CHAPTERS 4 AND 5

CHAPTER 4

In three days, Annie and Brian, as well as Edward and Kate looked like they were old friends. And it was really amazing how two people that had been practically strangers to each other for almost 10 years could have so much to talk about. Actually, it was Brian who was more impressed, as Annie, being so intelligent, was able to know so much about so many things, and apply them to his favourite sport, something that, for him, seemed totally unthinkable.

To Kate and Edward happened the same, as the boy finally found someone to talk about his ideas and impressions about the world, which he did very well. He not only loved History, as he spent most part of his day inside a movie theatre, having the opportunity to see all sorts of films related to historical events and other cultures, but he also had an incredible knowledge about computers, knowing much more than the other people of his own age. Kate, for herself, had never met a teenager who knew so many things that she didn’t even imagine existed.

In the library, Monica was finishing to arrange the books. It was past 1 PM and, at that time of the day, the place was empty, because the students were on their lunch hour. When she placed the last book on the shelf, she heard a familiar and dear voice from behind her:

“Anyone here would like to have lunch?”

Grinning, she turned around to face Andrew, who was smiling lovingly at her:

“I’d love to!”

He looked into her sparkling brown eyes:

“Go ahead, Angel Girl, tell me something good!”

Happy to see that he had realised her contentment, she kept on talking:

“Oh Andy... I think I’ve managed to help Annie more that I expected to in such a short time! She and Brian are doing so fine!”

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it:

“Well, I’m happy for you, but I’m definitely not surprised, as you are always that wonderful, Angel Girl!”

She smiled at him, delighted with his kind words. He continued to hold her hand: “And I have some good news to tell you too, but we can talk during the lunch, because, right now, I’m starving!”

“And I think I’m twice as starving as you are!”

Some time later, in a small restaurant nearby:

“... and I think besides the fact that Brian is starting to notice how many qualities Annie has and that he didn’t notice before, Annie herself is realising that she’s not just another girl in the school, she has a beautiful gift, which is her intelligence, and that’s what her friend is impressed with!”, told Monica, while the two angels were tasting a delicious lunch.

“Well, I guess helping some teenagers was more than a good idea.”, said Andrew, “Do you remember the Edward we met last week? I would say he was miserable, with no friends of his own age and nothing to be proud of, but guess what? In three days, Margaret’s granddaughter turned out to be his best friend! Now I see them both together every time students have a break. Not mentioning that Kate was very much impressed by his research work, which is indeed excellent!”

“Oh this is wonderful, Andrew! I’m so happy for them!”

Suddenly, somebody interrupted their conversation:

“Hi Monica, Andrew!”

It was Annie, who was together with Brian.

“Hello Annie and Brian! Wouldn’t you like to sit with us?”, replied the Irish angel.

“No, thanks. We’ve just finished having lunch and we have to go back to school.” , thanked the girl.

“Yes, I’m playing this afternoon and Annie has given me some tips about how to position myself during the game, so I wanted her to watch it and see if I’m doing it right.”, explained Brian. Monica and Andrew exchanged a quick smile:

“Oh, I see. Annie is gonna be some kind of a ‘coach’, isn’t she?”, joked Andrew, and they smiled:

“Yes, I think she will!”, replied the boy, happy to say so.

“But we came here to ask you two if the movie meeting on Saturday night is still on.”

“Of course it is, Annie. Andrew and I will be there by 6 o’clock, and we will wait for you. And, of course, if Brian wants to come too it’ll be a pleasure to share his company.”

The boy grinned at Annie:

“I would love to go!”, he said, causing her to blush.

“So everything is settled: we’ll meet on Saturday, at 6 PM, in front of Roxy!”, summarised Andrew.

CHAPTER 5

On the following Saturday, Andrew, Monica, Annie and Brian met in front of the Roxy Theatre to see “Antz”, a computer animated film, which was making a lot of success at that moment, suggested by the teenage girl:

“I just like computers so much.”, she explained “And I love reading and learning things related to computers, as much as I do with movies. They’re my favourite hobbies.”

 “You’ve made a good choice, Annie. I myself like computers very much, they’re a fantastic source of information for people of all ages.”, Monica agreed.

“Well, I’ve heard this film is good. I prefer horror ones, but, if it’s a comedy, it seems to be funny!”, said Brian. Hearing that comment, Monica and Andrew couldn’t avoid a quick amused look to each other. When they queued, Andrew soon recognised two familiar faces near them: Edward and Kate were some meters ahead of them, talking enthusiastically. The blond angel walked until them:

“Hey you guys! Edward, I thought you didn’t have time to go to the cinema because ‘you’re so busy working’!...”, he joked. They smiled at him, and it was evident how much happy the boy was:

“Well, I decided to follow my teacher’s advice and asked for a day off!”

