Two-Way Monologues
folder
Romance › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
16
Views:
2,779
Reviews:
42
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Romance › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
16
Views:
2,779
Reviews:
42
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Chapter Two
Anya stared at her shoes as she rode the subway home from work. She was exhausted; Anya had had been living in New York for over five months and as much as she loved it she sometimes missed how simple things were during college. In college, if she was exhausted from a weekend of partying she could skip her morning classes and even call in sick to her campus job at the library. Things were different now, she was a paid intern at Simplicity Magazine and that sort of behavior would not be tolerated. Two more stops to go, Anya sighed and leaned her head against the side of the train. She loved her job and would never even think about complaining about it, if it weren’t for the fact that she was going to go home only to find Kendra and Adrian relaxing on the couch- no doubt they’d be watching Seinfeld re-runs and eating junk food. Neither of them worked on Mondays, Adrian’s band wasn’t rehearsing until Wednesday, and Kendra’s classes at the Fashion Institute were still on break. It almost seemed unfair. One more stop. She had ten more minutes on the train, five more of walking, and then she was going to have to stop pouting and feeling sorry for herself, Anya mentally scolded herself. This was the life she had chosen, she needed to be mature and accept it. Besides, she had everything she needed: good health, a loving family, great friends, a nice apartment, and an awesome job. What more was there to want?
*
The moment that Anya walked into the apartment, Adrian could tell she was in a bad mood. The saccharine sweet smile she was wearing and the pizza boxes she had in her hands were evidence enough of that. Whenever Anya was in a bad mood she would immediately try to do something nice for her friends; tonight it was pizza.
“Hi guys, how was your day?” Anya kicked the door shut behind her, pausing to lock it before carrying the pizza over to the kitchen counter.
“Stunningly boring.” Kendra announced from her seat on the couch. Anya noted that her roommate was still wearing her pajamas despite it being 6:30 in the evening. “Nothing good on television.”
“What about yours?” Adrian got off of the couch and went into the kitchen. He started to pull out plates and glasses while Anya sat down at the table to take off her heels.
“Long but okay.” Anya gave him a cheery smile. “I’m tired though, I think I’ll go to bed early tonight.”
“What?” Kendra sat up on the couch, kneeling on it and resting her arms on it’s back. “Carter called earlier, he wants to go see a show tonight. You gotta come with us, the band is supposed to be pretty good.”
“I can’t.” Anya said with a little more bitterness than she would have liked. “I have to be at work at 8:30 in the morning tomorrow and I’m still tired from this weekend.”
“Anya, if you aren’t careful you’re going to become boring.” Kendra rolled her eyes and collapsed back onto the couch.
“Anya is far from boring, you’re just unnaturally energetic.” Adrian intercepted quickly. He had seen the brief but still present look of hurt on Anya’s face. “Besides, somebody has to bring home the big bucks.”
“Right, and I’m just rolling in the money.” Anya stood up, grabbing her shoes . “I’m going to change my clothes, you can start in on the pizza without me.”
“Did you get pineapple on it?” Kendra asked.
“Forgot.” Anya closed her bedroom door with a thud.
“Again?” Kendra grunted in frustration. “She always forgets the pineapple.”
“You’re a spoiled brat.” Adrian said as he set the small kitchen table. “You could at least make yourself useful by helping me set the table.”
“That requires me getting off of my ass and frankly that’s just not very appealing right now.” Kendra sprawled herself out further as if to make her point. “I’m quite comfy.”
“I don’t think Anya’s in the mood to hear about how comfy your day on the couch was.” Adrian opened the fridge and examined their drink choices. Kendra had pretty much demolished the girls’ supply of juice and soda. “Want to make a run to the store, Kendra? You’re all out of stuff to drink.”
“I’ve still got half a can of Diet Coke.” Kendra responded dully. “I’ll be conservative with it. And there is always tap water if you’re parched.”
“Don’t be an ass.” Adrian walked over to the couch and loomed over it, starring down at her disapprovingly. “Go to the store.”
“Fine, but I’m only going because I’m almost out of smokes.” Kendra stood up and stretched again. “You know, you’re so much prettier when you’re not talking.”
“Same to you.” Adrian gave her a shove in the direction of her bedroom. “Better get going, the pizza’s getting cold.”
“Why should I care, it doesn’t have any pineapple.” Kendra yelped when Adrian swatted her ass. “I’m going, I’m going.”
*
“Anya, can I come in?” Adrian knocked on her door. When he got no immediate response, Adrian let himself into the room. Anya was sprawled across her bed in just her bra and panties. He knew he shouldn’t stare at her in such a lustful manner, after all he’d seen her in her underwear plenty of times in the four years that they’d been friends. It just seemed as though he was never going to get used to it. Her warm caramel skin stood out against the pale colors of her paisley comforter. “Babe, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Anya mumbled into her pillow. “I don’t think I can move, but I’m fine.” Adrian took the blanket that was on the foot of her bed and pulled it over her. As much for his sake as for hers. “Thanks.”
