#corcordiumwrites

im glad u feel good!!

Vinyls. Just like when Ana came storming into his room, demanding attention the first time. And just like all the times after it. Ana always noticed his record player, tucked into a corner in his room, always playing one thing or another. Always old though — Ana knew Tobias was an old man at heart. Maybe that was part of his charm.

Eventually, Tobias had convinced Ana to get one on her own. They stumbled upon it together at an old vintage store in Washington D.C., away from wandering eyes. In the old record store they could listen to so many songs, sway along to the beat, and have their arms brush, their fingers touch. Close, but not too close.

Ana had been occupied all day by her family, the press, and more. After all, she had just graduated from Georgetown. But her mind always wandered off to Tobias, knowing he was packing away his belongings. The moment they shared before she walked into her graduation venue created a deep pit in her stomach. That wasn’t how she wanted to say goodbye.

She had gotten back to her room around 11pm, checking her phone again and again, as she took of her makeup and slid out of her dress. As she tied her hair out of her face, she put on an old sweatshirt she’d stolen from him long ago. The tears welled up in her eyes as she breathed in his cologne.

A noise drew her attention towards the corner of her room where her door was. Her heart began to race— Could it be? That he hadn’t left yet?

But as the creaking subsided, so did Ana’s hopes. He had left without saying goodbye.

And then she noticed a glimmer of moonlight reflecting on her record player—something was there. Ana walked over and saw the new records on her player. Gently, she picked up the letter on the vinyls.

“Ana — I picked these for you. Every one of these albums reminds me of you. I wanted to stick around until after your party ended, but I couldn’t bring myself to say goodbye to your face. I didn’t want to accept that this was all over. I hope you’ll remember me as much as I’ll remember you—and always turn to these records in your happiest moments and in your saddest. I do wish I could’ve told you I love you for the first time before all this had to end. But I do love you—“

Ana lightly knocked on the door, her temperament unusually calm compared to the raging storm she tended towards. Tobias’ scratchy voice called out, “Come in.” 

Treading with soft foot steps, Ana made herself known, walking into the dimly lit room Tobias had been staying in for about three months now. She had warmed up to him tremendously, but would he ever know that—God forbid, no. 

But now it was time for Ana to admit that she was—in fact—in the wrong. Contrary to the story she told her father, yes, she had thrown Tobias into the pool. And only after that, did he drag her in. But the second he realized it was freezing cold he tried to rescue her, he really did. Ana wouldn’t have that though, so she took it upon herself to dunk the man so much larger than her, simply for a laugh.

And now, there he was in his bed, nose as red as Rudolph, voice beyond comprehension, and so tired, he could barely scowl at Ana. It was her fault he was so horribly sick—and that her father almost had him completely fired, but Ana convinced him otherwise.

“I brought you some soup,” she offered with a small, genuine smile. Ana placed it on his bedside table then sighed, taking a seat at the foot of his bed, looking at him before twiddling her thumbs, “I just wanted to say I’m sorry...” 

Tobias blinked. Once. Twice. “Did you just say you were sorry?” He trailed off, before beginning to laugh (and then proceeding to wheeze). 

“Stop it—before you actually end up dying, I can’t have that blood on my hands,” Ana scowled, but the hints of playfulness were still notable. She sighed again, “Yes, I just wanted to say I’m sorry. And I brought you forgiveness soup. And I told my dad the truth. So. Yeah. I’m sorry.” 

Tobias began to laugh again, louder this time, enough so that Ana abruptly got up and walked to his door, “Fine!” Her temperment wasn’t quite storm level yet—oh no, she was more like an enraged toddler, now.

Once he quieted down, Tobias offered a kind smile: “I forgive you, Ana.” 

She matched his smile: “Thank you.” 

But when she turned to leave, Tobias burst out laughing again, “But that was the most pathetic apology I’ve ever received. Wow, you’re really not used to—” 

“Ana! Pay attention!” Her mother hissed, causing Ana to slip out of her spell of eyeing Tobias up and down as he stood across the room, “Ana—the ceremony is in two days, you need to get your act together—you’re 21 for Christ’s sake...” 

“Shh—Ana we’re going to get caught,” Tobias hissed, half-laughing nonetheless, as he peered into Ana’s eyes, bright against the darkness of the small corner they found themselves in. 

Ana rolled her eyes in response, “Of course we aren’t, my love. We’ve been doing this long enough to take the necessary precautions.”