Web of Lies

[dirtybelle]

Web of Lies(closed)

Life couldn’t be any better for Anna if she tried. She had a job she loved, a great family, her dream job, and an amazing boyfriend, Luke. Anna, was getting ready for her usual Friday date with Luke. She just stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her hair. She applied her makeup, even though she hated doing it. She only used a little bit though, foundation, mascara, and a not-show-showy lipstick. She dabbed only a smidge of mousse’ in her medium, brown hair and scrunched it in. While that dried a bit, she went and put on her underwear and picked out her outfit for her date.
Anna, who was 25, was a third grade teacher. It was her dream job, she had had the job for four years and always woke up ready for the day. She had several teacher-like clothes and she was a modest lady by means, but tonight she dawned on a white lacey spring dress and white sandals that matched. She wanted to look her best for Luke. Luke, had been away a week on a business meeting and she couldn’t wait to see him.


Luke and Anna had been an item for almost two years. They met at their former universities homecoming football game. He actually dropped his soda on her at the concession stand and he apologized by taking her to dinner the next weekend. Ever since them they had been together. Anna loved Luke with all her heart and to her he was the only one there would ever be. They never talked about marriage officially, they just played with the idea from time to time. Their relationship was not a typical boyfriend and girlfriend relationship, especially since they had been together for as long as they have. Their relationship was not sexual. Anna wanted to wait until marriage. It was a value that was instilled in her since she was a young teenager. Don’t get me wrong, Anna wanted to have sex with Luke, but waiting was important to her. Luke, was patient with her and said that he would wait for her, and a few times when they would make-out she would ask for them to stop and he would and said that he respected her.

Luke always made Anna feel special. Anna was tall and she never thought she was beautiful, but Luke constantly boosted her ego. She was tall, pale-skinned, with medium brown hair. Some would call her, plain, but Luke made her feel more.

She finished blow drying her hair when she heard her phone go off. It was a text message from Luke.
**Sorry babe, I just got home from my trip and I don’t feel well. I think it’s the flu. We will go out again soon though. I am going to go to bed and see if I feel better. Love you**
Anna sighed. She missed him and she was looking forward to see him. He must have caught something on the flight back. She texted him back.
**My poor baby. I hope you feel better soon. I miss you a lot, I will call you tomorrow.I love you too**

She plopped down on the bed, feeling sorry for herself. She hadn’t seen Luke in a week and she realized on his trip how much she really did miss him. She wanted to see him and feel him, goodness she even missed the scent of his cologne. Then she got up and gout out of her dress and hung it back up . She put on her jeans and an old t-shirt and went to the kitchen. She got a bowl and was trying to choose between Fruit Loops or Frosted Flakes. She would have cared for something warm. It was then that she got the idea. I am going to make him some soup. She wanted to make him feel better.

Anna made the best homemade chicken noodle soup and she would take Luke some. She got out all the pots and bowls and ingredients and got to work. Luke liked a lot of garlic, so Anna made sure to add extra. Before long the apartment was filled with the homey aroma of chicken noodle soup. She took the pot and carried it to her picnic basket and was on her way. She drove to his apartment that was just a few minutes away. She thought about texting him first, but she wanted to surprise him.

She pulled up to his place and got out with soup in hand. She knocked on the door, no answer. She had a key to his place and she let herself in. His place was dark and she didn’t see Luke. She called out, “Luke, I brought you some soup!”…..no answer. She went up the stairs to his room , he must be sleeping, poor baby, she thought to herself. She got to his room and the door was closed, she called his name again, “Luke?”. Still Nothing. She thought she heard him moan. Oh he must really be sick. She walked in and found the surprise of her life.

Luke was in bed, but he wasn’t resting and he wasn’t alone. He was on top of another girl and humping the life out of her. The girl was moaning and groaning in complete pleasure and Luke looked like he was really enjoying himself. The girl was completely unlike Anna, she was blonde, short, petite, and tan. Anna watched for what seemed like forever. She heard herself scream. It was like an outer body experience. This couldn’t be real. Her Luke wouldn’t do that to her.

Luke stopped and the girl screamed too. “Anna! What are you doing here?” he yelled at her. Anna couldn’t move, couldn’t breath, couldn’t cry. She was in shock. “I’m sorry,” she heard herself whisper and she ran out of the room, down the stairs. She could hear him calling after her, footsteps several steps racing towards her, but she was out the door and in the car.

