p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" What Annie needed to do was redesign the White Swan costume. Remaking her beaten up costume into a dream suit was easier said than done. It wasn't even designing the suit that made things difficult, though drawing was far from her forte and the suit hardly ever looked proportional to an actual body. The difficult part was finding the time to draw inconspicuously without anyone seeing just what she was doing. Getting caught drawing her suit and having someone figure out her superhero alias would have been the death of the girl./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" On a chilly, late November morning, Annie laid on the dark yellow carpet of her bedroom while sketching the suit. She didn't lay on her pillowtop mattress because of how likely it was that she would crawl under her purple comforter and fall back asleep. There were various showtunes playing in the background coming from her laptop that was sitting on her desk across the room as she tried to work. It wasn't just any showtunes, though, they were a playlist of all the possible audition songs she had been thinking about between Ned, Peter, and herself. Even songs for future use for herself were being thought of. Annie simply couldn't get herself to stop multitasking./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Besides, part of what had convinced Peter and Ned to audition was her promise to find the songs for them. That promise was easier said than done, though. Finding simple songs that weren't overused was quite the challenge. Only because she was normally looking for soprano pieces, not tenor and bass ones. Though the time spent in her room was cut short when she decided that the solution to her losing focus due to being tired was coffee instead of getting more much needed sleep after the long night she'd had coupled with regular patrolling and talking to Spider-Man./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;"~*~*~*~*~/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Did I ever tell you about the time I stole Captain America's shield?" Spider-Man asked, shoving some nachos supreme in his mouth./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie rolled her eyes as she swallowed some of her taco, "Yep, only every other time we get food, you say something about that damn fight in Germany./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Oh… well, I mean I fought Ant-Man while he was giant… Germany was really cool, you know. You would've probably liked it," the male replied with a shrug./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie's jaw dropped, "What the hell?! That guy was, like, my idol!"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "He's a war criminal… you know that, right?" Spider-Man questioned, his eyes squinting almost as though he were accusing her of something./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie gave a small shrug, "He's a good guy though, morality is perceptive… you're just getting all defensive because you have your dick out for Tony Stark."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Do not!"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Do too!/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "I wasn't getting defensive, Swan, but you're siding with people who were helping a murderer," the male hero pointed out./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie scoffed, "You and I both know James Barnes was a prisoner of war first. That was mind control, all that shit wasn't his fault./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "But he killed people, that's not right. It was someone's fault," Spider-Man replied./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie shook her head, "Then blame the people who put him in that situation. Not the guy who was caught in the middle of everything."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "So… what you're saying is that if you were in Germany we wouldn't have been on the same side, would we?" he questioned./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" She shook her head, tugging on her white hood, "I'm afraid not, Spidey… but we argue a lot anyways, does that surprise you?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Spider-Man shrugged in response and they both ate in silence the rest of the time. Though, Annie wasn't sure how to feel about it. She hadn't been involved in the fight, and maybe that was for the best. The side she'd been on was decided to have been in the wrong, but she wasn't sure she cared. Maybe she just needed to stop thinking about it./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Um… anyways, are there any girls you've been crushing on?" Annie asked in an attempt to change the subject./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Spider-Man looked over quizzically, "You're asking me about girls?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Well unless you're into guys, that's totally cool too. I was just wondering, obviously you have a life outside of this," Annie responded./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Spider-Man sighed a bit, "Okay, fine. I guess that there's this one girl…"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;"~*~*~*~*~/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Of course, the coffee machine was still unpacked and most likely buried in one of the boxes that was supposed to have been unpacked, but between her parents and herself being busy it just wasn't done. That also meant that there probably weren't any coffee grounds either, so she wasn't going to bother digging through all the unpacked boxes that were left precariously around the apartment. She had been living in the new apartment for nearly a month and she still couldn't make coffee there./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Hey, dad, I'm going to the corner store for some coffee, you want something?" she asked, watching as her father was creating a slide show on his desktop computer. It was most likely for one of his university lectures, and he would most likely come back and complain about how nearly none of his students had nearly enough passion for the topic. That was how it was with Annie's dad, people were never interested in his passions even if they actually were./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" It took the black-haired man a few moments to look up from his computer screen, "Oh, um, yes, could you get me a black coffee?