Maybe it's a dream...

Sadly, her day with Caris was shortened as he decided they walk back to Pointe Place to see what was going on. As they walked, she saw damage everywhere. Lying in the streets were branches and telephone poles. Street signs were turned around giving misleading directions, and chaos was everywhere. Anna began to understand the serious nature of the predicament she and Caris found themselves in. They walked into the lobby of Pointe Place and Mr. George rushed towards them.

"Thank God you children are safe and unharmed." He said looking them over. "Now, run up to your apartments and lock yourselves in. The power is out, so the stairs are going to be your best bet." Anna and Caris turned to leave heading towards the stairs as Mr. George rushed at them. He reminded Anna of a rhino from Animal Planet on the Discovery channel. "Here are some candles, blankets, a radio and some extra batteries. Pointe Place procedure. Make sure your mothers get these ok?" He shooed them up the stairs. 

Anna and Caris silently walked up the stairs until they reached the seventh floor. The silence was strange for Anna, but she was too worried for her mother. Her head to full of worry, she didn't even say goodbye to Caris and locked herself into her apartment. She went to her room and laid down closing her eyes. Maybe if she woke up this would all be a dream.

It wasn't. From now on. She was on her own. 

Caris...

Anna was no stranger to the Zip 'N Sip. Her mother trusted the workers there too watch over her and make sure she was safe. She was happy to skate, she aways felt like a fairy flying through the air. Maybe if she skated fast enough she could transform into a fairy and use a magic wand to make her family wealthy. Maybe if they had money, Anna's mom would stay home with her more often.

Maybe.

Walking into the Zip N' Sip, holding her mother's hand she walked up to the counter and craned her neck up at the person working the counter. She didn't know who she was speaking with, because from her angle,  the employees head and the lights were one and the same. Grabbing her shabby skates with ratty laces she turned around. There was Ms. Christy and her son Caris sitting on a nearby bench.

Anna didn't like Caris. She loved him. She walked over, trying not to seem too eager and sat down trying to feign indifference and began to put on her skates.

"Anna, why don't you greet Caris and his mother?" Anna's mother nudged her.

"Hello Ms. Christy. Hi Caris." She stated blushing a bit. Soon enough, the moms left chatting. Anna and Caris skated, and skated...And skated. Even Anna was starting to get bored, and she never got bored. But there wasn't much to do in a rink except (wait for it) skate. For lack of anything better to do, they decided to go grab some shakes. Caris started asking her random questions, even some about Mr. Evans, but all Anna could focus on was wondering, was this what a date is like. Before she could turn and ask him the lights flickered, until the arena went black. Anna wasn't scared though. Blackouts happened all the time on TV. She would just wait until they came back on. Easy peasy. Now, she just got more time with Caris. She blushed in the darkness.