Annie Edison sat perched on the cold, metal bleacher. She wasn't quite sure how the navy blue pom-pom in her hand had gotten there. The cool October wind stirred around her, and the combination of stadium lights and letterman jackets could mean only one thing- football season.
Annie clutched her coat closer around her and closed her eyes. She could feel the star quarterback's arms around her. Her eyes fluttered open and there he was, making a play on the field. Annie didn't care much for football; she was only here for him.
Annie Edison smiled and shouted, "Go Troy!"
"Shut up, Troy!" Annie screamed as she stood and shoved all the books off her desk. Troy Barnes sat in the seat before her, watching her with eyes wide. He had been trying to help her with trig when she'd shouted. Now the eyes of their entire class were on her.
She continued to scream, stomping her feet, and her eyes welled with tears. She reached into her purse and pulled out a bottle. Pouring fifty small, white pills over her desk and chair, she threw the bottle and left the room.
Troy breathed out as he watched her leave.
They both saw it happening before it happened. Troy watched her lean in, and even though he wasn't sure, he leaned in too. Annie had wanted this; he knew that. He was doing her a favor.
Except that he wasn't doing her a favor. He wanted this. He'd lied to himself because Annie was different. He'd seen her at her worst and now, at the study table, he finally understood. Those days were over.
He held her face as they kissed. He'd always imagined that she would taste like white pills and bottled water. She didn't.
Annie tasted like cherries.