She drove back home in a panic. Speeding and passing cars until she found her driveway. She pulled up and turned off the car and sat there. Was this real? Did that really happen? What was she going to do? Slowly, this time she got out of the car and walked in the house. Without thinking she meandered to the bathroom and turned on the water. She undressed and stepped in. The shower was scorching, way to hot, but she didn’t notice and didn’t care. It was then that the tears came. Cold-hearted Anna was not, but she was never one to cry, unless at weddings and funerals. Here in the shower, no one would see her cry. She cried and wept and sobbed until she felt the water turn cold. Anna, was just going through the motions. Turning off the water she stepped out of the shower and dried off. She wipped the fog of the shower off the vanity mirror and looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes were as red as her skin was. She wipped away the tears, but they still continued to fall in vain.

She went to her bed to put on her pajamas, but she dreaded it. She always slept in one of Luke’s old college shirts. It made herself feel safe and loved. She didn’t even bother with putting on pajamas, she just got under the covers. Her pillow was soon covered with tears and her mind was consumed with questions. Why did he do it? How long had it been going on? Who was she? Was this the first time?...of course not. She had no clue that this was going on. She tried to replay the last couple of weeks and months together, but she didn’t notice anything unusual. If there were signs she didn’t notice. How could she have been so blind? Soon she drifted off to sleep, but she only dreamt of Luke, with the other girl. It was a real-life nightmare.

 

[lovingfingers]

Luke sat down on the couch and ran his fingers through his hair. No doubt about it, he had fucked up. Tiffany had left. Nothing like pulling your cock out of a girl to go chasing after another to extinguish her interest. He didn't care. The only reason that she had been here anyway was he let his cock do the thinking. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

He loved Anna. He really did. He also ached to take their relationship to the next level, but she didn't. He was tired of cold showers and envying his friends their sensual relationships. Tiffany, on the other hand, was all too eager, and he had succumbed to the temptation.

So what did he do now? He started a dozen texts to Anna, deleting each one. What could he possibly say? He decided on a beer and a shower. He lathered up, washing Tiffany's juices from his prick. He wanted what they had shared, with Anna.

When he emerged from the shower, he dried off and went to his computer. He ordered flowers to be delivered with a note, "I am so sorry. I fucked up. I know you may not be ready yet, but, I love you and want to talk. Love, Luke." He stayed up for a bit, changed the sheets on his bed, and in short, purged Tiffany from his space. He wanted Anna, here, now, her stains on his sheets...

 

[dirtybelle]

Tossing and turning Anna tried to sleep at night, but it was all in vain. Sleep would not be her exit out of this reality. She did sleep a little, but not much a half an hour here, an hour there. She woke up frantic, tired, and restless. She looked at her cellphone beside her bed. No messages from Luke. No calls or text messages.

Son of a bitch.She was hurt. Not just hurt, devastated, taken back....lost. She didn't know what to do.

Why didn't Luke just break up with her? She wondered how long she had missed the signs? How long he had been with that other girl, whoever she was.

Her alarm clock said 5:57. She was an early riser anyway, she ususally got up at 7:00, she put of the unevidable.....she got up. She would do her best to function and pretend that everything was fine. She was still naked, she went to the closet and put on a sports bra, tights and t-shirt. She didn't care.... Her entire body ached. It was like her heart was broken in a million pieces and the pieces fell into the rest of her body.

She got up and went to the kitchen, not wanting to got to the bathroom and look at herself in the mirror. She realized that she didn't eat supper last night and she was hungry, she needed to eat something, but she didn't want to.

Her dishes were still dirty from the soup preparation. She filled the sink with hot, scalding water and washed the dishes. While washing the dishes she realized that she left her basket at his place. She dropped everything and ran.

She finished the dishes and put them away. She didn't want to stay here, she had to get out. She put on her tennis shoes and headed to the gym. Her gym was just a few blocks from her house so she walked. She was there in no time and she clocked in and headed for the treadmill. She ran out her anger, not caring who was watching she just ran. Soon she began to get dizzy and tired, she realized that she needed to eat. She grabbed a protein bar and a water and then went again. This time to the weights, then the row machine, then the eliptical. She was going hard, her entire shirt was covered in sweat and she was exhausted. She found the clock on the wall, it was almost 9:30, she had been there for a while.