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Yep, have fun making that lecture, dad," Annie commented as she pocketed the money that her father handed her./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" The man hardly looked up from the computer as she left. That didn't exactly surprise Annie, but sometimes it left her feeling a bit ignored. Sometimes, more often than not in reality, it felt like he barely noticed her. It felt as though she could get up and run away and he would never even notice. It wasn't that Carter Hardwick was neglectful. At the end of the day, he would seem to care about her in his own odd way, but work often came before her. Annie had commented on it before, but he would just point out the amount of money that he made from being a professor. It was to the point that she had stopped trying to point out that maybe, just maybe, he should focus on her and her mother a little bit more than he did. A part of her just wished that money didn't matter./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Most of the time, Annie wouldn't bring up how much her mother made from being a lawyer. Let him justify his bullshit, she thought as she walked down the block. It wasn't like she had ever gotten him to stop, and she had spent years trying to do just that. A cool breeze cut through the black leggings Annie wore and she tugged her dark blue hoodie around herself. The late November chill proved that Thanksgiving was less than a week away, meaning that Christmas as well as the audition were just around the corner./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Walking into the store, the first thing she felt was the warmth of walking inside, the heated air feeling amazing against her cool legs. Then, Annie did a double take as she scanned the store. A girl with crutches and short, kinky black hair seemed to be looking around at some of the candy and chips. It was definitely Tina, there was no question about that./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" The initial plan was to avoid her at all cost. She didn't have to go anywhere near Tina, there was no reason to even talk to her in the first place. It wasn't like the other girl would outright accuse her of being a superhero, but that didn't ease her racing heart. While, walking over to her to see how she was doing did feel tempting, Annie doubted that it was worth it. She just wouldn't take any risks, not today when she was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. However, there was only one way to get to the coffee and that involved passing by Tina. They were complete strangers, though, it would be fine. Her costume had kept her hidden for a few years, it could continue to do so for ten seconds or less. At least, that was what Annie kept telling herself in attempt to calm herself down. There was nothing for her to worry about. Although, that wasn't going to plan when walking behind Tina completely surprised her. It had caused Tina to fall, of course, she couldn't just leave Tina on the ground like that./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Shit! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you like that, oh my god I am seriously so sorry," Annie rambled, offering a hand to help the other girl up./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina had a frown as she accepted the hand and used a crutch to get herself to stand back up, "You coulda said something. Ya know, told me you were coming behind me."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "R-right, I'm really sorry about that. Seriously, I could get you something to make it up to you," Annie offered, looking at the linoleum floor./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina shook her head, "No, I don't need your pity."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "It's not about that, I just wanna help," Annie insisted, crossing her arms./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina huffed, "I don't need it."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "But, Tina, you do, just- "/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "How do you know my name?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie gulped and choked on the mixture of saliva and air in her throat. Her light brown face turned into a shade of bright red. She mentally kicked herself as she tried to think of an excuse. Only, there wasn't one. It was just her being stupid and not thinking before she spoke. Maybe she should have just laid on her bed and slept instead of trying to persevere through her exhaustion./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina blinked, "Um… don't die?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "I uh… I work at the soup kitchen," Annie replied with coughs in between some of her words./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" The other girl glared, her dark brown eyes almost looking like they turned completely black, "That's bullshit and you know it. Are you stalking me?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "No, not that at all, I swear. Woah woah woah, you can put that crutch down I'm not gonna hurt you… put that crutch down… ow! Fucking hell!" Annie exclaimed as the crutch dug into her foot, earning a few weird looks from the handful of people in the store./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" The crutch only dug into her foot more. It was placing just the right amount of pressure to where it was nearly unbearable. Annie couldn't even stop a barrier of energy from forming and then bursting, pushing the crutch off. Thankfully it had just been Tina and herself there to see it. What left Annie worried was whether or not she would do something else like that again. It wasn't like she was trying to make a point, it just kind of happened. Almost as though she had lost control for a split second, but she stopped worrying as much once nothing else happened./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Oh… you're-"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Not here, okay? Let me buy my coffee and get you something too. Then we can talk about it," Annie pleaded, her light brown eyes widened as she hoped that there wouldn't be any confrontation right in front of so many people./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina gave a sigh, almost like she was still contemplating her decision, "Okay, fine… but you owe me a huge explanation."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Of course, yeah, I'll do that. And you'll get it. Just not this second, okay?