Young Annabelle Series: Young Annabelle, the Truth About James, What My Heart Wants (28 page)

Things would get awkward, fast.

“Let’s get pizza first!” One of the boys said.

All the girls quickly agreed, and my heart rate returned back to normal. But that meant I had a good ten minutes before they decided to come back to Yogurty’s. The balcony was a great place to hang out and they’d probably come up here to enjoy their frozen yogurt.

“Dean, you want to get out of here?” I asked, praying he’d say yes.

“What? We’re not done.” He said, looking confused and eying our half eaten bowls.

“We can go to a park and eat it there.” I suggested, hopeful he would agree. “Please.”

He smiled. “Alright, just because you said please.”

We picked up our bowls and made our way out the building. Dean had his car parked across from James, and the pizza store was in direct line of sight. I ducked my head down.

“Is everything okay?” Dean asked from behind me.

“Yeah, my neck hurts a little.” I explained, stretching my neck out to prove it.

When we arrived at his car and stood in front of our respective doors, he smiled looking over the hood of his car at me. “Maybe I can give it a massage?”

My face felt like a thermometer about to burst, I knew it was turning red. I could feel its heat pouring into my eyes now. “Okay.” I answered quietly, shyly.

For a moment, I forgot that James and his boys, plus the girls were in the pizza shop. If he turned to check his car, he probably could see me now. Dean stared at me for another second before breaking the connection and getting into the driver’s side. 

Before getting in the car, I took a chance and checked the pizza shop once more. I jerked slightly in surprise when I saw someone leaning behind the window, glaring at me with a huge scowl.

James!

I could feel the anger pouring from him. But I couldn’t care less. He was the one who screwed up. I flicked my hair to the side and got into the car quickly. Dean smiled as he started the car and I rolled the window down, hopefully showing James what he missed out on.

*~*~*

Dean took me to a local park. We sat on the bench and finished our frozen yogurt. He took our empty bowls and threw them in the trash bin. Then he sat right beside me again, this time putting his arm over my shoulder.

“Thanks for coming out with me.” He murmured loud enough for me to hear. He was sitting so close I could feel his breath on my face.

“You’re welcome.” I breathed sharply as my heart raced from his touch.

“Anna?” Dean murmured, close to my ear.

“Yeah.” I gulped.

“You smell good.” He confessed.

I laughed. “Thank you?”

“No really, you smell like coconut and honey.” Dean blurted out nervously.

“I put some lotion on before coming out.” I informed him, grinning. He was so cute.

He didn’t say anything, but his grip around my shoulders got tighter. “Dean?”

“Yeah.” He breathed.

I faced him. “It’s getting dark.”

He blinked. “You want to go home?”

“I don’t know, what do you want to do?” I asked him, curling my hands into my sweater jacket. It held my phone, wallet and keys.

“We could go for a drive?” He suggested, smiling. “Actually there’s this thing at a
Baseball field near here. I told my buddies I wouldn’t be coming, but if you’re up for it, we could go and I can introduce you to some of my friends?”

You see, how come he wasn’t ashamed to be seen with me. He even wanted to introduce me to his buddies.

James do you hear this, learn!

I nodded happily. “Okay, let’s go.”

CHAPTER 22

By the time we made it to the field, it was completely dark. I checked the time on my cell, it was just after 7pm. I sighed in relief once I realized I had plenty of time. I didn’t have to be home till 10ish. The lights of the Baseball field shined brightly, showcasing the entire park that settled around it.

“Are you going to play
Baseball again?” I asked Dean as he parked his car. He turned to me and smiled.

“Is that okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’ll watch.”

“Thanks. This game was kind of set up a few days ago, but I canceled.” He confessed, pulling the key out of the ignition.

“To go out with me?” I asked, slowly.

“Yeah, it was worth it though. But now I get the best of both worlds.” Dean grinned.

I smiled back.

We got out of the car and Dean quickly joined my side, grabbing my hand. The feeling of his skin on mine made a fire stir in my belly. All over again.

Dean led me to a group of guys hanging out on the field. He introduced me to them without hesitation.

