((Ok guys! here's part 2 of chapter 3! Sorry it took so long! School has me busy and I havent had much time to type anything up. Posting this for the first time really is keeping me on my toes trying to keep up. Hope you all enjoy this chapter. I'd appreciate it if you guys could let me know what you think about it so far.))
"You have got to be kidding me! leave her alone Coner!" Sasha said shifting in her seat, attempting to get a better look at me despite herself.
"No! I swear, she looks just like Ana!" He said looking back at her.
I froze. Did he really just say what I think he said? Well... Now that I was closer and got a better look of what they both looked like, Coner did look a little familiar. As a matter of fact, so did Sasha. I looked closer at them, noteing small little things I hadn't been able to see before, as they continued to bicker back and forth. Why did they seem so familiar to me now? Wait... They were a lot like my old friends from back in high school, what was their names again? I gasped a bit in recognition. Strange as it was, they even had the same names as them!
"Coner? Sasha?" I said looking at both of them a bit harder and realizeing that they even showed the same features, "Coner and Sasha from Long View High School??"
Their eyes got wide as they both looked at me and spoke at the same time, "Ana?"
I couldn't stop myself from smiling, hardly able to believe that these two were in fact my old friends from high school! Coner was always annoying Sasha back then, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that that part about them hadn't changed one bit; but what was really surpriseing is that they were here together! They weren't ones that could be seen with eachother overywhere they went after all. I figured that they would have split ways a long time ago. Well, I guess that wasn't the only thing that hadn't changed much with these two; I should have recognized them right away now that I thought about it. Sasha even had that bit of hair dyed a diffrent color from the rest still. Guess you never could really tell what the future would bring.
Standing from my seat, they both nearly nocked me down as they jumped up from their seats and tackled me in a hug. Guess the only thing that really did change was that they were quick to show that hey missed me!
"Oh my god! I can't believe it's really you!" I exclaimed excitedly.
"What happened to you! You disappeared senior year!" Sasha complained still hugging me tightly and squishing me between the two of them.
I laughed as much as I could a little out of breath, "I graduated early and got a job so I could get some money saved up."
Coner spoke now as he stepped back from the hug; he was never really a huggy person, "Why? You left us!"
"I wanted to get the money to go to Chicago to live with my boyfriend. So I graduated early and jumped into work just as soon as I could."
"Then why are you here? What happened?" Sasha asked curiously.
"Oh... Um... Well, some bad things happened between us and I decided to leave," I laguhed a bit to myself, "Guess that's putting it pretty lightly. Well, anyway now I'm on my way to stay with an old friend."
"Aww, I'm sorry Ana!" Sasha said hugging me tighter than before.
"Yeah... But now it's my turn to ask a few questions," I said loosening Sasha's grip on me just the tiniest bit, "What are you guys doing here so far from home? Together no less."
Sasha finally let me go and looked at Coner who was looking right back at her. Apparently that was a good question. Sasha became a little more serious and Coner, for once, was not being annoying.
"Well, first it started out as just a road tirp," Coner started, "Then we decicded we were having so much fun that we were going to make it into an extended vacation. You know, see the states."
"Yep doin' odd jobs all over the place to pay for anything and everything," Sasha finished.
"That sounds awesome! Though, I figured you would have killed Coner by now Sasha!" I laughed, "I'm surprised you two even stuck together this long. You weren't exactly the ones joined at the hip last time I saw you."
"Well look at you. You're the one who up and left so suddenly. Your mom and brother were worried all to hell when you left. Atleast we stuck together; you cut almost all of your ties when you left home," Sasha scolded me while Coner nodded his head in agreement, sitting down and smiling at the waitress who was now bringing them their food.
"I wanted a fresh start," I replied in my own defense, "Bet you guys wanted the same damn thing. That's why you guys haven't gone home yet."
Sasha turned to her food about to speak then paused and looked at Coner then... "Coner you dirty hoe!" She yelled at him and smacked him as he picked another peice of food off of her plate.
I couldn't help but laugh. These two really hadn't changed a bit. Sasha had been calling him that since freshman year at Long Veiw High School. Things hadn't changed that much since I'd left school. These two proved that.
The waitress walked up as we were still laughing and placed my food on the table, " Hey Ana, why don't you come sit with us?" Coner chimed in as the waitress left.
"You probably only want to steal my food don't you," I laughed as a giant grin spread across his face. I stood up with my food in hand and moved to sit beside Sasha.
Sasha, Coner, and I finished eating and cahtted for a bit. I hadn't seen them in atleast a year, so there was a lot for us to catch up on. Promise was still goofy as always; she hadn't changed almost at all. Of course Coner had decided to bug Sasha throughout the year, as expected. They filled me in on everything, then after a bit we stood, paid for our food, and walked out to our cars.
"So, where to now?" Coner asked.
"I'm heading on out to Florida. What about you guys?" I asked as I turned hopping into my truck.
The both shrugged, "Don't know," Sasha answered for them.
"You guys really are just wandering around all over the place arent you?" I said smileing from my seat.
