blind first dates (c.h)

"i'm glad we're on the same page"

"Hey, language," I said which caused her to chuckle. "But I can't say you're totally wrong. You've just gotta think about it in a more positive way, Annie. You get to have people that might not normally be aware that it's your birthday celebrate you! And sometimes people do take note, and then you've gained another person to celebrate you every year. To this day, sometimes I'll see the date and suddenly remember that it's the birthday of someone I went to school with in junior high."

"But you're a much lovelier person than most, Em. You probably actually cared when it was someone's birthday and wanted to make sure they have a good day. Most people just do it because it would be socially unacceptable to blatantly not care."

"There are plenty of lovely people out there, Annie."

"Maybe," she said stubbornly. "Are you going to be able to sneak home to see me?"

"Of course," I told her with a smile on my face. "You think I'm going to miss your fifteenth birthday? I'll make sure Taylor Swift's playing as you walk through the door after school."

"Great," she said sarcastically, yet I knew she was excited by my words. "Thanks for making time for me, Emmie. You're the best."

"I've always got time for you, kid." A sad sort of smile crept onto my face as I thought about Anna ever thinking she was a burden, or that she didn't deserve my time or attention.

"It better stay that way, missy. I'm only going to become more dependent as I get older."

"I doubt that's true, but I'll be here no matter what."

"I appreciate that." The phone fell silent abruptly before Anna yelled out 'What?' to one of my parents, I was guessing. "Mom is summoning me."

"Go appease her," I said through a laugh. "I'll talk to you later, Annie."

"Okay. I love you, Emmie."

"I love you, too." She ended the call and I took a deep breath in before falling backward onto my bed. 

The day before had been spent entirely with Calum; I had figured I'd leave his place sometime after breakfast, but we had decided to watch a movie together which then turned into a full day of watching movies. It got to be nearly eight o'clock and we both decided it would be silly of me not to spend the night again, so that's what I did. Deciding I had things to do today, however, I left after we had some coffee that morning.

I smiled as I admitted to myself that I already missed him. It was a funny thing to smile about, but it had been ages since I felt this way about someone. I loved feeling this way about someone.

To my surprise, my peaceful moment was interrupted by someone knocking on the door of my apartment. I hadn't expected anyone to come by, so my brows furrowed as I pushed myself up and off my bed. I walked through my place and to my front door, where I took a peek through my peephole.

I laughed quietly to myself before unlocking the door and swinging it open.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" My older brother sent me a big smile in response to my words before swooping in for a hug. "Should I ever expect a head's up from you?"

"No," he said through a quiet laugh. "I was at Penny's when I got some exciting news and I thought I'd just drive over instead of calling you."

"Before I hear the exciting news, can I know what's going on with Penny?"

"Nothing is going on... yet," he said which resulted in my eyes rolling. "I will keep you updated, okay? I promise. We're going out this weekend, on a proper date."