Wants and Needs

Chapter 4

I held back a yawn as Owen continued to talk on the phone, looking very pointedly at me as I swallowed the air. He was on the phone with his dad and it wasn't going well. I was supposed to be keeping quiet, but it was so hard.

"-can't do that, Dad. No, I can't. This is my last summer. You think I really want to spend it with you?"

I frowned at him, pushing his arm slightly. We were laying in his bed, his mother out with his sister again. The weeks were quickly falling off the calendar and Owen's dad was trying to get him ready to spend a summer in Arizona. Too bad he wouldn't be doing that.

"That was rude," I whispered to him, but Owen just shook his head at me. His bed was, as always, too small for both of us, so I was mostly on his chest, curled up on my side. Owen was laying flat on his back, trying to focus on the ceiling while talking, but I was making it hard and I knew it. I couldn't help it though. It felt scandalous, having to be quiet so his father wouldn't know we were in bed together. And yes, this was my one thrill of the day, but I've never said my life was that interesting.

"No, Dad," he was saying now as I distracted myself with the music playing, letting my eyes drift once more. "No. You can't- Stop cutting me off!"

I could hear Owen's father over the phone, yelling at him now, telling him that he shouldn't yell at his own father that way, but Owen was silent now, just listening. Eventually, though, his father hung up and so did Owen. Then it was just the two of us laying there, him glaring up at the ceiling while I just waited for him to calm down.

"Are you gonna be okay?" I asked finally. When he looked down at me, he just nodded slightly. "It'll get better, Owen. Your dad's just stressed. He has a lot going on right now."

"Oh, does he? Hiding out in Arizona while Mallory's here-"

"He has to work."

That just got a grunt. Closing my eyes again, I asked when he thought his mother would be home.

"No time soon. Why?"

"Just wondering."

He just let out a long sigh, shaking his head slightly. "We only have a few more weeks now. Then we'll be seniors."

"Yay."

"You aren't, like, scared?"

"Of what?" I looked up at him now.

"You know, like, of everything."

"What do you mean?"

Owen sighed again, something he had been doing a lot of today. "I just…it's scary, you know? Knowing that this time next year, we won't be excited because school's out. We'll be excited because it's over. That's a big part of our lives, like thirteen years or something, just gone. Over. Done."

"I'm going to college," I reminded him.

"It's still not that same."

"No," I agreed. "But at least I'm not going to be a schmuck like you with no future."

"I-" He paused. "Schmuck?"

I shrugged. "It's just what came out."

"God, I'm going to miss you."

"Owen," I complained as he turned slightly, nuzzling my neck. "I won't be leaving for a few more weeks. And even then, I don't be gone long."

"You being gone at all is being gone to long," he told me, shaking his head slightly. "And finals are coming up. How am I going to take finals when I'm worried about missing you?"

"Owen-"

"I just don't find any of this fair."

"I was able to deal with you going to see your father."

"That's different," he defended. "I didn't want to go there. You want to go to New York."

"I do not."

"Annabel."

"Okay, so maybe I do."

"See?"

"I haven't seen my sister since Spring Break, Bear. I see you everyday."

He just shook his head. "That's the way it's supposed to be. Me and you. Rememebr?"

Nodding, I said, "We should run away together."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Where would we go?"

"I dunno. Most towns have pizza places for you to work at, so the possibilities are limitless."

I got thumped gently in the head for that.

"Ha ha."

"Don't you want to run away with me, Bear?"

Pulling me back to him, he said, "I'd runaway with you anywhere. I'd never look back either."

"Never ever?"

"Never ever."

"Even when we run out of money?"

"Even then."

"Even when we're homeless?"

"Even then."

"Even when you knock me up?"

"Even then."

"Even when that baby's born and cries all day?"

"Are we still homeless?"

"Yes."

"Even then."

"And if we weren't?"

He just nodded before kissing my head. "Even then."

I rolled onto my other side, letting him pull me back to him, though it's not like I had a lot of room to go anywhere anyways. Still, this was slowly becoming our new sleeping position and I kind of liked it.

"Even when I turn into a fat lard with five of your crying brats running around?" I asked with a yawn.

"Especially then."

"So has he asked you to prom yet? Or do you just know that you're going together?"

