

### The Truth About James

(Y.A Series Book 2)

### By

### Sarah Tork

Copyright ©2014 Sarah Tork

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

### Table of Contents

 Title page

Copyright Page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

About the Author

### Chapter 1

ANNABELLE

Friday September 7, 2012

"Going to a party?" I repeated slowly, narrowing my eyes at Jenna.

She must have been ill, because there was no way she just asked me to go to Peter's party with her tonight. I went to her and rested my palm against her forehead.

"I'm not sick Annabelle!" Her eyes widened underneath the edge of my hand.

I dropped my hand from her forehead. "You don't feel warm." I said in mock-concern, striding over to the window. I rested my chin on my fist, in a thinking stance as I peered out the window at the sun setting.

The conundrum.

"Are you serious?" Jenna asked in disbelief. "I'm not sick. I'm serious. Dead serious!"

I gazed back at her, tilting my head to the side.

"Are you speaking English right now?" I asked her slowly.

Her chin jerked forward. "You know very well what I'm saying. So stop pretending you don't understand me. We are going to that party!"

"Okay, whatever you say." I quickly told her, turning and crawling back on top of my bed.

Ohhh chips! I reached for the half eaten chip bag. At least there was one good thing happening in this moment.

Yay for chips.

Before touching the bag, it was cruelly snatched away, causing the inwards to spill all across my floor.

"Hey!"

"These will not help you!" Jenna held up the now empty bag as I crawled off the bed in haste.

"There's nothing in there anymore, it's all over my floor! You're cleaning that up!" I snapped at her.

She raised an eyebrow and flicked the empty chip bag into the air. It floated down, landing on top of my pillow.

My jaw dropped.

"That's what I thought bitch!" Jenna exclaimed, flipping her long black hair to the side.

Did she just flick her hair at me?

She did not just flick her hair at me!

"Do you wanna go right now? Because we can totally go, right now!" I threatened, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Darling you couldn't take me on your best day and if I seem to recall, today ain't one of those kinds of days for you. Don't push me." Jenna stated, holding out her hand.

Talk to her hand?

Oh no, bitch did not just give me the hand!

"Who do you_"

"Don't push me!" Jenna yelled over me.

"Push you _"

"Don't push me Annabelle, I swear to God! I will beat your dramatic ass!" Jenna warned, pulling her hand back down.

She'd better lower that hand!

Taking a deep breath, I unfolded my arms. "I'm not going."

"You're going." Jenna stated quietly.

"I'm not going." I repeated, my jaw clenching in frustration.

"You. Are. Going!" Jenna stated slowly, then turned and headed toward my closet. "Now let's see what you've got that'll be good for the party?"

"Don't you dare open my closet!" My feet remained still. "You do not have permission to open my closet, I forbid you!"

Jenna halted in front of my closed closet and flipped her hair over her shoulder, again.

Oh no she didn't!

"That's right, I did it again and I'll do whatever I God damn well please, try and stop me, I dare you!" Jenna's hands paused on top of the door knob. "Besides, I still owe you a beating for keeping a certain douchebag a secret for over a month, so in all actuality I'll win both ways. Either, I open this closet or you come here and stop me and then I beat your ass for being a stupid idiot, and for keeping James a secret. You choose!"

I clenched my teeth tightly. Damn her!

I flipped on to my bed, hiding my head into my pillow. "Do whatever you want, I don't care anymore!"

"First smart decision you've made in a while Annabelle, I'm proud of you!" I heard the closet doors snap open. "Now let's see what you've got good enough to grace Peter's party to with."

"You're going to be disappointed then. I've got nothing good enough for a party, so in all actuality, we should just snap the book closed on going to this party. I've got no party clothes, absolutely nothing!" I muttered loudly.

"Found something!" Jenna announced. My head snapped up in confused shocked.

"What!" I twisted my head to see what she'd found. Jenna pulled out a hanger from the end of the rack, a hip level shimmery black tank top. I didn't know how she found that. I struggled to remember how it got into my closet in the first place.

"It still has a tag on it." Jenna held up the tag in confusion. I thought back, sorting through memories of anything that held a shimmery black tank top.

Mom.

Last June, before the weight loss spectacle, adventure, quest, Mom came home from the mall with bags of clothing for the entire family. Among the purchases, she was considerate enough to buy her slightly overweight daughter something she could wear outside, like to a party.

"I know it's only a medium, but the sales lady said the material stretches and after you lose weight this summer, I'm sure it's just going to look fabulous on you!" Mom gushed, last June.

I remembered her eyes got all dreamy as she gazed at the shimmery top. She popped open my closet without asking me and took out a hanger, hung the tank top on top of it and slid it on the rack in the back.

"Think of it as something to work towards Annabelle!" She gushed some more, then exited the room.

I didn't think I'd said a word or moved one inch during her 'positive' reinforcement. I didn't think I'd moved or said anything for a good five minutes even after she'd left - I was still thawing from the shock of what had just happened.

"Snap out of your flashback Annabelle!" Jenna snapped her fingers across my face. "I'm ripping off this tag!"

"What?" I muttered, slowly coming out of my fog - but it was too late, the tag was ripped off and thrown into the tiny brown garbage bin underneath my desk. "I'm not wearing that!"

"You're so wearing it!" Jenna said back, holding the tank up into the air to examine it more thoroughly. "This is nice, you'll look great in it!"

"I'm not wearing it, it's too small anyways!" I snapped at her. "And I'm not going to that party, no way, no how!"

Jenna's arms dropped with the party top in hand. "When is this going to stop Anna?"

I blinked a few times as my mouth all of a sudden felt dry. I didn't understand what she was asking me, but strangely it stumped me anyways.

"When is what going to stop?" I answered confused. Jenna sighed loudly and plopped down on my bed, crossing her legs while she carefully placed the top flat across my bed.

"When are you going to look at yourself as a contender?" Jenna said as she looked up from the bed.

I looked away, all of a sudden uncomfortable with the line questioning. It had gotten really deep, and I wasn't known to excel in expressing my feelings.

"A contender – what?" I pretended not to understand her, hoping she'd forget about wanting to know the answer and move on to other menial lines of questioning, like the stupid party.

Which I still was not going to go to. Why the hell would I want to go? Obviously I didn't want to go and watch James canoodle with slut bag Donna while I stalked privately in the corner like a loser.

Jenna let out a breath and tilted her head to the side. "In life Anna, let me tell you something, there are things that you're going to want, really want and when we want such things bad enough, we do things that are out of our comforts. Like lets say for instance, you – you want the L.U.V thing."

I let out a disgusted hiss, in disbelief that she went there. "Stop – just stop – you're speaking in code, it's annoying and it's not L.U.V it's L.O.V.E"

Jenna shook her head slowly. She thought I didn't understand her logic. "Well since you so politely mentioned it – yes, I think it's time I went all philosophical on your dumbass."

"Dude! I will totally hit you if you start, so don't even_" I began to say but Jenna sat down abruptly beside me and grabbed my shoulders, pushing them so that I'd face her completely.

"Life – is a long – long road, that shiny gold star that marks growth and acceptance is patiently waiting along the way – you just need to find your way to it." Jenna finished the gibberish with a look of contentment.

I needed to tell her that whatever she just said made.....absolutely no sense. For the good of mankind and the entire world, maybe even the galaxy, I thought I should tell her to never – ever speak that shit again.

Ever.

"Jesus Christ!" I hissed, looking away immediately.

"Do you have it, Anna?" Jenna got off the bed and stood in front of me with her arms folded across her chest. "Do you?"

I looked up with a combination of irritation and impatience on my face. "Do I have what? What are you talking about?"

"Have what it takes to make that journey?" Jenna answered breathily.

I just stared at her. I struggled to answer because it would mean searching through my psyche for the truth about how I really felt, and I didn't want to be more down on myself than I already was.

"Why don't you just answer that for me since you seem to think you know me so well!" I told her, as a matter of factly.

"Bitch, I think you got it in you. All you need is to stop caring about what everyone thinks, especially whore-bags and assholes." Jenna said.

I looked back to the floor, her words sinking inside me. I wished they didn't affect me, but they did, and I felt my mind slowly sway towards actually going to this party.

I looked back up at her.

She stood with her hands to her hips, awaiting my reply, be it nasty or finally in agreement.

"What about my hair? I've got so much it takes forever to style." I held out a few strands to show her.

Jenna dropped her arms and her stance returned to relaxed. I'd conceded, so her work was done–well, for now at least.

"Leave the hair to moi!" Jenna said happily.

*~*~*

Leave the hair to moi! She said!

I remembered those words, and I couldn't believe I trusted them. Thirty minutes later, Jenna finally sprayed the last inch of hair of my now extremely perfect high ponytail. The skin around my face felt stretched as if I'd just had a facelift.

It hurt, bad. I was annoyed that I let her do this to me.

"What now?" Jenna said as she caught a glance of my irritated expression.

"Are you done now?" I scowled at her, jerking my head back from her retreating evil fingertips that not so long ago were tugging at my poor roots. "It's been torture, pure torture!"

"Shut it!" Jenna scowled back and placed the hair spray can on my desk. "You should be thanking me. I've taken you to another level – just wait, you're going to see when all the guys ogle you at Peter's later. I'm going to have to act like your bodyguard to keep the boys away."

"Dare to dream. That's not going to happen!" I went to the mirror next to my closet to examine her efforts.

It wasn't bad, in fact, it was really good. My long dark brown hair was combed back tightly into a high ponytail, showcasing my cheekbones and the rich caramel of my eyes.

"Not bad right?" Jenna smirked from behind. "I know, I know. I'm the master. It's alright we're alone here – you can admit it!"

I turned to face her, starting to chuckle. "I'm not calling you a master!"

"Whatever, I can see it in your eyes." Jenna rolled her eyes. "But you see, a little fix here, a little fix there and wow, you're a superstar Anna."

"Whatever." I looked to the floor, but then looked back up to her when I remembered a little something we should have been thinking of from the beginning. "What about my parents? You know how nosy they are, how am I going to tell them I'm going to a party?"

In the middle of fixing her own hair, Jenna's eyes met mine through the mirror. "Your parents aren't even home. I kind of forgot to tell you. In fact nobody's home."

"Nobody's home?" My eyes widened. "How?"

"I came over right when they were about to leave, told me they heard you snoring and didn't want to disturb you but when you woke to tell you that your parents were going to a party at a friend's house, and Charles and Katherine were going over to their friend's house for sleepovers. Fun."

"They were going to leave me alone and not tell me until I woke up to an empty house!" I blubbered in shock, leaning back down onto my bed and stared at my beloved ceiling.

"Get off the bed!" Jenna snapped angrily. "You're ruining all my hard work!"

She marched right over and hauled me up by my shoulders. "Eyes wide open. It's makeup time."

"My family doesn't give a shit about me." I moaned. "I'm an afterthought, I'm an inconvenience, that's all."

"Shut up." Jenna murmured. "Don't talk like that about yourself. Just because you don't have a life doesn't mean the rest of your family can't."

I jerked my head back and eyed her disapprovingly. "Thanks!"

"Don't mention it!" She grabbed my chin, smirking. "Anytime."

"Do you think I'm boring?" I asked her seriously as she put the mascara brush back into its tube. She narrowed her eyes in disbelief.

"Anna, you're not boring, you're just not that wild and adventurous." Jenna explained. "The craziest thing you've done, well if I'm being honest, is having that side – lusting thing with James. Which I must say, I'm still pissed about you keeping from me. But whatever, shit happens right."

"I can be adventurous, I can be wild and free!" I told her firmly. "I'm a senior, isn't it some rule that you have to be carefree and wild during your senior year of high school?"

Jenna grinned. "Now you're getting it!"

"Oh I got it!" I got up and marched in front of the mirror, examining the face paint. My lips were a glossy violet color, my caramel – colored eyes stood out more with the extra coat of mascara Jenna had applied. And my cheeks were extra rosy thanks to a pretty plum blush.

If I was conceited, I'd say I looked damn good, especially with the top mom had bought me before the summer had begun. It clung to my body tightly, but not to the point where I couldn't breathe. The most important thing was that it showcased my ten pound lighter body to its fullest.

"I look good." I murmured quietly, hoping Jenna wouldn't hear and laugh at the audacity.

Laughter broke behind me. I spoke too soon.

"What was that I hear?" Jenna laughed in disbelief. "Was someone telling her mirrored self that she actually looked good?"

I turned around, and for the first time, I think in my entire life, I wasn't ashamed to speak the truth. I looked good. I should be able to express that.

So here goes.

"Yeah, you heard right. I just said I looked good!" I said to her with attitude. "Damn good!"

Jenna marched right up to me and put both her hands on my shoulder. "Welcome to life my friend! Welcome to life!"

### Chapter 2

ANNABELLE

"I'm gonna text my mom." I told Jenna after locking the front door.

"Tell her you're going to sleepover at my house, that way we can stay out longer!" Jenna said excitedly. "By the way my parents won't be home till three in the morning, they went to a party at my uncle's house."

"Why didn't you go to that then?" I asked as we strolled down the stone path towards the sidewalk. "Your family parties sound great."

"This one was for adults only and besides, tonight I'm needed elsewhere." Jenna grinned. "I had a few matters that needed fixing."

"Oh really!" I shook my head, laughing as I texted mom, asking her if it was okay to sleep over at Jenna's.

My phone beeped a few seconds later.

Damn mom was fast.

She must have had her phone beside her.

Mom: That's alright. But remember to monitor your calories and not to eat anything over the limit set aside by the nutritionist.

Have a great night darling.

"So mom just texted back, I'm not to eat anything over my calorie limit." I explained, tucking my phone in my back pocket. "Do you think there'll be food at this party?"

"Probably some chips and pop, but by the time we arrive," She checked her wrist watch. "It's almost nine. There probably won't be any snacks left. Maybe some pop. There's going to be drinks though. For sure!"

I stopped mid step.

Drinks?

Oh God....drinks! I turned, facing her. "There's going to be like beer there?"

"Among other things!" Jenna rolled her eyes, pushing me forward. "Geez Anna, this is a senior class party. What do you think goes on? Drinking, dancing and getting wild!"

"I don't know if I should drink. I mean, what if my breath still smells like beer after we leave? You know my mom's a pro at smelling things off my breath. You think I can get pop and chips passed her. I was lucky today she didn't check up on me. When you knocked, I thought it was her and freaked out, trying to hide my stash!" I screeched, feeling my face heat up for reasons unrelated to the Floridian weather system.

Calm down and breathe slowly! I ordered myself, on the verge of dropping to ground, hyperventilating.

Her shoulder bumped into mine. "Calm down! You dramatic princess. You don't have to drink if you don't want to. Just go with it and be comfortable. Do what you feel is right."

"Okay, okay, I'm good – I'm cool." I reassured her.

Stressed Annabelle was gone....for now.

Jenna snorted, linking her arm through mine, dragging me faster. "Sure, I'll believe that when I see it. We've got to hurry. It's going to take twenty minutes to get to Peter's house."

I sighed, matching her pace.

A senior class party....who would have thought.

*~*~*

Unfortunately, the twenty minutes it took to get to Peter's brought me momentarily back to square one. Jenna noticed as I stalled on the sidewalk, trying to control my nervous breathing.

What if James was already there....with Donna!

"Can you please stop!" Jenna belted, clearly annoyed. "Stop trying to convince yourself that this is a bad idea. It's going to be a great night."

"It's going to be a great night!" I repeated, matching her optimism, even though it was forced. "It's going to be a great night!"

"That's right." Jenna said. "And if we see douchebag James, you're going to ignore him, right?"

"Right!" I answered.

I hoped I could.

I really hoped that I could.

We turned the corner to Peter's block and heard faint sounds of dance music. Jenna started moving her body to the dimmed beats enthusiastically.

"I hope some of the others are there too!" She said excitedly, moving her shoulders to each beat. During our walk, Jenna informed me that her swim team members were going to the party as well. "We're going to dance the night away!"

Dancing? I imagined my larger than average frame busting a move in front of our fellow classmates. It didn't look good as I imagined it. In fact, it was horrendous. She let go of my arm and skipped across the sidewalk.

I stopped walking. "Dancing Jenna? That's a scary thought."

She stopped skipping and faced me, stretching her arm out towards Peter's wide ranch style house. "Anna, dancing is about having fun and letting loose. There's nothing scary about it, well not unless you're in an auditorium filled with judges. It's only a high school party. Most of the kids there are getting drunk as we speak, they won't notice us."

I snorted. "Yeah, how about you try dancing when you have parts of your body moving without your say so, then we'll talk about throwing caution to the wind and letting go!"

"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that." She whispered, crossing her arms for a few seconds before dropping them angrily. "You know what! Screw that! I will acknowledge what you just said. Anna, the body you talk about doesn't exist anymore. You lost weight last summer. Accept that! There will be no more body parts moving without your say so. They do so only at your command. Can't you see that now? Get to it girl!"

"As always, your inspirational speeches on self discovery does wonders for my self esteem." I cringed. "In perfect timing, as we are about to enter a party, with boys."

"And boys don't like self doubting girls. They want confidence. They want swagger and attitude. And I agree, it is perfect timing. We need every ounce of courage before we enter that high voltage hormone filled party." Jenna remarked, eyeing the house that already had a few of our fellow seniors staggering around on one foot.

The night had already begun for some.

"Hormone filled and extremely contagious?" I told her as we slowly walked towards the driveway.

"There's nothing I would want more!" Jenna grinned, moving her shoulders to the growing sounds of Hip Hop music. "It's time to let loose and do as the senior class of Royal Heights High are doing right now. Getting drunk and getting crunk!"

"God!" I hissed, embarrassed for her. "I can't believe you said crunk. Who says crunk anymore?"

She laughed me off as we entered into official party territory. The driveway was long and wide. Our fellow party patrons filled bits in small groups, probably discussing the validity of tonight's refreshments with how well they could walk a straight line. I'm guessing the more they stumbled, the more they believed the punch they poured into those red plastic cups earlier.

"Is there like a spiked punch inside?" I yelled over the loud music as we walked around the groups. She cringed, jerking her head back.

"Why are you screaming?" She yelled, caressing her violated ear. "I'm not deaf you know!"

"I'll yell at you all I want!" I told her back, matching the attitude. "The music's so loud I didn't think your messed up ears could hear me, you know with you being a swimmer and all. I'm sure you've got a hearing aid in your future!"

"Bitch, you better take that back. How dare you mock a swimmer's life. Do you even understand that kind of dedication?" Jenna said, clearly not angry by the twinkle in her eyes.

I was kidding and she knew it. Like I'd ever mock the sport she loved seriously.

I had the rest of my life to live.

A few feet away from the entrance, I could already picture the house filled with loud and obnoxious kids our age. Throwing their bodies around as if it were an actual sport, to see who was the loudest, the baddest, the wildest, and the life of the party.

None of which were me. Probably didn't even have it in me to compete. Not at that level at least.

We stood in-between the threshold and took in the massive room for a few seconds. The music was loud enough to break windows and it seemed like our entire class showed up tonight. Peter's grand salon was dressed up like a night club, with dimmed lights and a huge crowd of dancers in the center, busting moves as if their lives depended on it.

I didn't see anyone not having fun. For the first time in my life, I was a part of the experience like everyone else was. I wasn't trapped at home in my room gorging on chocolate all by myself, unlike everyone else.

Jenna grabbed my arm. "Let's do this!"

She pulled me through the open doorway, throwing us into the senior frenzy, soup style. My jaw dropped at the massive amount of people that were really crammed inside.

Girls in small dresses, boys in oversized sports jerseys, mixed in with the rest of us regular folk that were dressed in jeans and simple tops. The only difference was I wore sensible shoes as most of the other girls that surrounded the front were wearing high heels. I glanced down at Jenna's sensible slide on sneakers on route to my black Chucks.

We thought alike.

She was obviously smart. But to be safe we should probably steer clear of the potential foot assassinators.

I didn't get rides to school in the morning. I needed my feet working. "Let's get away from the stampede of foot annihilator's!" I yelled over the music to Jenna. She nodded in agreement and pulled me through the crowd, around the dance floor.

"Keep your eyes out for anyone we know, okay!" Jenna said, guiding me across the room. I searched the room, trying to pinpoint any familiar group we knew, but came with no such luck. I knew of the people that surrounded me, but not enough to stop and have a conversation.

The number of people that I actually spoke with at school was a small number, and I wasn't sure if that was healthy anymore, considering the size of our class.

Jenna quickly pinpointed her fellow swim team members huddled in a corner near the refreshment table and quickly ushered us to them. I took in the entire room again, settling on the dance floor for a few seconds extra, mesmerized by the flailing arms and legs.

My first high school party....at seventeen. I broke the transfixed gaze, looking back at Jenna who was busy hugging her other friends and laughing loudly. Watching them exude excitement with one another made me feel numb all over. She had another life, one that didn't involve me.

Where was I when all this happened?

Had I been asleep for the last three years?

My shoulder jerked wildly. "Snap out of it!" Jenna screeched next to my ear. Before I could give her a nasty scowl, she shoved a red plastic cup into my hands. I grasped it tightly to my chest, the red liquid inside sloshing dangerously close to the rim.

She took a sip out of her cup before ordering me to. "Drink!" She mouthed, barely audible over the music. I drank the red liquid and it slid down my throat, leaving a weird tangy aftertaste. I stuck out my tongue and a disgusted moan followed.

Jenna eyed her friends knowingly and they all burst out laughing. "What is that?" I yelled, holding the cup away as if it were poison.

"Special Punch!" Jenna laughed. She grabbed my arm and pushed it back to my body. "Drink more. You'll feel more relaxed."

Did she really go to parties without me? How? I tried remembering a time when I didn't know what Jenna was up to during a weekend night. The last few months, there were a few blank spots I couldn't remember knowing what she'd been up to.

"Anna!" Jenna screamed excitedly from behind, tapping my shoulder. "We're going to dance, let's go!"

Before heading towards the dance floor, they slammed the rest of their drinks back and dumped the empty cups into the trash. I'd never danced in public before and that scared me. "I'm still thirsty. I'm going to finish my drink. I'll join you guys later!" I yelled over the music, holding my drink up, hoping she'd believe me.

"Finish your drink," Jenna's eyes narrowed, unconvinced. "And then get your ass on the dance floor. If I don't see you in a few minutes, you're shark bait!"

My eyes rolled at her tone. Bitch whatever!

"Yeah okay!" I assured her, reluctantly taking another sip of the punch.

What if I got drunk?

I'd never been drunk. Tonight wasn't really the night I hoped to have that first, especially if James was going to show up with Donna.

Ugh! Donna and James. Why? How? I couldn't believe I came, knowing that they were going to be here, probably up in each other's arms kissing. Making loud grunt noises, dry humping as they danced, probably thinking they were the King and Queen of this party.

What the hell was I then?

The King's mistress and the Court Jester?

My roles included keeping the King happy, however he saw fit. While alongside his main lady (Donna), my duty was to provide comedy for them while they basked in the pleasures of a feast with their closest allies.

Damn it! I knew this party was a bad idea.

How did I let Jenna talk me into going?

It was a trap.

I walked into a trap!

And as if it were fate, a loud and obnoxious animal noise echoed through the room, ostentatiously overriding the music. Incredibly nervous, I took another swing of my punch, the sour taste distracting me from the loud barbaric noises that continued to rattle loudly.

They were excited. Taking a deep breath, I turned and faced the animal calls to see who it was.

I lowered my gaze instantly, immediately wishing I'd never turned.

I shouldn't have turned.

I should have stayed with my back to that part of the party.

It would have been for the best.

I could have just walked on without a worry. Now I was faced with a dilemma, one that my heart currently pounded at a mile a second for, ripping against my chest. My heart clearly wanted out of the misery that was my body.

The body that still ached for his touch again.

James.

He was here.

Gulping, I gazed back at the entrance.

Wearing a backwards Baseball cap, a fitted black t-shirt and dark blue jeans that looked like they were made for his long muscular legs, he stood with his crew of backward Baseball caps. They were true Baseball fans as well as the schools shining stars, the Royal Heights High School Baseball team.

Cue the applause, royalty had arrived.

Kings I say.

I wasn't the only one who thought this. They acted like they were, and my fellow classmates seemed to agree. The crowd parted for the overly confident, overly arrogant leaders as they made their way down into the dance floor. Making matter's worse, like in an 'I can't believe it could get worse' kind of way, girly screams rippled through the entire room as if it were a tangible vibration.

Whatever it was, my punch swirled in rapids because of it.

Ugh, can you say too much! I glanced at the evil suspects, a group of floundering females, twisting and twirling through the crowded center. It was as if they were zombie bees lusting after the nectar of a flower that would keep them alive.

Guess who played the flower?

Girls and their boys, was there actually a way for them to behave like ladies when their so called men entered into their zones? I didn't think they needed to scream like crazy hyena's, disrupting every single person's ability to hear.

Any more screams from those screeching lunatics, and I'd be lucky not to be in line for a hearing aid by the end of the year.

God I'm bitter! I stared at the growing crowd, as the mixture of bright pink and violet dressed piranhas stalked quickly to the apple of their eyes.

Other girls...beware....these boys were off limits.

The Kings of the party had finally arrived.

Finally!

Now why couldn't I share that sentiment? Oh yeah, I know why, maybe because I was screwed over by one of them.

So screw them and screw him. I mean James, screw him.

Not literally though, he's lost those privileges from me for life. This girl wasn't going to share anymore kisses with that fool.

That liar!

Once in close proximity to James, Donna burst out of the hot girl cocoon she hid in while traveling through the crowded dance floor. It was as if they were a rose blooming in the spring, but Donna was the entire Rose and the other girls were just the leafy stems.

God!

Why were her girls always playing second fiddle to her? They were the clam, and she would always be the pearl.

And there you go, life explained.

Both groups collided, intermixing. They shuffled together through the dance floor, oblivious of the commotion and disturbance they were causing. They laughed loudly, expressing their joy of the positions in life they were in.

The sliding door to the backyard opened, and the entire King and Queen group laughed loudly walking out.

It was all a blur. I didn't even know what I'd just saw.

A collage of overconfident douchebags walked in like they owned the room. There, I explained it.

It was a group that I didn't want to be a part of and wouldn't have to be, all thanks to James and his way of doing things.

You know the slimy way! Looking away, I put on my ignore face as if to say 'I don't know you', 'or you'.

Ignoring the pain in my chest, it was time to forget and move on. I needed to convince myself that seeing Donna gallop happily towards James wouldn't plague my dreams and thoughts for the next while.

I had too!

Or else I was going to be stuck in this betrayed love sick state for the rest of my life.

I took another sip of punch, hoping the alcohol could do something about my nerves. As the liquid hit my tongue, I cringed again. I didn't know how many sips it was going to take for me to get used to the sour, sugary, bitter taste of it.

"Oh God, I thought I was the only one!" An unfamiliar voice exclaimed beside me.

I jerked in shock, the loud voice taking me by surprise. I looked up finding a tall boy standing beside me, holding the same red plastic cup with a similar expression on his face.

Disgusted?

His eyes twinkled once they connected with mine and his nice puffy lips spread into a smile. "I can see you don't like it either!"

Talk Annabelle! Cute guy alert! Talk! I ordered myself.

I cleared my throat. "Ugh yeah! It wasn't what I expected."

"What did you expect it to be like?" He grinned. He wasn't as tall as James, but he was still tall. His hair was dark blonde, smoothed back.

His eyes were blue. I liked blue. I really liked blue.

Not as much as green, but that was okay, blue was good.

I could do blue.

Easily.

"I thought it was going to be like a standard punch, fruity and sweet." I told him, laughing. "Do you know what it is?"

His eyes twinkled again as his smile grew wider. He had nice teeth too. "Well I think I agree with you, it is punch, but fruity and sweet, that's an obvious no!"

"Kool-Aid?" I offered as a possibility for the weird concoction. He nodded as if it could have been a possibility.

"Yeah, that's what I thought it was. I was like, I know this taste. I've tasted this before. I just couldn't remember it because the last time I had Kool-Aid was when I was a kid!" He tilted his head back and laughed.

I stared at his body as he laughed.

God, I was a horny devil. Why couldn't I just focus on their personality's first, then their bodies. Then, if they turned out to be assholes, I could walk away without any worries of lusting after them. I wished I could follow through with that logic, but instead I was repeatedly doing the wrong thing. Why else would I have welcomed James so easily back on to my lips in the library today, when he didn't deserve it?

I have problems.

Seriously.

"Yeah, Kool-Aid but there's something else, something I can't name." I told him, giving a toothy smile which he seemed to enjoy. He shuffled his body closer to mine as the people around us crowded the space up.

"I think it's spiked." He leaned in, whispering as if it were a scandalous secret. I laughed out loud as he wagged his eyebrows playfully. "Wanna get drunk?"

I laughed again. "I don't even know your name?"

I wouldn't be making that mistake again. I was going to know the name of the person first before having a conversation with them.

"Dean." He answered, stretching out a hand. "What's yours?"

"Annabelle, but you can call me Anna." I told him, shaking his warm hand. "Do you go to Royal Heights? I don't think I've seen you before?"

He shook his head, not letting go of my hand. "No, I go to Pleasant View High with Peter's cousin, that's how I found out about the party."

"Pleasant View, that's cool." I smiled at him, pulling my hand away from his firm grasp. "Do you like it there?"

"I do, but now that I think about it, I think I'd be happier at Royal Heights." Dean grinned, looking into my eyes.

Oh my God!

Was this flirting? Were we flirting?

Oh my goodness, I was being flirted with and not in an asshole kind of way, but in an honest, nice, old school, how a gentleman would treat a lady kind of way.

So this is what it was supposed to be like.

Being swept off your feet.

James who?

I turned away, feeling my face heat up. After a second to catch my breath, I slowly gazed back at him. "Would you now, how so? What made you change your mind about schools so quickly?"

Dean leaned in again, starring deeper into my eyes. "Sometimes fate has a way of doing things that completely knocks you off your feet. I'm kind of having one of those fate moments."

"One of those moments, a moment that's happening right now?" I leaned towards him, holding the red cup to my chest.

"Maybe." He whispered and then looked away at the dance floor for a second, then back at me. "Anna, you wanna dance?"

I looked at the dance floor and the worry that usually followed was no more. Instead, it was replaced with the excitement of having a new experience. I'd never danced with a guy before.

What about the horizontal dance you did with James?

Making out with James on his bed did not count as dancing, whatever it was.

This.....was going to be harmless fun.

Dancing! I gulped once and gazed back at an apprehensive looking Dean. "Yeah, I'd love to dance with you Dean." I nodded and his worried face melted into pure delight.

Dean held out his hand and amazingly, without skipping a beat, I took it. The warmth from his skin made me feel dizzy and lightheaded as tiny bubbles exploded in the pit of my stomach. He took our cups and threw them in the trash.

So this is what real attraction felt like. When a guy really liked you, he wouldn't be afraid to show it. Dean had acted quickly. I'd been a fool all this time, thinking whatever it was that James was doing was even remotely close to representing being liked.

Being harassed, used then ignored was not a recipe for being liked. I was invited to dance at a party, where I was once too scared to even participate in.

I was a changed girl...no scratch that, a changed woman.

Dean led me to the dance floor and the dance track changed into a slow R and B slow jam. Noticing the alarm in my eyes, Dean stopped and faced me. "Is this okay?"

I looked around the dance floor and everyone was quickly partnering up. I didn't have to worry about James and his crew since they were outside for the time being. I searched for Jenna and her friends, catching the back of them as they made their way off the dancing area and towards the refreshment table. I faced Dean again and using every ounce of courage I had, I nodded.

Then it was as if it were all happening in slow motion. Dean stepped into my embrace and pulled both my hands around his neck, then placed his arms around my waist. "Is this okay?" He murmured, looking deep into my eyes, not smiling.

I nodded, transfixed by his stare. I followed his lead and we moved slowly to the music. I looked away off the dance floor and caught Jenna's eye. Her jaw dropped when she realized what I was doing. She smiled widely, giving me a thumbs up. Dean tightened his hold around my waist and I looked back at him.

I giggled nervously. "This is...I don't know."

Dean grinned. "It's nice. I think it's nice." He murmured sweetly.

"I think it's nice too." I murmured back.

"You're cute you know that." Dean said softly. "Of course you know it, how could you not."

I blinked a few times at his candor, or what I hoped was his candor, he could be lying. I hoped he wasn't lying. "Thanks." I murmured. Feeling brave all of a sudden, I blurted out. "Um, you're cute too."

I could feel the heat in my cheeks rise a few notches. There was no way my cheeks weren't red. I instantly looked away.

I'd never been this honest with a guy.

Even with James.

Dean grinned, liking what he'd heard. He tightened his grip around my waist again, pulling me closer to his body. "You have no idea how good hearing that makes me feel. Thanks baby."

Baby?

Nobody called me that but James. Wait, what? Screw James, hello Dean! I smiled back, tightening my arms around his neck, pulling my body closer to his, feeling his hard body now.

"Do you play sports?" I asked out of nowhere. His face lightened up.

"Yeah, I play." He stated.

"Well?" I asked impatiently. "What sport?"

He smiled big, showcasing all his teeth. He had a great smile.

"Baseball." He replied breathily. "I'm a pitcher."

My eyes widened at Baseball. Not another one!

What was going on? Was there something about me that attracted a certain athletic group? Okay two guys didn't mean anything. It was merely just a coincidence that for the first time in my life, having the attention of two cute guys, they'd just happened to play Baseball.

But James didn't pitch, he batted. So there you go, the difference.

"Are you a batter too?" I asked him. I knew jack shit about Baseball, just the bare minimum.

"Nah, when I played during freshman year, I batted in a few games, but my strengths lay better in pitching." He explained.

"Are you the star pitcher at your school?" I asked him and was awarded with a prize winning smile.

And here we go again.

Hello Mr. Arrogance...number two!

"But of course." He replied as any champion would, with power and confidence. He knew who he was. So here's where I was getting confused, and I had hoped I wouldn't do this to myself, but what the hell was he doing here with me if he was a champion? Clearly a champion would want to be dancing the night away with a girl equivalent of a prize.

Was I a prize?

My gut reaction, my first instinct, I wasn't one. Damn it, I wished I could boast myself up, grow my ego, pretend even. But I couldn't, I couldn't look at myself in the mirror and say 'you're worthy of dancing with a champion'.

So this had to end.

I tightened my hold around his neck and he quickly replicated that action around my waist. I was going savor every second of this moment and when the song finished, I was going to let go.

"This was nice." I told him softly. His blue eyes peered into mine, making my insides melt.

Oh why?

Why did it have to end?

It just began.

For once in my life, why couldn't I just let go and let things happen without worrying about the repercussions? I knew the answer to that, because I had let go. I let go at lunch today and ended up feeling the lowest I'd ever felt.

Feeling used and dissed.

Left high and dry.

Dined and dashed.

It was a message from the universe, stop trusting cute Baseball players, they're just going to treat you like garbage, but disguise it as something else.

I wasn't going to be blind anymore. I wasn't going to allow someone to confuse me or play with my emotions as if I didn't have any.

Not anymore.

There were no more plans of any junk food binges, so there had to be no more stupid mistakes. That meant in less than thirty seconds, me and Dean Baseball player, pitcher extraordinaire, had to say goodbye forever.

God, I was dramatic!

The beautiful feeling of being in his arms had to go away. I had to prepare my body with less than twenty seconds to go.

First things first, stop staring into his beautiful blue eyes.

Check.

Fifteen seconds.

Next, move my body a few inches away from his. I felt my body grow cold instantly without his heat.

Check.

Ten seconds.

Next, loosen the hold I have over his neck. I loosened the hold and I could feel his eyes on me, questioning my movements. "Everything okay?" He murmured.

"Yeah, everything's cool." I said, glancing around the room, anywhere but his eyes.

Five seconds.

My hands moved down, no longer holding his neck. They clasped his shoulder for the last seconds of the song.

One second.

The song finished, quickly morphing into a dance track. Couples around us broke apart and started dancing wildly to the new track. I let go of Dean's shoulder and he loosened his grip around my waist, and I reluctantly stepped out of his embrace. I looked up at him and his forehead creased, his eyes reading confusion. We were having such a good time, something was clearly clicking between us, but then something happened and everything changed. That something was my brain, my mind, my common sense, my wisdom from past experience. I was a changed girl who had no intention of following in my previous footsteps of shame and foolishness.

He'd understand soon enough that I wasn't the girl for him, moving on to a finer piece of ass who could proudly dance beside him, stand beside him as the worthy prize to his champion like stature.

But not me.

"Thanks for the dance, it was nice." I murmured softly and walked away off the dance floor towards Jenna, leaving Dean by himself, dumbfounded and frozen. At least I hoped he was dumbfounded and frozen. I was almost in the home stretch, just having to bypass a few dancing duo's before making my way back to Jenna's safe haven.

But I was clearly out of all luck, because my foot stumbled abruptly across the carpet and I went tumbling down with my eyes closing from the surprise. Something strange happened, because I didn't feel the floor. What I did feel, was a pair of hands strongly gripping both of my arms instead. I opened my eyes, relieved that the embarrassing scene was diverted, all thanks to a hero. I grabbed the strong hands holding me still and looked up at my hero's face, ready to declare my ever loving thanks for saving me from a moment I wouldn't be able to forget for a while.

All I saw was green eyes, beautiful soft green eyes. Green eyes that soon became hard and full of fury once I realized whose they were.

James!

### Chapter 3

ANNABELLE

It was finally here, the moment I feared the most happening.

Running into James.

Following my instincts, James' green eyes hardened as I attempted to jerk my arms off his tight grasp. He was too strong and hilariously, my arms barely moved an inch.

"Get your hands off of me." I hissed sternly, staring into his beautiful green eyes as they desperately searched mine for the girl from the library at lunch today. He squeezed my arms, caressing the skin with his coarse fingers, as if he were trying to send me a message. Someone should have told him humans didn't have Bluetooth's inside of them, because that would be the only way I could ever understand his stupid code.

