Read Online Highfall by Ani Alexander - Free Book Online Page B

over their dessert, Annika took him to her favourite place where she often went in the evenings – an ancient Greek amphitheatre.  They sat on the warm old stones and together watched the sunset.  He hugged her close to him, and felt as if he had his whole world in his arms.  Both completely forgot about the time and stayed like that for hours.  When they finally decided to leave, Vasko looked at his watch and turned pale and embarrassed.
     
    “Shit,” he cursed in a low voice.
     
    “What happened?” Annika asked in a worried voice.
     
    “I’ve just missed the last train to the city and can’t afford a taxi...”
    “No problem,” Annika smiled.  She took his hand and they walked home.

 
     
    ****
     
    Vasko was extremely shy and it was torture for him to meet her parents like that and stay in their apartment.  What a first meeting!  It felt completely impolite.  But since there was no other choice, he just walked with Annika and hoped that her parents would not think badly of him.
     
    When they reached the apartment, Annika rang the doorbell.  She felt how tense Vasko had become, and squeezed his hand to cheer him up.
     
    “Don't worry.  Everything will be OK,” she smiled reassuringly.
     
    “Thanks,” he answered.
     
    Annika's mum opened the door and invited them in.  She was a very warm woman, with a soft low voice.  She was genuinely glad to see them.
     
    “Come in,” she said with a smile.
     
    They went through the apartment into the living room.  Annika's father was sitting on the sofa watching the midnight news.  He got up and shook hands with Vasko while Annika was introducing them to each other.
     
    “Nice to meet you,” both men said.
     
    Annika felt straightaway that they liked each other and was vastly relieved.  Unfortunately her parents had never managed to accept Stefan and they were only too happy that she had broken up with him.
     
    “Mum, Dad, Vasko lives in town.  We missed his last train and now he's got nowhere to stay. Would you mind if he stayed with us tonight?”
     
    “Of course not.  We can't leave him on the street now, can we?” Mum smiled at dad, dad agreed with mum and the matter was closed.
     
    “I really appreciate your hospitality,” said Vasko, blushing with embarrassment.  He was not used to such a warm atmosphere in the family.
     
    The next morning Annika's mum made a delicious breakfast and they refused to let Vasko leave until he had joined them in eating it.  There was the relaxed atmosphere of a happy family breakfasting together and moving easily from one topic to another.  Although they were mightily curious, Annika's mum and dad did not ask too many questions.  Once breakfast was over, Annika took Vasko to the coach station.
     
    “I really liked your parents,” Vasko said.
     
    “They liked you a lot too,” Annika smiled at him.
     
    “Thanks a lot for letting me stay last night.”
     
    “You are welcome.”  Annika hugged him tight.  “I don't want you to leave.”
     
    “I don't want to leave either,” Vasko replied.
     
    “See you next weekend?”
     
    “Most definitely, but this time it’s your turn to visit me.”
     
    “Will do.”
     
    They shared a long good-bye kiss and then Vasko climbed aboard the bus.  Annika watched him sitting behind the window.  As the bus pulled away, she waved and only turned away to go once the bus had left.
    For the first time in ages she knew that everything would be alright from then on in.  It had to be.  There was no way it couldn’t! 
     
    And that’s the official version of how Annika's second big love story started.  She had a long-distance relationship with Vasko.  Everything was completely different from her first love-story relationship but still it was good.  They both truly loved each other and hated the long-distance part.  It was a roller-coaster ride.  Each weekend either Annika visited Vasko or it was the other way around.  They spent too much