*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. THey were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much!
The cab pulls up in front of Dean's house and I take a deep breath before we get out of the cab. Dean gets my bags from the trunk and carries them for me as we walk to the front door of his house. The lights are on inside and I can hear voices on the other side. Dean says, "I know this isn't what you're used to but it's a nice house."
"It's okay," I say as he opens the door and there are a group of men and a couple women hanging in the living room.
"Oh Shit," he says as he takes me into his arm as he wraps it around me. "Don't talk to anyone," he says as we walk further into the living room.
The house has the smell of cigarettes and weed. There are empty beer bottles lying around everywhere. I have never seen anything like it. This is definitely not something I am used to. The house is much smaller than I am used to our downstairs is bigger than his house. My bedroom is bigger than the kitchen and the living room is smaller than my bedroom also. A tall guy with dark hair and hazel eyes with olive skin approaches me without a shirt on and a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He takes a hit of the cigarette before putting it out on the floor. He smiles as he gets closer. "Who do we have here?" He asks as he stops Dean and me from walking any further.
"Don't worry about it, Mack," says Dean as he pulls me closer tightening his grip on me. I can hear it in his voice that he is upset. I never heard Dean get upset but whoever this Mack guy is rubs Dean the wrong way.
"You're a pretty girl aren't you," he says as he strokes my cheek.
Dean smacks his hand away and says, "don't touch her, Mack."
"Aw maybe your girl just wants to have a little fun. What's your name sweetheart?" he asks before taking a sip of his beer.
"Anastasia," I say nervously.
"Anastasia," he says with a smile in a tone that makes me feel dirty. "A pretty name for a pretty girl, why don't you come join the party?" he says. "We've got beer, some weed and some coke. Wanna join?"
"She's not interested, Mack," says Dean, "leave her alone."
"Let her answer, Dean," he says as his hazel eyes look over my body in a way that makes me feel uncomfortable.
"No," I say, "I'm all right."
"Aw, you should join the party," he says as he reaches to touch my face again but Dean slaps his hand away before he can. "Come on, Sweetheart," he says trying to take me away from Dean. "I'll show you what a real man can do."
"She's 17, Mack," says Dean, "leave her go and she's not like that. She's not one of those trashy whores you find off the street. Leave her alone."
"Well, Anastasia, if you feel you want to party with a real man," he says before looking at Dean and then back at me, "you know where to find me."
"I'm okay," I say as Dean and I hurry to his bedroom.
Once we are in his room he shuts the door behind us and locks it. "Don't' talk to that guy, Anastasia. He's nothing but trouble and as long as you are here we are keeping this door locked. I don't trust him."
"Okay," I say as I take in his bedroom. It's a lot smaller than mine. It's pretty simple, the walls are white, there's a bed in the middle of the room with a dark blue comforter and dark blue sheets. There are wooden dressers in the room but most of the drawers are pulled out of them.
"Welcome to my life," he says as he takes his jacket off as I do the same, "and may I suggest you not wear clothes like that around Mack. He's a predator, he's a pimp. He preys on young girls like you. He drugs them up, gets them dependent on drugs and then sends them out to the streets. He has no respect for anyone. Just be careful around him but of course as long as I am here he's not going to touch you," he says walking over to his dresser. He pulls out a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. "Here, Ana," he says as he walks over to me. "Put these on."
"Okay," I say as I take his clothes from him. I slip the shirt over my cami and the sweatpants over my shorts. They are both incredibly too big but they smell like Dean and I like that. "So this is where you live?" I ask as I take a seat on the bed as Dean slips out of his beater.
"Yeah," he says, "It's nothing like your side of town huh?"
"No," I say with a shrug. "But it's okay."
"You have no idea," he says as he sits down next to me, "but you're more than welcome to stay here as long as you'd like."
"Thanks," I say. "So who was that guy?"
"That guy is Mack and he is my mom's boyfriend. He's the one that I got into a fight with. He's an asshole."
"I saw that," I say with a smile.
"So how are you doing?" he asks. "It's been a wild night," he says moving closer to me and wrapping his arm around me. I rest my head on his chest. "Are you okay?"
"I'm all right," I say as I wrap and arm around his bare stomach.
"So your dad and you had a fight?"
"Yes," I say.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"He pretty much told me that he could control me. Shawn went crying to his daddy and his daddy came to mine. My dad is upset that you and I are dating. He told me I can do better pretty much. He told me to break up with you and that I can't date you. He was trying to tell me what's best for MY life. I had to get out of there. He pretty much told me if I wanted to keep dating you then I could leave so I did."
"Wow," he says as he kisses the top of my head. "I'm sorry I caused so much trouble."
