Slowly but surely, Annie was losing her patience and her concentration. She looked at her watch, which read 3:15 PM and let out a deep sigh as she laid her head down on the open book in front of her. She'd been in the public library ALL DAY working on yet another Jesse Hawkes 'for home' home school project--this one called "Around the States in 50 Weeks". Since he never knew how long she'd be home at a time, he'd give her these extended projects "to keep your mind sharp" he said. At this point, she was only in the "A" states, probably knew more about Alaska than the Eskimos, and had an hour and forty-five minutes before Brad was due to come back and pick her up.

"I can't take much more of this," Annie muttered forlornly into her pile of homework. "I need a distraction."

She picked her head up off the desk and watched in disbelief as her distraction entered the library in the form of Scott Trakker, who had obviously just left school himself judging by the backpack slung over one shoulder. Magnetically, his gaze drifted easily right to her table, and she flashed him a warm, relieved smile as their eyes locked. He returned a shy and still somewhat boyish smile as his long strides ate away the distance from the entryway to where she was sitting.

"Hey Annie!" he greeted her warmly as he sat down across from her. "I didn't expect to see you here! I didn't even know you were home!"

Annie shrugged casually. "I've been home for a few days now. I figured I might as well hit the books early. I didn't expect to see you here either, but," she added with the charming smile she inherited, "you are the answer to my prayers."

Scott rubbed the back of his neck nervously, trying not to blush crimson. Instead, he grinned back shyly and asked, "I am?"

"Yep. I was just sitting here praying for a distraction and here you are."

If Annie piled on anymore charm, Scott knew he'd soon be a melted puddle of goo at her feet. So he played along and turned on his own charms, hoping he might get her to blush the same color as her hair. "That's funny, because I came in here looking for a distraction too."

"Really?" Somehow Annie managed to only flush slightly pink in her cheeks.

"Yeah. I didn't really want to go home yet, because I'm trying to avoid Roxy. She's been pretty unbearable lately."

"More so than normal?" Annie immediately flashed Scott an apologetic glance. "Uh, sorry, that kind of slipped. I shouldn't have said that...you know, non-interference and all."

"That's okay, I opened it up for you," Scott smirked. "But yeah, more than normal. She started at a new school, and let's just say it's not going her way."

"Don't ask, don't tell," Annie said, holding her hand up in the classic stop gesture. "I'm sure I really don't want to know."

Scott nodded. "You're probably better off, believe me." He paused momentarily, then asked, "So...do you...have a ride home?" He jingled his car keys expectantly.

"Well...Dad's supposed to come back at 5 to get me." Annie cocked her head at him, transfixing him with a questioning look. "Why?"

"Well, I just got a better idea of where to hang out than here, and I'm sure that Roxy wouldn't be caught dead there," Scott said with a wicked grin.

Annie's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Do tell."

"Yes, please, do tell," piped in Brad Turner's voice from beside the table where he magically appeared. "Where exactly do you plan on taking my daughter while she's supposed to be studying?"

Annie glanced up at her father, over at Scott, down at her watch, then back up at Brad. "Hey, you're early!" she accused.

"And you aren't finished studying," Brad replied, wearing a sly grin. "Apparently the atmosphere got a little too distracting."

The last comment was directed towards Scott, who suddenly found his shoelaces extremely interesting. "Ummm...." was all he managed to mumble as he resisted the urge to crawl under the table.

Annie turned an unhealthy shade of red as she hissed. "Dad! Stop it!"

Brad couldn't help laughing at the looks on their faces. "Relax, you're both off the hook." He glanced back over at Annie and added "I'm early because I figured you probably had enough studying by now, but I see I didn't need to worry. So, where were you two headed when I so rudely interrupted?"

"Umm...I thought maybe...uh...Dusty's...if that's okay..." Scott recovered enough to speak.

"Perfect. You just volunteered to bring home dinner." Brad pulled out his wallet and plunked some money on the table. "Remember, delivery in 30 minutes or it's free."

"He's joking, isn't he?" Scott panicked as he watched Brad's retreating back. "Please tell me he's joking."

Annie shook her head as she gathered her things. "I swear, he really ENJOYS embarrassing me sometimes." Noticing the stricken look on Scott's face, Annie added with a grin. "Yes, he's joking, but we can still hurry. I'm dying for one of Dusty's famous triple chocolate shakes."

"Somehow I knew you'd say that," Scott grinned back.

As they left the library side by side, Scott not so casually slipped his hand into Annie's, and she not so casually didn't protest.