Their sunshine

Chapter 15

Anna's POV

I was peacefully sleeping when I heard someone shouting: "Dad! I can't believe it. You are the best."

I closed my eyes again, but once my mind realized it was Liam's voice, I was up faster than a speeding bullet.

"I'm faster than fast. Quicker than quick. I am Lightning!" came into my mind.

Anna! What are you doing? Right now, Liam is talking with sir James. You have to think about what to do, not about Cars you saw with Ry.

Think, think. Easy to say, but I just woke up. Give me time and I will come up with something.

You don't have time, Anna! Get up your lazy butt. No. Don't you dare think about sleeping. Anna, I am warning you.

Fine. As you wish. What can I do? It's late. I can't stop Liam from going to sir James. The only thing I can do is hide or face angry sir James. Why did I wake up late? I could just bribe Liam. Or I could -

Anna! Concentrate! You have to hide!

Right! Sorry. So, hide. Where? I can't stay here. Nor can I go to Ry's room or Andy's and Avi's. Mister James would find me there. To Elijah? No. Enzo?

Anna, you don't have time. They are on the stairs. Just go somewhere.

Fine, to Enzo. 

I started to speed walking. (I promised not to run.)  I turned the corner and - bang!

I walked into a wall. Owwie! My head hurts. 

"What are you doing? Why were you running?" asked the wall.

Wait, what? It can't speak. I looked up and saw Damien.

"Hi, wall. I mean Damien. How are you?"

"Where were you going?" he asked, helping me stand up.

"Somewhere to hide," I replied.

That's the way to go, Anna. Couldn't you say you are going to Enzo or something? Anything would be better!

"What did you do?"

"The question should be what I didn't do?"

"And the answer is?"

"Pass?"

He shook his head. I saw a little smile. He has to have a good day. Should I try my luck?

"Can I please stay with you?"

"Didn't you want to go to dad?"

"No!"

"My answer is the same."

"You are mean," I told him and pout.

"Really? I didn't know that. Maybe I should show you how mean I can be. DAD!" he shouted and I panicked. Before I could think where to go, mister James, Will, Chris, Xander, and Ryan came.

And they were angry. All of them but Will. I started to shake with fear.

Afraid I would be hit I looked down and took a step back. Mister James came up to me and put his hand on my back. I flinched from the sudden contact. My mind was going back to times with madam Marry. I saw her here with me, talking about my punishment. My breath hitched. I couldn't breathe normally anymore. I heard some shouting. Someone started to shake with me. It made everything worse. My heart was pounding. I started to get dizzy.

I felt someone lifting me. Someone grabbed my chin and made me look at him. It was Damien. "Anna, Anna, do you hear me?" he asked.

I nodded. "Okay, listen to my voice. Here. Do you feel it? It's my chest. Do you think you can breathe with me? Come on, Anna, breathe. Please try harder - breath in, breath out, breath in, breath out. Great. Now, what was that? Oh, I get it! Distraction. Anna, try to imagine our summer holidays. We will go together to the beach. It would be a sunny day. You will go play volleyball with twins and Will. Dad will teach you how to swim and you will build a sandcastle. Look. Here is Ryan when he tried to swim for the first time. Vince tried to help him, but our Ryan kicked him." He showed me photos on his phone.