The Burning Girl

Chapter 4 - A R R A N

As I walk away from Anna's house, I can't help but think about all the things I said to her. I'm cringing at the 'just like you' comment and I'm pretty sure she wasn't impressed. I mean how cliched could I be.

'You have stars in your eyes that must have been put there by angels.' Yeah so much better. I'm pretty sure if I ever said anything like that she would hit me, and tell me to stop being sarcastic.

I'm not.

I mean every word.

I have had a crush on her for as long as I can remember. When we first met, I was so shocked that this small, pretty, blue eyed, crazy person had come up and said "Let's be friends, I'm Anna and you're Arran! Let's be best friends!" All I did was blink and nod, open mouthed, and the rest is history, as they say. I can't remember a time when she hasn't been in my life. We learnt to ride bikes together, ice skate together. We tell each other everything. When she told me about her first kiss, it broke my heart. Everything that I was hoping for, was blown out of the water, by some slimy boy, who just wanted to get it out of the way. I was there to dry her tears, and tell her not to care what he thought, because she was beautiful no matter what. She just laughed and told me to wake up. Typical, sarcastic Anna. Never seeing what's right in front of her.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, three sharp vibrations. I pull it out and read the message - REMEMBER OUR DEAL.

I sigh as I double back towards Anna's house, and hide in the bushes opposite her front door. This may sound like I'm being weird. And I feel weird doing it, but my uncle, Jim, wants me to. And he always gets what he wants. The reason I haven't told Anna I like her is to protect her from my family, mainly Jim. He is crazy. And by crazy, I mean he should be locked up in Bedlam. Anna doesn't know anything about him, except that him and my father don't get on, and that he never came to Isabelle's funeral.

Somehow Jim managed to find dirt on me, and is using it to blackmail me into doing his dirty work. He wants me to know Anna like the back of my hand, which I already told him I do, but he insists I must watch Anna's house, what time the lights go out, when Lilian goes to bed, that kind of creepy shit. I hate it; but I don't want my dad finding out that I sold some weed to a few mates last year. He is a policeman, and when your Dad's a copper, you do not, repeat not want to be found dealing drugs. Bad shit could happen.

It doesn't make sense, though. No word from Jim for years, and then out of the blue he calls me and instructs me to do this. I've been doing it for months.

As I watch I see the lights go out in the kitchen, and then gradually go out upstairs. The light's switch off on the landing, then they go on in the bathroom. I can hear Anna singing from here. It's nice, she has a really sweet singing voice. She often sings lilting ballad songs, although some of the lyrics are so morbid; half the time I want to throw a book at her head! I can hear her singing 'Dance to your daddy', which I know was one of her fathers favourite songs. She used to sing it all the time, dancing around her kitchen floor before her parents got divorced. Laughing, throwing her head back and looking so happy you couldn't help but laugh and clap along. She was so happy, her heart healing after losing James, I could believe she was getting better. Anyone could.

But the best thing is getting one of her rare, breath takingly beautiful smiles. It makes you feel like there is nothing wrong in the world. And I wish there wasn't.