Always There

SEVEN:

Seeing what I did, I did the cowardly thing and I ran. Or rather, I drove away with a speed that gave me whiplash.

I still felt the burning inside from the pain I was feeling.

She was kissing him, and he was kissing her. How did this happen?

I thought we loved each other and now he's kissing other girls? Worst of all: he was kissing Bethany. A girl that threatened me in that same day and the same person we were fighting about.

Was he spiting me? Did he try to tell me that we were over?

A sob escaped my throat.

I was going to say sorry. I was going to put my pride aside and he betrayed me. He betrayed my trust.

Truthfully, I knew he thought I was still mad. But, he still didn't need to kiss her. It wasn't right of him.

He broke my heart into pieces.

***

When I got home, I didn't have the energy to do anything but sob into my pillow. The tears kept coming and coming and they wouldn't stop.

My heart felt like it was being ripped out of my chest piece by piece and I couldn't do anything to stop it.

It was the most horrible pain I had ever felt. My throat was raw from sobbing and holding back screams of agony.

My mind wasn't even my own anymore. It kept replaying those moments.

When we kissed for the first time, him coming to my window and spending a night in his arms...the look in his eyes whenever he looked at me.

How could he do this?

Eventually, I fell asleep. And I dreamt...

***

"Stop it Tommy! You're hurting me." I was shouting at the boy standing across from me.

The boy had brown hair and green menacing eyes that made me want to run away from him. He's been bullying me for months and he won't stop no matter what I do.

I've been to teachers, I told my parents, I even bit him.

He never stopped.

"Oh, is little Anna going to cry?" He asked in a mocking voice towards me.

"No." I said swiftly and kicked him in the shin when he started to lift me.

"You stupid girl!" He shouted and hit me in the stomach, making me double over in pain. "Why are you so ugly and stupid?"

"Hey!" I suddenly heard from across the playground. "Leave her alone!"

Looking up, I saw a boy with hazel brown eyes and dark hair running towards me and Tommy. When Tommy saw him approaching, he sneered.

"Looks like not everyone thinks your ugly, Anna. You have a little boyfriend!" He said, scoffing at me.

"He's not my boyfriend, Tommy." I screamed at him. "Let me go, you imbecile!"

"What did you just call me?" He asks me, the anger in his voice evident.

"An imbecile!" I taunted him.

"Why, you little..."

Before he could finish his sentence the dark haired boy had thrown Tommy on the ground and he was glaring down at him from his position above Tommy.

"Say sorry!" The boy shouted at Tommy.

"Or what?"

As I watched the boy kicked Tommy in his stomach and Tommy was howling in pain. When the boy told him to say sorry again, Tommy turned to me.

"I'm sorry okay!" He said and clearly having recovered, ran off.

The strange boy held out his hand and I quickly took it. When I was up, he smiled at me brightly.

"Ezra Brown. Nice to meet you." He introduced himself.

"Anna Montgomery."

***

When I woke up from the dream, I felt more tears come up.

I had just dreamt of the first time we had ever met. We became friends after that day. And with Ezra by my side, Tommy never bothered me again.

On the contrary, he left me alone till this day. He never even looked me in the eyes anymore. Whenever he saw me in the hallways he would lower his head and walk in a different direction.

I never knew why Ezra beating him up got to him so badly, but for some reason it made a huge impression.

Although, he and Ezra became friends in later years. They were basically best friends.

But, Tommy never spoke to me.

***

At school the next day, I did everything in my power to avoid Ezra and Bethany. The only time I saw either of them was in English when Ezra tried to talk to me and I ignored him flat.

He didn't even feel ashamed. I could see it on his face.

Since when is it justified to not feel shame when you cheat on a girl you claim to love? How do you not feel ashamed when you kissed a girl who just threatened said girl?

I almost wanted to punch him in his ridiculously handsome face. My fist was two centimeters away from putting my knuckles up his nose.

But, I kept calm and just ignored him.

He tried saying sorry for the fight and he told me how much he loved me and didn't want to lose me over something so trivial.

But my heart was too broken to forgive him for that.

So after class I bolted and I never looked back.

***

After school I came home to see Ezra, once again sitting in front of my house clutching flowers.

Except this time I wanted to punch him. When I walked to the door, straight past him, he sighed.

"Look Annie, I'm sorry. How many times do I still need to say it? I didn't want to hurt your feelings when I said that. I'm honestly so sorry." He said, his voice breaking.

"I missed you last night." He whispered.

"You should've thought of that before you kissed Bethany."

The evident shock on his face told me everything I needed to know.

So, I entered the house and shut the door in his face.

*******************************************************************************

A/N:

Hey guys!

Song is Adam Merrin's Still Alright.

*hugs*