It was Sunday now and I was at the station with Owen, waiting with Clarke for the boys to finish up the show today. Owen had been in a slightly better mood today and it showed through with the creative ways he was speaking during the quick breaks in between songs.

"I don't think we're going," I told her, trying to make it seem like that that was the first time I had thought about it. It wasn't though. "He's tight for cash right now."

"All he has to do is rent a tux and buy the tickets. And even if he can't do that, you could just loan him the money."

I shrugged. "We're just juniors anyways, Clarke. Who cares? Senior prom is when it's important. Not now."

"I just think you should ask him. Maybe he's forgotten."

"Everyone's only talking about it, after all," I told her sarcastically. "And it's only mentioned over the announcements everyday."

"He doesn't listen well. You know that." She sat up straighter then. "Rolly's taking me to the Fountain School's prom and my prom. I even have two new dresses, one for each night."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"How'd you pull that off?"

She shot me her best sad pose. "I just threw down the old 'I don't know my real parents' card. It was easy. Besides, Dad would have bought me two anyways, I'm sure, if I just promised to use one next year also. Then, when next year rolled around, I'd have just asked for a new one."

I shook my head. "I think Owen and I'll just skip prom this year."

"Suit yourself."

After the show, Clarke and Rolly had to get back to her house for some kind of late church service or something her parents were making them go to so Owen and I got to eat alone.

"You ever get tired of eating the same thing every time?" I asked him as I, as always, picked something different from the menu.

"No," he told me, taking a sip of his water. "Why?"

"I dunno. I was just wondering." I glanced out the window before back at him. "Have you thought about, you know, prom?"

He made a face. "No. Why?"

"Owen."

"What?"

"We're juniors."

"I know."

"So…?"

"So…?"

I sighed. "Prom, doofus."

"That's a senior thing."

"Not here. It's a junior and senior thing."

"Really?"

"Do you listen to anyone?"

He shrugged before taking another sip of his water. "Did you want to go?"

"Did you?"

"Not really," he told me in that honest way he had. "We can go though. I'll get us tickets or whatever."

"No, Owen."

"Yes, Annabel."

I just stared at him. "You don't want to do this."

He didn't deny that or agree with it. "I want to do what you want to do."

"And I know that you would be miserable, listening to the music they would play and having to socialize. So no, I don't want to go."

He just shrugged, clearly not hurt by this. He didn't really want to go after all.

Breakfast was mostly the same as always except without Rolly there to be loud and make random statements. While I slightly missed that, I did not miss his and Owen's arguments, so all was good.

"What are we doing today?" I asked Owen once we were back in the Land Cruiser.

"Don't know," he admitted as he buckled me up. "Got any plans?"

"Only to hangout with my super hot boyfriend."

He smiled. "Great. I-"

"Can you drop me off at his house? He wanted me to wake him up this morning."

"Bella."

It was my turn to grin as I leaned against the window. "Mmmm. No, really, what do you wanna do, boyfriend?"

"Is that how you're going to refer to me now?"

"It's pretty to the point, huh?"

"Yeah, girlfriend."

I just giggled softly as he changed CDs. "Bear?"

"What?"

"Let's go to my house," I told him, serious now. "Your sister's at yours and she's probably tired. I don't want t wake her up when we come in."

He nodded after a glance at me. "Okay."

"We can play videogames. At least until my parents leave for the day."

"Where are they going?"

"Dad's going golfing and Mom's going shopping. Then Whitney's at her place, so it'll just be us."

"Why Annabel, what are you implying?"

"That I could really use a nap," I told him, turning the music up slightly. "God, I feel like I didn't sleep at all last night, but I know I did."

"Not much, apparently. What were you doing?"

"Nothing. I was bored out of my mind."

"Why didn't you call?"

I shrugged slightly. "I knew that you had to get up for the show. I didn't want to wake you up."

"That's nice of you."

Letting out a long yawn, I leaned up against the car door. It only felt like a couple of seconds when Owen shook my shoulder gently, telling me we were there.

"Come on," he whispered as I peeked my eyes open. "Let's go inside."

I got out of the car slowly, yawning while doing so. I really was tired. The door was unlocked, which was good considering I had left my key at home. The second we were inside though, I just immediately crashed on the couch.

"Bell?"

I gestured to the television. "Play your games. I'm just going to-"

"Good morning!"

I sat up slightly while Owen just smiled at my mother as she came into the room.

