Thanks again for the reviews!! Keeps me going ya know!
I have decided that these chapters are like those old Heinz Ketchup commercials with the song "Anticipation" being played in the background while the ketchup slowly was being poured out of the bottle onto the pile of fries on the plate.. :)
Flashbacks in italics
(You Drive Me) Crazy
Zachary's Pizzeria was not crowded for a Saturday afternoon. The football game wasn't until seven pm. So the place probably would fill up until five or so. Annabelle led Cheyenne over to a booth in the corner by the take-out door. She wanted a little privacy for the conversation that was about to happen. They sat down and Annabelle immediately began looking at the menu.
Cheyenne noticed Annabelle's demeanor and reached out to touch her arm and said, "Don't worry, everything is going to be okay, you, look, um please don't look so sad, please don't be, I".
. Annabelle looked up at Cheyenne and said, "Thanks, I am just worried that I am going to say things the wrong way and I don't want to upset you even more, if that is possible".
"Annabelle, please don't worry, I will be fine, I am fine, I am just glad we are finally talking" Cheyenne said quietly while giving a reassuring squeeze to Annabelle hand.
Annabelle sighed and said "You hungry"?
"Yes, very"! Cheyenne said dragging out the work very for emphasis.
"Oh, that's right, I forgot you had that hollow leg" Annabelle teased trying to lighten the mood.
"Hey, I am still a growing girl and coach is killing us already in pre-season conditioning" Cheyenne exclaimed.
"Oh, how is school going for you by the way big senior on campus"? Annabelle questioned with a smirk.
"Fine so far, classes are boring as usual, but I have some good news" Cheyenne said smiling.
"Well"? Annabelle asked.
"You are looking at a future Trojan" Cheyenne said proudly.
"What, what do you mean"? Annabelle said confused.
"I mean, I got a scholarship to play basketball at USC, I signed the letter of intent last spring and I got the official 'yes' in August" Cheyenne said beaming.
"Oh my God, that's so awesome, I am so excited for you and, um, I am very proud of you"! Annabelle said with a smile while she reached out and squeezed Cheyenne's hand.
"Thanks, that means a lot" Cheyenne said shyly.
"Well, you totally deserve it Cheyenne, you could beat most of you opponents by yourself, well you practically did anyway" Annabelle said chuckling.
"Um, yeah, well, I just love playing and now I will get my college paid for and get to play for one of the best teams in the country" Cheyenne said excitedly.
"Well, I, uh, can, I, um come see you play"? Annabelle said looking down at her hands.
"Of course, I would love that, and Collins will definitely love the company" Cheyenne said while smiling.
Annabelle grinned thinking the auburn-haired girl in front of her was doing everything she could to keep the mood light, like Annabelle was the one who needed protecting or something. The waitress came and took their orders and while they were sipping on their Cokes, a familiar song came on over the sound system, and Cheyenne began to smile.
"Ugh, turn that crap off"! Annabelle screamed from her position on Collins' couch, which was face down trying to take a nap after the long day at school she just had. She really didn't know who she was yelling at, all she knew was that Britney Spears voice was like scratching fingernails down a chalkboard to her. Soon the music got louder and as Annabelle was just about to yell again, she felt someone hovering over her and when she looked up, she noticed Cheyenne standing there with a smile on her face and heard her say "Someone is grumpy today"!
Annabelle put her head back down and said, "Please, you're torturing me,that is not music, its, its, shit"!
Cheyenne was now laughing and decided to torture Annabelle some more by straddling her on the couch, bending down and whispering "What do you want to hear" into Annabelle's ear while letting her lips graze her ear sending a shiver down Annabelle's spine.
Reality came back quickly and Annabelle tried to flip over, but to no avail, this younger relative of Collins was so strong that Annabelle now felt physically helpless and weak for the first time ever.
"Get. Off. Now"! Annabelle mumbled into the cushion.
"What's the magic word"? Cheyenne teased.
"Get. Off. Now. Please"? Annabelle replied, her body was still tense from the contact.
