Keep Calm and Trust Anna

Inner Conflict

And though we were different,
We were very much same.
His heart was heaven sent,
Despite the tarnish to his name.

Now I find deep in my soul,
A feeling I've never felt before.
Though I wanted no part of the dole,
I couldn't help but open my door.

-'Inner Conflict' by Harmony Valenka Smith

A/N: Hi guys! Sorry for the long delay! School's just beginning and it's been keeping me busy, but fear not, I will try to update as regularly as I can. :)

Special thanks to my beta Harmony Valenka Smith for the much needed help and encouragement and thank you guys for the love and support for this fic in the form of faves/reviews/follows everything. I really appreciate it. I also want to thank my friend Abel, who, although couldn't read this chapter before it was posted, remains a good friend and a major inspiration.

Fair warning, this chapter doesn't have a lot of action, but it was necessary to move the plot along. And to anyone wondering, I am working on the epilogue to 'Acting the Part' it's just going to take some time. (Busy, busy, busy.)

Please enjoy!

Anna was peering into a huge textbook about the mechanics of Photosynthesis when Daffy finally made it to the lab. She was the only one left in the room and Daffy felt fondness well up within him at the sight of his best friend studying hard—something she wouldn't normally do if it were any subject besides Biology—he took a moment to appreciate it, seeing that it was the only piece of normalcy in this otherwise crazy day.

When she raised her head from her book and saw him, she gave him a greeting smile. Tentatively, he smiled back before taking a seat next to her.

"I'm starving," She admitted, closing her book and placing it into her bag. "I think today's chicken salad Wednesday, which is loads better than chicken nugget Thursday, right? What's with all the chicken themed lunch days anyways?"

Daffy shrugged, only half-listening. "It's the school board's way of getting us to eat healthier."

Anna nodded. "Right. You seem distracted, what's the matter Daffy? How did it go with Ace?"

Daffy narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously. "You sound oddly calm, seeing that the boy you've been in love with since Middle School just spoke to you."

It was Anna's turn to shrug, but the movement was a bit awkward and the growing blush on her cheeks did little to help her look nonchalant. "I'm trying not to freak out until I reach home. I have a reputation."

He laughed despite himself. Anna could be so ridiculous, but she wasn't his best friend for nothing. "Okay, Miss Infamous, I'm hungry too. Let's go eat lunch."

The atmosphere fell into a comfortable silence as they walked side by side to the cafeteria. Daffy tried to relax; as long as the rest of the day proved uneventful then he could almost forget about the whole deal he made with Bugs…almost.

But of course, luck wasn't on his side. He brushed off the funny looks the other students were giving him as they walked, but it was impossible to ignore everyone when all motion paused as he and Anna entered the cafeteria.

It was so quiet that if a pin dropped, it would echo.

He didn't give anyone eye contact as he dragged a confused Anna to get her lunch and then practically fled to the courtyard where they could eat.

It was mid April and the weather in Bend, Oregon was warm enough for them to wear thin sweaters. It was beautiful, really and Daffy was happy Anna suggested eating outside.

He took a huge forkful of his salad and almost melted into a puddle of delight at the taste, which was as good as it always was. He didn't notice Anna watching him from across the table until she cleared her throat and he saw her disgruntled face.

"What?" He inquired, swallowing his mouthful while trying to look as innocent as possible.

Anna wasn't buying it. "You know what. Why was everyone looking at us? Does this have anything to do with the Chandlers?"

Daffy was about to lie, but then Anna gave him her most intimidating glare and he gave up the goose. "It has everything to do with the Chandlers. I'm Chandler property now. And apparently, that's a shock to everyone. Which I kind of understand, as the only reason the Chandlers want my help is because of my brains and Bugs' weird, confusing attraction to me!"

Daffy hadn't realized he said all that too loud until he looked around and saw that the other students had stopped their activities to look at him. Burying his face in his folded arms, he wished he could just disappear.

He was pulled from the edge of panic when he felt Anna tapping him on the head. "Daffy, this is a lot to take in." She admitted, sympathetically.

He frowned at her through his fingers. "You're telling me. Oh and I forgot to mention, you also get to go through this torture. They said I get to include a plus one."