She saw a few girls grabbing yoga mats and heading to a private room, she needed to calm down. She grabbed a mat and headed to the class. She breathed and stretched and thought about what happened, but she didn't know what she was going to do....would she ever know.

The yoga was beneficial and she left better than what she came in....she walked home to take a shower, but before she could a delivery boy with the polo embroidded shirt from American Flowers had a delivery for her. The college kid gave her the flowers and she had to sign the delivery confirmation.

The flowers were beautiful, they were a bright mixture of wildflowers, daisies, and roses.

She took the vase and went inside and set them on the counter. She found the card...."I am so sorry. I fucked up. I know you may not be ready yet, but, I love you and want to talk. Love, Luke."


Tears filled her eyes and she sat down and rubbed her eyes. What was she going to do, she thought to herself. She was mad. Mad that he sent her flowers....mad that he didn't call, mad that he didn't follow her home and apologize, mad that he was with this other girl....Wait...

Maybe the only reason that he is apologizing now is because the other girl left or called it off and all he had left.... was Anna

She didn't know what to think anymore...she was loosing it. He was right though. She didn't want to talk to him, she didn't want to see him, but she did miss him.

He probably sent flowers to this other girl.....he had done other things with her that he certainly didn't do with Anna. All she knew now that he was a liar, but she still loved him. This would take time to heal.

 

[lovingfingers]

The morning came, and it wasn't a good one. He had barely slept and felt like crap. He got up and trudged to the bathroom. After his morning routine, he went to the kitchen. On the way, he saw a basket on the floor. Where did that come from? He picked it up and set it on the table. Opening it, he found soup inside. Anna. He groaned, "she makes me soup and I fuck another girl. Nice." He put the soup in the frig and made coffee. It was going to be a long weekend.

He got dressed and padded around the apartment. Now what should he do? Run over and beg forgiveness? Wait and let things settle? Email, text, call? He sipped his coffee. He looked around. He wanted Anna here, sipping coffee with him in the morning, after a night of lovemaking. He wanted her.

He got up and got back undressed. He shaved and put on decent clothes. He left and got into his car and headed towards her apartment. He wanted Her.

 

[dirtybelle]

After sitting at the kitchen table contemplating the flowers, the note.....the entire episode, Anna forced her legs to pick herself up and go to the bathroom to take a shower. Her legs were already sore from her morning workout. The room filled with the gurlge of her stomach. She need to eat. Easily she made it to her take out menu stash and decided that she would call the local Chinese eatery. She ordered her usual egg drop soup and shrimp lo mein.

After placing her order she went to the shower and let the steam seep through to her muscles and let the ache heal, but not her heart ache. She made quick work of washing her hair and drying off. Taking her towel she wiped away the fog from the mirror and she finally looked at herself. She was still a wreck. Her eyes were still red and puffy and her lips even looked swollen and redder than usual. Another tear escaped her eyes and went down her cheek, she quickly brought her hand to wipe it away like swatting away a pesky bee. She hated crying. Crying was a form of weakness.

She redressed in a pair of jeans and a black tank top. She grabbed her school bag and laptop, she still had papers to grade and lessons to get in order. She would work on that after she ate. Normally, she would work at the kitchen table, but the flowers were there and she didn't need any distractions. She got all her things together and kept them at the sofa, she would work here today. Then she heard a knock her her door, her food was here. She grabbed her wallet and headed to the door.

She opened the door, but it wasn't her lunch delivery.

 

[lovingfingers]

Luke stood in the doorway. Anna's look was one of surprise. He couldn't blame her. She wasn't expecting him. He had intercepted the delivery guy just moments before.

He held the back out to her, trying to smile, "You order lunch?"

She looked at him as though he was from Mars.

He stood 6 feet tall, leanly muscled and strong, yet he felt scared and weak.

He tried again, "Anna, I know you have no reason to talk to me. I know I fucked up. But I also know that I love you and want a future with you. I want to talk."

 

[dirtybelle]

There he was, with her lunch from what it looked like. He held the brown paper bag out to her and she didn't take it at first. She just looked at it, then looked at him. Then he began his apology.

"Anna, I know you have no reason to talk to me. I know I fucked up. But I also know that I love you and want a future with you. I want to talk."