“Guys, this is Annabelle.” Dean introduced. Their faces were overjoyed upon seeing him, thinking he wasn’t going to come.

“Hey!” They all said doing a little half wave.

“Hi.” I said back, shyly.

“You go to Royal Heights high?” One of them asked, turning his Baseball cap backwards over his messy dark brown hair.

“Yeah, you all go to Pleasant View high right?” I asked all of them.

“Yep.” They all said unison.

I wished them a good game and then Dean led me to the small sitting area. “Are you going to be okay here? I mean is this okay?”

I nodded and smiled to him. “It’s okay, I don’t mind sitting and watching.”

Dean smiled as he reached over and squeezed my hand. “You’re cool you know that Anna?”

“Duh!” I joked for a second before turning serious when Dean slowly lifted my hand to his lips, kissing it as he stared deeply into my eyes.

Umm, wow!

“Dean.” I murmured, lost in his eyes. He lowered my hand and I sat as we stared in silence.

Without saying anything else, he turned and ran back to the group of guys, joining their huddle.

*~*~*

After their opponents showed up, I watched Dean play ball for about an hour. It seemed more like a practice, but I was having a good time. Every so often Dean would turn and wave at me, giving me a smile.

Everything was going great, that is until I felt the desperate urge to pee. I tried to hold it for as long as I could.

My bladder couldn’t take it anymore. Dean looked up as I got up. I pointed to the bathroom and he got it right away. I entered the public bathroom, it was filled with people and I had to wait in line to use the toilet. By the time I finished with the bathroom it had been fifteen minutes. I was about to walk out when I heard angry yells coming from outside. I peeked out the door, I could see the
Baseball field and there were more people there than from before.

“Get off!” I heard a guy scream. “We’re still playing here!”

The group was huddled too close for me to see who it was. I saw a guy jerking wildly, it was Dean’s friend Joe, and Dean was holding him back. Who was it they were fighting against? I stayed just behind the door, starting to get freaked out by the sudden situation.

“Get off! We’re still playing here!” A familiar voice screeched out, clearly making fun of Joe. The
two guys were now nose to nose and were both the same height. The crowd parted and I saw a few girls hanging about. One of them looked really familiar as her auburn hair flew in the wind.

Donna?

Donna and her crew of girls were standing behind the group of guys. Both sides were trying to separate their friends from fighting. The crowd spread apart showcasing Joe’s opponent. Equally as tall, with a puffed out chest and a trouble making persona, I couldn’t believe it.

James!

James was antagonizing Joe. Dean pulled his friend back, whispering something in his ear. They began walking off the field when James and his boys decided it was time to take things up a notch.

“What a bunch of pussy’s!” James yelled, laughing. His boys joined in. Joe turned around, angry.

“What did you call me bitch face!” He roared.

“Joe, stop!” Dean yelled.

“Yeah Joe, stop!” James mimicked squeakily. Dean stood frozen, obviously shocked by James’s behavior. Joe used Dean’s shocked state to his advantage and charged towards James, who looked like he was ready to hit someone too.

Donna and her crew squealed like idiots behind him. “Ugh-mah-
God! James No!!!!”

That stupid biotch!
God, could they go a minute without acting like fools? That would be the shock of a lifetime.

Joe pushed James, barely making him move. James was strong. Dean and his boys quickly joined in as did James’s. They p
ushed and swung at each other, random people hanging around the park were making a run for it.

Oh my
God!
I couldn’t believe this was happening. I gazed at the horror in front of me. There was no way I could go out to that. I was staying in the safe bathroom.

There was so much yelling and squealing. The girls were yelling. “Stop!”

The sound of police sirens rang loudly and that did it, the fight quickly broke up. Everyone scattered, running away before the cops showed up and arrested them. James and his boys, plus Donna and her crew ran to their cars. Dean and his boys did the same. They were probably all scared that the police were going to stop and arrest them, that they didn’t think about anything else but to get out of there as quickly as possible. All the cars pulled out of the parking lot and minutes later a police car showed up. They wandered around, searching the area for any trouble.

