The Angel's Maggie- I love Josh as well, but I do love Jayden. Just so thatyou know, I seem to be leaning on way on who Annie will end up with, but I am still unsure. Crystal Sister- That was not the end. They havn't performed yet. They have to go on stage first!
India Pyro- I think I will!
Maluruloki- It did take a while, but you see, my compy crashed and I was having trouble doing anything, including my English project on 'Julius Caesar. Thank you, I was hoping you would have a visual of the dress. I decided to do the comstumes like the play rather than the movie, so they are fit for ballet and other dance. I LOVE DANCE!
Trinity J- Thank you! New reader? (Kuddos to you)
Willow Rose- Hey... I like my fop, but... I love my phantom!
Maska- I'm sorry! You may have Jayden and Josh for the week, if you forgive me.
RoSeQuEen- Well, what Josh doesn't know wont hurt him... or Annie... or Josh.
Sirius All Punked- Do you? Well, that is good. Thank you!
Shadow Dragon- New reader? (Kuddos to you) I know! I love obsesive and strange people. I'm glad that you like! Thank you, I'm glad that I have another faithful reader.
Chapter 32- Telling Josh
Annie pulled away first. She knew that if she hadn't Josh might have held her forever, which was what she both wanted and feared the most. She walked away from Josh and sat on a chair at the other end of the room. "I'm sorry." She murmured.
Josh walked to her and kneeled at her feet. "There is nothing to be sorry for." He said, taking her hands into his. Annie looked up at him. He sighed. "I was just afraid." He said, and seeing her questioning look, he finished, "I couldn't stand to loose you again."
Annie shook her head. "You didn't loose me." She said. "I lost you."
Josh looked highly confused, and suddenly, without thinking Annie let the whole story spill. She told Josh of Jayden's obsession and lies and how she didn't really know if she wanted to go back for lessons, but that for some odd reason she had to. She had promised she would, and so she did as was pledged.
After she had finished, Josh stared at her for a moment and then he slowly wrapped his arms around her, and pulled himself into the chair with her. They shifted into a comfortable position and sat in the too small chair together.
Annie could smell his collogue. He smelt of spicy peppermint and sweet pine. She breathed it in. It was amazing how much something so small made all the difference. Jayden always smelled of dishwashing soap and Clorox. Neither where smells that Annie enjoyed nor had much a tolerance for. Josh's arms made her feel safe and warm. Jayden's excited her, but the heat that she felt in Jayden's grasp was not real. It was the coldest heat she had ever experienced.
"I am so sorry, Annie." He said, and stroking her hair he told her everything would be okay.
"I know." She said, and repeated, "I know."
They sat in silence for a while. He continued to stroke her hair, and she lay a rag doll in his arms.
"You scared me, you know." Josh said suddenly.
Annie stared into his big eyes. She was hypnotized by them. She loved them, but hated the power that they held over her. "Why did I scare you?" She asked, burying her head in his great chest.
"I thought that you would leave me. I thought that you didn't love me." He said, in a very child-like voice. Annie brushed her hand against his cheek. He smiled, lovingly and completely blissful.
"I love you." Josh said again.
"I love you, too." Annie said, but feeling the stabs of guilt, she stood up and walked to the door. "I need to change." She said.
Josh looked at her with large puppy dog eyes. She smiled. "He doesn't have to go." She thought, but then a stronger and louder voice behind this one said, "He has to leave. Jayden will be angry."
Seeing the conflict behind her eyes, Josh stood and walked to her, wrapping his arms around her. She pulled back a little, playfully. She smiled at him, and he nodded, and pulled the door open. He started to close the door, and she pulled his face back in to kiss him.
"Goodbye." She said.
"I love you." Was his reply. Then he closed the door.
She stood alone in her dressing room, listening to Josh's fading footsteps. She wondered if she had done the right thing. Whatever she had done, she knew that it probably wasn't the smart thing.