Chapter 2: Strange.

As soon as I got home I checked the note… it read.

"Meet me tomorrow at your café at 5:00, when you are about to close, keep it open. :) See you there."

I read each word carefully and slowly, I flailed my arms up and unlocked the door to my apartment. I heard Jax, my little puppy German shepherd that I recently got, his chubby paws pranced around me and I giggled at the thought of him doing that when he got bigger. I poured his food and water, I put some sweat pants on and put my hair up in a bun. I took the note out and noticed something on the back of it.

"Call me 876-***-****. "

It had felt like a load of butterflies had just been released in my stomach, even so I felt like I was about to vomit I was so nervous. That night I spent time eating take out as well as reading, and possibly cuddling with Jax. That was my life in a nut shell!

{NEXT DAY}

I tied my hair back, and spent sometime on my makeup, since after all I woke up early, and possibly to see what I could do to ruin my face even more.

As soon as I arrived I saw a guy smoking outside, I looked at him and rolled my eyes and sighed.

"Aye mami, where you goin?" The guy whistled and clicked as he looked me up and down, I stopped and looked at him, Nathan saw I guess and rushed out.

"Is everything alright Ann?" He asked looking at me.

"Just swell, this scum bag just asked me where I was going and got me confused with his mother." I said with a little but of sass and attitude, of course I knew Nathan was built and could take down the guy smoking.

"This jack ass?" He said looking at the cigar in the man's hands.

"Who you callin' a jack ass?" He dude threw his cigar and looked up to Nathan. I didn't know that it was going this far I kinda tugged on Nathans shirt as to if I were dragging him along.

"Ann get inside." He said pushing me. I just wanted to get the man gone and get started at work, but….. That's what did not happen.

"Nathan! Lets just ignore him and get the café open…" I said in a whisper.

"Ann, I told you to get in the damn café, didn't I?" Nathan said in a tone I have never heard him say before.

"Whatever Im calling the police to get this guy gone…" I said heading inside brushing off the stutters of Nathan. As I went inside I called the police saying that there is a guy harassing me on the corner of the street, and that they should come remove him, to add on to that note he wreaked of alcohol. I heard the bell wring and I peeped out of the back and saw Josh pushing Nathan which was covered in blood, and blood spewing out from his nose.

"Nathan?! Josh what happened?!" I said in a frantic looking for anything around to help stop the bleeding, I found a cloth and ran it under cold water and put it on Nathans nose which he was sitting on the ground. I gave him a worried look and put my hand on his cheek and gave him a pissed off look.

"Im sorry Ann…." He said in pity as I rolled my eyes, I warned him before about his temper, but I heard the police come into the store as I motioned Josh to go talk with them.

"Just promise me you'll never lay your hands on anyone in an aggressive manner." I stared at him. He looked around and hung his head.

"I couldn't let him say that Ann, I mean how are you supposed to do that when someone you love gets called "mami" or what-…. Forget that I said anything…." Nathans face got all red and I was confused but cleaned him up and had him take a break for a little bit. I took orders, cleaned, took orders, cleaned more, and took more orders! To be honest I was stressed, but it was an endless cycle.

5:00 o'clock came around and I put dishes and everything up and got two plates out at the front counter with some lemon pie. Nathan came about and looked back and forth at the plates.

"Uh you having someone come over Ann?" He asked with sort of a frown,

"Well yeah, I guess if he shows up…" I looked out the window but saw no one. I sighed and looked at Nathan.

"You okay?" I said just to start a conversation. "You know you don't have to stay…"

"Im fine, and Im not leaving you alone after what had happened today." He spoke breathlessly and touched my cheek, I heard the ding of the bell and saw Mark, I pushed my self away from Nathan and smiled at Mark.

"Ill get goin'…. Cya Ann…" Nathan packed his stuff and walked out and a hurry.

"Uh…. Did I miss anything?" Mark said looking at Nathan walking on the street then he looked back at me and saw the pie. I thought I saw him blush but I wasn't for sure…

"Oh yeah Ill be back Im going to get two spoons! I forgot about them.." I laughed and headed in the back but when I saw a shadow head into the bathroom.. Looking I turned on the bathroom and hoped for the best. A brown looking rat ran in and out of the bathroom, I screamed at Mark, and by golly Ive never seen the man run but he ran his tail off to get to me.

"Ann?"

"THERES A FUCKING RAT IN THE BATHROOM!" I yelled not caring about my language, he looked at me, then to the rat, he started cracking up at me, I got all red and embarrassed.

"What the hell! Mark, get rid of the thing! Please!" I whined not getting off of the small bucket I managed to hop on.