Her gaze couldn't quite make his. She didn't want to look at him in the eye. She didn't want him to see her like this, her hair a mess, her eyes all puffy, and red. Thankfully, her tears spared her for now, she wasn't crying...yet.

She grabbed her bag in a huff. "What do you want to talk about?" She barely managed to whisper. She left the door open. What else was there to discuss. He cheated on her, to her that was a clear sign that he didn't want her anymore. She turned and walked towards the kitchen and sat her food on the bar, not the flower dawned table. She got it all out and went to the fridge and grabbed a Coke.

She was angry,....livid was more like it. She didn't realize how mad she was until she saw him. She was mad yes, but she wanted to forgive him. She wanted to move on from being hurt.

 

[lovingfingers]

He followed her in slowly. She busied herself getting ready to eat, ignoring him. She looked rough, and he felt terrible. But at least she had let him in, sort of. Maybe there was a chance.

He moved closer to her. She ignored him. He started softly, "Anna, I know it sounds crazy to say this, but I love you. I have never stopped loving you or wanting you. Last night was a one time thing. I had a bit much to drink and was stupid. I know that isn't an excuse, but its what happened. And all I know now is how desparately I love you and want you and hope you will give me a chance."

 

[dirtybelle]

From Anna's side view she saw that Luke slowly followed her in the apartment. She tried to act casual and normal around him she grabbed her Coke and took a swig and got her food out of the bag, even though she knew she wouldn't eat it for a while. He began to talk....

"Anna, I know it sounds crazy to say this, but I love you. I have never stopped loving you or wanting you. Last night was a one time thing. I had a bit much to drink and was stupid. I know that isn't an excuse, but its what happened. And all I know now is how desparately I love you and want you and hope you will give me a chance."

Yeah right he loved her, you don't cheat on the one you love. She couldn't trust him anymore, she still couldn't tell if he was lying or not.
She put distance between herself and him and stood on the other side of the bar. Pulling out the barstool she sat down and put her elbows on the counter and clasped her hands together.

He told her that he was sick. He was suppose to be on a buisness trip, to her he may have not even left and was having a fuckfest with Malibu Barbie.....

She took what he said to heart, he really did look sorry for what happened, but was he really sorry or was he just apologizing because he got caught in his web of lies.

Looking him in the eye, for the first time, Anna's curiosity was about to come out, she wanted to know everything about why he lied to her, who that girl was and what other lies he had told her.

She swallowed hard and began, "Luke, I don't know what to do. I don't know what to think. All I know is that I am hurt. I thought you would never ever hurt me. I used to think that you loved me. In fact I was so sure of it......I thought that......" she stopped there her eyes were burning and her voice was cracking. What she wanted to say was that they were getting to close to getting engaged and that they would be together forever.

Luke didn't say anything, I think he knew better.

She finally managed to speak again. "How long have you been lying to me? Did you even go on your trip?"

She just starred at him waiting for his answer. She could feel her face turn red and even though she was speaking calm right now, she didn't know how long before her voice got out of control. She didn't ask about the other girl right now, she would save that for later. One thing at a time.

 

[lovingfingers]

He took a deep breath. Better to get it all out in the open. He looked her in the eye, and started, "Yeah, I left on monday like I said. The meeting was dull as rocks. Everybody went out for a drink, at least, every night. I met Tiffany on thursday, just met, nothing else."

He paused as he saw her expression change, then continued, "Turns out that we were taking the same flight back. There were huge delays on the flight. They started offering free drinks. One thing led to another. It was stupid."

He looked at her hard though, "but it made me realize something. I haven't had sex in nearly two years."

He took a step closer, "Anna, I love you, and I want to make love to you. I have wanted it the entire time we have been seeing each other. I have managed to keep it at bay up until now, but it is eating away at me. Anna, I don't want a Tiffany. I want you."

 

[dirtybelle]

Anna, watched Luke carefully. He was choosing his words very carefully.

Apparently he met this Tiffany girl at the meeting and they both got drunk and then he lied to her and then went back to his place. Tiffany. Bleh. Such a whorish name.

"but it made me realize something. I haven't had sex in nearly two years."....Anna's eyes widdened when he announced this.