"Hi," he greeted as he went to turn on the 64.

"Hello, Owen," she smiled back at him before looking at me. "What are the two of you doing today?"

"Just hanging out, Mom," I told her as she sat next to me on the couch. Owen, not wanting to sit on the other side of her, just sat in the chair, facing the television with his controller in hand. This kind of annoyed me, but I was going to fall asleep soon anyways, I'm sure. Still, I didn't want to do so and leave Owen to the mercy of my mother.

"Did you need something?" I asked when it was clear that she wasn't going anywhere. "Or did you want me to do something?"

"No, sweetheart," she said, running a hand down my thigh as another person entered the room.

"Home so soon, kids?" My father glanced at the television before shaking his head. "Sorry, Owen, but I can't play with you today."

Owen hardly glanced at him as he said something back that I hardly heard due to the fact I was already pretty much back to sleep, my head lolled to one side.

"Annabel?"

"Mmmm." Groaning, I opened my eyes to find my father staring at me. My mother was gone and Dad was now dressed in his golfing gear. How long had I been out?

"Are you okay?" Dad came over, frowning down at me. "Are you sick? Maybe Owen should go home."

'No, Dad," I told him, sitting up straight. "I'm just tired."

"I can leave," Owen said, glancing over at us. He was still playing his game, but he had paused it. "If you want, Annabel."

"You're fine," I told him, still looking at my dad. "Where'd Mom go?"

"Shopping," he said, turning them, heading towards the kitchen. "Can you come here for a second, Annabel?"

I groaned as I got up to follow him. He was getting a drink out of the fridge. "What, Dad?"

He waited until I was standing next to him at the counter to speak.

"I'm trusting you, Annabel," he told me, refusing to look at me. I could tell he was embarrassed just from his tone.

"With what?"

"Your mother and I are both going out today and I'm going to let you stay home with that boy, but only if you promise me that-"

"Dad."

"Promise you won't do anything you wouldn't do if I was in this house."

"Promise," I said, looking down as a felt my face heat up. I knew I was blushing heavily, but I couldn't help it. Dad was just as uncomfortable though. It was obvious.

"Well, I'll leave then. I will call you though, you know."

"Dad-"

"You're not your sisters, Annabel," he told me simply, looking at me finally. "And because of that, I'm letting him stay. That doesn't mean, however, that I'm not going to check up on you. Got it?"

I just nodded as he kissed my head. Yeah, like I was going to do anything with Owen after he did that.

Dad headed back upstairs after that and I went back into the living room, taking Owen a coke while I was at it. When I got to the living room, he had switch to the couch, ready for us to finally be alone. He knew that my father was still in the house though, so he just told me thanks as he took the coke before getting back into his game.

"Are you really that tired, Bell?"

I just made a nearly silent noise as I leaned against his arm. It wasn't long before I was laying down though, my head rested in his lap, sleeping peacefully. I stayed that way for what to me felt like sometime. Eventually though I could feel Owen stroke hair, trying to get me up.

"Mmmm?"

"God, Bell," he whispered to me. "Your dad's gone finally. He was glaring at me though when he walked through here and saw you sleeping like this."

I just let out long breath, never opening my eyes.

"Did you want to stay down here, Bell? And sleep here? Instead of up in your room?"

"Mmmhmm."

"You sure you don't want to go lay down in your bed?"

I just moaned and Owen left me alone after that. For awhile anyways. Besides, he knew that if we did go upstairs, all we would be doing is sleeping. If we weren't making out, he'd much rather be down here, playing his videogames.

I heard rummaging in the kitchen, waking me up once more. I wouldn't have sat up had I not felt Owen under me anymore. Blinking, I found that I was still in the living room, but he wasn't. I could hear voices though in the kitchen and figured he was in there, doing something. Maybe Whitney came home.

"You still asleep?"

I just moaned as Owen appeared next to me.

"Poor Bella." He lifted up my feet before sitting down and putting them in his lap. I'm sure there was a reason behind this, but didn't feel like asking what it was.

"Thank you, Owen," I heard called from the kitchen then. "Putting things away is much easier with help."

"It's no problem," he volleyed back to my mother as he started playing videogames again. I rolled onto my back, opening my eyes. To me, Owen said, "Your mom's home, by the way."

"I heard."

He nodded some. "I had to, you know, help her get the groceries in the house and stuff."

