A/N: Sorry for the wait. Writer's block, school, work. You know.

Chapter 19: Misunderstandings

I loved having Annie at the house. She made the cold, dreary place feel so much warmer. Even with Melodie skulking around like a moody shadow didn't bother me one bit. All I saw was Annie and I knew I would have to thank Jory one day for convincing my sorry butt to take a vacation. Thank god I had. I couldn't imagine life without her. Well, I could, but I knew it would be as boring as before.

Annie hardly ever used the room I had given her because I wanted her with me. It wasn't because of sex, no, I liked having her with me. Waking up and seeing her with me made me feel …. Special. I'd never felt very special in my life and Annie's obviously wanting to be near me made me feel special. Needed. It was a wonderful feeling.

One morning I woke up early and noted that Annie wasn't in the bed. I sat up, confused. Was she in the bathroom? I got up and put some pants on before I went to the bathroom. It was empty. I then went to her room and saw she was sleeping in a chair, her artist's pad in her arms. So, I thought. She must have gotten some inspiration and went to draw, afraid of waking me. I went over to her, gently took the pad away from her, and kissed her cheek. I picked her up and she softly moaned in her sleep.

I laid her onto her bed and pulled the covers over her before I shut off the light. Tonight I didn't mind her sleeping in this room because she really looked exhausted. I went back to my room, unshed my pants, and crawled back under the warm covers ….

During the middle of the night, I woke in the pitch dark to find someone kissing my face, my chest. I groaned and reached for the light but she grabbed my hands and put them behind my neck. I felt so unreal that I wondered if I was dreaming. Then I felt her hand down there and instantly I hardened. Annie and I had made love earlier that night but now I wanted her again… before I could even protest, she was on top of me and then I felt her sliding down on me. She gasped and something was funny about the gasp but I paid it no mind because she began to move on top of me. She easily rode me and I wondered how Annie had gotten so good at this. She moved differently than I remembered she had last time and a part of me was disappointed because it had been nice to feel her inexperience and remember that she had saved herself for me…. for me.

After I climaxed inside her, I feel asleep. Or maybe I was drifting in and out of dreams. I awoke in the morning when I heard my door creak open. Afraid that Annie was leaving my room to return to hers again, I sat up straight in bed and opened my eyes. There was Annie at the door. Her eyes widened and then she froze as she looked at me. My hand suddenly felt hot flesh beside me and I cautiously looked beside me and gasped.

It was Melodie! Her eyes were closed and there was a smug smile on her lips. My heart began to frantically pound … no wonder Annie had felt so different last night. It hadn't been her at all … it had been Melodie! Melodie must have seen Annie was in another room so she … came to me? Why? Because she was jealous of Annie, that had to be it.

"Annie, I can explain," I started, getting out of bed. As soon as my feet touched the cold floor I realized I was naked. Annie gave a little gasp just as I heard Melodie stir. I glanced to see her sit up in bed and delicately yawn.

"Annie! What a surprise!" she said when she saw Annie, smirking smugly.

"Don't be so shocked, Annie. This is how Bart is. He just LOVES women, you know. It doesn't matter who they are. If he can't find a willing participant, off he goes to the whorehouses …. Or so I've heard," she said. I saw Annie's face pale and I felt my own face on fire. No …. Who had told Melodie that! Who!

I looked at Annie almost helplessly but she was staring at me with wide, betrayed eyes. Eyes that shone with tears. Then she turned and ran. I cursed and glared at Melodie, who shrugged and laid back down in my bed. I hurriedly put my pants on and ran out of my room to find Annie hurriedly packing in hers.

"Annie," I started but she turned to me with fire and pure hurt flashing in her eyes.

"I thought you were different, Bart," she whispered, shoving her clothes into her suitcase.

"I was wrong!" she cried. She finished packing what little she had brought and tried to get past me, but I put my hands on her shoulders.

"Annie, please, let me explain," I started in a trembling voice.

"Explain what? That I was just a little game for you? That all you wanted was my body? You just used me!" she cried, hot tears cascading down her cheeks. I opened my mouth to protest, to comfort her, but I saw Annie's temper was about to explode. Her normally light blue eyes had darkened to nearly black and she looked ready to kill.

She shoved me away, wiping at her cheeks as she started towards the door. She stopped and looked back.

"I HATE YOU, BART FOXWORTH! No wonder no one can love you; you only use women!" she cried before she stormed downstairs. I took a deep breath and clenched my fists as I stormed back to my room, so angry that I could have killed Melodie ….