Anna Et Romy

The rest of the day was hellish. I couldn't stop replaying what had happened in the morning over and over again. I didn't even SAY anything to the singer! Who the hell meets a guy as cool as him and doesn't say ANYTHING? I fumed all day sullenly drifting from class to class. And on top of it, I got a detention for being late the following Monday.

After school, I went through the crowd trying to get to my locker. As I trudged to it, I peered over my thick glasses to see a girl with turquoise hair blowing a big pink bubble of gum at me. It was Mia. I used to know Mia when she lived down the street from me. From time to time, we would go for walks. Up until she moved with her mother closer to the school. She was almost as much of a loser as I was...what could she possibly want with me? Then again, she did have a boyfriend...sometimes. I thought all this while nearing her. When I was close enough, she beamed at me.

"Hey Annie." She knew I hated when she called me that.

"Hi Mia." I answered awkwardly. "How are you?" I twisted my combo in and swung my locker door open pulling my camera from its hiding place behind my books. I waited for her to say 'good and you?' Instead I got a:

"You look suspicious." She joked. Wow, a mindreader too?

"Not like i'm a mindreader or anything." She continued tucking a green stand of hair behind her ear. Impressive! I thought holding back a bark of laughter.

"Not like I have any impressive skills or anything." She hooted slapping my arm and laughing. Uhhhh...

"I saw you, Last night at the concert." She said chipperly.

"Oh?" I answered hoping she didn't catch me taking creeper shots from the front row. I closed my locker waiting for her to follow me as we walked.

"Wooden Animals are SO fucking rad." She squealed leaning in close to me as if she had a secret. "Between you and me, I'm so desperately in love with the drummer." I thought back, remembering the blonde haired drummer with the tattoo of a half naked mermaid on his neck.

"Yeah, they're cool." I shrugged, but really, I was almost as obsessed with the bassist as she probably was with the drummer. She stopped, her jaw slack.

"Cool?" She yelped following me outside into the crisp autumn air.

Mia followed me halfway down the street chattering away about Wooden Animals. She caught me off guard by asking to go out for some coffee. I stood on the curb, debating whether I should go. It was cold out and I just wanted to go home, curl up in front of the T.V. And watch Shirly Temple movies. But then I realized that I didn't actually own any Shirley Temple movies. I surprised myself by saying yes and letting Mia drag me to the local cafe, White Beans.

We bustled into the full shop, there were all sorts of people waiting in line or sitting. Mothers on coffee dates, their babies uncomfortably hot in their insulated jackets and mittens. Single woman anxiously awaiting a handsome passerby. I was practically itching to take pictures, but I didn't want to come across as a weirdo to Mia. I mean Mia and I go way back, but not on a personal level.

I pulled the few singles I had snagged from my sister for lunch out of my hiding compartment in my camera case. I wasn't a big fan of coffee, but I figured that I could buy a hot chocolate or something. Mia covered her mouth so the cashier wouldn't hear her, although he was with a customer.

"Between you and me, I actually don't like coffee." She whispered conspiritorily. I stared at her, holding back another bout of laughter.

"You're a mindreader." I laughed. "I don't like coffee either!" we both laughed moving ahead in the line. When we reached the register, my heart almost stopped. I could feel my palms slick with sweat. The Barista was the singer from Wooden Animals. A wide grin stretched across his face as he leaned lazily on the counter. I felt Mia grip my arm. It was like having a boa constrictor give me a hug.

"Well well well, I thought I'd never see me beautiful sheila of a photogress again." my hand trembled as I hid my camera behind my back.

"Yo-You're from Wooden Animals." Mia stammered. The singer sighed and smiled at her. His slate grey eyes warmer than I remembered from earlier. He rubbed the scruffle of a beard growing on his chin. I couldn't even speak I was so embarrassed. I thought I'd never have to humiliate myself in front of one of these guys again.

"Bet you want your picture back yeah?" he asked, a glint in his eye. I nodded mechanically, scared that if I spoke, I would lose my voice. Mia looked from me to the singer excitedly.

"You know her? She knows you?" she hissed practically hopping over the counter.

"Yeah." I croaked putting my hand out. He laughed tearing his apron off and tossing it aside. He hopped over the counter which caused an eruption of groans and protests from those waiting in line. Another barista, a girl about my age with braces came and took his spot giving him a dirty look.

"I'm going on break!" He waved behind him. Mia and I followed him, confused and still wanting hot chocolate. "The name's Earl by the way, and I am the Wooden Animals guy. I didn't know we had gotten that famous yet!" He led us outside where he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, blowing a thick cloud at us. I tapped my foot anxiously. Mia stated what I was about to ask.

