The Smile Always Fades

5. Jealous?

Anna was sitting on her stool facing her easel in art, her mind was preoccupied, she hadn't even touched the painting before her. All she could think about was the fight her and Jason had had that last Friday night after getting home from their dad and Sandra's.

"You apologize to her, Anna," Jason had commanded. "She was just trying to be nice and find common ground."

"Absolutely not," Anna exclaimed. "She tells me I can basically be a PORN star first; then she says that I should have pool parties with her, like I don't have any fun at home with Mom; and to top it all off, she told me that I need a new look, like I was just another unfortunate ugly and disgusting girl!" Anna gave off an aggitated sighed of exasperation. "I will not apologize to her, she needs to apologize to me."

"Anna, she said a model, not a porn star," Jason remarked, exasperated. "She was trying to tell you that you're pretty..."

"Then why did she--"

"I don't know why she mentioned her stylist!" Jason interrupted. "But she said 'If you want to.' And I'm sure she didn't mean anything by the pool party comment, she just wants us to like her."

"Whatever," Anna grumbled, feeling defeated. "But I'm still not apologizing."

She rolled her eyes and shook her head, bringing herself back to the present. Mr. Hilyard was approaching her now, probably coming to check on her progress...which was slim, at best.

"Anna, you're painting looks the same as it did last week. Are you having 'artist's block?'" he chuckled to himself.

"Kind of, I guess. Just have a lot on my mind right now." Anna looked up and gave her favorite teacher a rye smile.

"Well keep trying, and hang in there. From my personal experience, things always work out in the end, even if it seems like the world is ending at the moment." He gave Anna's shoulder a supportive squeeze and then moved to check on a couple of kids who were huffing rubber cement glue.

Anna felt a little better; leave it to Mr. H to give you a boost in a time of need.

Slowly her thoughts drifted to yesterday. It was a lazy Sunday for Anna. She loved those days: sleeping in late, reading a good book in her warm sheets, and taking a nice long shower afterward.

On her trek to the bathroom for her pampering shower, Anna felt a bit of Déjà vu as she saw Shane coming out of the bathroom door.

"We meet again," he said. His face immediately lighting up the moment he saw Anna.

Anna's eyes grew wide. Shane was seeing her in her grimy stage. She hadn't put makeup on, was wearing her pajamas with bunnies on the pants, and her hair and body were shining from all her oily skin...she really needed that shower. But it didn't seem to phase Shane, he was still smiling like he won the lottery. Maybe he had, since he'd never once looked at Anna this way before, especially before she had taken a shower! By now, she was mortified, but Shane was still guarding the door, making it impossible for Anna to pass unless she pushed her way through. Now that she thought of it...she probably would be able to press against those bulging, toned, and tan muscles. Melt. No, that'd be too weird, awkward and obvious.

"Yep," Anna chirped, wishing she wasn't standing anywhere near this boy at the moment.

"So I don't see another nose bleed. You doing better after that?" Shane swept a strand of hair out of Anna's eye and let his fingers linger by her cheek for a second too long.

"Yeah...yeah, I'm doing better," Anna squeaked, flustered from Shane's sudden attention and the electrifying tingle from his touch. Was this really happening? Maybe Anna was still dreaming...