It's Complicated

Chapter 40: It's None of Your Business

Of course, as if it weren't bad enough trying to avoid Katie, now I'm trying to avoid Brennan while in my own house. "You can't get rid of me that easily, Annie! Are we all heading out to the pool or what?" I roll my eyes & laugh, as if I really wanted to be anywhere near him. "I don't know Brennan, I guess? I'm just waiting on Kate to change into her suit." As much as I wanted to steer clear of Katie, I needed to be cordial & polite. Katie comes out of the bathroom & says, "alright! Let's go swimming, shall we?" We all nod our heads & follow her lead to our new pool.

Mom & dad had a pool built a couple of summers back but we rarely get to use it due to the crazy weather & traveling we do, so it was nice when we got the chance. Brennan of course dives straight into the pool, while Katie & I sit on the edge with our legs dipped in. "So how are things with you?" Katie tries to make small talk, but it really just leaves me wanting to rip my hair out. "Good. Things are good, yup. What about you & what's his face?" She furrows her brows & gives me a confused look, "things are FINE between me & ZACH!" I knew his name, I just really didn't give two shits. "Oh yes, right Zach!" I laugh to myself & see Brennan on the other side of the pool laughing with me. "Mhm hmm, things are goo- hey, are those the Tiffany earrings you'd been wanting for like ever?" Oh fuck, I totally forgot about the earrings.

I begin to panic inside, how the hell am I going to explain how I came across $4,500 earrings from Tiffany's? I guess Brennan could sense my tension because he splashed Kate with water, which didn't help too much but drew her attention away from me for a bit. I had so little time to think of a lie, there's no way in hell I'd tell her the truth. "Oh my gosh Brennan, stop! You're literally so annoying!" She begins to dry herself with a towel when she looks back at me, "Annie, where'd you get those earring?" Keep it cool Annie, do not blow your cover. "I got these at the jewelry store, they're inspired by the Tiffany ones but definitely aren't real. They're just cute, you know!" She squints her eyes & turns her head, she doesn't say anything about them afterward.

"Are you ever going to get in the water? Or are you just gonna sit there all afternoon sweating your ass off because you're wearing a jacket?" I almost forgot I even had it on. But Brennan was right, for whatever reason on this day it was actually hot. Katie & I pose for a quick Instagram photo & post it before jump into the pool. Even though we were both kind of upset with each other we made the decision to just let things be in the past! We wanted to enjoy the moments we had together!

We swam around for like 3 hours, no one wanted to go out boating or tubing because the waves were choppy! As I begin to pull myself out of the pool Katie yells, "what's that on your arms?" Brennan starring & began eavesdropping on our conversation. I hadn't realized but the makeup I used to try & cover my bruises rubbed off & looked horrible. They were the weird funky color where they're purple & yellow, Katie poked at them & the hurt, I winced. "Ouch Kate, way to be sensitive!" She swims away from me, goes towards Brennan. I sit myself back onto the edge of the pool covering my arms with my towel, keeping my legs dipped into the pool.

"Was it him?" Brennan, who usually talks in a very arrogant & cocky manner, had sadness & concern in his voice. I hadn't heard him like this, well since we lost Caleb. "Stop B, please. You don't know anything!" Meanwhile Katie has a puzzled look on her face & is trying to figure out how the hell her brother knows & she doesn't. "Annie, for real! Was it him?" He begins to clench his fists & puff out his chest. "Stop you guys, there's nothing wrong. I'm fine! Haven't you ever heard of squat suits? I've been trying to bulk up a little, I need to get my legs & arms stronger. That's all it is, I swear!" Katie doesn't believe me, she doesn't even have to say anything but I know she doesn't. Brennan does & that's really all I needed. He nods his head & begins to swim again. "Brennan, you don't seriously believe that do you?" He pops up from swimming, rubs his face & looks at Kate, "aren't we supposed to believe our friend when she says she's fine?" She rolls her eyes & gets out of the pool. She goes somewhere inside & now it's just Brennan & I.