Harry’s POV
“What about when I tell you I killed someone?” Annie asked, looking up at me with tear filled crystal blue eyes. I felt my mouth drop open.
“What?” I whispered.
“That’s the reason we left London. I killed someone.” She looked at me with sad eyes. I took a step back, and she paled. “See? Now you're afraid of me.”
“I’m not!” I insisted.
“Then why aren’t you hugging me anymore?” she asked softly, tears pooling in her eyes. I reached for her, and she jerked away. “No. See? I told you. And now you hate me. I'm a murderer. I killed someone.”
“Ann, are you sure?”
“Yes!” Annie yelled. I jumped. She has never raised her voice at me. Never. “I saw her die, Harry. I pushed her, I heard her scream, I held her as she died waiting for the ambulance, I heard her say she loved me! Why would she love me? WHY? I killed my own MOTHER, Harry!” My heart nearly stopped. “And it was so stupid…so stupid…I was just so angry…I shoved her…she tripped and fell and hit her head so hard…” Tears were rolling down her cheeks now. I reached for her, and she pulled away. “No! I don’t deserve it! I don’t deserve to like anyone! I don’t deserve anything but to be alone for the rest of my life! And that’s what I’m going to do, so just…leave me alone, Marcel!” She shoved me away, and ran down the street.
X*********************X
Annie’s POV
I ran down the road, tears pouring out my eyes. Stop crying, you idiot, just stop! You don’t deserve to cry, so just stop! I frantically wiped my tears away, and took a deep breath. Suddenly my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen.
From: Dad
Hey, honey, I’m going to bed now, so text me the time when you think you're coming home. I love you.
From: Annie
Headed home now. Go to bed dad, I’ll talk to you in the morning. Love you too. I put my phone in my pocket, and was just walking down the road. Suddenly my phone buzzed again, this time with a familiar ringtone. With a Little Help From My Friends by the Beetles… Harry…
Stop it. Stop. You don’t deserve someone like him. You don’t deserve anyone. Just let it go… But I couldn’t let it go. I took a deep breath, and answered. “What?”
“Annie? Oh, thank God. Where the heck are you? It’s one o’clock in the morning! You can’t be running around alone!” Harry yelled. I pulled the phone away from my ear, wincing.
“Harry, I’m fine. Why are you calling me?”
“You need to talk.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Do.”
“Not”
“Ann…” I could hear the weariness in Harry’s voice. “Please. I don’t hate you because of what happened with your mum. I would never hate you. You're my best friend, the one who makes me laugh, the one who makes weird faces and is hyper when on sugar. Where has that girl gone?”
“Harry—“
“No, listen to me.” I could hear his voice clearer, and suddenly someone touched my shoulder. I yelped, and whirled around. Harry stood there. He hung up his phone, and grabbed my shoulders in his hands. “Nothing you could do would make me not like you anymore. I never could. You saved me, Annie. Yeah, I had the boys, but they are still boys. You…I can talk to you, and I know you won’t tease me or make fun of me, and make me feel small. Ann…” He swept my hair out of my eyes. I tried to look away, but his emerald green eyes were hypnotizing. I swallowed hard. “Annie…” He said again. I have to tell him…
