THE BOY IS MINE.

06. don't they know it's the end of the world?

—⁠☆

TRAGEDY HAD STRUCK. TASHI DUNCAN INJURED ON THE COURT.
anya had run to the infirmary right when she heard. she felt overwhelmed with guilt. had her kissing tashi caused the girl to fall? she felt selfish for thinking she could have caused such a freak accident but also had she distracted tashi enough to throw her off?

the hours before tashi's final game art had been holding anya in his arms, comforting her for reasons he didn't know. it had been the pairs most intimate act. now he was here with tashi doing exactly that.

anya saw them and felt sick. she couldn't tell who she was jealous of but she couldn't help but feel disgusted, not only with them but with herself. her best friend was detrimentally injured and she was jealous.
how self centered was she?
she felt betrayed by art for tossing her aside to hold tashi.
she felt betrayed by tashi for letting art be the one by her side.
it wasn't fair.
she could never win.

in behind her walked patrick in tashi's shirt. immediately art and tashi had screamed at him to get out.
anya followed behind.

—⁠☆

"we've been X'd out." patrick sighed.
the two sat on anya's bed in a tragic state.
"no you've been X'd out, i chose to leave."
"stop being a bitch."
"patrick can i be honest with you?"
"sure."
"i left because i couldn't stand to see tashi with art. i truly felt physically ill seeing them together. it was selfish of me to leave my best friend in a time of need but i couldn't stand to see her with him." anya cried. "you left because you think art likes tashi?" patrick questioned.
"well yes and no."
"oh. i see. i get how you feel."
patrick didn't really know what to say. he also felt betrayed by both of them.

everything felt so insanely complicated. anya didn't know what to do but she felt comfort knowing patrick was equally as confused.

"patrick, you know, i sort of wished you had been my boyfriend instead of tashi's." "why are you telling me this?" "because tashi never really wanted you. it was always gonna be art. i was the one who wanted you, you just couldn't see it."
it was a confession that could make a priest weep.
she knew she could never face art or tashi again so whats the harm in confessing how she truly felt.

"do you want to join me on tour?"
it was sudden and shocking like a bullet to the brain.
how could anya just leave school so suddenly?

she really wanted to but she knew she couldn't. it just wasn't possible. she still wanted to get her degree as well as fill the (now open) position of the best college female tennis player.

"i'm sorry patrick, i can't."

the boy stood up. he was so tall yet was reduced to absolutely nothing in that moment.
he had lost everything right then and there.
"it's okay. i hope you do good for yourself annie. good luck." he smiled. it was the most gut wrenching sight anya had ever seen.
"you too, patrick. good luck."
that was the last time anya saw him for 4 years.

—⁠☆

anya had gone on to get a degree in english while also filling that number one spot.
she had achieved her goals but for what? art and her hadn't spoken since tashi got injured. tashi couldn't face her. she had no one. yeah, she had fans and expensive sponsorships but that couldn't fill the void in her heart.
she was alone.

one year after graduation she had won her first professional match and had no one to celebrate with.
she went to her hotel room where she stared down the barrel of a gun she had bought a year prior.
she sobbed violently as she contemplated putting her hand on the trigger.
she jumped when she heard a knock at her door.

she opened it to be faced with a familiar sight.
patrick.

it had to be a sign she thought.
a sign from god that maybe she wasn't alone.

patrick zweig was as loyal as a dog.
she threw a bone and he still came back.

"we should partner up."
"what."
"we can compete in duos matches together and travel together. i saw you compete in today's match and you're still really good. i think we could really go somewhere. you could still do solo matches as well if you want! i totally don't mind. i just really want to do this with you." patrick rambled.
"i saw you today and knew it was a sign-" "-from god." "yeah. yes. exactly! so what do you say? i have two plane tickets to chicago leaving tomorrow if you want to do this?"
"sure patrick. let's do it."

anya was no longer alone.
maybe tashi had won their bet, but anya was a runner up.
 

SO INDEPENDENT...