Chapter 8

Ana POV

Monday, a new day. I rooted through my wardrobe for a good twenty minutes before I decided on something to wear. Today I opted to wear a black tank and faded, light blue jeans with a pair of black ankle boots – of course with a heel, three inches added to my short height. I, also, to wear my watch that I got for my last birthday alongside my Pandora braceletsfull of charms from my friends at my old school. I also wore my long chained heart pendant necklace that mom got me last year. It was cold out so I grabbed my jacket and walked downstairs to get some quick breakfast before leaving with my dad for school.

While in the car, I got a phone call from Christian (we had exchanged numbers after dinner on Thursday.) He had called to tell me that he was having his driver's test on Friday and if he passed, his grandfather assured him that he would buy him any car that he wanted. I knew he'd get an Audi, he loves those cars. After assuring him that I was on my way to school, I ended the call.

I was so proud of Christian; he had gone six days without alcohol, at all. He was doing well and I was doing all that I could to support him in any way possible. I looked to my dad and said the words I was dreading for so long, "So, I told Christian about everything that had happened with HIM. But not about what caused me to come back, although I am planning on telling him that when I see him soon. " I finished.

I waited for dad to blow, for him to ask how I could've trusted him so quickly with something this deep and secreted, but all he said was, "I as wondering when you would, I knew it would be soon, not this soon but it's okay as long as you trust him."

I was shocked, I was sure he was going to blow but who was I kidding. He was the most understanding dad ever. "Thanks Daddy, I love you." I moved over to place a whopping big kiss on his cheek. I sat with a massive smile on my face for the remainder of the ride, which to be fair, has started to feel so short. I can't wait for Christian to get his license, then he can drive me to school so we have more time together in order to talk.

Dad pulled up in the school parking lot. "Bye honey, have a great day!" He smiled as he waved goodbye. I said my goodbyes and waved him off.

I walked into my first lesson of the day, totally bypassing Christian and the rest of them as I was already late. I didn't really see them anyway so it was no problem. Damn. French. The only double of it I'll have all week. The first time I'll actually be doing it at this school. I am actually really good in French but I will know no one there as all of my friends either don't do it or are in the sophomore class still. I walk in and speak to the teacher. Madame Ross. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love French, it's my favourite language but I hate doing it in class. The teachers always act like you need help but then don't actually give you help when you want it.

I made my way to the seat she directed me to when she began to pass out her handouts for todays lesson. "How is your French, dear?" She questioned me. Just as I was about to reply a late arrival joined our class. He stormed to the back towards his seat. "Thank you, for gracing is with your presence Christian."

I looked over and met grey eyes, reflecting my own amusement back at me. "Your welcome, Madame." He smirked at me.

"Now where were we, Anastasia?"

"Je peut parler en français. J'adore le français parce que c'est assez amusant. Je dèteste ecrirer en français mais, parler est très sensass. Je voudrais visiter La France dans l'ete avec mon pere. Aussi, je voudrais accomplir un note bonne en ça." I finished. I smirked at the look on their faces. Yes I can speak French. Fluently. I had been taking lessons since I was eight.

(I can speak in French. I love french because it is quite fun. I hate writing in French but speaking is really sensational. I would like to visit France in the summer with my dad. Also, I would like to achieve a good grade in it.)

"Vous est très bonne et courant en ça." She smiled and continued with the lesson

(You are really good and fluent in it)

The rest of he lesson passed without hurdle but, Christian and his fluency in French came as a surprise to us all. The others surprised that he would actually talk to someone instead of his usual brooding. He spoke to me, so much that the teacher decided to put us two together so that we could help one another. It was such a fun lesson. Who knew we would have so many lessons together since we were in different years.

I made my way out of class to find my next lesson but, close behind me was Christian. "So, what's your next lesson?" He asked me casually.

"I have Biology." My voice was dreary, I hated anything remotely to do with science. At all. I hate science and maths, God they are so boring.

"Well I'll drop you off, seeing as I have chemistry." And he walked me down. On the way we talked and were walking quite close to each other. Which caused some weird looks from some of the girls and guys in our years. Girls with looks of envy at me bagging the untouchable hot guy. Guys looking at Christian as though he was so lucky or that he had just scored, but some also looked at him confused and envious. I knew I was attractive but damn, who knew this many guys actually wanted me,I knew this many girls were jealous of me, I mean I had Christian actually talking to me and enjoying it.

