I wanted their story to start a little sooner.


Jackson had gone upstairs to clear his head, what the hell was Tyler Townsend doing at his party? Sure they played together on the team but they avoided each other every chance they got. He heard the thuds of a fight and scrunched up his face, the last thing he needed was his dad finding a trashed house. He raced down the stairs to hear the front door bang shut.

Tyler was pushing Cece away and glancing at Annie beseechingly. Cece kept trying to regain his attention but he was totally focused. Jackson narrowed his eyes, how many girls did this guy need? He looked around and didn't see Nellie.

'Where's my sister?'

Everyone seemed to snap out of a daze and look around in shock. They heard the rumble of an engine taking off and everyone raced for the door. By the time Jackson ripped it open Ty's car was gone.

'Where's Kyle?' Ty said hoping his brother was brooding on the sidewalk and hadn't just...

'He took your car,' Annie said scowling at him.

Jackson was about to slam Ty when they heard screeching tires.

Annie's breaths came faster and faster till her body buzzed with all the adrenaline.

This is all my fault, this is all my fault, this is all my fault. She said it over and over under hear breath.

Ty was being furiously hugged by Maddie while the paramedics strapped Kyle to a stretcher. Annie vacantly wondered where her mom was, probably on the way. Probably disappointed in her again.
Oh gosh, Kyle. There's so much blood.

A hand brushed her arm hesitantly, it was Jackson avoiding her eyes. Annie hurriedly wiped her tears.

'Is Nellie okay?' she asked.

Jackson looked up and nodded.

'She's with my parents. Mostly bruises,' he said tensely not able to stop himself glancing in Tyler's direction.

Annie noticed and her eyebrows pulled together before she frowned.

'This wasn't Ty's fault,' she started.

'Don't even try to defend him,' Jackson said.

Annie's eyes brimmed up full with tears.

'I meant, it's mine. I started all this, none of this would have happened if it wasn't for me,' she said tears jumping from her eyes to bounce down her cheeks.

Jackson took a deep breath and blinked, gave his head a small shake and stepped toward her.

'What are you doing?' Annie crinkled her forehead.

'Giving you a hug?' he asked.

'Oh.'

He gathered his courage and wrapped her in his arms. She sniffed into his hoodie and he wasn't sure if he'd made her more sad. He let go but she grabbed his arm as he pulled back.

'Thank you,' she said and let his soft hoodie slip from her fingers. The smell of his hoodie clung to her nose, unfamiliar but surprisingly comforting.

'Annabel?!' her mother was striding through the crowd.

Annie smiled relieved, 'Mom!'

'Oh my gosh, thank the Lord you are alright!' she ran to Annie and clung onto her to make sure she was alright. Dana Sue's eyes slid to Jackson retreating and her eyebrows rose. He was watching Annie with more than concern.

'Who got hurt?' she asked.

Annie didn't answer straight away, eyes tracking across the ambulance closing it's doors to leave. Tyler being led by his father to their car, Nellie was being fussed over by her parents.

'Annabel answer me,' Dana Sue said craning round to get Annie's attention.

'Sorry Mom,' she squeezed Dana Sue's hand, 'Kyle & Nellie.'


I have seen the first episode of the new season so I'll probably write more as I watch the new season.