"Mmmm." I wiggled my toes, glad that I was wearing socks. I hadn't gotten a pedicure in a few weeks and wasn't sure how having my bare feet in his lap would go over with Owen. "You still playing your games?"

"Yeah," he said, not even looking at me, only the TV. "I am."

Closing my eyes again, I asked, "Did my cell ring?"

"I don't think so."

"My dad was supposed to call."

"Maybe the phone's on silent."

"Maybe," I said, not moving to check it. I was almost back asleep when suddenly Owen's hands were on my feet. I just moaned, kicking away from him.

"What are you doing?"

"I dunno," he said as I heard the television switch over from his game to regular television. "I was trying to, you know, massage your foot or whatever."

"Well, don't," I said, opening my eyes. He just shrugged at me before nodding towards the TV.

"Can you get up and turn the 64 off?" He smiled at me. "Huh?"

I just pushed off the couch and did as asked before turning and heading into the kitchen.

"Hey, Mom."

"Hi," she said, smiling at me from the counter. "We're having soup for dinner."

I glanced at the vegetables she was chopping up. "Did you need help?"

"No, sweetheart. You have a guest."

I rolled my eyes. "Owen hardly counts as a guest."

Still, I went back into the living room to find my boyfriend watching music videos. Of course. Sighing, I just took my seat next to him, leaning into his arm as he began to explain to me how stupid mainstream music and its videos were. Still, I just sat there, knowing that he listened to enough stupid things I wanted to talk about.

Owen and I left the house around six, me promising my mother I'd be home in an hour and a half for dinner. She had questioned where we could go in an hour and a half that would make any kind of a difference, but I just told her that Owen and I wanted to go hangout at the park for awhile. She gave me a funny look for that, but told me okay. Really, I had no plans on going to the park, but it was just the first thing out of my mouth.

"What are we going to do at the park?"

"Shut up, Owen."

He just shook his head as we got into his Land Cruiser. "Did you really want to go to the-"

"What do you think?"

"You're sure are cranky for someone that just took a nap," he complained. I just sighed as he buckled my seatbelt. "So I was thinking about us running away together."

"Were you?"

"Mmmhmm. And other than the scary scenario where I have to pretend to love you even when you turn into an ugly baby machine-"

"Bear."

"-I think it's a pretty good idea. Just not well thought out."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah." He turned his radio down slightly, something he usually only did for me. That's right, I do take pride in the fact he'd rather listen to me than a faucet dripping or crickets chirping. It's the little things, after all. "And just to clear it up now, the baby thing won't ever happen. Ew. Babies stink."

"Owen."

"They do. They poop and pee and puke. The three P's."

Rolling my eyes, I said, "Fine. Now that that's out of the way, what else is there?"

"Well, I just think you should know that I plan to be a traveling musician, no road map, no worries."

"Where do I fit in to that?"

"You're the one that I go back to the hotel to even when I know I could bang, say, maybe three of the girls that were at the bar I performed at that night."

"Three?"

"Well, five gave me their number, but you got to account for at least two being prudes."

"Which I'm not, then?"

"In my run away fantasy? Definitely not."

"It's a fantasy now?" I asked, trying to keep the nerves out of my voice.

"Nearly every thought with you in them is."

"Full on cheese, Owen?"

"Like nachos."

"Mmmm. Those sound good." I leaned against the car door. "Better than soup."

"You wanna go get some?"

"I'm eating soon."

"Yeah, but you always have room for nachos. Just drive-thru nachos anyways." He changed lanes then, now having a destination. "Then I can get myself dinner too."

"Let me pay," I told him. Owen glanced at me before shaking his head.

"How would I look, making my girlfriend pay for freaking nachos, tacos, and burritos?"

"Tacos and burritos, huh?"

"I said I have to eat too."

"At least let me pay for my nachos. You already bought me breakfast."

"And I'll buy you a before dinner snack too." He winked at me then. "You should save your money for when we run away."

"Oh, God."

We ended up eating Taco Bell in Owen's car, which we had parked at, well, the park. You know, to keep with the rouse.

"God, I could live off this," Owen told me as he covered his fourth burrito in hot sauce from a packet. I just ate a chip, staring at him. Needless to say, I wasn't nearly as ecstatic about the food as him, but it was funny, watching him eat. He was so serious about his food when it was non-vegan. He loved it.