Message failure!

Practically smirking, the bitterness inside me was sneakily making its way out, and for the good of the entire party, it would be for the best if we separated right now.

"Let go of me James." I demanded quietly, but just as fiercely, albeit more civil than my previous tone. His jaw clenched, twitching from obvious anger that this girl right here, she was over it, over him.

Cute Baseball player James, be gone now!

His fingers unclasped around my arms, the skin glowing red, highlighting a trail of his desperate fingertips. I'd have to slap them out of my skin later. An entirely red arm was better than a clearly bruised one. I knew he didn't mean to actually bruise my skin, but because he deserved to be tortured a little (maybe a lot), I was going to shove this little memento from him in his face.

Make it sting just like he made my heart sting after school today.

"Thank you." I whispered, shaking my head. I jerked my arm towards him, showing him what he did. "Thank you so much!"

Connecting the dots in lightning speed, James' eyes widened, seeming shocked from the accusation I was bestowing on him. He was lucky I practically whispered it. If I didn't, then this party would have become a bit crazier. Shaking his head like he couldn't believe he was getting this shit from me, he turned, quickly disappearing off the dance floor.

What just happened? As my heart ran at a dangerous rate, I searched for Jenna's eyes, fearing she was in the midst of exploding in her front row seat. The back of her purple sundress instantly brought my heart rate down a peg. I'd never been more relieved.

Wiping hot sticky sweat off my forehead, I made my way towards Jenna's group, joining them next to the refreshment table as they waited in line with red plastic cups. Jenna's arms caved around my waist, hugging me tightly. "Wow, he was so cute!" She whispered into my ear.

I laughed immediately, desperately trying to hide any visible distress from my face.

"Yeah, he was pretty nice." I sighed.

"How'd that happen?" She asked excitedly, her eyes lighting up. "You were so supposed to join us, and then when I couldn't find you I thought you ran off. But much to my surprise.... my girl here! Was doing a little dance with a cutie! Dude I'm so proud of you!"

I flinched as her high pitched squeals destroyed a few cells in my ear.

If only you knew..... I 'grinned' widely, shaking my head at her hyper encouragement. It was easier to go along and pretend that I wasn't affected by the quick reunion. Any sensation I still felt from dancing with Dean had been all but obliterated by the encounter with James. For the first time in a long time, I felt happy and carefree. But it was quickly ruined by that conniving, selfish prick who couldn't handle the fact that I wasn't waiting quietly in the wings for him anymore. He was obviously watching while I danced with Dean.

Was he jealous?

And what happened to Dean after I left him? Did he see James grab me?

All of a sudden my lungs felt enflamed and I desperately wanted a paper bag to hyperventilate in. I glanced around the overcrowded room, having space to breathe seemed impossible by the state of it.

"Where's the bathroom?" I asked the chatty group. I was pointed in the direction of the bathroom and I told Jenna I'd be back soon. Dancers spilled off the floor blocking my way, making it difficult to get across. I finally entered the long hallway and I knew I was going in the right direction when I saw the long line leaning against the wall.

Great! I thought, taking my place at the end of the line. Well at least it was somewhat quieter and I wasn't required to speak here, so there wouldn't be any questions on my sudden silence.

I'd just chill here quietly till it was my turn, relaxing a little even though I didn't need to use the bathroom. The minutes in total seclusion would be enough to calm my nerves back to normal.

But what if I ran into James again?

What if I ran into Dean asking me why I ran off?

Would I need another trip to the bathroom to calm down?

I shook it off.

It was best not to think about it. The only thing I could do was be wary of the both of them from here on out. The line quickly progressed and soon enough it was my turn, but by that time, I was almost back to normal. A normal heart rate that is. I used the bathroom quickly, checking my reflection and washing my hands. When I walked out, there was no more line. Taking a deep breath I headed back to the party. As I exited the hallway, the music changed back to a slow song.

As I walked around the dance floor, I noticed the floor was even more crowded and that was because a certain King and Queen group had decided to take part in some sort of mating ritual on the dance floor.

Really that's how close their bodies were.

I stifled a smile and was about to look away when familiar shoulders took my sight hostage. Red painted nails clasped tightly around those shoulders and as if on cue they turned so I could see who they were.

James....and Donna.

Her baby pink strapless mini dress rode up her thighs as they smothered against his crotch area. His long muscular arms trailed down to her lower back and held her closer into him. She giggled squeakily at him, looking deep into his eyes with the few inches that separated their perfect faces.

That's just great! I hoped that they were happy together, as long as I was left alone from their drama.

I didn't need that stuff in my life anymore, especially every time he laughed loudly making a stupid remark and then I'd have to remind him that he was being an asshole.

Again.

Yeah I wouldn't miss any of that. From now on it was Donna who would tell him off when he thought he was being smart. But knowing Donna, she wasn't going to say anything to him. She probably would agree and laugh along with him, letting him get into trouble. I mean at least I tried to teach him that it was wrong to say stupid things.

Stop it.....he's going to be with Donna now.

As if on cue, James eyes met mine. He snickered and curled his body closer around a very eager Donna, bringing his lips closer to hers. I stumbled a little, but regained my footing in time. I looked back at them and Donna leaned up abruptly, plastering her lips onto his. It caught him off guard and his hands unclasped around her waist, moving to her shoulders, trying to hold her steady. She let go of his shoulders and slid her hands up into his wavy hair, massaging his scalp. His Baseball cap fell off, and that was enough to break the kiss. James pulled away from their kiss, laughing and eyeing his boys as they egged him on. Donna, however, was oblivious to all of the banter as her fingers were still raking through his hair. She was trying to have a moment with him, where her eyes would meet his as she smoothed back his hair in that intimate gesture.

Bitch.

As they looked for his Baseball cap on the floor, James looked up and his eyes met mine again, I quickly looked away, pretending I wasn't just watching that painful sight. I rushed back to Jenna who was standing with a small scowl on her face and her hands to her hips. She was eying me as I joined her.

"What are you doing?" She hissed as I stood beside her. "Stalker much!"

My eyes widened. "I was just caught off guard. He was making out with her right on the dance floor. I've never seen him kiss anyone, but me."

Her eyes softened. "It caught you off guard?"

"Yes, can you understand that?"

She looked at the dance floor, then back at me. "Yeah, okay. But just try and steer clear of him. He turns your brain cells into mush whenever you're too close to him."

I nodded in agreement and inhaled deeply as I glanced back at the dance floor. My heart skipped a beat when I caught the back ends of Donna and James walking off the dance floor, her arm around his waist, and the worst bit, she had his Baseball cap on.

Backwards.

That bitch!

Pretending like I saw nothing, I looked away, becoming increasingly fascinated with the floor and the garbage on top of it.

Damn that floor was dirty!

I met Jenna's eyes again and they were narrowed on me. "Yeah, totally caught you peeking again."

She burst into a fit of chuckles and nudged her shoulder hard into mine. "What am I going to do with you my little love sick puppy of a best friend!" She said quietly, but clearly amused.

I broke out a grin. "I'm not love sick, I'm just briefly affected. It'll pass. I mean it has too...right?"

"I hope so, for your sake." Jenna murmured, looking concerned.

I was getting tired of this, feeling like I was being judged all the time. If I stared at James and Donna, it was because it was an accident. One that was kind of hard to look away from. I'd need at least a few seconds to regain my composure before I had enough strength to look away.

I was human. I wasn't a robot.

"Let's go dance, I wanna dance!" Jenna exclaimed, all of a sudden hyper again. Her friends behind us agreed happily. She turned to me, waiting for me to agree as well.

"I'm going to sit on the couch for a few seconds." I told her and she narrowed her eyes again. "I'll join you guys later, I just need to sit."

Jenna rolled her eyes. "Whatever girl, you know where to find me."

Great, now she's tired of me too. "Alright."

I headed to the couches as Jenna and her crew entered the dance floor. I sat on the end of one of the long couches. The other end was filled with three people, sitting closely and having a conversation about getting high.

God! Now drugs! I really am at a high school party now! I thought. As I chuckled to myself, I felt the cushion next to me sink in.

"What's so funny, cute girl!" A familiar voice whispered into my ear. I gazed to my side, finding Dean sitting very closely with a small smile on his face.

Cute girl! I smiled back at him. "Nothing much, cute boy."

The term of endearment made him smile wider, and he leaned in closer. "Why are you sitting here all alone?"

"I'm just a little tired." I told him.

He looked confused. "Tired? Of what?"

"Of stuff." I replied, adding nothing more. He didn't press on the matter and nodded as if he understood.

"I get it. I've been there. Sometimes you just need a breather. Did you want to be alone?" He asked hesitantly.

Did I? I thought as I stared into Dean's blue eyes. He wasn't bothering me. Well, not if you counted the butterflies in my stomach.

I shook my head. "No, I'm fine with how things are."

Relieved, he smiled again. "That's great. I'll honest with you. I've been eying you since you arrived."

Really? Oh my God! I was scouted, by a cute guy. "Really?"

He smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I was pulling up with Peter's cousin Dan and saw you and your friend walking up to the driveway, you guys were hitting each other but in a funny way. I was like I need to meet that girl, and the fact that you were really cute was a plus. God I'm lucky!"

I turned away, feeling my face heat again, probably turning a deeper shade of crimson.

Oh my God! Wow! He noticed me even before I'd entered the party.

"Really?" I squeaked out again, unable to compress out a coherent sentence.

Dean leaned in closer and whispered. "Yeah, really."

I stared at him stunned, now really unable to speak.

"That's nice, sort of, I think." I gulped. I should talk about something. To show him I was more than a timid cute girl.

"So Baseball right?" I asked, feeling a sense of Deja view.

James! Stop thinking about him.

A huge smile broke across his face. "Yeah, I love that sport, love watching it. I could watch it for hours, and trust me it can go on for hours."

"I'll be honest. I don't watch many sports, except for the odd swimming match." I confessed.

"You'd think most girls wouldn't be interested in Baseball, but our games are always packed with screaming ladies!" He exclaimed knowingly. And here was the cockiness coming out.

"Oh so you get a lot of the ladies as fans huh?" I teased, making him blink.

"No, that's not what I meant, I meant I do have some girls that are fans that like to come and watch us, but_"

"But what?" I interrupted him, teasing him more. I pointed at random girls in the room. "Are any of your lady fans in here too?"

I smirked, looking away, but stopped when I felt his hand grasp my elbow, pulling it down into his embrace.

I felt my cheeks heat at the gesture. I slowly met his eyes again and pulled my arm, which he was reluctant to let go of, but he did, one finger at a time.

He didn't want to let go of me!

"You're cute, you know that?" Dean said with a half-smile. "And you're funny."

"Thank you." I whispered, not knowing what else to say. "Um, you're nice too."

He leaned closer, smiling warmly. Maybe he's drunk?

"Well thanks." He said animatedly, making me laugh at his delivery.

"You're funny too." I grinned.

"Duh!" He blurted, funnily. Feeling all warm and fuzzy now, I rested my head against the couch cushion and faced him.

Maybe it was the punch?

"Annabelle?" Dean whispered, leaning his head back, resting it against the couch cushion next to me.

"Yeah?" I replied softly, meeting his pretty blue eyes again.

"Please tell me you don't have a boyfriend?" Dean asked, sounding hopeful.

James! I thought instantly, but quickly disregarded it. James wasn't my man, he was Donna's. James made it clear who he wanted to be with after their little public display of affection earlier.

I was a free woman.

I shook my head slowly, smiling. "I don't have a boyfriend."

My answer turned Dean's hesitant expression into a happy one. His handsome face lit up as if I just told him he'd won the lottery.

Oh my God, I was the reason he looked so happy right now!

"Best news I've heard in a while." Dean said, smoothly. His eyes narrowed, lowering down to my lips, my breathing altering as a result.

"Really?" I asked in disbelief. Was he serious?

"Really." He leaned closer, caressing the side of my face with the side of hand.

"Dean?" I said meekly, his hand opening and my face now resting in his palm.

"Yeah?" He said breathily.

"You're nice you know that." I told him softly.

"Just nice?" He asked as his eyes quickly hardened.

"Nice is good." I replied, smiling.

"Nice isn't boring?" Dean asked, hesitantly. He curled his hand away from my face and I leaned back, shaking my head.

"No, nice isn't boring. In fact it's a quality that's actually redeemable. I'll take nice over anything else any day of the week." I explained seriously, resting my head back on to the cushion.

"Nice." Dean whispered to himself, sounding bitter. He leaned farther away and inhaled deeply through his nostrils.

Was he frustrated right now?

I needed to fix this! Before I ruined whatever this was.

"Well actually_" I began to say but stopped as Dean got up all of sudden.

No!

What did I do, he's leaving!

He took a few steps forward before turning his head, meeting my eyes. "Nice talking with you Annabelle."

Then he disappeared inside the crowd, and I was left wondering what the hell just happened. I thought we were talking, connecting.

Was it because I called him nice?

Honestly I didn't think 'nice' was a bad thing to be called.

I guess maybe nice wasn't the right word to call him? He probably wanted something more along the lines of wild and sexy, and all man.

I mentally gave myself a 'Nice' slap across the forehead.

Moron!

You practically called him boring and dull. No wonder he walked away.

Scowling and extremely pissed off at myself, I got off the couch and headed towards the refreshment table.

I needed a drink.

After waiting in line for a few minutes, the punch and I become well acquainted with each other again. I took the first sip of my fresh cup on my way back to Jenna and the rest of 'her' friends.

The taste of the red punch wasn't as surprising as the first initial drop in my mouth. I was glad I'd adapted quickly to the taste.

It was almost sour now. Like candy. I could do candy, easily. The liquid rushed down my throat, spiking nerves inside of me, creating rushes of heat down the trail of my throat like I'd never felt before. I was on my way towards a more carefree relaxed Annabelle.

Would I be classified as a lightweight? I was getting buzzed already.

I found Jenna and her crew huddled together behind a large crowd of couples talking, kissing and arguing with one another.

"Hey guys!" I yelled at them happily, holding out the punch, signifying my active participation in this party. I was no Debbie downer and was about to get down like everyone else here was.

Because after all that's what parties were for, having fun and letting loose.

I gazed at each individual face of Jenna's crew, each giving me back surprised yet amused expressions. Once their eyes met the punch in my hands, they understood the dramatic change in my party attitude.

Annabelle was getting hammered. And they loved it.

My eyes fell last on my best friend, whose entire face brightened at the realization that stuffy boring Annabelle was gone, and fun, wild, vibrant doesn't give a shit Annabelle was here.

"Welcome to the party Anna!" Jenna rejoiced loudly, grabbing her own cup from the counter beside her. "Finally!"
Chapter 4

ANNABELLE

So this was what feeling free was like.

Peter dimmed the lights in the room more, making it feel more like a nightclub. My arm shot up along with everyone else's on the dance floor.

After my second cup of special punch, things were different. Like my perspective on everything. All of a sudden stuff I'd worried about didn't seem that important anymore.

"Yeah Anna!" Jenna swirled around, waving her arms into the sea of hands, pumping to the music. She's drunk and loving it.

I laughed at her, not in a judgmental way but because I got it and that made me so freaking happy.

I got it.

Having fun and going to parties without a care in the world, this was what life was all about. I lived free in this moment, dancing in a room, careless. Judgment from stupid bystanders be damned, they could kiss my ass.

It was the alcohol, but who cared!

I was living free. And loving it!

Song after song, my body grew more fearless. The fact that my muscles ached from all the dancing I was doing didn't bother me. I was having too much fun. However the fun was about to come to a stop, I had to pee, again.

I mouthed 'bathroom' to Jenna and danced around flailing arms and booty's on my way off the floor, heading towards the bathroom.

"I'm so drunk." I chuckled to myself, stumbling down the empty hallway. How come no one else had to pee? I was a newbie to this whole scene and my bladder had much to learn about resilience. After knocking three times on the bathroom door, I opened it confident that I wasn't about to walk in on someone peeing or doing something with someone else.

A senior high school party, I'd only ever seen the ones from the movies, and they usually had some risky business going on in the bathrooms or one of the bedrooms. On my way into the bathroom, a pair of hands grasped my shoulders.

"What!" I gasped as the hands forced me inside the bathroom. Before I had the chance to turn and address my assailant, I heard the door lock snap closed.

I gulped, scared out of my mind as I took in the person behind me. My heart rate dimmed a smidge when I saw who it actually was. A fitted black shirt, messy dark brown hair hiding scrunched underneath a black backwards Miami Marlins Baseball cap and very familiar green eyes.

"James?" My eyes narrowed on him, grabbing the edge of the vanity table. "What do you think you're doing?"

Instead of answering, he leaned against the door with his strong tanned arms folded across his broad chest. His beautiful green eyes glared hard at me. His stare captured mine, stalling me from questioning him further.

"Stop staring at me!" I ordered after a few seconds. I wasn't regular Annabelle right now, I was drunk, and drunken Annabelle, well she was about get loud if needed.

Especially for douchebag liars!

"You've got a lot of nerve, pushing me in here, locking the door, and you don't even have the balls to say anything." I hissed. The alcohol made me brave. I felt it coursing through my veins, aiding my brain, telling it to tell James, to go and screw himself.

"Did you have fun?" James snipped, making me feel like I was being accused.

I shook my head at him. "Depends, what do you mean?" I sneered.

Yeah, he totally saw me with Dean.

"I saw you!" He accused.

Yep, totally saw me with Dean.

I cocked an eyebrow and jerked my chin at him in defiance. "And?"

"Slow dancing with that pitcher and letting him touch your face!" James growled, his face subtly twitching from his growing anger.

Not that I cared.

"And?" I pressed, sounding bored.

"On the couch!" He exclaimed, pointing to the closed door.

"Oh!" I drawled out. "You mean Dean. Yeah, I had a great time connecting with him. We have a lot in common!"

"Oh yeah! Like what?" He sneered, sounding like he didn't believe me. God forbid anyone else be attracted to me. I guess I was more than lucky these past couple of months with two guys showing their interests in me. Even if James couldn't believe someone else was actually interested in me.

"Like, we're both funny, and nice and we're both cute!" I explained acidly, with a bitter smile.

James' nostrils flared. "Oh so you think he's cute now?"

"Just told you that, didn't you hear?" I slurred, holding the vanity tighter as my body began to sway slowly to the left. "Besides, why the hell are you interrogating me, you're the guilty one!"

"Me?" James eyes widened, surprised.

The nerve!

"Yeah, you!" I snapped. "First, you danced with Donna, slow dancing!"

"Oh, you caught that." He said smugly, side smiling like he was so smart.

He wasn't!

"I'm not blind, asshole!" I hissed. "You kissed her in front of everyone!"

"Yeah, so I did. I'm allowed to." He stated arrogantly.

He was allowed to?

I blinked at him, a little stunned. Hearing him finally say how he really saw our relationship left me bewildered. Why couldn't he be this honest from the beginning, then maybe, I wouldn't be here, slightly depressed from his mind screw.

"Then what the hell am I doing locked in a bathroom with you?" I asked him quietly, slowly.

Silence

"Why did you push me in here?" I continued quietly.

Silence

All of a sudden, James pushed off the door and stood in front of me, staring down. "Let me take you out tomorrow."

"What?" I jerked my head back.

He grabbed my shoulders. "Tomorrow, we're going out!"

"No, we're not!" I yanked my shoulders out of his grasp.

He grabbed me again. "Yes, we are!"

"No we're not, I'm not interested!" I snapped, struggling to break free. Not that I was trying that hard to break free, considering I was still drunk.

"We're going!" He declared again.

I gave up trying to break free of him and leaned back against the vanity. "Why don't you go out with Donna tomorrow instead, I'm sure she'd love to go out with you!"

"Donna?" He jerked his chin back, looking confused.

"You made out with her in front of everyone!" I yelled, astonished at his confusion. Was he playing with me right now? Pretending he had no idea what I was talking about.

"She kissed me!" His eyes widened.

"And you didn't pull back!" I kept going.

"Stop it, it wasn't like that!" He let go of my shoulders and stood back.

"Then how was it?" I crossed my arms, tilting my head to the side.

"It just happened. She's been all over me tonight, what was I supposed to do?" He exclaimed, like he had no other option but to concede to her.

"I don't know, and I don't care." I snipped, looking away.

"You're a liar, you care." He sneered.

I gazed back at him. "I don't."

"You do, otherwise you wouldn't be this upset."

"Whatever." I murmured, rolling my eyes.

Silence

"You like this Dean guy now?" He said all of a sudden.

"Why do you care?" I murmured, not looking at him.

"Answer me?" He ordered, grabbing my chin delicately, tilting it upwards so I was looking at him again.

"I barely know him." I answered, lifelessly.

"Then go out with me tomorrow." He breathed, relieved.

"Why?" I asked, skeptically.

"I told you why." He exclaimed, clearly frustrated by the grit of his teeth.

I jerked my chin back. When?

"You really don't like Donna?" I asked, slowly.

"If I wanted her do you think I'd be in here with you now?" James explained. "And besides whatever that girl's offering, trust me, I could have had it a hundred times till now."

"Gross." I cringed, leaning away as a reflex but he gripped me firmer, stopping me.

He leaned in, looking deep into my eyes. "I didn't though, that should count for something, right?"

"You didn't call me for two weeks." I accused, shaking my head.

"I told you I had to get a new phone." He explained.

"Then why didn't you come back to the club and get my phone number. You knew I still worked at the lemonade stand." I pressed, still unconvinced.

"I didn't want to look like a pansy coming to you begging for your number again." He explained, as if it pained him to.

"And now?" I pressed, gulping.

"Now what?" He repeated, confused.

"What are we now? What are we doing in here, alone?" I asked, apprehensively.

"Go out with me tomorrow." He pushed again.

"Why? What do you want from me James?" I asked him, not knowing what to believe anymore.

He caressed the side of my face. "For you to say yes."

"What about Donna?" I breathed.

"I'm not interested in her." He answered firmly.

"Really?" I gulped, wide eyed.

"Really." he answered, softly. His fingers began caressing my jaw line, making me feel a hundred different exhilarating emotions, all at once.

"Okay." I gave in meekly.

He rested his forehead against mine and closed his eyes. "Okay?"

"Yeah, okay." I answered, closing my eyes too.

James breathed a sigh of relief. "Damn....fireball! Finally, gave a guy a break!"

I smiled. "I wasn't going to make it easier for you."

"Oh yeah?" He chuckled.

"Yeah," I giggled drunkenly. "How else were you going to learn how to not act like an asshole?"

"Don't talk like that to me, it turns me on." He smirked, leaning in to kiss my cheek.

"Shut up." I muttered, becoming dizzy as his warm lips pressed against my cheek. He quickly leaned back, smiling from ear to ear. Then he grabbed my hand and brought it up to his lips. He kissed my palm, letting his lips linger a little longer than usual, making my stomach feel like the Sea World Aquarium. Things were swimming down there, wildly and passionately.

I was weak, I know.

He was just so cute, I couldn't help it.

James lowered my arm. "Come here." He ordered smoothly, grabbing my elbow and pulling me into his chest. As his arms encircled my waist, pulling me close to his body, my head rested against his firm chest as if it was the most natural thing to do.

I had no problems with doing that. My nose rubbed against his shirt, taking in his cologne and body wash greedily.

He smelled so good....damn good.

"Are you smelling me?" James asked, clearly amused. Then he sighed, sounding content and began chuckling. "You love smelling a God, don't you? I don't blame you!"

"Shut up." I giggled against him, kicking his leg playfully.

"You look so good tonight though," James murmured into my hair. "Real good baby."

"Shut up." I murmured burying myself deeper into him, embarrassed at his compliment. He tilted my head back and stared deep into my eyes for a second before they lowered to my lips. I knew what was going to come next.

The kissing.

But as I stared at his beautiful plump lips, I remembered that they were plastered on Donna's not too long ago.

"I'm sorry." I let go and pulled back before he could kiss me. "I'm drunk right now,"

"Alright." James sighed, looking away, clearly frustrated that I didn't allow things to progress the way they normally would have.

I was about to have her sloppy seconds. Didn't he get that? I should tell him that, so he'd know I didn't like sharing.

"I'm not going to kiss you." I smirked and his eyes widened.

His jaw dropped. "Ever?"

I stifled a smile, trying to be serious. "No, but my lips are not going to touch yours, not when you've got some other girl's lips still on you. If you ever want to kiss me again, your lips better be clean."

James pretended to think for second before smiling sneakily. "What about my grandma?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What about your grandma?" I asked, confused.

"Well she likes to kiss my entire face, does she count too?" He laughed.

"James!" I screeched, appalled. "Be serious!"

He stopped laughing and grabbed me, pulling me back where I belonged, plastered against his chest. "Hmmm."

"What?" I murmured into his hard chest, making me feel warm all over.

"You're funny," James sighed.

Dean said the same thing.

"And cute." James continued.

Dean said that too.

"And nice." James kept going.

I said that to Dean, which he didn't take to well to.

"That's great, I'm nice." I said, sarcastically.

"I like nice, a whole lot more than angry bitch." James stated.

"Then don't be an asshole, and I won't have to be an angry bitch. It's simple." I explained.

He hugged me tighter. "Okay, deal."

"Good." I said, tightening my arms around his muscular back.

"Tomorrow, it's going to be just me and you." James rubbed his hand across my back. My back tingled at his touch and in response my feelings towards not kissing him dimmed.

A little kiss....wouldn't kill anybody and he probably drank some punch, the alcohol would have cleaned his lips of Donna's DNA for sure.

Stay strong. Tomorrow he'll be completely fresh. Hopefully he'd take a shower and be a hundred percent Donna free.

Germ free.

But it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep denying him what we both wanted, so we had to get out of the bathroom.

Like right this second.

"I think it's time to go back to the party." I said as my hands unconsciously began rubbing his lower back.

"I agree," He hummed into my hair and then chuckled. "But if you keep rubbing my back like that, I'm going to need five minutes first."

"Why?" I asked, confused. My brain pieced it together and my arms dropped from around him. I jerked back, gasping. "James!"

He laughed as he turned around and adjusted his pants.

"You should wash your hands." I ordered, looking at everything but him I was too embarrassed to look him in the eye.

"Why?" He laughed, turning on the faucet. "This is because of you." He finished washing his hands and held them up for inspection. "Happy, baby?"

I gasped. "Alright, they're fine. You go first. I have to use the bathroom."

I grabbed his arm with one arm and unlocked the door with my other. On the way out he turned to me. "Did you really delete my number today?"

I stalled for a few seconds before answering. "Yeah."

"Where's your phone now?"

"Right here." I patted my back pocket.

"Give it to me." He held out his hand.

I pulled out my phone and handed it to him. He grabbed my hand, took the phone with his other hand and quickly tapped at the screen before giving it back. Not letting go of my other hand. "There, now you have my number again. This time, don't delete it."

"We'll see if you're a good boy or not." I said, trying to pull my hand back. "Now go!"

Reluctantly, after giving it one last warm squeeze, he let my hand go and strutted down the hallway back to the party. A small giggle escaped me as I shut the door and locked it.

Wow. I held my hand to my beating chest as it ran wild. Wow.

Things had changed in a blink of an eye. Who would have thought.

After finishing my business, I headed back to the dance floor, slightly less buzzed. The alcohol had clearly worn off a bit.

The music quickly overtook my thoughts, being too loud to even think. I searched through the sea of flailing arms and legs for James. I couldn't see him.

Where is he? And who is he with? I thought worriedly.

And it's begun again. I was getting jealous. It's only been about five minutes since James and I sort of got back together.

Were we even together?

Officially?

We were just going on one date tomorrow.

That didn't mean he was mine.

This was great, just great. I was confused all over again.

I felt a strong grip on my shoulder, pulling me to a stop. I turned and faced Jenna, who had joy written all over face.

"You're back!" She yelled, pulling me towards her friends who were jumping up and down in a huddle. "Let's dance."

I let her drag me into the huddle and quickly got back into the groove of the party.

Casting aside all thoughts of James and whoever he was with now, my arms shot up as the beat of the song changed to more trance like. The dance floor became a sea of waved arms, swishing back and forth.

A hard body grazed my back, taking me off guard. Even though the dance floor was packed and I had bumped into some people before, this touch felt different, it felt deliberate. Through the darkness, only being able to see through the light of cellphones and lighters, I caught the back of James' black t-shirt as he made his way with his crew to the center of the dance floor, doing their version of a trance dance, but more manlier.

If that was even possible.

I laughed at the sight of them fist pumping in slow motion. James looked up for a split second and our eyes met. I shook my head, laughing louder as he smirked back, shrugging.

He can't dance for shit! I laughed turning back towards Jenna and friends, returning back to the moment, where the song and I were one.

Yeah, this was the life!
Chapter 5

ANNABELLE

Saturday September 8, 2012

My eyelids fluttered open at the sound of someone slapping their car door shut. I twisted out of the sleeping bag I slept in last night in Jenna's room.

It was nearly seven in the morning and the sun was in the process of rising. Yawning, I stretched my joints, which still ached from dancing all last night.

Okay well not all night. We left the party around 1:30am and got to Jenna's house around 2am. I completely forgot that I had to work this morning and knowing that I needed the money, there was no way I was going to call in sick.

So I had to go and work on less than five hours of sleep. The feeling that a lack of sleep casted over my body was a new one, my legs and arms felt sluggish, as well as my brain.

I glanced out her window for a second taking in the new morning breeze, hoping it would instill some life into me. I felt like a zombie.

"Lucky bitch." I whispered at the sleeping beauty, sprawled sideways across her bed looking peaceful. I was jealous that she got to sleep in and I didn't.

Using her bathroom, I cleaned up quickly.

I woke her up and told her goodbye before leaving. All I got was a muffled cast off and a lazy fling of an arm, which made me laugh. This was probably one of the first Saturday's Jenna didn't have swim practice and she was going to sleep in no matter what.

It took me fifteen minutes to get home. When I crossed the threshold, the entire house was silent. Both my siblings were still at their friend's houses, and mom and dad were probably relishing in a childless house for once in a long time.

I hope to God that they're sleeping right now. I prayed, going up the stairs as quietly as possible. I wanted to get my stuff and be out as fast as possible. I was still in my party clothes from last night, and I didn't need an interrogation from mom asking what I actually did last night. I quickly changed my clothes, putting on my uniform and grabbed some clothes for later.

James wanted to take me out today, but he didn't say when and where. I sent him a quick text telling him I was going to work and that my shift was till 2pm today.

I exited my room to an empty hallway. Mom and dad were still sleeping. Thank God. I slipped out without a trace, but stalled in front of my bike.

Should I take it?

I should take it, just in case he canceled. I didn't fully trust him yet. He had been up and down with me this last month and a half, so to be safe I'd bring my own transportation. God knows I didn't want to walk home. The club was farther than school was to walk to.

And I felt like shit too, so the bike was the right choice.

*~*~*

For half an hour, I sat on the bench in front of the bike rack after work. There was no word from James.

Tired as I was, that didn't stop every angry emotion under the sun from consuming me.

My mind was telling me she told me so. I should have seen this coming, especially with his record in pulling through on his promises.

Just as I took my lock off my bike, my phone beeped.

New message from Tiger! I read across my iPhone.

Tiger: Hey! I just got your message. Was passed out till about five minutes ago! I'm sorry baby!

His apology instantly cleared part of the fire I had roaring inside of me. He probably came in late last night and had slept in, considering he didn't have a job that he needed to wake up for like I did. The fact that he didn't respond to my earlier text was making sense now. It made me feel a hundred times better knowing that I wasn't being stood up and that it wasn't same old James again.

I didn't want that James. I wanted the James that was going to do what he said he was going to do.

I texted him back.

Annabelle: it's fine. So now what?

I got another message from him quickly. My phone beeped seconds later.

Tiger: Now we go out, wait for me at the club, I'm coming now!

I stifled a happy smile as I read his message.

He was coming.

He was coming to get me!

I glanced down at my outfit. I wore a pair of flared blue jeans and a simple red t-shirt that went past my hips, along with my signature black slip on chucks. Loved them!

In no time, a horn honked startling me out of my daydream about how today's date was going to go. I twisted my neck and did my best to not smile like an overjoyed idiot at the sight of James driving up in his black SUV.

Play it cool, don't make it obvious that he controls your happiness! I ordered myself as the SUV drove to a stop right in front of me. The window rolled down and James smiled at me with his Ray Bans hiding his beautiful green eyes.

"Hi." He said softly as I came up to the door.

"Hi." I said back.

"My lips are all clean." James smirked.

*~*~*

James drove us to Mark Theatres, the same one we first saw a movie together.

My heart melted a little at the gesture.

"You know what this is?" He said, looking at the theatre through the windshield.

"The first theatre we saw a movie at together." I faced him and answered.

"Our first date." He answered instead and my heart nearly popped out of my chest.

OMG!

This was really happening.

"That was a date?" I asked, stifling my lovesick reaction to a small smile.

"It wasn't in the beginning but in the end it was." He reminded.

"So what's this now?" I sighed, leaning my head back against the seat.

"This is our second date." He gave me a sideways smile, reaching over for my hand, which I gladly gave him.

He squeezed my hand and pulled it into his lap. I stared at our joined hands for a few second before asking my next question. "Are we going to watch a movie?"

"Yep, if that's okay with you, I love movies." He said.

I sighed. "So do I." My heart rate tripled. We even liked the same things. How could this all be possible? Everything was slowly falling into place and it was heavenly.

He smiled at me and raised our joined hands, giving my hand a soft kiss that lingered. "Let's go baby." He said lowering our hands and letting mine go. As he got out of the car, I struggled with my smile, if I let it loose there's no telling how far it'd expand. I was so happy. I fumbled with my seat belt, trying to get it off so I could get this date started. I finally got the thing off and climbed out, the movie theatre in full view as I shut the door.

I was so happy.

I loved movies!

James walked around the car and grabbed my hand, pulling me next to him as we entered inside the theatre. He squeezed my hand as we waited in line. My heart palpitated each time his hand flexed around mine, making me feel things everywhere.

I don't think I've ever been this happy! I stared at him with stars in my eyes, not caring if I was being obvious anymore. He was here, with me and that's all that mattered.

*~*~*

His tongue danced against mine as my head leaned back from the force of his kiss. A bucket of popcorn, a Coke and a movie, three hours later, we were a block away from my house in his car, making out.

Things had gotten steamy, quickly.

"James!" I panted against his hungry lips. He reluctantly pulled back, breathing hard.

"Yeah!" He panted. "Is it okay?"

I nodded. "I just need to catch my breath."

He chuckled at that before leaning back down and kissing me softly on the lips. "You're cute, you know that."

"Thanks, I think." I murmured into his lips.

He kissed me uncontrollably, running his fingers through my hair, among other places. I was in seventh heaven as every inch of his touch exploded tingles all across my skin. I didn't want to let go.

But I had to. I was late.

I messaged mom earlier, telling her that my shift was going to run late today because someone had called in sick and that I'd be home around 5pm.

She fell for it, but not without another beautiful reminder to maintain my calories if I decided to eat anything.

I didn't do that either, all though James and I did share a medium bucket of popcorn and a Coke. He ate and drank most of it, which was fine by me.

"James." I murmured again in his kiss. "I've got to go."

He pulled back immediately. "Really?"

I nodded. "Yeah, my parents are expecting me."

James kissed me goodbye and I miserably, horribly, tragically left the comfort and heat of his touch, exiting the car and making my way depressingly back home.

Back to mom, back to life, back to calorie counting and constant interrogation. It'd been one hell of a weekend so far. Who would have thought things would have changed this drastically, all with a simple explanation that I'd wanted desperately to make sense.

*~*~*

After a surprisingly calm and peaceful dinner where I wasn't interrogated about what I had done today or what I'd eaten, I was now in the comforts of my room, staring up at my ceiling, imagining things.

Things like, James and me, today, holding hands, kissing. It was a sight worth a million dollars in my opinion.

My phone beeped.

I grinned joyously when I saw who it was.

It was James!

Tiger: Miss you...

My heart melted. Really!

I texted him back.

Annabelle: I miss you too....

My phone beeped almost immediately after sending the text.

Tiger: Baby...What are you doing tomorrow?

A smile so large broke across my face that my cheeks ached in pain. A pain I'd welcome every day from now if it involved beautiful, amazing, life altering texts like that.

Annabelle: Nothing...

Tiger: Good, because you're with me tomorrow.

I lunged backwards on to my bed, squealing as quietly as I could. This was really happening, James and I, we were getting closer and who knew what that would turn into.

*~*~*

Sunday September 9, 2012

The next day, after I'd lied to my parents about going to the library to study, I met James a block away from my house at the same park he picked me up at the first time. He drove us to his house, which made me excited and nervous. At his house we were going to be all alone. His dad and stepmother and his brother and sister had left town again, going to a cottage they owned. James opted to stay behind, telling them it was the first week of school and he'd wanted to stay home and study, to get a head start on everything.

Which was a crock of bull, James didn't seem like the type to stay home and study, especially when he could go to the lake instead.

This time, I didn't go up to his room. Instead, we sat in his media room down in the basement, which was an amazing rec room. There were theatre seats with cup holders and a large 72-inch television screen hanging on the wall.

We watched two different movies, laughing, joking, cuddling and kissing with one another.

I'd never had this much fun, especially since I was all alone with a guy. I'd never been this comfortable with a guy. This was turning out to be the best Sunday ever, in the history of Sundays.

This led me to my next thought.

What was going on here?

I glanced up at James who was concentrating on the third movie he just put on. One of my favorites. Gladiator.

"James?" I said.

"Yeah?" He turned, facing me. But I didn't really know how to ask what I wanted. I could feel myself growing more anxious as the seconds rolled by.

"Nothing." I said, returning to watch the movie. I could feel his fingers intertwine with mine, pulling them.

"Tell me." he ordered softly. I sighed and glanced back at him.

"I really like hanging out with you." I told him slowly.

"I really like hanging out with you too." He smiled.

I sighed in relief. "That's good."