"Yep!" Coner exclaimed with a big grin.
"Why don't you tag along with me for a little while?" I returned the smile and leaned back against my seat still watching them, "I have no doubt that you guys could help keep me from getting lost and there pretty quick anyway. You know how bad my sense of direction is."
They both laughed and looked at eachother.
"So? What do you think?" Sasha asked eyeing him a bit.
He grinned even wider than before, "Are you kidding me!? I have a years worth of bugging to catch up on!"
"Then maybe you'll leave me alone..." She grumbled lightly.
"Haha not likely!" Coner poked her in the nose. Sasha nearly fell over as she took a swat at him.
Coner and I started laughing and soon she joined in, "Alright then. It's settled. You guys are coming with me!" I said closeing my door and putting my seat belt on, "Just gotta call Tyler real quick and let him know that I should be there a lot sooner than I initially expected; and with firends too!"
"Tyler?!" Sasha asked smiling, "As in Tyler who you've known for god knows how many years and talk about constantly Tyler?"
"It's been about eight and a half years," I said blushing, "And yes, THAT Tyler. I didn't talk about him that much!"
"Oh yes you did!" Sasha teased, "Yay! we finally get to meet the famous Big Bubu!"
I couldn't help but laugh, "How is he famous? I didn't talk about him that much!"
"Oh yes you did. Now shut up, get in your truck, start it, and lets drive!" Coner said walking to their car.
"I'm already in my truck!" I yelled at him chuckleing.
"Okay then all you have to do now is shut up, start your truck and drive!" he smiled laughing.
I stuck my toung out at him and started my truck, and Sasha rolled her eyes walking back to the car and stepping into it. A moment after she started it Coner jumped out of car and ran over to me smackinng right into the truck hood.
"What in the world do you think you're doing you idiot?" I honked the horn at him.
"Trying to stop you," he grinned jumping off the hood and walked to the window, "Forgot to give you something."
"Next time I'm going to run you over."
"Yeah yeah yeah, whatever you say Ana. Here," he handed me a peice of paper.
"What is it?" I glanced over the paper. It was blank.
"Other side Ana," he said walking away and back to the car.
I turned it over glancing over it again, seeing a phone number neatly written, "Oh. Thank yo-" I stopped seeing he had already gotten back to the car and inside.
I flipped open my cell phone and entered he name and number; then clicked call after thinking for a moment.
"Yo, Damino's Pizza, how can I sevice you today?" Sasha answered in a fake professional voice.
"Hahaha very funny. What do you say to one last stop on our way?"
"Yeah sure, not a problem. We'll follow you. Where to?"
"... Troy, New York," I answered a bit hesitant.
"Sure. Let's go."
"Wait, where are we going?" Coner asked grabbing the phone from Sasha. I could hear an irritated huff in the background and then what sounded like Coner sticking his toung out at her. Sasha answered him impatiently before smacking him for taking the phone from her, "Ow! Wait! Why are we going to New York? That's a little out of the way don't you think?"
"Um... I want to stop and see someone... You know, since I'm near by," I answered biting my lip.
"Near by my butt! And who is this person anyway? Do we know them? Do we know them? Huh, huh, huh?"
"Shut up Coner. And no, you don't know him. His name is Dan," I growled a bit at him, he really hadn't lost the art of kung- annoying.
"Fine then. Be that way!" He continued on, but I tuned him out for a moment rolling my eyes.
"Good bye Coner."
"Huh? Wait, wh-" I hung up on him.
I saw Sasha laughing as I drove past the leading the way. As I thought she would, she'd gotten a kick out of me hanging up on him.
I must have been crazy to want to travel all that way to Troy, but as they say, "Curiosity killed the cat." I had looked at the map numerous times while I had been staying with Corey. It was something I'd been thinking about for a while, but didn't actually think that I would do it. The trip was bound to take a few days if we constantly drove, but that was bound to be a bit difficult with only three of us and two vehicles. Plus, with my sense of directions, I was bound to get us lost and off track more than once through the entire trip.
A few hours and a few phone calls later and we were well on our way. The entire day was etremely exhausting, and I had to call my old friend Jenna who happened to live in the same town as Dan. Well it wasn't exactly a coincidence that they lived in the same town. I had actually met her through him! I had been a few years since I'd talked to either of them, so it was just luck that she stuill had the same number; especially with how often the two of them changed their numbers.
Jenna said that she wouldn't tell Dan that I was on my way out and that it was bound to be a very pleasant surprise. I guessed that she didn't know what I did. And that was that the last time we had spoken, we parted on bad terms. We had gotten into a huge fight. So what really made me curious was whether he'd yell at me and leave the second he saw me, or would he gladly give me a hug and as me how I was? I was afraid to find out.
Another few hours and we stopped for the night. We still had another day or two of driving ahead of us, so it was probably best that we got some sleep now while we could; or atleast while I could. I'd also completely forgot to tell Tyler what was going on and that I was bringing some friends along with me for the time being. When I did call him I ended up never getting around to the main reason why I'd called him. That was normally how it went anyway. He always side tracked me and made it so that I was unable to keep my mind on track.