He came closer to her, "Anna, I love you, and I want to make love to you. I have wanted it the entire time we have been seeing each other. I have managed to keep it at bay up until now, but it is eating away at me. Anna, I don't want a Tiffany. I want you."


Anna, had never been so angry with anyone about anything in her life until now. Now her cup had filled to the brim and the pressure was about to blow.

"Are you sure you're not drunk right now, because last night you wanted Tiffany," she spitted out at him. She pushed past him and headed to the living room away from him.

"Being drunk is no kind of excuse for lying to me. You knew what you were doing then, so don't give me that load of shit!" she cursed. She was taken back at herself, her hands were shaking. She never swore. She could see Eric tense up at her language. He must of known that this was coming.

She continued her rant, she needed him to know. She couldn't hold it in anymore. "You lied to me. You said you were sick......I made you soup! I hope Tiffany enjoyed it as much as you do," she was getting ugly now. Frantically she paced back and forth on the rug. Her hands coiled up in balls, threatning to do damage to something.

"You know why we didn't have sex, because I wanted to wait, because I didn't want to be like that slut you were with last night!!!"

It means something to me. It means that I give all of myself to someone....that is the one thing that I can give only to one person. You don't think I want to have sex, because I do....you act like you are the only one that wants it." Tears were flowing now, she couldn't stop it now.


She turned her back to him now, he voice calmer somewhat, "Do you honestly think that I could do that now? I trusted you. I thought you would never betray me. What bothers me the most is that if I didn't find you two together that you would have never have told me," her voice cracked.

 

[lovingfingers]

Luke fought to keep his tone even, walking after her, but keeping his distance, "Yeah, lying to you was wrong. Totally my bad. And I am sorry, genuinely sorry."

He paused, took a breath and continued, "And truth be told, I don't know if I would have told you or not. I can safely say that it wouldn't have happened a second time."

He looked at her, her face unreadable, took another breath, "And while you have the right to feel about sex the way you do, I hope you know that a lot of people don't think that way. Most of our friends are having sex, and a lot of them aren't married. I had sex, until I met you. My sister is having sex and isn't married. Hell, my mother had sex with other guys before she met my dad. Does that make them all sluts?"

 

[dirtybelle]

She turned to him, astonished. "No, I don't think that. I love your mom and sister, but that was their decision. I am a totally different person. I never wanted to just have sex with you, I wanted to make love to you, there is a difference."

"We are not talking about other people anyway. We are talking about You and Me and Our relationship. I was upfront with you about everything and you stayed all this time. You could have told me and we could have talked about this, instead you chose to lie to me," she spit out at him.

"This is so messed up," she whispered and sat down on the couch with her hands in her lap.

Then she looked at him, "I have been true to you in everyway....I even wanted to take care of you when you were sick.....

There tears were flowing like a river down her face now, she was hurt, angry, mad, furious, so unbelieveably upset.
" What if I cheated on you? How would you feel then? What if I was in bed with another person, making love to them and I was lying to you?" she asked him.

 

[lovingfingers]

Luke watched the tears pour down her face, and it broke his heart. He wanted to hold her, kiss her, make things right. But he listened and thought, and finally said, "Anna, yes, I have always been attracted to you sexually. But I also fell in love with you. It could never have been just sex between us. I could only make love to you."

He could see her mind at work and a retort forming, and decided to head it off at the pass, "and yes, I would be pissed if you were sleeping with someone else, particularly when you would not sleep with me."

 

[dirtybelle]

Running her fingers through her hair she sat with her head down. "I wish this never happened," she whispered to herself.

Keeping her attention to her barefeet, she asked him, "So where do we go from here?" She hated his guts right now. Anna, couldn't believe that he had taken everything that they had built together for granted. She loved him....and still loved him, even though this happened. More than anything she wanted to run to him and crawl in his lap and have him hold her and settle her hurt and take away the pain....but she couldn't. She didn't want him to think her as weak and needy...she never did even before this crisis.

Sniffling and wipping away her tears Anna, took a deep breath and stood up, quickly....a little too quickly she staggered and swayed and grabbed ahold of the chair. She hadn't eaten and she was light-headed. The last thing she remembered was standing up and then she blacked out.

