leather and cigarettes (j.d)

7

"Do you think that maybe you could give me a ride after school? I have to get my brother from school."

"No problem, doll." James lit up his cigarette.

They pushed opened the main school doors, meeting the faces of the other students at their lockers.

Annabelle chuckled. "What happened to Cherry?"

"I'm just trying something new." He smirked, puffing the smoke out of his mouth.

"Guys!"

All of a sudden Cindy and the greasers came through the crowd.

"Frank is back from the hospital!"

Immediately, James scowled while Annabelle pushed on her tippy toes to see over the big crowd of students.

"W-what do I do? What if he sees me?" Her eyes widened as she talked to Cindy.

She felt a hand go around her waist and she looked up.

"Act natural. He's coming our way."

Annabelle leaned more into him as Frank came into view.

He had a faint black eye and stitches on his forehead.

"Don't make eye contact. Act as if he's not even here." James said.

She nodded, staring at her shoes.

Feeling eyes on her, she looked up to James again.

James felt like if he had ever been with any other girl, they would have totally misunderstood anything and everything he did or said, but Annabelle.... she was the total opposite than the others.

She was kind, caring, understanding, and overall, beautiful inside and out.

He leant his head down, placing his pouty lips onto her soft ones.

She was surprised at first, but kissed back.

His mouth tasted like cigarettes, while her mouth tasted like cherries.

Of course, he thought.

Cindy coughed, awkwardly, turning her head away to the greasers who silently laughed and shook their heads at how they said they were "just friends".

The bell had already rang, seeing as there were no one in the hallway except for them.

"Ugh, I'm out." Cindy playfully said, walking to class with Tony's arm around her shoulders.

Annabelle broke away first, turning her head to see Cindy walking down the hall, while James inhaled the sweet perfume in the crook of her neck.

Her sparkling eyes met him and he smirked, looking down at her.

"Give it back." she smiled.

"You'll have to kiss me, then." he blew a big bubble of gum as they walked.

She swiftly reached up, kissing him passionately only to get her gum back.

"Hah!" She exclaimed.

He chuckled. "You're too cute." He put his arm around her shoulders.

Their voices echoed through the hallway as they walked together to class.

-

All day students have been waiting for the perfect pair to get back together... but that wouldn't happen.

Annabelle hung out with Cindy and the greasers the whole day, which was a good thing. They took her mind off the stress of dealing with Frank.

Surprisingly, Frank didn't start any trouble with James, but he had a feeling something was going to happen.

James and Annabelle pulled up in front of her brother's school, parking the car in the front.

"I'll be back." Annabelle shut the door of James' roofless red corvette.

Stepping into the school, Annabelle was immediately engulfed with the smell of crayons and paint.

"Belly!" A voice shouted from across the room.

Annabelle felt arms go around her legs.

She hugged him back and smiled. "Hey, Tom."

"Why didn't dad pick me up?" He let go.

"He's on a business trip. Didn't he tell you?"

He furrowed his eyebrows. "I don't think so."

She smiled. "Well..." she said. "I have someone for you to meet."

"A girl?!" His eyes widened.

"No!" She exclaimed. "You're too young."

"That's not—"

"Hey, Annabelle." The teacher greeted her.

"Hey, Mrs. Damon. We were just on our way out."

"I just wanted to say that Tommy has definitely improved in math. He's doing really well."

"Well, isn't that good to hear?" She looked down to her brother. "Have a good weekend!"

"You too!"

The teacher walked back into the classroom.

"Why does she call you Annabelle?"

"Because Belly isn't my name, silly. It's Annabelle."

"Good to know," he ran to the door, pushing it open. "Now, who is this person you want me to meet?"

She nodded her head to James, who was chilling in his car with a cigarette.

"Woah!" Tommy ran down the stairs to the car. "Is this a 1956 Chevrolet Corvette?"

He ran his hand over the smooth red steel of the car.

"That's right, bud," James responded. "Jump in."

Tommy climbed into the backseat, but not forgetting to shake James' hand first.

Annabelle went in soon after. She grinned. "I thought you might like it."

"Like it? I love it," he said. "I've wanted to drive in one of these my whole life!"

Annabelle smiled, rolling her eyes, while James chuckled and started up the engine.

"I must say; these are crazy clean leather seats."

"Thanks, champ."

"Hey, wanna go to the carnival tonight? With James and I?" She spoke up.

"Really?"

Annabelle nodded.

"Yeah!" He exclaimed, a bright smile on his face.

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