A/N: You all convinced me to continue on with this little storyline. I appreciated each and everyone of your reviews. To the guest reviews that I can't respond to individually they all meant so much to me. I have to give a tiny shout out to Isis the Dog for always reviewing my stuff and not being able to respond back to it. Hope you all enjoy this. Please review.

Chapter 2

John heard the rumble of his phone going off on the bedside table. He let out a small groan, still exhausted from the evening before. He reached for his mobile as if he were still in his own flat, but a few failed reaches quickly reminded him of his place. John's eyes opened fully when he recognized the small weight that was resting against him. He looked down to see Anna's brow furrowing as the phone continued to vibrate. John hated to disturb her, but history had proven to him that Anna was not a morning person. And so he chose the lesser of two evils and stretched his arm a little further to grab the device and rapidly swiped the screen to silence the alarm.

Anna stirred, but her eyes remained closed.

John let out a sigh of relief at first as he let his eyes linger on the gorgeous woman sleeping beside him. But then he was painfully aware of the reason his phone had alarmed in the first place. John pried himself from beneath Anna's hold and evaluated her once more. Good lord. Could she sleep. "She'd probably sleep through a train driving through here," he thought to himself as he chuckled softly. What he wouldn't give to spend a few more hours with her like this. Unfortunately, he was going to be late for a study session in the library before one of his first exams started. John was about to put his clothes back on when he caught his reflection in the mirror. He was nearly covered head to toe in paint. "Shit," he muttered to himself. He couldn't very well show up to the library like this. John scurried into the bathroom and turned the water on for the shower. He undressed fully and hopped into the water that was a little too cold for his liking, but after waking up next to Anna only half dressed it was probably for the best. John picked the least sweet smelling shampoo from the shelf and began to lather himself up. A thousand thoughts were running through his mind. "She wanted you and you wanted her. You missed your chance," he thought. "You need to get yourself together ole boy," he whispered as his head rested against the cool tile of the shower wall.

"Talking to yourself?" a sweet voice called out.

"Anna? Christ! Have you heard of a thing called, privacy?" John asked in a voice that threatened to crack as he covered up. A thin, nearly-see-through shower curtain separating them.

"In my own home?" she asked with a giggle. Her fingers hovered just outside the curtain as she considered teasing him a bit. And then the thought of his naked form popped into her head and the temptation left her reeling.

"Anna, please," he pleaded. "I'm going to be late for my study group and then I have my exam."

"Alright," she gave in. "I take it we got home in a cab last night?"

"You would be correct," he answered back.

"Hurry it up. I'll have breakfast waiting for you when you get out and then I'll give you a ride down to the library."

"Thank you," John said. He heard her shut the bathroom door behind her as she exited and let out a deep breath.

"Oh god. He was there only a few feet away from me. Looking gorgeous I'm sure," she mumbled to herself. Anna scolded herself silently for having drank so much. Anna could barely remember what had happened last night and she could only imagine how she must have acted. She could have sworn they had kissed, or maybe she had dreamt that. It was all still so hazy for her. With her head pounding she knocked back a glass of water and rubbed at her temples. Her mind still trying to make sense of it all. An image nagging at the back of her head of her leaning in to kiss him and John saying something about not wanting her to regret it.

Anna leaned uneasily against the counter top as visions of them twirling around the room came back in fragments. It wouldn't have been the first time that she had imagined his lips brushing against hers. The stubble of his face rough against her smooth skin, his big strong hands cradling the back of her head to gain more access to her mouth, and the way his eyes would have poured over her. Nothing but pure devotion shrouding her as he held her in his arms. Anna could feel her knees going weak just thinking about it. Her natural response was to pull out a cigarette and take a drag off of it to calm her nerves. She dug into a small tin box under her kitchen sink and fished out the cigarettes and a lighter. Anna tried to get the lighter to spark but her hand shook furiously as she sensed John finishing up with his shower.

Anna was reminded of the reason she had to devise a hiding place for the cigarettes in the first place. John had caught her once before when she had picked up the habit. It was shortly after her stepfather had stared at her too long for her liking. She had been brave, hadn't fallen victim to his ways and threatened him with a kitchen knife. Even nicked him enough for the neighbors to call the cops. But, her mother had convinced him not to say anything in exchange that they wouldn't say anything. Her mother had left her stepfather, but Anna still never felt safe within her family home after that. She had taken up spending more time with John, but Anna had never told him what had happened. The feel of a cigarette between her lips had managed to keep her anxieties at bay.

A few years ago, when John caught her smoking he had given her a tongue lashing like she had never expected.

John took the cigarette from her mouth and threw it to the ground before snubbing it out with the heel of his shoe.

"What the hell?"

"Don't you know how bad these are for you?" he asked.

"Yes, John. I'm not an idiot," she fired back.

"Well, you're certainly acting like one," he said.

"You're not my father. You can't tell me what to do."

"You're right I'm not your father, but I love you just as much and I'm just as disappointed," John said.