"Dean, it's not your fault. My dad has always been this way. This was just the straw that broke the camel's back. He has had a life plan laid out for me since I was a little girl. He even has it planned to what college I am going to go to. He already has a spot for me at his company for when I get out of college. He has my whole life planned the way he wants it but I don't want what he wants. I want what I want and that's ballet. I want to be a writer, a journalist something like that. That's not me you know what I mean. I respect my dad for running Bennett Electronics but I don't want to. I'm not into the management or business lifestyle. I just want to live for me and be happy my own way. He doesn't see that or fails to want to see that. I can't take it anymore, Dean."
"And you should be able to live your life however you want to live your life. You deserve to be happy. You're going to kick ass in this ballet audition in a few weeks and you're going to get your shot. I believe in you."
"Thanks," I say with a smile. "And you're going to get your wrestling career."
"I don't know about all of that," he says, "I don't have that kind of money."
"If it is meant to happen it will find a way to happen," I say with a smile. "Thank-you, Dean."
"What are you thanking me for?" he asks as he lies back on the bed pulling me with him. I smile as I cuddle up closer to him.
"For being amazing. NO one other than Madame Giselle has told me they believe in me. It's a good feeling," I say with a smile.
"I like to make you feel good," he says, "but it's true. I believe in you and I know you're going to go far in your ballet career. I can see you doing your ballet performances on the biggest stage of them all in New York City and I am going to be there to cheer you on and I will be your number 1 fan."
"Dean," I say with a smile as my heart melts. "You're awesome you know that right? And I'm going to be your number 1 fan when you get your wrestling career."
"If I get a wrestling career," he says before he kisses my forehead.
"So what are we going to do about the broken condom?" I ask. "I'm still scared that I'm going to get pregnant. I know you say I don't have anything to worry about but there's always that one chance."
"Well," he says as he rubs my arm with his hand. "We can go down the street to the 24 hour drug store and pick up the morning after pill."
"What is the morning after pill?" I ask as I rub his perfect abs.
"It's a pill that you take if something like a broken condom happens or you have unprotected sex. It's supposed to stop you from getting pregnant. I don't know how effective it is but it's worth a shot."
"And you think it will work?" I ask, "because right now a baby is NOT something I want. I don't even know if I want a baby ever but right now would be the worst time possible especially with the whole ballet audition and I want to finish high school. I can't have a baby right now."
"I'm not ready for a kid either, Anastasia. We are going to take care of this. I'll go to the drugstore. I don't' want to take you out in that crowd in my living room. I don't know what the fuck is wrong with them or what drugs they did tonight. I want you to stay locked in my bedroom," he says sitting up as I sit up with him. "It won't be long. It will take me 10 minutes maybe 15 at the most but I shouldn't be gone longer than 30 minutes. Are you going to be okay staying here?"
"I'm okay," I say. "I just want you to be careful," I say.
"I will I know these streets. No one out there is going to fuck with me," he says.
"All right," I say.
"Don't look so sad," he says as his blue eyes meet my dark brown eyes. "It's going to be okay. All right?"
"All right," I say.
"Okay," he says with a soft smile before he kisses my lips softly before he gets up and puts his shirt and jacket back on. "I'll be back, Beautiful. Keep the door locked."
"Okay, Baby," I say as I watch him walk to the door. "How will I know you're back?"
"I can get in myself," he says. "Don't open the door for anyone."
"All right," I say as I stand up. I give him one more kiss before he walks out of the room. I shut the door behind him and lock the door. While I wait for him I investigate his room. It's nothing like mine. I look in his closet and I see cases of beer sitting in there, a box full of drugs I am sure and some cash. I shake my head as I put it back into the closet. I look at some of his artwork he has on his desk. I smile at them. I had no idea that he could draw so well. I had no idea he was an artist. Some of his work is really good. He surprises me every day. He has so much talent yet he doesn't know how to use it or doesn't recognize it.
Dean is back within 15 minutes as he promised. I smile as he walks into his bedroom as I am laying on the bed reading a book. "All right," he says, "I got the Morning after pill. The lady said that the sooner you take it the more effective it is. I asked her if we take it tonight if it would be very effective and she said yes. The only problem is, is that it is only 95% effective," he says handing me the bag. "All you have to do is take this pill and unless you're that 5% you won't get pregnant."
"Thanks, Baby," I say with a smile as I look at the instructions. I read over it to see the side effects and check how effective it is. He's right the sooner I take it the more effective it will be. I open the bottle of water he got and take the pill.
"You're welcome," he says. "So no one messed with you why I was gone did they?"
"No," I say. "Why do you have a box of drugs in your closet with cash?"
