Emily Willow- I love having my own Cheerleaders. I'm just not so sure I like that you guys are accually 'cheerleaders.
Horror Fanatic6990- Here is a longer one, if you like, but not too long. Here you go, here is your update. Just for you.
Maska- I don't think you really missed all that much. They were short updates, anyway.
RoSeQuEeN- You can't jump on him. He is MINE! I think I have said that to every female reader that has ever reviewed this story, but just so that you all know.
JAYDEN IS MINE!
Think of me2- Are you a new reader? (Kuddos to you!) Here you go. I'm not telling... I'll never tell.
Silinde- Here is a bit of a longer one, but really not all that long, as I don't like dragging things on for horribly long periods of time.
Norma Jean the Dancing Machine- I had one and Cafe Iris is based on a cafe that I go to to get my daily fix... Where they have amazing Italian sodas. The kiwi was just particualarly delicious.
Phanfreak2000- I know. It is a little unnerving. It really isn't all that bad. At least she can choose. And just for anyone who cares, I have picked who she will end up with, but it may take quite a while to finally get to that point and time in the story...
Thank you all for reviewing, and remember that just because I seem to be leaning one way in the story doesn't mean that that is who will get Annie... or does it...
Chapter 38- Think of It…
Annie entered the auditorium and disposed of the Café Iris cup in the nearest garbage can. The curtains were half closed over the set of the Hannibal scene. On the stage standing directly in the center was Mr. Reyser, his arms flailing around and fingers pointing in the direction he wanted props and set pieces to go. His voice echoed off the walls off the theater, and then seeing Annie, he walked to the edge of the stage.
"Ah, Christine!" Mr. Reyser said, loudly. "Could you go see the costumer for a moment, please?"
Annie nodded and headed back stage. As she entered the backstage, she hit someone hard with the other side of the door. "Ow!" Josh's voice exclaimed.
"Damn…" Annie whispered for several reasons. Josh opened the door, and let Annie in. Annie considered simply continuing on without speaking to Josh, but then she decided that it wouldn't be proper. She turned to Josh. "I'm sorry…" She said.
Josh smiled. "You're fine." He said, and then realizing the double meaning, he blushed lightly.
Annie smiled, she had missed the way Josh's mouth worked faster than his mind did. She had missed the way he was embraced by his small slips of tongue. Annie dropped her head to stare at the floor.
Josh didn't like that. He slowly lifted her head to look her in the eye. "What is going on?" He asked. She shook her head, and then she began to walk away, but Josh called to her. "Is it Jayden?"
Annie turned back to look at Josh. For a moment she thought about lying, but then, without warning, Annie burst into tears beyond her control. "I'm sorry, Josh." She said, sitting on the floor, knees tucked underneath her the way she was to sit in front of her father's grave in the graveyard scene.
Josh kneeled in front of her, and took her hands into his. "I love you." He said. Every time he said that she believed him just a little bit more. She knew he loved her, but as of the moment, she was sure that it was a real love, and not the fleeting lust of an 18-year-old boy.
Annie leaned over to Josh and kissed him on the cheek. He turned her head an kissed her softly on the lips. When she did not pull away he wrapped his hand around her waist and kissed her softly once again. She returned the kiss this time, with equal pining as he.
Suddenly remembering her mission to meet the costumer, she pulled away from Josh. He stared at her, quite surprised. She smiled as he stood. "I'm sorry." She said, "I have to go see the costumer."
He smiled back at her. "Do you want me to come with you?"
She thought about it for a moment. If Jayden saw then he would be angry, but Annie was beginning to car less and less about Jayden's anger. She loved Josh, and she wanted to be with him more than anything, but she still had a fire within her soul for Jayden, and his dark admiring of her.
Finally, Annie smiled back at Josh. "Please, come with me." She said.
Josh smiled. He had known that somewhere deep down she loved him more than she loved Jayden. He took her hand and led her to the costumer's closet, where she had to have some last minute detailing done on her masquerade costume. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror.
Josh looked at her with smiling, searching eyes. She looked quite beautiful in pink. It brought out the green flicks in her eyes. She smiled, her rosy cheeks bunching into apples on her face.
He smiled at her, sure that she was the most beautiful girl that he had every seen. He suddenly walked around to the front of her. He kneeled down on one knee. "Annie?" He said, her eyes widened in surprise, knowing what he was about to say. "Will you marry me?"
"Josh…" She said. "We're too young." She lifted him to his feet, gently. "I'm only seventeen. It's not even legal…"
"I know, I know…" He said. "But you will be eighteen in a few months, and after high school we could…"
"Josh, I can't."
"Why, Annie, why?"
Annie stared at him for a moment. "I have no idea." She laughed. He looked confused. "Josh…" She and he looked at her with a furrowed brow. "Of course I will marry you."
"Oh my god…" He started.
"But, Josh." She said. "You cannot tell anyone about this." Then as an after thought she added, "Especially your brother."
"Why especially…" But they were interrupted by the entrance of the costumer with a few more safety pins and some string.