Chapter Three

A.N. Hey guys sorry it took so long to update, I suck I know! But I've set up a story rotation system so that I can update more regularly (made possible by living off campus and having to ride the bus on campus to get to my classes). Wanna know how stories get high on the rotation? How many reviews per chapter a story has makes it form a list, the story at the top of the list gets updated, so get reviewing!

"Ugh!" Anna lets out a frustrated sigh and flings her pencil across the room hitting the door less than a second before Ryan opens it.

"You missed," he comments.

"Sorry, I wasn't aiming for you," Anna suppresses a smile.

"Well, you may be aiming for me when I get out what I've come to ask," Ryan responds with a shrug.

"Oooh, nice confidence builder, coming to me first thing in the morning and promising me that I'll be mad at you by the end of the conversation," Anna laughs dropping the school book she'd been working in and sitting up on her bed. "This sounds like a conversation you should be sitting to ask." She gestures next to her and her bed.

Ryan was getting used to being in Anna's room, they'd been hanging out a lot in the week that she'd been back and Anna tended to stay out of her parents room. A room that Ryan would have been able to pick out as Anna's even if he hadn't known it was her room, it was full of bright colors and smelled like bubblegum. He settles on the bed opposite her before stating, "it's not so much that I think you'll be mad." He shrugs again, "anyway, Kirsten's having this party at the house..." Ryan trails.

"You're asking me to come to Kirsten's party?" Anna clarifies, "such a horror."

"I know they aren't your favorite thing, they aren't mine either," Ryan responds flipping one of the pillows from Anna's bed in his hands and he talks. "But if you don't go then I'm stuck with Zach, Summer and Seth. Which means you'd be submitting me to unnecessary pain."

"Yes, because hanging out with your friends is always a painful experience," Anna teases.

"It is when I have to spend most of the party watching Seth try to impress Summer without, you know, letting her know he's trying to impress her."

Anna giggles, "that sounds like Seth. But what do I get out of it to subject myself to such a horror for your sake?"

Ryan thinks for a minute, for a minute, "how about an entire gallon of double chocolate chip ice cream?"

"Hmm, trying to sway the pregnant girl with the promise of her favorite ice cream, huh?"

"Is it working?"

"Throw in a bottle of chocolate sauce and you've got yourself a deal."

"Great, I'll swing by and pick you up around six?"

Anna nods, "sounds great. Have fun at school."

"Right," Ryan nods, "when you think about me and school just imagine the picture I just paint for you and take away the formal wear."

Anna tosses a pillow at Ryan, "go to school Ryan, you're going to be late. And hey," she adds when he's halfway to her door, "at least no one will throw pencils at you."

"I'm so glad you're here," Summer hugs Anna as she speaks, "with you at a party it's like the old days."

"I guess so," Anna can't help that her gaze flicks to Zach at this comment and notices that he looks slightly uncomfortable at this moment.

"I love that dress," Summer comments, "you are such a cute pregnant person, some people look horrible pregnant. I mean really when Taylor Donovan was pregnant last year she looked like a cow."

Anna smiles, "thanks," her hands smooth over the pink satin fabric that covers her obviously rounded stomach. The news of her pregnancy had spread like wildfire around Newport and Anna was positive she was the number one topic of the gossip list these days.

"I'm going to grab something to eat," Ryan states, "does anyone want anything?" His eyes settle on Anna as he asks the question.

"I'm fine," Summer responds and Anna just offers a smile and a gentle shake of her head.

As Ryan walks away he laughs to himself as he can hear Summer babbling to Anna about something or the other, until that conversation gets drowned out by another. "Well, you don't really think it could be do you?" One Newpsie asks to an entire group.

"Well, there were the rumors about that Hispanic girl that was here for awhile, that she left pregnant." A second adds.

"And you know," a third Newpsie adds, "he did disappear all summer. Who knows where he was? They say he was home but no one actually has proof of that."

"But so did the other boy," the second responds, her voice high and nasally voice.

"True," the third concedes, "but you don't see Seth catering to her every need do you? Besides Ryan brought her to the party, not Seth, I saw them drive up as I was arriving."