"And that's not all, what is it really?" he asked, warily.

Taking a deep breath, I continued with the million dollar question. "Are you going to be watching movies with anybody else?"

He took a few seconds before answering. "Are you?"

"No." I gulped, shaking my head.

"Then I'm not either." he answered, firmly.

I grinned, overjoyed. "Alright then, it's settled."

"Yep." He smiled warmly. He was happy too!

"Good!" I continued.

"Great!" He grinned, matching my enthusiasm, making me laugh.

"I'm going to watch the movie now." I informed him, looking away, but he was having none of it. He pulled my arm, pulling me closer to his body.

"I don't think so." He stated amusedly, an inch from my mouth. "You can't just do that and leave me dry girl!"

"I left you dry?" I gushed.

He leaned closer, staring deep into my eyes, tucking a loose strand of hair over my ear. "Yep, and I'm about to claim what I deserve."

"And what's that?" I giggled a breath away from his lips.

"This!" He said loudly, then plastered his lips across mine, kissing me for the first time today. It wasn't a delicate kiss, it was a hungry one. He leaned his body forward, pushing against mine so that my body lay back against the couch as he layed over me.

"Anna?" he whispered, looking deep into my eyes. "Fireball?"

"Yeah." I responded softly, smoothing his wavy hair away from his eyes.

"You're cute you know that." he stated, and then rubbed his nose against mine.

"Yeah, I know." I smiled and he leaned down, kissing me sweetly, softly.

Yeah, best Sunday ever.
Chapter 6

ANNABELLE

Monday September 10, 2012

"Did you hear?"

A barrage of whispers echoed throughout the hallway Monday morning, making the back of my head tingle. I lowered my backpack to the ground, pretending to search through it as I waited to hear what news was traveling through the halls of school today that had everyone's interest.

Why is my heart beating so fast?

"Donna!" The hall echoed whisperingly.

Donna! My heart picked up in speed at the sound of her name. Her name was associated with someone else's, especially the past few days since school had begun. Everyone knew she was out on the hunt for James.

But he's with you now! I tried to convince myself to ease my rapidly beating heartbeats for a second.

Even after I'd reminded myself of the amazing weekend James and I had together, really getting to know one another, it still didn't help. The whispers continued and by the time the echoes reached me at full blast, I only heard two words. "Hooked up!"

With who? A small bead of sweat broke out on my forehead. The curiosity was killing me now. I'd hoped to God that it wasn't him, begging him to make it anybody but James.

I slammed my locker shut, the hallway behind me overcrowding by the second, class was going to start in ten minutes.

"She hooked up with who?"

"The new guy on the Baseball team?"

No!

"What's his name again, the really cute one right?"

"James, I think."

"When?"

"Last night, the Baseball team had a little party out on one of the fields at the park."

I couldn't think straight, my heart was beating so fast, it made noise that made my brain feel drunk.

Last night.....last night, I wasn't with him. He dropped me off at home around 6pm, saying that he had to go meet a friend. I didn't think anything of it. I wasn't going to be one of those clingy questioning types. But I didn't know there was another party. And this was the second party he'd failed to mention.

I could feel my body sway drunkenly. I felt nauseous and I wanted to throw up. Struggling to contain the bile from stretching out my throat, I crossed the hallway, zigzagging around people towards the washroom.

I entered inside and thank God it was empty. I entered the stall furthest from the entrance, kneeling in front of the toilet just in time as vomit escaped me uncontrollably.

Why! I cried to myself as I leaned back from the rim of the toilet, spitting out the last of it. I flushed the contents away and slumped down against the hard wall, panting and wiping away any leftover remnants of vomit around my lips with toilet paper. A flood of tears began flowing speedily down my face.

Why?

Why did he do me wrong again?

*~*~*

"Anna, where are you?" Jenna asked worriedly through the receiver. I didn't go to home room after my vomit explosion in the washroom. There was no way I could face him after finding out what he did. I waited till the bell rang and the hallway to clear before leaving the premises. I called mom, telling her that my stomach was hurting and that I was coming home. I'd never taken a sick day in my life and I'd never skipped school before. So when I told her I wasn't feeling good, she believed me and told me to come home right away.

Not that it was really a lie, I was feeling horrible. Wasn't heartbreak a form of sickness anyways, if not worse than an actual stomach bug?

I felt like I was dying.

I sighed quietly and answered her. "I'm not feeling good right now. I think I have a stomach bug."

Silence

"Really?" She asked, the disbelief in her voice obvious.

I'd already lied to her about first meeting James and having this weird thing with him. She didn't take it well. If she found out that James and I hung out this weekend after everything that'd happened between us, she was for sure going to blow.

But I didn't have a choice, even though I was scared to tell her. I couldn't lie to her again.

"No." I murmured, confessing

"I figured. It's him again, the douchebag?" She asked, surprisingly without a trace of bitterness considering I kept the truth from her again.

"I'm sorry." I said quietly, feeling ashamed.

"What am I going to do with you?" She said, amusedly. "You don't have to say what happened right now."

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks."

"But to be honest I kind of figured something involving him happened." She confessed.

"How?" I asked, confused.

"Because he keeps taking peeks at my table. Ohh and there he goes again, should I wave?"

My eyes widened and I jerked off my pillow. "No!"

"How about the finger, can I give him that?" She offered, almost jokingly.

I didn't think she was joking.

"I'll deal with it, don't worry." I muttered, lowering back on to the pillow.

"Oh wait a minute, the rumor right?" She hissed.

"You heard too?" I asked, slowly.

Just great! It hadn't even been a full school day and it was already top news. Who was I trying to kid, thinking he was going to be exclusively with me.

"Anna, everybody heard!"

Silence

A soft knock broke the silence. "Anna can I come in?" Mom called from behind my closed door.

"My mom's knocking on the door, can we talk later?"

"Call me later for sure. I need to know exactly what happened?" Jenna ordered.

"Alright."

I hung up and called to the door. "Yeah."

Mom entered in with a tray. "I brought you some soup."

"Thanks." I told her, sitting up on my bed.

She lowered the tray down in front of my folded legs, sitting on the other side. "It's just some chicken noodle, nothing crazy calorie wise."

As I leaned over and picked up the bowl, mom placed the back of her hand against my forehead, taking me by surprise. Where did this motherly compassion come from?

"You do feel a bit clammy, finish the bowl and rest." She ordered. I nodded and she left the room without another word.

*~*~*

My phone buzzed, waking me up from my nap. I brought it to my ear and answered the call without checking who it was.

"Hello?" I answered groggily.

"Where are you?" a familiar voice asked.

"Who's this?" I muttered, holding the phone as my head lay deeper in the pillow.

"James." He answered, impatiently.

My eyes flung open, shocked. "James!"

"Where are you?" He asked again.

I couldn't believe it, he'd actually called me. I think this is the first time we've talked on the phone. What should I say to him? Why did I even answer? I was too sleepy to check call display otherwise I probably would have ignored the call from him.

"I'm at home." I answered, nonchalantly.

"Are you sick?"

"Yes." I answered stoically.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Nope!" I snipped.

James snorted. "Bullshit!"

"I've got nothing to say to you!" I screeched lowly, tucking myself under my covers to mask the noise level of my growls.

"Great, what did I do now?" James exasperated.

"What did you do?" I repeated, confused and appalled that he had the nerve to pretend he didn't know what was going on, when he knew exactly what was going on.

He was the star...yet again.

"Yeah, because one minute I think we're cool and then next you're back to being pissed at me!" He snapped.

"You know what you did, stop acting innocent!" I snapped back.

"I didn't do anything!" James pleaded, as if I were accusing him of a crime he didn't commit. He did.

"You're a liar!" I informed him.

"Oh yeah, then what the hell did I lie about?" James counterattacked.

"You hooked up with Donna, Sunday night!" My screeches were getting louder, so I tucked myself underneath the pillow, which was also underneath the blanket.

"You actually believed that stupid rumor!" James said in disbelief.

"So you're denying it again?" I told him slowly.

"I'm stating a fact. I didn't hook up with her!"

I shook my head. "Oh really, well answer me this, did you go to a party Sunday night!"

He stalled for a few seconds before answering. "Yeah, but_"

"And was Donna there?" I asked.

"Yes, but_" He started, but I interrupted him. I heard what I needed to hear. And I'd had enough of his games.

"Don't ever talk to me again, you hear!" I ordered him sternly.

"Will you shut up and let me explain!" James snapped.

"Why should I?"

"You know what, fuck this, I don't need this!" James announced.

"That's fine by me, bye douchebag!" I growled.

I hung up the call, fuming, feeling slightly better after ripping him a new one. As I exhaled the angry breath from my system, my door knocked, hard.

"Annabelle!" Mom called worriedly. "Is everything okay? I heard yelling!"

"Everything's fine, I just had a nightmare!" I called at the door.

"Okay, are you okay?" Mom's voice went down a peg.

"I'm fine. I'm going to take another nap, calm my nerves." I announced.

"Okay sweetheart." She said and I heard her footsteps stalking away from my door.

Sweetheart?

*~*~*

My phone buzzed again, waking me up. It felt as if I had only slept five minutes. I checked the time before answering the call. It was ten after three, school was over.

I checked call display this time, just in case. I wasn't worried that James would call again, he seemed pretty angry during the demise of our 'not-even-a-relationship'.

It was Jenna.

I answered the call. "Jenna?"

"Bitch! Of course it's me." she yelled through. "You better be filled with answers, because I have questions, a lot of them!"

I sighed. Great! "Alright."

"I'm coming over." She declared firmly.

"No, don't, my parents are home, I don't want them listening in. I'll meet you somewhere."

"Fine, but be quick. I've been on edge since lunch!" she exclaimed.

*~*~*

We met at a park in-between our houses. Children were running around, screaming and laughing while playing tag. I remembered that used to be Jenna and me, back when things were simple and easy. And no boys to disease our brains and make our bodies betray us.

"So, spill!" Jenna ordered as we sat down on a park bench that was ten feet away from a water fountain.

Taking a breath, I explained. "He cornered me at the party, we talked, and I forgave him because he explained why he didn't tell me about the party last Friday. We hung out on Saturday and he took me to the movies. We made a pact that going to the movies was our thing now. I liked that a lot and it made forgiving him easier. Then on Sunday we hung out again, at his house."

Jenna's jaw dropped, but snapped it closed and took a noticeable gulp. "What did you do at his house?" she asked me slowly.

"Not what you're thinking! We watched movies in his basement and talked."

"I'm sure." Jenna rolled her eyes, the disbelief evident in her tone.

"Fine, we kissed a little, but that was it." I confessed.

"Really? No over the clothes action? How about under the clothes action? Come on now, out with it!" Jenna ordered, clearly amused by the twinkle in her eyes.

God, my friend is funny! I stifled a smile knowing that it would only grow into laughter.

Screw it! I smiled big and laughter spilled. It filled me with joy and peace, something I'd been lacking since opening my locker this morning and hearing the echoes of the scandal dance from person to person.

"There she is!" Jenna shouted, happily.

"I'm here." I sighed.

"So what happened next?" Jenna pressed.

"He dropped me off at home at 6pm, he had to go somewhere with his friend after." I explained.

"And then?"

I continued. "Then this morning as I was opening my locker I heard some stuff traveling through the hallway. Everyone was talking about it."

"Wait, that thing about Donna hooking up? That was him?" Jenna's eyes bulged, she looked deadly.

"I heard someone say it was the new guy on the Baseball team, the really cute one." I explained further.

"And there's only one new, really cute guy on the Baseball team!" Jenna scowled.

"James." I answered.

"But that's hearsay. You don't know if he actually did hook up with her." Jenna informed.

I looked at her incredulously. "Why wouldn't he?"

"Anna, do you hear yourself right now? How do you know if he did any of that stuff?" Jenna asked.

Shit, I didn't know if actually kissed her.

"Well I talked to him before coming here, he said he did go to that thing at the Baseball field, and she was there." I informed her, replaying my last conversation with James in my head. It gave me a bad taste in my mouth.

Jenna's eyes bulged. "Oh really!"

"Yep, and he lied about going to it. That's the second party he hasn't told me about." I explained, adding to his list of infractions.

"That's true!" Jenna agreed.

"So in my eyes, there was a reason he didn't tell me he was going to either of them, because he doesn't want to stand beside me. I bet he just wanted to keep me his little secret, to have fun with on his time off from his crew." I said bitterly.

Jenna shook her head, grabbing my shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Anna, don't say that."

"Why, its true isn't it!" I snapped, jerking my shoulder out of her grasp.

I didn't want to be touched, my entire body felt irritated.

"Stop thinking about yourself like that. He'd be stupid to think that you're not good enough to stand beside him in front of his idiot friends." Jenna said.

"I wish I could believe that, but the facts are the facts, and he's already proven himself twice as a liar." I sighed.

Jenna nodded. "I don't like him, every time you've been with him you've been too ashamed to come and tell me about it. I always have to find out afterwards when shit hits the fan!"

"Well trust me now, it's never going to happen again!" I vowed.

Silence

"Anna, why is that guy waving at us?" Jenna asked, worriedly.

I glanced up, squinting through the sunshine as the person coming towards us began to run.

Familiar frame, blonde hair, cute face, he wore a Baseball jersey and a Baseball cap.

Was that Dean?

"Hey Anna!" Dean called almost in reach. "Thought that was you."

"Hey Dean." I called back, shocked. "Um, this is my best friend Jenna."

"Hey Jenna, I'm Dean." He said, slowing down to a walk. He stretched out his hand to her.

"Nice to meet you." Jenna shook his hand. "You're from Peter's party right?"

"Yeah, but I kind of screwed up there with Anna in the end." Dean confessed breathily, taking a seat beside me on the bench.

What was going on? I felt my face beginning to heat up. I hoped I wasn't turning red!

"Why, what did you do to my friend?" Jenna accused, jokingly. She got up and began walking backwards down the field. "I'm going to get a drink of water. Dean you have until that time to fix this!"

Dean laughed. "Got it chief!"

I couldn't believe this was happening!

There was silence as we watched Jenna stalk across the field to the water fountain. She's an amazing friend. That's because there was a water fountain right beside us.

"Anna?" Dean murmured. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" I asked, looking at the grass.

"For the way I left things at the party." He explained softly.

I looked up from the grass, facing him. "Why did you just get up and leave like that? I thought we were having a good time?"

"We were, but then you kept calling me nice, and I drank a few too many cups of that punch and it was kicking in. You kept calling me nice and it was rubbing me the wrong way." Dean confessed, kicking at the grass.

"What's wrong with nice?" I asked, confused.

"Anna, a guy doesn't want hear he's being really 'nice' with the girl he likes." Dean laughed bitterly.

I froze.

"You like me?" I murmured in disbelief.

He didn't look up from the grass. "Couldn't you tell, I practically followed you to the couch."

I leaned closer. "Really?"

He looked up from the grass and our eyes met. "Yeah, I think you're funny, cute, amazing!" He exclaimed.

"That's so.....not nice!" I told him, stopping myself in the end.

Almost blew it again!

Dean laughed. "Hilarious!"

I heard Dean's name being called from down the field. I followed the sounds to a group of guys with Baseball bats and catchers mitts. They were waving, trying to get Dean's attention.

"I think that's for you." Jerking my chin at them.

"Yeah, came here with some friends to play some ball, the field here is nice." Dean explained, getting off the bench. He turned and faced down at me. "Anna, can we start over?"

But....what about James?

Screw James, he was busy lying his ass off and kissing Donna, doing things with her behind my back.

I nodded. "I'd like that."

"Can I put my number in your phone?" He asked, looking hopeful.

"Okay." I handed him my phone and he quickly tapped at the screen before handing it back to me.

"You'll be hearing from me!" He laughed, walking backwards back to his friends.

"You'd better!" I yelled back. He gave me one last smile before turning around and running back to his buddies.

Wow, I couldn't believe that just happened.

Goodbye James, hello Dean.

Again!

"Well?" Jenna called from a distance. I shot out two thumbs up and a huge smile broke across her face as she ran the rest of the way.

"Tell me exactly what happened!" She screeched excitedly, plopping breathlessly next to me.

In a matter of minutes, I had gone from miserable and scorned to happy and carefree. These boys had power and it was going to be up to me to learn how to not let them use it over me, whether it was good or bad.
Chapter 7

ANNABELLE

After telling Jenna every single detail about my conversation with Dean, we headed home. My phone beeped as I strolled home peacefully, a far cry from earlier.

My eyes bulged, shocked when I saw who it was that texted me.

James!

I couldn't believe it, the nerve of him thinking he could text me after what he had pulled. I should have blocked his number for life.

I was a glutton for punishment, because I read it anyways.

Tiger: Have you cooled off? We need to talk.

We need to talk......how about no!

The damage was done.

I tucked my phone back in my pocket as another text came through. Sighing, I took out my phone and checked who it was.

It was James, again.

Tiger: So now you aren't going to answer my texts. Real nice. We need to talk.

I ignored his plea with pleasure. But then after a few minutes, there were no more new messages. Right when I thought he wasn't going to text me anymore, my phone rang.

Damn!

He's calling me now.

I pressed ignore.

After a few seconds, he called again and I happily ignored that call too. Now incredibly nervous I picked up the pace. I was ten minutes away from my house and I needed to get inside as fast as possible. I didn't want to take the chance of him driving by and noticing me, thinking that it was the perfect time to have another beautiful conversation.

Screw that and screw him.

Speed walking turned into a jog. After a few minutes, I had to stop from being breathless. As I regained my breathing, my phone rang again.

Will he just quit it now! I stared bewilderedly at my phone's screen. Couldn't he take a hint? I wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

I was a block and half away from my house, in the home stretch when I noticed a black SUV racing down the street, coming towards me.

Oh no! I stalled, glued to the sidewalk as the car came closer and closer. Thankfully it drove past me. I breathed a sigh of relief.

My phone beeped. I got another message. It was probably from James again.

But it wasn't, surprisingly.

Dean: Hi, what are you doing now?

That was quick. I'd just left him half an hour ago.

I texted him back.

Annabelle: I'm walking home, u playing Baseball now?

Dean: Taking a break....thinking about you.

I felt my face heat up reading that. He was thinking about me.

I texted him back.

Annabelle: Really?

Really? I pondered again as another text beeped through.

Dean: Yeah, I can't stop thinking about your cute face.

A huge smile broke across my face.

Annabelle: Thanks.....

Dean: Anna, you want to go out tonight?

Tonight?

It was a school night.

I texted him back.

Annabelle: Okay, where, what time?

Dean: I'll pick you up at 6pm, is that good?

Annabelle: I'll text my address.

Dean: Can't wait.

Annabelle: Me too!

I rushed home. I had a date to get ready for, an official proper date.

But what would mom say? Could I tell her? Would she even let me go?

I had to lie and come up with a story. I would tell her I was going to Jenna's, that she had all my homework and notes from today. And I'd emphasize that I'd make sure to eat within my calories.

"Annabelle!" Mom called from the kitchen.

"I'm home!"

She walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands with a towel. "How do you feel?"

"Yeah, I just needed to walk, the exercise really helped."

Mom's eyes brightened happily as if it were the best news she'd heard in a while. "Really! I'm so happy. You see Anna, treat your body right and everything will be okay. No more stomachache right?"

"Yep, it's all gone!" I chirped.

"Great!" Mom chirped back.

"But um, can I go to Jenna's at 6pm? She has all my homework and notes from today." I explained.

Mom thought about it for a minute before replying. "What about dinner?"

"I'll eat at her house and I'll make sure it's within my calories." I promised.

Mom thought about it again for a few seconds before replying. She nodded. "Alright, but be home before ten, it's a school night."

"Yeah, for sure." I responded excitedly. I rushed up the stairs to my room, skipping steps along the way.

I checked the time on my phone and it was 4:30pm. I had to get ready!

My phone beeped. I got a new message.

I hoped it was Dean.

It wasn't, it was James.

Tiger: Fine, have it your way. I'm tired of these games. Last time you're going to be hearing from me!

I laughed out bitterly. He thought I was the one playing the games. I'd been upfront with him this entire time. I deleted the message and gave his spirit the finger.

Casting all thoughts of douchebag James out of my mind, I had other things to worry about, like what I was going to wear for my date tonight.

*~*~*

I have literally no clothes! I thought as I waited on the curb a block away from my house. I gave Dean my address, sort of.

And none of my pants were fitting me. The waist line all of a sudden was too loose, which was a great thing. I think I just passed the size ten mark.

Who would have thought this whole diet thing would work. Since summer began it didn't seem like I was really losing weight where it counted, meaning my waistline. Now all of a sudden it'd finally hit me, my body was changing.

Did I mention I went on the scale before leaving the house, yours truly was now 162 pounds.

I couldn't believe it. I had lost weight, even with the junk food binge last Friday. But now that I think about it, I barely ate anything this weekend and today I just had a bowl of soup.

But still a 162 pounds. Amazing!

A horn honked behind me, I turned and Dean drove to the curb in black Honda car.

I got in the car and faced him. "Nice car."

"Thanks, I saved up to buy it." He informed happily, and then quickly scanned me before meeting my eyes again. "You look nice."

Oh yeah my outfit. I scoured my closet, settling on a pair of flared black jeans and a dark purple tank top that I had hidden somewhere from two years ago. It hadn't fit for the last two years, and somehow today after sliding it on I didn't look like sausage.

Success!

"Thanks....umm...you look good too." I told him slowly, eyeing his fitted blue shirt which showcased his broad chest.

When I met his eyes again, Dean was staring at me seriously. Did I mention there was a little bit of cleavage poking out? Maybe that's why he looked all serious. I was out for the kill, there was going to be no more self-pitying going on anymore. I was a woman and I was going use what I had to make my point.

James, screw you! You totally missed out. I thought as I stared at Dean. "So, where are we going?"

"Do you like frozen yogurt?" He smiled.

Oh yeah, I knew I liked him for a reason!

*~*~*

Dean took us to a Yogurty's in a plaza twenty minutes from my house. We joked about the selection we chose for our own individual bowls. He picked the craziest combo's that I didn't think would work, but he laughed it off saying I didn't know what I was missing.

Then he did something really nice after our bowls were weighed. He paid for mine.

"Thanks." I gushed as he took the receipt from the cashier.

He turned back and smiled. "No problem."

We took our frozen yogurts to the top floor where there was a balcony. We chose a table close to the railing, overlooking the parking lot.

This is so nice! I thought as I took my first spoonful. I just had to make sure I didn't tell him that, just in case he wasn't over the whole being called 'Nice' thing.

"You've got really nice skin." Dean said all of a sudden, taking the spoon from his mouth. I gave him a shy smile.

"Thanks." I replied softly.

I should give him a compliment now. Anything but 'nice' though. I was going to remind myself of that a million times if I had to. I couldn't screw this up like last time at Peter's party. I needed to call him something sexy and manly.

But I couldn't call him a wild beast.

"You're cool." I said slowly, as if I didn't know if it made sense or not. My breathing stalled as I awaited a response from him.

"Duh!" He responded, amusedly. I sighed in relief that my compliment was accepted and laughed at his funny facial expression. I jerked slightly when I felt his fingers intertwining with my fingers. I wished my reaction was less panicky, but it had caught me off guard. I didn't say anything. I just stared at our fingers, or rather his fingers playing with mine.

OH GOD!

"Is that okay?" He asked quietly, unsure. "I can't help but want to touch you."

"It's okay." I replied softly, slightly nervous. My heart was pounding at a mile a second.

James who?

"James!" a screeching voice screamed out, making me jump.

What!

I peeked over the railing and gasped quietly. My jaw dropped a little when I noticed a large black SUV pulling to a stop in a parking spot. The windows were all the way down and I could see that the entire car was full of people. As the car doors opened, people spilled out. More noticeably from the passenger side a certain auburn haired vixen rolling her hips and poking her chest out as she got out.

"James!" She screamed out again, jogging up to him, pretending to try and slap him on the shoulder as he laughed and ducked.

"You almost killed us!" She squealed, pouting her lips, putting her hands to her hips, pumping her boobs out some more.

"Those guys go to your school right?" Dean asked out of nowhere. I faced him and nodded.

"Yeah." I answered, not wanting to look back out to the parking lot.

"Loud aren't they?" Dean joked, making a funny face that screamed 'They're annoying'.

"Yeah, they're a loud bunch. You should see them before class starts in the mornings, they shout at the top of their lungs." I explained, slumping into my seat and picking up my bowl.

Dean laughed. "They're attention seekers."

"You said it." I mumbled, putting a spoonful of frozen yogurt in my mouth.

"What about him?" Dean asked, eying me seriously, all joking gone.

Did he notice me staring at James?

"Who?" I pretended like I didn't know who he was talking about, but I knew who he meant.

"The driver, what's his name?" Dean asked. "I recognize him from Peter's party."

I reluctantly glanced back out to the parking lot and eyed the loud crowd painfully. Taking a nervous breath, I faced Dean again. "Why would you think I would know his name?"

"Because I saw you talk to him after we slow danced." Dean confessed, looking away for a few seconds.

Damn...Cat's out of the bag.

"His name is James. We used to work together at the country club, Royal Heights." I explained, nonchalantly.

Dean looked relieved all of a sudden. "So you guys just worked together?"

"Yeah, why? Did you think that there was something between us?" I asked, trying not to gulp.

Just act normal. Deny, deny, deny.

"Yeah, I saw him grab your arm for a second, but you pulled back." Dean said, swirling his spoon inside his bowl.

"Yeah, he was just saying hi, but I think he was a little drunk." I explained, fake laughing, trying to make it sound like not a big deal.

"I want frozen yogurt!" A girl's voice pleaded loudly from the bottom. My heartbeat picked up in speed. They could not walk in here, not that I was ashamed of being with Dean, but I didn't want a confrontation with James.

Things would get awkward, fast.

"Let's get pizza first!" One of the boys said.

All the girls quickly agreed, and my heart rate returned back to normal. But that meant I had a good ten minutes before they decided to come back to Yogurty's. The balcony was a great place to hang out and they'd probably come up here to enjoy their frozen yogurt.

"Dean, you want to get out of here?" I asked, praying he'd say yes.

"What? We're not done." He said, looking confused and eying our half eaten bowls.

"We can go to a park and eat it there." I suggested, hopeful he would agree. "Please."

He smiled. "Alright, just because you said please."

We picked up our bowls and made our way out the building. Dean had his car parked across from James, and the pizza store was in direct line of sight. I ducked my head down.

"Is everything okay?" Dean asked from behind me.

"Yeah, my neck hurts a little." I explained, stretching my neck out to prove it.

When we arrived at his car and stood in front of our respective doors, he smiled looking over the hood of his car at me. "Maybe I can give it a massage?"

My face felt like a thermometer about to burst, I knew it was turning red. I could feel its heat pouring into my eyes now. "Okay." I answered quietly, shyly.

For a moment, I forgot that James and his boys, plus the girls were in the pizza shop. If he turned to check his car, he probably could see me now. Dean stared at me for another second before breaking the connection and getting into the driver's side.

Before getting in the car, I took a chance and checked the pizza shop once more. I jerked slightly in surprise when I saw someone leaning behind the window, glaring at me with a huge scowl.

James!

I could feel the anger pouring from him. But I couldn't care less. He was the one who screwed up. I flicked my hair to the side and got into the car quickly. Dean smiled as he started the car and I rolled the window down, hopefully showing James what he missed out on.

*~*~*

Dean took me to a local park. We sat on the bench and finished our frozen yogurt. He took our empty bowls and threw them in the trash bin. Then he sat right beside me again, this time putting his arm over my shoulder.

"Thanks for coming out with me." He murmured loud enough for me to hear. He was sitting so close I could feel his breath on my face.

"You're welcome." I breathed sharply as my heart raced from his touch.

"Anna?" Dean murmured, close to my ear.

"Yeah." I gulped.

"You smell good." He confessed.

I laughed. "Thank you?"

"No really, you smell like coconut and honey." Dean blurted out nervously.

"I put some lotion on before coming out." I informed him, grinning. He was so cute.

He didn't say anything, but his grip around my shoulders got tighter. "Dean?"

"Yeah." He breathed.

I faced him. "It's getting dark."

He blinked. "You want to go home?"

"I don't know, what do you want to do?" I asked him, curling my hands into my sweater jacket. It held my phone, wallet and keys.

"We could go for a drive?" He suggested, smiling. "Actually there's this thing at a Baseball field near here. I told my buddies I wouldn't be coming, but if you're up for it, we could go and I can introduce you to some of my friends?"

You see, how come he wasn't ashamed to be seen with me. He even wanted to introduce me to his buddies.

James do you hear this, learn!

I nodded happily. "Okay, let's go."
Chapter 8

ANNABELLE

By the time we made it to the field, it was completely dark. I checked the time on my cell, it was just after 7 p.m. I sighed in relief once I realized I had plenty of time. I didn't have to be home till 10ish. The lights of the Baseball field shined brightly, showcasing the entire park that settled around it.

"Are you going to play Baseball again?" I asked Dean as he parked his car. He turned to me and smiled.

"Is that okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'll watch."

"Thanks. This game was kind of set up a few days ago, but I canceled." He confessed, pulling the key out of the ignition.

"To go out with me?" I asked, slowly.

"Yeah, it was worth it though. But now I get the best of both worlds." Dean grinned.

I smiled back.

We got out of the car and Dean quickly joined my side, grabbing my hand. The feeling of his skin on mine made a fire stir in my belly. All over again.

Dean led me to a group of guys hanging out on the field. He introduced me to them without hesitation.

"Guys, this is Annabelle." Dean introduced. Their faces were overjoyed upon seeing him, thinking he wasn't going to come.

"Hey!" They all said doing a little half wave.

"Hi." I said back, shyly.

"You go to Royal Heights high?" One of them asked, turning his Baseball cap backwards over his messy dark brown hair.

"Yeah, you all go to Pleasant View high right?" I asked all of them.

"Yep." They all said unison.

I wished them a good game and then Dean led me to the small sitting area. "Are you going to be okay here? I mean is this okay?"

I nodded and smiled to him. "It's okay, I don't mind sitting and watching."

Dean smiled as he reached over and squeezed my hand. "You're cool you know that Anna?"

"Duh!" I joked for a second before turning serious when Dean slowly lifted my hand to his lips, kissing it as he stared deeply into my eyes.

Umm, wow!

"Dean." I murmured, lost in his eyes. He lowered my hand and I sat as we stared in silence.

Without saying anything else, he turned and ran back to the group of guys, joining their huddle.

*~*~*

After their opponents showed up, I watched Dean play ball for about an hour. It seemed more like a practice, but I was having a good time. Every so often Dean would turn and wave at me, giving me a smile.

Everything was going great, that is until I felt the desperate urge to pee. I tried to hold it for as long as I could.

My bladder couldn't take it anymore. Dean looked up as I got up. I pointed to the bathroom and he got it right away. I entered the public bathroom, it was filled with people and I had to wait in line to use the toilet. By the time I finished with the bathroom it had been fifteen minutes. I was about to walk out when I heard angry yells coming from outside. I peeked out the door, I could see the Baseball field and there were more people there than from before.

"Get off!" I heard a guy scream. "We're still playing here!"

The group was huddled too close for me to see who it was. I saw a guy jerking wildly, it was Dean's friend Joe, and Dean was holding him back. Who was it they were fighting against? I stayed just behind the door, starting to get freaked out by the sudden situation.

"Get off! We're still playing here!" A familiar voice screeched out, clearly making fun of Joe. The two guys were now nose to nose and were both the same height. The crowd parted and I saw a few girls hanging about. One of them looked really familiar as her auburn hair flew in the wind.

Donna?

Donna and her crew of girls were standing behind the group of guys. Both sides were trying to separate their friends from fighting. The crowd spread apart showcasing Joe's opponent. Equally as tall, with a puffed out chest and a trouble making persona, I couldn't believe it.

James!

James was antagonizing Joe. Dean pulled his friend back, whispering something in his ear. They began walking off the field when James and his boys decided it was time to take things up a notch.

"What a bunch of pussy's!" James yelled, laughing. His boys joined in. Joe turned around, angry.

"What did you call me bitch face!" He roared.

"Joe, stop!" Dean yelled.

"Yeah Joe, stop!" James mimicked squeakily. Dean stood frozen, obviously shocked by James' behavior. Joe used Dean's shocked state to his advantage and charged towards James, who looked like he was ready to hit someone too.

Donna and her crew squealed like idiots behind him. "Ugh-mah-God! James No!!!!"

That stupid biotch! God, could they go a minute without acting like fools? That would be the shock of a lifetime.

Joe pushed James, barely making him move. James was strong. Dean and his boys quickly joined in as did James'. They pushed and swung at each other, random people hanging around the park were making a run for it.

Oh my God! I couldn't believe this was happening. I gazed at the horror in front of me. There was no way I could go out to that. I was staying in the safe bathroom.

There was so much yelling and squealing. The girls were yelling. "Stop!"

The sound of police sirens rang loudly and that did it, the fight quickly broke up. Everyone scattered, running away before the cops showed up and arrested them. James and his boys, plus Donna and her crew ran to their cars. Dean and his boys did the same. They were probably all scared that the police were going to stop and arrest them, that they didn't think about anything else but to get out of there as quickly as possible. All the cars pulled out of the parking lot and minutes later a police car showed up. They wandered around, searching the area for any trouble.

My heart rate finally lowered. But then I realized something, I'd been left alone here. Dean forgot all about me.

*~*~*

I began the long walk home, alone. Which I didn't mind, it was only 8:45pm. I had time before I needed to be home. Some walking would do me good, especially after the horror that had just happened. I'd never witnessed a fight in my life, especially one of that magnitude. It was horrible. There was blood and bruising everywhere.

My phone beeped as I walked the long trek home. I checked and saw that I just got a message from Dean.

Dean: OMG Anna I'm so sorry! Where are you?

I texted him back.

Annabelle: I'm okay, are you okay?

He quickly texted me back.

Dean: I'm okay, just a few bruises, that douchebag James guy started it!

Annabelle: He's a hothead!

Dean: Where are you?

What should I tell him?

I didn't feel like being around anyone right now.

So I lied.

Annabelle: Oh I'm home already, I called my friend and she came and picked me up, I just got home.

Dean: I'm so sorry. I'm glad you got home safe.

Annabelle: No worries, anyways ttyl.

Dean: Okay...sorry again. I'll text you later. K?

Annabelle: K. bye.

Dean: Cool, bye.

I tucked my phone back in my jacket pocket, but it just beeped again. I thought my conversation with Dean was over.

When I glanced at the screen again, my jaw dropped. It wasn't Dean, it was James. What did this asshole want now? He already did enough. He ruined my date!

Tiger: Where were you while we kicked the shit out of those pussy's you were hanging out with?

What?

How did he know I was there?

The temptation to text back won.

Annabelle: What are you talking about?

Tiger: I saw you!

Annabelle: And?

Tiger: You choose that pussy over me!

Annabelle: What do you want?

Tiger: I want to know why?

Annabelle: I don't have to explain myself to you, go and hang out with Donna!

Tiger: We went out as a group, I wasn't out with just her!

Annabelle: Don't care!

Tiger: You do!

Annabelle: Stop bothering me!

Tiger: Where were you?

Annabelle: Why do you care, you're not my boyfriend!

Tiger: Stop it!

Annabelle: Stop what?

Tiger: Calm down!

Annabelle: Leave me alone, you proved who you are!

Tiger: I'm innocent you keep accusing me of things I didn't do.

Annabelle: You're a trouble maker and an asshole.

Tiger: Ahhh did I ruin your date....so sorry......not!

Annabelle: That's okay, I'm sure there's going to be more where that came from. In fact I think he's texting me right now!

Tiger: I'm going to kick the shit out of that kid!

Annabelle: No you're not!

Tiger: The next time I see him, it's going to be worse than tonight!

Annabelle: You will not!

Tiger: I will!

Annabelle: Why are you trying to ruin my life!

Tiger: I'm not, it's you who's doing all of this!

Annabelle: What am I doing! It's you, you're the liar!

Tiger: What did I lie about?

Annabelle: You lied about going to parties!

Tiger: You wouldn't have had fun at the one on Sunday and it wasn't a party, it was a get together! Friday's party I wasn't going to go, it was a last minute thing.

Annabelle: I'm sure, that's why Donna was there Sunday, when you guys hooked up!

Tiger: We didn't hook up!

Annabelle: Kissed, whatever!

Tiger: The only time we kissed was at Peter's party.

Annabelle: Don't care!

Tiger: You care....that's why you're angry.

Annabelle: From here on out I'm ignoring you!

Tiger: You can't, I'm going to bother you until you crack!

Annabelle: We'll see, you're going to fail!

Tiger: You looked cute tonight......real cute.

Annabelle: Stop it!

Tiger: It killed me seeing you with him. I wanted to run out of the restaurant and beat him right there.

Annabelle: Why? You're not my boyfriend, you're with Donna now.

Tiger: I don't care about Donna, I care about you!

Oh God, here we go again. I could feel my insides melting.

Annabelle: Then why didn't you tell me the truth?

Tiger: You didn't give me the chance, you already came up with your own conclusions, what was I supposed to do.

Annabelle: You said you had enough, you didn't need this!

Tiger: I was mad. I didn't mean it.

I didn't text him back, but he texted me back again.

Tiger: I saw your date run with his boys to their cars you weren't there, where are you?

Annabelle: I was hiding in the bathroom, the fight freaked me out, I waited till you guys left to leave.

Tiger: Where are you now? I'll pick you up.

Annabelle: I want to walk, need time to think.

Tiger: Tell me where you are now!

Annabelle: I'm walking home. No more texting, bye!

I put my phone back into my pocket and I was going to ignore him if he messaged me again. I knew where I was, and it was going to take me a long time to get home. Thankfully I had a bus app on my iPhone and there was a bus on route a few streets down that went by my neighborhood. I just had to get off and walk for about ten minutes. I checked my wallet for change, breathing a sigh of relief when I found enough for a fare. I didn't feel like finding a bank at this time. As I walked down the street towards the bus stop ten minutes later, I could hear a car speeding down the street.