Christian noticed my conspicuous glances at those surrounding us and told me to just ignore them. He led me to my classroom then informed me that he was in the room opposite mine. As the bell rang one final time to signal that break was over, Christian gave me a hug goodbye and left me to enter the room. I went up to the teacher once again, and waited to see what I had to do next. It was so tedious, having to go through the same motions for all my lessons.

After I had received my study plan and mock exam plans as well as all the necessary things I needed I sat in the seat he directed me to. It was in the middle row, the seat closest to the window. I was listening to the teacher but was looking out the window in hope to focus and quit daydreaming about random things. I heard a clattering sound right next to me and snapped my head round to look at what had happened, nearly giving myself whiplash in the process.

It was one of the boys who was also in my music class. Jared. "Sorry Ana. I wanted to ask if you were willing to do a duet with me for the music homework. It's just that your new and I could help you understand the set up around here. Plus, with your English skills and my instrumental skills we could come up with an amazing song together. Also, I'm sure you have an awesome voice." He blurted out, "Please!" As though it was an afterthought.

"Why not!" I said, cheerily.

And with that he smiled a dazzling smile at me and turned around. When the bell rang to signal the end of the first half of the godforsaken double I heard another commotion beside me. A straggle off girls had decided to come up to me.

"Hi, I'm Naomi. And these are some of my friends." She gestured to those around her. "We wanted to know what was up with you and Christian. I mean, I'm not trying to be rude but before you he was the brooding, lonely hottie but know he's smiling and always talking but just with you?" Oh, so that was the issue. I bet there was some gossip going around about us, if the skewering looks I was receiving from some of the girls was any indication.

"We're just really good friends. Have been since I was four and I moved next door. I moved away but recently did actually move back." I smiled. They had no competition from me. Christian could be with whoever he wants along as they made him happy but, I knew he would never choose one of them. The 'try-to-hards' and the 'fakes' he's always hated the lustful looks they gave him. Anyway, I'll always be in Christian's life whereas girls like them will come and go.

"Good, because me and him have a little something, something." One of the girls, I recognised, as Lily said.

I couldn't stop the burst of laughter which erupted from my belly. I was giggling my head off. When I could finally calm my self down I looked into her face and saw nothing but utter contempt. "Lily, good luck."

She arched a perfectly shaped brow at me in condensation, "Luck is for beginners or for those who actually need it." She then walked off and the rest of her platoon full of idiots followed her, some looking sympathetic with me but some, with scowls on their faces. Damn, who knew sophomores were so catty.

The remainder of the lesson blew past with me ignoring the girls and finishing my work only ever asking some of the guys who I haven't actually spoken to yet. I met Christian outside of my classroom and out the corner of my eye I could see Lily opening a button on her shirt. I sighed. At least have some form of self respect. The other girls were trying to make sultry eyes at him but he simply glared at them before locking his gaze with mine and offering me a returning smile. He grabbed my hand and pulled me down the corridor.

"Hey! Are you trying to pull my arm off." My voice more amused than I would have liked. "I have a cheer meeting all lunch, Christian."

He looked at me and smirked, "I know."

Confused, I stopped all my efforts to resist and just chose to follow him. He pulled me down a corrudor and into the gym to the notice board. He stopped in front of it and gestured toward it. I knew he was expecting some sort of positive reaction from me but I was stumped. I had no clue what he wanted. My confusion must have shown on my face because he pointed directly at the flyer he wanted me to see.

ROWING CLUB

MONDAY-FRIDAY

3 TILL 5:30PM

"Okay, there's a rowing club." I said still not understanding what he wanted me to do or say.

"Ana, I'm going to join. Dad did it and he has always said that I had the upper body for it; especially, after all the work I did in the Peterson's house last break. My upper body is fit enough and I really want to do this." His smile was so wide it could've split his face in half.

I was happy to see him this excited and passionate for something, proud of how quickly he's becoming happier and better. "I know that you'll be perfect at it. And I gotta say, it feels so good to see you so happy." I grinned back at him. "But, now I am seriously late for practice. Bye!" I called out as I turned around to walk off.

