This Could Be Us

Chapter Nine - Anna's New Friend

I spent that night telling Anna what happened between Zach and I, and why I punched him. I went on to tell her every single detail from the doctor's office, because she demanded to know everything. While I talked, she listened - attentively for once. Usually she is scrolling through Twitter or texting someone else when I talk to her. This love triangle consisting of Zach, Carter, and myself, really peaks her interest though.

When I finished talking, I waited for her to respond, but she remained silent.

"Well.." I say, urging a response from her.

"This entire situation keeps getting more and more interesting!" Anna exclaims. "First, Zach kisses you and tells you he loves you. You would rather stay just friends instead of admitting you love him too. He abandons your friendship and dates Kate. Then you meet Carter and shortly after you two are dating. Kate and Zach break up, and you tell him you miss him."

Anna puts a hand to her forehead as she processes the information she just spit out. I slouch back in the recliner and let out a long sigh as I realize how crazy this entire thing sounded. Does this happen to other people too or is it just me? I mean, seriously! I feel like this only happens in cheesy teen fiction novels or romantic movies.

"Do you still have feelings for Zach?" Anna asks.

"Uh," I respond nervously.

"Oh my god. You do!" Anna gasps. "What about Carter?! Dude, what are you going to do about this?"

I can't even begin to answer the questions Anna starts throwing out at me, because my phone is violently going off next to me. Carter had just got home from practice and showered, and now he wants to come over and see me.

"Shit." I say, staring at Carter's name as it flashes across my screen.

"Well are you going to answer or nah?" Anna asks.

I let out a sigh before hitting the "Accept" button on my phone. "Hey."

"Finally! I was worried about you. What are you doing? Can I come over? I have something for you." Carter instantly responds.

"Yeah, Anna is here though." I inform.

"No problem. I'll see you in a few!" Carter says before hanging up.

Well at least with Carter here, Anna won't ask me anymore questions that I don't know how to answer. Well, actually that's not guaranteed, but at least she won't bring up questions about Zach when Carter is around. Okay, again, that's not guaranteed either.

"Listen," I say, grabbing Anna's attention. "I need you to do me a humongous favor when Carter gets here."

"What's that?" Anna asks, curiously.

"You absolutely cannot bring up what happened with Zach when Carter gets here." I respond. "Actually don't bring up Zach at all."

"Aw, that's no fun. What if I were to ask Carter, hypothetically, what he would do if Zach and you were to be friends again?"

"Do. Not. Bring. Up. Zach. At. All." I reiterate.

"But what if Carter brings him up? Then it's already the topic of conversation. I can't just not respond." Anna comments.

"We'll find a way to inconspicuously change the subject," I state.

"But, what if-"

"NO!" I yell, throwing the TV remote at her.

"OKAY! Okay. I won't bring up Zach under any circumstance." Anna rolled her eyes.

Just as we made our little agreement, there was a quick knock and the door and then it opened. Carter made his way through the front door and into the living room. He was holding one arm behind his back as he entered the room. I tried to peek around his back, but he moved so that I couldn't see.