What the hell? I turned facing the speeding car only to gasp when I saw what kind of car it was. It was a big black SUV.

James?

The SUV slowed down and rolled along the curb, coming to a stop in front of me, on the driver's side with the window rolled down. James got out of the car and stood in front of me. The side of his face was scratched and a little red.

"What are you doing here?" I asked lifelessly. He grabbed my hand abruptly and because I had no energy to fight him off, I let him lead me to the passenger side door. But before opening the door he pushed me against the closed door and grabbed my face, pulling me to him. His lips came crashing down as my back plastered against the door. My arms circled his waist as his lips hungrily kissed mine. After a few seconds, he pulled back, panting. He didn't say anything. He pulled me out the way and opened the door for me, leading me inside.

I didn't know why I let him.

Honest.

He drove me home in silence, stopping a few houses down. The street was pitch black.

"Fireball." He murmured and I faced him.

"Yeah." I muttered.

"Today was not a good day." He said sadly.

"You're telling me." I muttered back.

He reached over and grabbed my hand, pulling it to his lap. His eyes met mine. "I didn't hookup with her. Donna made that rumor up."

"Really?" I breathed.

"Really." James answered, softly.

All of a sudden, James grabbed me by the waist pulling me closer to him. I circled my arms around his neck. He started kissing me softly, and then his kisses quickly turned hungry, as if he thirsted for me. He yanked my sweater jacket off and flung it to the back of his car.

"You look fucking amazing." He panted in between kisses, caressing my tank top from top to bottom.

"Really?" I breathed, completely taken aback by his passion.

"Yeah!" James panted, pulling back a few inches. "You wore this for me or for him?"

"I thought you didn't want me!" I sighed, both my hands massaging the back of his neck.

"That's not possible, baby, you belong to me." James exclaimed, resting his forehead against mine. After a few seconds of catching our breaths, the kissing resumed, turning wilder with more touching. James' hands traveled upwards, resting around my breasts.

"Oh God!" I panted as his fingers grazed against my skin.

"Can I?" He asked breathily.

I thought about it for a second then nodded. I needed to feel him. One of his hands quickly traveled down my tank top into my bra cup, cupping my breast.

It felt.... it felt....it felt amazing as he squeezed and played with my nipple. He pulled back, panting hard. "Let's go to the back."

He went first and sat quickly in the back seat. He held out his arms for me. I squeezed through the gap between the front seats and he pulled me in, putting me on his lap, kissing me like crazy and touching me everywhere.

His other hand lowered and went up from the bottom of my shirt, caressing my stomach. If this were to happen a few weeks ago, I would have stopped him. In fact I did stop him, but my stomach was a little flatter and right now I didn't give a shit. It was so dark outside, no one could see, and the street was empty. We were invisible.

"Someone could see." I panted worriedly anyways.

James shook his head. "No one can see baby."

"Okay." I got up and straddled him.

He grabbed the ends of my tank top, but stalled as he asked. "Is this okay?"

I swiped his hands out of the way, taking the damn shirt off myself, making him laugh. "There's my girl!" He hollered.

I quickly pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor of his car. Our lips collided again as our bodies grinded against one another.

How was this happening?

We were going at lightning speed!

But it felt too good to stop!

James' hands glided up my back, stopping at my bra strap. He stopped kissing me and looked up. "Can I?"

Should I? I mean he already felt me up, what's the difference if the bra came off?

It was kind of fast....

Yeah, but I was really into this, so screw it. I nodded. "Okay." I breathed.

James quickly unsnapped my bra, gliding it off and taking a long look at my breasts. "Wow."

"Baby, you're fucking gorgeous." he whispered, pulling me closer. He lifted me up and moved down the seat. He grabbed me and pulled me down to my back, then hovered over me.

"I'm going to make you feel so good." he promised, caressing the side of my face, peering deeply into my eyes as he pushed his hard chest into mine.

"You better." I chuckled quietly, biting my lip. He lifted himself up and pressed his lips against my jawline. Soon his lips were gliding along my neckline as his tongue licked every inch of skin it crossed. He traveled down around my breast, picking it up with his hand and devouring the nipple with his hot tongue, swimming circles around it. He began sucking it and an amazing feeling shot up in my lower area. James' hand glided down and rested on top of my jeans.

I was so happy that my stomach was lying flat. I didn't even need to suck it in. He stopped sucking and looked up at me from beneath my breast. "Can I?"

I nodded again.

He unzipped my pants and glided his hand down there. "Only touching baby, nothing else."

"That's good. I don't particularly feel like losing my virginity in a car." I sighed, my eyes rolling back the more he touched.

James laughed against my stomach. "You're funny."

"Thanks, I know." I chuckled, reaching down and playing with his hair. As I massaged his scalp, he moaned.

"Feels so good...." He groaned as his lips found their way back to my breasts, sucking around the nipple.

"Good." I chuckled, relaxed out of my mind.

His hand reached inside my underwear and my head tilted back in shock at the rush of ecstasy that came with it.

"Oh God..." I groaned into the car seat. His fingers started pulling and pushing and twirling, digging, doing everything they were supposed to be doing in that moment.

It was freaking amazing. All of a sudden his fingers began moving faster and my heartbeats went along with it, raging against my ribs. I felt like I was about to burst into flames.

"James..." I murmured, not knowing what was about to happen. Well I did know what was going to happen, I was going to have an orgasm. I'd had a few before, but this was something else, a little more intense to say the least.

"Baby, come for me." James urged, bringing his lips around my nipple again, sucking it hard.

I groaned loudly, pulling his hair hard. His fingers dug in a little more and all of a sudden I was overcome with a startling feeling that literally took my breath away.

"Oh my God..." I moaned loudly as everything went white. I slowly came down from the best orgasm of my life. It was so good. I slowly let go of his hair.

"Normally I don't like it when girls grab my hair, but in your case, please do it again." James chuckled against my stomach, kissing it lightly.

"I'm sorry." I panted, trying to calm my crazy heartbeats.

"Don't be, that was amazing." He gets up, bringing me up with him. "I'm happy you enjoyed it."

"I did." I breathed, not bothering to cover myself up. I didn't feel shy around him, not with what we just did. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

I reached over grabbing his jean button, unbuttoning it as he watched. "Fireball, baby, we don't have to do it all tonight."

"It's only fair." I murmured, reaching inside his boxers and squeezing his large manhood, which made his head roll back. "Fuck!" He hissed.

I pulled at him as his hand caressed my breast. It wasn't long before he stopped my hand. "Where's my shirt?"

I grabbed his shirt off the floor and gave it to him. He held it over his man part, tugging the last bit for himself, but not before grabbing me and pulling me forward. "Baby I need your skin on me now."

I pushed myself up and plastered my body against him, kissing him with everything I had, as his other hand massaged my breast again. Soon his head pulled away from my kiss and he moaned, obviously releasing himself.

"Jesus!" He hissed through his teeth, still tugging 'it' a few more times.

After finishing, his body slumped into the seat. I glided my fingers into his sweaty hair and smoothed it back. I glanced around the car and all the windows were slightly steamed.

I couldn't believe I just did that!

And I couldn't believe I loved it!

James gave me a lazy smile and I started chuckling. I noticed on the side of his lip was a tiny scratch. I caressed the scratch. "This was from the fight today?"

"Yeah, that's the best they could do." James said cockily, getting up and taking the dirty shirt off of his manly parts, but not before wiping any leftover bits away. He scrunched it up into a little ball and threw it into the back. I quickly put my bra and tank top back on. James grabbed a spare shirt from a bag on the ground and pulled it on. I fixed my hair, all of a sudden too shy to look at him in the face.

"Hey." He said, softly, grabbing my chin. "Look at me."

He delicately pulled my chin forward and softly kissed me on the lips. "Fireball?"

"Yeah." I responded softly.

"You belong to me now. You understand?" James told me.

"Only if you belong to me?" I gulped.

"Baby, I'm only yours." James stated, and then pulled me in for another epic kiss.
Chapter 9

ANNABELLE

Tuesday September 11, 2012

So this was what it felt like.

Exhilaration, Freedom, Happiness....mind blowing ecstasy...which still had me shivering.

Yet at the same time, I felt as if I were under a microscope. I glanced up at mom as I took in the last spoonful of my healthy cereal.

"You look happy Annabelle!" Mom rejoiced, taking a sip of her coffee.

How observant, but let's hope not too observant. There were things mom did not need to know, including what had happened last night.

I was not a good girl last night and I also felt like mom was going to figure out that young little Annabelle wasn't so little anymore. She became a woman, well almost a woman last night.

I couldn't help but smile wide as I responded to her. "I just feel so much better today than yesterday morning."

"That's great darling, I'm so happy." Mom concluded then took another sip of coffee. "It must have been that walk you went on after taking a nap. You see exercise can cure anything."

Yes, but what kind of exercise? I stifled the knowing smile that urged to appear, but I held it back with all my might, the memories that came with it were meant to be recollected in private and/or with a certain special someone.

James! I sighed to myself, remembering everything about his body last night.

The best night of my life.

*~*~*

"Did you hear?"

Whispers hovered around me as soon as I crossed the hallway towards my locker. I held an ear out, curious what the latest rumor was.

"Donna and James,"

What? My eyes widened at the news, horrified.

"Yeah, I heard they were together last night, they totally hooked up,"

In an instant my heart rate slowed, the news was inaccurate. I was with James last night and we in fact hooked up.

I stifled the satisfying smile on route to my locker as the stampede of whispers traveled from person to person.

If only they all knew the truth. Which would be horrible! I wanted no one to know what happened between James and me last night.

Suddenly that spur of the moment decision to go top less last night didn't seem like such a great idea anymore, even if it resulted in the most passionate experience of my life.

It felt so good...

Now I would have to see him for the first time since our moment of passion. I was feeling shy all of a sudden. I didn't know how I was going to look him in the eye. What if he ignored me today and pretended like it never happened, a spur of the moment decision for him that he regretted as soon as he woke up. The after effects of the fight resulted in a brain meltdown for him, making him loose and easily satisfied by just above average looks.

Me?

God I hoped not. I wasn't the girl I was at the beginning of summer, but I was nowhere near Donna's figure and looks. A vast difference, yet he chose me.

Or supposedly did.

The thought still lingered in the back of my mind, worrying me at every second that I was no more than a matter of convenience. As if I were a package of noodles in his empty cupboard and he'd happily eat it to suppress his hunger. But would he choose those same noodles if there was a juicy steak waiting on his table as well?

If I was being honest with myself, I think he'd choose the steak every time. But last night he had the chance to eat the steak, but instead he opted out for the plain noodles.

Me.

He came back for me, he spent time with me, told me things, made me feel things. He wasn't with Donna. The only pleasure she had feeling his skin was that surprise kiss she forced on him at Peter's party.

Still, he did kiss her back. That counted for something and I was sure that was what Donna was trying to convince herself of since Peter's party. Those rumors had to come from somewhere, maybe they were from her? If the whole school believed they were together, then maybe they would actually get together and become boyfriend and girlfriend.

I grabbed some stuff from my locker and headed to the bathroom. My bladder was a mess. Just as I entered the last stall furthest from the entrance, the door popped open, carrying in a bundle of hyper screeches. I'd say very Valley girl.

"Oh my God!"

"Like, oh my God!"

"Donna!"

Donna! I should have known it was her and her hot girl crew.

"Donna, did you do it?"

"I'm so not telling. I don't kiss and tell, it's so private!" Donna drawled.

Like....whatever! I mimicked their voices in my head, holding my tongue, struggling not to burst out laughing.

"Tell, like now, we need to know." One of them screeched, sounding desperate for the information. These girls were crazy, why did they need to know what Donna did or didn't do. Especially those kinds of things...they were supposed to be private, not shared with everyone.

"Fine, you dragged it out of me, I'll confess!" Donna sighed loudly. "Last night, James came by!"

"No way!" They all screeched at the same time. "When did it happen?"

He was with me last night, how was that true? It was clearly false!

"After the fight last night, he dropped us off at Latisha's house" Donna explained. "He came by my house after, around ten-ish!"

What? I tried to remember the time after he'd dropped me off at my house last night, it was just before ten. Mom told me to be home before ten.

I couldn't breathe. It felt like there was no oxygen in the room anymore.

"What did you guys do last night?" Her girls screeched some more.

"We went for a little drive, and then parked for a little bit..."

"And?" They all screeched again.

"Ladies, I can't say, well okay, all I can say is, the windows got steamy."

"No way!"

"Way." Donna confirmed, firmly.

Wait, she could be lying. I needed to investigate her claims before I completely lost it, for the millionth time.

*~*~*

After the hot girl group left the bathroom, howling with enthusiasm at Donna's apparent steamy night out with James, I escaped the washroom and headed straight to English. Yesterday after hearing the rumors, I was a mess. But now, after mistakenly accusing James yesterday of hooking up with Donna on Sunday night, I wasn't going to do that without finding out for myself if it was a hundred percent true.

I hoped it wasn't true.

I walked into a half filled classroom, heading straight to Mr. Doors, quickly explaining to him that I had horrible stomach pains before class yesterday and left to go home. Satisfied with my answer, Mr. Doors explained what he lectured on the day before. I didn't miss much since it was only the second day of school. I headed to the back row, there were two seats left, my original first day seat, right beside the window.

The bell rang, students rushed inside, but no James.

Where was he?

*~*~*

Class went on, James never showed up.

Was he avoiding me?

Did he switch classes?

The possibilities invaded every single thought in my head, making paying attention to Mr. Doors' lecture on Prose very difficult.

I didn't hear a word he said. I hoped there wasn't going to be a test on this subject anytime soon. Even though at this moment, I felt tragically poetic.

Oh James, boy with Baseballs, you came, then you left, you came again, left again, came once more, and now I'm left to wonder where you are now?

You see, I suck at poetry and I suck at my love life too!

My next two classes went by like a blurry fog. I had no idea what happened, who said what, what paper I stuffed inside my binder afterwords. Nothing.

Lunch was next and usually that was the best time of the day. But with James' absence on my mind, it was hard to get excited about food.

Especially unmonitored food.

I headed straight for the line, taking my spot. I scoured the filling cafeteria as students rushed inside, the Baseball team was absent as was Donna and her hot girl crew.

Where were they?

My turn came up and I entered the cafeteria's restaurant. I was spoiled for choice, from hamburgers to hot dogs, and chili fries. Maybe last week I would have been tempted at the junk food, but for the first time and since last night when I realized that my jeans were becoming loose, I was going to keep on the path of the diet.

I chose a regular salad and a bottle of water. I prayed it would hold me till I got home and ravaged a small yogurt as my mid afternoon snack, according to mom's little nutrition rule book handed by that beloved nutritionist all those months ago. I paid for my food and exited. I entered back into a room more chaotic then before, more students had arrived. The line was longer, as I scanned each person for a second, my eyes immediately stopped on a large group, laughing loudly.

Like the freaking Kings and Queens of the cafeteria. And nestled in-between Donna and one of his boys, was James, looking happy and carefree as ever.

Where was he this morning?

Before he had the chance to spot me stalking him with my eyes, I looked away immediately locating Jenna in the far corner with her fellow swim team members. Jenna usually didn't buy lunch from the cafeteria since her mother packed one for her every day. It was a far cry from the type of food mom wanted to give me for lunch, it would have all been calorie monitored.

Jenna got a wide assortment of flavorful food her mother rustled up each morning. Jenna's grandmother was from Italy, passing on delicious recipes onto her mother. So her mom always packed her left over pasta's they'd have the night before, hence why mom was so nervous nowadays whenever I'd mention going there. Jenna's house was not calorie minded, but they were skinny anyways.

Whatever! I mentally rolled my eyes at the thought, making my way to the table.

"Hey." I said to everyone as I sat down. Jenna didn't meet my eyes, instead was looking just over my shoulder.

"Why is wonder boy staring at you?" Jenna whispered.

My eyes widened. "What? He's staring?" I gulped.

She nodded. "Why is he staring at you? I thought you two were finished? Is he still angry?"

I had to tell her. But would she be okay with it?

Jenna checked her phone as I dug into my salad, stalling.

"Oh Anna, it seems somebody was lying about last Sunday!" Jenna said, holding out her phone.

"What are you talking about?" My heart began pounding fast.

"I'm on Latisha's Facebook. She put up pictures from last Sunday night, you know their little get together." She held out her phone to me. I took it out of her hands and brought it up to my face, staring at the picture. Latisha took a picture of her girls and the guys enjoying that night, but my heart slowed down to a deadly pace as I saw the shocking image. Donna was sitting on James' lap and his arms were around her waist. His chin was resting on her shoulder as she slumped into him. Both were smiling at the camera.

So this was how it really was. Right after he'd dropped me off last Sunday, supposedly together, and he goes and has Miss Queen B sitting on his lap taking pictures together.

I was a fool.

Yes this didn't translate into hooking up, but the picture spoke a million things, and it spelled anything but platonic. They looked awfully comfortable cuddling.

That was totally cuddling. And if you were in a relationship with someone, you weren't supposed to cuddle with anyone else.

Unless I didn't know anything about having a relationship and that was normal.

I didn't think so.

I inhaled a deep breath from my nostrils and handed back Jenna her phone. She blinked as she stared at me worriedly.

"Are you okay?" She whispered. I shrugged, unable to speak.

"Anna?" Jenna whispered, tapping my leg softly underneath the table. "Tell me?"

"Tell you what? I've been made a fool, again?" I muttered, staring at her.

"Again?" Jenna asked, confused. Then her eyes widened, understanding. "You let him in again? What about Dean, you went on a date with him last night."

"Afterwords." I answered.

"Afterwords." Jenna repeated, understanding. "Well, that's shocking."

I didn't answer her.

I peeked over my shoulder, the line was finished. From the corner of my eye I noticed the Baseball team and Donna plus her hot girl crew sitting at their table. I could hear their laughs. It grated my skin. I couldn't look at him anymore without scowling, so I turned back towards Jenna. I took out my phone. This needed to be done in private

So I texted him.

Annabelle: We need to talk, now!

"Did you just text him?" Jenna whispered. I nodded, taking a drink of my water.

"Is he checking his phone?" I asked her. "Don't be obvious about it."

Jenna nodded and nonchalantly looked over my shoulder. "No - wait a minute - yes, he's checking it now."

"What did you text him?" She asked me, still looking over my shoulder.

"That we needed to talk." I told her.

She dropped her gaze back to me. "Right now?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I need to get to the bottom of things. Right now."

"Be strong and please this time, don't let him back in, not if he's playing with you." Jenna pleaded.

I couldn't look her in the eyes. "I know, I'm sorry." My phone beeped, startling me.

"Well it's about time!" Jenna exclaimed.

I checked my phone and was relieved that I got a message from him.

Tiger: Now?

"Well?" Jenna pressed, clearly impatient.

"He didn't answer me." I told her as I texted him back.

Annabelle: Yes, now!

I sent the text and got up.

"Where are you going?" Jenna asked, wide eyed.

"Hallway. If I'm not back in ten minutes, find me in the bathroom beside our lockers okay?" I told her.

She nodded and I exited the cafeteria, hoping he'd follow me. The hallway was quiet, classes were still going on. I waited for him beside the doors. After a minute, he came trudging through the doors, looking annoyed.

How can he be annoyed at me? What the hell did I do to him? I thought, offended at his behavior. He was the one who kept ruining things. Not me.

"What is it?" He asked, stopping in front of me, glancing around the hallway. Not the same guy as last night.

How was he angry at me?

Asshole!

"I just checked Facebook." I told him. "I saw a picture."

"And?" He shrugged, looking bored.

"And, it was of you and Donna."

"So." He shrugged again.

"So, it was right after you dropped me off on Sunday." I informed him, desperate to control my growing emotions.

"I'm not getting what you're talking about." He looked at me confused, as if I were annoying him.

"Stop it, she was sitting on your lap, you said nothing happened." I snapped, quietly.

"Look, I don't feel like doing this right now." he groaned, looking away and adjusting his backwards Baseball cap.

"Doing this?" I asked, slowly. He had no problem doing what we did last night. "You had no problem doing this last night."

He just shrugged again, looking anywhere but my eyes.

"Fine," I gulped, feeling my eyes grow wet. "Go back inside, back to your friends. Forget this ever happened, and forget about me too."

"You're so dramatic!" James exclaimed. "What's wrong with you, every second you have a problem."

"Well don't worry about it anymore, you don't have to. Go on, go back to your friends, go back to Donna, she's probably waiting for you, bet she needs a seat." I informed him, and then turned the corner speed walking away. I headed straight for the bathroom near my locker, going for my stall at the end. Once the stall door slammed shut, I held my face as tears exploded down.

He's such an asshole!
Chapter 10

ANNABELLE

My phone beeped. I checked it and saw that James texted me.

Tiger: Where did you go?

I texted him back.

Annabelle: Why do you care?

Tiger: Tell me!

Annabelle: The bathroom beside my locker.

Tiger: I'm coming there, come out now!

I exited the stall and quickly washed my face. I freed my hair of its ponytail and scanned my outfit. I had worn a black short-sleeved t-shirt that went past my hips and my black skinny jeans.

I thought I looked okay.

I exited the bathroom and saw him rushing down the hall towards me. He grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hallway, silently. We exited the building and entered the parking lot. He took me to his car and locked us inside.

"Why do you keep doing this?" he asked, quietly.

"She was sitting on your lap." I stared at the ground, taking deep breaths. My hair fell in front of my face, shielding me from him.

"She caught me off guard." James explained, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, his finger trailing alongside my ear down to my cheek, caressing it soothingly. It shot electricity into every nerve in my body.

My heart began beating faster, my breathing becoming hoarse. Why could he do this to me? His touch alone completely obliterated everything inside of me that had anything to do with my will power. I had no will power when it came to him.

I was clearly crazy about him and he probably knew it.

"Really?" I murmured, hopeful, pulling my cheek down, smoothing it voluntarily against his hand.

He leaned in tucking more loose strands behind my ear with his other hand. Not leaving my space, he clasped the back of my neck and pulled me closer to him, staring deep into my eyes.

"Really. You're the only one I want sitting on my lap." he confessed smoothly, his voice dripping with desire as a flaming sheen transformed his gentle expression. "Damn Fireball, can't you see?"

"See what?" I asked as my face rested in both his hands, gazing at him with a matching fire. I could feel it in my bones. He inched closer and closer, until he was a breath away from my lips.

"That I'm crazy about you." he declared softly with a grin. His lips collided on top of mine, kissing me softly, sweetly, slowly. His hands trailed to the back of my head, pulling my head further into him, making the kiss more forceful.

Not that I was complaining. I grabbed his wrists pulling myself closer, trying to melt myself any way I could, even with the space in between our seats separating us making 'this' a little hard to do, but still accomplishable. James' kiss turned more rapid, moving more fiercely. His tongue jerked my lips open, entering inside my mouth, making me feel things in places that were already doing miles a second.

His tongue in my mouth was about to disarm me violently, shattering me into pieces. And we've only just begun.

I wanted more!

James pulled back, breathing hard. He glanced over my shoulder at the packed parking lot his car was in, then back at me with a new determination. "You want to go to the back seat?"

I inhaled deep inside my nostrils and nodded.

I wanted this.

Badly!

James squeezed through the seats into the back, sitting down. I followed quickly behind. He grabbed my waist and pulled me down so that I was straddling him.

Again!

"Fireball." James groaned against my lips as we kissed hungrily. "Baby."

The term of endearment only fueled my desire, making every worry inside me vanish. I melted against him covering every inch of his body, pushing my breasts into his hard muscled chest, which made him groan louder.

"These babies are going to kill me." he murmured into my lips, his hands trailing down to the bottom of my shirt, lifting it up as his fingers caressed my skin.

"James." I murmured deliriously as his fingers massaged into my skin on their way towards my bra. His hand snuck underneath the wire and cupped my breasts, squeezing them delicately. I plunged deeper into his lips, pressing my body against his, grinding hard.

He pulled back, bewilderment in his eyes as he breathed hard. "Fireball, be careful."

I giggled. "Why?"

"Because, if you keep doing that, I won't last baby." He chuckled, practically panting. He lowered his hands from inside my shirt and grabbed my neck pulling me forward, back to his beautiful lips.

*~*~*

"Where were you?" Jenna hissed once the bell rang at the end of History class. My face automatically felt heated as the memories of the moment I had with James in his car resurfaced. Lunch was about to end and I reluctantly peeled myself away from James' heated embrace, with our clothing sticking to our skin.

It was very hot in his car and it wasn't just the Florida heat. I didn't know how I was going to tell her what I did. She wouldn't take it very well. But I couldn't lie to her again, she was my best friend.

"Talking with James." I told her, getting up with my backpack.

Her eyes bulged, still sitting. "What!"

"We went to his car." I confessed.

Her jaw dropped, clasping her desk tightly. "Really?"

"Yeah." I murmured timidly, a little embarrassed.

"What did you guys do?" she whispered getting up from her seat, hurling her backpack onto her shoulder. She grabbed my arm and pushed me out the door.

"Talked." I answered.

"And?" she pressed.

"Other stuff." I answered, barely audible.

"What exactly do you mean?" she asked in astonishment.

"Stuff." I shrugged. I didn't know how to explain it to her without cringing. It was fun doing it, but having to explain it wasn't as fun.

"You didn't do that did you?" Jenna squeezed my arm, shaking her head.

My eyes widened, facing her as she dragged me down the hallway. "No!"

Almost though....

She let out a loud breath, indicating 'That was a close one!'

"Thank God, I don't know how I'd deal with you if you lost your virginity in a car, it is so cliché!"

*~*~*

Later that night after a nutritious yet surprisingly delicious dinner of gluten free pasta and no salt added pasta sauce (Can I get a whoop-whoop, spaghetti for dinner!) I lay on my bed relaxing against the soft R&B jam of a local radio station.

My phone alerted me loudly, breaking the trance of the soothing music that was casted over me for the last thirty minutes.

James! I smiled, glancing at my phone overjoyed at the text he just sent. I haven't spoken to him since our little moment in his car at lunch. Which was for the best, we needed time to cool off.

I opened his message eagerly.

Tiger: Baby, you know it's only you.....

My smile grew as I answered him in my head. I know now...

*~*~*

The next day I woke up to my phone beeping. I reached over groggily with one eye still closed and brought my phone to my face.

James had just texted me.

This early? I thought confused, checking the time. It was barely seven in the morning.

Tiger: Baby, you awake?

I texted him back.

Annabelle: Yeah, just woke up.

Tiger: Let me give you a ride to school, we can talk a little.

Talk? Why? I thought we'd hashed everything out yesterday?

Annabelle: Okay, I'll be ready in fifteen minutes.

Tiger: Cool.

I threw my covers off and jumped out of bed, heading straight for the bathroom. I quickly fixed my hair, washed my face and applied some mascara. I rushed back inside my room, as a result slamming my door a little too hard on my way in. It slammed against the wall roughly, making a huge noise.

"Annabelle?" Mom called from my open doorway. I was in the middle of picking a shirt from my closet.

"Yeah?" I called out, grabbing a dark blue shirt that went past my hips. I threw it on my bed where my black flared jeans were resting.

"Is everything okay, why are you in such a rush?" Mom asked walking into my room, uninvited.

"Um, I'm meeting Jenna at school, we're going to share notes for History. I forgot I made plans with her yesterday. I'm going to be a little late." I explained. I was becoming a good liar.

"Oh, okay. Well if you're going to be late meeting her, your father or I can give you a ride." Mom offered, surprisingly.

Really? I stared at her confused. This was the first ride in a long while that I'd been offered by them. Until now they've wanted me to walk or ride my bike, getting as much exercise as possible.

"That's okay, I'm only a little bit late and it counts as my morning exercise." I explained as mom's face brightened, happily.

"I am so proud of you Anna banana!" Mom rejoiced, clapping her hands excitedly. "You're taking responsibility and all your hard work is paying off."

"Yeah, I'm responsible now." I told her. She needed to leave so I could get ready. James was going to be here soon. "Well, I have to change now, so was there anything else you needed?"

"Actually yes, I've been meaning to talk to you about logging your weight each week. I spoke on the phone with your nutritionist yesterday and she said that from now one we should just log your weight once a month." Mom explained.

"So no more weekly weigh ins?" I asked.

"Yes no more, from now one we'll do it the first week of every month." Mom continued.

"So we won't weigh me until October?" I asked.

Mom sighed sadly. "Yes, that's right."

"Cool, alright then."

"Alright, I'll let you get ready." Mom walked out of my room, but quickly turned around and came back inside. "You'll be buying lunch again today?"

"Yes." I told her.

"Please, make good choices." she pleaded.

"Don't worry." I assured her.

"I know, I know. I can trust you now." Mom said, and then left my room.

Trust me now?

What does that mean?

She didn't trust me before?

Shaking it off, I changed into my jeans and t-shirt. My phone beeped as I reached for my backpack.

James, he's here!

I rushed out, running down the stairs, sliding into my black converse.

"Bye!" I yelled before slamming the door shut. I turned towards the curb and smiled. James' SUV was running beside the curb in front of my neighbor's house. I ran to the SUV.

"Hey!" I opened the passenger side door and got in. James had his black Ray Bans on with his signature backwards Miami Marlins Baseball cap, a red shirt and black jeans on.

He looked drool worthy and he belonged to me!

That's right, this gorgeous man right here, he was my man, my boyfriend.

My boyfriend! I gushed inside as I smiled warmly at him. But he didn't smile back, instead he pouted.

What's his problem?

And why was this so familiar?

All of a sudden a rush of memories flooded in and I remembered the first time he picked me up and the little problem we had in the beginning.

"What's your problem?" I grinned at him.

He tilted his head to the side, his lips tightening playfully. "My problem, how about you guess."

"Let me guess then." I pretended to think, and then leaned over the gap between our seats stopping an inch away from his face. "Your hello kiss?'

"That's right!" James shouted playfully then leaned forward and kissed me on the lips firmly. He grabbed the sides of my face and pulled me closer. He kissed me hungrily, passionately and I didn't even have breakfast. My stomach didn't care that it was void of food. It was too busy controlling the wild butterflies swirling about.

James pulled back, staring deep into my eyes. "Good morning baby."

*~*~*

We sat inside his car fifteen minutes later in the parking lot at school. He grabbed my hand, pulling it into his lap. "Baby?"

I squeezed his hand and smiled timidly. I hoped everything was okay. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine." James said. "I just wanted to talk to you about how we should act at school."

"What do you mean?" I gulped.

"Well," James stalled. "We hang out with two different groups."

"I know." I murmured, looking away for a few seconds before meeting his beautiful green eyes again. They were so gentle.

"Maybe we should keep it like that." James suggested all of a sudden.

My eyes widened and I felt my heart start beating faster. "What – what do you mean? You don't want to talk to me at school?"

"No – no that's not what I mean, we can still talk to each other, but I think that our relationship should be a quiet one." James explained, caressing my hand with his fingers.

"Why?" I asked, blinking uncontrollably. I jerked my hand back. "Are you ashamed to be seen with me?"

"No!" James shouted, appalled. "No, baby, no!"

"Then why don't you want to show this," I pointed to us. "To everyone at school, shouldn't your friends know that you have a girlfriend?"

"You gotta understand something. The guys I roll with, they're not into having girlfriends or being tied down. If they find out I have a girlfriend, they'll call me a pussy." James explained.

Well I didn't want him to get antagonized over me, but still, the situation still bothered me.

"What are we going to do then?" I asked him sadly, practically pouting.

"Don't, don't be sad." James caressed the side of my face, tilting it with his fingers so that I was looking up. "It's going to be fine."

"How?" I whimpered.

"At school, you'll hang out with your friends and I'll hang out with mine. Then after school we can hang out." James explained then leaned in and pecked me quickly on the lips. "It'll be better like that."

"Really?" I asked, unsure.

"Yeah, I think it's for the best." James said.

"What about other girls?" I asked apprehensively, remembering Donna and her hot girl crew. They were always around him.

"What about other girls?"

"Well they'll all think you're single." I told him worriedly.

"I'll turn them down if that happens." James assured.

"Really?"

"Right away." James said.

"What about Donna?" I gulped.

"Donna?" James repeated, slightly irritated. He lifted his hat up and fixed his hair, smoothing it back. "Fireball, I told you already, if I wanted her I could have had her a hundred times by now. I'm here with you, doesn't that say something about who I really want."

I had to trust him. It's the only way if I wanted this to work. I smiled at him and nodded. "Okay."

James' face rushed with relief. He grabbed my face again and pulled me in for a deep long kiss. "Baby, you know how much you make me happy?" He panted after pulling back.

"How much?" I giggled.

"Well, how about I show you again." He pulled my face back towards him, and this time didn't let me go for a very long time.

*~*~*

"What do you mean he's your boyfriend now?" Jenna's jaw dropped at lunch after I told her the conversation I had with James this morning.

After making out in his car, we broke apart fifteen minutes before the final bell rang. I left his car first and he followed after going to catch up with his boys in the hallway.

The Kings of the hallway! I laughed inwardly at the thought. And even though Donna was there with her hot girl crew hanging off of every word of the Kings, it didn't bother me like before.

I knew that he was mine and if he had wanted her, he could have already had her. He had chosen not to, because he was into me.

Surprisingly, but nevertheless it still made me happy. He chose me!

I cleared my throat before answering her. "I mean he's my boyfriend now."

"How?" Jenna asked, clearly horrified.

"We talked and came to an agreement." I explained.

Jenna rolled her eyes. "And that is?"

"That we needed to keep our relationship private." I informed her.

Jenna faced me and looked at me like I was crazy. "Private?"

"Yeah private." I answered her, like 'duh'.

She tucked her face into hands, groaning into them. "Anna!"

"What now?" I sighed, distressed. I was tired of having to explain my relationship to her.

"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life!" She snapped after dropping her hands.

"Well tough!" I snapped, throwing my salad cover off. I stabbed my fork inside, spearing multiple pieces of lettuce.

"Okay – okay calm down, don't take your anger out on the poor lettuce, they didn't do anything to you, unlike someone else." Jenna said.

I swallowed the lettuce and eyed her. "Jenna, you have to get over your hatred for James, he's going to be a part of my life."

"Then why the fuck haven't I officially been introduced to him yet?" Jenna snapped. "What are you scared of? It's not like I'm going to do anything to the kid!"

She stifled a smile, turning her head. Liar!

"That smile you're trying to hide right now just answered your question. Not only would you scare him away, he'd probably change schools too." I told her.

"And that's a problem why?" Jenna asked, perplexed.

I slid my salad bowl to the side. "Jenna, I'm asking you as a friend, please, just don't give me a hard time."

Jenna didn't say anything as she took her sandwich out of the Ziploc bag and took a bite. She eyed me as she swallowed her sandwich. "Whatever. But if he hurts you, he's shark bait!"

Yes success!

I grinned, relieved out of my mind. "Thank you."

"Ugh, what are best friends for." Jenna groaned.

Now let's see how long her compliance will last...

Jenna got busy eating the rest of her sandwich and talking with her swim team mates. I slid my salad back in front of me and finished it quickly. Surprisingly my stomach wasn't growling for hunger pains anymore. The salad had filled me up. I gazed across the room finding James' table. His friends and Donna's were mixed together again. My eyes found him quickly at the end of their table, not surprisingly Donna was sitting next him, practically rubbing shoulders.

But that didn't bother me. Somehow his words from this morning eased me. He wasn't interested in her and the girl was obviously crazy about him.

Who wouldn't be? At that moment James looked up meeting my eyes. I gave him a small smile and he gazed at me quickly with warmth in his eyes. The warmth in his eyes filled me with butterflies, but all too quickly he dropped his gaze and returned his focus back to the conversation at his table.

In an instant I felt empty, but quickly dissuaded it. This was how things had to be. Well for now at least.
Chapter 11

ANNABELLE

I hadn't heard from Dean since that night, which was good, I didn't have to turn him down if he asked me out again.

I had a boyfriend now, officially.

It was the first week of October now. James and I outside of school had spent a lot of time hanging out, kissing and laughing. Having a good time like I assumed every person in a new relationship would be. During school he hung out with his friends and I hung out with mine. We practically ignored each other except for the odd glance where his green eyes would secretly meet my brown ones. It was enough to send shivers down my spine. Jenna thought our relationship was weird and disrespectful, but I didn't.

She didn't get it. I didn't want the attention that came with being next to him. So with him not interacting with me at school, turned into more of a favor than an insult.

Jenna still didn't see it like that and as the days went by she became more and more upset at how my 'boyfriend' was treating me. Her compliance was short lived. But that didn't shock me, I knew she'd crack sooner or later, that was just her nature when something annoyed her. She couldn't keep it in for too long before erupting.

"I saw him flirting with Donna!" Jenna slammed her locker shut and scowled at me, practically blowing fire out of her nose.

She's pissed!

I shook my head as we made our way towards the cafeteria. "Donna would flirt with the phonebook if it got her the same attention as she would with James."

"Exactly!" Jenna screeched.

"It's nothing, they were just talking. You know they are in the same group, they're friends." I informed her, shaking my head. She was being annoying again.

Jenna rolled her eyes and snorted. "Friends? Yeah okay!"

"Stop!" I hissed. She was acting like a lunatic.

"I don't like this!" Jenna announced, loudly.

"You don't have to like this, I do!" I yelled back just as loudly. We both looked the other way, deadly steam exuding from the both us on our way to the cafeteria.

We entered the cafeteria quietly, she broke away heading towards the restaurant. "I'm hungry. I'm going to buy a cheeseburger."

Whatever! I watched her walk away as I headed towards a table with some of her swim team mates. I wasn't hungry anymore, something ruined my appetite. It's not like I'd never thought about James and me at school and how we never talked. The last time I spoke with him on school property was in the parking lot a few weeks ago, when we were in his car hashing things out.