The next few days of driving was slow. There was little sleep to be had and we were alwasy on the road. Not something I was used to either; but we drove on, stopping only when we had to. Into the dusk of the second day we finally made it to Troy, New York. I made a quick call to Jenna, finding out the exact address of where it was that they were.
Even with my horrible sense of directions we still made it to the destination with almost no problems at all. Dan was home and Jenna was waiting outside for us.
The instant that I stepped out of the truck Jenna attacked me and nearly nocked me over, "Ana, is that really you!?"
"Yes, its me Jenna," I laughed hugging her.
"Oh my god you have changed so much from the picture that Dan has on his computer!" she squealed gleefully hugging me tighter than before.
I laughed a bit at her enthusiasm, "He has a picture of me on his computer? That's a bit of a surprise."
"How is that a surprise? He still loves you ya know," she giggled a bit and looked me straight in the face as I froze.
"Does he um... Know I'm coming?" I stammered though the question
"Nope! he's totally clueless! My god is he going to be surprised and happy to see you here!"
"Yeah... Sure," I mummbled to myself biting my lip and glancing back just in time to spot Sasha smacking Coner for another unknown reason, "Jenna, these are my friends Coner and Sasha. I've known them since I was in my freshmen year of high school. Bout' as long as I've known you and Dan acctually. Maybe a little longer."
"Oh hello. I'm Jenna Het. Nice to meet the both of you," She smiled at them and began pulling on my arm, "Now come on Ana! I can't wait to see his face when he sees you! If he even recognizes you that is!" She giggled more at herself. She was as gitty as could be. She'd always been a high energy girl, but this was really somthing for her.
I hesitated for a moment before I let her pull me up the stairs and onto the porch. Motioning for Sasha and Coner to follow, I stopped outside the door. Jenna was smiling like a fool as she walked in the door and called for Dan, aparently not knowing where exactly he was in the house. I froze in place as I heard his voice, so familiar and yet so alien to me, and Jenna gave me a small cue and motioned me to enter the house.
"Hey, guess whos here. I'll bet you'll never guess in a million years who it is!" Jenna exclaimed happily.
"Oh come on now Sis, stop being stupid," he said, his voice not that far away.
"No, I'm serious!" she said motioning for me to come in again.
I hesitated again and stayed where I was. I wasn't so sure Iwanted to go inside for fear that I'd be trapped witha pissed off Dan, which I knew very weill by now and didn't intend to see in person. Jenna went farther into the house and brought a grumbling Dan to the door.
He stopped in the door way and examined me, giving me a small window to examine him as well and see the changes that had occured in the last few years or so. Last I'd known he was clean shaved and had his hair cropped short, almost to a buz cut. Now he had shaggy hair and what looked like the begging of a gotee. He'd always been in fairly good shape for the simple fact that his dad had always pressured him to keep it that way so that he'd be able to join the military with no problems what so ever; and, of course, with the drinking habits that he'd happen to have fallen into, he now had a beer belly. It was a Dan I wasn't quite sure I really knew. He was in a kind of second skin. Though, that seemed to be something that was to be expected after not seeing someone for several years; even if you'd only seen pictures.
Dan was quite as he looked at me. Not a single sign of realization as to who I was crossed his face. He just stood there looking me up and down, completely clueless.
"Sis... who's she?" Dan finally asked after a few more awkward moments of silence.
Jenna grinned and I stayed still where I had been on the porch for the last ten minutes, "Ha! I told you he probably wouldn't recgnize you! Dan, It's Analiss! It's our little Ana from North View, California!"
He froze and looked long and hard at me. Slowly he stepped closer as I stayed unmoving, frozen myself. So this was it. I had been waiting for his reasction and here it was; I just wasn't sure how to interprate it. He looked confused. Not sad; not happy; just confused.
"Ana?" he asked still looking hard at me.
"Y-yeah. It's me Dan..." I stammered carefully being sure to keep my gaze away from his.
His face turned hard in a split second and he stepped forward grabbing me up in a hug, then roughly pushed me back out the door. I ran into coner and sasha and nearly fell over. He definetly had caught me off guard.
"Don't come back you whore," he said coldly and closed the door after looking longingly at me for a moment. I had just enough time to spot Jenna's face drop as he closed the door.
"Well... That was fun," Coner said dryly.
Sasha smacked Coner again and looked at me curiously, "You have some explaining to do."
I grimaced, "Not tonight please? Let's just concentrate on finding somewhere to stay. It was a mistake coming here."
"Okay, let's go then," Sasha said putting her arm on my shoulder and walking with me to my truck.
"Ana!" Jenna called from the doorway.
Sorry I haven't posted any more of the story for a long while. I've been running around like crazy and I haven't had time to really type up more. I have a bit more done, but I'm not really sure if its enough to post. I'll get it up asap though. sorry again.
((Finally I got part of the 3rd chapter done. Still working. I've only got like a third of the story tuped up.))