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Getting two cups of black coffee and a bottled, sweetened black tea took all of five minutes. The whole time, the brunette's heart was racing and she felt like she could throw up all over the polite cashier. No one had ever found her out before this. Yes, people had gotten close, but that hardly meant anything unless they actually knew her true identity. There were now so many ways that Tina could get back at her. Though, Annie hoped that wouldn't be the case. At least, that was what she kept thinking as she stuffed the change into her hoodie pocket. If more people found out who she was, she would probably spontaneously combust and then she would never have to deal with keeping secrets ever again./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Also, we gotta take a detour to my place, this extra coffee was for my dad," Annie explained as she walked out of the store with Tina, the cold air practically slapping her in the face./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" A cold breeze passed through again, causing Annie's long, dark hair to get in her face. With both hands holding onto the corner store coffees, she couldn't get the annoying strands of hair out of her face. All she could do was keep her mouth closed so none of her hair would get into her mouth. She had already choked on her own spit, she didn't want to choke on her own hair next. At least her hands were warm. She couldn't imagine holding a cold drink in the chilled weather./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;"When she glanced at Tina, she felt a pang of guilt as she saw the other girl moving slowly with her crutches and cold drink. There she was, dragging the other girl around when that was probably all Tina had gone through for who knew how long. Still, Annie knew that her dad would probably say a few things if she didn't get him his coffee. Plus, Annie hadn't planned on seeing Tina in the first place. Then again, it wasn't like Annie was keeping the other girl hostage. She had questions and wanted answers, answers that Annie did feel were justified./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Once the girls made it to the apartment building, Tina cleared her throat, "Do I go up with you?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Yeah, j-just say you're my new friend if anyone asks," Annie replied, leading the way into the tall building./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Getting to the apartment, Annie didn't know what was sadder, that her dad never questioned Tina walking in or that the landlord asked a bunch of questions about the other female. Thankfully, Tina played it cool as they left. It wasn't that Annie wanted her dad to give Tina the third degree, but she wanted her dad to act like he cared more often. She wished he would have said hello or who he was, something that she thought normal parents did. Sure, Annie wasn't their blood-related child, but she thought that meant that her parents had made the conscious choice to care about her. The more Annie grew up, the more it felt like only her mom had made that decision./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina huffed as they continued to walk some more, "Where are you taking me? This hobbling around hurts like a bitch,"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Just across this street. You just gotta be patient," Annie responded, rolling her eyes a bit./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Says the one who's not on crutches."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Says the one who tried to crush my foot."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Touchè."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie and Tina made their way into the library. It took a moment to find an empty space where they wouldn't have to worry about being overheard. Though, it took a bit, Annie hadn't thought it took that long. However, the sigh that Tina let out seemed to say otherwise. The enclosed room was walled with green glass. Annie wasn't sure where to start, so she took a big drink of her black coffee./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "So, what's your name anyways?" asked Tina./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" The other girl swallowed the warm liquid, "Annika, but everyone just calls me Annie."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Hmm… so what're you really trying to do, talking to me?" Tina asked, opening her tea./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie bit her lip in thought, "With what? With you or with my own image as a hero or?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "No, obviously, why're you helping me?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Because you deserve better than you're getting, than you've gotten in the past."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "How would you know what I deserve?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "I know because no one, and you listen to me Tina, no one deserves to be hurt in the way that you were."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "You really think that?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Yes! Of course I do. I'm not a hero just for the glory… then I would've quit a long time ago, because there's not much glory in it all."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina nodded a little bit, "So, that Spider-Man guy… what's your deal with him?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Honestly, I have no fucking clue. I know he's a bit… ah what's the word for it?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Awkward yet cocky?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Sure, but his heart's in the right place, I wouldn't say cocky… anywho, I thought maybe we could be friends or something like that."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Oh, no way. You're saying that to break me down and find out more about me and to get me even more roped into whatever it is that you and that other guy have planned."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "It's not that at all! You need someone to talk to. I know what it's like to be alone, just let me help you, could you do that?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Of course, Annie wanted to know more relating to the case she was trying to crack that had everything to deal with Tina. Why wouldn't she want that? But the poor girl in front of her was in desperate need to talk to someone. It was written in the bags under her nearly black eyes. She needed someone there for her, anyone. If talking to Tina in the past had told Annie anything, it was that she was exceedingly lonely. Odds were that Tina couldn't get through what was happening if she were left alone. Annie worried that she would just go back to the man who had treated her so cruelly. She could get away with it too, given how little information she and Spider-Man had./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "You won't tell your hero friend about any of this, will you?