"I told you, Anastasia," he says as he takes his jacket off. "Living around here you have to do what you have to do to earn money. I don't want to sell drugs but if it helps put food on the table I do what I need to do."
"I'm sure you can find other ways," I say as he walks over to the bed and climbs in with me after he takes his shirt off. "You could get a job or something. A real job that doesn't involve selling drugs."
"Ana," he says with exhaustion, "the money I make selling drugs is more than anything I would make at some bullshit job."
"But selling drugs is dangerous," I say as we climb underneath the covers and face each other. "I like you a lot, Dean and I know you have a good future ahead of you. I don't' want to see you throw it away by going to jail on a drug charge or see you get killed or hurt. It scares me, Baby," I say as I wrap my arms around him.
"Nothing is going to happen to me. I've been doing this for years. I haven't been beaten up or arrested yet. I know what I'm doing but if you want me to stop then I will, Ana. I like you a lot and I don't want to fuck up what we have because I am selling drugs."
"Okay," I say with a smile. "You're a good boyfriend you know that?"
"You're not too bad of a girlfriend either," he says with a smile before he kisses my nose. "You are so beautiful and you deserve a life of happiness. I don't understand what you see in me. Why be with me? I don't deserve you."
"Dean," I say as I move closer to him and run my hand over his jaw. "You don't realize how great of a guy you are and I don't know why. You're awesome. I think you're smart, you're caring and you have a big heart. You understand me and I understand you. You and I may come from different lifestyles but in all reality our lives are pretty much the same. I like you, Dean. You're a little rough on the edges but on the inside you're the sweetest guy I've ever met. I don't care what anyone says about you I know who you are and that's what I like about you. Don't say you don't deserve me because you do. You treat me better than anyone in my life. I care so much about you and I know you're going to do big things. I'm going to be behind you all the way."
"Ana," he says as he takes my hand from his jaw and brings it to his lips kissing it softly. "I think you are the most beautiful girl I have ever met. I never thought in a million years that a girl like you would be attracted to a guy like me. It's like our project we can fall in love or fall for someone outside of our class range and get hate about it but in the end it's all about our hearts and how we feel about each other. I know it's early to say this but you make me feel special. You make me want to fight harder to get out of this shit hole and to live a better life. YOU make me want to fight for a better life. I think I am in love with you, Anastasia. I know it's all too soon but that's how I feel about you. I am in love with you."
"Dean," I say with a smile. "I think I am in love with you too. In the end of our project it's about not stopping love. You can be the poorest guy in the world and I could be the richest girl in the world but if my heart is telling me to go to you. I'm going to go to you. There's no stopping love. There's no stopping us."
"Ana," he says with a smile. "You're everything I ever dreamed you would be. I may have had a little crush on you for a couple years now but I just thought someone like you would never fall for a guy like me."
"Do you believe in fate?" I ask.
"I don't know what fate is. Living here you don't worry about fate."
"Well, there is a reason we were paired up for that project. There was something that made that happen. I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason."
"That's a good way of looking at it," he says with a smile. "Now it's getting late and we have school tomorrow. We need to get some sleep."
"I guess," I say as I cuddle into his arms. "Goodnight," I say.
"Goodnight, Beautiful," he says before he kisses my lips softly. I close my eyes and fall asleep as he holds me in his arms.
The next morning Dean and I wake up together. I take a quick shower before school while he cleans up the living room from his mom's wild party the night before. Once I am dressed in a light blue long sleeve shirt and a pair of blue jeans I throw my hair up into a ponytail before I go to the kitchen to meet up with Dean. "Good morning, Beautiful," he says with a smile as he is sitting at the table eating a bowl of cereal wearing a black t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans with his hair all over the place.
"Good morning, Baby," I say with a smile.
"Did you have a nice shower?"
"Yes," I say as I take a seat at the table as he hands me a box of cocoa puffs and then a carton of milk.
"Sorry that's all we really have for breakfast. I can make you some toast if you want me to," he says.
"This is fine," I say as I pour myself a bowl of cereal. "Where is Mack?"
"I don't know everyone cleared out earlier this morning," he says.
"Where is your mom?" I ask pouring milk over my cereal.
"Probably passed out," he says as if it's no big deal. "This is my life."
"I see," I say. "So are you ready for school today?"
"I guess," he says as he shrugs his shoulders. "I'm sorry that you walked into that last night. If you're going to be staying here this is what you're going to need to deal with."
"It's okay," I say. "It is a different kind of life but I'm with you and I am happy."
"If you don't want to stay here we can go to a hotel or something. It's up to you."
"It's fine, Dean," I say as I see a woman with dark hair dressed in a silk robe walks into the kitchen. She and Dean resemble each other so I am assuming this is his mom.
