Annabelle's locket

Chapter 16

**I may be editing this but here it is!!

let me know if I should revise it. Thanks!

"No, I'm not doing this!" I yelled out loud. No one seemed to notice. I was escorted closer and closer to the water buckets and I felt my face turn red. As they were about to dunk me in the iced water, I yelled stop but of course no one seemed to care. "LET HER DOWN!" I heard and familiar voice and I sighed in relief. Everyone turned to a boy standing in the door, quiet and wide eyed. It was Noah, avoiding eye contact with me. He walked through the crowd towards me, grabbed my arm and started walking me out. Well, at least I was saved from the dunking. On the other hand, being in contact with this boy made me very uncomfortable. He lead me to the front door where a few people followed, whispering things. We were outside in the dark, when he let go. "What the hell were you doing?" he asked, looking at me as if I was six. "I don't know getting a stupid dunking. I never wanted that to happen.." I bit my lip. His eyes were shining and he relaxed. "Geez, you just can't go anywhere without something happening." he stated emotionless. I could feel the tension hanging above us. "Human nature?" I shrugged with a lopsided smile. He just kept his eyes on me and then looked away. "I need to go." he said looking at the ground. Clearly he was still mad. So was I. But not as much. "Do you need a ride home?" he asked, keeping his eyes away from me. "That would be nice." I replied. He led me to his car. "What were you doing there anyways?" I asked, getting into his mustang. "I'm a good friend of Austin. He can go a little..overboard sometimes." he laughed as if recalling a memory. I laughed. "He got you to wear that skimpy outfit I bet." Noah replied. I scoffed. "I didn't approve of this outfit thank-you-very-much." I glared. He smirked and looked at me, scanning up and down. "Not that I'm objecting...." he said. I punched his muscular arm. "Shut up." I said and stared out the window, feeling self conscious. I had turned a beat red and was trying my best not to look at him. That was the last of the light conversation we had. Things became awkward now that we ran out of things to talk about. I prayed he would not bring up the stone tower. We were outside my house and I remembered something. I told my dad I was spending the night at April's. "Oh no." I gasped. "What?" he turned to me. "I'm supposed to be at April's, my dad invited friends over for a football game night." I replied, shaking my head. "Well..Denise is home. You can stay there." he suggested. "Really? Thanks." I said with great-fullness. A house full of erratic football fans was not the way I wanted to spend my night. "Yeah, she can give you new clothes." he said and I rolled my eyes.

Denise was happy to see me and gave me pajamas to sleep in. I had explained the whole party thing to her and how Noah saved me. We were up in her room, listening to Christmas music. Christmas was in five days. She hung green and red lights around her window and had pine scented candles. "Wow, can't believe you fell into the trap!" she joked, sipping the drink. "I really shouldn't hang out with April." I smiled and sighed. "No, she's a good girl, just a little boy crazy.." Denise laughed and I laughed along with her. I decided to ask her a question about Noah. "So, does Noah have a girlfriend or something?" I asked nonchalantly. "I don't know, I think he's dating this one girl, can't he sure. He's always talking to the stars-" and then her eyes turned wide and she shrugged. I nodded, but what did that whole star thing mean? There was something different about Noah..That didn't explain much. "Why?" she asked, an eyebrow raised. I stopped my face from turning red, "No reason." I shrugged. We stayed up there most of the evening and it was getting late. We had watched Elf, a Christmas movie that always gave me a laugh, and looked through mens underwear magazines. Pathetic, I know but we seemed to be enjoying our time. There was a knock on the door. It was Denise's mom. "Hello girls, want some soup?" she offered. "Chicken noodle?" Denise beamed. "Of course." her mom replied. "Yes! Do you like soup Anna?" Denise turned to me. "Yeah, that'd be great thanks." I smiled and we came downstairs. Her dad was on a business trip, and would be back Christmas Eve. Noah was at the table, eating the soup and looking outside. Oh great, l thought. We sat down, me across from him. How wonderful! "Anna did you hear? One of Noah's art pieces made it to a gallery in Portland." her mom exclaimed. I looked at Noah, who seemed taken back, looking at me with almost aggression. I found myself sinking in the wooden chair. "No, that's great." I tried to sound excited. Truth is, I was. It was a big deal for him. "Thanks." he forcefully smiled. Denise shot me a weird look and I shrugged. "Denise Im going to the spa. Be back in a few hours." her mom said goodbye and left. After dinner, we went to the living room and watched yet another movie. "got to run to the bathroom." Denise ran off. I laid my head against the pillow, closing my eyes. Suddenly I felt a tap on my shoulder. I opened my eyes and looked up behind the couch. Noah was hovering over me, his angelic face looking down at me. I sat up. "What?" I asked. "Look, it dosent have to be awkward." he sighed. I looked down at my entwined fingers. "What else is there?" I looked up at him. He sighed and ran a finger through his hair, a trademark move. "I don't know we should talk about it, I have explaining.." he said. "You don't need to Noah. I understand." I replied. "No you don't." he shook his head. "Annabelle please." he raised an eyebrow. "Fine." I replied. "I'll pick you up on the way to school." he said an quickly left the room right as Denise came back.