My heart r
ate finally lowered. But then I realized something, I’d been left alone here. Dean forgot all about me.

*~*~*

I began the long walk home, alone. Which I didn’t mind, it was only 8:45pm. I had time before I needed to be home. Some walking would do me good, especially after the horror that had just happened. I’d never witnessed a fight in my life, especially one of that magnitude. It was horrible. There was blood and bruising everywhere.

My phone beeped as I walked the long trek home. I checked and saw that I just got a message from Dean.

Dean:
OMG Anna I’m so sorry! Where are you?

I texted him back.

Annabelle:
I’m okay, are you okay?

He quickly texted me back.

Dean:
I’m okay, just a few bruises, that douchebag James guy started it!

Annabelle:
He’s a hothead!

Dean:
Where are you?

What should I tell him? I didn’t feel like being around anyone right now. So I lied.

Annabelle:
Oh I’m home already, I called my friend and she came and picked me up, I just got home.

Dean:
I’m so sorry. I’m glad you got home safe.

Annabelle:
No worries, anyways ttyl.

Dean:
Okay…sorry again. I’ll text you later. K?

Annabelle:
K. bye.

Dean:
Cool, bye.

I tucked my phone back in my jacket pocket, but it just beeped again. I thought my conversation with Dean was over.

When I glanced at the screen again, my jaw dropped. It wasn’t Dean, it was James. What did this asshole want now? He already did enough. He ruined my date!

Tiger:
Where were you while we kicked the shit out of those pussy’s you were hanging out with?

What? How did he know I was there? The temptation to text back won.

Annabelle:
What are you talking about?

Tiger:
I saw you!

Annabelle:
And?

Tiger:
You choose that pussy over me!

Annabelle:
What do you want?

Tiger:
I want to know why?

Annabelle:
I don’t have to explain myself to you, go and hang out with Donna!

Tiger:
We went out as a group, I wasn’t out with just her!

Annabelle:
Don’t care!

Tiger:
You do!

Annabelle:
Stop bothering me!

Tiger:
Where were you?

Annabelle:
Why do you care, you’re not my boyfriend!

Tiger:
Stop it!

Annabelle:
Stop what?

Tiger:
Calm down!

Annabelle:
Leave me alone, you proved who you are!

Tiger:
I’m innocent you keep accusing me of things I didn’t do.

Annabelle:
You’re a trouble maker and an asshole.

Tiger:
Ahhh did I ruin your date….so sorry…...not!

Annabelle:
That’s okay, I’m sure there’s going to be more where that came from. In fact I think he’s texting me right now!

Tiger:
I’m going to kick the shit out of that kid!

Annabelle:
No you’re not!

Tiger:
The next time I see him, it’s going to be worse than tonight!

Annabelle:
You will not!

Tiger:
I will!

Annabelle:
Why are you trying to ruin my life!

Tiger:
I’m not, it’s you who’s doing all of this!

Annabelle:
What am I doing! It’s you, you’re the liar!

Tiger:
What did I lie about?

Annabelle:
You lied about going to parties!

Tiger:
You wouldn’t have had fun at the one on Sunday and it wasn’t a party, it was a get together! Friday’s party I wasn’t going to go, it was a last minute thing.

Annabelle:
I’m sure, that’s why Donna was there Sunday, when you guys hooked up!

Tiger:
We didn’t hook up!

Annabelle:
Kissed, whatever!

Tiger:
The only time we kissed was at Peter’s party.

Annabelle:
Don’t care!

Tiger:
You care….that’s why you’re angry.

Annabelle:
From here on out I’m ignoring you!

Tiger:
You can’t, I’m going to bother you until you crack!

Annabelle:
We’ll see, you’re going to fail!

Tiger:
You looked cute tonight……real cute.

Annabelle:
Stop it!

Tiger:
It killed me seeing you with him. I wanted to run out of the restaurant and beat him right there.

Annabelle:
Why? You’re not my boyfriend, you’re with Donna now.

Tiger:
I don’t care about Donna, I care about you!

Oh God, here we go again. I could feel my insides melting.

Annabelle:
Then why didn’t you tell me the truth?