Chapter Four

The Nerve!

School the next day was awful, I had two people I was trying to avoid; Paul AND Wesley. I don't know what was happening with either of them but I didn't even want to know.

I pretty much managed to avoid both of them all day until I was walking to my car after school. I saw Wesley there waiting for me; standing right by the drivers door so I couldn't squeeze passed him if I tried. I took a deep breath and I had to try and get rid of him before Janey arrived. I strode up to him and pretended like I hadn't seen him until I was right in front of him.

"Annie," he grinned, he seemed pleased to see me. "How're you?"

"Fine," I mumbled, not really knowing what to say. "You?"

"I'm great." He beamed, "I had a fantastic time last night. Especially at the end of the night." I just looked at him. I wasn't doing that again. No chance. I can't believe he had a good time. "Sooo...you want to go out again? I've got a free house tonight." He grinned at me, winking.

"No thanks," I muttered, my cheeks heating up. What kind of girl did he think I was?

"But come on..." He gasped stepping towards me, "you were all up for it last night." That really struck a nerve.

"No I was not!" I hissed at him not wanting anyone to hear. "I'm not that kind of girl."

Wesley laughed. "But you're from England! Just look at Jordan!" (AN: I realise that Americans may not know who she is but I had to throw someone in there for the context of the story [she's a topless model]).

I was so shocked that before I knew it I had hit him in the face with the books in my hands. He flew back onto my car grasping his nose. I just stood tall and watched him scamper off clutching his nose. Serves him right I thought.

"Everything okay?" Said a strong voice from behind me. And I turned around to see Paul towering over me...how much had he heard? I hope he didn't hear the bit about last night. God and it happened right before we nearly...this'll give him such the wrong idea. Not that I care. At all about what he thinks.

"I..." Started, not really sure what I way saying. "It's not true."

"What's not true?" He said looking confused. He looked off at where Wesley had just scurried off to frowning after him.

"Nothing," I murmured, I couldn't stop thinking about the last time we met, the near-kiss. Was it a near kiss? "what happened?" I whispered.

"You..." He started looking back at me, he took another step forward. I backed up against my car feeling the car door beneath my back. His eyes were dark black again, his jaw clenched. "Yesterday, it..." He looked into my eyes, and down at my neck and lower, he was looking at me like he hadn't before. Something lost in his eyes, my eyes widened as his eyes lingered at the top button of my shirt. He closed his eyes suddenly, and rubbed them. As if he had had a bright light shone at him.

"You shouldn't come round again." I said suddenly, he dropped his hand from his eyes and looked back at me. He nodded surprisingly. I thought he was going to say something else. I wanted him to say something else. He looked down and then up again, frowning.

"I'll do what I want Prewett." He snapped, a weird noise coming from the back of his throat.

"What?" I gasped, he keeps changing his mind! "No, you can't."

"I don't take orders from you!" He growled. His eyes flashing whatever look that was in them before had totally disappeared. "You're just a silly little girl."

I snapped at that, I hate being called a silly little girl. "How dare you! You don't even know me! You walk round all day bossing everyone around and thinking you're better than everyone. I've got news for you. You. Are. Not!" I pointed at him digging my finger into his chest with every word. His chest was harder than I imagined.

I can't believe I even thought of him that way, like i wanted him to be mine.

He was breathing heavily his eyes blazing. "Well you, you're just a silly little girl that runs and cries to daddy every little chance she gets. But wait...where's you're mom? That's right she grabbed her bags and left the first chance she got!"

I can't believe he just said that. I turned around and fumbled with the keys of my truck. God, I wish I had left it open. I could feel the tears running down my face. I didn't want him to see me like this. No one had mentioned my mother in years. How did he know?...I couldn't think about that now. I just needed to get the hell out of here. I heard Paul say something behind me but I couldn't hear him. And I didn't want him. That was too far. Too close to home. Too much. I tried to swallow a sob that was rising in my throat. Screw him.

"Annabelle." He said putting a large hand on my shoulder. "I didn't mean..."

I turned round and screamed at him; "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" He looked horrified. Like I had just stabbed him in the heart. But I was glad, how dare he say that to me. I managed to finally get the key in the lock and wrench the door open and I pulled myself into the drivers seat. I knew Paul was still standing there staring at me. I just turned away pretending to get something out of my bag. I quickly wiped away my tears. I can't let Janey see me like this. I took a deep breatH letting several long moments tick by. I need to get this together. Pull myself together.

There was a tap on the window, I took a deep breath and wiped away the rest of my tears. I turned around praying that Paul had gone...he had, it was Janey beaming through the window at me. I pulled on my best fake smile and wound the window down. I looked around quickly, I was pleased Paul had gone but my heart felt like it had sunk to the floor when I realised he had.

"Hey sis, Seth has invited me to meet his friends at Emily's house. Is it okay if I go?" She smiled at me hopefully. I didn't really know what to say, what would dad want? "It's not far from our house and Seth said that he would walk me home before it gets dark."

I couldn't see anything wrong with that, "yeah, of course. Do you need dropping off?" I asked.

"Nah, that's okay. Seth's sister is giving us a lift." She smiled at me. I was pleased that she didn't realise that I was upset.

"I'll see you at home later then." I smiled back at her. She nodded giving me a wave as she practically skipped over to Seth who was waiting for her a few yards away. I took a deep breath and just tried to concentrate on getting home. I turned on the engine and pulled my truck out making my way home.

What a day today has been, I thought to myself. All that stuff with Wesley...it turned out all he wanted from me was...well something I wasn't willing to give.

And then Paul, he looked so confused one minute he looked like he wanted me the next he looked at me like something he wanted to scrape off his shoe.

And what he said about my mom, that was uncalled for. She had run our on us just after Janey was born and no one has said a word about it since. We haven't heard from her since, my dad has done everything he could for us. He's been a brilliant father, and a mother for that matter. We've never needed her.

Having said that it's still a sore subject. We just don't speak about it. Which makes me wonder how Paul knew. I certainly hadn't told anyone...then it dawned on me. Janey must have spoken to Seth about it and him to Paul...that's pretty uncalled for. What else is he gossiping to people about?