"I'm just going through a lot right now, John. I can't explain it, but they help me," she said.

"Then tell me what's going on," he begged, his voice suddenly sounding less angry and more desperate, with a hand on either side of her arm. "Anna I'm here for you. Let me help you instead."

She still kept the secret to herself. Anna knew John better than anyone. She knew what lengths he would go to for someone he cared about. Anna couldn't risk him finding out and searching for her stepfather in an effort to carry out his own form of justice. But it didn't stop her from crying into his shoulder that night on his couch. His mother had let Anna stay the night. She slept in John's bed, while John slept on the couch in the living room.

Her words still lingering in his head, "You ever think of going somewhere where no one knows us?"

Anna still lit one up every once in awhile just to feel it burn between her fingertips, but she never inhaled. She was about to light the cigarette when she heard the shower water stop and broke the cigarette in half. Anna tossed it down the drain and began searching for something for John to eat.

When John emerged from the bathroom he found Anna waiting at the small table she had set up in her kitchen. He had taken longer than he planned on but after having her so close to him like that he needed a few minutes to gain some control over his senses again. He ran a hand through his still wet hair and offered her one of his award winning smiles. "Good morning," he said softly.

"Hey," she replied. "I've got you some tea in a thermos and a banana nut muffin."

John crossed the room so he was standing beside her. "I thought you said you were making me breakfast," John replied with a skeptical look on his face.

"You want me to whip something up in the kitchen? Or you want to make it to class? Besides, I'm not much of a cook," she said.

"Don't I know it," he replied before letting out a grunt. "Ouch," John said as he rubbed at the rib Anna had managed to jab her elbow into.

"Oh, don't be such a big baby. I bet it won't even bruise," Anna brushed off his comment as she grabbed her keys and tied her hair back in a ponytail.

"Won't bruise, my eye. You're all corners kid. You should come with a warning, 'beware of sharp edges'," he teased.

"Shut up," Anna said. "You weren't exactly complaining when you snuggled up against me for warmth last night." She tossed John his hoodie and waited for him to gather his things.

"Well if you weren't such a blanket hog, snuggling up next to you wouldn't be necessary," he shot back.

Anna froze at his words for a moment and her action made him stop midway through pulling his hoodie over his head.

"I didn't mean…"

"It's fine. We should get going," Anna interrupted him and cleared her throat. "You'll be late." She let herself out first then waited for him to pass her with a weak smile drawn across his face.

John had been rather preoccupied all morning and he thought the feelings for Anna would ebb with her out of sight. But she was having quite the opposite effect on him.

"You look like shit, mate," Robert whispered as he leaned over towards John. "Did you get any sleep last night?"

"Not much," John answered honestly. He failed to make eye contact with Robert and seemed unable to focus as his mobile vibrated on the desk. John grabbed it and saw it was a text from Anna.

Thanks for looking after me last night. You looked a little rattled this morning, I hope I didn't say or do anything to upset you. Best of luck on your exam today, I'm sure you'll do brilliantly-Anna

"Hitting the books hard last night?" Robert inquired.

"You could say that," John replied. Again he was half paying attention as he responded back to Anna.

You could never be at fault. Think nothing of it. Just nerves was all. I'll let you know how it goes when I'm finished with my test-John

"Uh huh," Robert replied in disbelief. "The paint on the back of your neck says otherwise," he pointed out.

John groaned, realizing he missed a spot. Anna had still had paint all over her flesh too when she dropped him off at the university, but it had been well hidden beneath her sweatshirt and jeans. At least she still had the option to head back home and shower.

"Look mate, you can lie to yourself all you want. But I only know of one girl that carries around a paint palette and follows you around like a shadow," Robert reminded him.

"It's not what you think," John filled in before Robert could continue.

"And what is it you think I am thinking?" Robert asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That we…" God he couldn't even say the words. "That we are more than friends."

"Aren't you?"

"No. I mean...yes we are the best of friends. But we aren't dating," John answered back slightly flustered.

"You could have fooled me."

John shot him a warning look.

Robert raised his hands in defeat. "John, I'm your best friend." Robert corrected himself, "Your best male friend. And if she is nothing more than your friend then I am happy for you."

John couldn't resist the urge to ask his next question, "And if she were something more?"

"Do you want her to be?"

"I...I don't know. Maybe."

"You know Cora told me once that sometimes the most important questions are the ones we already know the answers to," Robert said. "I'm not sure if there is any truth to that; must be some American wisdom wiping off on me. But if you want it to be something more, you can't just wait for it to happen. You have to say something."

John sat there contemplating Robert's words for a few moments before he finally shut his text book. "I can't."

"Why ever not?"

"Because, she's supposed to be leaving in a few weeks to spend a year abroad. If I said anything I could ruin what little time I have left with her. What's worse is she might not go."

Robert looked slightly confused. "Don't you want her to stay?"

"Well, yes. But not like this. I couldn't rob her of such an chance."

Robert let off a tired sigh before speaking again. "You know her better than I do. If you think this is what she needs, then I wish you all the best."