Annie was rather relieved to learn that the same guy - Jason, as he finally introduced himself - who had comforted her during her flight from LAX was a student at Carnegie Mellon. It almost felt relieving to have him around, seeing how Jason had been very nice to Annie since the very first time they met.
Anyone of her old friends could easily accuse Annie of trying to replace Liam, but the girl would insist that she really had fallen for Jason. In less than a month after moving in to Pittsburgh, Annie had already found herself a new boyfriend. Whether or not it was true she was doing it to forget about Liam, the answer was not hard to figure out. Nevertheless, if Jason kept Annie's mind off her ex-boyfriend, then she was contented enough.
"Hey, are you going back home next month?" Jason asked Annie one day, as they were having lunch.
"Of course," Annie replied, as she nodded her head. "I promised my mother I'd be home in December."
Annie was rather thrilled at the prospect of going back home to see her family and friends. Naomi had texted her just a while ago that she was going to host a New Year's party at the country club. Naturally, everyone was invited to what was promised as the most exciting party to start the year. Naomi's parties never disappoint. Annie asked Jason if he would agree to come along. One thing about Jason, he was not one to miss parties. The boy was no party animal, but he liked having fun, thus naturally, he did not hesitate to say yes.
However, Annie could not help listening to the nagging thoughts at the back of her head. Would Liam be there? And if he's coming, what would he say if he saw Annie with Jason? These thoughts played in her mind nearly throughout the entire month, right up to New Year's Eve. Annie decided to drop the matter as much as she could. If she wanted to have fun with Jason, then she would forget about her worries. It was only fair to herself.
It was thrilling to see everyone at the party. Annie squealed upon seeing Naomi, Silver and even Adrianna. They exchanged hugs and tried to soak in the familiarity of seeing everyone's faces. She was excited to see Teddy and Navid too - but there was no sight of Liam. Annie would ask Naomi if he was here in Beverly Hills, but everyone else was introducing themselves to Jason. So it really did not feel right. Not that it would be any better any other time either.
The party was great, no doubt. Annie and her group of friends spent their time together dancing, catching up with each other and generally having fun. Naomi seemed to be getting drunk and Teddy was tipsy, but apart from them, everyone was enjoying themselves like old times. Annie did notice that Jason had a few drinks as well; he was not drunk, just maybe a tiny bit sloshed.
"Let's take a walk," he whispered in Annie's ear. "We can come back later."
In all honesty, a part of the girl did not want to leave her friends. But there was also another part of her that wanted to listen to Jason. It took Annie a while to decide though, but she finally stood up and went, "I'm gonna show Jason around this place."
Annie's friends protested, of course, but nobody stopped her. It was unspoken, but everyone seemed to think that maybe Annie needed a new guy after a disappointing end with Liam.
They did not get too far. Annie and Jason walked towards the beach - and hell, the breeze was insane. Jason held Annie's hand and walked towards the cabanas, drawing his girlfriend away from the crowd.
"It's cold out here," he mumbled, before crushing his lips to Annie's, with his arms wrapped around her waist.
Annie giggled and she returned his kiss just as passionately. It was exciting, being with Jason. Annie was definitely not the kind to run away from a party just to make out with someone - she thought she had better class than that - but oh, what the hell. It was time she did things differently. Annie could feel Jason's hands slowly moving up from under her blouse. Annie had almost forgotten how dizzy she'd feel whenever someone touched her bare skin. Maybe it was the idea that she and Jason was finally going to do it. Or maybe it was how her senses came alive as those fingers travelled up her back.
The last time she felt this way was when Liam -
"Let's try and find an empty cabana," Annie quickly said, a little annoyed with herself. Even when she was nearly clinging on to Jason, her mind was notoriously wandered off to Liam. Annie has got to keep the agenda going. Her actions were quicker now, almost in a hurry, as she leaned herself against her boyfriend. Jason did not seem to detect anything suspicious with Annie - if anything, he was even more excited now, seeing that Annie was into it. The lad pulled away hesitantly, as he tried to open one of the cabana doors.
"Whoa, this one's taken," he chuckled, holding the door open wide enough for Annie to see the two people inside.
Shocked was not a word worthy enough to describe how Annie felt. She did not expect to see Liam's face staring back at her. But it was true - there he was, his shirt barely buttoned up with an even less clothed girl standing right next to him. Annie did not know who the girl was, but apparently the blonde knew Annie because she picked up her clothes and walked out of the cabana with a huge smirk on her face. Annie could not swallow any of this. She felt as though the ground beneath her fell apart, giving this huge sinking feeling.
Without another word or explanation and leaving Jason perplexed and furious, Annie jogged away from the cabana, choked up in tears. It was not supposed to hurt. She was supposed to get over Liam already - Annie even dated Jason, thinking it will help her get over her ex-boyfriend - but why was it so difficult to see him with that.. that bitch?
Annie's legs gave in, although she did not run very far at all from the stretch of cabanas. The girl hugged her legs and tried to fight back the angry tears from streaming down her face. Why was her heart so numb from the pain? Annie tried to erase the image of Liam and that blonde away from her mind. But the more she tried, the more vivid the image appeared. Annie's heart felt like it had been ripped to pieces.
"Annie?" a voice called out to her a few minutes later.
She recognised that voice too well.
"Go away, Liam," she warned him irately, not looking up to even glance at his face.
"I didn't know you were coming back," Liam muttered as he shamelessly sat right to her. He chuckled before adding, "That girl just now, she just jumped on me."
Annie's rage soared the minute she heard his words. Who was this guy she was talking to? Liam was showing hints of his old behaviour - the bad boy he once was. Annie has not seen him this way for a while now. For a long time, in fact.
Liam understood Annie's silence. Of course that was not the kind of explanation she wanted to hear.
"Look, I spent the last 2 months on a boat without knowing what was going on with us," he began, his voice rising as his annoyance started to build up. "And I come back here just a few days ago not knowing what to expect. I didn't know you'd be back."
Liam grabbed Annie's shoulders so that she would turn to look at him. He needed her to listen. In an instant though, he felt an energy he had not experienced in a while. Annie and Liam still had the same chemistry like there was no friction between them the past three months. He could feel it in his bones; the attraction for the girl right in front of him. Even with her smudged eye make up and quivering lips, Liam felt right despite the scenario. Without anymore hesitation, Liam leaned forward and pressed his lips against Annie. He was hungry for her kiss; Liam could not deny that anymore. All those weeks wondering when he would get to see her again - well, Liam did not want to wait anymore. He slid his left arm to the back of Annie's neck subconsciously to pull her closer and deepened the kiss.
Liam was so consumed in that moment that he failed to realise that Annie was struggling out of his embrace. Yes, she did feel their energy. She did want to kiss him, so badly. But Annie was a sensible girl. Liam's lips tasted so good and she was dying to tell him how much she wanted him, but this was all wrong. She was dating Jason and she was just about to that guy's clothes when they walked in on Liam with some other almost naked girl. Annie was aware that Liam was pulling her closer, but she did just the opposite. Annie wriggled out of his embrace and pushed him away.
Liam did pull away eventually, after he realised that Annie was wriggling. Damn, he knew this was a bad idea. Before he could say another word, however, Liam suddenly felt a blow to his head. The lad landed on his side, his head stinging with pain. Liam had no time to comprehend what was going on as the punches to his face and kicks to his body came repeatedly.
"Jason, stop!" Liam heard Annie cry out, before darkness engulfed him, leaving the former unconscious.