"Don't choke, Bear," I told him, still watching. "And were you coming to dinner at my house or not?"

"Yeah. If I can."

"Well, I just think that you'd be full after all this."

"Not me, Bell." He patted his stomach. "Bottomless pit."

"I'm sure," I sighed, shaking my head.

We were on the wall when it happened. And it's not like it hadn't happened before. Just not as blatantly.

Owen was sitting next to me like usual, talking excitedly about some new band he had discovered. I was listening, like a good girlfriend, nodding my head in the appropriate places. He was going on and on and it was killing me. Then he stopped in the freaking middle of his sentence. Not for long, but long enough for me to notice.

The reason for his stopping? She was walking in front of us, a guy next to her carrying her books for her. She was older than us, a senior, but she had that mature look that I couldn't pull off no matter how hard I tried. She was blonde, so points for him sticking to a type, I guess, but it was dyed that way, her roots starting to show through.

Kim Dinks, possibly one of the hottest girls in the entire school, had distracted my boyfriend from talking about music. I don't think anything less than me flashing him could accomplish that. And even then, it would only be if he was interested at the moment.

"-the, uh, er, band that I'm talking about is, uh-" Owen was stuck now, his distraction having thrown off his rant. "What I was saying was that-"

"Stop."

"No, Annabel, they seriously are underrated. I mean, they're definitely not mainstream, but-"

"No, Owen," I huffed, setting my sandwich in my lap. He was staring at me now, as the senior had made it to her table. "I'm not talking about your little band."

"R and R."

I ignored that. "I'm talking about how you were totally just checking that girl out."

"Who?"

"Owen."

"And totally, Annabel? Really? Are you a valley girl now?"

"Depends. Are you going to admit to checking her out or-"

"I didn't-"

"Mr. Honesty, I would like you to think about what you're about to say before you say it. Think hard."

He just stared at me for a moment. "Even if I did, does it really matter?"

"I just don't know why you tried to hide it. You know, since it doesn't matter."

"I was asking a question. Does it matter? Does it bother you?"

"This isn't about me."

"You're the one that wants to talk about it, so I think its all about you."

It was my turn to stare. "Wait, so you check someone else out and you're going to try and turn this on me? No, Owen, you were the one-"

"You don't think that I'm ever going to find someone else hot? Come on, Bell. We're not in freaking grade school. There's no way you're that naïve."

"I'm not," I told him, feeling it as my face flushed. "I just think that if you're going to do it in front of me, you should just be open about it."

"Fine, Annabel. Whatever."

"Owen-"

"I said fine."

"Yeah, but you're-"

"I'm not anything, alright? Why does it matter? Like you never check out guys?"

"Shut up, Owen. You're missing the point."

"Then tell me the point."

"No. Just…finish talking about your stupid band."

"Oh, now they're stupid?"

"Bear-"

"Let's just stop talking, huh? It never does us any good anyways."

"Whatever."

I figured that that was the last I would see of Owen that day. When the bell rang, we both went our separate ways without saying anything to each other. He was waiting for me after school though at my locker. Still, I didn't say anything to him as I just opened it and started to put my books way.

"Annabel," he finally said. "I-"

"Save it."

"You can't cut me off."

"Owen-"

"See? How much do you like it?" He closed the locker, narrowly missing smashing my hand in there. Then there really would have been hell to pay. "Anyways, I just wanted to tell you that I…am sorry that if I offended you when I looked at the other girl. However, it should now be made known that I look at a lot of other girls and plan to continue to."

"…Are you trying to defend yourself or trying to prosecute?"

"Neither. I'm trying to tell you that I'm sorry."

I stared at him before shaking my head. "It's not that you were looking at her, Owen. I was just going to tease you about it. It was when you acted all high and mighty that it got on my nerves."

"Oh."

"I mean, she is hot."

He didn't answer to that.

"She is," I insisted. "Right? And she was totally wearing a boob shirt. By the way, that's a pushup bra."

"Annabel," he tried when it was clear I was going dark with this.

"I just thought you should know. You know, for your fantasies."

It took him a moment to place where we had last used that word, as it was Sunday afternoon then and now Wednesday.

"It's not like that, Annabel," he told me.

"It is though, Bear." I looked off now at the people leaving the building before back at him. "You should go. You work today, right?"

