Anastasia's P.O.V.-
"Tonight…. tonight…. wait." "Uh, Anny? What are you talking about?" Jose raised his eyebrow up at me. We were setting up the booth for tonight's festival. Though I'll admit, my mind was elsewhere. Christian asked me to meet him here tonight, and I agreed enthusiastically. But… ever since then, something's been nagging at my mind. Why was "tomorrow night" ringing a bell? Hmmmmm, think, Anastasia; think. My eyes grew as something unexpectedly popped in my head. Oh wait….
"Paul! I totally forgot about Paul tonight!" I practically threw the newspaper in my hand. "Hey, watch it!" Jose frowned. But his toon changed once he saw the look of horror on my face. Oh, man; I'm such an idiot. I can't believe what an idiot I am! How could I double-book like that? I was just out-of-it last night that I automatically said "yes" to Christian last night. And I actually agreed to go with Paul first…. Ugh, this is horrible! My hand rose up to my head in agony. "Anny?" Meanwhile Jose observed my mental meltdown with concern.
"What am I going to do? I told him "yes". I told them both "yes". Nugh!" "Told who yes?" Jose asked a bit curious. "Paul. I… I agreed to go to the festival with him." "Oh. Well, you two go every year together. That's nothing new." "No; no, no, no. I said I'd go with him but that was before…." My brain cut me off before I accidently revealed myself. Jose blinked puzzled. "Before what?" "Befooooooore I uh….. double-booked myself?" "What? With who? That mystery guy you like?" Oh, I hated that smirk on his smug face just now.
I sighed heavily while closing my eyes for a minute. "I made a mistake, and to be fair, Paul did ask me first…." "Bruh, I don't get why you just don't date him. Paul's loved you for a long time now." "Don't say that," I snapped back. "Why? It's true. He freaked out at that Chargers game because of you." "What are you talking about? No, he didn't; he said a fight just broke out. It happens." "Yeah, but did you ever ask why that fight started in the first place? Paul likes you; he never looks at any girl but you." "No, you don't know what you're talking about, Jose. Paul and I are friends- just friends. He doesn't like me like that, and I don't like him." "You don't like him?" "Well, yes; but platonically- as a friend. That's it."
It was Jose's turn to sigh exasperated. He's exasperated? My frown only grew when he had the nerve to roll his eyes. "Seriously. How blind can you be?" "I'm not blind!" "Yes, you are. Here you have a guy literally throwing himself at your feet, and you remain oblivious. Face it: you can't tell when a guy's into you." "That's not true! I would know! I would…. wouldn't I?" Wouldn't I? Jose merely shook his head; his hands resting on his hips. He sighed again. "You gotta trust me on this- Paul likes you. It's so obvious to everyone except you apparently. And it'll really hurt him if you blow him off for some guy who probably doesn't like you. Not like Paul does anyway. Open your eyes, girl. Paul's a good catch; you won't find someone as devoted and loyal to you as him. He doesn't even notice all the other girls hitting on him because he's too busy thinking about you. Seriously, how do you not see it?"
Paul…. a good catch for me? My hand rose up to my saddened chest. I hear what Jose is saying and a part of me even agrees with him. Unlike me and Christian, society would accept Paul and I. We wouldn't have to be afraid to hold hands in public or go anywhere together. Just like Christian and Elena, it would be easy for him and I…. A hell of a lot easier than with Christian. But… but I'm not looking for "easy"; I could care less about that. "I don't care about that! I care about you!" Christian's the only boy who has ever made my protective instincts activate, if that's the right word. He's the only boy who has made my heart beat out of my chest and made me almost cry simply by smiling at me. I admire Christian; he has so many traits and characteristics I like about him. It's the same with Paul too, but… it's also so incredibly different. Maybe I'm not the best at telling when a guy likes me; like really likes me for me. But Christian is the first guy I can definitely say I like. Doesn't that mean something? Shouldn't that matter too?