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "No, I-I'm not trying to be involved like that. This is just me being normal and trying to be your friend simply because that's what I want."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Normal people don't hang out with homeless teens," Tina pointed out, her dark eyebrows raised./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Eh, I was never super normal to begin with, powers or not."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" For the first time in weeks, Annie found herself getting to Tina. It wasn't by much, but they were just talking. Not about the past that led them to the positions that they were currently in, no, they talked about regular things. Favorite movies, getting jobs, starting at new schools, the things that regular friends talked about on a regular day. Things like how Tina wouldn't be going to Midtown, but rather some normal high school somewhere in the neighborhood. Annie wished they would be at the same school, though, for the sole purpose of no longer being the token new-girl./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" They continued talking for hours. Tina didn't say a thing about being trafficked, but she listened as Annie blabbered on about the school musical and her other friends. Occasionally, Tina would say something, but she tended to avoid saying anything of substance. As much as Annie wanted to comment on it, she knew it wasn't the time or the place./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Though, they did have to go home eventually and when they got to the homeless shelter, Annie hugged Tina./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "If you need anything, call me, I gave you my number for a reason, okay?" Annie said, looking at Tina dead in the eyes./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina gave a nod that seemed reluctant, "Okay, but I'm safe now, honestly. I'm just trying to finish school and get back on my feet."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie gave a nod, "I know, but I also know that shit happens. So when it does, I'm here."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" It didn't matter if Tina would tell her anything about being hurt or not. Annie truly did just want to help. For a moment, being successful or powerful wasn't what mattered to her. That was all the motivation that she needed to throw herself back into being a multitasking hero who kept promises to as many people as she could. Whether she knew them that well or not. It gave her enough energy to continue getting things done at a million miles a minute. Maybe trying to do things so quickly wasn't the best idea, but that hardly mattered to Annie either./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" That Monday, Annie had gone through the day with more energy than she thought she could have had. There was this spring in her step as she finally felt herself accomplishing some of her goals. At least, she had better ideas for the auditions that she could hardly wait to tell Peter and Ned about. Not to mention how the suit she had a sketch of in her dresser drawer was starting to come together. Though, it didn't seem that the boys were talking about anything that she was thinking of./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "What time do you want us over on Thursday?" Ned asked Peter as Annie sat down./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie cocked her head, "What's so special about Thursday?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Um… I don't know, maybe the fact that it's Thanksgiving? Come on, get with it!" Ned exclaimed, sounding incredulous./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Peter nodded a bit, "Yeah, did you have any plans for Thursday? I mean, I'm sure my aunt would love to meet you. I mean, it could be fun."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" When the girl took a moment to step back, she could remember her mom saying something about her dad being gone on some literature conference in Philadelphia for the holiday. Her mom had wanted to do something, but there was still so much happening with getting settled in and it just being the two ladies in the apartment that day anyhow. Though, perhaps she could get the chance to bring Tina along too. To show that she was being serious about just being friends for the sake of friendship, not to get ahead./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Well, would it be okay if there were two other people? I could make some food to help make up for it," Annie offered before adding, "I make a great potato salad."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Peter shrugged, "I don't see why not, but you don't need to make anything… who were you thinking about?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Oh, well, there's my mom and then this one girl I met a few days ago, Tina, she's kinda lonely and I think she could use the whole, having-people-around thing," Annie explained, giving a tiny shrug, "She might not even come because, well, she doesn't know you guys. It could be fun though!"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Peter spat out his chocolate milk, the liquid getting all over his food. His eyes seemed to widen a bit and he looked like he was trying to say something to Ned with his eyes. Why Peter was reacting this way, she had absolutely no clue./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Is it because you're nervous about meeting girls or something?" Annie asked teasingly with a small laugh./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Peter shook his head, "No, uh, I just… needed to cough and I kinda did… you're not bringing her to set one of us up, are you?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "No, no, it's not that… I met her when I was getting coffee and I almost knocked her out. She's been having a rough time and I wanna help," Annie replied./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Peter nodded, "Yeah, we got that… um sure, that's fine,"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Despite the words leaving the other boy's mouth, Annie couldn't help wondering if he had been telling the truth. Something told her that he was hiding something, but she didn't have the ability to find out what. There was a reason as to why he had been so surprised, and she couldn't understand why that was. Maybe it was because he didn't know Tina and he really did have to cough. Something told her that wasn't the case, though./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" However, Annie didn't have enough motivation to figure out what was going through Peter's head. Besides, it wasn't like she was a mind reader. She controlled energy, not people. That was probably for the best, even