"Yeah, but-"

"Then let's just go. We can talk tomorrow-"

"Tonight, Annabel. We can talk tonight."

"Owen, knock it off, alright?" I walked passed him now, taking my stuff with him. "Goodbye."

"I'll walk you to your car," he said, following behind me. "Okay? Annabel?"

"Yes, Owen. Fine. Just…shut up, alright?"

I didn't think Owen would take that command well, but he did, following silently along behind me all the way to my car. I was going to open the door when he spoke.

"Bella."

I turned at my name and that was all it took for Owen to pounce.

"What are you doing?" I mumbled, turning my head away from his lips as he pushed me back against my car. Owen wasn't oppose to PDA at school really, but this was PDA to a whole other level. "We're going to get in trouble."

This wasn't so much false, as if one of the teachers saw this, we would be reprimanded in some way. Still, most of the teachers stayed over in the bus area, not even worrying about the parking lot.

"I don't care." He kissed me again as his hands slipped up the back of my shirt. "I want you to know."

"Know what?"

"Know that…her? I'm just looking at her. She doesn't matter. No one, but you matters. I look and yeah, I like it, but that's all. You know that." He pressed his forehead into mine as he leaned down. "So don't be mad at me today. I want it to be a good day."

"'kay."

"I love you."

Again, I just looked away, not saying those three words back. He rubbed our nose together then in that weird way he liked before taking a step back.

"I'll call you," he told me, tucking some of my hair behind my ear. And once again, our fight had been dissolved just because he told me he loved me. God, I'm bad at this. At least I know it though, I guess.

"Okay."

He smiled then, but it was tentative. He wasn't sure yet if I had really forgiven him. Had I? I wasn't even sure why I was mad anymore. It wasn't that he was looking at her. No, it definitely wasn't that. He was a guy, a teenage boy. I knew he looked at other girls. That wasn't the problem. So what was exactly?

"Annabel, door for you," I heard my father call up the stairs. I was actually working on an English paper and frowned at the interruption. Owen was no doubt at work by now and would have called me if he needed something. So who was at the door?

Sighing as I got up, I glanced out the glass front of my room, not able to place the truck parked on our curb. Deciding the only way I could find out who it was by going down stairs, I started out of my room. When I got to the bottom of the stairs I found James standing in the living room, watching my dad play one of his videogames. When he saw me come into the room, he smiled, slipping his hands into his jean pockets.

"Hey, Annabel."

"Hi," I said, frowning slightly as I stood in the doorway, staring at him. "Did we have a tutoring thing today or-"

"No," he told me as he flipped his long, brown hair out of his eyes. He had flat ironed it at some point this week and it was lying flat on his head for once. "I just needed to talk to you. So…are you busy?"

"No," I told him slowly, wrapping my arms around myself. I glanced over at my dad before back at him. "Did you want to go outside or-"

"Sure," he told me, rocking on his feet before heading over to me. "It was good seeing you, Mr. Greene."

Dad said something of the like back before looking at me pointedly. I ignored him though as I led James out of the house, slipping my shoes that were by the door on first.

"So what's going on?" I asked him, closing the door behind me. He just kept walking though, across the yard and over to his truck. I followed, watching as he dropped the tailgate and jumped onto it. "Is something wrong?"

He patted the spot next to him before fishing out a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. "Just wanted to-"

"You can't smoke those out here," I told him as I got on the tailgate next to him, dangling my feet over the edge.

"What?"

"My parents might see you," I told him, batting at his hand as he pulled his lighter out. "I mean it."

"God, you still into being the perfect child, huh?" He laughed then. "Remember that time that Sophie and I were smoking pot and you wouldn't even get in the car with us because you were afraid that your dad would be able to smell it on you? Remember? You freaking walked home."

I remember his older brother Ricky being Sophie and my ride home after staying over at James' house, but Ricky and James both being so high I wouldn't ride with them. I remember that.

"Is that what you're here for? To reminisce?"

"Nope," he sighed as he put his smokes back. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

"What, James? Because if its something stupid, tell me now. I really need to finish my paper-"

"Are you really serious about him?"

I blinked, turning to look at him now. It was dusk and he was kind of hard to make out with his hair in his face. "Excuse me?"

"The big guy. Armstrong. Are you serious about him?"

"Yes," I said slowly. "Why?"

