Same Old Love

// twenty-one //

I am woken by the sounds of worried voices and the uneasiness of someone pacing back and forth. I feel movement underneath my head and realize I'm laying on someone who's talking. Immediately I shoot up, recalling the events.

"Oh, Annalise. What will I do with you?" My mother pulls me into a bone crushing hug.

I pull away and glare at Reed, who has the audacity to still be in my house. "Get out."

"What?" Roger frowns at me, looking between Reed and I.

"I said get out. Now." I point to the door, anger coursing through my bloodstream.

The actions of my mother and Roger prove that Reed said something to both of them about what happened. I strictly told him not to say anything. I can handle myself. He shouldn't even be here, we aren't together.

"lise, you have to listen to me." Reed stands up with his hands out, slowing approaching me.

I back away and shake my head. "Leave me alone."

"You need help, sweetheart." Roger's face softens.

I take a deep breath, suddenly feeling claustrophobic. All of them are surrounding me with the same look of guilt on their faces. I turn and see Oliver's keys on the counter, so I snatch them and bolt out of the house.

"ANNALISE!" Mom screams as I get into his car, quickly starting the engine. I have my license but never drive, so we'll see how this goes. I'm not even wearing shoes.

I pull out of the driveway and notice Reed following me in his car. I just want to be alone, why can't anyone accept that? My phone buzzes from Mom, Oliver, and even Reed. I ignore the vibrating and turn into the old soccer field we used to play in as kids. I think I lost Reed, it's hard to tell.

I hop out of the car after taking the keys and scavenge the trunk for a spare soccer ball. If there is one thing that's going to make me feel better, it's soccer. Placing the ball on the ground, I stuff the keys into my sweatshirt pocket and kick the ball around. Soon enough, Reed's car pulls up next to Oliver's. He hurries over to me with an angry expression.

I roll my eyes and kick the ball straight at his head. Reed stops in his tracks and rubs his head for a second before shaking it. "I guess I deserved that."

"I said not to say anything." I take the ball from where it landed and dribble it away.

"I was scared." He steals the ball from me and kicks it towards one of the goals.

Becoming irritated, I steal it away and shove him. "You shouldn't be apart of this. You chose soccer."

"It was a misunderstanding. I said I could love you, lise. Why can't you understand?" Reed takes it from under my foot and kicks it back away from both of us.

I run over and kick it to the other goal. "Just everything that happened during the tournament was wrong. Did you know that Kent was just using me? He doesn't even want to be friends." I stop completely now.

"I tried to tell you he's no good. But, it was rude of him to even think of taking advantage of you." Reed puts his foot on the ball.

A tear escapes my eye and I'm quick to wipe it away. "Whatever." I grab the ball from under his foot and walk back to Oliver's car.

"You're going to get sick. It's fall and you're out here with no shoes on." He calls to me.

"It's none of your concern." I shout back, opening the door and throwing the ball in the back.

Reed jogs over, grabbing the door before I close it. "Oliver's gonna kill you, ya know."

"Good." I send him a sweet smile and pull on the door. Reed watches me as I drive away, an unreadable look plastered on his face.