A sun-kissed cloud

Anthony then told her the decision he had made regarding Veronica and their 'friendship'. "I want you to know that I made it clear to her where she stands in my life and if you want me to, she won't have a stand at all. Veronica crossed the line over and over this evening, and has made a mistake she can't come back from. The only way I am even willing to consider forgiveness, is if she apologizes to you and you are able to forgive her first. If not, she and I are done. And please believe me when I say, that Veronica and I have been nothing more than friends, if even that. She was mostly a girl that would come and hang around with us whenever me and the guys got together. Somehow she managed to fuse herself to the group, but to me she was mostly a friend by association. I have never known that she saw me as more than a friend, but I certainly haven't. You are the only girl I have eyes for, and I don't think there has ever been someone before you."

Hearing Anthony say all of this, Rebecca was feeling very touched. A warm fuzzy feeling had made its way into her body. Pushing away the bitter taste and anxious feelings left by Veronica's treatment of her today. She was staring at Anthony's big, brown eyes. Filled with worry and love for her. Listening to him explain and comfort her. Which caused her to feel an urge she hadn't felt in quite some time. The urge to be closer to someone.

"And you have got it all wrong. It wasn't them I wanted to approve of you, it is you I wanted to approve of them. To like them. To understand why I they are my friends and to have you get another glimpse of me. But it appears that the last minute addition to the invitation list, wasn't a very good one and backfired on me. So, please forgive me and I hope you are willing to back inside with me in order to see if we can end this evening on a more positive note. I am sure that the others are feeling quite bad about what happened just now, and don't want to lose their chance of getting to know you over this."

With flushed cheeks over what she was about to do, Rebecca scraped her throat and began by saying, "Yeah, I forgive you. I wasn't really mad at you to begin with. I was mad at myself. And at Veronica I suppose. So, we can go back, but not just yet. I want to stay here for a bit. With you."

To which Anthony replied with a smile and a nod, before he said, "Of course. I will stay here with you for as long as you want." They leaned against the railing of the overpass and looked at the people walking by when Rebecca said, "Uhm, it is quite chilly outside now that it has become night." Anthony looked over, glanced at what Rebecca was wearing, and frantically said, "Oh yes. Of course! You must be cold. Even your cheeks have become all red. I am sorry for not noticing. Here. Wear my jacket." But this was not what Rebecca wanted. She shook her head and said, "No, that is okay. Put your jacket back on before you get cold yourself." Then, while glancing back and forth between her shoes and the concerned looking Anthony, she said, "Instead, uhm, why don't we repeat what you did earlier.... That didn't seem to bad of a solution for warming up...."

Anthony was a bit confused as to what Rebecca meant, when he suddenly recalled his subconscious act of hugging her before they arrived at the diner. With big eyes Anthony turned his back gaze to her, which she carefully returned, and he asked, "Eh?? I thought you hated that?! I mean, you immediately asked me to let go. That is how uncomfortable it had made you feel." Now fully avoiding Anthony's eyes, Rebecca answered, "Of course I didn't hate it. Why would I hate being hugged by my fiancé?" Then after letting out another 'uhm' as she looked for the right words to explain what she meant, she said, "What I mean to say is, I didn't mind it. It felt quite warm...It is just that there were people around, and I was caught off guard." Then, while carefully glancing up she added, "But I wouldn't mind it now. If you can shield me from the crowd."

Anthony didn't need to be asked this question twice. While being mostly hidden by the dark of the night and the minimal lighting near this part of the road, and the rest of the anonymity being provided by Anthony's large frame, Rebecca was hidden away in Anthony's arms. He had pulled her in tightly and was resisting the urge to give her an even tighter squeeze. While rocking her from side to side out of his own excitement, Anthony was giving Rebecca the warmest of hugs and just what she had needed in that moment. She could feel all the worries and hurt wash away from her, feeling herself get lost in the hug, as if she was being held by a heated pillow or a sun-kissed cloud, still carrying the warmth of the sun.