The Way It Should Be
Chapter Three
By: Carrie Verkman
carebear1025@juno.com



Anna Del Amico lived in an apartment building close by County General Hospital. The El train was nearby and Anna often rode it to work on cold days, rather than taking her car. There was a small convenience store nearby and a nice little park she often jogged at.

Her apartment was small, but cozy for one person. Despite it being small there was virtually nothing wrong with it. Except the roaches. The whole building was infested with them and Anna was used to them by now. She called her apartment the "Roach Lodge". There was also a small kitchen, one bathroom, one bedroom, and a fireplace.  

Anna sat on her couch sipping tea. The TV was on but she wasn't watching it. There was too much on her mind. Anna was thinking about John Carter  She felt terrible about turning him down. She did plan on going to the ball, but not with anyone else. It was too hard dating anyone after Max. Max Rosher. Anna smiled when she thought of him. He was a kind loving man who she had dated back in Philadelphia. He was a doctor too. Anna had fell in love with him. But then she found out about his narcotics addiction and she left him. Anna thought if she helped John Carter with his cousin Chase's addiction, she might begin to get over Max. But it wasn't easy. Anna still loved Max. 

The hardest part for Anna was that she loved John Carter also. She loved him since the day they met. He was cute with a boyish look on his face. John had a great personality and cared for everyone he met. He was passionate about his job as a doctor and that drove Anna wild. But what Anna loved the most was his smile and his rich chocolate brown eyes (much
like her own) that made you melt. John had a body that Anna wanted. She fantasized about him and often undressed him with her mind. She hoped that one day she could make her fantasies come true. 

Anna looked at her watch. She had to get ready for the ball. Anna had picked out a strapless black dress that went down to her ankles along with a black sash to go around her shoulders. Go to the ball, have fun, tell John about Max later, she told herself.  

Kerry looked at her watch impatiently. "John hurry up! We're going to be late!"  

John was tying his tie; "I'll be up in a minute." John looked at himself in the mirror. He was still hurt by Anna's words. But Kerry told him to put it past him. He came out of his basement room to find Kerry. She wore a plain red dress, but she looked pretty. "Kerry you look great." John said. 

Kerry blushed, "Thank you John. You don't look so bad yourself." 

John smiled and thanked Kerry for her compliment. The two of them were off to the ER ball. 

Anna arrived before John and Kerry did.  She was not happy with herself for turning John down. Carol Hathaway noticed the look of sadness on her face. "What's wrong Anna? You're not your usual peppy self." 

Anna replied, "John Carter asked me out to tonight's ball and I turned him down when I knew I shouldn't have." 

"Was he upset?" asked Carol. 

"Yeah. He didn't show it but you could see it in his eyes." 

"Why didn't you say yes?" 

"It's a long story and I don't want to talk about it." Anna said. 

John and Kerry arrived. John nearly fainted when he saw Anna. "Oh God." He said.  

"What? What's wrong?" asked Kerry. 

"It's Anna. She's here." 

"You're kidding? I thought she said…" 

"I thought so too." John walked over to Anna. 

Anna didn't see him coming. But she heard his voice call her name.

"Anna!"

"John?!" Anna was surprised. 

"I need to talk to you. Excuse us Carol." John pulled Anna away. "I want one good reason why you turned me down this afternoon. You lied to me." 

"If you listen and let me talk you'll get your reason." Anna snapped back. "First of all I want you to know I feel terrible about what I said this afternoon. I have nothing against you John and you know that." 

"The why did you turn me down?" asked John. 

"The reason why I turned you down is because I'm still getting over my last boyfriend. I'm still in love with him." 

"You could have told me Anna." John said. "It hurt me when you lied. I would have felt much better if you'd told me the truth." 

"I'm so sorry." Anna said. "If there's anything I can do to make it up to you, let me know."

"I want to know how you can still be in love with a guy who's not even your boyfriend now." John said.   

"I left my last boyfriend because of his narcotics addiction. It hurt me because I thought I was doing the wrong thing by walking away from him. I should have stayed and helped him because I loved him. Then when Chase came along…" Anna's voice became soft.  

"No you didn't. You used Chase as a way to get over your old boyfriend? How could you do that Anna? He is my cousin!" John said angrily. 

"I'm sorry, I really am. Right now I am in a very difficult point in my life. I don't know who I love or who loves me. If you want to stay mad at me that's fine. I deserve it!" Anna ran off crying. 

John looked at her helplessly. He was mad at Anna for lying to him and then using him. But then he saw that she was going through a difficult time and felt sympathy for her. He remembered that she said she didn't know who she loves. That made it sound as if there was someone else. John hoped that he was the someone else. John went looking for Anna. Someone said she had gone home already. Poor girl, he thought, all she needs is someone to talk to, and that could be me. 

End of Chapter Three