if that meant she wasn't able to know what Peter was doing. More importantly, how Ned was involved in whatever it was Peter was doing. Though, perhaps she was just looking into it too much and needed to get a full night's rest before she started jumping to conclusions./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" On a chilly, late November morning, Annie laid on the dark yellow carpet of her bedroom while sketching the suit. She didn't lay on her pillowtop mattress because of how likely it was that she would crawl under her purple comforter and fall back asleep. There were various showtunes playing in the background coming from her laptop that was sitting on her desk across the room as she tried to work. It wasn't just any showtunes, though, they were a playlist of all the possible audition songs she had been thinking about between Ned, Peter, and herself. Even songs for future use for herself were being thought of. Annie simply couldn't get herself to stop multitasking./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Besides, part of what had convinced Peter and Ned to audition was her promise to find the songs for them. That promise was easier said than done, though. Finding simple songs that weren't overused was quite the challenge. Only because she was normally looking for soprano pieces, not tenor and bass ones. Though the time spent in her room was cut short when she decided that the solution to her losing focus due to being tired was coffee instead of getting more much needed sleep after the long night she'd had coupled with regular patrolling and talking to Spider-Man./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;"~*~*~*~*~/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Did I ever tell you about the time I stole Captain America's shield?" Spider-Man asked, shoving some nachos supreme in his mouth./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie rolled her eyes as she swallowed some of her taco, "Yep, only every other time we get food, you say something about that damn fight in Germany./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Oh… well, I mean I fought Ant-Man while he was giant… Germany was really cool, you know. You would've probably liked it," the male replied with a shrug./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie's jaw dropped, "What the hell?! That guy was, like, my idol!"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "He's a war criminal… you know that, right?" Spider-Man questioned, his eyes squinting almost as though he were accusing her of something./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie gave a small shrug, "He's a good guy though, morality is perceptive… you're just getting all defensive because you have your dick out for Tony Stark."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Do not!"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Do too!/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "I wasn't getting defensive, Swan, but you're siding with people who were helping a murderer," the male hero pointed out./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie scoffed, "You and I both know James Barnes was a prisoner of war first. That was mind control, all that shit wasn't his fault./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "But he killed people, that's not right. It was someone's fault," Spider-Man replied./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie shook her head, "Then blame the people who put him in that situation. Not the guy who was caught in the middle of everything."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "So… what you're saying is that if you were in Germany we wouldn't have been on the same side, would we?" he questioned./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" She shook her head, tugging on her white hood, "I'm afraid not, Spidey… but we argue a lot anyways, does that surprise you?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Spider-Man shrugged in response and they both ate in silence the rest of the time. Though, Annie wasn't sure how to feel about it. She hadn't been involved in the fight, and maybe that was for the best. The side she'd been on was decided to have been in the wrong, but she wasn't sure she cared. Maybe she just needed to stop thinking about it./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Um… anyways, are there any girls you've been crushing on?" Annie asked in an attempt to change the subject./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Spider-Man looked over quizzically, "You're asking me about girls?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Well unless you're into guys, that's totally cool too. I was just wondering, obviously you have a life outside of this," Annie responded./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Spider-Man sighed a bit, "Okay, fine. I guess that there's this one girl…"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;"~*~*~*~*~/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Of course, the coffee machine was still unpacked and most likely buried in one of the boxes that was supposed to have been unpacked, but between her parents and herself being busy it just wasn't done. That also meant that there probably weren't any coffee grounds either, so she wasn't going to bother digging through all the unpacked boxes that were left precariously around the apartment. She had been living in the new apartment for nearly a month and she still couldn't make coffee there./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Hey, dad, I'm going to the corner store for some coffee, you want something?" she asked, watching as her father was creating a slide show on his desktop computer. It was most likely for one of his university lectures, and he would most likely come back and complain about how nearly none of his students had nearly enough passion for the topic. That was how it was with Annie's dad, people were never interested in his passions even if they actually were./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" It took the black-haired man a few moments to look up from his computer screen, "Oh, um, yes, could you get me a black coffee?