Chasing Happiness (Rewritten Under My Other Story "It's Just Pretend")

Chapter 2

 AN: The picture is Claire.

Jarod watched silently on as Dina, his relatively new girlfriend, laughed at the small girl she had tripped. He felt a pang of anger rise up in his chest, but said nothing. He stood to move, but she clung to his sleeve.

"Babe, where ya goin'?"

"Does it matter?" he cautiously answered her.

"Yes. Because you are mine and I like to know where my belongings are."

"I am not an object Dina. I have a mind of my own."

"Whatever ya say. Where are you going?" He racked his brain for a reason to leave. There must be one. As he tried to find an excuse, it walked up. A thin boy stepped up to Jarod and told him that Ms. Jansen wanted to see him.

*break*

Jarod carefully shut the door behind him as he stepped into the classroom.

"Hey Ms. Jansen, did you want to see me?"

"Yes. Can you please sort through these papers? It would really help." It struck Jarod as odd that the older woman's eyes darted between him and the doorway, but shrugged it off.

"Sure." He sat down, grateful to get away from Dina. At that moment, Anne came in. She froze for a second after seeing the boy she liked ever since the fourth grade. Blinking a few times, Anne continued to her seat- two seats to the left of his. They both worked quietly and stole glances at the other when they weren't looking, feeling like their hearts would beat out of their chests. Jarod wondered why he felt that way, but her presence banished all thoughts besides her from his mind. Time ticked by and the world was a blur around them. They were shaken from their trance by the bell. One last time, they glanced at one another and caring, genuine smiles formed on each of their faces, unaware of the teacher grinning in their direction.

*break*

Anne jogged down the concrete sidewalk to the park in a dark, green tank top and some comfortable yoga pants; a single earbud dangled down from her right ear. She temporarily stopped at the playground to catch her breath. Settling down onto a bench, she gazed out at the peaceful, green hills.

"Well look who's here! Long time no see my darling..." That voice, thought Anne. Jumping up and whirling around, she came face-to-face with Caleb Melbourne. His sharp green eyes penetrated her very soul and a dark cloud of impending doom and fear encased her mind and heart. He ran his fingers through his greasy, dirty blonde hair. She slowly backed away, but he followed.

"C-Caleb," stuttered Anne.

"Oh! I'm surprised you even remembered my name it's been ages!" he mocked.

"Well I-"

"SHUT UP!" He snatched her forearms in a vise-like grip.

"I know about your stupid crush on Jarod," he spat venomously, "But you should really just give him up. We BELONG together. Can't you see?!?!"

"Caleb! you're hurting me!" she screeched.

"We are going to be together no matter what! It's inevitable!" She yanked away her arms as hard as she could and ran. Wind whipped her hair across her face and she felt something wet spatter on her nose and chin. Looking at her arms, she realized blood was streaming down where Caleb's nails peeled off her flesh, but she couldn't care less. She just needed to get away. Spotting her house, she banged on the door. Her mother swung it open and stared at a frantic Anne. Anne pushed her mother into the house and quickly shut the door. After turning the lock shut, she pushed her back against the door. Sliding down to the floor, tears rolled down her cheeks in an endless river. She could see her mum shaking her shoulders and saying something, but she couldn't hear or feel anything; not knowing what else to do, she threw herself into the comforting arms of her mother, still weeping. Dana Harris simply stroked her eighteen year-old daughter's bleach blonde hair, holding her close .

After she calmed down, Anne told her mother everything that happened and, together, they filed a restraining order.