"Um...The picture?" She said, respect still behind her words. The man winked and I still didnt know why the hell I was actually standing out in the freezing twilight with a semi famous stranger and a girl with seaweed coloured hair.

"Me mate is supposed to come by during break to bring a bass that needs fixing. He's the one with the picture, so we have to wait a second." My heart rate slowed. It was as if someone had pressed the slo-mo button on my vision.

"Is she alright?" I heard distantly. I snapped out of my reverie, blinking. The bassist...he was coming here. Right now. With MY picture. Why did he have MY picture? I thought back quickly. And then it hit me like a ton of bricks.

I had left the photo with Earl when I tore off this morning.

I was tempted to bolt and run home crying, but I stood rigidly nodding my head at Earl and Mia.

"Yeah...I'm fine." Earl smiled crookedly as smoke curled out of his nose.

"Good. Me pal saw your picture and went apeshit over it." He said kicking the toe of his boot into a sidewalk crack. My heart dropped. Okay...so the bassist thinks I'm a stalker...and a creep...he went apeshit because he was weirded out. Perfect.

"...He loved it so much, he wouldn't give it back to me." I couldnt help but smile behind my hand. He liked it? That much? I felt shivers all over as the North winds blew. Or was it the fact that the bassist loved my picture. Maybe both. Earl saw the look on my face and raised an eyebrow.

"Why so shocked? You're photo was a work of genius."

"I just thought you guys would think I was a a stalker or something." I blurted out. Mia hooted, laughing into her mitten. Earl and I looked at her, startled, I think we had both forgotten that she was even there. I leaned against the brick wall of the cafe, humiliated.

"It's a CONCERT Anna, you're supposed to take pictures." Mia said wiping tears from her eyes. A line of mascara streamed from the crack in her eyelid. I was tempted to say something, but didn't want to embarass her. I looked all around, so I wouldn't be surprised when the bassist would show up.

"What's the bassist's name again?" Mia asked, favourite band huh? Earl threw the butt of his cigarette to the ground and crushed it with his heel.

"Romy." I held this name close to me, like the sweetest strawberry in the basket. As if on cue, he strolled around the corner, the strap of his bass slung around his shoulder. He stared at his shoes, completely oblivious to the fact that Earl had just said his name. Looking to Earl when he approached us, he nodded to all of us and handed Earl the bass. Earl examined it in his hands. I noticed that a string was pretty loose, was that from playing last night?

Romy shoved his hands in his jeans pockets, rocking on his heels. He ignored Mia and I, focused on the way Earl was handling the instrument. His strong jaw loped into that familiar curl of dark hair. The cowlick grazed the back of his neck and disappeared into the collar of his cardigan. Wasn't it too cold for a cardigan? Mia stared at him in awe, I guess she had a right to. It's not like it's everyday you get to see almost celebrities just hanging outside of a coffee shop. She pulled on my arm and brought her lips to my ear.

"Why didn't you tell me you knew them?" She hissed. I was still paying attention to Romy, his eyes flicked to mine for a second and then averted, his face a warm pink. I looked away as well, my face on fire.

"I don't." I admitted. I just wanted to get my picture and go home. After Earl was finished looking over the bass, he looked to Romy and said, he'd fix it before their next show. Romy nodded, running a hand through his hair. Earl made a box with his fingers.

"Picture, I need it." he said pushing another cigarette in his mouth. Romy shook his head. My nerves pulsed behind my wrists, so I wasn't going to get my picture back...AND WHY WASN'T HE TALKING!?! He was shy on a whole different level. Romy pulled his pockets inside out as if to say he didn't have it. I could tell Mia wanted to ask why he wasn't talking too, but for some odd reason, she wouldn't.

Earl pulled his lips into a tight line and put a finger up to us.

"Hold on a tick." He said moving further down the curb with Romy. What the hell was going on?

Mia turned to me quickly gripping my arms.

"What's wrong with him? He's so weird, what if they're over there plotting to rape us?" She said rapidly. I looked over at them, seeing that Romy's lips still didn't move. I shrugged.

"Who knows. I just want my picture back." I said. Earl came back over and Romy was walking the opposite way, probably home. My heart fell. He didn't even say bye. I tried not to let it show as Earl talked.

"Can we meet? Again? Romy left the picture at home and has an appointment now." I opened my mouth to say no thanks, but Mia beat me by accepting.

"Of course." She said grabbing my hand, "She wants her picture back."

Truth was, I was in no hurry to meet the guy who wasn't decent enough to speak to a lady. Not in a hurry at all.