"Okay, okay, you big wuss" Cheyenne snickered.
Annabelle felt the pressure from her back leave and she quickly turned over with a look that could kill. Cheyenne was still chuckling when she noticed Annabelle get up quickly and said, "You're dead kiddo"!
With that, Cheyenne was up the stairs with Annabelle right behind her and just before Annabelle caught up to her, Cheyenne slipped into Collins' room and shut the door.
"What is going on"! Collins shrieked after the slamming door knocked her out of her studying daze.
"I think Annabelle is going to kill me" Cheyenne said huffing.
"Hmm, let me guess, did you sit on her again"? Collins said knowing Cheyenne's childish habits.
"Um, close, I held her face sown on the couch and made her listen to Britney Spears" Cheyenne said with an evil smirk.
"Oh, yep, that'll do it, but Britney Spears, um, I don't think I can defend you for that" Collins said shrugging her shoulders.
"Open up, I know you're in there you big chicken"! Annabelle screamed through the door.
"Chicken, I am not a".. Cheyenne said as she flung the door open to confront a taunting Annabelle.
"I knew that would work" Annabelle snickered, face still red.
Annabelle squinted her eyes at Cheyenne and was soon tackling her to the ground and began tickling her until she couldn't breathe.
"Well, what are you going to do know, huh"? Annabelle teased.
Cheyenne couldn't get any words out, and tears were streaming down her face from laughing so hard, but she wrapped her legs around Annabelle's waist and flipped her over onto the floor with a thud.
Cheyenne was soon on top of Annabelle staring into her blue eyes when they both heard
"Okay you two, enough playtime for today, you have a game, and Annabelle and I need to finish studying for our test tomorrow"! Collins said sternly.
Cheyenne slowly got off Annabelle and just said "Sorry" as she walked out the door to leave her cousin and her cousin's best friend alone to study.
"Sorry Collins, we were just," Collins interrupted Annabelle and said, "I know you were just.. Please Annabelle, please just be careful".
Annabelle noticed the serious look on Collins' face and said, "Don't worry, nothing is gonna"..
Collins cut her off again and said, "She told me, she told me about the kiss last week".
"That, that was nothing but a thank you kiss for going to watch her game and dinner" Annabelle said trying to convince Collins to believe her.
"Annabelle, it wasn't just nothing to her, she has not stopped talking about you since I introduced you" Collins said in a frustrated tone.
"What am I supposed to do"? Annabelle said in an upset tone.
"Do,um, do, you like her"? Collins questioned.
The room was silent, Collins was boring a hole into the top of Annabelle's head when she finally looked up and said,
"Yeah, I, do" But Collins I know you"..
Collins cut Annabelle's confession off and said, "Please, please, just be careful with her, I couldn't bear to see her heartbroken"!
"Collins, I get it, although I really have been trying to change and I don't want to mess any of this up. You are my best friend, and if you don't think you can handle me with with Cheyenne, just say it, I'll understand" Annabelle said in a somber tone.
Collins moved to the floor where Annabelle was sitting with her legs crossed, gave her a hug and said, "Go with your heart, I trust you, and she is crazy about you. You are my best friend, the best I have ever had". With a final squeeze, Collins pulled back and noticed a tear running down Annabelle's face.
Collins wiped it away and asked, "What's wrong"?
"You don't know how much that means to me, I have never had someone tell me I was their best friend and truly meant it. That means more to me than you will ever know" Annabelle said finally smiling through her tears.
"As for me and Cheyenne, I promise to take things slow and take care of her heart" Annabelle said with sincerity.
They heard a faint knock on the door and Collins said "Come in".
Cheyenne peaked her head in and said, "Um, I am going to go get ready for my game tonight. Um, my mom will be here anytime so, I wanted to say bye".
Annabelle looked at Collins and when Collins just smiled, Annabelle got up and said, "I can give you a ride if you want".
