"Taylor and Bryce, meet Daniel, or Danny or Dan, whatever you want to call him," Taylor titled her head to the side in confusion, god she was daft, "Tay, new kid," she nodded and waved at Danny,
"Hi," he mumbled and Bryce smiled,
"So, you like it here so far?" I rolled my eyes as we went to sit up near the back, we never really sat up the front unless we had to,
"It's okay," I smiled and Dan sat next to me pulling out his laptop, wow, he must have come from a public school too I was guessing by the fact he had the same government issued laptop as we did. He grabbed his earphones and plugged them in before zoning out, I did the same, Asking Alexandria's 'Not the American Average' soon filling my mind, and substitute teachers were always a bludge lesson.
"So Danny," I could hear Bryce begin over the sound of my music, "How's Anna been treating you?" What?
"Uh, what do you mean?" Good question Dan, what the hell was Bryce on about?
"Just ignore him, he's moody because Anna hasn't slept over at his house for over a month now, she slept at Andy's once," I ripped out my earphones and looked at them all,
"Can we go one day not talking about my relations with Andrew? And Bryce, I can stay at your house this weekend, Mum said I can because she said, and I quote, 'At least I know Bryce won't try to have sex with you'," he started laughing and I smiled, I knew I could make Bryce happy again, it made me feel terrible when I was the reason for his down mood, we were best friends, there was no way the Stack boys could ever become more important to me.
So you're definitely coming Saturday? I sighed, how many times was Bryce going to text me asking this?
Yes. And I'm sleeping over to, as always, why do you keep asking?
Just making sure, we haven't spent much time together lately /3 Gah, a broken heart, why was Bryce doing this? It was hard to figure out who I was missing more, Bryce or Andy, I mean sure I saw Bryce every day, but we hardly got a chance to be alone as such.
Well I'm making up for it this weekend aren't I? Haha, talk later x I put my phone down and lay back on the bed sighing, I heard someone walking up the hallway and within seconds Tara was at my door, "What do you want?"
"Mum wants you to start planning your party seeing it's only about a month away," I nodded and dragged myself off the bed and into the dining room, both parents already at the table,
"So we were thinking that—" I held up my hand to stop them,
"Just get a venue, some catering dudes to serve food, some alcohol for the older guests, including Bryce because he's already eighteen, music and entertainment wise, I can easily get Stack to come," they nodded and I smiled, "Awesome, now if it's okay, I'm off to Taylor's, don't worry I have my uniform in case I stay too late," they didn't utter any protests as I walked out the door, they'd finally become accustomed to me constantly leaving without warning, I was lying to them though, and I was pretty sure they'd check up on me and find out.
The drive was long but it didn't faze me as I pulled into the drive way, I could hear him inside screaming like an idiot over most likely COD, I knocked on the door and it soon opened up and I was met with his ruffled brown hair and cheeky smile,
"Wasn't the drive a little too long?" I shrugged as Bryce let me inside, "Plus I'm seeing you tomorrow," I smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek like always,
"I wanted to get out, so I came here, my parents think I'm at Tay's though," he put his finger over my lips and dragged me to his room before locking the door behind him,
"My brother can't know you're here, either can my parents, they think that I'm mad at you so… they think that it's weird that you're coming over on Saturday," I nodded and sighed,
"I know why you could be mad at me, I've been talking and spending time with Stack more than you and Taylor, you haven't even met them, but you will because they're performing at my eighteenth," he frowned and sat down on the bed next to me,
"But you'll spend the night with them, because you and Andrew are for each other, you always wanted fame didn't you? You wanted to become known in the music industry; Andy can do that for you," I turned his chin so that he was facing me and looked right into his eyes,
"Listen Bryce, you come before them, you always have and you always will, you and Taylor know a lot more about me than those three," he smiled and leant in to kiss me, actually kiss me, it was different to Andy, I felt my heart go crazy and I pulled back and curled into a little ball. Dear lord I probably look like a spastic,
"You okay Anna?" I nodded, my eyes wide and a grin concealed by my knees in my face, my hood had flopped over and my hair was a mess,
"Just, I don't know, I feel like I'm high," the two of us started laughing and the door opened up, Bryce's mother looking from me and then back to him,
"Do her parents know she's here?" we both nodded and the stern look from his mum's face disappeared, "Good, how are you Anna?"
"Good…" I answered awkwardly and she smiled,
"That's good, have fun you two," and with that she turned away, shutting the door behind her.
"Anna, Anna wake up," my eyes shot open and I was swallowed by darkness upon impact, my breaths were short and quick and I almost screamed when I saw the black figure hovering over me, "Anna breathe, it's okay, put your hoodie and shoes on, I want to show you something," I got up and rubbed my eyes, what could be so important that Bryce needed to show me at three in the morning, THREE IN THE MORNING, holy shit, today was my birthday… I forgot my own birthday. Fabulous job Anna, you deserve a medal, you also need to text Andrew remember? I sighed and flipped my hood over my head, Bryce reached out to grab a hold of my hand and I smiled as we stepped out into the cold, the moon gently illuminating the sky around us.
"Bryce what're you doing?" He smiled as we reached the park,
"Sit down on the swing okay? Don't worry if your leggings get wet," I rubbed my eyes and yawned as I sat down,
"HOLY SHIT, Danny?" I saw Danny sitting on the bench across from the swings and I pinched my arm tightly, "Ow, okay, not dreaming," the two boys chuckled and I rolled my eyes, "Come on dipshits, we have school today," Bryce sighed and nodded to Danny,
"I thought I'd be the first to wish you happy birthday, and give you your present,"
"So what's Danny doing here?" I noticed he was mucking around with some chords, the pattern sounded familiar,
"Because I can't play guitar," I nodded,
"And you got him here how?" Danny smirked and pulled a twenty dollar note out of his back pocket, "Oh fair enough, I was hoping for the whole, 'You were the first person to be my friend at the new school' not 'your best guy friend paid me twenty dollars to learn a song'," He shrugged and twirled his pick over his knuckles,
"It could still be the first one, but twenty dollars in my pocket isn't too harmful," I rolled my eyes and he began strumming,
"Happy birthday Anna,
I wish you could see your face right now,
'Cause you're grinning like a fool.
And we're sitting on your kitchen floor,
On a Tuesday afternoon,
It does matter when we get back,
To doing what we do
'Cause right now could last forever,
Just as long as I'm with you,
You're just a daydream away,
I wouldn't know what to say if I had you
And I'll keep you a daydream away,
Just watch from a safe place so I never have to lose," I smiled and ran forward tackling him in a giant hug, the two of us ending in a heap on the dewy grass,
"You're a fabulous friend Bryce," we saw Danny walk away and get into his car, the sound of tyres along the tarmac road as he drove away,
"We seem like more don't we?" I was stunned, why was he acting like this lately? "Anna, I- ignore that…" I smiled and pressed my lips against his and he didn't fight back. My eyes were shut tight as he rolled over so he was on top and my back was pressed right into the wet grass, he pulled back and the two of us started laughing,
"You know what Bryce? I don't think I will ignore that…"