Chapter 3: Reunited With A First Meeting
I was in for a long drive. I was going from Chicago, Illinoise all the way to New Port, Florida. This was definetly going to be a fun drive; getting lost, sleeping in the truck, eating out every night, and getting lost some more. Oh joy.
The first thing I did after leaving Shawn there in the park was call Tyler. I got the money and went to the store for supplies; take out for every meal didn't sound like the most appetizeing or quick thing.
The store was packed; this of course was just my luck. It was going to take me forever to get out of there. I definetly didn't have that time. My mission was clear: get to Tyler as quickly as possible. I was already missing his voice, and I hadn't spoken to him maybe more than an hour ago. I was, no doubt, hopeless.
I only grabbed a few things, but the lines ahead guarenteed a fifteen or more minute wait. So I browsed around to see what all there was. I hadn't been in many stores in my short stay here and there was bound to be something that would peek my interest, if only for a few minutes.
Magazines, frozen foods, the normal things you'd typically find in a store. That's all I saw. I ended up eventually walking around one corner and finding a bunch of pencils and paper for half off, so I grabbed a little bit and continued browsing. Soon I decided that I was done shopping. I needed to be careful with what little money I had anyway; gas was bound to be expensive.
I came around one last corner heading for the check out area and froze. Not here too! Shawn leaned against one of the check out areas, chatting away happily with one of the clerks. Damn it! Was he following me still? What a stupid question. Of course he was. Him and Corey were bent on not allowing me to leave for some strange reason.
I started to back up around the corner again, keeping my eyes on Shawn as I did so. Then as I rounded the corner backwards, two arms came down around my waist and pulled me to a warm body gently and yet with strick athority.
"Hey there Baby Girl. How are you?" Corey whispered in my ear as soon as I was fully leaning against him, frozen with shock. I fought off a scream that was instinktly building in my throat, "Miss me?" I didn't need to look at him to know that he was smiling.
My body stayed frozen, still too surprised to register that I should push him away now, rather than later.
"Mmm... I almost forgot how good you smelled..." he moaned a little smelling my hair.
That small comment and action snapped me out of it. I shoved him away from me and whirled around to meet his gaze, "Don't touch me," I snapped at him.
"Oh come on. You're not still amd at me are you?" He asked reaching for me again.
"What the hell did I just say?" I said smacking his hand away, "Don't touch me."
"Oh come on now Babe. Forgive me already. You were always so quick to when you were back home," I said smileing a little again and standing straight.
"That's because it was never anything close to this! Plus I wanted to be with you! Now I can stand you!" I glared at him attmepting to keep my tone low. Man, I'd been glareing a lot ot people the last few days.
His smile was completely gone now. Somethings told me he wasn't too fond of what I'd just said. He sighed and calmed himself a bit. Good, he wanted to try and avoid any huge conflict in front of all these strangers.
"Come on Babe. It wasn't anything. She had a damn nice body. I couldn't help but want some. You just came home rom school early on the wrong day. That's all," he said as he smiled aat the memory of the woman.
"'Came home early on the wrong day?'" I scoffed at him, " Corey, you disgust me! It dosn't matter what someone looks like! I don't care how hot she was! How about I just don't come 'home' at all! How does that sound huh?" I was begining to raise my voice at him a bit and people were just begining to turn and look at us, curious of the quaral we were in.
His smile vanished again and began pleading with me, "Ana... I... Come home. I'll be good to you. I won't ever do anything like that again. I swaear."
I shook my head at him, "I'm going home. Just not to or with you. Never again," I spoke calmnly and turned to leave, heading for the check out lines again.
Grabbing my arm exactly where he had the night before and directly on the bruise he had left, he stopped me in my tracks. Calmnly, I turned to meet his gaze. He was looking at me pleadingly, just like he had the night before, but this time there was no randome stranger standing in to help me.
"If not to my home, then where? And if not to me, then WHO?" he quietly asked me not letting my arm go, but instead bringing it closer to himself to examine the bruise. He leaned down to kiss it lightly, and softly run his fingures across the mark he had undoubtably left on my skin. I flinched at the presure on the more tender spot on the bruise, "I'm sorry for that by the way," he said, still quiet.
"Don't worry 'bout it," I watched him do all of it and then pulled my arm away as I spoke. To my surprise, he didn't resist one bit, "And who and where I go to is none of your business. All you need to know that is't not here, and not you."
Turning away again I came face to face with Shawn. Could this day go any better? He smiled, turned me around to face Corey, and posesivly draped his arm around my shoulders and looked over at Corey, then down to me to be sure he wasn't in any potential danger fom my riseing temper, and then back to Corey.
"Hey Ana. You ditched me back there at the park earlier," he said keeping his smile, "What's up Corey? I see you finally caught up to my little Ana here huh?"
Corey was about to say something when I cut him off by throwing Shawn's arm off of my shoulders and snapping, "YOUR little Ana? I don't think so. Catch you guys never," I rushed away from them to one of the check out lines.