I knew why, of course, but I had to hear him say it for some reason. I mean, if Owen got Clarissa to be his little groupie and also got to stare at Kim Dinks, I should at least get to hear a guy tell me he likes me. Right?

"It's just…He's such a fucking dick."

"What?"

"He is." He took a deep breath as if he was inhaling something before letting it out slowly. Withdrawals maybe? "He came to discuss our relationship before third period today."

He hadn't told me this. "What?"

He nodded. "Armstrong told me that I had better just find a new tutor and soon. I thought we were cool and everything, you know? We played freaking Mario Kart together. Mario Kart. You don't play Mario Kart with people you're going to kill and eat, do you?"

"He just- Did you say eat?"

He nodded. "I've heard he eats his victims."

Okay…

"Anyways, James, Owen's not my boss," I told him. "He can't tell me what to do. I want to keep helping you with your algebra. I like helping you. I'm not going to just stop because Owen says to."

"I don't want to be eaten."

If I wasn't so angry with Owen, I might have been offended by what James was saying. Instead I just jumped off the tailgate.

"You won't be," I told him, no humor in my voice as I headed back into the house. "I'll see you Friday, James. Is that good?"

"Eh. Maybe. If nothing else comes up."

"Friday it is then."

He hopped down also, not even closing the tailgate as he headed to get back in his truck. "He has a right to be so jealous though. You are hot."

I froze for a moment before glancing back at him. "Don't press your luck."

"Point taken. Besides, I like my bones not gnawed on."

When I got back in the house, I found my dad no longer playing videogames, but rather watching some documentary. He hadn't been doing that much recently, instead choosing to spend his time playing Nintendo. It was nice though, him getting back to his normal habit.

So when he asked me to watch the show on Einstein, I couldn't find it in me to refuse. I just settled up in the opposite corner off the couch, taking the blanket from the back of the couch with me.

"You cold?" Dad asked, glancing over at me when the show went to a commercial.

"A little."

Reaching over towards me, he rubbed my arm gently. "Don't go get sick now, Annabel. Not this close to the end of the school."

"I don't plan on it."

"Not to mention you're going away on your trip right after that." He was full on looking at me now. "You're not nervous, are you?"

"I've been on a plane before, Dad."

"I know. I meant going to stay with your sister."

"Mom'll be there."

"The last week you're there, yes, she's flying down there too, but before that it'll just be you, Kirsten, and that boyfriend of hers."

"I'll be fine. Promise."

"You know that if you want to come home, you just tell me. Or if you need me down there, I'll-"

"I know."

"And if that guy bothers you-"

"Dad, I get it, okay?"

He nodded slightly, glancing back at the television. Then he said, "Speaking of boyfriends, how is yours taking you being gone?"

Dad had kind of been shocked when I told him that Owen and I weren't broken up, that it was just a big misunderstanding. He had just told me that it must have been some misunderstanding for me to be ready to call it quits. I just assured him that it was nothing and went on my way. Still, he had been kind of leery of Owen as of late, probably due to that.

"I haven't told him that it'll be for three weeks yet."

"Annabel."

"I didn't really give him a time period. Not really. Just told him guesses and stuff. I don't want him to, you know, get upset."

"21 days. It'll only be 21 days without each other. I think you can manage."

"You don't get it, Dad. I've never been without him that long."

He blinked before shaking his head. "Careful now, Annabel. You're starting to sound like Kirsten."

That was the end of our conversation as it was then that the TV show came back on. I only stayed for one more commercial break before heading up to my room to finish my paper. Oh and to stew about Owen talking to James. Yeah. And that.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Annabel."

I tried my hardest to keep the contempt out of my voice as I spoke again, but I failed. "You know, Owen, when you meddle in my life, it would serve you best from this point forth to tell me about it."

"What are you-"

"When did you plan to tell me that you threatened James?"

"Oh," he said. "That. Yeah, I meant to tell you and everything, but, uh, you know how badly lunch went. I didn't get a chance."

"Whatever."

"I didn't. I did, however, plan to tell you about it. I mean, God, Bell, did you think I thought you just wouldn't notice that Barrs wasn't around anymore?"

"Why do guys do that?"

"Do what?"

"Just call each other by your last names. It's annoying. His name is James and yours is Owen."

"Look, I don't know what your problem is tonight, Annabel, but-"

"I'm leaving."