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Yep, have fun making that lecture, dad," Annie commented as she pocketed the money that her father handed her./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" The man hardly looked up from the computer as she left. That didn't exactly surprise Annie, but sometimes it left her feeling a bit ignored. Sometimes, more often than not in reality, it felt like he barely noticed her. It felt as though she could get up and run away and he would never even notice. It wasn't that Carter Hardwick was neglectful. At the end of the day, he would seem to care about her in his own odd way, but work often came before her. Annie had commented on it before, but he would just point out the amount of money that he made from being a professor. It was to the point that she had stopped trying to point out that maybe, just maybe, he should focus on her and her mother a little bit more than he did. A part of her just wished that money didn't matter./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Most of the time, Annie wouldn't bring up how much her mother made from being a lawyer. Let him justify his bullshit, she thought as she walked down the block. It wasn't like she had ever gotten him to stop, and she had spent years trying to do just that. A cool breeze cut through the black leggings Annie wore and she tugged her dark blue hoodie around herself. The late November chill proved that Thanksgiving was less than a week away, meaning that Christmas as well as the audition were just around the corner./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Walking into the store, the first thing she felt was the warmth of walking inside, the heated air feeling amazing against her cool legs. Then, Annie did a double take as she scanned the store. A girl with crutches and short, kinky black hair seemed to be looking around at some of the candy and chips. It was definitely Tina, there was no question about that./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" The initial plan was to avoid her at all cost. She didn't have to go anywhere near Tina, there was no reason to even talk to her in the first place. It wasn't like the other girl would outright accuse her of being a superhero, but that didn't ease her racing heart. While, walking over to her to see how she was doing did feel tempting, Annie doubted that it was worth it. She just wouldn't take any risks, not today when she was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. However, there was only one way to get to the coffee and that involved passing by Tina. They were complete strangers, though, it would be fine. Her costume had kept her hidden for a few years, it could continue to do so for ten seconds or less. At least, that was what Annie kept telling herself in attempt to calm herself down. There was nothing for her to worry about. Although, that wasn't going to plan when walking behind Tina completely surprised her. It had caused Tina to fall, of course, she couldn't just leave Tina on the ground like that./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Shit! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you like that, oh my god I am seriously so sorry," Annie rambled, offering a hand to help the other girl up./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina had a frown as she accepted the hand and used a crutch to get herself to stand back up, "You coulda said something. Ya know, told me you were coming behind me."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "R-right, I'm really sorry about that. Seriously, I could get you something to make it up to you," Annie offered, looking at the linoleum floor./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina shook her head, "No, I don't need your pity."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "It's not about that, I just wanna help," Annie insisted, crossing her arms./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina huffed, "I don't need it."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "But, Tina, you do, just- "/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "How do you know my name?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie gulped and choked on the mixture of saliva and air in her throat. Her light brown face turned into a shade of bright red. She mentally kicked herself as she tried to think of an excuse. Only, there wasn't one. It was just her being stupid and not thinking before she spoke. Maybe she should have just laid on her bed and slept instead of trying to persevere through her exhaustion./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina blinked, "Um… don't die?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "I uh… I work at the soup kitchen," Annie replied with coughs in between some of her words./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" The other girl glared, her dark brown eyes almost looking like they turned completely black, "That's bullshit and you know it. Are you stalking me?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "No, not that at all, I swear. Woah woah woah, you can put that crutch down I'm not gonna hurt you… put that crutch down… ow! Fucking hell!" Annie exclaimed as the crutch dug into her foot, earning a few weird looks from the handful of people in the store./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" The crutch only dug into her foot more. It was placing just the right amount of pressure to where it was nearly unbearable. Annie couldn't even stop a barrier of energy from forming and then bursting, pushing the crutch off. Thankfully it had just been Tina and herself there to see it. What left Annie worried was whether or not she would do something else like that again. It wasn't like she was trying to make a point, it just kind of happened. Almost as though she had lost control for a split second, but she stopped worrying as much once nothing else happened./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Oh… you're-"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Not here, okay? Let me buy my coffee and get you something too. Then we can talk about it," Annie pleaded, her light brown eyes widened as she hoped that there wouldn't be any confrontation right in front of so many people./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina gave a sigh, almost like she was still contemplating her decision, "Okay, fine… but you owe me a huge explanation."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Of course, yeah, I'll do that. And you'll get it. Just not this second, okay?