The lights were on, which meant they were waiting up for her, which meant NOT good because it was a school night. The thought of them punishing her for something so trivial made Annie's blood boil. They were liars and hypocrites; one of their favourite sayings was 'Always tell the truth', what a load of shit!
Annie closed her eyes and gritted her teeth as Kelly shoved the car into park. She made no move to open the door because the truth was she wasn't sure if she could face her parents. Kelly sensed Annie's hesitation and instead of forcing the issue she remained silent; waiting for Annie to make the first move…if she wanted to.
"Ms. Tay…Kelly, umm can I tell you something…not as a guidance councillor but as my girlfriends…as my best friends sister?" Annie immediately blushed at the slip up casting her eyes towards the ground, Kelly had obviously knew something about her and Silver but she wasn't exactly sure how much that was.
Placing her hand on Annie's slumped shoulder Kelly let it linger there until Annie's sad eyes met her own, "Anytime sweetheart." The sound of rain hitting the metal frame of the car and the swish of the wiper blades was all that could be heard.
Annie stared at Kelly for a moment. Long, lean limbs, angled chin with a stubborn tilt, high cheekbones, and her eyes, clear sky blue and filled with compassion and understanding but not pity. God Annie saw so much of Silver in Kelly, or rather so much of Kelly in Silver. Neither one ever doled out pity because they knew that's not what people needed and both gave off a vibe that put you totally at ease.
"He has a son…another son. He lied about it, to my Mother, to Dixon and I. A lie by omission is still a lie. I overheard them talking, they didn't know I was home. My Father has a son with another woman…another woman who he apparently kissed. So not only is he a liar, he's also a cheater." Annie told the story with so many raw emotions in her voice; anger, disappointment, sadness, hurt, and confusion.
Kelly's heart broke for the girl sitting in her passenger seat. She couldn't believe that Harry had another son…or that Harry had cheated on Debbie, there just had to be more to the story than what Annie had heard. But then her mind flashed back to a couple of weeks ago, Harry, Ryan, herself, and a very angry Tracy Clark. Harry confessed that they had dated in high school and the only way he could possibly have another son would be…Oh my God this was bad, this was really, really bad.
"Annie you have to talk to your parents because there could be vital pieces of the story that you're missing. Situations like these are very complicated…I'm sure your parents were just trying to figure some things out before they told you. Annie honey, I've known your Father for years… and years and he is definitely not the type of man to intentionally hurt someone…and I know you know that." Kelly lightly brushed the auburn curls from Annie's shoulder. "Give him a chance to explain."
Annie sat in her seat staring out the windshield into the dark night. Kelly was right. Her Father at least deserved a chance to explain. Unbuckling her seat belt Annie swung around in her seat until she was facing Kelly. Before she could stop herself her arms swung out and grasped Kelly in a tight hug. "Thanks for listening Kelly, Silver was right you are a really good listener and pretty good with the advice too…great career choice with the whole guidance councillor thing… it totally suits you. Oh and can you please not tell Silver about what I told you…it's just I really want to tell her myself…you know in person, face to face." Not bothering to wait for Kelly's answer Annie hopped out of the car and ran up to the door more than ready to face her parents.
Kelly sat there stunned watching Annie run up to the door. Silver was right you are a good listener. The words repeated in Kelly's head as her heart swelled with love. She loved Silver so much and she'd been trying her best to be there for her. But with Silver it was so hard sometimes to tell what she was thinking or how she felt, but this helped. It meant she was obviously doing something right.
"Oh my God Silver you kissed her!!!" Brenda's shrill voice bounced off the kitchen walls.
Silver spun around eyes wide. Completely forgetting about the coffee she was pouring she simply stared at Brenda. "How did you know?" Her voice was a rushed whisper.
Brenda's face broke out in a Cheshire cat grin. "Well I didn't before, I was just guessing… but I certainly do now."
Silver tried to be mad but with Brenda looking at her with that dopey grin on her face all she could do was smile.