"…What are you talking about now?"

"For New York. Some time after school lets out for summer."

"Yeah," Owen said slowly. "I know."

"I'll be gone for three weeks."

"Yeah, I- Wait, what?"

I let out a long breath. "Yeah. I'm gonna spend three weeks in-"

"No, I heard what you said. I'm just trying to process it."

"Oh. Okay."

"No, Annabel. Not okay." He let out a long breath. "Is this set in stone?"

"Yes, Owen."

"God, Annabel, how can you leave for three weeks without even telling me?"

"I think that's what I just did."

I could almost feel his glare through the phone. "You know, Bella, if you're going to be like this-"

"Owen, you're the one that threatened one of my friends."

"Friend?" He snorted. "If you consider James a friend, you must be out of your mind. What friend qualities does he possess?"

"He makes me laugh, he's always happy, he likes the same music as me-"

"Are you talking about me or him?"

"What do you think?"

Owen groaned then. "Bell, I just got home. I called you to say goodnight. I didn't want to have this kind of conversation. I really didn't."

"Then what did you want?"

"I wanted to talk to you and tell you that I love you and that I-"

"I'm really getting tired of you telling me you love me."

"…Are you serious?"

"Not like that, Owen. Like…you can't just use that on me to get me to agree with you. I love you doesn't give you a free pass to do what you want. Alright?"

"Alright. I do though."

"I know you do."

"And I just don't want you to leave for three weeks. Or for James to be around constantly."

"It won't be that long, Owen. We'll call each other every night, huh? And oh, by the way, James is hardly ever around. And he really won't around when I'm in New York."

"Right, sure. There'll be a bunch of guys I don't know around then."

"Don't you trust me?"

"With my life," he said without missing a beat. "I don't trust anyone else though. That's why I have to watch over you. And that will be admittedly hard with you in New York."

"I don't need you to look out for me though, Owen, was the point."

"Then you shouldn't have asked me to be your boyfriend."

"Oh, whatever. I didn't ask you."

"I remember being asked."

"You have a shoddy memory."

"Hey! You're shitty too then."

"…Are you serious? I freaking said shoddy."

"I know. I think that that was uncalled-"

"Bear, shoddy. Listen to me. Shoddy."

He paused. "I don't get it."

Finally, finally he made me laugh. It was a hard laugh too. I could tell it was pissing him off, even through the phone.

"What? What's so funny?"

"I can't," I grasped between laughs. "Explain. God, Owen, are you serious?"

"What? What?"

"Shoddy. It's spelled with two Ds. Look it up."

Again, Owen took a second to think. "So you weren't cursing at me?"

"No, Owen, I wasn't."

"Oh." He stopped again. "Then I apologize for cursing at you."

Shaking my head as I laid down on my bed, I said, "Owen, I'm tired. Let's just…goodnight."

"Let's just goodnight?"

"No. I meant let's just say goodnight."

"Oh, because I'm a magical mind reader that knows what you mean to say."

"Bear."

"Well, I'm not."

"That's because you're just a dinky, horny, little bear."

"Horny? And what does dinky mean?"

Smiling, I said finally, "Goodnight, Owen. I'll talk to you in the morning."

"I think we need to discuss horny some more."

"No, Bear, we don't. Goodnight."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then I love you. Okay?"

"'kay."

"See you in the morning."

"You too."

After I hung up, I sent him the normal goodnight text, but when it was his turn to send one back, he changed his up somewhat.

If you're going to New York, I'm going to Arizona.

Rolling my eyes, I immediately sent him one back saying that was fine. After all, why would I care where he went?

Just thought you should know.

?

Bella, if you can't type coherrendly don't type at all.

Coming from the guy who can't spell coherently.

My phone rang after that, just like I was expecting.

"That was rude."

"Now, now, Bear, is that how we answer a phone?"

He growled at that, playfully. "You get on my nerves. You know that?"

'That's why I'm your girlfriend. You shouldn't have asked me to be if you didn't want me to be this way."

"I remember you asking."

"Now, now, Bear, no need to rehash fights."

"That now, now business needs to stop. Tonight."

"Now, now-"

"Annabel."

I just giggled. "No cutting people off, right?"

"God, you're impossible."

"Only for you."

Guess this would technically fall into the late category as far as updating this story goes, but given it's only been, what, four days, I think you guys can forgive me.