I blushed at the memory. Since then we'd had many moments similar but it never stretched beyond making each other feel good.

Really good.

My body shivered as the memories excited my nerves. My line of sight as I sat down trailed across the cafeteria, stopping when it reached James' table. The Baseball crew and Donna's hot chick crew sat together, mixed. When I found James, my blood boiled in an instant when I saw Donna and her skanky arm draped over his shoulder tightly. Her other hand was holding out her iPhone. She pouted her lips a few inches away from his cheek, pretending to kiss him.

Thank God it was just pretend.

James laughed at his boys, who I could hear from all the way across the cafeteria jeering him on as Donna snapped her photos.

"Yeah boy!" They laughed loudly. Donna put down the phone and dropped her pout, but her arm didn't move from his shoulders.

Move your arm!

Why wasn't she dropping her arm around his shoulder? She already took the damn picture. There was no need for her arm to be there anymore!

My heart began beating faster as a sickening nervous feeling enveloped deep inside my stomach. I breathed in and out slowly, hoping it would help calm me down.

But it didn't. Her arm didn't move, it stayed wrapped around his shoulder.

What was going on.....?

How come all of a sudden she was comfortable enough to put her arm around him? It wasn't like this for the past few weeks. Yeah they laughed and joked around, but she was touching him now.

Touching someone who she had not right to be touching. That's because he belonged to me.

Or so I thought....

Oh God, I was going back to that girl, the needy annoying scared girl! I didn't want to be her, always worrying, stressing that things we're going to go wrong.

"Well that's just great!" Jenna hissed from behind me, sliding on to the bench beside me. "Don't they look all nice and chummy, like a real boyfriend and girlfriend."

I didn't answer her. I was stuck in a trance. Her arm wasn't moving. Her long auburn hair styled in waves brushed his face as she jerked it around all of a sudden and he quickly slides it away from his face, tucking the strands behind her ear.

I was going to faint.

Maybe...

"Well case proved." Jenna said bitterly. "You can't be that blind Annabelle!"

"Shut up." I murmured.

"No!" Jenna snapped.

"Stop talking to me." I pleaded, forcing myself to look away from them, anywhere but at them. I stared at the floor between my legs. "Just don't."

"I can't believe you trusted that fool." Jenna whispered, upset obvious in her voice. "You have to break it off with him."

"Jenna, I'm begging you please!" I pleaded.

"No Anna, I'm begging you please!" Jenna pleaded, clearly exasperated.

"I need to get out of here." I got off the bench, grabbing my backpack off the ground. "I'm going for a walk."

"I'm coming with you." Jenna announced.

"No, I need to be alone now." I told her sternly as she got off the bench, stopping a few inches away.

"Yeah alone, until that douchebag decides he wants to actually talk to you at school and then it's going to be make-out city. What'll you think will happen this time Anna, a little action in parking lot again!" Jenna hissed loud enough so only I could hear.

I wasn't that girl.

I just stared at her for a few seconds before turning away and walking out the cafeteria. She didn't follow me. The silence of the hallway was welcoming and very much appreciated. I needed no noise right now. I entered a hallway knowing it was barely used during lunch time. I slid down a random locker, plopping my backpack beside me and resting my head on my knees as I took deep breaths trying to filter out all the negativity inside of me.

Her arm was still around his shoulder, even as I left the cafeteria.

What happened?

I thought we were on the same path. We went out last Sunday. We went to the movies, we talked, kissed and touched. It was Wednesday and since that Sunday we'd been texting at night. He sent me sweet texts, telling me how much he missed me, wanting to be with me in those moments so that he could hold me, kiss me, feel me.

Then today, he's tucking Donna's strands behind her ears delicately, intimately, as if he were her boyfriend. Wasn't it a boyfriend's duty to fix their girlfriends hair when it became loose? His Baseball cap fell a lot and I fixed his hair many times, especially after losing ourselves into one another inside his car.

I didn't get it.

What was I doing wrong? I hadn't been nagging him. I didn't even bother him about not talking to me at school anymore. I had accepted it.

Then why?

A few stubborn tears escaped my shields, trickling down my cheeks. Thank God I was alone. But just to be on the safe side, I should go to my stall. The privacy of the bathroom during lunch was a better place to be right now.

I wiped the tears away and headed towards the bathroom.

*~*~*

Later that night, I was on my bed listening to depressing love music on my iPod.

How things changed so fast, it was amazing. Last week today, I was so happy. Content with how things were going between us, and now I was depressed. He hadn't even texted me yet and it was almost ten o clock at night.

I guess he's busy.

Busy with another girl or with his friends, more important people than me. Who the hell was I, a big freaking nobody who wasn't important, not to James at least.

My phone buzzed beside me, alerting me. I jumped in surprise, the vibrations catching me off guard.

James!

Well surprise, surprise, look who decided to communicate! I opened the text.

Tiger: Hey! Can you sneak out?

I couldn't believe this guy. I'd been an emotional wreck since lunchtime and I was only hearing from him now?

Annabelle: No.

My phone beeped again a few seconds later.

Tiger: Why not?

Annabelle: Because I'm busy.

Tiger: What's your problem now!

My problem?

What an asshole!

My problem!

Annabelle: I don't have a problem. I'm just not feeling this anymore!

Tiger: What?

Annabelle: read the text again.

Tiger: What's wrong with you?

Annabelle: Nothing, something's wrong with you, that's why you were hugging Donna!

Tiger: Get over it, we weren't doing anything!

Annabelle: Don't care, you hurt me today!

Tiger: What?

Annabelle: You don't care about me!

Tiger: Can you stop acting like a lunatic!

Annabelle: And can you stop acting like you're single!

Tiger: How many times do I have to prove to you that it's only you!

Annabelle: When you stop touching other girls right in front of me, that's when!

Tiger: You know what Forget this! You're driving me crazy

Annabelle: That's cool, that's just great. Have a nice life asshole!

He didn't text me back, which was fine by me.

I didn't want talk to him, ever!

He disrespected me in front of my best friend today, proving her right, yet again. I didn't need that kind of a person in my life anymore.

No more!

A few minutes later, tears trickled down my face. I curled my head into my hands and cried quietly to myself. It wasn't supposed to be like this. He was supposed to prove to me that everything was going to be okay with us, even though we didn't flaunt our relationship in front of everyone.

But he didn't do that today and now I think we've just broken up because of it.

Damn it.
Chapter 12

ANNABELLE

The next day, I sat on my bed in my pajamas staring out my window watching the sunrise. I woke up early today, barely getting any sleep last night, not with the way James and I had left things last night.

I didn't know what we were at the moment.

Were we together or was last night the final nail in our relationship coffin? That thought plagued my thoughts for hours last night.

I wished he'd just been honest with me from the beginning.

Did he want me or did he want Donna? Because he could have her, all he'd have to do was leave me alone and I'd be on my merry way moving on to cuter and better things. It's not like this girl here was doing so badly in attracting cute members of the opposite sex.

Dean anyone?

James ruined any chance of that relationship. He's so selfish. He could have at least let me go. I could have had a decent, trustworthy boyfriend by now. And I had let him ruin things again.

Again!

Inhaling a deep breath of clarity, a bitter laugh escaped my mouth.

Back to square one, didn't I learn anything from my past experiences with him?

Shaking my head at myself, I bounced off my bed and headed towards my closet. Today was a new day. A day where the past didn't matter, where old Annabelle, the one who would never let a boy, especially a cute one continuously disrespect her.

At least I hoped that's how the old Annabelle would have acted. James was my first 'boyfriend', but that shouldn't have mattered. I had my integrity to keep intact.

I snapped my sliding closet doors open. They collided with a bang to my left, showcasing a closet filled with clothing that for the last week had become too loose on me.

I needed an outfit, one that would show James that I, Annabelle Simms, could care less.

Loud knocking interrupted my quest for the perfect revenge outfit.

"Annabelle?" Mom called from behind the door.

"Yes?" I called back.

"I'm coming in." Mom announced.

"Okay." I said warily.

Mom slowly opened the door. She was still wearing her pajamas, a basic aqua blue shirt and short set. She entered my room with a shopping bag in hand.

"What's that?" I stared at the bag, transfixed. She placed the bag on my bed, showing me the front, which said 'Marshalls' in big letters.

"You bought something from Marshalls?" I asked her as she stood grinning, practically jumping with excitement.

She wiped the grin off her face, looking apprehensive now. "Now, don't be mad, I know I've been giving you a hard time about your weight and dieting these last few months. I know, psycho mom."

That's true!

I tilted my head to the side, crossing my arms. "Okay."

"Okay, well I bought you brand new clothes, a few sizes smaller." Mom explained timidly.

"When?" I looked at the bag confused.

Mom looked away, seeming guilty. "At the beginning of summer." She answered slowly.

"What!" My jaw dropped. "You bought me clothes before I started losing any weight. How would you know how much weight I'd lose and what size I'd be?"

"Well I kind of hoped and guessed you'd be a certain weight by now. I mean I've been pushing you a lot." Mom explained, wide eyed.

"You have!" I snipped, rolling my eyes. I eyed the bag, wishing I'd felt more repulsed by her pre-weight loss shopping expedition.

What if I hadn't lost that much weight by now?

What would she have done with all those clothes?

Return them?

Embarrassed that her failure daughter couldn't squeeze her fat ass into them?

I should be repulsed by every single piece of clothing in that bag. I really should. But I had no clothes that fit me right now, considering practically everything in my closet was extra-large, and I wasn't an extra-large anymore.

"What size did you buy?" I asked her slowly.

She clapped her hands repeatedly, obviously excited that I'd given dress up time the go ahead. "I'm so happy! I bought you so many beautiful things. I know you're just going to love them!"

Mom emptied the bag, clothing spilled across my unmade bed. She quickly sorted everything into piles. She bought me a few pretty tops, in medium. A few jeans in a size (gulp) six and four pairs of shorts (gulp) also in a size six. Last out of the bag was a tight looking violet sundress that went to my knees and a fitted jean jacket.

"Mom, I don't know if I'm going to fit into these." I pointed the explosion of clothing.

"I know you have your worries, I did too at the start of the school year, but this last month I don't know, you've switched into high gear and the weight loss is much more obvious!" Mom explained hyper-like.

Gee, thanks!

I stared at the clothing, not knowing what I should do. If I attempted to try them on and failed to squeeze into them, it would be horrible.

"Well I kind of was hoping for a favor from you." Mom asked, sounding apprehensive again.

I sighed, feeling a little harassed. "And what would that be?" I asked warily.

"Please – please, can I watch you go on the scale – pretty please! I want to be there for the momentous occasion!" Mom pleaded with her hands clasped flatly.

That request would have angered and annoyed me a month ago. Now I didn't really care anymore.

"Whatever." I mumbled, making my way out the bedroom and into the bathroom where my scale was.

"Thank you – thank you – thank you!" Mom screeched, running behind me.

I tapped the scale and it read zero. I got on and the numbers went up and down a few times before settling on the magic number.

150 lbs?

"Oh my God!" Mom screamed, grabbing me and pulling me into a tight hug. "I'm so happy."

Was she crying?

"What's all the screaming about?" Dad yelled from their bedroom.

"Mom! What happened?" Charles and Katherine called from the hallway.

"Nothing – nothing! Sorry, sorry, everyone go back to sleep." Mom sniffed, releasing me from her tight cocoon.

Ugh, finally, I could breathe again.

Mom wiped her tears away and faced me. "How? You lost more weight these last two months than the entire summer?"

I knew why. I'd been barely eating this past month. It's kind of hard to worry about food when your mind was always busy elsewhere. Like James and whether or not he really wanted to be with me.

"I've just been eating salads at school and I don't drink as much pop. And I walk everywhere, so with that, it all came together finally and my body lost the weight." I explained nonchalantly.

"Do you know what that means?" Mom chirped.

"What?" I walked out of the bathroom and into my room.

Mom followed behind me, stopping beside my bed. "That means, you're passed a size eight, you're a size six! The clothes will fit you!"

Yay?

*~*~*

For the first time, in a very long time, I wore shorts. They were a plum color that stopped a few inches before my knees, practically mid-thigh. They belonged to mom's pre-weight loss shopping. They were a size six and just like she said, they'd fit.

And surprisingly they weren't snug around the waist either. I paired it with a simple black short sleeved t-shirt that went past my hips, covering part of the shorts. Mom wanted me to wear one of the new tops she bought, but I still had my own style and since my black t-shirts still looked cool on me, I decided to pair the shorts with them.

Something old and something new.

I liked short sleeved t-shirts that went past my hips. It's my thing. Whether mom approved or not was not my problem. I may have lost the weight but I had not lost my own style and taste.

"Anna!" Jenna screeched by our usual spot at the bottom of the stairs outside school. She quickly eyed my bare legs. "You're wearing shorts!"

"Yeah?" I looked away, embarrassed. "It's not a big deal."

Instead of stopping in front of her, I turned and trekked up the stairs quickly, skipping steps.

"Wait up hot legs!" Jenna laughed, catching up in no time.

Damn she was fast!

She linked her arm through mine and pulled me to a stop when we were inside the hallway.

"Let me see!" She demanded, scanning my legs. "Love it!"

"That's great!" I told her, exasperated and slightly embarrassed by her little ogling display in front of everyone. "Can I go now?"

"You may, but you have to tell me everything." She ordered.

"Tell you everything about what?" I asked. Our lockers were not close but we shared the same bathroom.

"What happened with James? Did he text you?" Jenna asked.

I looked away and answered. "Yeah."

"And?" Jenna pushed.

"I think it's over." I murmured, looking at the ground.

"That's great!" She exclaimed.

I snapped up. "What?"

"He's an asshole and he didn't treat you right!" Jenna stated.

Silence

"Whatever, I don't want to talk about it. Let's just go to class." I told her.

Jenna smiled, moving backwards towards her locker. "It'll be okay, today is going to be a great day!"

"Why?" I asked, eyeing her confusedly.

"When that douche ex of yours see's you and has his 'oh shit' moment, I want details girl!" Jenna laughed. She turned around and skipped away, leaving me stunned.

She was taking our maybe breakup too happily. She should be sympathetic towards my feelings!

But that's Jenna for yah.

With that, I shook my head and headed to my locker. I grabbed a few things, exchanging some notebooks and text books before hearing the first animal call.

The Kings of the hallway had arrived. I checked the time on my cellphone, with ten minutes to spare, how punctual of them. I slammed my locker shut, took a deep breath and prepared my psyche for first contact with James since our disastrous text session last night. How would he treat me, would he even react?

I didn't know.

I was still confused!

Behind me the crowd of energetic students thickened, screaming and shouting as the threat of the first bell loomed over us. Finding courage, I snuck a peek down the hallway, finding the lively crew of pretty and athletic people huddled a row of lockers away from Mr. Doors' classroom.

That was good. I wouldn't have to walk by them to get to class and I wouldn't have an awkward eye contact moment with James with Donna hanging off his every word.

I still had no idea what was going on with us. Were we over? Or was last night's text fight a result of the heat of the moment?

I was thinking we were over. He hadn't texted me, apologizing for his disrespectful behavior. He was probably happy that he was free to flirt with Donna more openly without the worry of me finding out and giving him shit about it later.

Great, just great.

I made my way to class, zigzagging around students. Surprisingly when I made it to class, it wasn't empty. There were only three seats left. One in the middle row next to the window, and two in the back also next to the window. Normally I would have gone for the two in the back and James would have taken the seat next to me. It would have been the only time during school where we could be together without the worry of being 'caught'.

But not today.

Because that fool did me wrong!

A small fire erupted surprisingly in the pit of my stomach, giving me courage, giving me power.

I chose the middle row. James could sit by someone else today. He'd lost that privilege too!

I sat with my back to the wall underneath the window, crossing my toned legs, showcasing them without worry to my entire classroom.

I wasn't embarrassed. I was proud of my legs, they looked good. And the added bonus, James would have to walk past me and I hoped he got a nice look at what he missed out on.

He ain't touching these babies anymore. And I'm not just talking about my legs. That's right, I looked good in my simple black shirt too. It wasn't as tight as pre-weightloss, but it still hung nicely on top of me, showcasing one of my amazing assets.

I chuckled quietly to myself, shaking my head at the sudden burst of confidence.

I didn't know where all this courage came from. But I hoped it never went away, I was going to need it.

A body passed through the doorway and my heart jumped, but quickly resumed back normally when I realized it was not James but a boy named Frank. I didn't know him that well even though he'd been here since freshman year. My school was big, he probably didn't know me that well either.

The warning bell rang. There was still no sign of James, not that I was looking. I glanced at the doorway once more, this time James walked through the doorway, right as the final bell rang.

He just made it!

He scanned the room, his green eyes stopping on me, scowling. He shook his head and made his way to the back next to Frank. But his pissed off demeanor faltered when he glanced down at my legs for a second too long.

That's right! I turned facing Mr. Doors, tucking my legs underneath my desk, feeling satisfied that my job was done. My legs had done me proud, for once in my life.

Success!

Feel that James, it's called regret! I smiled and opened my notebook beginning to take notes.

*~*~*

Jenna texted me at lunch, telling me she'd be late and for me to go ahead. I made it inside the cafeteria and the line was adding quickly. After waiting for a few minutes, it was my turn and I grabbed a salad and a bottle of water.

I was still doing the diet. I liked the way my body was turning out and even if there wasn't a man by my side to appreciate it, I was still going to do it for me.

Ahhh life! I sighed to myself, sitting down at a table that sat three swim team members. I told them hi and dug into my salad. I didn't stare at the doors, not wanting anything ruining my appetite, again.

I was halfway through my salad when Jenna slammed down across from me.

"Annabelle!" She screeched. My head snapped up, she never called me by my full name. Something was up.

"What is it?" I asked her quickly.

She took out her phone and dropped it on the table. "I can't believe this!"

She had the entire table's attention now. She looked at them and shook her head, this was our business and they didn't need to know.

"Sorry guys, just kidding!" She laughed awkwardly. She waited a few minutes, letting things go back to normal before whispering back to me.

"Do you know where he was last night?" Jenna whispered.

I shook my head.

"He texted you around ten right?" She continued.

"Yes." I answered timidly.

Jenna gasped, turning her head, visibly shaking. "That asshole!"

"What?" I asked, confused.

"Anna, he was at the movies with his friends."

I blinked at her, not answering.

Jenna exhaled a long rough breath. "And Donna and her hot girl crew were there too. She was sitting beside him! Latisha put pictures up again on her Facebook."

My entire body went numb.

But that was before we got into a fight!

"You guys were still together!" Jenna scowled. "Then after he decides he wants some action from you too!"

"Can I see the picture?" I asked her quietly, shaking inside.

Jenna tapped her phone and opened her Facebook app. She tapped a few times and slid her phone over to me. She was on Latisha's Facebook page and on her timeline were five pictures of their group at the movies last night. One picture stood out and that was James and Donna sitting next to one another at the end of the row. Donna's head was resting on James' shoulder.

They were both smiling.

I slid the phone back to her. I also slid my half eaten salad to the side. I wasn't hungry anymore.

I thought going to the movies was our thing.

Okay he went out with his friends, I got that. You go out with your boys and that's fine. But why'd he have to sit next to Donna when we were still technically together?

Breathing hard, my lips rippled. Using every ounce of strength I had, I contained it. My eyes started to water at the edges, I quickly wiped them away.

"Please don't cry." Jenna pleaded quietly. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you about it or shown you the picture, especially here. I'm an idiot."

"No." I shook my head. "You did the right thing. I needed to know this."

"I'm sorry." Jenna whispered again.

Exhaling another long rough breath, I glanced up and stared at her. "Is he here? Don't be obvious."

Jenna nodded and subtly looked past my shoulder. "Yeah he's here, they're all here. All of them."

"How does he look?" I asked.

"He looks fine." Jenna described.

"Who's sitting next to him?"

Jenna didn't answer and I knew instantly who it was.

"He's sitting next to Donna, isn't he?" I told her.

"Yeah, that slutty slut has her claws out, grabbing his shoulders, laughing into his ear like he's so funny!" Jenna fumed. "He's a joke."

Okay, that was about as much as I could take. I got up, grabbing my left over lunch and threw it in the trash can a few meters away. I walked back to the table and grabbed my bag, hoisting it on to my shoulders. "I need to get out of here."

"I'm coming with you." Jenna started to get up, but I held my hand out, stopping her.

"I think I just need a moment to myself. I know I've had a lot of them." I told her.

"But what if he ambushes you again out there? It wouldn't be the first time." Jenna said, worriedly.

"Then I'll talk to him, but it won't go farther than that, this time he's gone too far. He broke his promise." I told her, struggling to keep it together. She nodded and I walked out the cafeteria without another glance at the room, staring at the ground.

Where did the confidence and courage go?

It had quickly crumbled and vanished at the news of James' betrayal. There was only so much I could take. I was human, I had feelings and right now I was on the verge of a very public meltdown. And there was only one place I trusted myself to be in and that was in the safety of my favorite stall in the washroom beside my locker. No one would bother me there and James couldn't ambush me in there.

Halfway down the hallway towards the bathroom, my phone beeped.

I stopped in my tracks and pulled it out of my bags pocket.

Jenna sent me a text.

Jenna: Warning, boy wonder has left the building, very fast and with a mission! Take cover!

What? James had left the cafeteria after me?

Why?

"Fireball?" A hushed voice called from behind me. My entire body froze for a second as his voice trailed along every nerve ending in my body. I slowly turned and faced him. He stood a few feet away and was wearing his signature backwards Baseball cap, a black Miami Marlins one again. He walked up to me, stopping a few inches away, his gorgeous face looking annoyed.

Don't tell me that's because of me? Because if it was, I was going to lose it!

He's the one who broke his promise!

"What do you want?" I asked stoically.

He grabbed my arm. "Let's go to my car."

Without hearing what I had to say about that, he pulled me forward. I yanked my arm back, barely getting it out of his grasp, but because it surprised him, I got it out. "No!"

His jaw clenched. "You really want to do this in the hallway?"

"I don't want to do anything with you!" I spat at him.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "What's your problem?"

"You're my problem. You're a liar!" I pointed to him.

His eyes widened. "How did I lie?"

"Where were you last night, before you texted me?" I snipped.

"I was out with my friends." He answered, scowling.

"You went to the movies!" I hissed.

"So you're spying on me now?" James sneered.

"You said going to the movies was our thing!" I whimpered.

"I went out with my friends. They wanted to go to the movies last night, what was I supposed to say, no?"

"Just your friends! What about Donna and her friends, and the fact that you were sitting next to her, with her head on your shoulder." I told him.

"It wasn't a big deal." He said, clearly exasperated.

My lips rippled. "It is a big deal."

"Why do you have to be like this?" James scowled, looking away.

"Why am I like this?" My eyes snapped wide open. "Why are you like this? I thought you were my boyfriend!"

James didn't say anything.

"You were weren't you?" I asked him, feeling wetness around my eyes. "What kind of a boyfriend goes to the movies with another girl and her head is on his shoulders. You didn't even tell me about it, and then you text me after to come out like a cheap piece of ass!"

"Stop it." He whispered, looking sad. "Stop being like this. You know nothing happened between Donna and me last night, nothing. She put her head on my shoulder for a second, that's it."

"I don't believe you." I said to him, a tear escaping down my face. I wiped it away. "I'm tired of the way you treat me."

James' jaw dropped a little, his eyes widened as if I'd just falsely accused him of a crime. "What are you talking about?"

"You heard me." I sniffed.

He groaned through his teeth. "That's crazy."

"I'm crazy then." I told him as another tear fell. "Why are we even talking about this, aren't we over anyways?"

"Over?" He cringed, acting confused.

"Yeah, last night, you said 'forget this', don't you remember." I reminded him.

"So, that was in the heat of the moment, it didn't mean anything." He stated.

"Well it meant something to me." I gulped.

"What?" He cringed.

"We're finished." I told him.

"You don't know what you're saying, come on." He leaned in trying to grab my arm again, but I yanked it back again.

"No, I'm going nowhere with you." I snapped.

"You're really losing it." He snapped back. "What the hell do you want from me?"

"I want nothing from you." I snapped.

Before he could answer back, a voice called out.

"James?"

Our heads turned simultaneously, finding Donna across the hallway, walking towards us, looking at me strangely.

"What are you doing out here, come back inside." Donna said, coming to a stop in front of us. She looked at me curiously, raising an eyebrow. "Hello, Annabelle."

"Hello Donna." I told her back, matching her tone.

She gave me a small smile, like she knew something and looked back at James fluttering her eye lids. "Are you done here James?"

James looked at me narrowing his eyes. He shook his head subtly and glanced back at Donna. "Yeah I'm done here."

"Cool." She grabbed his arm and pulled him, eyeing me one last time. "Later Annabelle."

As she turned, James eyed me once more, piercing me with a scowl. I shrugged at him and quickly turned around, heading towards the washroom. I entered the quiet empty washroom, breathing another sigh of relief. I locked myself in my stall at the end, slid down against the back wall, and let out a strangled cry, gasping to breathe from the intensity of it.

This was the worst day of my life!

My phone beeped, startling me. Gasping for air again, I pulled it out of my bag's pocket. James sent me a text.

Tiger: You're the one who ruined this.

I texted him back.

Annabelle: You don't feel the same as I feel for you.

Tiger: What!

Annabelle: It's true, you keep hiding things from me.

Tiger: That's because they have nothing to do with you.

Annabelle: Well then it's a good thing then that we're over.

Tiger: You've got problems Fireball, you need to get them fixed.

Annabelle: You're right, I do have a problem, but not anymore, I've fixed it.

Tiger: Oh yeah

Annabelle: Yeah, asshole!

Tiger: Where did you go, we need to talk!

Annabelle: Nope, no more talking, never ever!

Tiger: You think there are no other ladies that don't want this? There's a line baby, you should be happy that I was with you!

My eyes widened, shocked.

Annabelle: I should be happy? Happy for what, being your side piece? Screw you!

Tiger: I wish! Anytime, preferably right now! Where are you? We need to talk, let's go to my car.

Annabelle: No! Leave me alone.

Tiger: Oh really, this is your last chance

Annabelle: No thank you! Go have fun with Donna, go be with her.

Tiger: Maybe I will. She'll actually treat me better!

Annabelle: Good!

Tiger: Good. So that's it huh.

Annabelle: Yep, over and done with, Have a nice life!

He didn't text back. I tucked my phone back into my bag's pocket. I tore two toilet paper squares and wiped my face with them. I got out of the stall and washed my face. My phone beeped again. I checked the screen and sighed in relief, it was Jenna this time.

Jenna: Oh my God! What the hell happened with you guys?

I texted her back.

Annabelle: We had an argument and he left with Donna.

Jenna: Humph! Douchebag. Well boy wonder is not looking happy right now. He's pissed.

Annabelle: Really?

Jenna didn't text back for a few seconds and I left the bathroom. Once I was in the hallway my phone beeped again.

Jenna: Oh shit, oh shit, a fight!

Annabelle: With who?

Jenna: James!

James!

How could that be?

Annabelle: How! What happened?

Jenna: He came back inside looking pissed when Johnny from the Soccer team accidently bumped into him. James shoved him back swearing, two seconds later they're punching each other, and their boys were pulling them back! What you say to him?

Annabelle: That we were finished. Then Donna came and took him, he let her take him away right in front of me.

Jenna: That asshole! I'm glad Johnny got a few good punches in, serves him right.

Annabelle: I'm coming back!

I hurried down the hall towards the cafeteria. Once I was through the doors, it was chaos. Everyone was screaming and the Soccer team and Baseball team were yelling threats to one another. The shop teacher, the one supervising the lunchroom was in between them threatening both sides to quiet down and calm down or else there would be a big problem. Johnny was sitting at his table with their version of a second rate Donna, Becky Sloaner. She was caressing the side of his face with an ice pack. My eyes trailed away towards the Baseball team's table, where the boys were huddled around James, puffing out their chests casting death glares at the Soccer team. James was sitting hunched, with his head in his hands. Donna was sitting by his side obviously shaken. She was caressing his back, speaking to him closely.

Get your hands off of him! I scowled at her, but quickly turned away, making my way back to Jenna. Jenna and her friends were shaking with excitement, laughing loudly.

"Hey!" I said, sliding down onto the bench beside her, facing the entire room.

"Oh Anna!" Jenna laughed. "You totally missed out!"

"I'm not sure I did." I murmured taking in the chaos of the room again.

"Of course the stars of athletics won't actually get into any trouble, they can't be suspended." Jenna sneered, shaking her head to her friends. "What a fair world, they get into a fight, freaking pummel each other and get off with just a warning."

As Jenna and her friends continued to make fun of the situation, James looked up. His eyes in an instant found mine. He straightened in an instant, giving me the angriest scowl I had ever seen from him. He was practically exhaling fire. He looked at Donna and then smirked back at me.

I shook my head at him. What do you think you're doing?

He shrugged and turned away, talking to Donna, pretending like I didn't exist anymore.

"Well he moved on quickly." Jenna whispered.

"Yes he did." I said back, not looking away.

"Well good luck to her, she's gonna need it, the way that guy operates." Jenna sneered.

"Yeah." I muttered, and then exhaled.

What a day.

### Chapter 13

ANNABELLE

One week later....

Jenna: And make sure to wear something....sexy!

Annabelle: Why?

Jenna: Because...you need to make a statement to that asshole! He's going to have slutty slut Donna hanging off of him at every second, trying to make you jealous, Pulease!

Annabelle: It's been a week Jenna, I'm over him. He can do whatever he wants. I don't want to interact with him, at ALL!

It's been a week since my "break up" with James. I hadn't spoken to him or texted him since that day. After I came back to the cafeteria, he pretended like I didn't exist, paying Donna extra attention instead.

Not that I cared.

I'm a liar, I cared. I cared so much that it killed every time his arm circled her shoulders. Every time he spoke closely to her like they were sharing a secret. Unfortunately for me, their sudden closeness repeated daily and I suspected that it wouldn't be too long before they became official.

Not that I cared.

Totally lying again!

But it was what it was and I gave up the chance to be with him because I wasn't okay with having a secret relationship. Having girls constantly hurl themselves at him without worrying was too much. I had to move on.

Totally moving on.

Jenna: Anna, put on that the cute violet dress your mom got you with the denim jacket. It'll be fab and he'll be hitting his head with all those balls at the diamond today wishing he never treated you like crap.

Really?

The idea of making him jealous and regretful was kind of appealing. He certainly didn't waiver from making me jealous all week. Actually he happily did it, flaunting his new closeness with Donna anytime I was around.

Like I'd missed out.

But now that I really think about our month long 'relationship', that new closeness with Donna wasn't really all that new. He did all those things before too. I was just too blind to acknowledge his actions for what they were. Which were wrong.

Annabelle: Okay, see you in half an hour!

Jenna: AWESOME, luv u!

Annabelle: Luv u 2!

I threw my phone on to my bed and went to my closet to pull out the violet dress and denim jacket mom bought me a week ago. I had just gotten home from school, it was Thursday and Jenna just texted me that she and her swim team mates were going to a friendly Baseball game between our school and Pleasant View High. Their first official game wasn't till February so this was like an important practice that everyone was excited to watch.

I didn't normally go to these things. Watching Jenna's swim meets were special because they involved her and it was fun to cheer her on. But watching Baseball, meant watching James, which also meant watching Donna scream for her 'man' and that was something I really didn't want to do. That is until Jenna convinced me via text of how much of good idea it actually was.

And did I mention I lost another two pounds. That's right, yours truly was now officially less than 150lbs.

I was now 148lbs.

Mom certainly took it well yesterday when I decided to weigh in anyways despite our new plan at weighing in monthly. I couldn't wait a few more weeks to see how much I'd lost.

Mom was ecstatic to say the least, telling me she couldn't wait either. I remembered stepping onto the scale and the number pad blinking 148lbs. Let's just say I couldn't even hear my own thoughts with the way Mom was screaming.

Hurray for me, I finally did it. I was now a comfortable size six, a perfect weight for my 5'7 height according to my new BMI and according to mom's nutrition pamphlets. She had so many she could probably make something big using layers upon layers of them.

I slid on the violet sundress for the first time. When I saw it for the first time last week, it looked like it was going to be a tight fit. But it practically floated over me, clinging to my body in spots that only accentuated my new figure. I stared at myself in the mirror in awe. I hadn't worn a dress in a long, long time.

I fixed my hair into a messy side French braid. Then I put on some mascara. I finished the look with the new denim jacket that went to my waist. It was loose in all the right places, not making me feel like a sausage.

I looked cool.

I grabbed my wallet and phone, putting them in my jacket pocket. Once I was downstairs, I slipped on my black Converse.

"Anna?" Mom called from the kitchen.

"Yeah?" I called back.

"Are you going out?" Mom walked out of the kitchen, but stopped all of sudden.

"Sweetheart, you look lovely." Mom gushed, quickly walking up and inspecting me close up. "The dress looks fabulous on you!"

"Yeah," I looked down at the dress, it really was beautiful. The fabric was light and flowy, covering my thighs, stopping just above my knees. "You picked well mom."

Mom smiled, obviously pleased with herself. "Thank you, I knew you'd look good in it."

"I'm going back to school, there's a friendly Baseball game going on between our school and Pleasant View High." I explained.

"Alright, but don't be back too late, you still have school tomorrow." Mom said.

I paused at the door knob. Mom didn't tell me to monitor my calories. I turned back to her. "Mom you didn't tell me to not eat anything bad."

"Darling, we're passed that. After everything that you've accomplished, I don't need to go all psycho mom on you anymore. God don't remind me, I know I've been a pain. But on the bright side, you look fabulous, so in a way it was kind of worth it, don't you think?" Mom asked, timidly.

Taking a deep breath, I reflected through the last few months. "I guess so."

"Go have fun, knock all the boys dead." Mom giggled pushing me forward, straightening the back of my jacket.

"Mom!" I exclaimed, shocked. I laughed shaking my head at her little speech. "I'm going."

I exited, walking into the bright sunshine and warm air, inhaling the fresh air.

I felt brand new.

Life felt different right now. And even though all this stuff happened with James these last couple of months, I was a new person right now. If anything I'd learned from the situation. I'd make sure the next guy I was with actually wanted to hang around me in public. He definitely wouldn't be scared of what his friends thought or if he was going to be ridiculed for not following some sort of strange hot guy code.

I was worth it. I just needed to remind myself of that if I ever should see myself in a similar situation.

But honestly, with my slow transformation who wouldn't want to show me off?

I laughed at my cocky attitude and walked to school.

*~*~*

Annabelle: Where are you guys?

Jenna: We're sitting on the hill, look up I'm waving.

On the left side of the Baseball diamond, there was a hill that expanded well past the Baseball field. It was our version of cheap seats if you couldn't find a seat behind the pitchers mount in the stands. The whole school must have shown up or at least a good chunk of it. I gazed at the packed stands, there wasn't an inch available. I looked up at the hill which was also packed and saw Jenna's flailing arm. I waved back.

My phone beeped.

Jenna: Dude, even from up here, you look AWESOME! Now walk slowly and sway your hips. Douche boy is with the rest of his team listening to their coach give a speech.

I laughed reading her message.

God!

Like I knew how to sway my hips.

I may have transformed into a better version of myself, but that didn't mean I knew how to act like a sexy vixen. And attention from James was not something I wanted.

So I walked behind the stands, not wanting any awkward moments to arise. Meaning I didn't want to run into James. If I ran into him, chances were high that Donna would be there too, plastering herself on to him while squealing loudly at something stupid he's said.

I jogged up the hill, going around my classmates.

"Hey!" I called out, approaching Jenna and two of her swim team mates sitting on the grass. I take a seat next to her, telling her friends/teammates hello.

"What took you so long?" Jenna exclaimed. "You've missed more than half the game already."

"Really, I'm sorry. I was getting ready and then my mom wanted to talk to me about the way I looked and my diet." I explained watching the field. The game was starting again and our team was batting.

"Oh really, did she give you a hard time again?" Jenna asked.

"No, she was happy with my transformation. She also apologized for being a psycho these last few months." I told her.

"That's good right?" Jenna asked.

"I think so, at least she knows where she went wrong." I gazed around the field, Pleasant View High's team was breaking out of their huddle and making their way out on to the field. I stared at the pitcher as he took his spot.

I knew him.

"Um Anna, isn't that Dean?" Jenna asked, not sounding sure herself.

Dean!

Yes, he was Pleasant Views star pitcher.

I remembered he told me that at the party. He wore the school's Baseball uniform nicely. His dirty blond hair covered by the cap, making it hard to see his face. He looked lean and built, filling out his uniform.

Like a man would.

"Yeah that is him." I smiled.

"He hasn't tried calling or texting since that night." Jenna asked.

I shook my head. "No, he hasn't."

"Why? It's not like he knew about you and James." Jenna asked.

"I don't know, maybe I scared him off. That night ended badly for him." I explained, remembering the fight between James and Joe.

"Well maybe you guys can talk after the game." Jenna suggested slyly.

"Yeah okay." I chuckled, shaking my head. She needed to work on her love life not mine. "What about you?"

"What about me?" Jenna asked.

"Well you're all concerned about my love life, how about yours?" I asked her playfully, shoving my shoulder into hers.

"I already have that under control." Jenna answered.

I cocked an eyebrow. "Oh really?"

"Yep!" Jenna said.

"How then?" I smirked.

"Easy, I'm a swimmer and I'm focusing on getting that scholarship to Florida State. You think I have time for boys?" Jenna asked.

I rolled my eyes. Whatever.

"So it's all work with you?"

"I've got a goal, I don't need a boy ruining everything. Especially after seeing your disastrous run, I think I'm good the way things are."

I chuckled. "Alright, well then I'm glad I showed you the error of my ways."

"Not only that but I learned a few things too."

"Like?"

"Like never let a hottie try and convince you to be his side piece while he flirts with slutty sluts at school ignoring you!" Jenna grinned.

"Damn, hit me right in the jugular!" I breathed hard, wincing in faux pain as I held a hand over my heart.

