Important: Thank you so much for all the reviews! I'm really happy and I'm glad that you like Anya! For those who wanted a love triangle, you'll like this chapter! Sorry I haven't updated in so long! I've been really busy with a whole lot of things (namely my fictionpress work and working)! I'm working on Chapter 8 now, so you can expect a new update in a few days! Here's Chapter 7! Enjoy!

* I'll be changing the timeline a bit to suit what I intend to do in the story! Just a little warning! But of course by just a few days.

Chapter 7

"You sure you're gonna be all right?" She asked as they stood outside Adam's place.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I should be used to being dissed by Brewster. I mean, ever since he's changed, I'm always being looked down on, by him," He replied and she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"He's an idiot. Always has been... He turned his back on us so easily."

"Which would mean that we were never really friends to begin with. Anyone who spent so many years calling us his best friends and is able to just drop us like nothing... couldn't have possibly been our friend for real."

"Maybe... Well, I should be going back home. You could spend the night at my place, you know?" Ed smiled at her.

"Thanks, but I think I'll go home. You should be careful on your way back. It's not safe when it's dark out."

"Got it." She turned to leave, thinking that he had alot of thinking to do since he looked like he was thinking about something deep.

However, on her first step, Ed grabbed her hand and turned her around. "Ed?"

He fidgeted a little and glanced at her. "Ann, I know that this may not be that good a time for this, but..."

"Go on," she encouraged.

Ed always had a way about telling her things that were really important and concerned his feelings. He'd beat about the bush and say things that weren't directly involved with what he had to say and then when he felt encouraged enough, he'd spill it. She knew him.

"I know that you and Adam still aren't... over."

Well that was... unexpected, to say the least.

"Ed..."

"But Adam might not be around anymore." She looked at him with wide eyes.

No, this was definitely unexpected.

"What do you mean, Ed? And what are you trying to get at?"

"Look, just listen, all right? I'm gonna protect you, Ann. From all of this. I'm not gonna let him hurt you."

He was confusing the heck out of her. Ed was switching from one topic to another and he hardly ever did that unless whatever he was talking about wasn't going to be that good.

"Who? Adam or Jerry? Or Charlie?"

"No! Not Adam. I mean Jerry. He lives right next to you and he's bad news, Ann."

"Okay. I got it. I'll be wary of him, Ed. Relax. I'll be safe on the way home. In fact, I'll call someone and talk to them all the way till I reach the Brewsters place to grab Eric," she smiled, trying to be as comforting as she could.

Her female instincts told her that this was going to be very uncomfortable and since her instincts served right... most of the time anyway, then she'd best follow it.

"I love you, Anya!" He shouted as she turned to leave again and her eyes widened.

She turned around to face him with disbelief written all over her face. "... What?"

"I've always loved you... But you and Adam... I stayed out of it because you and Adam were my best friends. But Adam might not even be alive!"

The sound of her slap resounded and she glared at him, angry tears rolling down her cheeks and she couldn't stop them.

"How could you say such a thing about Adam?"

"Anya..." He grabbed her by her shoulders and kissed her. "I love you and I've wanted to tell you that for so long..."

She pushed him away. "You're my best friend, Ed."

"I know that, but I just wanted to tell you how I felt about you! You've never seen me as anything else but a friend or even a brother! Just think about it, all right? I want to take you out of this town. You and Eric. We'll leave this place and start a new life together. Somewhere safe!"

"Ed..."

"There's a vampire killing people, Anya! And you live right next to him! I know that he killed Adam and his parents! Just tell me that you love me and I'll not go and kill Jerry myself. We'll leave this fucking town..."

"I..."

"Please Anya..."

"I don't know, Ed."

She was stuck. If she didn't say that she loved him, he'd really try to kill her neighbour. She could see it in his eyes. Ed was so far gone that he needed to hear those three words from her, to stop his suicide mission... But she couldn't. She couldn't lie to him and tell him that she loved him that way. A part of her still loved Adam and she wanted so much for Adam to be alive. She couldn't do it...

"Could you just think it over tonight and we'll talk tomorrow?" He sighed and she looked up at him and nodded.

