I'm Right Here

Chapter Three

The feeling was drowning. Annie felt like someone was twisting her chest to spit out the baby issue. She didn't know if Cassandra could hear her heart beating out of her chest, but she was thankful that she's too busy feeding Crystal.

Breathing from the lungs wasn't helping. She literally had to use her mouth to inhale and exhale which she was afraid that would draw attention.

Annie swallowed. "Mom?"

"Hmm?" Cassandra answered, feeding Crystal a spoonful of baby food.

"You know...I love you, right?"

Cassandra suddenly looked at her daughter. "Why, honey? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just..." she fidgeted with her fingers, thinking of the right words to say. "I feel like...I'm so distant from you now. We don't hang out like we use to."

Cassandra placed the spoon and the plate of baby food down on the table. "Oh, Annie."

"We barely get to talk in the morning because I'm too busy preparing for school and then I leave this house with just a goodbye. I arrive here and you're gone off to work. You come home and I'm already in bed. There's just no time for us, mom. I miss you..." Annie wasn't able to stop her tears from falling. She wanted to tell her so bad, but she knew it would break her mother so much. "I miss it when it was just the two of us. I want it to be like that again, mom."

Cassandra got up from across the table and walked over to Annie to give her a hug.

Annie sobbed harder and she was fully aware that this was bad for the baby so she tried to stop herself.

Cassandra wiped away her tears. "I'm so sorry, sweetie. I didn't know you felt that way. I promise, I'll make it up to you as soon as possible, okay?"

Annie nodded and Cassandra kissed her head. "I love you so much, mom."

"I know. I love you too."

"When do you plan on telling him?" Camilla asked as they walked together to school.

"I don't know," Annie sighed.

"Do you really plan on hiding this information from everyone involved?"

"I don't know."

"Wow."

Annie stopped on her tracks and so did Camilla.

"Please don't rush me. I just found out that I was a mother yesterday and you gave me overnight to think about when I should tell everyone and you expect me to tell Jake today. Please just—stop!"

Camilla was surprised at her sudden burst but she didn't say a word.

"I already have enough in my mind and it might not seem like it, but I'm actually thinking about it, okay? I just don't want to be rushed. It adds to the pressure."

Camilla took a step closer and held her shoulders. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I'm still a little freaked out too and I'm just worried about you. It's times like these when you need more than a bestfriend, ya know? I mean, if I was in your place, the first person I would run to is...my mom."

"I know. I just don't know how to tell her," Annie's voice cracked. "I know how she would react. I know how she would feel and it scares me that I'm going to be the cause of her pain. I don't want that."

Camilla pulled her in for a hug. "I'm here for you, Anne. I'm always gonna be here for you. You don't have to do this alone. If you can't face them on your own, you can tell me and we'll face them together."

They both breakaway and Annie held her hands together. "Thank you, Cam. But please, I just need you to trust me."

"Of course I do, you idiot. Whenever you're ready."

Jake had his earphones on in class, as usual. He didn't pay much attention to the lesson and the teacher doesn't seem to be interested in him as well.

For an hour, he just kept watching moments that were happening through the window. He found that more interesting than the history film they were watching.

Suddenly, he felt his phone vibrate. He looked around, scanning if there was a teacher present in the room. When it was clear, he fished his phone out of his pocket and read the message.

Unknown contact: Are you free tonight? –Trina

Jake thought for a moment before replying.

Me: yeah. What's up?

Unknown contact: wanna hangout? I can drop by your place

tonight.

Me: don't. I'll come to you.

Unknown contact: Great! Same address. See you later! :)

So she's still alive, Jake thought. It had been months since he heard anything from Trina. Last he knew, she was dating someone but he had no idea who the guy was.

The bell rang and everyone went to the cafeteria for lunch.

Lunch—that was the only time he saw her and get to look at her longer. Jake wondered all the time if Annie was in a relationship. It doesn't seem so. She doesn't hangout with a certain guy. Maybe he's from another school? He was curious why she drank that night. Maybe they broke up?

Jake shook his head to remove the thought. He saw Annie from the distance, entering the cafeteria but she was alone. She looked beautiful and Jake felt somewhat overwhelmed. He lowered his head and chuckled.

A hand landed on his shoulder. "What' so funny, man?" It was Bryan. He sat next to him.

Kevin and Dom took their seats across the table.

"Trina texted me," he said instead.

"Trina the red head?" Dom said in disbelief.

"Yep."

"Been a long time. I heard she was dating this guy from a fancy school." Kevin added.

"I think it was that blond dude that Jake almost beat up one night at the bar." Bryan said.

Jake smirked. "I could care less. As long as I get to fuck, I'm all good."

All of them laughed at that. Even as the guys changed topic, Jake stole glances at Annie who was sitting alone at a table. Camilla hasn't come yet. Then suddenly, Annie extended her right sleeve and used it to wipe her eyes.

Jake wondered what was bothering her.

Maybe staying at the cafeteria to gather my thoughts wasn't such a good idea, Annie told herself.

Camilla would be skipping lunch today. She said she had some group research to do that was due tomorrow. Annie wished she had gone with them instead.

She wanted to leave the cafeteria. Annie felt like people were starting to notice that she was crying. She was about to stand up when she saw Jake looking at her. Annie froze.

Those eyes...those sky blue eyes that she got to see up close that night. Those eyes that weren't full of lust—just concern; worry. She knew then, she was attracted to those eyes and Annie already fell for his trap.

Annie swallowed, stood up from her seat, and walked out of the cafeteria.