Anna stared at him disbelievingly. "You're kidding."

"Nope."

"Then this means—"

"What, what does this mean?"

"I get to hang out with Ace!"

Daffy winced. It wasn't the reaction he expected. "Anna, we're not going to be their friends, it's more like we'll be their groupies. And you know how I feel about the Chandlers. I don't want to be a groupie. You see all this attention I'm getting. I don't know what I have gotten myself into."

His best friend patted his hand sympathetically. "It will be okay. You're super smart and you're very kind for not turning down someone in need, even if they are 'evil'. Look at the bright side; I get to go through this with you. We can be miserable together."

He laughed, unable to stop himself. "And you get to hang with Ace." He confirmed. "So it's not so bad for you."

"By the way," Anna began, spearing a leaf of lettuce with her fork. "What's he like? Is he as sweet as they say?"

"Well, he hasn't punched me in the face yet, so I guess he's cool." Daffy replied dryly.

Anna smirked. "I bet." Then, "But seriously, what's he like?"

"I told you, he's cool. He cares a lot for his brother, it's obvious and…admirable." Daffy admitted honestly.

Anna blushed harder than he'd ever seen her. "Really? Wow."

He nodded.

"And how's Bugs? Is he cool too?"

Daffy allowed himself to think about Bugs, his take charge attitude, his confidence, his jerkass ways and his puzzling attraction to Daffy himself and he involuntarily blushed. "I don't know, he's so different from his brother. I guess he's okay in his own way." He paused then, "Did I tell you that Bugs wants to go out with me?" He whispered, afraid the other students would overhear.

Anna coughed and had to take a sip from her water bottle to calm herself. "W-what?"

Daffy nodded frantically. "Yeah, he does. And it's not like I don't want to go on a date with him, it's just I don't know what we would have in common."

For awhile Anna said nothing, she merely stared at Daffy contemplatively. Finally, she said "That Bugs has good taste."

Daffy frowned. "That's it? That's the nugget of Anna wisdom I get?"

Anna shrugged, "Hey, it's all going to be fine. You're overthinking this. What's our best friend motto?"

Daffy bit his lip, and then repeated the phrase that Anna had told him back when they were kids and he was afraid to cross Fisherman's river. The phrase that had him believing in her and knowing that their friendship would last a lifetime. The phrase she made him repeat whenever either of them were in a bind. "Trust Anna, trust Daffy. Best friends forever, strong like taffy." Yeah, it was lame, but it helped them out of tough scrapes.

She high-fived him and laughed. "That's what I'm talking about."

He grinned at her, but then a girl with nearly platinum blonde hair passed by and Daffy was suddenly reminded of Eris and bumping into her. Subsequently he remembered the unlikely hero in Bugs. He told this to Anna, who grimaced—she didn't like Eris, (well, no one did)—but gave him an approving nod at the mention of Bugs saving the day.

"I know your opinion of the Chandlers is…complicated at best, but maybe this is a sign that Bugs isn't such a bad guy, maybe." Anna offered, hoping to lift Daffy's spirits.

It worked as the raven-haired teen felt hope rise in his chest. "Yeah and I believe that maybe the tutoring will go well."

Just then two familiar faces passed through the cafeteria with their entourage of worshipping admirers. Daffy could see them from his seat outside and he hoped that they couldn't see him, but his hopes were in vain for as soon as his gaze drifted out to the courtyard where Daffy was watching like a deer caught in headlights, Ace gave him a thumbs up and touched Bugs who, when he spotted Daffy, winked at him wickedly.

Daffy found it hard to break eye contact with the Chandlers and was still staring at them until Anna pulled him back to the present. "Daffy? What are you looking at?"

He ignored her question and instead asked out loud, "How bad could it be?"

If Daffy taught Louise was a bit of a storm, Bugs was a category five hurricane. And though tutoring Bugs was much worse than he expected, Daffy was determined to stick with it, even if it was going to be a total nightmare.

A/N: Thank you all so much for reading! Hope you enjoyed! More to come soon! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

If you have any questions/comments/concerns regarding the story, please leave them in a review or PM me. Thank you! (^_^)