Crystal Sister- Sugar is always good!

A/N This chapter is a little wierd, but I hope you enjoy it anywho! And, yes it is vidal to the plot... later...

Chapter 11- Movie and a Burger

Annie spent her weekend worrying about Jayden. She called his house twice on Saturday night and then again on Sunday morning. Her grandmother dragged her to church where she commenced to pray for Jayden. She hoped he was okay.

On Monday at 3:30 Annie entered the auditorium, her eyes scanning around for Jayden. She made it halfway up the isle when a voice behind her called her name, "Annie!" she turned. Josh was running up toward her. She stopped and waited for him. "You're a hard person to catch up with!" he said, puffing slightly. "So, how've you been doing?"

"Fine." she answered forgetting Jayden for a moment, as they started up the way together.

"Listen." Josh said, Annie obeyed. "Did you have anything to do after practice today?"

Annie screwed up her eyes like she was deep in thought. "Well, if I move my date with the quarterback to Wednesday night then…" she smiled, playfully. "I guess I could squeeze you in."

"Cool." Josh said, smiling, cheerfully. "How does a movie and a burger sound to you?"

"Movie and a burger sounds great." She said.

Josh flashed her an even bigger and more charming smile. "Well," He said, without thinking, (A/N Does Josh ever think?) "Thank you for squeezing me.." then he turned a violent shade of red. "I mean… yeah… I gotta go." He said, and trotted off, his wavy honey hair swaying in the colored stage lights.

Annie stood watching him go for a moment, and then turned to head for backstage. She made contact with something hard. Jayden's chest. She toppled backwards and fell onto her backside.

Jayden stared down at her, his eyes almost black and a war was being raged in them. A long cut adorned his peach cheek, and a bruise, one that had not been there on Saturday blackened the skin under his eye.

Annie pulled herself up, with the help of his extended hand. Annie stared at him for a moment, and then she realized, she hadn't let go of his hand. She released her grip quickly. "Sorry." She said, pinkening.

"It's fine." He said, and the corners of his mouth tipped up into a half smile.

Annie looked more closely at Jayden's face, and saw that the cut on his cheek was fresh, uncleaned and still seeping blood. She frowned. "Jayden, how did you get that cut?" she asked pointed at it.

Jayden's hand rose to his face. He didn't touch the cut, but prodded the surface around it. "It's nothing." he said, seeing the disbelief in Annie's dark eyes. He was a bad liar and they both knew it. "I was cutting through a garden and I ran into a rather large and angry rose bush." He tried to smirk at her, but found that it was too pain full. He pulled in a hissing breath of discomfort.

Annie pulled her backpack off the ground were it had fallen when she had collided with Jayden. She opened the largest pocket and pulled out a small first aid kit, shaking her head. She dropped her backpack on the floor and grabbed Jayden's wrist, leading him out the door, she said, "It's got to be cleaned."

They sat out on a set of stairs leading to the tech booth. She sat a few steps lower than him. His legs where spread and she sat in between them. She pulled out a small alcohol pad. Ripping it open, she said, "This cut is pretty deep. You really should go see the nurse."

He shook his head. "No, I am not going to do that. As a matter of fact, had you not dragged me out here I would not have let you even touch it."

She giggled. "Well, it's a good thing that I am an uncultured buffoon, than." She pressed the alcohol pad to his forehead. He jumped slightly, but made no noise. "Sorry." She said, sincerely.

"Do not dwell on it." He said.

She smiled. "Thank you. I won't." She said. She decided to change the subject to something less formal. "You speak very well." She said, placing a small bandage on the wound. "Where did you pick that up?"

He breathed in, thoughtfully. "I acquired that in my childhood." He said. "I grew up with a few very strict people, and they thought it important to speak properly, though they didn't seem to find it necessary to practice the rule themselves."

She was intrigued. "Oh, where your parents really that strict?"

Jayden shook his head. "No, my mother died giving birth to me, and my father was never around, so I did not grow up with either of my parents."

She looked even more interested. She pulled back, now finished dressing the injury. She looked into his eyes. "Who raised you?" she asked.

"You ask far to many questions for my liking." He thundered, and stood, heading down the stairs.

Annie ran after his, grabbing his arm, and stopping him. They stood in the middle of the hallway, in front of the auditorium. No one else was in the passage, and so their voices echoed off the walls.

"I didn't mean to upset you…" Annie said, as Jayden turned to look at her. "I just wanted to get to know you."

Jayden looked like something sour had been placed under his nose. "No, you don't." He said. "I don't like my cast mates digging around in my personal life."

Annie's hand was still on Jayden's shoulder. The other one hung limply, useless at her side. She dropped her head to her chest. "I just wanted to help you."

"Then you can." he said. She looked at him, in uncertainty. "Come practice with me after rehearsal today."

She crossed her hands. "I can't." She said. "I have plans. I have a date with… someone." she said. "Why didn't you just say that it was Josh. It's not like Jayden cares!" She thought. "Sorry." she said aloud.

He nodded and trudged off.