"Okay okay, that's enough laughing for now, Ill go get a broom and sweep it out." He calmly picked up the blue broom and started sweeping at it, he opened the back door and pried it open so that he could get the rat out.

"Oh what a relief!" I sighed but then Mark picked me up from my waist and sat me down on the counter softly, looking up at him I blushed and he blushed looking away.

"So how bout those pies? Hope they are good, haha." Looking at me and the pies he picked up his and took a spoon and stuck it in his mouth. I waited for his reaction as I smiled at him, he just looked at me with his eyes wide open, I tilted my head and got a little worried since he just stared at me.

"This….is….amazing…" He stuffed his face until he had it all over his scruff of a beard and mouth, I laughed until I cried, I slowly ate mine as we talked about our childhood and more topics.

"So did your parents ever took you anywhere you loved and would like to go again." His voice was happy, but one thing he did not know nor understand is that, my parents weren't always there for me, and they were taking drugs, making me do half of the work around the house and they abused me…

"I don't really know….." My voice got low and I stared down at the floor with my lip quivering a little but, Mark lifted my chin up and he took a hard look at me then hugged me, I smiled, but it was a smile to hide what was bubbling up inside.

"Im sorry, I shouldn't have asked…."

"Your fine." I smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"What happened between you and your parents, if you don't mind me asking." He took a seat on the floor and looked up to me.

"Well…. I've only known them for bout 7 or 6 years…. Before I was taken away." My eyes started to water remembering their faces and all the hurt they caused someone like me, a normal, young girl. Mark sat and listened as I began my story on how my life changed or whatever.

"My parents got into drugs when I was born, I took on cleaning the house, and doing drug deals for them, often I would get beat if the person wouldn't buy enough, I-I stayed in the attic most of the time until they were busted and I was taken away by an officer named Bill. He took me in and kept me since, its only me and him in our little family, but I moved to buy this place and he works for the local police office…" I couldn't take it I started crying when I remembered how lonely I was. Mark got up quick and held me in his arms, the smell of him coaxed me into his chest, I tried to pull away but he put his hand on my head and forced it into his chest. He kissed my head twice until I calmed down a little, I smiled and started to clean up the plates when he suddenly he embraced me from behind I was so shocked I dropped the two plates into the sink and shattered them.

I stood there waiting and holding my breath, I inched away from him until he looked at the plates and then to my hands, I felt a sharp pulsing pain, I looked down, and there a large scare ran down my hand, yet more blood. At this point I was pretty much pissed off but I ran cold water on it and grabbed a towel, then wrapped my hand up.

"Ann… Im so sorry…" Mark hung his head speaking in a low manner.

"It's fine, trust me, if it wasn't fine I would have bashed your head in." I laughed and looked at the pans and plates.

"Well, if I were you I would have already done that." He looked up and looked away.

"Mark, honestly its fine, I can take care of my self, but I think its getting a little late." Laughing I kissed his cheek gently as soon as I came close to him his face was bright red and burning hot, I winked and started at the coat rack.

He followed closely behind, as I got to the coat rack he spun me around and hugged me, I was sorta confused but I just sat there. He let go and smiled, I gave him his coat and put on mine.

"Thanks Ann, for actually waiting for me and sorry about scaring you earlier, but I will text ya." He smirked and lead me out to the door, but after I waved him goodbye I turned around to find Nathan.

"Nathan?! What the hell? I thought you were home!"

"I couldn't leave you alone with him, I just don't trust him Ann…"

"Well Nathan, I can take care of my self." He looked down at my hand and held it.

"Are you sure Ann? C'mon Ill walk you home and Ill bandage you up."

"Oh fine! Your just like a older brother to me, ya know?" I smiled and walked along side him. He smiled but began to get a cold stone face when I told him that he was like a brother to me.

"Nathan?"

"Hmm?" He looked down at me.

"Everything alright?" I stopped and tugged on his shoulder and looked up to him.

"Ann….." He pulled me into a tight hug, I wrapped my arms around him, to be honest I was confused.

He then swept me up and ran off to my apartment.

"NATHAN!" All he did was laugh and run.

"PUT ME DOWN! NATHAN!? C'MON!"

As we got to my apartment he sat me down gently, sliding his hands down from my back to my ass, until he left his hands there.

"Nathan! What has gotten into you!?" I looked up at him but ignored where his hands were.

"Nothin' just having fun, Little Ann." He smirked and laughed as he let go of my butt, but as we were going up the stairs he slapped my ass, to be honest, I was going to take a frying pan to his head!

"Nathan, Imma jack slap you!"