Stealthily, I watched them throught the corner of my eyes. They still stood where I'd left them, only now Corey had a little smirk on his face and was saying something, no doubt arogant and ment to stirke a nerve to Shawn. Shawn stood positioned so he could watch both of us, but was scowling at Corey keeping most of his sights on me. I was fairly certain that he wasn't able to tell that I was watching them as well. Were they disgusing me? Again another stupid question. Of course they were. I was, after all, the only reason they were speaking.
"Excuse me miss? It's your turn. You're holding up the line. Please move forward if you are ready," the clirk said politely getting my attention away from them.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention," I replied stepping forward and placing my things on the counter to be paid for.
The clirk was quick and efficent, and finished with me quickly. Soon I was sitting in my truck again. My arm throbbed a bit, but it wasn't so bad. I sighed placing the items I'd bought in the floor and thinking for a moment. Corey and Shawn... What exactly did they want with me? An what could have possessed Shawn to call me HIS Ana? Surely he couldn't have been that much of a moron.
I got settled and put on my seat belt, starting the truck at the same time. I needed to be on the road already. Tyler wanted me ASAP and I definetly wanted the same. He would be worried if he knew about the insident in the store though. Well what he didn't know surely wouldn't hurt him.
About an hour later I was on the road with a map in hand. I was going to be spending quite a few hours in my truck for the next few days. Who knew, maybe I'd be like my mother or my friend Jen and make a randome friend on the road. The stickers my mom would put on her car would attract the weirdest people and Jen would yell randome things out the window just from being hyper at randome people and end up, somehow, meeting them in person a few days later. Well, the town I grew up in was extremely small so there wasn't anything difficult about meeting someone you've seen on the road around town or at school. Everyone knew everyone else.
I was prone to getting lost while driveing too, so that little set back only made it that much of a longer drive. It probably wasn't usually a good idea to let me drive alone unless I was in an area I knew, but even then there was still a good chance of me getting lost. I'd lost count a long time ago how many times I'd gotten lost in Chicago, or my own hometown for that matter.
After driving for maybe three hours I decided to stop at a diner and grab a bite to eat before I got into the really hard core driving pattern. Though I hadn't eaten a single thing all day either.
As I pulled into the parking lot packd with the dinner time rush of vehicles, I spotted two people about my age. One was male, very tall and skinney, and had black hair that fell into his face and covered his glasses the tiniest bit. The other was a female. She was a bit big set, appeared about as tall as me, probably a little taller, also with short hair, though a little longer than the guy did and sported a little bit of red coloring but was over all dark brown. She wore make up that complimented the features of her face, and, from where I was far away, he outfit as well.
The girl didn't look too happy with her comapnion who was smiling at her frustration. They must have been having some kind of arguement. She tirned away from the boy and began stalking back twords the diner and inside when the boy did something to her from behind as he followed her with a big smile on his face, causing her to whirl around and yell at him once again. I had thought too soon. They weren't having an arguement, the guy was being just plain annoying and was on the fast track to getting good clock to the head. That's if it were me anyway. Soon they were inside and the show was over though.
While I had watched them I had parked my truck. I stepped out and locked it as they walked into the diner doors, then headed in after them smiling replaying the little scene in my head. I stood waiting for a moment waiting for someone to find the time to seat me; they were quite packed.
Soon enough a waitress came and seated me, ending up with a seat right next to the two I'd seen in the parking lot. I couldn't help but smile to myself again as I heard a small part of their conversation.
"Oh my god Coner! Stop!" as she smacked the boy. I asumed he must of course be Coner.
He laughed, "Why? It's fun!"
"Becasue it's freaking annoying!" she snapped
Coner laughed again and reached acorss the table to poke her, but was smacked in the head before he succeded in his attempt. I chuckled quietly to myself as I heard the loud thud her hand made against his head, and continued browsing the menu for something that I could maybe afford.
"Ow! Sasha, that hurt!" Coner complained rubbing the side of his head.
"Well, you deserved it! Next time don't mess with me you idiot," the girl, Sasha, scolded him. I shook my head a bit smiling still.
"You are violent and mean you know that?" Coner comented
"And you're annoying. Now figure out what you want to eat so we can order already," she retaliated without hesitation browsing through a menu of her own.
I stopped listening for the moment and searched for what I wanted to eat, ordered it, and sat quietly waiting for my food tempted to text or call Tyler; the wait for my food was bound to take some time anyway. I began searching through my pockets a bit until I found my cell.
"Hello?" a friendly voice came from behind me. It sounded like Coner, "Hey, hello?"
"Oh Coner leave her alone. She's probably ignoring you on purpose," Sasha grumbled lounging in her seat a bit.
I kept messing with my phone figuring he wasn't talking to me, when I felt a tap on my shoulder, "Hey you."
I turned to see Coner was looking directly at me, a giant smile forming across his face, "Y-yes?"
"I knew it!" Coner exclaimed triumphantly, "You look just like her! Only I think a bit taller.... your hair is longer than she kept her's and its darker too. Otherwise, you could be her twin!"
((I finally decided that I would just post it all at once :D It would have made two very short ones otherwise. so Read away and enjoy!!))
