The Smile Always Fades

3. The Tobester

The rest of the week Anna felt numb. She tried surviving school with little effort, she hid out in her room when she was at home, and she couldn't even get into a new book or art idea.

Thursday was the worst though. Anna had been sitting outside enjoying the rare sunshine that Oregon got, and was attempting to read a book under the "stake out" tree that Cassy and Anna had deemed as theirs all those grade levels ago. The book was interesting--about a group of girls exploring Rome, Italy--but Anna's mind was occupied with too many other thoughts to concentrate completely.

Tomorrow was the big day, when she was going to meet Sandra and greet her father once again, after about four months of no contact--on Anna's part, not her father's. She imagined what the dinner would be like: awkward silence, silverware clinking against plates, awkward silence, small talk, and awkward silence. Anna couldn't think of an activity that could be any worse.

As if on que, Bentley walked up with his math book and notebook in hand. "Ready for our big date?" He winked and laughed at his lame joke. "It's so nice of you to pick a spot so romantic." Ugh, apparently there was a worse activity.

Anna rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Only in your dreams, Whittaker." She smiled, proud with her snappy comeback.

"Ah, come on Anna. You know you pray for the same dreams at night. I'll be the first to tell ya, they never disappoint."

Whoa! Too far. And EW! Was he serious?! Anna saw Bentley's tan face go pale and she could tell he realized he'd gone too far too. It wasn't cute anymore, it definitely turned to creepy.

"So..." Bentley started a little too loudly, "I was thinking we could start our session today with--"

"Bent!" Bentley and Anna both turned their heads over to the courtyard of the school. Standing on the sidewalk was Toby, one of the guys Bentley always seemed to be hanging with. "Dude, I need you A.S.A.P.! Chuck just got locked in the dumpster and I need your sweet talking skills to convince the janitor to give me the keys." Toby started walking toward the tree so he wouldn't have to keep yelling across the way.

"What the heck was Chuck doing in the dumpster?" Bentley asked Toby. "He can be so stupid," he clarified to Anna.

"It was a dare. I bet him that he wouldn't be able to impress...well, I'll just tell you once I get those keys," Toby said, his eyes were shifting from Anna to Bentley and back to Anna again. "So who's the hottie?" he smoothly asked Bentley.

Is he talking about...me?? Anna thought.

"Hey, I'm 'the Tobester'." He reached out to shake Anna's hand.

Oh gosh, he is talking about me.

Anna turned to Bentley who had a horrified look on his face. "Are you serious?" she asked, amused by the look on his face, and half disturbed by the creep who was in front of her.

"Only if you want me to be," Toby kissed her hand and she immediately retracted it from his grip.

"See ya, Bentley," Anna said while quickly standing up to leave.

"Wait, we still have our tutoring session..."

"Nope, it's over. Besides, Chuck obviously needs your help way more than I do." With that she spun around and started heading back to the school's courtyard.

"What's your problem!" Anna heard Bentley scold Toby.

"What? Is she your next attempt at a girlfriend?" Ugh, Anna couldn't help but think she officially hated "The Tobester".

Once she made it back to the school building, she made a bee-line for the girls' bathroom and locked herself in the furthest stall from the bathroom door. It hadn't even crossed her mind that this is where all the girls come to gossip and reapply their lipstick.