When I'm with you

Chapter 24

GABRIEL CLARK

I was so lonely for the past few days; it felt like I was back to my old life. I spent most of my time alone, since everyone was busy with their own matters. Everyone was neglecting me, just like the author of this story. (Seriously, I almost thought she had forgotten about me since she hasn't mentioned me in the last couple of chapters.)

Anyway, Anne was busy poking her nose into her bestfriend and my brother's relationship. Well, as a result, she had a fight with her. They hadn't been talking for quite a while, but I heard that they had made up already. I couldn't understand how she could be so perceptive when it came to the people around her, yet so naïve regarding her own matters.

Chad had improved. He had started talking to me once in a while, but he was still evasive about his sudden change of behavior: he kept changing the topic everytime I asked him about it. I also asked him about the day he went to buy a present with Anne, but his lips were sealed. I wondered what happened that day.

Although he wouldn't admit it, it was obvious that he was doing it for Jane. I couldn't understand why he had to hide his feelings for her since he clearly liked her. You could see it from a mile away. He kept his distance from her because he didn't want his feelings to be a hindrance to their friendship. Okay, I guess I kind of understood him, since... I had been doing the same thing for quite a while.

It was after Anne nursed me for a day that I started to feel this change in myself. I distinctly remember covering my face with my pillow as soon as she closed the door that day. My face got even hotter than it already was, and not because of the fever. I could never forget the feeling of her lips on my forehead, or how our hands fit together like puzzle pieces when she held my hand as I fell asleep. I would never forget the look on her face when I caught her kissing me (on the forehead; I tried my hardest not to think about the possibility of her kissing me anywhere else), how cute she looked when she was flustered. That was definitely the reason why, everytime I saw her face, I felt my heart tighten as if there was a chain hauling it. I also noticed that I blushed easily with just the sudden mention of her name. I was confused at first. I couldn't understand why I was acting so weirdly, then I tried what Chad was doing: I distanced myself from her. Needless to say, my plan was a failure. During the brief time that I couldn't see her, I could feel nothing but pain and longing. I had been away from her for a long time, and now that we were together again, I wanted to be by her side as much as I could. I'd sit around all day with thoughts of her in my head. I wondered what she was doing, if she was thinking about me, too.

It was official. She had grown on me. She had always been special, but this time it was on a whole new level.  I liked her. REALLY liked her. Like, dang, she had me wrapped around her pretty little finger. And I didn't give a rat's ass about it. I would have given her the world if she asked me for it. Not that it was logically possible, but you get the point. Anne always made me say (and think) the cheesiest things.

I always asked myself what I liked about her. I finally understood why other people said that it was a hard question since I also couldn't answer right off the bat.

Anne was a brat; she wouldn't listen to anyone, especially when she already made her decision. She always put herself in danger without thinking of the people who worry about her. She was annoying most of the time, but she was nice. She cared for other people before she cared for herself. She was honest, but she could be insensitive at times. She was reckless and clumsy, but she always stood up when she fell down. She never gave up until she got what she wanted. I always asked myself what was so special about her, and that's when I realized that everything about her was special.

I hated it when she made me feel that way: I felt like a teenage girl. I was starting to disgust myself since I was turning into something that wasn't like me. I had never felt anything like this before. Anne was the first person I had ever loved like this. At first, I thought what I felt towards her was just an extension of my admiration for her from back when we were kids, but I was wrong. I started to feel the thing they call "jealousy", and everytime there were other guys close to her, I wanted to beat the hell out of them. I knew it was selfish, but I wanted Anne to be mine, only mine.