3:15 p.m. Brianna was finally walking into her apartment. She noticed there were several messages on her answering machine.

**beep** Brianna, hey there. It’s 12 o’clock. I guess maybe you got caught in lunch hour traffic of something. This is Mitchell. I’ll call back in a little bit.

**beep** Hey Brianna. It’s 12:30. I figured you’d have made it home by now. I hope everything’s okay. I’ll try back later.

**beep** It’s almost 1 now. Do you have a cell phone? I know you can’t answer this until you get home. But when you do get home call me, this is my number. ***-****

**beep** Brianna I’m starting to get worried. You said you’d be home by noon and it’s now 1:30. Call me as soon as you get this.

**beep** Are you there yet? Call me.

**beep** Brianna this isn’t funny. It’s 2 o’clock and I’m really worried now. Even if you don’t feel like talking call and let me know you are okay.

**beep** 2:45 where in the world are you?

**beep** That’s it. You’re three hours late. I’m on my way over there, so if you get this message now don’t call I’ll see you when I get there.

Okay? That was strange. He’s just a bit uptight about the time. But I guess everyone has their quirks. Brianna laughed off the phone calls as she walked to the bathroom. She figured she had just enough time to take a shower before Mitchell showed up.

**BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG**

“Hold on, hold on! I’m on my way.”

**BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG**

“I said I’m coming. Just a second.” Brianna looked at the clock as she passed the living room, it was 3:35. Opening the door she was greeted with a very flushed face Mitchell. He rushed passed her into the apartment, went all the way to the center of the living room before turning around and speaking.

“Where have you been? Why didn’t you answer the phone or call me back? Why wouldn’t you answer the door?” He didn’t even seem to notice she was dripping wet with nothing covering her but a towel.

“Um, hello to you too, Mitchell. I didn’t call you back because I didn’t get home until after 3 o’clock.”

“What happened? Are you okay?” He suddenly seemed very concerned. He was holding her hands and looking at her arms and turning her around looking for some sort of injury.

“I’m fine.” She pulled free of him and stepped back. “I said I’m fine. Mom and Dad just wanted me to stay a little longer is all.”

“Then why didn’t you answer the door?” He was scowling slightly.

“In case you haven’t noticed the wet hair and towel here, I was in the shower.”

“But you checked the messages right?” Brianna nodded her head yes. “Then you knew I was on my way over. Couldn’t you wait until after you saw me to take a shower?”

“Mitchell, I don’t see what the big deal is here. So I took a shower and didn’t hear you knocking on the door. I was hot and had chlorine in my hair.”

“Brianna, the big deal is you said you’d be home by noon and I got scared when I didn’t hear from you. I thought something happened.”

She had to fight the urge to roll her eyes. Instead she calmly stated, “Listen, I was at my parents. I think that is safe enough. I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself. No need for you to get so worked up.”

“Take care of yourself, like when you got left at the party by John?” Now he was being sarcastic.

Okay, I usually can take care of myself. Why is he freaking out? She didn’t want to upset him any more than he obviously already was so instead of arguing her point she aquiesed. “I’m sorry I worried you. I guess I just didn’t think. Can you forgive me? Please?”

He walked up to her rubbing her arms up and down and studied her face for a second before pulling her into a hug. “Forgiven. You have my number now. Just, if you are gonna be late like that again, can you call me?”

“Sure. I can do that.”

“What about you. Do you have a cell phone? That way if I am worried I can make sure you’re okay.”

She didn’t like the idea of someone checking up on her, but she didn’t want to upset him again like he had been. “Sure, let me write it down for you.”

After tucking her number inside his wallet he went to the door. “Well, I was going to see if you wanted to do that shopping today, but it’s a little late to start that now, and besides you look tired. How’d things go at your parents?”

“They went well. It was a good weekend, productive. And yes, I am fairly tired. I’m sorry to ruin your plans, but maybe we could do it again another day.”

“Well, you don’t seem to thrilled about it. Maybe we should just forget it.” He wasn’t upset anymore, but he stilled seemed to be a bit irritated.

“No, no, it sounds fun. Besides, it’ll give me a chance to spend some more time with you, and that I would definitely like.”

“Really? Well, how about this. You get some rest tonight and tomorrow. I have a meeting tomorrow during the day, but I can be free by 1:30. Why don’t I come get you at 2 and we can spend the rest of the day together and I’ll even treat you to dinner?”

She smiled at him. He seemed to be calming down. Maybe he was just worried about her after all. “Sure 2 o’clock sounds fine.”

“You’ll be here? Be ready?”

“Yes. I don’t plan on going anywhere tomorrow except out with you.”

He opened the door and stepped outside. Turning back he gave her his lopsided smile. “Great. I’ll see you at 2 o’clock then.” After that he shut the door behind him. A minute later she heard his car start up and drive off.

“Well, that was, interesting.” But, Brianna didn’t give it much thought. She decided to get dressed, fix a sandwich, some popcorn, and then vegge on the couch for a few hours.

<~ Chapter 57 or Chapter 59 ~>

In the End

Karina 2003