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Getting two cups of black coffee and a bottled, sweetened black tea took all of five minutes. The whole time, the brunette's heart was racing and she felt like she could throw up all over the polite cashier. No one had ever found her out before this. Yes, people had gotten close, but that hardly meant anything unless they actually knew her true identity. There were now so many ways that Tina could get back at her. Though, Annie hoped that wouldn't be the case. At least, that was what she kept thinking as she stuffed the change into her hoodie pocket. If more people found out who she was, she would probably spontaneously combust and then she would never have to deal with keeping secrets ever again./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Also, we gotta take a detour to my place, this extra coffee was for my dad," Annie explained as she walked out of the store with Tina, the cold air practically slapping her in the face./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" A cold breeze passed through again, causing Annie's long, dark hair to get in her face. With both hands holding onto the corner store coffees, she couldn't get the annoying strands of hair out of her face. All she could do was keep her mouth closed so none of her hair would get into her mouth. She had already choked on her own spit, she didn't want to choke on her own hair next. At least her hands were warm. She couldn't imagine holding a cold drink in the chilled weather./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;"When she glanced at Tina, she felt a pang of guilt as she saw the other girl moving slowly with her crutches and cold drink. There she was, dragging the other girl around when that was probably all Tina had gone through for who knew how long. Still, Annie knew that her dad would probably say a few things if she didn't get him his coffee. Plus, Annie hadn't planned on seeing Tina in the first place. Then again, it wasn't like Annie was keeping the other girl hostage. She had questions and wanted answers, answers that Annie did feel were justified./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Once the girls made it to the apartment building, Tina cleared her throat, "Do I go up with you?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Yeah, j-just say you're my new friend if anyone asks," Annie replied, leading the way into the tall building./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Getting to the apartment, Annie didn't know what was sadder, that her dad never questioned Tina walking in or that the landlord asked a bunch of questions about the other female. Thankfully, Tina played it cool as they left. It wasn't that Annie wanted her dad to give Tina the third degree, but she wanted her dad to act like he cared more often. She wished he would have said hello or who he was, something that she thought normal parents did. Sure, Annie wasn't their blood-related child, but she thought that meant that her parents had made the conscious choice to care about her. The more Annie grew up, the more it felt like only her mom had made that decision./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina huffed as they continued to walk some more, "Where are you taking me? This hobbling around hurts like a bitch,"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Just across this street. You just gotta be patient," Annie responded, rolling her eyes a bit./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Says the one who's not on crutches."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Says the one who tried to crush my foot."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Touchè."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie and Tina made their way into the library. It took a moment to find an empty space where they wouldn't have to worry about being overheard. Though, it took a bit, Annie hadn't thought it took that long. However, the sigh that Tina let out seemed to say otherwise. The enclosed room was walled with green glass. Annie wasn't sure where to start, so she took a big drink of her black coffee./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "So, what's your name anyways?" asked Tina./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" The other girl swallowed the warm liquid, "Annika, but everyone just calls me Annie."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Hmm… so what're you really trying to do, talking to me?" Tina asked, opening her tea./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie bit her lip in thought, "With what? With you or with my own image as a hero or?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "No, obviously, why're you helping me?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Because you deserve better than you're getting, than you've gotten in the past."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "How would you know what I deserve?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "I know because no one, and you listen to me Tina, no one deserves to be hurt in the way that you were."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "You really think that?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Yes! Of course I do. I'm not a hero just for the glory… then I would've quit a long time ago, because there's not much glory in it all."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina nodded a little bit, "So, that Spider-Man guy… what's your deal with him?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Honestly, I have no fucking clue. I know he's a bit… ah what's the word for it?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Awkward yet cocky?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Sure, but his heart's in the right place, I wouldn't say cocky… anywho, I thought maybe we could be friends or something like that."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Oh, no way. You're saying that to break me down and find out more about me and to get me even more roped into whatever it is that you and that other guy have planned."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "It's not that at all! You need someone to talk to. I know what it's like to be alone, just let me help you, could you do that?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Of course, Annie wanted to know more relating to the case she was trying to crack that had everything to deal with Tina. Why wouldn't she want that? But the poor girl in front of her was in desperate need to talk to someone. It was written in the bags under her nearly black eyes. She needed someone there for her, anyone. If talking to Tina in the past had told Annie anything, it was that she was exceedingly lonely. Odds were that Tina couldn't get through what was happening if she were left alone. Annie worried that she would just go back to the man who had treated her so cruelly. She could get away with it too, given how little information she and Spider-Man had./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "You won't tell your hero friend about any of this, will you?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "No, I-I'm not trying to be involved like that. This is just me being normal and trying to be your friend simply because that's what I want."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Normal people don't hang out with homeless teens," Tina pointed out, her dark eyebrows raised./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Eh, I was never super normal to begin with, powers or not."