I halted in my tracks. "Where are you going at this time?" Andrew blocked me from the steps. His tall figure loomed over me in the early morning's sunrise. He held a cigarette and exhaled smoke in a steady trail.
"Good morning. I'm going to study at the library, why?" I spoke calmly in an attempt to be nice. I stood there impatiently.
He glanced over to the left house and promptly ground his cigarette into the cement. "Come, I'll drive you."
As he led me into the garage to his BMW, I sighed. Because of the awkward tension, I was trying to avoid Andrew. He always offered to do things for me though that I obviously could do myself. "Thank you," I sat down in the leather seat next to him in admiration.
"Annette," He stared at me.
"Yeah?"
"Sit in the back seat," Andrew ordered. I stared at him incredulously. "Now."
I fumbled with the seatbelt embarrassingly. I felt his gaze on me as I switched over to the back seat. Degraded, I avoided talking for the ride. He didn't look back at me once or say anything until he dropped me off at school.
I muttered a small thank you to him and he promised he would pick me up at four. His car swiftly turned around and drove away. I shook my head to clear my mind and it suddenly came to me that I was going to study.
I didn't get much done in the library. Typically, it was my safe place and where I could clear my mind, but all I could think of was Andrew. When the bell rang, I hazily headed to class and wrote a test. I'm sure I failed because my head wasn't in the right place.
My face met the disgusting floor of wrappers and dust. I snapped back to reality as Jake pulled me up and dusted me off. "Are you okay? That looked bad," He held my cheek and smoothed his thumb over it in sympathy.
"Yes, I'm fine."
My vision blurred and the daydreams started again; Andrew stared at me intensely and everything around us faded to nothing. It was just us and even with the agonising silence, it was perfect. He was perfect.
"You're bleeding, Anne. I'm taking you to the nurse," I faintly heard, but my attention was gone as soon as it came. I couldn't feel any part of myself moving; it felt like I was floating on air.
"She's fine, it's just a minor injury."
"Can I call her guardian?"
I was rolling around on the cotton candy clouds like I used to roll in the field as a child. The surface was warm and soft as I continuously went back and forth. My mind was filled with sugar; I couldn't think. Is this heaven? If it is, I'd gladly stay here forever.
Andrew's beautiful blue eyes met mine. "Annette?"
"Hi, Andrew." I dazedly smiled at him and giggled. It looked like he was glowing; an angel.
"It's six in the evening. Snap out of it," He shook me gently.
I forced my eyelids to open fully. I groggily sat up on my bed. "Huh?"
"I took you out of school, Annette. You've been sleeping for ten hours now,"
"Oh, how awful." I rubbed my eyes with my weak fists. "Where's Jake?"
Andrew looked away instantly. "I don't know, I didn't see him."
"What happened?"
"Somebody pushed you over in the hallway so you have a few injuries. The nurse said that you're malnourished." Andrew set up a tray on my left side with soup and a sandwich.
"You can leave, now." I stirred the soup and cut the sandwich into quarters.
He chuckled as he silently left my room, closing the door behind him. I scanned my room for my cell phone and found it across the room. I had thirty missed messages from Jake.
Where are you?
I'm worried
I hope you're ok
Sh*t
The window is locked
Text me
I glanced over at the window. It was locked and there was a hardcover book placed there to block it. After finishing my sandwich, I took the book down and peered through the window. Jake sat on the edge of his bed with his elbows rested on his knees. He ran his fingers through his already messy hair and turned around to face me. His eyes practically bulged out of their sockets and in an instant, he had climbed out of his window and stood in front of mine. I opened it and let him snake through the small space.
"I've been worried sick," Jake pulled me into his embrace. I could feel his developing muscles flex around me and I inhaled his overwhelming musk cologne. I missed him.
"I'm fine, Jake. I just didn't have breakfast,"
He pulled away gently. "Be careful, okay?" He planted a kiss on my forehead and looked lovingly into my eyes. "Want to watch a movie?"
"Yes! I'll get some snacks and you can choose."
I headed downstairs with my food tray. I placed it in the sink and popped some kernels to fill a bowl. I got some pretzels and Lays chips to go along with the buttered popcorn. As I headed back up to my room, I heard a faint door creak.