"I just don't think that..." the first speaker with horrendously blonde hair finally notices Ryan listening in. "Ryan we were just..." she stumbles over her words but is saved from having to say anything by the second woman.

:So why don't you just tell us the truth, Ryan? Are you or aren't you the father of Anna Stern's baby?"

"What?" Ryan asks, his eyes narrowing but he voices his voice to remain light, "and deprive you of your gossip for the month?" The women are still scoffing when Ryan finally seeks haven out of hearing. He knows he should laugh it off, how many times before had he laughed off the gossip of stupid Newpsies. But he can't, the thought of Anna being the topic of gossip makes him angry. Because she was Anna and she just didn't deserve that, although Ryan wasn't sure why gossip about Anna bothered him so much when it hadn't before with anyone else.

"Hey, so you and Anna came together." Seth pulls Ryan out of his thoughts.

"Yeah," Ryan responds automatically but at the surprised expression on Seth's face he quickly shakes his head. "Not like that, I picked her up, it's not a date."

"You know you guys are the talk of Newport, right?" Seth asks, "that everyone thinks you're the father of her baby?"

"I wasn't aware of it until about 90 seconds ago."

"Well, you are and have been for most of the week," Seth responds before biting into a cracker.

"Thanks for the heads up," Ryan rolls his eyes.

"Hey don't hate the messenger. Besides you're the one who spends every possible moment at her house, you are going over there before class and you go straight there after school."

"What are you saying Seth?" Ryan asks.

"Me, I'm saying nothing. Just that you're giving them the fuel to add to their gossip loving heart."

"Anna and I aren't like that," Ryan defends, "we're friends. I realize that you don't understand what it's like to be just friends with Anna or Summer, but it is possible if you'd just give it a chance."

"Whatever, man," Seth shakes his head and walks away from Ryan in the direction of the house.

Ryan feels bad for snapping at Seth almost the instant he walks away, but he knows that it's probably better for both of them if he doesn't try to go after him. He hasn't yet made up his mind about what to do when Anna approaches him, "looks like you and Seth had a fun conversation."

"Yeah," Ryan shrugs, "he was just being a little more Seth-like then I can handle tonight."

Anna frowns briefly, "so we made our appearance, right? Fed the gossip wheel?"

"Yeah, sorry about that," Ryan apologizes, "I didn't realize all the rumors."

Anna shrugs, "it's no big deal, I'm the one who should be apologizing. But anyway, do you want to run me home? We can hang out, maybe I'll share some of that double chocolate chip ice cream with you."

"Yeah, great," Ryan nods, "let's go."

Ryan yawns and opens his eyes, his first view is that of old an old Bewitched rerun on the TV in Anna's room. The second thing Ryan realizes is that Anna is laying with her head resting on her shoulder. And the third thing? The thing that makes Ryan panic the fact that when he glances at the clock it's three in the morning. They'd fallen asleep at some point probably three and a half hours ago, the Cohen's were probably having a cow. Ryan attempts to reach for his cell phone which he sat on the bedside table but he can't do so without waking up Anna.

He'd have to wake her. Sighing he looks down at her and the completely peaceful expression on her face causes every possible thought of that happening to fly out the window. Ryan had never realized Anna was beautiful before, but watching her sleep he realizes that she is. Don't even go down that road, Ryan. He mentally scolds himself but the other side of his head asks, why not? It's not like Seth's in love with her anymore, if he ever was. And you're not with Marissa or Theresa. So what's the big deal? If you like her, be with her. Ryan feels ridiculous for even having this internal war but he can't control it, how about because the Cohen's would freak. She's pregnant and there's already enough rumors going around about us. Besides she probably isn't thinking anything beyond friendship here.

Before Ryan can continue the battle in his head Anna jolts awake, "what time is it?"

"Three, I was just about to go," Ryan responds flustered.

"We feel asleep?" Anna asks.

Ryan nods, "I should get home, the Cohen's are going to kill me if they find out that I didn't come home."

Anna sits up quickly, pink spreading across her cheeks as she realizes the position she's been laying in, "I'm sorry. Apologize to them for me."

"Yeah," Ryan moves quickly off of the bed, "I'll talk to you later."