"I'd really appreciate that."

Obviously. He'd literally landed a bomb right on her. She needed time. Lots of time.

"...Be careful."

"You too." He leaned in to give her a kiss, but she took a step back. "Not now, Ed."

"Yup. Okay. Sure." But she did give him a hug.

"Goodnight, Ed."

"I'll see you tomorrow then," he said awkwardly and she nodded.

"Tomorrow."

She left Ed there. What was she gonna do? She couldn't lie to him about her feelings. Even if it made her feel awkward about what he said to her. Things just wouldn't be the same between them anymore... How could it? Her best friend had just told her that he loved her, knowing that she still loved Adam.

He rode home on his skateboard, with alot on his mind and the fact that it was sundown, didn't help to relax him. Thoughts raced through his mind and he regretted that he'd just dropped the bomb on her like that. He knew that Anya still loved Adam... Even if Adam was possibly, no, most definitely dead. He was just so stressed and upset... and Anya had always been there to comfort him. It could have been because she was always comforting people close to her because she had no one to comfort her when she'd been abandoned in the town and then she'd been saddled with Eric. He smacked himself for being such an idiot. He didn't want to pressure her or anything... Then there was that ass, Charlie Brewster! Always making fun of him nowadays. They were best friends! Now he was being treated like a fool by his ex-best friend. And then there was their neighbour, Jerry. The guy was a freaking vampire! All those issues combined would make any kid want to commit suicide or something!

"God! I'm such an idiot!" He shouted to no one in particular.

He had to find a way to get Anya out of town. Anything to keep her safe. But first, he needed to get home. Or any home for that matter... Adam was first and now, he was next. Maybe he should have just gone to Anya's place. Well, before he had to screw up and weird things up, anyway.

He sniffled a little. In the short time, he'd been hurt by and hurt another. He muttered under his breath and his eyes widened as something came at him and shoved him off his board. His heart pounded faster.

"Thanks for taking care of Eric, Mrs. B," she smiled.

"Not a problem. I kinda missed having a little boy around, now that Charlie's grown up."

She laughed. "I'm sure."

"Well, you look like you've had a long night. You should go home and rest."

"Yeah. Alot of things to take in, but thanks for taking care of Eric."

"It's nothing. See you soon, Eric."

"Yup. Goodnight!"

"Goodnight, Anya, Eric."

"Goodnight."

She brought Eric back to their home and Eric looked at her worriedly.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, it's nothing," she replied, forcing a smile but Eric wasn't fooled.

"Is it 'him'? Or did you see 'her'?"

Her eyes widened. "No! It was neither of them!" Eric sighed in relief.

"I was worried. But if it's not them, then what is it?"

"It's just something that Ed said..." she whispered and looked at him with a raised brow. "Since when did you become the older one?"

Eric grinned. "Hehe, just." She pulled him close and gave him a noogie.

"You brat!" He laughed.

"But you're all right? You can tell me the truth, An. I can handle it." Her eyes widened and she gave him a soft smile.

"It's all right now. You just helped me a whole lot," she said and Eric smiled.

She'd tell Ed the truth. He'd be able to handle it. She hoped...

"I'm gonna bathe..." Eric yawned.

"Well, head on up, trooper," she smiled, walking him up the stairs.

Eric went to have his bath and she went to her room, pulling out her phone. She remembered that she had a message in her voicemail, but it had somehow slipped her mind. She'd seen the alert on her phone, but so many things had been going on that she'd forgotten. Now seemed like a pretty good time to listen to it though.

She smiled as she listened to her answering voicemail. She could remember it as though it were yesterday that all of them were best friends...

Her smile was wiped from her face, however, when she heard the message.

"Ann, it's Adam."

Adam...

Author's notes: You guys are probably thinking that it's about time that she receives the message... Yeah, well, I incorporated some of my forgetfulness when I created Anya. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Please review! I'll be bringing Anya's dad or mum into the picture in the next or the next next chapter. Depends on my story flow. Be patient! For those who took the time to read this, thanks! You guys are amazing!