe if you weren't too busy flirting with the costumers, you would've seen them leave." I tease him, "I thought you had a girlfriend anyway?"

He shrugs, "Didn't really work out."

"What happened?" I sit on the counter, waiting for a story.

"We both wanted different things. She wanted me to move in with her, which would've been alright if she didn't want me moving back to Kansas City which is her hometown."

"Ahh. But haven't you two been dating for like, two and a half years?"

"Three next month. But she dumped my ass a couple weeks ago when I said I had to finish school and that I can't just drop everything and move with her and her needs, you know? And she's a huge traveler, so she'll be moving a lot. I don't want to follow her around."

"What do you mean she dumped you?" I ask surprisingly. I loved Kate, who was Arron's girlfriend. She was the sweetest thing. Her dumping someone just wasn't possible for her.

"She said I was afraid of commitment. So we got in the huge fight and I left to cool off."

"Ouch."

"Yeah. Not only that, but when I came back, she was sobbing and loosing it saying that I was sleeping with other women, so I could have a 'no strings attached' relationship with someone less complicated."

"Oh my god Aaron." I say sympathetically.

"So she dumped me, and she left for the airport." He looks sad and runs his hands through his hair.

"Have you called or texted her?" I try to give him advice.

"Everyday since she left. But she blocked my number a couple days ago. And she's moved on." Aaron looks like he's about to cry.

"How do you know that for sure?"

"A guy answered the phone, and when I asked if it was her brother, he got all confused. I heard Kate say she's going to block my number."

"Aaron, that doesn't mean she moved on, maybe it was her cousin or someone like that."

"Anna they were fucking each other."

"You don't know that." I say, trying not to make him worse than he already is.

"You'd think I would've been smart enough to hang up." He mumbles

"What do you mean?"

"That dumb fucker "forgot" to hang up the phone after he got done talking to me." I gasp.

"Kate would never-"

"But she did it anyway and now I've fucking lost her. So what's the point of trying anymore? She's moved on and so have I."

"Aaron you should-" I'm interrupted by the bell at the front of the store.

"Sorry we're closed!" I call out. Aaron goes behind the counter incase it's a burglar.

That's when I see camouflage,

"It's alright. I know him." I tell Aaron.

"So I'm alright to leave?" he asks, jerking his head towards the door.

I nod, walking towards the door and locking it. I hear heavy footsteps of his work boots rounding the corner. I will the opposite way, staying hidden.

"Annalise. Are you hiding from me?" I hear his deep voice say.

I giggle. "I wouldn't dream of it." I lie as I turn the other corner of the bookshelf that's hiding me. He laughs, and it soon becomes silent.

"Matt?" I ask and start walking cautiously.

"BOO!" I scream and jump at the voice and a pair of arms wrap around my waist and scare the living shit out of me.

"Jesus Christ Matthew!" I slap his chest playfully, "What the hell?"

He laughs a sexy laugh and pulls me close.

"I was thinking we drive to your house, get you in a sexy dress, and go to my place where I will cook dinner for you and we will watch The Princess Bride." I laugh.

"Sounds like a plan. Let me get my purse and I'll finish closing up."

"I'm excited for tonight." He says, and I get suspicious.

"Me too." I reply with a smile.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I have the next chapter all planned out and I'm really exited. I hope you guys are too. Chapter 6 will probably be up by either late tonight or sometime tomorrow or so. After all, it is Memorial Day weekend, and my big ass family is coming over. Love you all!!!

~QuackingDuck~