"Calling it like I see it Anna." Jenna explained. "I told you from the beginning, that boy wanted that extra slice of cake and you gladly gave it to him."

"No really, please tell me what you really think!" I 'joked'. She was hitting it where it hurt, showing no mercy. But I guess I had it coming with the many times I went back and forth with James. She stood by my side through all of it, yes mouthing off telling me how she felt but nevertheless she was always there.

"Oh I've got plenty more material. Should go through some more good one liners in the next half an hour." Jenna smirked.

"Well how about if I said, lesson learned." I offered.

"Girl please!" Jenna exclaimed, blowing a strand of hair off her face. "You still have a ways to go. Watch that fool James flash his sparkly eyes at you again and then we'll see if you're really DONE!"

"Trust me, I'm done!" I promised sternly.

"Well, you're on the right track. That's what I want to hear!" Jenna said.

"Good." I smiled.

"But I still don't believe you." Jenna laughed.

I gasped looking away. "Just watch me. I'm going to ignore him for the rest of my life! He did me wrong!"

"I know that, you know that, but your heart. That's still going to need some convincing!" Jenna sang playfully. "Speaking of boy wonder, look who's flexing, with his lucky bat I presume."

My eyes snapped down to the field, finding James in an instant. He stood beside our team's bench (whatever you call them I don't know anything about Baseball), swinging his bat.

Behind the fence I could see a few girls jumping up and down excitedly. I could hear them screech loudly even over the high volume of the entire area.

"Well look who it is!" Jenna smirked. "His number one fan, jumping up and down, juggling her slutty slut boobs. Someone should really tell her that she's not the pitcher for the Royal Heights Baseball team."

Jenna's swim team mates laughed loudly. I chuckled, shaking my head. Jenna did not like Donna. Even more than me.

"What the hell did Donna do to you?" I asked, confused.

"She messed with my best friend." Jenna explained, turning to look at me. "And that made it personal."

"Well gee, I don't know what to say to that." I laughed. "I guess, I love you too!"

"Bitch, don't get sentimental with me now. I'm in bitch mode, I need to feel rage if I'm going to make fun of all those idiots down there." Jenna informed, full of attitude.

I continued to laugh as Jenna made snarky comment after snarky comment, ripping apart the entire Baseball team from both schools, and especially James. He had no shield against Jenna's angry bitter mouth, he was getting a beating like no other.

And I was not going to stop it. Not anymore. Even if he looked really cute in his Baseball uniform.

Gulp!

*~*~*

Surprisingly, I got really into the game, shocking myself. The score was tied and it was down to James to make a good hit so that his team mates on second base and on third base could cross to home plate.

I think that's what you called it.

Donna and her hot girl crew were screaming loudly, chanting 'Go James'. I wanted to plug my ears. I didn't look at Jenna. I knew what her reaction to that horrible display of affection was without needing to look, disgusted.

I stared at my ex, confident as he walked in front of the catcher holding his bat firmly in position. I crossed over to Dean, who seemed focused, ready to use whatever he had to make James strike out.

Losing for either them was not an option. And whoever did lose, was not going to take it well. This was personal, especially since they fought last month.

Everything just got serious. This was the moment. Dean swung his arm back, throwing the ball with what seemed like lightning speed. James swung his bat and missed.

"Strike one!" The Umpire guy yelled, I think that's the Umpire at least.

Dean prepared another pitch and threw it even faster. The ball landed in the catcher's mitt, James missed again.

"Pay attention!" Our coach yelled, clearly exasperated.

I thought this was supposed to be a friendly game? It seemed more competitive to me, like it was more important than the Baseball team was letting on during the week.

I didn't get it.

"This is it." Jenna said. I watched the field with intense focus and was on edge. Who was going to pull through, James or Dean?

Dean threw back his arm, and then quickly hurled the ball towards James.

James swung his bat, this time hitting the ball high into the air, a cracking noise followed. The ball flew into the air, flying high and far. James dropped his bat and shuffled slowly from side to side, waiting to see where the ball was going to go and whether or not it was going to be a home run.

When the ball went past the Outfield players, the entire crowd from our school erupted into a crazy cheer.

It's a homerun, obviously, even I knew that.

"That douchebag actually did it." Jenna said in disbelief. "He hit the homerun that won the game!"

She was pissed, she wanted him to fail, to be a disgrace and a failure to the school.

"It's fine, it's more than fine, look how happy everyone is." I gestured with my hand to the happy frenzy at the bottom. The people on the hill were happy too but not as happy as the diehard fans, meaning Donna and her hot girl crew who were jumping with joy, squealing as if they'd just won the lottery.

Jesus, it's not like they'd won. James won, the Royal Heights Team won. Who the hell did they think they were? They were nothing but groupies, sad high school groupies!

Calm down! I took a deep breath, hoping to calm my boiling blood. Which surprised me, why was I getting all upset?

I stared down at the field. James was in a hugging frenzy with his team mates. Dean kicked the dirt walking back to his side with his head down.

Awe! Don't be upset! I mentally told him. I watched him slump down on to the bench, curling his hands over his face.

He's upset, clearly.

"Well will you look at that, Miss Thang there is pushing her way through the crowd towards boy wonder." Jenna sneered. My eyes snapped back to James as Donna creeped her way through the crowd, jumping into his embrace, hugging him tightly. He pulled back grinning. Donna clearly not having that hurled herself again into him, this time her lips collided on to his, kissing him hungrily in front of everyone.

"Oh my God! I think I'm going to be sick!" Jenna said, disgusted. "God get a room!"

Yeah! Get a room.

Or don't and just stop kissing, that'd be cool too.

Not that I cared.

Looking away because my stomach and heart couldn't take much more of their PDA, I found Dean still hunched over on the bench.

He was so sad, and that made me feel sad. It was a close game. He shouldn't feel sad, he should be happy. And it was just a friendly game, so it's not like there were points or it affected their standing in their league.

He needed a boost to cheer him up. I pulled my phone from my pocket and sent him a text.

Annabelle: It's okay, don't look so sad...

I watched Dean like a hawk for the next few seconds. All of a sudden his head snapped up and he reached into his duffle bag which was resting next to his feet on the ground. He pulled out his phone. He stared at the screen for a few seconds before his head snapped up scouring the area like a mad man. He didn't find what he was looking for so he quickly tapped away at his phone's screen.

A few seconds later, my phone beeped.

"Who's that?" Jenna asked, jerking her chin to my phone resting on my lap.

"I think its Dean." Smiling nervously I opened my phone's screen. His name popped up and my smile grew. I was ecstatic.

"Is it him?" Jenna asked, excitedly.

"Yeah." I answered and opened his text.

Dean: Anna? You're here?

I grinned and quickly texted him back.

Annabelle: Yep! This is my school silly, have you forgotten me already?

I sent the text and quickly looked down the hill, his demeanor was noticeably different. He was happy again.

"Well will you look at that, someone's not depressed anymore." Jenna laughed, staring down at Dean. "The power of women knows no bounds. We control everything!"

Her team mates laughed as did I. I watched Dean tap away at his phone, his smile growing.

My phone beeped a few seconds later.

Dean: Baby, I never forgot you! Where are you?

I put my phone down, grinning like crazy.

"What is he saying?" Jenna asked, peering over my shoulder to see my phone. I laughed and held it away so she couldn't see the screen.

"He wants to know where I am." I told her.

"Well what the hell are you waiting for?" Jenna exclaimed, impatiently.

I texted him again and my fingers shook from nervousness.

Annabelle: Look behind you, up on the hill!

Taking a deep breath, I pressed send. After a few seconds Dean swirled around, scouring the hill.

"Anna! Wave!" Jenna cried, grabbing my arm, attempting to raise it. I yanked it out of her hand and did it myself. I waved my arm up and his eyes met mine in an instant. He waved back, grinning happily. He looked away and tapped at his phone again.

My phone beeped a few seconds later.

Dean: Can we talk?

"What's he saying?" Jenna asked.

"He wants to talk." I answered.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go for it!" Jenna cried.

I texted him back.

Annabelle: Okay, when? Where?

Dean: I drove here. Do you want to meet me beside my car in the parking lot in fifteen minutes?

Annabelle: Okay, see you then.

I dropped my phone, feeling my face heat up.

"Well?" Jenna exclaimed. "What did he say?"

"We're meeting in the parking lot beside his car in fifteen minutes." I answered staring down at the field at Dean who grabbed his duffle bag off the ground. He looked up and met my eyes. Smiling wildly, he waved once then turned around joining his team in a huddle around their coach.

"Woah!" Jenna shouted. "Well this is moving fast! Anna, play it cool! And this time, don't scare him away!"

I nodded. "Got it."

*~*~*

I didn't move from the hill until both teams had vacated the field. Especially James, I did not want to see him, or talk to him, not with having to go and speak to Dean right after. I didn't need that toxicity in my mind.

"I'm going to Dana's house, you want to come after?" Jenna asked getting off the ground and wiping grass off her jeans.

"No, that's okay. I'll just go home after. I still have some homework to finish." I explained, curling off the ground. I did have homework I needed to finish, but I also didn't want to intrude on Jenna and her friends. We all got along but things were not the same.

I didn't know how it happened. How we separated. I guess I had some catching up to do in the friend department, or I had to make more of an effort and become closer to her friends so we could all hang out more often.

How mature of me! I thought happily.

"Alright, but don't stray off suddenly after. I don't want to hear tomorrow that something went horribly wrong and you somehow got it on with James again!" Jenna exclaimed, horrified.

"That will never happen. And even if I wanted it to happen, you think Donna's gonna let him out of her sight. She's as close as ever to making him her property. She'd claw my eyes out if she saw me anywhere near him." I explained.

"If she did that, I'd claw her eyes out!" Jenna threatened, making all of us laugh. I trekked down the hill, waving everyone a goodbye.

"You better call me later with all the details. You hear me! I want details!" Jenna ordered from behind.

"Alright!" I laughed loudly, making my way down the hill. I walked behind the emptying stands on the dusted path. Most of the spectators had already left, leaving behind a few of my classmates chilling about. Two Baseball players from our team still lingered on the field, grabbing the rest of their things, shoving it inside their duffle bags.

Are those James' friend? I wondered walking passed them. My mouth felt dry so I took a detour to the water fountain. I sipped the cold water for a few seconds, allowing it to cool my dry tongue. I heard feet rustling behind me and immediately let go, stepping away. I'd had enough water anyways.

I turned to see who it was and it was the two Baseball players from the field. On closer inspection I realized who they were. I'd known them since freshman year, but I didn't really 'know' them.

My eyes met the one right behind me and he smiled. He wasn't as tall as James or Dean but he was taller than me. I could see he had dark brown hair under his backwards Baseball cap. His brown eyes twinkled knowingly and then he did something shocking, he spoke to me.

"Hey, Anna right?" He asked. The other one with dark blonde hair was also a friend to James, came up and stood beside him, crossing his arms. I recognized him from last period History. I think his name was Tom. The first one, I wasn't too sure.

"Hey um, I'm sorry I don't remember your name." I said to the first one. Tom burst out laughing, grabbing and jerking what's his name's shoulder, whose jaw dropped in shock.

"The name is Peter!" He cried, clearly horrified that I didn't recognize him right away, considering he was one of the Kings of the hallway. He yanked his arm out of Tom's grip.

Oh Peter, that's right!

"Oh sorry, I had a brain freeze moment. I remember we had first period Chemistry last year." I said to him. "I went to your party last month."

"Oh cool, hoped you had good time." Peter grinned, scanning me.

"I did." I answered. Then I said something I shouldn't have. "I know someone who knows your cousin at Pleasant View."

Again, I don't know why I said that.

"Oh yeah, who?" Peter asked, curious.

"Dean." I answered, timidly. I didn't get myself sometimes.

Peter gave Tom a look before glancing back to me. "Oh really, the pitcher guy from Pleasant View? We just slaughtered them."

Peter and Tom burst out laughing, slamming hands in a 'Yeah bro' kind of way.

"So Anna, you going to our victory party later at Thompsons Park?" Tom asked.

"I've got plans sorry." I told them, feeling my face go red. What was going on? Why were they talking to me?

"What! What kind of plans?" Peter asked, narrowing his eyes.

"I've got things to do." I answered.

"What about James?" Tom asked out of nowhere.

My jaw dropped a little. How did they know about James and me? "What are you talking about? What do you mean, what about James?"

"Weren't you guys hooking up?" Peter smirked, giving Tom another look.

Oh my God, he told his boys about us! How could he!

"What exactly did he tell you guys?" I gulped, my heart pounding a mile a second.

This was really happening.

"Um, we're not going to spill on our boy." Tom smirked, giving Peter another knowing look. Well if that was how they were going to play it, two could play at that game. And I was guessing that they probably knew everything.

"Yeah, well then since you two seem to know every dirty detail, there is nothing between James and me." I snapped to them.

"That's not what he said." Peter said like he had some information.

"I don't care. Besides isn't he with Donna now?" I snapped again. They didn't answer me, shrugging instead. "Whatever, I've got things to do, you know, people to see. Congratulations on winning boys."

I quickly got back on the path and started to walk away.

"Hope to see you at the party Anna!" Tom yelled from behind me.

I didn't answer them and they started laughing. I quickened my pace. I needed to get away, far away.

Damn you James!

"Dude, she really is a Fireball!" Peter exclaimed loudly. My face felt enflamed, he even told them my nickname!

"She got cuter though, her body is looking good!" Tom said loud enough, on purpose so I'd hear obviously.

Great.
Chapter 14

ANNABELLE

On my way to the parking lot, my phone beeped loudly. I pulled it out of my pocket and halted abruptly when I saw who my latest text was from.

James!

What the hell was he texting me for?

Wasn't it a rule that when you broke up to never ever talk again with your ex?

I was confused.

I opened his text.

Tiger: Where are you?

I would have deleted his number, but he still had mine. I didn't want a phone call from him to show up as unknown. With his name still attached to his number, I could happily and easily avoid all calls from him.

Where was I?

Why did he want to know? Shouldn't he be off celebrating or making out with Donna? What he shouldn't be doing is texting me. Someone really needed to give this guy a lesson on priorities.

I was clearly a waste of time.

I texted back anyways, curious.

Annabelle: Why do you want to know?

My phone beeped quickly after a few seconds.

Tiger: Were you at the game?

Shit, how was I going to answer that? Knowing James, he was going to think I came to watch him specifically play. Which couldn't be farther from the truth, I mean there's no 'I' in team and it's not like I still liked him.

Honest.

Okay, maybe I still had a little thing for him, but that's totally understandable, I mean we did just break up. I wasn't a robot. I couldn't just switch off my feelings.

Annabelle: Yes I was. I came because my friend Jenna asked me to.

Tiger: I see. So when do I get my congratulations kiss?

My jaw dropped, shocked.

What?

His congratulations kiss?

Why was he speaking to me like this?

Annabelle: James you can't talk like that to me anymore. We're not together and no there will never, ever be anymore kisses from me to YOU! Besides it seems you already got your congratulations kiss from Donna. Why don't you make things official with her, it'll make her day.

Tiger: Donna? What are you talking about? I'm not into her. I'm into someone else. Where are you now?

Annabelle: Well good luck with that. I'm somewhere that you don't need to know. I've got to go, I'm meeting someone.

I sent the text and waited a few seconds, but nothing came in. Maybe he was finally getting it, that I wouldn't be back for whatever he was offering.

I tucked my phone into my pocket and walked across the parking lot. Most of the lot was still packed. Kids from school were still hanging around listening to music loudly, laughing and enjoying the high of the win. On the opposite end of the parking lot, there was a huge huddle of Baseball players and Donna and her hot girl crew. James was for sure probably in that huddle so I hunched over, hoping the height of the cars would shield me from his prying eyes.

I did not need another confrontation with James, especially since I was meeting up with Dean soon. I needed to be nerves and anger free.

Cool, calm and collected.

Now, where was Dean's Honda? This was going to be tricky, trying to find his car without being noticed by James and his boys, who as I'd just found out knew everything. I had to escape all their prying eyes. They'd probably been spying for him too. James probably also knew about my conversation with Peter and Tom, them giving him every single detail.

They're worse than girls gossiping.

I circled around a few more cars keeping myself low and my ears open for Dean's voice. I stopped when I heard my phone beep, crunching down to the ground immediately.

Just great! I should have put my phone on silent. I pulled out my phone. Dean just sent me another text.

Dean: Anna! I'm sorry I had to leave, my coach told us all to get back to our school for a mandatory meeting. I'm so sorry! I didn't want to go. I wanted that talk with you.

I'm too late! I took long, I should have left earlier.

Disappointed, I texted him back.

Annabelle: No I'm sorry, I took too long. Well hopefully your meeting will go okay. I hope your coach doesn't give you guys a hard time for losing considering it was so close.

Dean: I'll text you after, that okay?

Annabelle: Yeah, that's cool.

Success!

Grinning like a fool, I tucked my phone back inside my pocket. It could have gone better, but at least we'd have a talk later. Now all I had to do was get off this parking lot without letting James or one of his boys seeing me. I could feel my forehead starting to really sweat and I was wearing a jacket. Yes it was a light jacket but still, it was freaking hot today. I peeled off the jacket, holding it on my arm and fanned myself with my available hand.

That's better!

I leaned back up, deciding that I wasn't going to crouch and sneak out like I was a criminal on the run. If I ran into any of them, I'd just ignore them.

I will not hide and damn it if James snuck up on me suddenly I would have a showdown with him so loud he'd never want to be within five feet of me again. I quickened my stride, I was almost out of the parking lot and onto the path that led to the sidewalk next to the main street. Just as I was stepping off the pavement and onto grass my phone beeped loudly.

Damn!

How did I forget to put it on silent again? I took it out of my jacket pocket and looked away from the screen, exasperated.

It was James.

What the hell does he want from me! I cried quietly.

Tiger: Where are you?

I texted him back.

Annabelle: Why do you need to know?

Tiger: Stop it. Tell me where you are.

Annabelle: James, I don't know how many times I need to tell you this, but we are over!

Tiger: Where are you?

Annabelle: Enjoy Donna, later!

Tiger: I don't care about her, I care about you!

Annabelle: Please! Like I believe that! You don't care about me, you just care about your image!

"That's not true, Fireball!" a familiar voice called behind me, making me freeze.

Oh no! I'd been found!

I slowly turned around finding James circling around a car separating us. I instantly held out my palm. "Don't come anywhere near me!"

He didn't listen and kept walking towards me. He stopped moving when his hard chest collided into my palm. "Don't be like that Fireball." He pouted, his green eyes looking sad.

"It's not going to work this time James. You have abused my feelings too much already!" I snapped. He grabbed my palm, using his strength to push it down. He didn't let my hand go as he wrapped his other arm around my waist, pulling me in.

"No, let me go." I ordered, using my available hand to push him off, but he was too strong.

"Please let explain." James pleaded, trying to meet my eyes, but I did my best not to. I swear his eyes had this amazing power. I didn't think I could last if that connection happened.

"Let you explain what?" I snipped, panting from using all my might to pull away.

"Last week, that wasn't how things were supposed to go! I got angry at the end." He tried to explain, using his sensitive voice, the one that used to work on me.

"James, why do you even bother, you clearly don't want to be with me!" I snapped.

"That's a lie, I do want to be with you!" He urged, tightening his hold.

I snorted, bitterly. "Well you have a funny way of showing it!"

"What do I have to do to show you?" He pleaded.

My eyes snapped up, meeting his. "What?"

"What do I have to do?" He said quietly, his voice full of emotion.

"You kissed Donna, aren't you guys practically together now?" I gulped, not liking where this was heading.

He shook his head. "Donna? No way, she surprised me on the field, what was I supposed to do, push her back?"

"I don't care." I snipped quietly, eying the ground.

He shook me delicately and leaned closer to my ear. "You do care."

"I don't." I informed him meekly.

Oh God!

"Baby, you do care." James exclaimed, caressing the side of my face as his eyes took in my entire body. "Baby you look so good, this is the first time I'm seeing you in a dress."

"My mom got it for me." My shoulders slumped, all fight leaving me.

"It suits you." James hummed. "And you've been losing weight since the beginning of the school year, baby you look amazing."

I didn't know what to do. I should have pulled back, but his touch was like a drug, one that I couldn't pull away from. Not without having some sort of super power and right now, I was all out of those.

"You're not going to change." I whimpered.

"I swear, this time it'll be different." He promised.

"It might be too late, there might be someone else."

James pulled back, fury taking over his body. "Who?"

"You don't know him." I muttered, straightening my dress.

"It's that pitcher!" James fumed. "I'm going to fuck that kid up. Didn't he learn his lesson today, not to mess with me?"

"He's nice, treats me nicely. It's more than I can say about you." I told him, feeling that bitter bug consume again, stopping 'this' from potentially happening again. We stood in silence for a few seconds before his arm wrapped around my waist again, pulling me into his embrace.

Why was I letting this happen?

What was wrong with me?

I was so messed up!

I was letting him do it again...pull me in.

"Oh really, how nice is he. Does he make you feel like I can make you feel?" James' green eyes melted into mine, his hand trailed down to my waist, grinding his body against mine. My eye lids closed as the first wave of pleasure shot throughout me.

"Stop." I whispered.

"Nope." James head curled into my neck, kissing the skin underneath my jawline, rolling his tongue across my skin. "Baby, I've been dying. I've been dreaming about touching you since that fucked up day."

"Really?" I gulped.

He nodded. "Really."

"You told all your friends about me, all our business." I told him.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I. I like you." He informed, sounding light hearted. It made my skin tingle.

"But you didn't want to talk with me at school in front of everyone." I exhaled, feeling every depressing emotion from the last month come back to me.

I couldn't go back to that.

I couldn't.

"Do you see those girls that hang around us, they're freaking piranhas. If they saw me with another girl besides one of them, they'd be on you like fresh meat." He said quietly.

"You were just trying to save me?" I asked him meekly, staring at him wide eyed.

Before I knew it, James leaned in pressing his lips on to mine, kissing me deeply. I grabbed his shoulders, pulling him closer.

He was just trying to protect me.

My lips moved more powerfully against his, showing him how much I missed him even though I tried to convince myself that it didn't. I missed him so much. I'd been a walking corpse this last week without him. I needed him.

What about Jenna?

I promised that I'd never speak to James again. She was going to kill me.

I casted the nervous thought of telling Jenna about what had just happened to the side. James' tongue entered my mouth, swirling around mine, making me feel....things. I grabbed the back of his neck and pushed him further into the kiss, plastering his sweaty, dirty uniform all over me.

We had a whole week to make up for.

*~*~*

Somehow I found myself in James' room, all alone in his house. His parents and siblings were off to the cottage for the weekend. His siblings' school was closed tomorrow and their parents decided to get a head start on the long weekend.

They were lucky.

James had taken a quick shower as soon as we got to his house. After, we sat on his bed, not knowing what to do next.

"Baby." He whispered sensually, sliding in closer to me. His hand touched my thigh and my dress rode up a little. "You look so good in this dress."

I gulped and eyed him with stars. "Really?"

"Really. Did you wear this dress for me?" James began kissing my neck. "It better have been for me and not that pussy pitcher guy."

"I actually wore it for me. If that makes it any better." I explained, leaning my head back so he could kiss deeper.

"I'm cool with that, please wear more dresses like this for yourself, I'll be happy anyways if I get to see your amazing legs." James hummed against my skin. His tongue grazed across my skin, licking and sucking it.

"Oh God." I whimpered. I quickly turned, grabbing his face and pulling him in, kissing him. He leaned forward pushing his chest into mine. I fell back onto his bed and my head hits his pillow. He hovered over me, digging one knee in-between my thighs. He pushed his knee down and his thigh moved in between me. He gently grinded against my downstairs, making me feel incredible.

"You like that?" James asked in between kisses.

"Yeah," I whimpered quietly against his lips. "I want more."

"Really?" James green eyes flashed excitedly.

"Really." I smiled.

James got up and quickly took off his shirt. Following him, I decided to be brave. I began to take off my dress.

James stopped me.

"No, please baby, can I?" He pleaded. I nodded and let go of my strap. James pulled down each side strap, pushing the rest of the easy fabric down my body, making me stand in only my black bra and underwear. His hands lingered up and down my body. I was thankful for my new body. It wasn't bumpy and out of place. It was lean and toned.

"You like?" I asked him timidly.

"I love." He grabbed me and pushed me back down on to the bed, kissing me like a mad man.

Touching me everywhere.

"Can I take off my pants?" He asked.

I blinked. "Yeah."

His hand lingered on my bra strap. "Can I take off your bra?"

"Yeah." I gulped. This was it.

James took his pants off quickly. Then he took off my bra, throwing it to the ground. We just had our underwear on. As his greedy eyes scoured my body for the millionth time, they paused at my breasts and he began caressing them. "Baby, you're freaking gorgeous."

"Really?" I asked, meekly.

"Really." He assured breathily, pressing his chest into mine.

He breathed hard and began grinding his underwear area against mine. My back curled in response and I cried out quietly in response.

That felt amazing.

"You like that, you want more?" He panted.

"Yeah I want more." I told him breathily, feeling sedated.

"Do you want to?" He gulped visibly.

Go all the way?

Well there wasn't much stopping us, we were already practically naked and I didn't think I could walk away content without going all the way this time.

I gave him a timid nod. "Yeah, I want to." His eyes brightened, clearly excited. He quickly lowered down and peeled my underwear off. He then slid his own off. He pressed his naked body on top of mine. The feeling was out of this world.

"Baby, this is amazing." He hummed, his mouth slightly opened, his eyes transfixed as if he were comatose.

"Yeah, I love it too. Push against me more." I cried, pushing myself 'there' into his 'there'.

"If I do then I really will lose it, and this will be over before it begins." He groaned.

Over?

Oh God, over, meaning.... he was going to spill on me or even in me?

All of a sudden memories of the safe sex class I took in the ninth grade came to me.

"Do you have a condom?" I asked, grabbing his shoulders, stopping him from moving.

"Yeah." He breathed.

"Have you ever had sex before?" I asked, letting go of his arms.

He nodded and pressed his chest into mine. "Yes, but not since I met you."

"Really?" I breathed, elated.

"Really." he assured.

He reached over to his nightstand and pulled out a square foil packet. He took the latex out and slid it over his man part, which had grown even larger. I stared at it fascinated.

"You like what you see Fireball?" James smirked as he nestled against me again, all wrapped up.

I grinned "Damn right."

"This might hurt a little." He expressed thoughtfully.

"I trust you, just go slow please." I whispered, my heart starting to pound faster. Now, this was really it. It was going to happen.

"I will, trust me, you're going to enjoy it." He pressed the tip of his man over my edge. I breathed hard as he slowly entered inside me. I felt myself expanding. The pressure was getting more intense the more he went inside. He stopped and looked at me.

"Baby this is it, I'm going to go all in." He panted.

"Okay." With that he slammed into me and I cried out, biting into his shoulder.

"Ouch." I giggled nervously after a few seconds of getting used to the pain.

OH MY GOD! I was having sex!

"Are you okay?" James asked, not moving.

"I'm fine, it just shocked me. Go slow." I breathed.

"Baby," James hummed, beginning to move slowly, up and down. The friction of his movement soon took over from the pain, and I found myself craving him to move faster.

"Faster baby, I want it faster...." I begged.

He moved faster, pumping me. His fingers found their way over my downstairs and they swirled around as he moved faster. I could feel myself going somewhere out of this world.

"James." I whimpered as my head curled into his pillow. "I don't think I can..."

James grunted. "Baby, come, come now!"

I exploded, and knowing that we were alone, I moaned loudly. "Oh God...."

"I'm coming now..." James cried. He pumped faster for a few more seconds before stopping and collapsing on top of me, shaking. "Baby..."

I caressed his back as he finished the last of his ecstasy.

"Did you like it?" James mumbled into my skin.

"I loved it." I said slowly.

As his man left my edge, I winced in pain as the latex grazed against my skin. He rolled to the side, facing me, caressing the side of my face, sweat dripping from his face. "That was amazing."

"It was." I hushed back.

"If you think I'm ever letting you go after this, you're going to have another thing coming for you." James warned.

I laughed as I stretched my body. "Oh really?"

"Yep, baby, this time it's going to be different. Everyone in school is going to know that you're my girl." James assured and my eyes snapped open. Staring at him with pleading eyes.

I caressed the side of his face and gulped. "What about Donna and her crew, you said they get mean when they see one of their boys with other girls."

"I'll protect you. Always." James promised. He leaned in and kissed me firmly on the lips, letting them linger amazingly longer than necessary. I wasn't complaining about the lack of oxygen.

When we couldn't handle the lack of oxygen anymore, we pulled away from our kiss and he slid off the bed. "I'm going to throw this out, I'll be right back."

"Okay." I layed on his bed still panting and feeling sweaty all over. I couldn't believe it, I had just had sex.

Good sex. Even though it was my first time and I didn't have anything to compare it to.

It hurt in the beginning, but it went away. I could see myself doing this a lot. But here was the bigger dilemma.

Jenna!

How was I going to tell her this? She wouldn't understand. She'd think I was tricked again, that I fell for James' words again.

"What are you thinking about?" James asked, walking back into his room, naked.

"Nothing." I smiled at him as he layed back onto the bed, grabbing me and sliding me against his chest. He had a few wet napkins in his hand and he bent over me, cleaning my downstairs softly.

"Thank you." I said.

He gave me a small smile. "This is my job baby."

I smiled warmly at him as he finished cleaning me. He threw the dirty napkins into the trash and I checked his digital alarm clock. It was just after six. I had plenty of time before I had to get home.

"James, are you going to your victory party?" I asked.

He gave me a look like I was crazy for asking. "Hell no, I've got other plans."

"Oh really, like what?" I giggled, elated by his answer.

He bit his bottom lip and leaned forward. "Like how many times I can get you to explode before having to take you home."

I laughed and James hovered over me again, kissing me and beginning to work me, proving to me that the task he set himself wasn't going to be as difficult as I'd thought.
Chapter 15

ANNABELLE

I woke up groggily, my joints cracking as I stretched my entire body.

Why am I so sore? I thought as my eyelids opened and the shining sun enveloped me. Then I remembered why I was so sore.

Oh yeah. I smiled to myself. I had a pretty intense work out last night, an amazing work out actually. Too bad I didn't wear my calorie counting watch while James and I explored one another. Mom would have been ecstatic over the calories I burned in such a short period of time.

Definitely, at least a thousand calories were burned last night! I laughed deliriously at the thought. I got off the bed with power, with happiness and walked to my closet, opening it.

Today was going to be a big day. Even though I was promised everything from James, I was still a tiny bit skeptical, especially with our history. It would be a nightmare if he decided to ignore me, or worse touch Donna in front of me.

If he really wanted to be my man, there would be no more girls (cough, Donna, cough) touching him, laughing too close to his face, pretending that they're something that they clearly weren't.

He was my man and I was his girl. I really hoped at least. Today was going to be the day where he proved that to me. I gave him my virginity last night, which had turned into the most amazing, exhilarating, stress relieving night of my life. I loved every second of it. But if he wanted more of that, well, it was a privilege and only deep and devoted boyfriends were supposed to get that privilege.

I pulled out a pair of blue skinny jeans, brand new, size six. I grabbed a medium size black tank top, the straps were wide enough to cover my bra straps.

I needed to look good today. I straightened my hair and pulled it up in high ponytail. I applied mascara, blush and lip-gloss, finishing the look.

"Annabelle!" Mom called from the kitchen as I made my way down the stairs. She had super hearing, I swear.

"Yeah!" I called back, sliding into my black converse.

"Darling, what about breakfast?" Mom called from the kitchen. "You need to eat!"

I need to eat! Who would have thought those words would have come out of mom's mouth.

"I've got to go, can you bring me a nutrition bar!" I yelled, hoisting my back pack onto one shoulder.

I heard her slippered feet hustle around the kitchen. She came out in her pink bathrobe and matching slippers with a chocolate drizzled peanut nutrition bar in hand. It was only a hundred calories so it was okay for breakfast. Who would have thought, me, Annabelle Simms, counting calories because she'd actually wanted to.

I really did change from the girl last summer.

"You look lovely sweetheart!" Mom gushed like yesterday when I was wearing the dress, eyeing me from head to toe. "Everything looks really good, the jeans fit perfectly, so does the tank top, not an ounce of fat sticking out."

"Thanks?" I jerked my head back not sure if she was actually complimenting me. Shaking the thought out of my head, I took the nutrition bar from her and opened the door. "I'm off, see you later."

"Have a great day darling, and knock those boys dead!" Mom yelled, enthusiastically, doing her version of a fist pump. I was red faced by the time I closed the door behind me.

Knock the boys dead! I burst into laughter. She would have never said that at the beginning of the school year, probably scared she'd hurt my feelings. If only she knew now. But I wasn't going to tell her I had (sort of) a guy, that would be way too embarrassing. I wasn't even sure if I had him and I wouldn't know until he proved himself today.

Today was the day.

It was time for James to show me what he and his word were made of. Because if he decided to keep things the same, then it's going to be goodbye time.

Which would suck, I had a lot of fun last night, and I wanted more.

*~*~*

Jenna had swim practice early this morning, so I didn't have to wait for her at the bottom of the stairs. I crossed the front patio, ushering around crowds of excited students. It was Friday and weekends meant one thing, party time!

Boredom and work was what it used to mean for me. Now I felt like I had some living to do. Even if I had a shift at the club tomorrow morning, my nights were still free. And from now on, I was going to use every second to its fullest.

You were only a senior in high school once.....well unless you failed.

I crossed the hallway hoping to find James in a huddle with his bro's and Donna with her hot girl crew. That pivotal moment would be the deciding factor in our relationship. If he acknowledged me in front of all of them as he did yesterday when it was just him and me, we would continue and I would be the happiest girl in the world. If he ignored me, then we would be finished forever. If he chose option two, I'd have to find a way to stay strong. I didn't feel like I would break down if he did that. I'd have a cry later, but it would be the last time I'd ever cry over him.

I put myself into this situation, again. Did I even have a right to be devastated if things turned horribly?

There was no sign of James or any other Kings of the hallway. Donna and her hot girl crew were absent as well.

Something's not right.

My heart pounded as I exchanged some notebooks in my locker and then headed to English. Usually they'd all huddle together a row of lockers away from English, but I didn't see any of them.

What's going on? Did they change their morning hang out routine? I entered English, it was half full and I chose a seat in the back next to the window. If James showed up late, he could at least sit beside me.

Ten minutes went by, a few more people showed up, but there was still no James. The final bell rings, Mr. Doors got up from his chair and closed the door.

Mr. Doors stood in front of the chalkboard, rubbing his hands together, scouring the room. He raised an eyebrow. "I hope everyone remembers that today is a half day. Some of you decided not to show up, making it an unofficial long weekend. Even though today is a half day, our class still counts and I will be teaching you something that will be very valuable during next week's midweek quiz. As for the students that decided to not show up today, you all are welcome to share your notes, but I think if you want it to be fair you shouldn't and let them worry. Tough luck for them."

Today's a half day!

I forgot that today was some sort of school half day thing. I chuckled a little as Mr. Doors began writing on the chalkboard. It wasn't a break for students. It was a break for teachers.

So today was a half day, that's great. I didn't feel like spending all day today at school anyways. As for James, it didn't look like he was showing up. That explained his absence this morning. I hoped that he and his boys and probably Donna and her hot girl crew weren't altogether having fun, getting a head start to the weekend.

He obviously remembered it was a half day. But he never said anything yesterday. He wasn't here, and neither were any of his friends.

Things weren't looking good. The path our relationship was heading was a dark one, unless there was a reasonable explanation and James just happened to be late for school today.

Here's hoping.

*~*~*

After my last class I headed to my locker and pulled my phone from my bag. I didn't know if Jenna even came today, maybe she had left after swim practice. As far as I knew, she forgot today was a half day too.

Annabelle: Did you come to school today?

While I waited for her to respond, I exchanged notebooks and grabbed whatever I needed for this weekend from my locker. When I shut my locker, my phone beeped.

Jenna: Yeah, coming to you now!

I leaned against my locker waiting for her, playing with my phone, checking Facebook. I wasn't friends with James on Facebook, which was odd, because least of all we should have been friends on Facebook. But I wasn't going to send a friend request, not now anyways. He should have sent me a friend request last summer, but he didn't.

Maybe it was a sign.

I wasn't even worthy enough to be his Facebook friend. Or he just didn't want me to have access to his Facebook page, tagging and all. If Jenna could find all this dirt on him via Latisha's Facebook page, God knows what I'd find on his. Picture after picture, his boys tagging him, Donna tagging him.

That kind of made sense and I had a sinking feeling in my stomach, but I quickly disregarded it. I wasn't allowed to feel pain, not regarding this. I made my bed, now I had sleep in it. If it all turned horrible, than I'd have to overcome it and move on, but this time was going to be the last time. There would be no coming back from this.

"Anna!"

I looked up as Jenna walked towards me. I pushed off my locker and met her halfway. "Did you know today was a half day?" I asked her as we crossed the hallway towards the exit.

"No I forgot completely. I would have stayed home today, screw that." Jenna said.

"You wanna go to Subway for lunch?" I asked her.

"Actually I texted my mom and told her that today was a half day, she told me to come home for lunch. I'm exhausted from swim practice this morning, I just want to go home, eat something and take a nice long nap." Jenna explained.

"Are your parents picking you up?" I asked as we walked out the building.

"Yeah, my mom is. Why?" She asked crossing the doorway.

"No reason. I guess I'll just go to Subway alone."

"Awe, I'm sorry." Jenna expressed sadly. "You want to come to my house?"

"No, you're tired. But thanks anyways." I told her.

"What's wrong?" She asked, sounding concerned.

"Nothing." I answered.

"Oh, I almost forgot! How was your talk with Dean yesterday?" Jenna's eyes brightened.

"Oh, actually I didn't get a chance to talk to him, he had to leave, something about his coach wanting all the players back to their school for an emergency meeting." I explained as we went down the stairs.