Training went off without a hitch and apparently there is a game in 2 weeks that we need to prepare for, and I'm supposedly good enough to not only memorize the routine by then, but also be the lead performer. To say I'm stressing would be true. Don't get me wrong, I have no false modesty when it comes to my talent and abilities but, I'm so nervous. And scared. Definitely scared. We spent most of the session practicing some tricks like the pyramid I'm going to be at the top of.

I walked to my fifth period as soon as the bell rang and learnt some new things in calc 1. Or not. I never know what's going on in these lessons, I may have to ask Christian if he'll consider tutoring me seeing as he is like Einstein in the subject. I could possibly help him with English. It seems that the dude has trouble analysing emotions and writer's intentions, so we could possibly help each other. But I will not actually go and ask him, though he would be better for Dad's BP if Christian was the one tutoring me. God knows Dad will never allow me to spend time with anyone he hasn't had the chance to run detailed background checks on. Especially, after what's now happening, now that he's-

I break off that train of thought. Last thing I need is to think about that and worry/ scare myself sick. Calculus, flew past with me understanding nothing about simultaneous equations. Maths? Please go solve your own problems. I'm just going to resign myself to my fate, I'll be fifty and still have not passed anything to do with the horrendous topic of mathematics.

My final lesson of the day; Music. My second passion. I love it so much. I guess that me and Jared will be able to work on our project together, although, I don't want to win much. The winners have to perform in the next school assembly. First, I have to get through the cheer performance before I can even hope to sing in front of the others. Singing was always something I kept to myself. Not many people know that I can but it was Kira and my Dad who convinced me to actually take the subject.

I arrived in the room and picked up my guitar, simply strumming, searching for some sort of inspiration. Jared soon joined me and together we worked. I thought of a line. A simple phrase, which came to my mind while it lingered on HIS words to me. HIS efforts to break my self-esteem. HIS efforts to try and make me hate myself.

(I love me)

Gonna love myself, no, I don't need anybody else.

I sang them out loud to Jared to get his thoughts on it. "I love it Ana. It's so... fresh and... happy."

Bit by bit we worked out the rest of the lyrics, Jared offering a word here and there and the song was complete. I was so proud of myself. I had never written my own song before, but the words came easily to me once I had the basics. I loved the verse, the song as a whole just made me feel so happy and dependent.

While Jared worked on the notes, I changed a few words here and there to make it more eloquent. Once I had finished, me and Jared, continued to work on the notes. We had gotten the verses part done when Christian came into the room in order to find out how long we were going to take.

"Ana, hurry up or we're going to be late." His voice exasperated at my delaying him.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry. We just got carried away. Thanks though, you'll always be my alarm. Jared I'm sorry, but we can finish this off next lesson."

"Sure, no problem Ana." He smiled at me.

I asked Christian to grab my bag off the floor, where I dropped it upon entrance. I had turned around from the guitar rack to catch Christian bent over trying to place everything that fell out of my bag back into it. But that wasn't what made me smirk. It was Jared and where his gaze was that had me choking back a giggle. Who'd a thought it. Jared batted for the opposite side. Christian, oblivious to all this, carried on doing what he was, but Jared looked up at me guilty while I shot him a knowing grin. His blush, though, released my giggles and I couldn't stop, not until I was gasping for breath.

By now Christian was finished and stood there, looking upon me like he finally found out how insane I actually was. "You'd never understand." I couldn't keep the amused tone out of my voice.

"Fine Ana, but we need to get going, otherwise we will be late and you can explain that to Ray."

"Fine let's go." Shooting one last smile Jared's way I left the classroom. The whole way to the car I was smiling to myself. Christian must have known that my mind was elsewhere as he didn't badger me or make any form of communication. We made it to the car where I saw Ray waiting and, I decided to put all of the Jared business out of my mind when I saw the box he was carrying. I love my Dad, I mean really, really love him with all my heart at times. The box was wrapped with a tiffany blue bow. I wonder what it could be. I thought, before launching myself at my Daddy.

So sorry this update took so long, my mom wasn't letting me do anything but revise for my mocks. ANYWAYS, hope you enjoyed the chapter and please review. Xxx