Chapter 2: The Call and Memories
I stood motionless in Corey's apartment. Shawn stood beside me, his face free from any sign of the smile that had lit his face ever since I'd met him. He had seen through my lie so easily, though I do admit, it wasn't the most convincing lie either. Still, he had answered without hesitation. "Liar". Just one simple word revealing it all. I decided to play it off...
"No. What are you talking about?" I asked half looking away from him and shuffling through more of the papers. "I'm gunna go home to my family."
He stood there watching me for a moment. Watching my every move. I didn't think I'd fooled him until that old familiar smile returned to his face.
"You got the money to make it back? Where did you say you were from again?" he cocked his head to the side thoughtfully.
"I didn't say, and yes, I should have enough money to get home. Even if I didn't, then oh well. I'll just have to do a few odd jobs on my way home." I spoke easily and bored. I knew from the start that it was a possibility that I didn't have the money to make it all the way to Tyler and that it was possible I would have to do odd jobs. So that part wasn't a lie.
"Or you could let me give you a little extra cash." he smiled more at me.
"No"
"What? Why?!"
"Because I don't take free money."
"O.K. You can pay me back then."
I rolled my eyes," I doubt that after I leave I'll ever see you again."
"Oh well then."
"No."
"Oh come on Ana! Let me do this for you!" he pleaded leaning closer to me on the ground.
"No. Why would you even do that? You don't know a damn thing about me Shawn." I glared at him a bit. It was sweet, but not going to happen.
He leaned closer to me, "Because... I really like you..." then he quickly moved in to kiss me, catching me by surprise and causeing me to fall over; taking him with me.
Quickly I pushed him off and grabbed my binder, closing the contense inside, and walking even quicker outside to my truck, leaving Shawn sprawled out on the ground trying to collect himself. I was already in the truck and starting it when Shawn sprinted out of the apartment. I was too stunned to pay much attention to him. He had just kissed me! That was it. I had to get out of Chicago. I didn't care if Tyler would take me in or not; I'd live in my truck if I had to!
"Ana! Wait!"
I still had the truck in park though I was ready to take off. But why not, I decided to stay and humor him rolling down my window.
"I'm sorry I did that. It was inappropriate," he exclaimed out of breath from the short run down the stairs and over to my truck. I watched him carefully and he took a moment to breath.
"You're right. It was. Thanks for athe appology. I'm leaving now," I took the truck out of park and turned around ready to leave when I saw it. Corey's car was pulling into the parking lot, "Oh damn it!"
Shawn looked up following my gaze to see what had upset me. He must have caught sight of Corey because he smirked quite a bit.
Corey pulled in beside Shawn and me, a wide grin plastered on his face, "Heh, knew you'd come back to me," He aparently hadn't caught sight of, or didn't recognize, Shawn standing beside the truck just barely out of his line of sight. I glared at him, wishing I hadn't waited to hear Shawn out.
"Oh hey! Look Ana! It's the idiot from the club!" Shawn cut in laughing and leaningn easily against my truck. I was so tempted to just throw the thing in reverse and move it out from under him. Though that wouldn't have been the nicest thing to do.
Corey glared at Shawn as he got out of his car but spoke to me, "Babe, why'd you bring this basterd with you?"
"He was helping me grab my things. I was just leaving," I turned to look at Shawn, still keeping my eye on Corey, "Thank you for the help Shawn, I'll see you around."
Corey broke in laughing now leaning bakc against his car; Shawn and I both glared at him. Had I said something funny? This idiot deserved a good sock in the jaw; though from the looks of it, Shawn had made sure he'd gotten that last night. The skin around his eye and entire cheek was black and blue. From the looks of it, it hadn't finished changing color yet either. Guess Shawn had one hell of a right hook.
"What the hell are you laughing at?" I snapped at him. He'd never gotten on my nerves this much before.
Corey stopped laughing, but instead began chuckleing, "Where do you think you're gunna go? You don't have the money to go home, much less find your own place. Hate to say it babe, but you're stuck with me," he started laughing again.
Shawn glanced a bit nervously at me; this had just been the topic between the two of us, and now Corey was jumping in. Oh joy.
"For your information, you over confident basterd, I do have a plan. I have somewhere far from YOU to go," I snapped at him
He stopped laughing and his smile faded; that seemed to deflate his ego just the tiniset bit. Good, he needed it; his head was begining to grow too big for his body. Shawn stayed quiet watching me as I spoke.
"Oh really, and where might that be?" Corey replied, a touch of poison in his tone.
"Like I said. Far away from YOU."
"Yeah, I got that part. But just where might that be?"
"Why the hell do you care?"
"Just tell me you little bi-"
"What did I tell you last night?! Watch your mouth around a young lady!" Shawn cut him off glaring at him.
"Why don't you shut your trap and stay ou of this," Corey snaped back.
"Both of you shut up! I'm leaving and neither of you need to worry about me any more. What I do is my own damn business!" I yelled at them both, "Shawn, move or you're going to end up on your back, on the ground."
Shawn stood and walked quietly behind the truck.
"What the hell are you doing?" I snapped out my window at him. Corey had a smirk on his face.