"Um, thanks but, my mom is already on her way, but, are you guys um, gonna come watch tonight"? Cheyenne said with hope in her voice.
"Of course, we wouldn't miss it"! Collins said while jumping up and putting her arm around Annabelle.
"Great, I will see you guys in a few hours, make sure your yelling voices are warmed up" Cheyenne said with a grin and another quick "Bye".
"Bye" Collins and Annabelle said at the same time.
"I am in trouble, huh" Annabelle said as she look at Collins.
"Um, yep, you, are" Collins said while punching Annabelle in the arm before sitting back down to finish studying. "You should go over this stuff too Annabelle, I know Shakespeare is your favorite" Collins said sarcastically.
"Oh, alright, I know, okay, can I see you notes"? Annabelle said sheepishly.
"Where is your stuff"? Collins demanded.
"Um, in my locker at school" Annabelle said while shrugging.
"Um, yeah, trouble" Collins mumbled.
Annabelle just jumped on the bed nest to Collins and took her notebook and started to look over the lined paper with anything and everything about Shakespeare written neatly in loopy letters.
The crowd noise was so loud that Collins didn't hear Annabelle when she said she was going to the bathroom. "What"? Collins shouted.
"Going to the bathroom" Annabelle shouted back while pointing toward the lobby.
"Oh, okay" Collins replied.
While walking down the steps on the bleachers, Annabelle noticed the crowd started to cheer loudly and looked up to see the Gunderson basketball team jogging on the sideline toward their side of the court.
Annabelle paused and quickly spotted that auburn-haired girl who was slowly gaining a hold of her heart and noticed a slight grin appear on Cheyenne's face as well as a slight wave in her direction. Annabelle waved back and mouthed "Good luck" then made her way to the bathroom.
The game was close until the last three minutes when Cheyenne and her point guard Gina became a fast-break tandem scoring ten points in less that one and a half minutes to put the game out of reach from the favored Highland High.
The buzzer sounded an the crowd went wild. Annabelle and Collins were jumping up and down with the rest of the crowd.
The Gunderson team quickly ran off the court and back into the locker room. The coach didn't want a repeat of the last game's celebration when his starting forward sprained her ankle after being rushed by a bunch of fans which included some football players.
Round one of the State playoffs was over. Round two would be in two nights from now.
The fans were making their way to the exits when Collins said she was going to find David to say goodbye as well as go to the bathroom before the drive home. This left Annabelle waiting in the bleachers, not wanting to interrupt their conversation since they hadn't seen each other since last week.
After a few minutes Annabelle noticed a few players already coming out of the locker room. She decided to see what was taking Cheyenne so long.
Annabelle opened the door and was soon hit with a duffel bag in the chest as Cheyenne was backing out of the door saying "See ya tomorrow, great game guys"!
"Umph" Annabelle spat out.
"Oh, I, uh, sorry, um. Hey, what ere you doing, um, are you okay"? Cheyenne said stuttering.
"Really, I am okay, um, I just came to see what was taking you so long" Annabelle said nervously.
"You were waiting for me"? Cheyenne questioned.
"Um, yeah, I, um, wanted to see if you needed a ride home" Annabelle said shyly.
"Oh, um, my dad is picking me up on his way home from work, but".. Cheyenne said sadly.
"Oh, okay, I, um, great game, you scored like all the points" Annabelle stated while giving Cheyenne a high five.
"Well, not all the points, just most of them, I let some of my other teammates play tonight" Cheyenne said chuckling.
"Well, don't get a big head or anything" Annabelle said while rolling her eyes.
"Hey, I don't have a big".. Cheyenne was cut off by Annabelle's lips meeting hers in a slightly lingering kiss. Cheyenne barely had a chance to kiss Annabelle back when Annabelle pulled away and said, "You're cute when you're defensive. I will see you later kiddo, if you're lucky"!
Cheyenne was speechless as she watched Annabelle walk away on the same path she had walked a million times before coming in and out of that locker room, the path that would not ever be just the way to and from the gym floor, now it was so much more.