"Just go with Paul tonight. That's you planned originally and besides, you think Paul's just gonna sit by quietly if you go with some random dude?" Yeeeeeeeeeeah, he's got a point there. Paul wasn't afraid to speak his mind or defend what he thinks is his. Oh boy; I hadn't thought about that. Paul isn't an enemy you want to have. And Christian and him are on the same football team too. "And I respect Paul as well." Hang on a minute; Christian did say that too…. Wait.
I flinched; my train of thought being broken by Jose gathering up some stuff. "Come on, let's start cleaning up and getting ready. It'll be five soon." "Uh, ok; sure," I immediately followed suit, still mulling over what to do. The one I really want to speak to is Christian, but Paul… Ugh! When did life get so bloody complicated?! "I'll just bring these around here," Jose called out to me. "Sure," I waved at him. Once he was out of sight momentarily, I started piling stacks of school newspapers in my arms.
What I am about to describe is going to sound disjointed. It sounds that way because it was very, very disjointed for me. As my hand reached for another paper, it froze midair; my whole being froze stiff as a board. This feeling…. My eyes widened as my heart raced a mile a minute. I know this feeling; it's the same feeling I had that night I was attacked. Sick, almost like nausea, and the sensation of being watched. More like stalked, and by someone with malicious intent. I could feel eyes on me, scanning me over and over; it's like whoever it was was assessing me. Sizing me up…..
It was that sense of being in danger- in real, life-threatening danger- where every move could be your last.
That feeling was definitely warranted. Voices and shallow sounds soon came from the shadows. "Is that her?" A strange, deep, adult, male voice. "Yeah, that's the one," another male voice. I didn't have time to move my feet and try to run away. Within the blink of an eye, two strong, large hands reached out from behind one of the oak trees, and also behind me. One hand covered my mouth while the other snaked across my waist. I was lifted off my feet into the air, pressed up against this guy. That's when I saw a white tiger- I'd say around thirty years old- appear and smile at me. "She's too good for the Black Market. The boss will be pleased with her." Oh my god… oh my god! I'm being abducted! These adult carnivores are kidnapping me!
My body went into survival mode with me wiggling and trying to make any sort of sound. But the lion currently holding me wouldn't let me budge. This all happened within the span of five seconds and before I knew we were moving, they were running with me in hand. Jose turned the corner of the booth to see them take off with me. "Ana!" I heard him shriek and then chase after us. "Go!" The lion ordered the tiger. We left the festival grounds in less than a minute and I heard Jose screaming my name a couple more times. I'm not quite sure what happened after that. I remember something hitting top of my head and everything went black pretty fast.
Christian's P.O.V.-
"Ok, men! Just because we can't promote team spirit on the football field this term doesn't mean we can't show our school spirit. I want you to work that booth so hard and earn those jerseys. You hear me?" "Yes, coach," we groaned in unison. "Now that's more like it! I wanna see real enthusiasm out there! Draw in the crowds! Show 'em what their school team is made of." "Yes, coach," another long moan. "Ok! Tyler, Clayton! You've the first shift! The rest of you….."
"Paul! Paul!" We all turned in surprise to see a giraffe running frantically towards us; his hand was high up in the air and he was sweating profusely. Wait, I know this dude, I thought as my eyes widened a tad. His name's Jose, right? While Paul immediately stood up, it was coach who shouted back first.
"What are you doin', boy?! Can't you see we're in the middle of something?" Coach barked annoyed. To our shock, Jose was somehow entirely able to ignore him, rushing up to Paul instead. Their bodies collided as Jose grabbed onto Paul's shirt in a panicked fashion. "Paul, they took her! They took Ana!"
"What?!" Both Paul and I leaned in closer to Jose. Just like before, back when that black out happened, it was like a literal flip had been switched inside my brain. All thoughts not centring around Anastasia were shut off; I could have been on fire and wouldn't have noticed. Every fibre, every atom of me was alive and alert- and ready for action I might add. Jose had my full attention, and judging by the sudden pale look on Paul's face, he had his too.