"Come on Silver tell me all about it." Brenda said as she dragged Silver back into the living room, leaving the now forgotten coffee in the kitchen. "Ok start from the very beginning and don't leave a single detail out!!" Brenda directed as she pulled Silver down onto the couch beside her.
"Ok well after Kel left to go watch your play Annie showed up on the doorstep…soaking wet. I brought her in and gave her some dry clothes and then we made hot chocolate." Silver paused looking up at Brenda. "This is weird Brenda, talking about it. I mean I'm not even sure exactly what it is yet."
"Well I'll be here to advise you then. I'm practically like a relationship guru I can definitely tell you what NOT to do, that's for sure." Brenda said finish the sentence with a good natured laugh.
Brenda had a point it would be good to talk it through, maybe get a neutral person's perspective. Taking a gulp of air Silver continued. She gave Brenda a detailed account of the night. The way she felt when Annie walked out in her clothes. How her heart had swelled and then constricted with emotion as Annie spoke her peace about her feelings. The fleeting brush of soft lips against her own. That was technically their first kiss. The look of rejection written on Annie's face when she had been too slow to respond. She explained that her sluggish reaction was due to Annie's proximity. Don't go Annie, please…I want this too, it had been her confession. The second kiss. Warm and exploring. The confusion and excitement. Her blood had been pounding in her veins never wanting the moment to end. Then it was Kelly and Brenda interrupting. Annie going home.
"Seems like you had quite the night Silver and my only advice is to go for it because if you don't you will regret it." Brenda's voice was laced with a twinge of sadness.
Silver was just about to ask her about it when Kelly came barrelling through the door. Catching sight of the two of them on the couch Kelly groaned. "Please tell me you didn't start without me."
Two very guilty looking faces, with two very sheepish grins plastered on them looked over at Kelly in the hallway. Brenda jumped up off the couch, "I'll get the coffee and Silver can tell it again and I'll act like I don't already know what's going to happen…I mean after all I am an actress." Brenda said as she breezed by Kelly on her way to the kitchen.
Kelly took off her jacket and hung it up. Walking over to the vacant spot on the sofa she plopped down beside her sister. Brenda was back in a flash with three mugs in hand. Once they were all settled Kelly looked at Silver, "So what happened?"
"You first…what has Annie all upset?" Silver asked with a solemn look on her face.
"She told me that she wanted to tell you herself tomorrow at school." Kelly said giving away absolutely nothing of the conversation that had taken place.
Silver wanted to pry but she knew Kelly wasn't going to tell her anything and it was better that she heard it from Annie anyways. Sighing Silver stood up, "Kel I have school tomorrow and it is almost midnight can I please go to bed." Silver asked her sister in a teasing tone.
"Aww but I want to know everything that happened." Kelly whined as her lips began to form a pout.
Silver leaned down and wrapped her arms around her sister. "Brenda knows all about it just ask her." Silver whispered in her ear. Kelly smiled, she was sure Brenda did know all about it and she was also sure that Brenda would have some very interesting insights into it so she decided to let Silver go to bed.
Before Silver could turn away Kelly pulled her back down until Silver's ear was within whispering distance. "I can tell you one thing about our conversation though; Annie called you her…girlfriend." Kelly whispered not able to keep the smile from forming on her lips.
Silver pulled back and looked down at Kelly for any signs of teasing. Nope Kelly was being dead serious. Oh my God Annie thought of her as her girlfriend. Smile lighting up her face Silver leaned down and planted a huge kiss on her sister's cheek. "Kel you are the best sister ever…EVER. I love you." With that Silver left Kelly and Brenda sitting in the living room as she headed off to bed.
"Ok Brenda I want to hear everything…don't leave anything out." Kelly said as she picked up her cup and took a swig of the coffee.
"God Kelly it is so going to make you nostalgic for the early 90's to be young and in love again." Brenda said in a wistful tone.
"Yeah it'll make me nostalgic until I pull out some photos of us in the early 90's. Scrunchies, tights, the hair, and the high waisted…"
"JEANS!!!" They finished in a fit of laughter.