"Well, who do we have here?" she asks as she walks into the kitchen and over to the table standing between us. "Dean, who is your friend?"
"Mom," says Dean, "This is my girlfriend Anastasia. Anastasia this is my mom, Ellis."
"Nice to meet you," I say as I look up at her. Dean has her blue eyes and her facial structure.
"Girlfriend?" she asks. "When did this happen?"
"It's pretty new," he says as he eats his food. "Did you enjoy your party last night?"
"Dean, don't look at me like that. Mack had a long day at work and wanted to unwind."
"A hard day at work?" he asks. "Okay a hard day turning out some new innocent chick? Or beating around another woman."
"Dean, we have company," she says looking at me. "How are you, Anastasia?"
"I'm good," I say. "How are you?"
"I'm tired," she says, "so you're my son's girlfriend?"
"Yes," I say with a smile as I look at Dean.
"You don't seem like a chick from this side of the tracks so where are you from?"
"Mom," says Dean.
"I'm from the other side of the tracks," I say.
"I thought so," she says, "so what are you doing with my son? I thought girls like you went for the rich stuck up type."
"Ana's not like that, Mom," says Dean. "She doesn't care about that money shit."
"Right," she says, "Anastasia, I don't want to be rude but you and Dean don't belong together."
"Mom," he says, "just stop. You and Mack don't belong together but you're still with him. Look Ana understands me. Just cause she has money doesn't mean she has the best life. We have similar lives. We understand each other. I like her a lot. Her dad kicked her out of the house so she's going to be staying with us for a while."
"Oh really," she says. "Are you pregnant? Is that why Daddy kicked you out?"
"No," I say, "He didn't want me with Dean so I left."
"That's very interesting of you. I don't know what your intentions are but Dean is my son. I love him. I don't want him to get hurt. I know how people like you think. You step on everyone you can to get what you want. You don't care about anyone. You're not going to hurt my son. Don't fill his head with ridiculous ideas that he is more than this. He knows he belongs on the streets and knows that's where his life is going to be. Don't give him false hope and make him think that you two have forever to be together or that he will have a good life. That's not going to happen. He knows where he belongs and you know where you belong. This isn't going to work out."
"Mom," says Dean, "go back to bed. Anastasia isn't like that. And how do you know I want to live the rest of my life out on the streets? There is something out there for me and I am going to be bigger than the streets. I'm going to be someone. I'm going to make a name for myself. I don't want this life. I don't want to sell drugs or live this way for the rest of my life. I want to do something that is going to make me someone, someone bigger than this shit hole. Yeah, Anastasia is telling me I am going to do great things and you know why? Because she cares about me. She sees something in me. She knows I can do more and I can do more. I just want someone to believe in me. Anastasia believes in me."
"Dean," she says, "I believe in you too but you and I both know that what we have out there is all we will ever have. There's no bigger for us. IT is what it is. It's our world."
"Well," says Dean, "I don't want it to be MY world." He gets up from the table and dumps his milk down the drain. "I love you so much mom but for years you've been telling me how I belong on the streets and I'll never be bigger than the streets. You tell me that this is my life. I want more out of life than hanging on street corners selling drugs or dying on the streets. I have dreams and I'm going to achieve them. When I get out of here and I have achieved those dreams I am going to give you the life you always deserved. You don't deserve to live in this shit hole town, being forced to sleep with guys for drug money. You don't deserve it. All you've done for me was be a mom and made sure I was taken care of the best that you can but the day I become someone, Mom, I am going to give you the world. I just want you to believe in me mom. Please that's all I ask."
"Dean," she says. "I am not sure where you think you're going or what you think is out there for you but I believe in you. If you think you can do something I can't stop you. I like to think differently but I believe that if you feel like there is something out there and you're going be someone then I believe in you."
"Thanks, Mom," I say, "I love you so much," he says giving her a hug. "One day, Mom, you're going to have it all. You can do whatever you want and one day I'm going to have it all. I just want people to believe in me."
"I love you, Dean," she says as she kisses his cheek making me smile. "And Anastasia, I'm sorry. You're more than welcome to stay here as long as you'd like. I know I came off the wrong way and I judged you before I knew you but I want to get to know you more. If my son can get into a relationship with you there's obviously something special about you."
"Thanks," I say with a smile.
*A/N: What did you think of Anastasia running into Mack? Is Dean right not to trust him? Was it a good idea for Ana to take Plan B? Do you think it will be effective? Why do you think Dean and Ana have such a strong relationship already? What did you think of Dean's mom talking to Ana? Are you glad she admitted she believes in Dean? Do Dean and Ana bring out the best in each other? Do you think that Ana and Dean's mom will be able to co-exist? Please review and thank-you for reading.