"Did he say he was going to text you after though?" Jenna asked.

"Yeah." I answered.

"Well? Did he?" Jenna pushed. She was excited.

I had completely forgot about Dean.

After James dropped me off home last night, he promised to text me. Later, I'd checked my phone for any texts from him and there weren't any. Dean didn't send me anything either. So much for his promise to text after too.

All the guys around me were breaking their promises, even though I was with James yesterday. It wasn't like Dean and I were anything. We were barely friends, nothing official, so I was free to do what I'd wanted. I had no reason to feel guilty.

I was a free woman. I could do what I wanted, when I wanted. I didn't do anything wrong last night. But would Jenna think so?

Shit! How was I going to explain last night to her?

"What did you do after? Did you go home?" Jenna asked as we stopped next to the curb, waiting for her mother's blue minivan to show up.

"Yes, I went home." I answered, which technically was the truth, I did go home after the game. A few hours later, but still, I went home, so it didn't count as a lie. There was no way I could tell her, she'd kill me or worse stop being my friend because she couldn't handle my up and down craziness. She already thought I was stupid, I could tell even if she didn't flat out say it.

Wait a minute this was Jenna, she totally said it, just in her own way.

But could I really keep this 'big momentous thing' from her? This was big news in the best friend department, losing your virginity.

I lost mine last night and in the best friend rule book weren't you supposed to tell your BFF right away?

It's already been over twelve hours. If I waited any longer it might be worse.

I'd better tell her before her mom showed up.

Face to face.

"Jenna?" I said to her. "I have something to tell you."

"Ugh oh, I know that face Anna. What happened, something did happen right?" Jenna exclaimed, looking horrified, then something flashed over her eyes and she looked at me in shock. "Don't tell me you – you did what I hoped you said you were never going to do ever again."

I gave her my best 'oops' look. "I'm sorry."

She slapped her hand across her forehead and turned away. "God damn it Anna! You let him in again? How? When?"

"In the parking lot." I told her, sounding pathetic.

"When you went to meet Dean?" Her jaw dropped.

"Yes." I said meekly.

"How?" She screeched.

I exhaled before answering. "After Dean texted me he had to leave, James started texting me. Well actually his friends bombarded me at the drinking fountain. James told them about our relationship. I think they told him that they talked to me. I told them that I was on my way somewhere, then I started getting all these texts from him in the parking lot. Then as I was texting him back, he found me. He probably heard my phone or saw me from wherever it was he was hanging out."

"But he kissed Donna in front of everyone. Have you no pride?" Jenna asked, still horrified and looking very dumbfounded.

The fact that I was an idiot wasn't new. It was old news that kept repeating.

"Actually Donna kissed him, it took him by surprise." I corrected her.

"Were his lips on hers?" Jenna snapped.

"Yes." I answered timidly.

"Then he was kissing her!" She snipped, blowing fire. "Anna, I can't believe you talked to that guy, after the way he treated you."

"He told me that the reason he couldn't talk to me at school was because of Donna and her hot girl crew, if the boys in their group talk to other girls, Donna and her girls are mean to them. He was trying protecting me."

Jenna's eyes widened. "Anna, that's a load of shit!"

"I believed him." I practically whispered.

She snorted. "I'm sure you did! What else happened? You guys kissed, fooled around in his car after."

I looked away. "Something like that."

"No." Jenna whispered, hoarsely. "No."

I gazed back at her. "Things kind of...." I started to explain but she held out her palm for me to stop.

"No." She whispered again, shaking her head like it wasn't true. "You didn't."

"Surprise," I told her. "I'm not a....virgin anymore."

I quickly turned so I wouldn't have to see her death glare. I felt her hands grip my shoulders tightly. "Oh no you don't, you look me in the eye, Miss 'I give douchebag boys everything they want!'.

"Stop!" I snapped. "I really like him. He said yesterday that he was going to be mine."

"Oh really!" Jenna snorted, unconvinced. "Then where is lover boy? Because I haven't seen him all day!"

"He didn't show up to English." I murmured.

"Well will you look at that, he doesn't show up to school the day after he gets some from you. Gee, that's not suspicious at all." Jenna exclaimed, sounding sarcastic.

"We don't know why he didn't show up today. Until I know the truth, I'm not going to judge his actions." I informed her sternly.

"And if his actions prove dishonest, then what?" Jenna asked, her face bright red now.

"Then I'm done with him, for good. I really mean it."

She raised an eyebrow, looking bewildered. "I'm not even going to respond to that. All I can say is I kind of knew you wouldn't just let him go, not if he decided to dip back into your life professing his next lie to get you where he wants you."

"Why wouldn't he want to be with me?" I held out my arms, palms facing out.

Her eyes narrowed on me. "What are you talking about?"

"I look good, I lost the weight. My clothes look good on me. Why would he want Donna over me?" I gulped.

Jenna stood silent for once, she didn't have an answer. After a few seconds, she answered. "I don't know."

"I think I look good, he should want me." I whimpered.

"A smart person would. But I think it's clear he's not!" Jenna snipped.

"Well, innocent until proven guilty." I told her.

"And how are we going to find out whether he is guilty or not." Jenna asked, looking past my shoulders. Her mom's blue minivan pulled to the curb. The passenger side window rolled down and her mom yelled through it. "Hello Anna banana! How are you my sweetie!"

"Hi, I'm okay!" I told her with a huge smile, blinking away the slight wetness around my eyes. I loved Jenna's mom.

"Do you need a ride sweetheart?" Her mom asked me.

"No I'm okay, I need the exercise." I told her.

"You don't need the exercise, you're perfect." She laughed, looking at me like I was crazy, but in a nice way.

I laughed back. "Thank you, but I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" She asked again.

"She's sure mom!" Jenna answered for me. She turned to her mom. "Mom, I just need a minute to speak with Annabelle, top secret stuff."

"Oh, okay, got it sweetheart." Jenna's mom nodded, understanding right way and rolled the window back up giving us privacy.

"Well?" Jenna pushed. "What's the plan, how are we going to catch the liar and get you to leave him for good this time!"

"He's not a liar yet." I corrected her. "I don't know what I'm going to do."

"This time it's personal, we need to get to the bottom of things in the next few days, if not today. I'm serious! I want blood. I want to rip his ass a new one! He needs to feel pain!" Jenna exclaimed seriously.

I stared at her wide-eyed, shocked. "I'm going to try and contact him, if he doesn't answer me with an explanation, I'll call you."

Jenna opened the sliding van door and turned to me. "You better, or else you're shark bait!" She waved me goodbye and slammed the door shut. Her mom waved at me and drove off.

I pulled out my phone and dialed his number. I needed to hear his voice so he could confirm the mix up with today. That he was at home, sleeping the day away. The line connected and rang for a few seconds, and then abruptly the answering machine came on.

"Leave me a message and I'll get back to you soon." James voice took over the receiver. I hung up, not wanting to leave a message.

I decided to text him.

Annabelle: Hey, where are you?

I waited and waited, but I didn't get a reply. Disappointed I tucked my phone back inside my bag and walked home with a tiny bit of hope still left in tack, that all of this was just one huge misunderstanding.

I hoped.

God!
Chapter 16

ANNABELLE

I'd been home for a few hours. I didn't eat any lunch and I'd been on my bed the whole time. A few tears escaped, but I quickly wiped them away. It was too early for those and there wasn't enough evidence to warrant a cry.

The last cry.

My phone beeped and my heart pounded hard. I hoped that it was James with an explanation.

Please! I prayed reaching for my phone off the side table. My heart sank when I saw that it wasn't his name, but then it quickly picked back up when I saw that it was Dean.

Dean!

Dean: Hey, I'm sorry I didn't text you yesterday. Coach was angry that we lost and yelled, a lot. I threw the last pitch and your school got a homerun off of it, so coach laid into me especially. Hope you aren't angry at me for not texting like I said I would.

Annabelle: It's okay. I'm sorry your coach yelled at you. Wasn't it just a practice game, it doesn't count.

Dean: Every game counts. Anyways, did you guys have a half-day today too? My school did.

Annabelle: We did too, but I forgot. It was good news though.

Dean: What are you doing now?

Annabelle: Relaxing, thinking.

Dean: Thinking about what?

Annabelle: Life, making mistakes.

Dean: I can relate. I keep thinking about a big mistake I made a while ago.

Annabelle: You wanna share that mistake.

Dean: When I didn't call you after that disaster date.

Annabelle: it's okay, I'm over it.

Dean: I'm not. I wish I did things differently.

Annabelle: I wish I had done some things differently too.

Dean: Like?

Annabelle: I'd rather not say it's embarrassing.

Dean: I can respect that. What are you doing tonight?

Oh God!

Was he going to ask me out?

What about James?

I'd already cried enough over him, maybe I should just move on, quickly.

For real this time.

Annabelle: Nothing, why?

Dean: Some of my friends and I are going to see that new action adventure movie, you should come with us, bring your friend too.

I didn't know what say.

Annabelle: Can I get back to you about that?

Dean: Yeah, we're going to the 7:30 pm show. Text me.

Annabelle: Okay.

Dean: GTG, TTYL.

Annabelle: Later!!!

I dropped my phone back on the side table and tucked my head into my hands. Why was this happening to me? Why couldn't James be clear with what he'd wanted? Even though I could just be misunderstanding this entire situation and it was really nothing. But for some reason, deep down, I had a feeling things were exactly how they seemed.

He had run away again. Or he thought he could have the best of both worlds.

If that's the case, he couldn't!

He couldn't have the best of both worlds, I wasn't someone he could walk all over. I already gave him something very important to me last night. I couldn't believe I gave my virginity to someone I wasn't a hundred percent sure of.

Even if it had felt right in that moment.

I hoped he was innocent.

At that moment my door bursts open and Jenna steam rolled in. "He's not innocent!"

I jumped off my bed and quickly shut the door behind her. "Keep your voice down, my parents don't know about James!" I hissed at her as she planted herself on my desk chair, turning on my laptop.

"Wait – just wait until you see what I have! I have my evidence! He's so guilty!" She screeched a touch quieter.

"What are you talking about? What do you mean you have evidence to prove he's guilty?" I asked as my heart ran a mile a second.

No! Please let her be wrong! I prayed inside as she logged into her Facebook account. Once she's on her news feed page she turned and faced me. "Guess what I found on Latisha's Facebook page an hour ago? By the way she didn't show up for practice this morning either. Not cool."

"What did you find?" I asked her quietly, slowly.

"All of them, together at some cabin place." Jenna informed, clicking on Latisha's page. A window popped up and Jenna scrolled the cursor down to a folder called 'Our long weekend bitches!' She clicked on it and ten pictures popped up. I leaned over her shoulder to get a better look. The time was at the bottom and it was taken at 9am this morning. It was their whole group standing in front of one of their cars, a Red Ford Escape. James stood with a huge smile on his face beside his boys. Donna and her hot girl crew were crouched on knees in front of them. Guess who Donna crouched in front of?

"That girl will not quit." Jenna murmured, shaking her head. "You really believe he hasn't tapped that too? I don't know, the way she's been trying to hand it out to him, it be hard for any guy to resist."

"He said he hasn't had sex since meeting me." I told her, staring at every inch of the photo. They all looked so happy.

Jenna snorted. "Yeah, I don't believe that."

"Next picture." I ordered, disregarding her last statement. Jenna clicked the next picture. It was taken at 10am and it was of Donna and her hot girl crew lounging on a beach in their bikinis.

"Where do you think they went?" Jenna asked.

"Maybe they went to his cabin, he said his parents have one close by." I told her emotionless. "Next picture."

She clicked picture after picture, they were all almost the same, their group together hanging out on the beach, looking like they were having the time of their lives. We stared at the pictures for a few minutes until Jenna broke the silence.

"Did you call him?" she asked.

I nodded.

"Did he answer?"

I shook my head. "I got his answering machine."

"Did it go straight to his answering machine or did it ring first?" She asked like it made a difference.

"It rang first." I informed her, emotionless.

"I see." She murmured, inhaling deeply. "Anna, what do you think?"

"I don't know." I whispered looking at the floor.

"He didn't tell you about this trip, and he's supposed to be yours." Jenna said, sounding sad. "You can see it right? The truth, its right in front of you what his true intentions are."

"I don't know." I whispered again, still looking at the floor.

"He failed." Jenna whispered.

"I don't know." I murmured.

"He was supposed to show you today, show you that he was serious, that you meant so much to him that he would proudly announce to all his friends that you were his girlfriend, especially after last night." Jenna said.

I sighed. "Do you think I've been played again?"

Jenna was silent for a few seconds before answering. "I think you gave yourself to someone who made you believe he was telling the truth. He told you what you wanted to hear, maybe he even wanted it at that moment, but things changed. He changed his mind, and he obviously doesn't want to mix you with them."

"So do you think maybe he just doesn't want to mix me with them, and it has nothing to do with how he really feels about me?" I asked her, sounding hopeful. I slumped down onto my bed, sitting with my hands curled over my face.

"I don't know how he feels. But from what I've seen, even if he really likes you, he's still not treating you like you deserve to be treated. And that's with respect." Jenna said.

"I have to give him up?" I whimpered, still staring at the floor. I felt her body weight sink beside me. Her hand grasps my shoulder, squeezing it delicately.

"Dude, I love you like a sister. I think if you want to not go crazy, then maybe it's for the best if you just give him up and find someone who won't treat you like shit. I don't know, just my opinion." Jenna sighed. "He's not going to change. He's going to do whatever he wants because he feels like he has that power. He's a master manipulator, look how he conned you yesterday."

Tears streamed down my face, dripping down, splashing against my feet. I sobbed quietly, trying to get it all out as fast as possible. Jenna stayed quiet, consoling me with another squeeze to the shoulder.

So this was how things were going to end between us. I told myself that if he failed me again, this time would be the last.

I was devastated.

He promised me!

He told me that it was going to be me and him from now on, in front of everyone. Why was he so scared to show people he cared for me?

I wasn't that bad.

I had lost weight.

I looked good.

What more was there for me to do to make him believe that everything would okay?

"He's scared of Donna?" Jenna asked. "Maybe he's scared of losing all the hot girls' attention. That asshole is an attention whore!"

I laughed, wiping the tears away from my face. "He really likes being in the spotlight."

Jenna snorted. "I don't know about you, but my future man better not be like that. There can only be one diva in that relationship, and it's going to be me!"

I laughed again. She wasn't even trying to be funny on purpose, that's just who she was. "You got that right, you definitely are a diva!"

Jenna bumped her shoulder playfully into mine. "I knew you didn't have all rocks and air up there Anna!"

"Screw you." I told her with a small smile.

She leaned in. "Don't cry anymore okay."

I nodded wiping the rest of my tears away.

"And the whole virginity thing, are you okay about that? Are you devastated now that you know what you know and you've given it to him?" She asked.

I shook my head. "No, I wanted to."

Jenna rolled her eyes. "I'm sure it was nothing to call the president about anyways."

"It was pretty good." I informed her sheepishly.

"Anna!" Jenna jaw dropped. "You're not supposed to be complimenting his skills. You're supposed to be downgrading them! Jesus! Have I taught you nothing in life?"

I burst out laughing at her exaggerated tone of voice. "He was horrible in bed and his thingy was a little thingy. I'd barely felt a thing!"

It was Jenna's turn to burst out laughing. She fell backwards on to my bed, rolling around laughing out hysterically. "That was a good one! That was a real good one! His little thingy!"

I joined her in laughing, falling to the ground rolling around, belting out deep in my belly laughs.

Jenna stopped laughing and turned to face me. I was on my back on the floor. "You feel better?" She asked.

"A little." I sighed.

"Then it's a step in the right direction. Hopefully by tonight, you'll be brand new." She exclaimed.

"Tonight?" I repeated, stunned.

"Yep!" She chirped sounding sure of herself.

"That quick?" I asked.

"It's like a Band-Aid, we have to rip it off quickly. The pain will go away soon after." Jenna explained.

We lay in silence for a few minutes. My mind was still all over the place. I didn't know what to do now.

"What are you thinking about?" Jenna asked.

"I'm lost." I informed her.

"You're not lost, you're just healing. It'll ease soon, don't worry." Jenna assured.

"I hope so." I murmured.

All of a sudden Jenna jumped off my bed, clapping her hands wildly. "I have a great idea!"

"I don't know about that." I smiled, unconvinced. "What's the idea?"

"Correction, genius idea." She announced loudly. "We are about to make things more interesting!"

I jerked upwards into a sitting position. "How so?"

"We are going to move on and we are going to take a lot of pictures looking fabulous and we're going to put them up on Facebook!" Jenna explained.

"How is that a genius idea?" I asked, still confused.

"Because I'm going to put hot pictures of you having the time of your life on Facebook tonight, I have lots of friends on Facebook one of whom is Latisha, I know shocking but swim team mates for life, anyways, I know that bitch checks my page just as much as I check hers. She'll see my fabulous night out pictures later tonight, and knowing those girls, they like to gossip."

She gave me a look that's best described as, 'I'm a genius, bow down to me now!'

"I don't know about that." I said, worried.

"We needed to spice up your Facebook account anyways. Your pictures are all old! We need to take a hot picture of you, make things sizzle a little!" Jenna said. "Then....BAM! Friend requests galore, hello boys! Goodbye James!"

"I still don't understand what you're proposing." I told her.

"Enough questions! We have a night out to plan and we have to make you hotter!" Jenna stated firmly.

"A night out, well Dean texted me earlier about going to the movies with his friends, told me I should bring friends too." I informed her.

She snapped her fingers and pointed at me. "Yes! That's what we're going to do tonight. We're going to the movies with Dean and his hopefully just as hot or reasonably hot friends. We'll fix ourselves up and take lots of pictures. Then we'll put it up on Facebook!"

"Will you quit it about this whole putting up a million hot pictures on Facebook thing! It sounds ridiculous!" I grimaced.

"Anna, the craziest ideas are usually the most brilliant. So sit back and let the genius do the thinking tonight! It's going to work!" Jenna exclaimed.

"You think James' going to see those pictures?" I asked her.

"He will once those girls see the hot and new Anna step out for the first time in all her glory! They'll be like a pack of hyenas out for fresh meat. Guess who you play?" Jenna giggled deliriously.

It was contagious, because then I started to giggle. "You're crazy you know that?"

"Really?" She giggled some more.

I nodded.

"Thank you! Nicest thing you've ever called me." Jenna said then clapped her hands loudly. "Alright, first order of business, text Dean, tell him tonight is on like Donkey Kong or whatever the saying is!"

"Then what?" I asked.

She puts her hands on her hips and tilted her head to the side, exuding attitude from every pore in her being. "Then we turn into hot bitches! Then it's photo time, get your poses ready, girl!"
Chapter 17

ANNABELLE

"One more!" Jenna pleaded after checking the last hundred pictures we just took on her iPhone.

I shook my head. "No, I'm tired of posing!"

"Please!" Jenna snorted. "You love seeing the brand new you, looking all fabulous in every frame!"

After going home and grabbing a few items for tonight, Jenna quickly came back and we spent the last couple of hours choosing an outfit that would showcase my new figure in all its glory.

"I don't know about this?" I stressed, getting up in front of the mirror for the millionth time. She absolutely insisted that I wear her short A-line black skirt. I shimmied, flouncing the fabric, and then cringed seeing the amount of leg showing as the fabric bounced into the air. I wasn't even shaking it hard. If I actually wore this outside, I probably couldn't do more than walk or else risk giving everyone a show.

"I've never shown this much leg before." I confessed, eyeing her through the mirror. Jenna ignored me and grabbed the hair spray, sprinkling her newly wavy hair.

For the thousandth time.

I rolled my eyes and plugged my nose. "Don't you think you've had enough?"

Jenna snorted, shaking her head. "No! In fact your waves need a little touch up too." She moved the can towards me abruptly and sprayed like a madwoman.

I coughed and waved her away. "I'm choking!"

"Good, that means you have just the right amount on." She smiled and placed the spray can down on my desk.

"My room is a gas chamber!" I choked.

"The price you pay to look hot Anna." Jenna informed knowingly.

It was my turn to snort. "Hot? I'm decent at best."

"Shut it, you look hot as hell, in fact don't move, I need to take another picture." She reached for her phone on my bed.

My eyes rolled. "Haven't you already taken enough?"

She ignored me and positioned her iPhone. "Give me a hot pose, something that screams, come and get me boys!"

I laughed. "What? I'm not a stripper!"

"No, but in that skirt, you could be.....so scandalous!" Jenna grinned slyly.

Instantly my hands pulled at the skirts hem. "You said it wasn't that short!" I stressed.

"Yeah, I lied." She said nonchalantly. "And no, you can't take it off, it makes the outfit complete."

Completing the outfit? I stared back at my reflection as Jenna took photos of me from every angle. She paired the short skirt with the black top I wore to Peter's party last month. The tank top elongated my newly thin waist even though it was a little loose from the last time I wore it, but that was understandable.

Let us not forget the boobs. Yeah I'd lost weight, but the 'girls' only decreased in size from the sides.

No more side boob fat for me! I grinned remembering.

My phone beeped and Jenna stopped taking pictures. "Is that him?"

I checked my phone and nodded. "Yeah, he's outside."

"Let's go, we have a whole night of pictures to take!" Jenna announced, showing me her phone. "I'm making this picture your profile pic."

The picture was of me sitting on my bed right after she had put the final touches in my makeover.

Great!

*~*~*

"Wow." Dean murmured scanning me up and down as he rounded his car in the movie theatres parking lot. "Anna, where have you been hiding?"

I looked away shyly. "I'm still the same girl."

"Only hotter," Jenna stated as she got out of the backseat of Dean's Honda. She smoothed the back of her black sundress. She looked so good. Her long dark hair was in a high pony tail, minimal makeup on, unlike mine which she happily slathered with all the trimmings, making me look like a bratz doll. I didn't know how I felt about that. I'd never looked this shiny and put together, even though I paired the outfit with my Denim jacket and black chucks.

There was no way I was wearing high heels to the movies. That would have been stupid and impractical, especially with all the stairs.

Dean leaned against the hood of his car, smiling at me. I smiled shyly back at him.

"Don't move!" Jenna ordered, pulling out her iPhone and pointing it at us. "Annabelle, sit next to Dean."

My eyes rolled and I slid next to Dean, eying him apologetically. "Sorry, she's trying to spice up my Facebook page."

"That's cool." Dean grinned, putting his arm around me.

"Smile guys." Jenna ordered, snapping the photo. "Got it!"

Dean lowered his arm and pulled out his phone.

"What are you doing?" I grinned, extending my arm back to lean on it.

"Friending you." Dean said, playing with his phone.

I blinked. "Really?"

"Yep," Jenna answered for him. "Just got it and I'm accepting him for you right now!"

Jenna had my account open on her phone so she could add pictures as she saw fit. My profile pic was the first thing she changed. It was a far cry from my original profile pic, a photo of me when I was fourteen in a witch's costume for Halloween.

"Just uploaded the photo, and Dean, totally just tagged you now!" Jenna confirmed.

"Great." I muttered, feeling my face heat at an accelerated rate. Her enthusiasm was killing me. "Can we go now?"

Dean laughed. I could feel his eyes on me. "You two are funny."

"And hot." Jenna added as she pulled me off the hood and linked her arm through mine. We headed to the theatre's entrance.

"That's for sure," Dean said smoothly, right behind us.

"What else have you been adding on my page?" I whispered to Jenna.

"Oh nothing really, just a few updates on your timeline, accepting a few friend requests." Jenna answered.

My jaw dropped. "Who? You didn't say anything about friend requests." I hissed.

"Relax, it's no big deal, it's just a few people from the swim team." Jenna explained, looking straight ahead.

"Like who?" I pressed.

"Like, Don, Tina, Jerry, Sally, Dana," Jenna said. "And Latisha."

"Latisha!" My jaw dropped, again. "Why would she friend request me, we don't talk."

Jenna snorted. "You think she cares about that, she just likes having a lot of 'friends' on Facebook, and also because she's nosy. I put our pictures up on my timeline and that's how she found you."

"That's it, log out of my account." I ordered her.

"You're no fun!" Jenna pouted, tapping her phone. "There, all logged out."

My eyes rolled. "It might be too late, the damage is already done."

"You should be kneeling before me, praying for my thanks. I saved you!" Jenna exclaimed dramatically, then chuckled.

"Whatever." I muttered then twisted my neck catching Dean's amused expression.

"You guys," Dean chuckled. "Are interesting."

"And you love it!" Jenna snorted.

"That too!" Dean grinned, jogging up to us. We crossed the parking lot and entered the crowded theatre. The excitement of everyone around us was contagious, even though I still felt slightly hollow. The last time I came to the movies was with James. It was supposed to be our thing, he'd promised that. He didn't keep that promise for too long along with all the other ones, always having his reasons for doing things that seemed sketchy.

I took a deep breath and casted away the thoughts that came with being at the theatre. I shouldn't be thinking about him anyways, it wasn't healthy. I was out with my friends, especially with a boy who was interested in me. I needed to focus my attention on that instead of something that clearly just wasn't meant to be.

We followed Dean as he led us to the waiting line at the Box Office.

"Joe!" Dean called at a tall, very familiar figure busy staring up at the movie time board. His dark brown hair was smoothed back and he was wearing a dark blue button down with black jeans.

Joe? Then it came to me, he was Dean's best friend. The last time I saw him was at the park where he got into a fight with James.

Joe faced us with a huge grin. He slapped hands with Dean, who then introduced us. Joe smiled at me for a second as he remembered who I was. When his eyes scanned over to Jenna, they twinkled, seeming mesmerized.

"Hey." Joe said to her, seeming captivated, his eyes never leaving hers.

I stared at her, amused at her just as captivated expression. Jenna gave him a small smile. "Hi."

Well look whose boy struck now! I thought, stifling a huge smile.

"Let's get tickets!" Dean said loudly, breaking their stare off. He eyed me and I could see that he'd caught on and thought it was funny too.

Joe broke eye contact first. "Yeah, tickets." He coughed. We got in line, the boys in front, Jenna and I behind them. I shoved my shoulder playfully into hers, eyeing her like 'I know'.

"Shut up." She muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Wait, let me get my phone out, I can take a picture of you two and you can put it on your Facebook page! Then you can friend him and tag him in it." I giggled, pretending to reach for my phone. Her hand shot out, stopping me.

"Don't you dare." She hissed, her face turning red. This was new. Jenna didn't get flustered this easily. I guess someone's got a crush.

Today will go down in the books. The day Jenna turned red over a boy that had nothing to do with being angry.

I quietly laughed as she seemed to be having a hard time breathing. I wanted to yell out congratulations to her, welcoming her to the world of crushing on boys.

But because I was a good friend, I decided not to.

She should totally learn from me.

When it's our turn to buy tickets, the boys pushed themselves forward and crowded the front register. Jenna and I tried to squeeze through to pay for our own tickets, but the boys weren't having it, barely acknowledging us as we pleaded with them to contribute. The boys paid and the ticket agent slid over four tickets. Dean took two and Joes took two.

Jenna and I gave each other bewildered looks, like we couldn't believe that had just happened.

Dean handed me a ticket. "Here you go."

I took it from his hand, his fingers grazing my skin purposefully. "Dean," I murmured. "Thank you."

He waved me off like it was no big deal, but looked away embarrassed.

I glanced at Jenna who was taking the ticket out of Joe's hand slowly. Clearly he's worn her down. They stared at each other longer than normal.

"Hey, let's get snacks!" I yelled, breaking their trance. "Jenna and I will buy the snacks!"

*~*~*

Half way through the movie, my phone vibrated. I had my phone in my jacket pocket, which was resting on my lap. For some strange reason, I had a feeling 'who' it could be.

I knew it wasn't mom or dad, they were out with their friends, and I told them I was staying over at Jenna's tonight.

Besides Jenna and my parents, there was only one other person who actually called and texted me.

James.

My heart started beating faster. I wiped my sweaty palms against my jacket. It started vibrating again and the sound was more noticeable because the scene on was a quiet one. I felt Jenna nudge my shoulder. I glanced at her questioning glare.

"Who is it?" She mouthed. I shrugged. I glanced to my right at Dean, he was really into the movie but quickly noticed me staring at him. I gave him a small smile before turning back to the movie. My arm took up most of the arm rest and I felt his fingers rub at my skin, taking my mind off the vibrating phone on my lap.

My phone continued to vibrate for the next few minutes. Jenna got up and grabbed my arm.

"Bathroom." She whispered to the boys. Joe was sitting next to her and nodded.

She dragged me to the bathroom and pulled out her hand. "Phone please."

I handed over my phone without looking at the screen. "Who is it?"

"Who do you think?" Jenna smirked, tapping away.

I blinked. "James?"

"You got that right, golden boy has been texting and calling you like crazy!" Jenna sneered.

"How many?" I asked.

"He's called you twice and sent you five texts in the past ten minutes. Do I have permission to read your texts?" Jenna asked.

I thought about the type of texts going back and forth between James and me. I didn't know if I wanted her to read the intimate details between us. That's if they even were intimate. He could have sent me a text saying that he wasn't interested in me and that last night I was just a matter of convenience for him. I'd rather her read the harsh words than me.

I nodded and she opened the texts, quickly scanning them.

Jenna snorted. "Well will you look at this! Mr. Smarty pants wants to know where you are right now."

"Really?" My jaw dropped. After everything he's done today, the promises he didn't keep, he wanted to know where I was.

The nerve!

"I'm not joking!" Jenna exclaimed in disbelief, and then started laughing. "Oh, the next one is a good one. He wants to know what's up with the pictures you just put up on Facebook!"

It worked! It actually worked.

She grinned at me. "Mission accomplished!"

I leaned back against the counter. "I don't know about that."

"Oh my God! You have to read this last text!" Jenna pressed, shoving my phone into my hands. I turned it over and my eyes bulged at the message.

Tiger: Why are you playing with me?

"Why am I playing with him?" I screeched, looking up at Jenna who was still shocked. "Is he joking me?"

"If anything he's playing with you!" Jenna sneered. "He's trying to make you feel guilty!"

"I'm not the one who broke a promise!" I growled.

"He's so manipulative!" Jenna declared. "Well, I'd like to see him try and get himself out of this one. I know he's gotten away with it in the past with you, but come on, this time, he's gone past the point of no return!"

I nodded. "Yeah, he's gone too far this time."

*~*~*

After the movie, we'd all decided to go to the park. Apparently there was a little game going on with Dean's friends and he and Joe thought it would be fun to go and watch, maybe even play a little.

Them not us though.

I rode with Dean as Jenna opted to go with Joe in his car. The thought of the two of them hitting it off this fast had made me smile big.

Who would have thought, not her that's for sure. I guess when stars hit you, they take you by surprise and since meeting Joe a few hours ago, she's had stars in her eyes. Not that Joe didn't either, he was completely enamored by her, practically following her like a little puppy dog, begging for instruction just as long as she never left his side.

He was officially obsessed. Not that I could blame him, my best friend was awesome.

"Did I tell you, that you look amazing tonight?" Dean grinned, driving into the parks parking lot. I'd recognized it immediately, it was the same park he brought me to last time.

Let's hope there isn't a repeat of that this time.

"Yeah, but you don't have to stop saying it. A girl could get used to hearing endless amounts of compliments per second." I grinned.

Dean pulled his car to a stop. "You do, you look amazing tonight. I'm a lucky guy."

I looked away embarrassed. "Dean, come on."

"No, I'm being real with you. I'm lucky." He assured, grabbing my hand, rubbing his fingers in my palm.

"Then I'm lucky too." I smiled looking back at him.

"Duh, of course you are. You're out with Pleasant Views Star Pitcher!" He laughed and got out of the car. I shook my head and got out too.

"Still lacking in confidence I see!" I said across the hood of the car as he gave me a playful grin.

"What's taking you guys so long, come on!" Jenna yelled as she and Joe crossed the parking lot.

"We've been summoned, let's go before she chops off our heads!" I smirked, grabbing him and pulling him towards them.

"I'll go anywhere you wanna pull me to." Dean said.

"Are you sure about that?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

He nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure."

Considering everything that's happened in the last twenty four hours, I didn't know how I felt about Dean professing his devotion to me like that. He obviously liked me a lot, and I liked him, but I was still trying to get out of the mess I'd created.

I needed time to sort my stuff out before I could commit to anyone else. Including a nice guy like Dean, even though he didn't like being considered as 'nice', but that's what he was.

"Come on." I murmured, tugging his arm again.
Chapter 18

ANNABELLE

I'd been dreading every single minute this past weekend.

It was finally Monday morning.

Last weekend besides Friday night had me at my most nerve wrecking, all in anticipation for today. The first time I was going to see James since Thursday during what I thought was us finally moving forward in our relationship.

Just breathe.

After our dates with Dean and Joe, I'd slept over at Jenna's house. She made me promise not to answer James back, no matter what. I swore on my life I wouldn't and thankfully he didn't send me any more texts. He hadn't called me either. The promise was still kept. But even if he had, I wasn't going to go back on my word, that guy already made me a fool too many times. I didn't even go to work on Saturday morning, calling in sick just in case he decided to show up.

Now it was Monday morning and I was on my way to school in a pair of size six blue skinny jeans and a short sleeved black shirt that went past my hips.

Add some black chucks and that was my style. Although I did spend a little extra time on my hair, straightening it and putting it up in a sleek pony tail. I'd also applied some mascara with a tiny bit of blush.

More effort than I was used to, but I could see the difference.

"Anna!" Jenna yelled, pushing off the railing at the bottom of the stairs in front of school. "You actually came today. I thought you would have passed out from the nerves. Today's the day!"

"Don't remind me." I muttered, walking past her and heading up the stairs, feeling a new bundle of nerves grow inside of me. "Is it me or are you having a hard time breathing too?"

Jenna laughed behind me, catching up by skipping steps. "No, it's just you!"

"That's not the answer I wanted to hear! I need words of encouragement, I need help!" I exclaimed.

"You're going to be fine, just ignore the douche!" Jenna advised, as if it were that simple. "If you want I can take care of him for you."

I stopped mid-step. "You will not! Don't talk to him, he has a way with words." I gave her a pointed look then continued up the stairs.

"You don't have to tell me twice, you're clearly the example of that." Jenna panted.

My eyes rolled. "Thank you for reminding me."

We crossed the crowded patio and entered inside. I gulped nervously as our feet hit the freshly cleaned floor of the hallway.

"Just be strong." Jenna urged, squeezing my shoulder one last time before heading off to her locker.

I looked down the hallway and breathed a sigh of relief, James and his boys were nowhere in sight. Class was starting in ten minutes, so they should be on their way. I decided to not go to my locker and just go straight to English. I didn't want that awkward moment of walking passed them. I went to English and thankfully there were students already inside. I picked a seat in the middle as far away from where he normally would sit, which was at the back beside the wall. I was covered completely.

I became enamored with my notebook, looking over my notes from the last class when the bell rang.

My heart took off in a sprint.

This was it.

Just breathe.

It's going to be okay.

Don't even look in his direction.

Pretend like he doesn't even exist.

He doesn't exist for you anymore.

A stampede of students rushed inside, I didn't look up, instead focusing on the floor watching their feet shuffle in. Then I saw his mixed in with the crowd as they rushed inside.

Don't look up. I ordered myself for the hundredth time. The final bell rang and everyone took their seats. Mr. Doors began his lesson.

It was going to be okay, James was probably sitting in the back. All I had to do was keep my eye sight straight.

*~*~*

I headed to the cafeteria without waiting for Jenna. I needed to get in the lunch line before he showed up and I'd get stuck in a staring match with him. English went better than I thought, I kept my eyesight straight and as soon as the bell rang I quickly got out and headed to my next class.

I could feel him staring at me, urging me to turn so he could trap me with his gaze. It was a very powerful gaze, one that I wasn't sure I would be able to look away from. I was proud of myself for fighting the urge to look at him and his beautiful green eyes.

By the time I made it inside the cafeteria, the lunch line was quickly lengthening. I quickly took my place. As the line moved forward, my phone rang. I checked the screen and smiled, it was Dean.

"Hey." I answered. "Long time no talk."

"Hi, yeah I know. I didn't want seem desperate. Do you have lunch now?" He laughed.

"Yeah, in the lunch line now. Do you have lunch too?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm actually sitting across Joe right now. He says hey," Dean said.

"Oh yeah, say hey back to him, should I say hey to Jenna for him too?" I chuckled and I could hear Dean ask Joe if I should pass a message along to Jenna for him. I couldn't hear Joe's response but Dean laughed.

"That would be a no," Dean laughed back into the receiver.

"He should just come out and say he loves her, I mean I've never seen a guy slobber over a girl before." I laughed explaining. I was about to say something else when I felt my hair being tugged back.

"Owe." I yelped quietly.

"Everything okay?" Dean asked, concerned. I turned my body and came face to face with the one person I didn't want to see today.

James.

He stood behind me with two of his friends, smirking to themselves. I scowled at them and turned around.

"I'm okay, just some asshole who thinks he's being funny." I said loud enough so that he could hear.

"I wish I was there right now, they wouldn't be doing that stuff to you if I was there!" Dean growled.

I could hear their laughter escalating, I was pretty sure it was about me.

"Dean, I have to go," I said, feeling my face heat up.

"I'll call you later, give those guys hell okay!" Dean said. I hung up and tucked my phone into my pocket.

The line moved forward thankfully and I entered the restaurant quickly making my way to the refrigerator to grab a salad. I could feel him right behind me as I opened the sliding door.

"Stop acting like this." James whispered.

"Leave me alone." I said back, grabbing a salad.

"No." He said back. "There's something wrong with you."

My head snapped up and he stood there with his arms crossed, a snide look on his face. He was so beautiful in his dark blue shirt, his messy wavy hair tucked underneath his signature backwards Baseball cap. His green eyes sparkled. I snapped out of my momentary daze, remembering his recent betrayal. "There's something wrong with me?"