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" For the first time in weeks, Annie found herself getting to Tina. It wasn't by much, but they were just talking. Not about the past that led them to the positions that they were currently in, no, they talked about regular things. Favorite movies, getting jobs, starting at new schools, the things that regular friends talked about on a regular day. Things like how Tina wouldn't be going to Midtown, but rather some normal high school somewhere in the neighborhood. Annie wished they would be at the same school, though, for the sole purpose of no longer being the token new-girl./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" They continued talking for hours. Tina didn't say a thing about being trafficked, but she listened as Annie blabbered on about the school musical and her other friends. Occasionally, Tina would say something, but she tended to avoid saying anything of substance. As much as Annie wanted to comment on it, she knew it wasn't the time or the place./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Though, they did have to go home eventually and when they got to the homeless shelter, Annie hugged Tina./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "If you need anything, call me, I gave you my number for a reason, okay?" Annie said, looking at Tina dead in the eyes./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Tina gave a nod that seemed reluctant, "Okay, but I'm safe now, honestly. I'm just trying to finish school and get back on my feet."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie gave a nod, "I know, but I also know that shit happens. So when it does, I'm here."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" It didn't matter if Tina would tell her anything about being hurt or not. Annie truly did just want to help. For a moment, being successful or powerful wasn't what mattered to her. That was all the motivation that she needed to throw herself back into being a multitasking hero who kept promises to as many people as she could. Whether she knew them that well or not. It gave her enough energy to continue getting things done at a million miles a minute. Maybe trying to do things so quickly wasn't the best idea, but that hardly mattered to Annie either./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" That Monday, Annie had gone through the day with more energy than she thought she could have had. There was this spring in her step as she finally felt herself accomplishing some of her goals. At least, she had better ideas for the auditions that she could hardly wait to tell Peter and Ned about. Not to mention how the suit she had a sketch of in her dresser drawer was starting to come together. Though, it didn't seem that the boys were talking about anything that she was thinking of./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "What time do you want us over on Thursday?" Ned asked Peter as Annie sat down./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Annie cocked her head, "What's so special about Thursday?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Um… I don't know, maybe the fact that it's Thanksgiving? Come on, get with it!" Ned exclaimed, sounding incredulous./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Peter nodded a bit, "Yeah, did you have any plans for Thursday? I mean, I'm sure my aunt would love to meet you. I mean, it could be fun."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" When the girl took a moment to step back, she could remember her mom saying something about her dad being gone on some literature conference in Philadelphia for the holiday. Her mom had wanted to do something, but there was still so much happening with getting settled in and it just being the two ladies in the apartment that day anyhow. Though, perhaps she could get the chance to bring Tina along too. To show that she was being serious about just being friends for the sake of friendship, not to get ahead./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Well, would it be okay if there were two other people? I could make some food to help make up for it," Annie offered before adding, "I make a great potato salad."/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Peter shrugged, "I don't see why not, but you don't need to make anything… who were you thinking about?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Oh, well, there's my mom and then this one girl I met a few days ago, Tina, she's kinda lonely and I think she could use the whole, having-people-around thing," Annie explained, giving a tiny shrug, "She might not even come because, well, she doesn't know you guys. It could be fun though!"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Peter spat out his chocolate milk, the liquid getting all over his food. His eyes seemed to widen a bit and he looked like he was trying to say something to Ned with his eyes. Why Peter was reacting this way, she had absolutely no clue./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "Is it because you're nervous about meeting girls or something?" Annie asked teasingly with a small laugh./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Peter shook his head, "No, uh, I just… needed to cough and I kinda did… you're not bringing her to set one of us up, are you?"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" "No, no, it's not that… I met her when I was getting coffee and I almost knocked her out. She's been having a rough time and I wanna help," Annie replied./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Peter nodded, "Yeah, we got that… um sure, that's fine,"/p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" Despite the words leaving the other boy's mouth, Annie couldn't help wondering if he had been telling the truth. Something told her that he was hiding something, but she didn't have the ability to find out what. There was a reason as to why he had been so surprised, and she couldn't understand why that was. Maybe it was because he didn't know Tina and he really did have to cough. Something told her that wasn't the case, though./p
p style="color: #888888; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.2px;" However, Annie didn't have enough motivation to figure out what was going through Peter's head. Besides, it wasn't like she was a mind reader. She controlled energy, not people. That was probably for the best, even if that meant she wasn't able to know what Peter was doing. More importantly, how Ned was involved in whatever it was Peter was doing. Though, perhaps she was just looking into it too much and needed to get a full night's rest before she started jumping to conclusions./p