 

[lovingfingers]

Fortunately, Luke was only a couple steps away. He saw her stagger and her eyes go blank. He was in motion before he could ask if she was ok. He wasn't fast enough to catch her completely, but grabbed her and made sure her landing was soft Her legs had folded and her behind hit the floor. Luke held the rest of her. No damage done. She must have passed out. As he considered what to do next, he noticed that one of his hands was holding her left breasts. "Sheesh," he thought, "this is what it takes for me to get to second with you." He shook his head.

He repositioned himself and hoisted her up. He lifted her and brought her to the couch. He set her down and put a cushion under her feet. He checked her. Her color and breathing rate were fine. He went to the bathroom and wet a hand towel. He sat on the floor next to her, and gently wiped her face. He bent his head closer and whispered, "I love you."

 

[dirtybelle]

Anna, didn't remember passing out. She had never passed out in her life. Never being squimish or sickly, the combination of not eating, overdoing it emotionally, and physically, finally got to her. She woke up lying on the couch and her feet propped up with a pillow with a wet towel on her head and Luke beside her taking care of her. Embarassed that she passed out, she looked up at him shyly and meekly apologized, "Thank you, I must have stood up too fast."

 

[lovingfingers]

Luke smiled at her, "hey, it happens to the best of us." He almost added, "and I didn't even molest you while you were out," but thought better of it. He remembered the softness of her breast that he had accidentally felt and sighed internally. During the flight, Tiffany had taken his hand and held it hard against her chest until he had groped her sufficiently. It was no wonder he had lost his mind.

Luke got up slowly, "Just relax. Let me get you something to drink." He walked into the kitchen and checked the frig. He found some ginger ale and poured some. He returned to find Anna sitting up and handed it to her. She took it silently and sipped. Not knowing what to do, he sat down on the other end of the couch.

 

[dirtybelle]

Luke gave her a glass of ginger ale and she sipped it quietly debating what to say next. She loved him there was no question about that. Right now she was just.....hurt.

Her focus was on the drink, sipping until she didn't feel light-headed anymore. She felt a little bit more in check so she set the glass down and shifted around so where she was facing him. So many thoughts just bombarded her mind, she wish she couldn't think for a while. Finally she found the words she wanted to say.

"Luke, I've always been faithful to you and honest. I still love you. You know why I wanted to wait. I always wanted to wait until my wedding night....with you," she added. "It is just something special to me. It's not because of you and I never wanted to hold it against you, and I thought that you understood. We could have talked about this....."she continued on, a little more quieter this time, "I mean I thought we were going to get married soon," her eyes watered, but she fought to keep them at bay.

She wanted to get it all out once and for all, she hated arguments and being uncomfortable with Luke, she wanted to have it all out in the open and not hold anything back. "I'm still angry at you. I can't stop thinking about you with that girl and what ya'll did together." The image of him him fucking the daylights out of her popped in her mind and she had to push that thought out of her mind forever. "I'm jealous of what ya'll did together. How she was in your bed, kissing you and holding you and doing the things that I wanted to do to you....and you were doing them with her and not me. I thought I was your girl."

She was amazed at how calm her voice was and that she was able to be as strong as she was. More than anything she wanted to crawl into his lap and lay her head on his shoulder and have him hold her. But she wasn't going to do that.

She leaned forward and grabbed his hand, it felt good to hold his hand again, she realized that it had been a week since she touched him. "I am just going to need some time to think. This happened yesterday...." she left it like that. She looked into his eyes. "Is there anything else we need to talk about?"

She wanted to know if he said all he needed to say, afterall he was the one that said they needed to talk.

 

[lovingfingers]

Luke sat and listened. More than anything, he wanted to hold her and make all this go away. But the genie was out of the bottle and things were in motion.

He reached out and took her left hand, looking at her ring finger for a moment, then into her eyes. His heart was heavy and a tear slid down his cheek as he softly said, "I suppose we could talk about this forever, but in the end, everything I had to say comes down to this. I am sorry. I am sorry for betraying you and what we had. I am so sorry for hurting you. It was my fault. I love you, and want you, and want a life with you, and hope you will give me, give us, a second chance."

Anna listened to what he had to say, then turned her head away. Luke sighed, "maybe I should go." He got up slowly, hoping she would stop him. She did not. As he turned to leave, he all but whispered, "call me?" Hearing nothing, he left. It seemed like a very long drive back to his apartment.

As he approached home, he got a call. He picked up immediatley, hoping it was Anna. It was not.