"You've been avoiding me all day. I thought you wanted everyone to know that we were together." James sneered.

"Well, thanks to you, I don't want that anymore!" I snapped quietly.

His eyes widened. "Why are you acting like this?" He exclaimed, sounding annoyed.

"You lost your chance last Friday." I snipped back.

"Oh I see what this is about, you're pissed that I didn't ask you to come out to the lake with my friends." James sneered, shaking his head.

"You said that everyone would know on Friday that you were mine. You didn't show up. You didn't even say anything about leaving." I fumed.

"So just because we're together that means I can't hang out with my friends anymore. You can't have it all. You need to stop acting jealous and get over it. This is how it is." James explained condescendly.

My eyes widened. "I'm over it, don't worry."

"Are you sure about that, seems to me you're ready to burst." James said, then leaned forward whispering. "Just like last Thursday, right?"

I leaned away from him. "I had a nice time with you, but now I see that's probably all you're good for, let's leave it at that."

"Stop!" He pushed, looking sullen.

I shook my head. "No, you stop. You, leave me alone from now on. I don't want to have anything to do with you, ever!"

"Are you sure about that, because once I'm gone, that's it, I won't even look at you." James warned.

"That sounds great." I snapped.

"You'll be back." James smirked, sounding sure of himself.

"I won't." I snapped one last time before circling around him and paying for my salad. I walked out of the restaurant and headed towards Jenna. I slid on to the bench, fuming.

"What happened?" Jenna's eyes widened.

"It happened!" I breathed, wiping sweat off my forehead. "Am I red?"

Jenna shook her head. "You had it out with him, where?" She asked.

"In the restaurant," I told her, trying to take the lid off my salad, but my fingers kept slipping. I was shaking too much.

"Hey – hey, you're shaking." Jenna noticed, grabbing my salad bowl. "Let me do it, your hands are out of order. What did he say?"

I watched her easily slide the lid off and push it back to me. "That there was something wrong with me and that I was being unreasonable, and that I should get over it."

Jenna's jaw dropped, her left eye twitched and I think I could hear a growl coming out of her. "That asshole! I'm going to kick the shit out of him!"

"There's no need, I told him I wanted nothing to do with anymore, he followed that with a threat," I sighed.

Jenna's jaw clenched back tight, eyes narrowing. "What do you mean he followed that bullshit with a threat?"

"He said once he's gone, that's it, he's gone forever." I explained, digging into my salad.

Jenna snorted. "That's not a threat, that's a reward!" She started laughing. "That douchebag got it backwards, he actually thinks he's some sort of prize possession that needs to be nurtured at all costs, no matter what. Dare to dream asshole! He gave my girl exactly what she wanted!"

"Yeah," I told her in mock – enthusiasm, staring transfixed at the logo around my water bottle. "Exactly what I wanted."

Jenna tilted her head. "Don't!" She urged, desperately.

"Don't what?" I asked, confused.

"You're having reservations. I can totally see the pain all over your face. Dude, I understand you cared for that jerk off, but come on, you can't feel anything remotely warm towards him now, not after the way he played you, used you. You get a bag of mixed messages and he goes off to the lake with his boys and those skanks." Jenna exclaimed dramatically, rolling her eyes multiple times.

"I'm human, what can I say?" I told her, finishing my salad. I chugged down the rest of my water surprisingly fast.

I guess the argument left me dry.

*~*~*

"Anna." Jenna whispered behind me.

"What is it?" I asked as I tucked my notebook into my bag and shut my locker.

"Don't turn around." Jenna ordered, sounding urgent.

My eyes widened. "Why?"

"Because, there's a show going on behind you, one that I don't think you're going to appreciate very much!" Jenna stated, sounding pissed. I could hear the disgust in her voice.

I exhaled loudly, looking at my closed locker. "Is it James again?"

"Yep, and a certain skanky skank shoving her boobs from left to right, you'd think there was a freaking compass in them." Jenna laughed bitterly.

I chuckled at the thought of Donna's boob's acting like a compass. "Can I look now?"

I waited a few seconds, but Jenna still didn't say anything.

"Well?" I asked, impatiently. I wanted to leave school and go home. This day was already exhausting enough as it was, I didn't need another reminder of how crappy it was.

"Yeah," Jenna began to say. "They don't look like they're going anywhere anytime soon, the whole lot of them. Why are they even chilling in this part of the hallway anyways? School's over, they should all be in the parking lot banging each other, quoting Beavis and Buthead, or doing whatever it is that they do."

"I don't care." I muttered, turning around anyways, even if they were there, I wasn't going to allow them to make me feel nervous, not in my hallway. A row of lockers away from mine, James and his boys, plus Donna and her hot girl crew were crowding around each other, laughing loudly and play fighting. Donna apart from the rest of her hot girl crew was showcasing her boobs. They were popping dangerously out of the low cut pink tank top she'd worn to school today. They started to pop up and down even more after James and his friends said something to her then laughed. In response, she tried to jump and hit them, but failed, miserably.

"You think she's doing it on purpose? Pretending to try and hit them or is she really that weak?" Jenna pondered beside me, leaning on the locker next to mine. I leaned against mine and stared at them with her.

"I don't know, all I do know is that she's crazy about him." I exhaled, not looking away. "Why doesn't he just make it official with her? Things could have been so much easier for him. He wouldn't have me always accusing him of things that he was guilty of and he'd have a popular girl by his side, which, by the way he's been acting, seems to be the only thing he cares about."

"Being one of the cool kids?" Jenna snorted. "Screw him. You're amazing, he should have counted his lucky stars he got to tap this."

I laughed and faced her. "Jenna!"

She tilted her head back and laughed. "What? It's true isn't it?"

I shook my head, amused, feeling my face go warm from embarrassment. "I can't believe you said that!"

"And you're lucky that's all I said!" Jenna exclaimed loudly. She grabbed my arm and pushed me forward. "Let's go, my mom's waiting for me out front, and I'm tired of staring at the dumb squad!"

"Great." I muttered, not laughing anymore. I'd have to walk passed them now, which was the last thing I'd wanted to do. I didn't want to be in close proximity to them like for the rest of my life. Why couldn't graduation be today, then we could all go our separate ways and never have to see each other again.

Crap.

"It's going to be okay." Jenna assured, moving around the crowded hallway towards the exit, which was inconveniently located all the way down the hall.

"I hope so." I muttered, following her, feeling butterflies in my stomach as we got closer to walking passed the loud group.

"Be strong." Jenna whispered. "Pretend they don't exist, especially Mr. Douchebag."

"I'll do my best." I murmured shakily to her. I needed to remember to breathe, this was going to be hard enough to do and I didn't need to faint from the lack of oxygen.

Here we go.

Even though the hallway was crazy busy, for some reason there was ample space around them. I guessed, they intimidated the hell out of everyone here and nobody wanted to be in the same space as them for longer than they had to.

Just like me.

We were passing them and I stared straight ahead. All of a sudden their laughter dimmed noticeably quieter.

I think it's because of me.

"Hey Anna!" One of them snickered, I couldn't see who, but it was one of his boys. I ignored him.

"Awe James, she's ignoring me too." The guy laughed.

James didn't say anything to his friend.

But what could he say? Saying something would actually require him to announce to his entire group, not just to his boys, that he knew me more than they'd like to think.

God I felt pathetic.

I didn't deserve this crap. I shook my head, breathing fire-y air from my nostrils. I wished it was fire, then a certain somebody would have had some explaining to do and he'd actually have to say it or else face a terrible burning death.

We were almost passed them completely when I saw Tom walking down the hallway, heading towards us. He glanced past my shoulders to the group and then eyed me, smirking.

Great.

They were all in on it.

Tom stopped right beside us, grinning. "Hey Anna, long time no see."

I looked at Jenna who looked like she was about to burst into flames, she was that angry. But I shook my head at her and turned to Tom. If this was how they all wanted to play, well, I could play too.

I think it's time for James-y boy to have a little taste of his own medicine. I pulled Jenna to a stop. Using every ounce of courage I had inside of me, I casted aside any reservation I would have had speaking to a boy from this particular group (besides James) and smiled at Tom.

You know, the kind of smile that says 'I find you attractive'.

"Hi Tom, yeah it's been awhile, a whole ten minutes since History finished." I giggled, doing my best to sound dimwitted and flirty. "You take notes?"

He peered over my shoulder looking stunned for a few seconds He blinked back at me and our eyes met. He smiled back, clearly amused that I answered him, considering everything that's happened. "Yeah, but a whole ten minutes, that's a long time. I took notes, you wanna borrow them."

I smirked. "Nah, I've seen your handwriting."

His jaw dropped, amused still. "My handwriting rocks, I'm a pro at note taking!"

I smiled at him suggestively. "Bet that's not all you're a pro at."

"You got that right!" He roared, pumping his chest out.

"I'm sure. I saw you play during the game last Thursday, you were great." I told him, staring deep into his blue eyes. Tom was the same height as James, and he was cute too.

"Thanks," He smiled, sweetly, looking sheepish for a second before glancing past my shoulders again.

"You looked really cute in your Baseball uniform that day too," I grinned at him, making him visibly nervous as he kept glancing over my shoulder.

"Thanks," He stuttered then glanced again past my shoulder, gulping. "Bro, what's up?"

I turned my head, finding James and a few of his bro's standing behind us. James' green eyes met mine and he narrowed them accusatorily at me. I shrugged at him, doing my best to seem indifferent.

Keep it up, or else he'll know how much pain you're in! I told myself as I mustered every ounce of strength I had to not blink.

"What's going on here?" One of his boys' asked from beside him. I think his name was Roy. He was shorter than Tom and James, and had blonde hair and brown eyes. He was cute, but not as cute as James and Tom.

I answered him anyways. "Oh nothing important really, we were just talking about History class and other stupid stuff."

"Sure you were." James sneered, giving Tom a death glare.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Why do you care anyways?

"I don't." James smirked, eyeing his boys like I was crazy. "I think she's on something!"

They started to laugh behind him. He looked back at me and raised both eyebrows as if to say 'Game, set, match'.

I felt Jenna tug my hand, motioning for us to go. I looked at her and she was looking away, but I could tell she was about to blow by the way her hand shook around mine. So for her sake and mine, I'd better wrap up this little party.

But not before I said what I needed to.

I shook my head and stared at James seriously. He stopped laughing and motioned for me to go ahead by tilting his head slightly to the side.

"Did you have something you wanted to say?" He sneered.

"To you? No, I have nothing to say to you, ever!" I told him forcefully. All of sudden, Donna and her hot girl crew joined the boys. Donna wiggled her way next to James and raised an eyebrow at me.

Just perfect!

This is just what I'd needed right now.

"Hello Annabelle," Donna said acidly.

I eyed her. "Hello Donna, you look nice today." I told her stoically.

She blinked back her shock. "Thank you."

"Yeah, pinks a great color for you." I told her, and then eyed the two of them. "You guys look great together."

"What are you talking about?" James grimaced, sounding confused.

I eyed him, smirking. "Well, I'm talking about you and Donna. You guys are together right? You guys look real good together."

Donna eyed James for a few seconds waiting for him to say something. When he didn't, she faked a laugh like she thought it was crazy too.

She tilted her head to the side and sighed, looking at me like I was a stupid idiot who didn't know any better. "We're not like that sweetie."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh you're not, oh I'm sorry, my bad. I thought, you know, you two spending so much time together, that you guys were involved like that."

"Like what?" James pushed acidly as his nostrils flared.

"You know, special." I smirked.

"There's something wrong with you," James declared to me before eyeing his boys as if I were unstable.

I shook my head at him. "Maybe I am. I'll get my brain checked out, maybe next weekend. I've got the time."

I eyed Donna and she started giggling, eyeing her girls sneakily before glancing back at me. "You should have a lot of free time from now on, Fireball!" She bursts into laughter, as did her girls. I heard gasps coming from James' boys.

I blinked, feeling a wave of shock over take me. What?

He told her too?

My eyes felt watery in an instant. I felt my cheeks heat up as I gulped a strong force of bile down. I slowly eyed James. "You told her?" I asked him meekly, shaking my head.

He clenched his jaw and said nothing.

"Alright! I've had enough of this crap!" Jenna declared loudly, turning and joining my side. She pointed to James. "You, are, an, Asshole!"

Then she pointed to Donna. "And you are a little skanky skank!"

Donna's jaw dropped. "What did you call me?" She hissed, her eyes flaring with immediate anger.

Jenna placed a hand to her hip and jerked her head forward. "You heard me!" She snapped back, enunciating every letter slowly.

Donna stepped forward and tried to push Jenna but her girls grabbed her shoulders stopping her. "Don't Donna! You'll get into trouble!" They screeched.

I couldn't look at her anymore. I couldn't look at any of them. I was still in shock. I couldn't believe he told her too. His nickname for me was supposed to be private, only for him to use. I wiped the newly flowing tears away from my cheek. "You told her?"

He shook his head, grimacing. "I didn't, she heard it from somewhere else." He snapped.

"Bitch, you better step back!" Jenna announced loudly at Donna who was struggling to break free from her girls. Jenna raised both her fists and pointed them to Donna. "There ain't nothing fake about these babies, yah hear me!"

Jenna eyed Donna one last time, then grabbed my arm and tried to pull me away from the death glare I was giving James. "Anna, let's go, now!"

I wasn't going anywhere!

"I can't believe you!" I screeched at him, my lips rippling. Tears were flowing all over my face. "I can't believe you! That was supposed to be private! You told all of them!"

"I didn't!" James growled, visibly shaking. "I didn't say a God damn thing."

"You're a liar!" I yelled, not caring anymore who heard, who witnessed. If they wanted to, they could all talk about me for the next millennium. I was going to say everything out loud. "You are a liar!"

Roy stepped forward with his palms up. "Anna, chill. He didn't tell Donna."

James jerked his head towards his friend sharply. "You see, I'm telling the truth, I didn't say anything!"

Donna stopped trying to get out of her girls' grasp and looked at James pathetically. "James?" She cried, but he didn't look at her, he just kept looking at me, his chest pumping in and out.

"I don't believe you." I cried, feeling more tears cascade down. I tried to wipe them away but there were too many. "You're an asshole."

Another one of James' boys stepped forward. "Anna, Donna probably heard us talk about you, that's how she knows."

"I don't care!" I snapped at him, and then faced James again. My eyes were bulging out, stinging from all the tears escaping. "I don't care anymore about you, you can go do whatever you want. I don't care!"

"Are you done?" James asked bitterly. "You're acting like a psychopath!"

"Good!" I spat back at him. "Good!"

I felt Jenna grab my shoulder, trying to push me back. I moved back a few spots, but my eyes never left his. "I'm so done with you! You hear me, I'm done with you!" I yelled at him. I glanced around, the entire hallway once alive with after school chatter was quiet, they were all staring at me and James.

We were the show.

Great, just great.

But this needed to happen.

I'd had enough.

"You never cared about me." I cried, shaking my head at him as Jenna pushed me backwards towards the exit. "You never cared at all!"

James eyes bulged. Looking very angry he lunged forward, but arms shot out stopping him. "Let me go!" He roared, ordering his friends, who weren't wavering on their grip on him.

"No dude let it go." They told him as he struggled to break free.

I wiped my tears away, shaking my head once more at him before turning and walking through the door with Jenna.

"Anna, come on, let's go, don't pay any more attention to those jerk offs." Jenna said as we entered the patio. We quickly trekked down the stairs not saying another word before we hit the curb where her mother normally picked her up.

Jenna ran her fingers through her hair, looking bewildered. "Oh my God, I can't believe that just happened."

I gulped, feeling my face begin to cool, even though it was really hot outside. That's how hot I was. "I know." I panted.

"He deserved that. You humiliated him right in front of everyone!" Jenna yelled joyously, fist pumping over her head. "And Donna, can you believe her? That crazy skank has a lot of nerve! She totally knew what she was doing when she called you Fireball! She's lucky I didn't punch her mouth!"

I shook my head at her. "I would have stopped you, it would have ruined any chance of you getting a scholarship. She's not worth it. None of them are worth it." I breathed, trying to control the quivers in my voice.

"You're right, they're not." Jenna said, and then glanced past my shoulders. "My mom's here."

"Okay, I'll talk to you later." I told her beginning to walk away. I knew my face was red and I didn't want her mother seeing me like this. I needed the time it took to get home for the color in my face to return back to normal and for the rest of my face to dry. Not to mention the fact that my eyes were probably glowing red.

I felt Jenna grab my shoulders. "Oh no you don't, I'm not leaving you alone for Mr. Douchebag to come driving up next to you while you walk home. I'm driving you home."

I shook my head. "No, I don't want your mom to see me like this!" I pointed to my face.

"You're fine, just a little red. We'll tell her you threw up from eating something bad during lunch. She'll believe that for sure." Jenna assured, pulling me to the curb as her mother's blue minivan rolled up. The window rolled down.

"Hey Anna banana, how are you my sweet darling?" Jenna's mom called from the driver's seat with a huge smile.

Mustering up whatever was left of my happiness which was micro, I smiled meekly at her. "Hi, I'm okay."

Jenna opened the back door and yelled. "Mom, we're giving Anna a ride home, she's not feeling well."

"No problem, my pleasure!" She yelled.

"Thanks." I told her, and then eyed Jenna sternly.

Jenna jerked her head to the side, motioning for me to go in. "You first."

Just breathe.

*~*~*

There was only one room left for me to go to. It was the closest thing to a safe zone I had. The door was locked and that was okay, usually our bathrooms were. I was safe for now, because there was no room for pointless words on positivity or how I could have done things better.

Not in here.

My long list of 'faults' was banned until my shower finished. It was going to be a long shower if I had anything to do with it. My eyes shut tightly and I hugged my knees, sitting in the bathtub while hot water drizzled against my back.

Besides the comforting sound of pounding water, the silence that accompanied it was greatly appreciated. But tragically not long after I'd stepped inside the bathtub, a knock on the door jerked me out of the heavenly sedation.

"Annabelle?" Mom called from the hallway. And if my mom had anything to do with it, the shower was about to be cut short.

"Sweetie, are you okay?" Mom's muffled voice traveled through the locked bathroom door and the fog of hot water to me.

"I'm fine." I spoke loud enough for her to hear.

"Are you going to be finished soon?" Mom asked.

Maybe she wanted to use the shower. "Yeah I'll be done in five minutes." I sighed.

"When you're done your shower, come down for dinner."

"Okay." I answered, ducking my head back underneath the jet stream.

The best therapy in the world couldn't rival what I was getting out of this shower right now, and sadly, it had to end. Minutes later, I dried the last drop of water off of me and wiped the steamy fog off the mirror, catching my reflection for the first time. My eyes were red, my cheeks were puffy and my nose felt enflamed from napkin abuse. Hopefully there wouldn't be questions regarding my appearance, I didn't feel like lying anymore about 'why' I didn't look 'okay'.

A hollow shell carried me down to the dinner table. I was left dazed, eating as if I were stuck in slow motion.

"Everything okay darling, you've barely eaten anything."

I pushed the other half of my uneaten chicken across my plate and then put my cutlery down before glancing up at mom, who was looking at me with concern. "I'm going to go lie down."

"You're not hungry anymore?" Mom asked, her head turning as I made my way into the kitchen.

"No, not anymore." I answered nonchalantly, saran wrapping my plate and putting it in the fridge for later in case my appetite came back.

"Alright, go lie down. Maybe you'll be hungry later." Mom said.

I didn't bother changing out of my clothes when I layed on top of my bed and gazed at my blank ceiling.

Normally within the first few seconds, a million different stories would have popped up.

But right now, I had nothing.

There was no imagination left in me. My soul was scarred beyond repair. I was stuck inside a thick grey fog, unable to find a way out because my vision was still blurry.

I was lifeless.

I was not young Annabelle anymore.

I was now an older, bitter, depressed, thinner version of myself.

And my heart was broken because of it.
Chapter 19

ANNABELLE

I fell asleep with my school clothes on last night and in the same position I last remembered being in. My arms were hanging off my bed and when I woke up, they'd felt sore.

That was two hours ago. I'd woken up at four in the morning to darkness. Not that I minded. Dark was good. Sometimes it was needed too.

Just as the morning sun rose highlighting my room through cracks in the blinds, I'd already decided on something.

Two hours of mindless thinking will do that to you, especially underneath the blanket of night. Everything was going to be okay. I just needed to remind myself of that. Maybe if I said it to myself enough times, I'd start feeling better.

I'd felt two percent better, so it was a step in the right direction. Only ninety eight percent left to go. I wondered if I could increase that number by the time I got to school.

Waking up early had its perks. The bathroom was all mine, so I decided to take another shower. Maybe I could wash away some of yesterday's 'stink' off of me that still lingered despite the shower I took when I arrived home yesterday.

I prayed, maybe, hopefully, please!

I basked underneath the heavy stream of hot water as it cascaded down my back, feeling that 'stink' slowly dissipate. And with that, I was up a few points in the feeling 'better' department.

Ten percent better.

"Annabelle!" Mom called through the closed bathroom door and my eyes snapped open as hot water circled around it.

"Yeah?" I called out.

"Darling, are you feeling better?"

Even though hot water had been continuously pouring over me for the last ten minutes, mom's concern made me feel warm inside and almost instantaneously the beat of my heart picked up a little more.

Fifteen percent better.

I smiled a little, wiping wet hair away from my face. "Yeah, I'm feeling a little better."

"Good, I'm glad. I don't want my baby girl feeling bad anymore." Mom said, determined. "Enjoy your shower sweetheart."

The term of motherly endearment melted some of the ice over my heart and I gulped tears back that had nothing to do with James. For the first time, in a long time, I felt better thanks to her.

Who would have thought.

My smile grew bigger after I heard her step away from the door and I stared up at the jet stream, whispering. "Thank you mom."

Twenty percent better.

*~*~*

"Good morning sweetheart," Mom called from in front of the stove as I entered the kitchen.

"Good morning." I said, taking a seat next to Katherine who was busy eating pancakes drizzled with syrup. "Good morning Katherine."

"Morning!" She chirped, smiling sneakily as she slowly raised her pancake filled fork to her mouth. If this had happened a few months ago, I would have shot daggers at the little sneak.

But not today.

Pancakes didn't have my heart beating like they'd used to.

Twenty two percent better.

I shook my head and smiled at her, reaching over and rubbing her head delicately. When I dropped my hand at a surprised Katherine, because I hadn't retaliated to her little boast, I glanced up at mom, who stood with a plate of pancakes and a frozen expression.

"Everything okay, mom?" I asked as she slowly snapped out of it.

"I'm okay." She murmured and put the pancake filled plate in the center of the table. "Yummy pancakes, your favorite Annabelle."

She put an empty plate in front of me and pushed an Aunt Jemima's syrup bottle in front of me. "Eat up!"

"Mom." I murmured, my hands stalling on the edge of the table. Pancakes weren't a part of my diet plan.

"Have as much as you want." Mom said, opening the fridge and scouring it for something. She pulled out a bottle of orange juice. "Would you like some orange juice?"

"Mom," I started again. Didn't she remember my diet? I couldn't drink juice, there were too many calories. Without waiting for my answer, mom grabbed two empty cups and filled them with juice, then placed them in front of Katherine and me.

"Drink up!" She chirped, returning the bottle back to the fridge.

"Mom," I started again, but she interrupted me again.

"Start eating the pancakes, they're getting cold." Before I had a chance to tell her that I wanted to eat the healthy cereal, she quickly stabbed four pancakes and dropped them onto my plate. I stared in awe at the amount she voluntarily placed.

She was acting weird.

Maybe it wasn't even her right now. With this morning's nurturing session to the pancake feast she was trying to get me to eat, calories be damned, perhaps an alien race abducted her and replaced her with a clone who was programmed to act extra motherly.

Maybe.

It's possible.

"Eat, they're delicious!" Mom grabbed her cup of coffee and sat beside me.

I eyed her. "Mom,"

She put her cup down and exhaled. "What?"

"I don't think the nutritionist said anything about having pancakes in my diet." I reminded her, not touching my pancakes, or my juice. I could only imagine how many calories they each had.

It was too much, especially just for breakfast. It wouldn't leave me much to work with for the rest of the day.

"I know," She stared at her coffee as if she was thinking hard about something. Then she inhaled deeply and then exhaled. "I just...I don't know."

"Mommy are you okay?" Katherine's baby voice asked.

Mom looked up and smiled at her. "I'm okay baby." She shook her head a little and glanced at me. "I'm sure you can eat one and you can drink half your orange juice. I counted the calories, it should be fine."

Mom went to cupboard and brought back an empty cup. She quickly emptied half of my orange juice in it. "We'll share." She smiled and then took three pancakes off my plate, leaving me with one. "They're whole wheat by the way."

I gulped and nodded. "Okay, as long as they're whole wheat. I guess it'll be okay. But with no syrup though."

"Of course sweetheart." Mom smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. They looked sad and I didn't know why.

I quickly did another count of the calories and they were just under two hundred.

I hoped it was under two hundred at least.

Reluctantly, I ate the pancake, which tasted dry, but I wasn't going to put syrup on it to enhance the flavor. That syrup represented one thing to me now, and that was fat on my ass.

Not attractive.

Not attractive to boys....or a certain boy. Not that it had made a difference anyways, the way he'd acted. My dramatic weightloss didn't change anything the way I thought it would have.

I drank my orange juice and then carried the dirty dishes to the sink. "Thanks for breakfast, I'm off."

Twenty two and half percent better.

The food gave me fuel, but I'd worried about the calorie count too much to have an increase in my 'feel better' percentage quest.

"Have a good day at school sweetheart." Mom called, not looking up from her still filled cup of coffee.

What was wrong with her today?

Maybe she was just having an off day.

Just like I was.

I grabbed my bag and slid into my black chucks. Right when I was about cross the threshold out, I caught a glance of myself in the full length mirror on our jacket closet. I'd worn my signature long black shirt and blue skinny jeans. I'd worn a version of this yesterday. Normally I was cool with doing repeats, but today, it didn't feel right to walk out in the same clothes as yesterday. Especially with what was waiting for me at school today.

Oh God.

I didn't want to think about that right now, or him, or them, not until I'd absolutely had to.

I looked like the same old, young, naïve Annabelle.

I may have changed physically, but I'd yet to start looking like the woman I'd wanted to be.

Strong, Unwilling to compromise, Powerful.

What was that saying again? Look good, feel good.

I needed to follow that mantra. Jenna and I threw down the gauntlet yesterday, and I was about to head into a war zone.

I needed battle gear and what better gear for this particular battle than clothing that accentuated my assets.

I knew what I had to do.

I dropped my bag to the floor and quickly yanked off my shoes before racing up the stairs back to my room. I opened my closet and scoured it for the shimmery black tank top I'd worn to Peter's 'back to school' party last month.

As I layed eyes on the magical top, for the first time since yesterday's pre-hallway fight, I grinned.

Thirty percent better.

*~*~*

Jenna's jaw dropped when she saw me walking up to our usual meeting spot at the bottom of the stairs. She pushed herself off the pillar she was leaning against and grinned. "That's what I'm talking about!"

"Is it too much?" I asked, feeling a bit apprehensive. The top seemed like a good idea as I was putting it on, but twenty minutes later, I wasn't so sure anymore.

It seemed more revealing today than at Peter's party.

Twenty Eight percent better.

Damn it, two points down. That wasn't good. I needed to snap out of it if I had any hopes of surviving today.

Jenna shook her head. "No way, you look awesome!"

"Really?" I asked, feeling myself move back up in percentage.

Jenna nodded. "Oh yeah, especially those puppies." She pointed to my boobs for a second, and then lowered her arm to cover her mouth as laughter spilled from it.

I grimaced. "No! I can't believe you did it in public again!" I turned and quickly headed up the stairs. If I wasn't so annoyed at her I would have gone slower up the stairs. The result of yesterday's meltdown awaited us, and I didn't want to have to face it any faster than I had to.

"Wait up, hot mama!" Jenna laughed, double stepping and catching up to me in an instant. She linked her arm through mine. "Hey, we need to stick together. We don't know what's waiting for us in there."

I groaned. "Don't remind me."

"It's not like we have a choice Anna. We went 'there' yesterday. We need to be on the lookout incase those jerk offs get in your face again. Especially Donna." Jenna panted.

"I think she's more interested in beating you up for calling her a skank in front of everyone." I reminded her as we crossed onto the patio.

Jenna snorted. "Pulease, I'm not scared of her. She can't do anything to me. I have friends too, lots of them. Hello, swim team members for life."

"Not Latisha." I reminded her again, grabbing onto her backpack strap as she led the way through the crowded patio.

"Screw Latisha, she wouldn't know loyalty if it hit her on the head and said 'Hi, loyalty here'." Jenna sneered. She pulled the front door open and faced me. "This is it."

"I don't know if I can do this," I stammered all of sudden, staring at the front patio with horror in my eyes, slowly backing away from the entrance. Jenna grabbed my arm, stopping me from backing away any farther.

Five percent better.

"Oh no you don't. We made our bed, now we have to lie in it. We're warriors, and we ain't scared of nobody!" She claimed, holding out a fist. "We're warriors Anna. Mean, hardcore, we take no prisoners, warriors. I laugh in the face of the fools that would dare confront us today."

I lowered her fist back down and shook my head at her. "You need to stop watching those medieval shows on HBO. They're not reality." I pointed to the entrance. "This is."

She eyed me as if I were being stupid again, and then shook her head. "With that attitude Anna, there's no way you'd survive in the army." She hissed.

I jerked my chin back in confusion. "The army?"

"Be a man!" She exclaimed all of a sudden. "Be a man!"

My lips cracked a small smile. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Fifteen percent better.

"Be a man!" She said again. "We have to think like a man, act like a man, so we can tell all those jerk offs out there, that no! They can't play us!"

I inhaled and nodded. "Think like a man...so they can't play us."

"That's right!" She grabbed my arm and pulled me back towards the entrance. "Now let's do this!"

My eyes widened and I dug my shoes into the ground. "No way, I can't. I can't. I'm not a man. I'm a fraud and a gutless girl."

Jenna's eyes widened. "What did you say?" She asked, deathly slow.

"I'm gutless." I said, quietly.

She leaned her head forward. "Do you wanna die today?" She asked quietly.

I shook my head. "No." I whispered, unsure where she was going with that line of questioning.

"Then snap out of it!" She exclaimed loudly, scowling at me. "Be a man!"

"A man!" I repeated, slightly stuttering. She nodded sharply and pushed me forward.

"Grab my bag strap." Jenna ordered. I grabbed her strap and she plowed her way back to the door.

But then another worry crashed into me. I stalled again, halting her from entering inside. I worriedly scanned the crowded patio to see if anyone was staring at me. I'd completely forgotten that yesterday's little hallway fight was witnessed by everyone. I'd made a fool of myself yesterday. Everyone probably thought I was a hysterical mess now. And those who'd missed it, well, they probably already knew via text message. "I don't know if I can do this!"

Two percent better.

She groaned loudly and stepped back onto the patio, letting the door close behind her. "You can do this!"

"But yesterday, everyone saw." I panted, which had nothing to do with trekking up the stairs. I was so nervous, my heart was beating out of my chest.

Jenna shook her head, seeming exasperated. "So what, there's a hundred fights a week here."

My jaw dropped. "Really?"

Jenna nodded. "Yeah. Last week there was a huge fight with Roy and Dana, right beside my locker. It was way worse than what happened yesterday. Then the next day, everyone forgot all about it because Sarah and Denise from History got into it over some guy. Girls these days, fighting over a stupid guy, he was probably two timing them with each other. Now that's ridiculous!"

"Really?" I stammered, shell shocked that all that had happened, and I didn't even know about it.

"Yeah." Jenna said. "Our fight is probably old news by now."

Twenty percent better.

I exhaled and inhaled deeply. "Okay," I nodded, timidly to her. "I can do this."

I grabbed her bag strap and she guided us through the threshold.

"Correction, we can do this." Jenna corrected, stopping once we got inside. She grabbed my shoulders and shook them, eying me sternly. "You, stay strong."

"Got it." I nodded.

"Don't cave, don't cry, and most of all, don't fall for any of his tricks if he stupidly decides to go there with you today. Please!"

I nodded. "I got it, don't worry. I'll be strong, I mean, I'm going to do my best to be strong."

She squeezed my arm. "You can do this. You're a man!" She said.

"I'm a man." I repeated, breathing sharply.

She kept going. "You won't let anyone crush you."

"I won't let anyone crush me." I repeated, gulping.

"Especially douchebag James and slutty slut Donna." She continued.

"Especially douchebag James and slutty slut Donna." I repeated.

She held a fist out. "Fight"

"Fight!" I said back.

"Text me if there's a problem, I'll have my phone next to me just in case. I'm a hallway away, girl!" She laughed, slowly backing away and turning into her hallway.

"I can do this." I chanted to myself and slowly turned into my hallway, quickly eyeing it for the popular crew. The hallway was on the cusp of overcrowding, so thankfully, none of them had arrived yet.

Thank God!

Twenty five percent better.

I headed to my locker quickly and exchanged notebooks, and then headed to English where the classroom was half filled. I chose the same seat as yesterday, in the middle.

He would probably end up sitting in the back. Which was fine by me, the farther, the better.

Twenty six and half percent better.

I opened my notebook as more students trailed inside, each one making me more nervous than the last, all in anticipation to 'him' arriving.

All of sudden the image of him walking in had my heart beating at an unprecedented rate. Then I realized something horrific, I'd have to spend an entire hour in the same room as him, worrying that I'd concede as soon as I'd make eye contact with his penetrating stare. He had power over me and he knew it. He knew how I felt about him, how strong it was considering all the other times I'd easily forgiven him.

I was crazy about him. And I hated myself for it.

And at that thought, every word Jenna said to me washed right out the window.

Ten percent better.

I couldn't do it.

I just couldn't. I needed to get out of here now, before it was too late and we'd bump into each other. I wasn't strong enough to face him, or to look him his beautiful green eyes and not give in. I needed time to put myself back together.

Five percent better.

I quickly stuffed my notebook into my bag and rushed to the exit. I slowed down through the threshold and scoured the hallway for the popular crew, not wanting another repeat of yesterday. Thankfully, because there was still quite a bit of time left before class started, they still weren't in the hallway yet.

Thank God!

Ten percent better.

I threw myself into the crowded hallway and headed in the opposite direction they'd all be arriving from. I was going to take the back exit out. No one came through that one, unless they were coming from the fields.

I exited the building and leaned against the brick wall, exhaling a monstrous breath.

Five percent better.

I couldn't look him in the eye. I couldn't do it.

I was a failure.

One percent better.

*~*~*

Thunder struck loudly.

"Dean, I need to tell you something." My voice trembled into the receiver.

Class started fifteen minutes ago and I was still outside talking myself out of going in and facing James like a strong warrior would have.

I wasn't a warrior. Clearly!

I wasn't that much of a coward either and there was someone who needed to know the truth, even if it would bite me in the ass.

He deserved to know the truth.

About everything.

Thankfully Pleasant View High's first period started thirty minutes after ours did, so I'd caught him before his first class started.

"Oh no, why don't I like the sound of that?" He asked, sounding suspicious from the other end.

I held my phone tightly against my ear, gulping back my nerves. "My senior year so far, it's been a bit messy."

"Messy....like guy messy?" He asked, quietly.

"Yeah," I breathed.

"A guy that's not me?" He asked slowly.

This was it.

I gulped and continued. "No, not you." I whispered, covering my eyes with my arm.

"Do I know him?"

"Unfortunately." I replied pathetically.

"Is it that asshole, James?" Dean probed, anger rising in his tone.

I waited a few seconds before replying. "Yeah, I met him last summer working at the country club."

"Was he, or is he your boyfriend?" Dean asked, breathing hard.

"No, it wasn't like that. He just played with me." I replied, feeling ashamed.

"Like you played with me?" Dean growled all of sudden.

I dropped my arm and grimaced to the wall I'd been facing. "I didn't." I protested, shaking my head at his words.

No! I didn't play with him like that.

"You went out with me while you were with him?" Dean pushed.

My heart pounded crazily. "No I didn't, I wasn't with him?" I assured.

"So what, you were off and on with him?" Dean spat back bitterly.

"Yes, but," I started to defend myself but was interrupted by his eruption.

"And you didn't feel like you needed to share that piece of information?" Dean snapped.

"I'm sorry." I cried, feeling my eyes water and my vision sway.

"You're just as bad as he is." Dean said through his teeth. "You're the same. He played with your feelings, and you played with mine."

Dial tone.

My phone dropped from my hand, hitting the ground with a light thud. I shook my head, staring up at the angry sky, wondering what had just happened.

I breathed in and out, following the rhythm of my palpitating heartbeat. A fresh set of tears slid down my face. I didn't wipe them away.

I guess I deserved that.

'You're just as bad as he is.'

His words had cut me hard.

I was just as bad as James.

I did to Dean, sort of, what James had done to me. Strung him along, undecided on which route I'd wanted to take our relationship on, all because I had one foot somewhere else.

Selfishly, just like James was being with me.

I was just as bad as him, if not worse considering I knew how bad it felt to be stringed along without a clear answer. I was much worse. I was a disgusting hypocrite who had no right to feel scorned.

I had done it to Dean.

I was a fraud.

Thunder struck again and the first drop of rain smashed into my face, joining my tears. I grabbed my phone off the ground and texted Dean.

Annabelle: I'm so sorry.

I waited, hoping for a response.

After a while, there was still nothing and I was soaked from head to toe.

Zero percent better.

To be continued....

Annabelle's story continues in...... What My Heart Wants (Y.A Series Book 3)

### About the Author

### Sarah Tork.

I live in Canada. I'm a 1985 baby and have been writing stories ever since I could hold a pen. I love pens. I love notebooks. I love books. The preferred reaction to my work would be happiness. Here's hoping I can pull it off.

You can contact me on Facebook and Twitter if you have any questions.

https://www.facebook.com/authorsarahtork

@Sarah_TO1

