F**k You, I Love You

Chapter 6 - Noah

      As I'm still drawing with Abby and Aidan I realized the time. It was 6:45 which meant that it was time for Abby to go home. I guess I was having so much fun I forgot the time.
      "Ok kiddos it's time to clean up all your markers and colored pencils and paper."
      "Awwwww noooooooo" they both say.
      "Maybe you guys can have a playdate tomorrow since it is Saturday."
      "Can we please?" Aidan asks with puppy dog eyes.
      "I'll have to see what mom says and what Abby's dad says."
      "Ok."
      As we start to clean up everything I start to get nervous. I'm finally going to see Anna for a little bit. She makes me get butterflies in my stomach every time I see her. I hate how I'm so mean to her but all my friends would think I'm weird for liking a girl like her. They always make rude comments to her and about her but if I were to defend her then they'll think that I'm on her side and I'm betraying them. Are they even my real friends? Well I know my best friend Hayden would never judge me on who I like and date but will always have my back whenever I need him. I calm myself down by taking a deep breath and grab my keys. I open the door and Abby and Aidan bolt out the house to see who can make it to the car first. I laugh and unlock the car for them to get in.
      "Hah I win, you lose!" Abby says.
      "Good job Abby" I say while high fiving her.
      "Hey, that's not fair."
      "Don't be a sore loser little bro. Maybe next time."
      "Yea don't be a sore loser Aidan" Abby says with sas.
      Abby and I both laugh and we all get in the car. I make sure that they're both buckled and I start driving. They're both talking in the back about tomorrow and what they want to do. As they're just throwing around ideas I hear them both say sleepover. A sleepover isn't a bad idea in my opinion, I'm just worried about what my mom and Abby's mom will say. A few minutes go by and I'm pulling into Anna's driveway. We all get out and they both run to the porch to ring the doorbell. Abby wins and Aidan gets mad, again. I laugh and stand behind them when the door opens and I see Mr. Ledger with his apron on.
      "DADDY!" Abby screams and hugs him.
      "Hey princess, how was your playdate?" he asks.
      "It was good. We all made cards for Anna. ANNA!" she screams again and runs to her sitting on the couch.
      "Be careful! Hey thanks for driving Abby home. Here's a 50."
      "No no I'm not taking your money" I say. He always tries to give me money but I never take it.
      "Ok ok fine maybe next time" he says with a smile.
      "Maybe" I say with a smile.
      "Where are my manners, would you guys like to come in? I made some pasta!" he says with a smile.
      "No no that's ok" I say with a smile.
      "Come on, I made enough for all of us, even your mom!"
      "Come on Noah please?" Aidan says begging.
      Abby runs back over and says "Noah please?" with her puppy eyes.
      Abby is like a little sister to me, always has been. The Ledger's have always been a family to my family. Obviously not in a weird way, I like Anna way too much. Plus I don't have that relationship with her, she definitely hates me. I'm surprised her family doesn't say anything about that to her. Does she tell them what I do to her at school? I hate being a dick to her. I just want to hold her in my arms and call her mine.
      "Ok fine we'll eat dinner here" I say with a chuckle and walk inside with Aidan.
      Abby runs back inside to Anna as Aidan and I take our shoes off. We both walk inside and I see Anna laying on the couch. Her brunette hair is in a messy bun, my favorite, and has a black hoodie on. Abby's whispering something in her ear which makes her smile. She has such a beautiful smile it could light up a whole room. She looks up at me and we make strong eye contact.
      I smile "Hey Anna" I go and sit down on the other couch while Aidan starts playing with Abby.
      Her smile fades a little but I see she's trying to hide it "Hi Noah. Did you come here to annoy me?"
      "No I dropped little Abby here off and your dad invited me and my brother in for dinner. Is that a problem?" I ask.
      "You really are a smart ass, you know that?" she says.
      I chuckle, "Heard that my whole life."
      She laughs. Glad I can make her laugh, especially with what she's going through.
      "Hey I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. You must be going through a really rough time right now." I say.
      Her smile fades but for real this time. "Thanks. It's been a rough week for my family and I."
      I see she starts to tear up "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."
      "No no it's totally fine" she says wiping her tears with her sleeves and sitting up. "It just hurts not knowing that I won't be able to see her again, you know? I wish I could go back in time so that none of this happened" she says while tears start to stream down her face.
      I get up and go sit next to her. I put my arm around her and pull her in for a hug, she hugs me back. I rub her back as she's crying in her arms. It hurts to see her this way. I put my head over hers and rock her back and forth. Abby and Aidan both get up and join in on the hug. We all tell her that it's going to be ok which starts to make her calm down a little.
      A couple minutes go by and Anna is calm. We all pull away but I still leave my arm around her. I grab her the tissue box that's sitting on the table and give it to her. She puts it in her lap and wipes her tears.
      "Thanks" she says.
      "Anytime" I say.
      I take my arm off her and put my hands in my lap. Then there's a knock on the door and my mom walks in.
      "Hellooooooo" she says, taking her shoes off and walking into the TV room.
      "Hey mom," Aidan and I say "how was work?"
      "Hey Ms. Jackson!" Anna and Abby both say.
      "Hey kiddos! Work was good today." she says with a smile.
      My mom looks at me with confusion. I just know it's about how my arm is around Anna. My mom knows I have a huge crush on her.
      "DINNER'S READY!" Mr. Ledger yells from the kitchen.
      "Time to eat kiddos come on" my mom says to Abby and Aidan.
      I get up and put my hand out to help Anna. She looks up at me confused "Why are you being so nice to me?"
      "Just being nice" I say with a smile.
      She takes my hand and gets up. I grab her crutches for her and hand them to her. "Well I don't need your help."
      "Then what are you doing right now?" I say.
      She looks up at me, "Oh shut up you know what I mean."
      I laugh, "I don't know what you mean actually."
      She laughs, "Smart ass."
      "Is that my new nickname?" I ask with a smile.
      "Yes yes it is, you like it?" she says.
      I laugh "Yes I do actually. Now I need to make one for you."
      "Oh no" she laughs.
      I stand there and think for a minute. "How about princess?"
      "I like it!" she says with a smile.
      There's that beautiful smile again. I would tell her that but she would just think I was lying to her. I wish she knew how much I liked her.
      As we both walk to the kitchen, her smile is just plastered in my head. All I want to do is make her smile. All I want to do is just look at her for hours. She's just so beautiful.