"You're not leaving unprepared like this. Now tell us where you're going," he spoke seriously not stepping out from behind my truck.
"Hehehe, I think I'm starting to like this guy after all," Corey laughed again.
I glared at corey again and spoke as calmnly as I could, "Shawn, move now."
"No."
"You stubborn idiot! MOVE!"
"No. Not until you tell us where you're going."
"Fine!" I yelled unhooking my seatbelt and stepping out of my truck, "I'm going to call an old friend and go to Florida! You happy?! Now let me go and get out of the way!"
They both went silent; must not have been what they had expected.
"You expec us to let you go just like that?" Shawn walked to the side of the truck again. I glared at him ready to jump back in my truck; the door was still open.
"Yeah baby girl, You're not exactly someone to let go of," Corey added, "I shouldn't have done what I did."
I sighed, "Yeah, well I was hopeing you would just leave me alone. And yes, you're right. I haven't been here for more than two months. I won't deal with either of you anymore. I'm out of here," I bolted for the truck and started it back up. It wasn't going to be my fault if either of the idiots decided to jump in front of me and get run over.
Neither of themmoved to get in the way. I sped from the parking lot and out onto the road. Once I ot to a stoplight I started shufleing around my turck for my cell phone; what better time to call Tyler than now?
I found my phone and pulled into the nearest parking lot looking up Tyler's number; with the any luck he'd still have the same one. As I found his name and opened up the file that hel d his number I sat there and just stared, allowing the memories of the past flood my head....
~~Flash Back~~
"How are you shy?!" I lughed over the phone to Tyler. I was only fifteen years old, my hair was shorter and so was I.
"Just am," Tyler replied laughing back.It was almost as if he had a slight accent when he spoke, but I suppose that'd be due to the fact that he lived in Florida for a long time; I still loved it though.
Tyler and me had been friends for maybe the last four or five years before. He was also a bit older than I was, but that didn't kick that fact that I was begining to fall for him. He would call me sis most of the time and I would call him big bubu or my Tylrt back, jokeingly of course. And to top everything off, that was the first time I'd ever spoken to him on the phone in the four or so years that I'd known him.
"You are so not shy! You're far from it," I'd answered him still laughing. No matter what I always seemed to be constantly smiling or lauhing when I was talking to him.
"No, I swear. I am. You'd be able to tell if I weren't shy. It's a major diffrence!" he chuckled.
"Mmhmm, sure Tyler. Whatever you say."
"Okay Sis, fine. Don't believe me."
"I will. Er I mean I won't..... I will? Okay you know what I'll put it this way, I will be that way and not believe you. So..." I made a noise to the phone, making it clear that I was sticking my toung out at him. He did nothing more than laugh at me.
He laughed a bit more as I did it again and yawned lightly, "Well Sis, I think it's time for bed. You kept me up all night. Lucky I got night shift at work," It was 3 A.M., or 6 A.M. his time, I had most sertainly kept him up all night, "Plus you got school in the morning kiddo."
"Awww, damn. I can't bug you anymore tonight?" I play whined.
"Nope. You better go to bed right now young lady!" he teased me, "Or I may just be forced to do something."
"Oh really, and what might that be?"
"Hmmm.... I have nada clue yet!" he laughed again.
I laughed with him and then sighed a bit, "Oh fiiiine. Be that way. Good night Big Bubu. Love ya, sweet dreams."
"You too Sis," I could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke and then he hung up.
For maybe another hour or so I lay in bed thinking of him until I fell into a dream filled sleep...
~~End Flach Back~~
I stared blankly at the number on my phone. Would he be mad at me for making the stupid mistake of coming here? I had not the slightest clue, but it was the only place I could think of to go. So I pressed the call button.
Ring.... Ring..... Ring.... Ri-
"Hello?"
I froze at the sound of Tyler's voice.
"Hello? Ana?" Tyler asked again.
"H-hey," I finally managed to stammer my quiet greeting.
"Hey cutie, how are you?!" there was a smile in his voice. I couldn't help but smile back. My Tyler still hadn'y changed a bit.
"I'm... Okay. How are you? I missed you!"
"He laughed at my answer, "Oh yeah? I missed you too.I've just been surviving. The usual. What have you been doin Sis?"
I sighed a bit, "LONG story."
"I got time."
I smiled and started explaining the entire last few months. Not once did he interupt me except for a few question here and there. When I finally got to last night and today he seemed to get a bit more flustered than before.
"And so... I'm trying to find a place to stay and was kind of-" He cut me off before I could finish my sentence.
"Why the hell would you go do a damn stupid thing like that Ana?"
"I.... I wanted to be with Corey..." I sighed quietly.
"Ana, where are you going to go?" he asked, his voice dripping with concern.
"Well... You see, that's what I wanted to talk to you about," I answered him a bit timidly.
"Yeah?"
"Mmhmm... I was wondering if mabe I could stay with you until I got back on my feet."
"Of course, sure! Come on down and stay as long as you need!" he answered me.
"You really mean it?!" I exclaimed excitedly.
"Yes, but just be careful."
