Blue Skies and Past Lies

Chapter 2

"Annie, come on out sugar stop hidin from me. I can hear ya giggling like a little school girl" Annie clapped a hand over her mouth and tried to keep still. She couldn't believe Jake hadn't found her yet, after all Blackjack didn't seem to enjoy having her in his stall. He kept snorting and moving around making her hiding spot vulnerable.

" Annie, ya can't hide from me forever, sooner or later I'll catch ya. You know I always be able to find ya". She knew she had to make a break for it, she peaked up over the side of the stall door and saw his tall lean back over towards the tack room on the other side of the barn.

Slowly opening the door, she crawled out, shut it, and ran for it. "You'll never catch me ya slow bow-legged turtle boy!"

Running for the pasture, Annie turned her head and saw Jake hot on her heels. Crawling under the fence she made a run for the large old oak tree sitting in the middle of the field. She had just about made it when she felt long powerful arms wrap around her waist and lift her up. Spinning her around, Jake made her feel as light as air then he suddenly dropped to the ground laying on top of her.

"What was that about being slow now?"

Giggling Annie wrapped her arms around his neck and said " I also called you bow-legged, you know you kinda waddle like a penguin a little bit"

"Oh really now, well maybe I'll just have to teach ya a lesson" he said as he ran his hands along her sides and brushed his lips against hers lightly.

Annie's eyes widened and she whispered "don't you dare!"

 Jake just smirked "Oh honey, you bet I would".

Suddenly Annie started squirming and laughing obnoxiously as Jake's finger ran all over her sides and stomach "MERCY, I give, I give.... just stop.... can't breath".

Jake continued tickling her for a few seconds more and then rolled off her. Laying at her side, he laughed along with her in the scorching summer sun. Turning her head towards Jake, he smiled "ya know what" , "what" she replied. "I lo  BEEP ve you mo BEEP re th BEEEEEEP.

Jolting up, Annie sat in a daze and stared at the spot on her wall. The dream, or she liked to call them nightmarish reminders, had rendered her immobile. She hadn't thought of Jake McAllister in sometime, and she didn't really want to start thinking about him now. She didn't want to think of his cerulean blue eyes, or his dark tousled 'just-got-out-of-bed' hair, his way of making her smile even by telling the corniest of jokes, he was everything she wanted, and everything she had lost.

Shaking her head, Annie walked towards her closet and got a pair of grey slacks and a black blouse out. Stopping she turned towards the mirror on the door and scrutinized the woman looking back at her. She saw a thin short woman that looked half-dead, brown unruly curls going every which way, and dark bags under her eyes. Her eyes, the only thing she had going for her, they were a vibrant green that usually had a spark to them. After last night's dream though, she was sure any and all life had been sucked out of her. Great, I look like I belong with the cast of The Walking Dead....as one of the zombies. Sighing, Annie headed towards the only bathroom in the apartment only to ram into a closed door. Holding her throbbing face, she knocked.

"Sorry Annie Oakley but the bathroom is currently occupado" Tanya, her roommate, shouted through the door.

"Of course you show up now, just when I need to get ready for work" just as Annie uttered those words, the door swung open revealing her roommate.