“You’re sure you’re okay?” Adrian asked again after they had spent several minutes in amicable silence. He’d found over the years that sometimes girls needed to be asked more than once.
“I saw Bryan today.”
Ah, so that’s the it, Adrian thought to himself. The cause of Anya’s decidedly depressed mood. Bryan Smith, the college boyfriend. The preppy trust fund baby who had done nothing but use Anya for two years and then break her heart the day after graduation. Adrian hated that bastard.
“Where?” He sat down next to her and stroked her hair the way she liked; twisting his fingers around the tight curls.
“At lunch. My boss took me and some of the other interns out today and we just so happened to go to the one place in all of New York City that Bryan and his stupid investment banking friends were at.” Anya opened her eyes so she could see Adrian’s face. “And like an idiot, I almost started to cry.”
“I’m sorry.” Adrian leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Did he say anything to you?”
“He came over to our table, charming as ever, and asked for my number. I felt like I couldn’t say no, you know because I was in front of my boss and those girls, and ugh, I think part of me really wanted to give him my number. I don’t know. It was very confusing.”
“Of course it’s going to be confusing, it’s the first time you’ve seen him since you two broke up.” Adrian kept stroking her hair. “But Anya, don’t get sucked back into his bullshit. He’s a jerk and you’re better off without him.”
“I know, it’s just…” Anya sighed. “I loved him. Adrian, he was my first. That’s like, like, momentous, you know? Well, at least it was for me.”
“You’re too trusting.” Adrian said firmly. “You gave him your love and he repeatedly treated you like trash. I’m not saying this to upset you, but because I’m your friend. You have to stay away from him, all he does is hurt you.”
“I know, it’s just hard.” Anya buried her head in her pillow again. “I feel like I’m never going to find another guy who is interested in me.”
“This is exactly what I’m talking about.” Adrian said with a hint of exasperation in his voice. “Anya, he convinced you that he was the only guy that was interested in you but that’s never been the case. You’re beautiful, you’re smart, you’re funny, and tons of guys have thrown themselves at your feet just to get you to talk to them and you don’t even notice.”
“Dre-“ Anya started to protest but Adrian wouldn’t let her.
“I’m serious Anya. All Bryan ever did was destroy your confidence in yourself. One day, when you’re completely over him, you’re going to be able to see what I see when I look at you. You’re going to see an amazing girl who deserves to be treated with respect, and that’s something Bryan is not capable of.” Adrian’s facial expression was one that Anya couldn’t quite read, he looked almost as though he were angry, but it wasn’t quite anger. Anya wanted to ask him why he was getting so upset over this but she was again interrupted.
“Guys, I’m back, and I have beer!” Kendra yelled from the kitchen.
“Get dressed, if watching Kendra scarf down pizza doesn’t cheer you up, nothing will.” Adrian left the room quickly, before Anya could say anything else, and without making any eye contact either. Anya lay still for a moment, thinking about what Adrian had just said.
*
The moment that Anya walked into the apartment, Adrian could tell she was in a bad mood. The saccharine sweet smile she was wearing and the pizza boxes she had in her hands were evidence enough of that. Whenever Anya was in a bad mood she would immediately try to do something nice for her friends; tonight it was pizza.
“Hi guys, how was your day?” Anya kicked the door shut behind her, pausing to lock it before carrying the pizza over to the kitchen counter.
“Stunningly boring.” Kendra announced from her seat on the couch. Anya noted that her roommate was still wearing her pajamas despite it being 6:30 in the evening. “Nothing good on television.”
“What about yours?” Adrian got off of the couch and went into the kitchen. He started to pull out plates and glasses while Anya sat down at the table to take off her heels.
“Long but okay.” Anya gave him a cheery smile. “I’m tired though, I think I’ll go to bed early tonight.”
“What?” Kendra sat up on the couch, kneeling on it and resting her arms on it’s back. “Carter called earlier, he wants to go see a show tonight. You gotta come with us, the band is supposed to be pretty good.”
“I can’t.” Anya said with a little more bitterness than she would have liked. “I have to be at work at 8:30 in the morning tomorrow and I’m still tired from this weekend.”
“Anya, if you aren’t careful you’re going to become boring.” Kendra rolled her eyes and collapsed back onto the couch.
“Anya is far from boring, you’re just unnaturally energetic.” Adrian intercepted quickly. He had seen the brief but still present look of hurt on Anya’s face. “Besides, somebody has to bring home the big bucks.”
“Right, and I’m just rolling in the money.” Anya stood up, grabbing her shoes . “I’m going to change my clothes, you can start in on the pizza without me.”
“Did you get pineapple on it?” Kendra asked.
“Forgot.” Anya closed her bedroom door with a thud.
