Chapter Two
Disclaimer: Sadly I still don't own Just Listen -sobs-
AN. Please don't let the paragraph lengths put you off I'm working hard on this to make sure it's of good quaility. Thanks
R&R
I'd passed Annabel in the corridors more frequently than I used to, I don't know if she noticed this I did usually take a little detour her way if I did see her from across the hallway I just needed to walk past her and see her, smell her. That Sophie who she had fallen out with kept calling her names, one of her favourites was "Whore." It was just a simple little word that seemed to have a great impact on Annabel. I sat at lunchtime wondering if Annabel would come to my wall again, I hoped it hadn't been just a one off thing I really did like her. My heart fluttered when she sat on the wall and I instantly had to restrain myself from fixing my hair, she sat down and instantly pulled out her homework, this was all that happened she did homework and I listened to music. We never spoke as much as I wanted to and she never sat next to me so I figured she must have a good reason, therefore, I never sat next to her. Every now and then I'd catch her glancing in my direction but I thought it best not to awknowledge her, I wanted her to make her own decisions about me.
I needed to find out more about this girl, this wonderful magnificent girl. I glanced at my timetable I had maths next I could afford to miss it couldnt I? I was quite good at maths and I usually just slept in that lesson anyway so I decided that I would skip maths and go to the library because I knew that was where they kept all of the unsold year books. I crept into the library the way you were apparantly supposed to. My goal of silence was unsuccessful as I turned around and walked into a desk full of books, I stood there and watched as they cascaded to the floor. The librarian was a small woman, with grey hair that she always had tied up into a neat bun she looked like your typical little old lady grandmotherly woman, but hell did she have one heck of a temper. She stuck her head around the corner and her beady little eyes narrowed with anger even though the top of her bun only reached to my shoulder at the most a wave of fear swept through me as I hastily gathered the books and put them back onto the table.
"What do you want?" She barked "Shouldn't you be in class?" She asked without giving me chance to answer the question.
"Erm, I just wanted to see the old year books if that's not too much trouble ma'am."
She pointed towards a dusty bookcase at the back of the room, the sign had long since fell off but if you looked close enough the spine on the books were identical all sporting the school emblem. I went over to the bookcase and slowly drew out one book. I glanced at the cover it was definately the one I had been looking for, I started to flick though the pages I didn't care for any face other than hers all of the others seemed identical and as I turned the pages faster through frustration they all seemed to blend into one big face until I saw hers. Her dazzling smile caught me off guard never once as she sat on my wall had I seen her smile, yet here she was smiling her pretty little head off, not a care in the world something had obviously happened to Annabel Greene to make her lose that wonderful smile. The picture was radiating self confidence which was one thing I knew she didn't possess now, call it intuition but I believed something really bad must have happened to her and suddenly I felt myself getting protective of her. Who knew just how much damage these rumors were doing to her.
I walked out of the library as the bell went signalling the end of another school day, I noticed Annabel scanning her notes with a worried expression she seemed to bypass the red jeep until the guy who drove it spoke to her. I couldn't hear what they were talking about but his face was a blank mask of serenity and I could see from where I was stood Annabel's hands were shaking. I walked over to the car trying to look as nonchalant as I could, like I was just a passer by not wanting to get involved. After the conversation she began to head back towards school but that Sophie girl blocked her path.
"What was that?" She said it loudly, loud enough for anyone in close proximity to hear, but at this same time the vehement tone made it difficult to decipher what she was saying. When Annabel didn't reply Sophie's expression got nasty obviously she wasn't used to being ignored.
"What the hell do you think you're doing,Annabel? Didn't you get enough that night? You need more or something? "Don't you ignore me, turn round, bitch" I took a step forward ready to break it up if it got out of hand. I had to keep reminding myself that it is not good to hit a girl but oh boy was I close to it. She grabbed Annabel's shoulder and Annabel turned round to face her I took another few steps forward but now Sophie spoke too quietly for me to hear her Annabel pushed her away from her and Sophie immediately attempted to compose herself. One of the teachers came to break it up thank God. I didn't know how much longer I could hold out without going over there myself. Yet again because of the sound of kids scurrying away I failed to hear what Sophie said to her but, whatever it was made Annabel's whole face soften and as she reached out to her I prayed she'd see sense, Sophie brushed her off and walked away.
I saw her take off towards the bushes near the main school building and I knew I had to be there for her. Although we had never spoken in our lives I felt as if now I owed her something, protection. I kept my distance and slowly followed her not wanting her to think that I was going to make her day anymore difficult. I saw her throw up into the bushes and my heart melted I didn't know what to do, this was not something I had to cope with, hormonally imbalanced females. However, I did go up to her I picked up her things and readied myself for her to turn around, when she did her eyes widened firstly in surprise and then in horror at the fact that someone had seen her in the state that she was in. This was about to change my relationship with her, forever.