"Oh trust me, I think you wouldn't do that."

"You already did that to me, so payback!"

He went silent, but I laughed and opened the door, Jax came a running, until he saw Nathan, he barked and hid behind the couch.

"Anyways Nathan, you said you were going to bandage me up?" I said sitting down on the couch kicking my feet that couldn't touch the floor hardly.

"Oh yeah, let me get everything first lil Ann." He laughed leaving the room.

Finally, a little time to my self! I checked my phone but didn't see anything so I got on Instagram, but before the app opened I heard a knock at the door, to be honest no body knew where I lived in this town except Nathan and Josh.

"Nathan?" I panicked just a tad and rushed to find him, Jax followed.
"Ann? Whats the matter?"

"I heard someone at the door, and, and no body know where I live, and and…" I said stuttering.

"Calm down, its prolly no one, let me go check." He laughed and headed towards the door. I followed behind him holding onto his arm, I felt somewhat safe, but silly. Nathan opened the door and there stood Mark.

"Mark? You scared the living shit out of me!" I said still behind Nathan while holding his arm.

"Oh, Im sorry, haha, I just couldn't stop thinking about you and how today you made my day." He said smiling and, somehow it seemed off, it was like he ignored that Nathan wasn't there and didn't make eye contact with him. Nathan then just stood there shifting his weight onto one leg waiting.

"Oh, well, you made my day too, and how sweet.." I tried to say without things getting awkward.

"Well…" Nathan said annoyed while looking at Mark. "You didn't come here just to say that, what is it?"

"Oh, yeah, about that, I just honestly came here to ask you on another date. How bout it?" Mark said puffing out his chest.

"Oh that would be lovely!" I said hearing Jax bark.

"lll text you the details, Annie." Mark said, but now I have a new nickname, great.

"Alright, cya!" I said waving and shutting the door as he smiled and waved then left.

"Ann, I still don't trust that guy." Nathan said grabbing ahold of my arm.

"Nathan, Im fine, he wouldn't hurt a fly, now go get the medical, or whatever it is supplies." I laughed punching his shoulder.

{COUPLE HOURS LATER}

I sat on the couch as I turned Netflix on, Nathan came back with popcorn and sat next to me. Picking a random show I notice Nathan staring at me, but I simply ignored him and shoved a piece of popcorn into his face, I laughed and he laughed but then he scooted closer. I looked out the window and saw a shadow pass.

"N-Nathan?"

"What is it?" He said looking at the window confused. I sat on my knees and continued to stare out the window.

"D-Did you, there's something out there-" I stuttered and started to look around.

"Ann, its prolly nothing." As Nathan finished that last word something ticked on the window, like a small pebble.

"Nathan, come on this isn't funny, whatever you and whoever else are doing just stop it." I said as anxiety started to kick in.

"Ann, Im not doing anything, its just a bird or whatever, come here." Another "stone" ticked at the window. I basically crawled on the couch to Nathan, he put his arm around me while I was still looking out the window. He put his head on mine to rest it on his chest, but honestly I just stared thinking of all the possible ways we could get killed!

"Ann your fine."

"You never know! We could get killed!" I said as my heart started racing.

"You and your anxiety, but your fine I wont let anything happen to you, I promise."

"You better promise!"

After about 5 minutes we heard a beating at the door and some K9's outside along with lights. I let out a little yelp as I clenched onto Nathan.

"Here, sit here, Ill go see who it is." He said rubbing my back. He got up as I peeped over the couch waiting for something to happen.

"Have you heard any disturbances around your area sir?" The officer asked.

"Well, we heard someone or something tapping on our window." Nathan said looking over towards my way.

I took a closer look and saw that it was my father, I got up and ran towards the door.

"Dad? Whats happening?!" I asked looking around outside.

"Oh, Ann forgot you lived her for a second, but apparently there was gun shots being heard around this area, but good to know your safe, along with Nathan." Dad said looking around, one of the other officers yelled and set one of the dogs go, I saw a shadow like figure running, but then tackled down by one of the dogs. Jax peeked out and was not amused so he sat back down.

"Well, Ill call you later, gotta run!" Dad called out to the officer and went to go get the person.

"See! We could have got killed Nathan!" I said looking up to him, and I have no clue why, but I felt a little emotional for some reason.

"Aw, Ann, nothing happened, see?" He said bringing me into a hug.

"You know how I am with anxiety, but lets go sit back down.." As we sat down Nathan put his arm around me, again, snuggled into him. I dozed off while Nathan bobbed his head up and down trying not to doze off, but I guess hes staying the night, when he was supposed to just wrap my hand up.