“Edward is being such a great company, Andrew. He showed me all the shops around here, the most famous in the city!”, told Kate.

“I see, and today it’s your turn to choose the place to visit, isn’t it?”

“Actually not, it was Edward who decided to see this film too. But tomorrow will be my turn: we will see the basketball game!”, said Kate.

Some minutes after the group met, all of them entered the cinema theatre and the film started.

*

Two hours later, the show was over and they started leaving the theatre:

“I really liked it. Spielberg’s films can have so much fun and, at the same time, they are visually perfect.”, commented Edward, “I’m thinking about writing my own stories and maybe, in the future, I’ll manage to turn one of his stories in a computer animated film.”

“Um, that sounds great. I myself prefer horror movies, but this one was fine, really.”, Kate replied. “And I was glad that you were there to get me acquainted with the story, it really has a message! Thanks a lot!”

The boy smiled, a little embarrassed:

“Well... The pleasure was mine, Kate. And thank you for coming!”

*

“It was great! I’ve read the reviews of this movie and they don’t do justice to it. I mean, the visual effects are amazing but it’s not only this; the story is fantastic too.”

“You’ve made a good choice, Annie. I myself liked the story very much, it’s very clever.”, Monica agreed.

“Just like the was I expected!”, said Annie. Andrew agreed with her:

“You’re right Annie, it was an excellent film. You surely made a good choice!”

”Thanks. And I’m eager to see ‘Monsters Inc.’! Can’t hardly wait for the preview!”

“Did you like it Brian?”, Monica asked. The boy ran his hand through his hair with a puzzled expression:

“Well, I didn’t get it how that small guy managed to guide everybody out of that hole before everybody got drowned! And he was able to do such a mess with those big guys, I mean, no ant could’ve beaten them down!”, he said, “And I think they were kinda stupid, didn’t they? I mean, how could that leader be in command for a pretty good time and after let that little animal screw everything up?!”

Hearing that comment, Monica, Andrew and even Annie couldn’t help but laughing, and Brian himself started laughing too, thinking that they had agreed with his quick ‘review’ of the film.

“We’re going to the Mall to play some bowling, do wanna come with us?”

“Oh no, thank you Brian. I think I’m a wee bit tired for today, you know.”, said the Irish angel. Her best friend rubbed her back in sympathy. Although they had been working on this ‘free time assignment’, the two had also been busy with other assignments during the week, not to mention that they had to be careful not to let Tess know what they had been doing in their free time.

“You two can go and have some fun for us!”, the blond angel said, with a wink.

“Are you sure you don’t wanna come?”, Brian insisted. But, before they replied, Annie spoke:

“Brian... they don’t want to come!...”, she said, with a mischievous smile on her face, “We’d better leave them alone, as Monica and Andrew have already done so much for us!

The boy smiled too, without understanding what she meant, though.

“Ok, then. See you back on Monday!”

“Bye Andrew, bye Monica! Thanks for the company!”

The angels watched the teens leaving for a minute:

“I’m afraid Brian will need some extra classes in order to improve the conversation with Annie...”, said Monica, with a slightly worried expression on her face.

“Yeah, I’d say he’ll need not some, but many classes...”, added Andrew. She smiled:

“But they make a beautiful couple, that’s for sure!”

Nodding, the blond angel wrapped an arm around her shoulder and they started walking. Monica became pensive, and, after some seconds, she giggled. He looked at her in a curious way:

“What is it, Angel Girl?”

“You know Andrew, I’m under the impression that Annie thinks you are my boyfriend!...”, she said. Although he himself had had the same impression, he blushed deeply. Seeing his face completely red, Monica giggled even louder:

“Monica, please... stop laughing!”, he pleaded, more embarrassed. She tried to cease her laugher, but without much success. Despite the redness on his face, Andrew was also amused by his friend’s comment, and looked into her brown eyes:

“You know, Angel Girl, I think that Annie isn’t far away from the truth, though, as I love you very very much!”, he whispered into her ear, and kissed the side of her head. The Irish Angel looked at him with her eyes full of love:

“So do I, my friend. So do I!”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and a mischievous smile played on her lips:

“So, I guess I can call you my ‘Angel Boyfriend’, can’t I?”

Again, he blushed profoundly, and opened a broad smile:

“Yes, and I would love to call you my ‘Angel Girlfriend’!”

Laughing, the two angels continued walking along the street, heading to the apartment they were renting together with Tess, who was innocently thinking that they had gone to the movies alone.