"I will. It's just going to take me a little bit is all."
"Why?"
"Cause I have to get the money for the food and gas to get up there," I explained leaning against my seat a little more than before.
"Let me wire it to you."
"Huh? No, I got it. No worries."
"Yes, I want to."
"You're still so stubborn!" I laughed a bit, "But no I can do it on my own. I don't want to take any of your money."
"Silly girl. Don't worry about it. Just make sure you get down here as soon as possible; I don't like that you're staying in your truck, especially with those creeps around," He spoke with undoubtable athority and care. There was no way I was going to get away with a simple no as my answer.
"Fine, wire me the money and I'll be on my way alright?" I reluctanly sighed.
"You got it Sis. Be careful and I'll talk to you soon. You got it comein' to you when you get here, just so you know," he laughed lightening the mood and with just that small statement. I couldn't help but laugh with him, add in a few smart remarks of my own, and then after a little bit we hung up.
I wasn't exactly afraind of what Tyler said I had coming to me once I got up there, he would never hurt me; plus I had to concentrate on aking ure I didn't run into Corey or Shawn again. Shawn had switched sides on me, who knew what they were planning together now; this task was bound to be a hard one. Corey knew me a little too well, and now he had Shawn there to help him find me.
I spent the entire day going out of my way, being sure that I didn't run into either of them. I went to a new park that'd I'd never once been to before and sketched listening to my music; my muse. I gazed up at the sky quite often, watching the birds fly by and making a music of their own. Today wasn't really so bad. I'd found Tyler again and I was going to be with him soon. I hated to admit it, but the feelings I had developed for him so long ago were begining to resurface after just that one phone call. I really did fel like a silly girl now.
I layed back in the grass, gazeing up at the sky, and my music turned up in my ears. Soon I drifted off to sleep, right there in the soft grass, my head full of the possibilities of the future and music.
"Tyler!" I laughed. He had just turned my sentence around on me and made it something completely diffrent and perverted.
"Yeah Sis?" He laughed along.
"That's just not right," I attempted to stop laughing as I spoke.
"I know, but you just left it wide open!" it sounded as if he was grinning from ear to ear.
Beep.
"Oh damm it!" I eclaimed wishing I could throw the phone against the wall as it beeped again signaling that the battery was nearly dead.
"What?" he asked curious now.
"Stupid phones dieing..." I grumbled.
"Awww, that sucks Sis," he chuckled at my aparent frustration.
"That's for sure... Hey, I got a question for you Bubu," I said.
"Shoot."
"Um... Nevermind..." I chickened out.
"What Sis? Tell me," He said curious once again.
"... Well... I was wondering..." I paused.
"Hm?"
"I... Wanted to know... If you felt the same for me as I do for you?" I asked timidly. Not long before I had confessed to him that I felt that I was falling for him.
He was quiet for a moment, "... Well I can't exactly like you more than a sister for the moment, but that's a good thing."
"Why's it a good thing?"
"Cause we get to talk more and not argue and all that older stuff," there was a small smile in his voice.
I smiled, "Somehow I doubt that you and I would argue."
He laughed and we joked for a little while longer. The phone finally died not long after with us still smileing and joking around.....
Someone nudged me, waking me up. I rolled over and sighed quietly, reluctant to leave my dream of the past. Another nudge.. Who in then world was messing with me? I didn't want to open my eyes; I was still half in my dream world. I sighed again.
Something or someone shattered the peaceful state I was in by pulling the headphones from my ears and removeing the music that was still playing.
"Come on Ana. Get up."
I froze know that voce.
"Hm, good. You're fianlly awake. Come on now Ana," Shawn spoke again
Slowly I opened my eyes, meeting his gaze. He'd found me. How? I'd been so careful.
He smiled, "Get up Ana. Let's go."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," I snapped at him.
His smile disappeared just the slightest bit, "Why not? I'm your friend aren't I?"
"I don't think so," I sat up and glared at him.
"What? Why not? I thought we werte close!" he said, surprised at my answer and his smile vanishing now.
"Go to hell." I said grabbing my things and walking back to mym truck.
"What's wrong? You were fine this morning. Is it because I kissed you?" he asked running after me.
I whirled around and looked at him outraged just as he caught up with me, "What's going on? What happened!? You are such an idiot!" I yelled at him, "You took Corey's side! And god knows where you plan to take me now! Like I said, I'm not going anywhere with you. Go to hell," I turned back around and jumped in my truck, "Stay away from me okay? And tell Corey it was nice knowing him. I'm gone." I said and then began backing up. Shawn just stood there completely unmoved and shocked.
I only heard him call out to me once as I began driveing away, but I simply just turned up my music and tuned him out.
Alright! I officially have chapter 2 typed up! took me way less time to do than I thought it would! plus I think its the shortest of all the chapters. So I will be posting it VERY soon. But before I do I want a few people to say whether or not they'd like me to post it all at once, or in parts like I did with the 1st chapter
Thank you guys for keeping an eye on all this!!
~Aury~ ((Yes I know, this is the first time I've posted my name.))