“Again?” Kendra grunted in frustration. “She always forgets the pineapple.”
“You’re a spoiled brat.” Adrian said as he set the small kitchen table. “You could at least make yourself useful by helping me set the table.”
“That requires me getting off of my ass and frankly that’s just not very appealing right now.” Kendra sprawled herself out further as if to make her point. “I’m quite comfy.”
“I don’t think Anya’s in the mood to hear about how comfy your day on the couch was.” Adrian opened the fridge and examined their drink choices. Kendra had pretty much demolished the girls’ supply of juice and soda. “Want to make a run to the store, Kendra? You’re all out of stuff to drink.”
“I’ve still got half a can of Diet Coke.” Kendra responded dully. “I’ll be conservative with it. And there is always tap water if you’re parched.”
“Don’t be an ass.” Adrian walked over to the couch and loomed over it, starring down at her disapprovingly. “Go to the store.”
“Fine, but I’m only going because I’m almost out of smokes.” Kendra stood up and stretched again. “You know, you’re so much prettier when you’re not talking.”
“Same to you.” Adrian gave her a shove in the direction of her bedroom. “Better get going, the pizza’s getting cold.”
“Why should I care, it doesn’t have any pineapple.” Kendra yelped when Adrian swatted her ass. “I’m going, I’m going.”
*
“Anya, can I come in?” Adrian knocked on her door. When he got no immediate response, Adrian let himself into the room. Anya was sprawled across her bed in just her bra and panties. He knew he shouldn’t stare at her in such a lustful manner, after all he’d seen her in her underwear plenty of times in the four years that they’d been friends. It just seemed as though he was never going to get used to it. Her warm caramel skin stood out against the pale colors of her paisley comforter. “Babe, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Anya mumbled into her pillow. “I don’t think I can move, but I’m fine.” Adrian took the blanket that was on the foot of her bed and pulled it over her. As much for his sake as for hers. “Thanks.”
“You’re sure you’re okay?” Adrian asked again after they had spent several minutes in amicable silence. He’d found over the years that sometimes girls needed to be asked more than once.
“I saw Bryan today.”
Ah, so that’s the it, Adrian thought to himself. The cause of Anya’s decidedly depressed mood. Bryan Smith, the college boyfriend. The preppy trust fund baby who had done nothing but use Anya for two years and then break her heart the day after graduation. Adrian hated that bastard.
“Where?” He sat down next to her and stroked her hair the way she liked; twisting his fingers around the tight curls.
“At lunch. My boss took me and some of the other interns out today and we just so happened to go to the one place in all of New York City that Bryan and his stupid investment banking friends were at.” Anya opened her eyes so she could see Adrian’s face. “And like an idiot, I almost started to cry.”
“I’m sorry.” Adrian leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Did he say anything to you?”
“He came over to our table, charming as ever, and asked for my number. I felt like I couldn’t say no, you know because I was in front of my boss and those girls, and ugh, I think part of me really wanted to give him my number. I don’t know. It was very confusing.”
“Of course it’s going to be confusing, it’s the first time you’ve seen him since you two broke up.” Adrian kept stroking her hair. “But Anya, don’t get sucked back into his bullshit. He’s a jerk and you’re better off without him.”
“I know, it’s just…” Anya sighed. “I loved him. Adrian, he was my first. That’s like, like, momentous, you know? Well, at least it was for me.”
“You’re too trusting.” Adrian said firmly. “You gave him your love and he repeatedly treated you like trash. I’m not saying this to upset you, but because I’m your friend. You have to stay away from him, all he does is hurt you.”
“I know, it’s just hard.” Anya buried her head in her pillow again. “I feel like I’m never going to find another guy who is interested in me.”
“This is exactly what I’m talking about.” Adrian said with a hint of exasperation in his voice. “Anya, he convinced you that he was the only guy that was interested in you but that’s never been the case. You’re beautiful, you’re smart, you’re funny, and tons of guys have thrown themselves at your feet just to get you to talk to them and you don’t even notice.”
“Dre-“ Anya started to protest but Adrian wouldn’t let her.
“I’m serious Anya. All Bryan ever did was destroy your confidence in yourself. One day, when you’re completely over him, you’re going to be able to see what I see when I look at you. You’re going to see an amazing girl who deserves to be treated with respect, and that’s something Bryan is not capable of.” Adrian’s facial expression was one that Anya couldn’t quite read, he looked almost as though he were angry, but it wasn’t quite anger. Anya wanted to ask him why he was getting so upset over this but she was again interrupted.
“Guys, I’m back, and I have beer!” Kendra yelled from the kitchen.
“Get dressed, if watching Kendra scarf down pizza doesn’t cheer you up, nothing will.” Adrian left the room quickly, before Anya could say anything else, and without making any eye contact either. Anya lay still for a moment, thinking about what Adrian had just said.