Moving On (Annie Leblanc)

Eight

|| Annie's POV ||
Tonight was Caleb's birthday dinner. Johnny was invited. That was all I could think about. But, Hayden also was. And so was Carson. Carson is my best friend and I consider him an older brother. He will protect me at all costs and he has proven it. If Johnny hurts me at all, I know Carson will throw him out. Kenzie showed up first because I asked her to come early to help set up. We baked the cake, ordered the pizza, and set out snacks. Then, the guests arrived. The first was Carson. He came in and gave me a big hug and I don't think he removed his arm from around my shoulder all night. The next was Nadia, then Johnny and Lauren, and soon all the guests were here.
A: Thank you guys so much for coming!
Na: Of course!
L: We love you, Anns.
J: Yeah.
Hayden and Carson gave him the dirtiest look because they are the only two that know about what happened.
A: Well, we should watch a movie!
C: A scary one!
A: No-
K: Yeah!
Ha: Let's watch lights out!
A: No, no, please no!
J: Don't worry, it'll be just fine.
I nodded. Johnny grabbed my hand and led me to sit on the couch next to him. Everybody else sat on the floor. They were all smirking at us but Johnny and I just laughed. The movie began and I was SO scared. There were lot of jumpscares and everytime that there was one, I buried my head deeper and deeper in Johnny's chest.
J: It's just a movie, Anns.
Johnny said laughing at me.
A: B-but…
Johnny stopped laughing.
J: I promise you'll be just fine.
I took my head out of his chest and looked at him and gave him a half smile. He smiled back. Then I put my head on his shoulder.
A: Thank you, Johnny.
J: No problem, princess.
I snuggled in closer to his neck. He put his arm around me and pulled me closer. I didn't mind. After the movie, it was time for dinner. We all sat down at the table and ate pizza. Carson was on one side of me, Kenzie on the other. Kenzie was holding my hand THE ENTIRE DINNER and Carson STILL had his arm around me. Like thanks for comforting me, BUT I CAN'T REALLY MOVE!!
Ka: I'd like to make a toast!
We all looked to her.
Ka: To Caleb, I'm not trying to make anyone cry, but we had a fantastic 13 years.
She failed, I cried. But luckily, Hayden was right next to Carson and he came and picked me up out of my chair to hug me. Then everyone else joined. I love this group.
A: Thanks guys.
H: No problem, Anns.
I smiled and he smiled back. I love him as my friend and nothing more. I'm glad we are still friends. Then we cheersed. I missed Caleb. Once we were all done eating, we were about to eat cake until Johnny started singing.
J:🎵It's been a long day, without you my friend🎵
🎵And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again🎵
Suddenly, Kenzie started a beat on the table. I just looked at them with confusion. Were they singing acapella? I looked at Hayley and my mom and they shrugged.
All except Johnny, Annie, Hayley, and Katie: 🎵we've come a long way🎵
Then they all stopped and Johnny grabbed my hand. The beat continued again. Everyone except Johnny in the group started singing “ooh.”
J:🎵From where we began🎵
🎵Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again🎵
Then I looked over and Carson was at the top of the stairs.
C: 🎵Dang, who knew🎵
J: 🎵All the planes we flew🎵
C&J: 🎵The things we been through🎵
C: 🎵That I'd be standing right here talking to you🎵
Carson and Johnny continued serenading me until everyone joined in, including Hayley, my mom, my dad, and me, and sang:
All: 🎵So, let the light guide your way🎵
Suddenly, everyone stopped singing except me.
A: 🎵And hold every m-memory as w-🎵
I broke down crying and buried my head in Johnny's chest. My mom was vlogging the whole thing by the way. Then, Hayley continued singing.
Ha: 🎵As we go, and every road you take will always lead you home🎵
And we all sang the last chorus together, except me. My head was still buried in Johnny's chest.
|| Johnny's POV ||
Annie was great. She was beautiful, nice, sweet, talented, and her hair is just beautiful and her eyes... You get the idea. But, Jayden was who I'm after. Of course, I want to be best friends with Annie. Really, really close friends. Maybe even more…? No! You like Jayden.
|| Annie's POV ||
I wish Johnny felt the same way as I do about him. I slowly pulled away and we all clapped. Apparently, they had been planning that for a month?!
Ka: Okay, time for cake!
We all sat down and sang happy birthday. Then, we ate cake.
Na: We should play on the trampoline!
A: Ok!
After everyone was done, we went outside and started jumping on the trampoline.
K: Okay, now we have to play a game.
Na: What game?
C: How about jumpfessions?
A: what the heck is that?
L: Sounds made up to me.
C: It's where you jump on the trampoline and play tag. The person that is it, tags someone and asks them a question. The person that they tag has to answer honestly. And yes, I made it up just now.
A: Okay!
K: Sounds like fun!
J: I'm down.
H: Me too.
A: I'll start.
I ran around trying to tag people but I failed miserably. Eventually, Lauren felt bad and she just let me tag her.
A: Yay!
L: So, you're supposed to ask a question?
A: Right… um, do you have a crush?
L: ...yes.
All: Oooooooohhhhh
L: Okay, moving on!
Lauren's face looked like a super red tomato. After, that I was kind of mad because she tagged someone easily. It was Johnny.
L: Do you have a crush?
We all looked up.
J: Yes.
Then I remembered. It was Jayden. I put my head down and EVERYONE except Johnny looked at me.
A: It's not me…
I said to shut everyone up. Johnny nodded. Rude.
|| Johnny's POV ||
Now I just had to avoid being tagged again so that nobody would ask me who I liked and nobody would be mad at me when I didn't say Annie. Her friends are monsters when it comes to protecting her. That's how it should be. She deserves so much…
|| Annie's POV ||
The game was continued, some tea was spilled, but nothing that concerns Johnny. That was all I cared about at this point. Until Carson got Johnny.
C: Haha!
J: Okay, what?
C: Do you like someone here?
J: Um… I'm still deciding.
C: I'll take it.
J: Thank gosh, now my turn to tag.
Johnny ran around but tagged the slowest person here with ease. That slowest person was me.
J: Okay, Anns, time for me to decide what to ask.
I was super nervous and looking down until I heard:
Ja: Hey everyone!
J&A: Jayden?!
Ja: that's me.
A: What are you doing here?
K: Yeah, who invited you?
Ja: Your mom. I always knew she was the sensible one in the family.
Everyone started to get out of the trampoline to meet Jayden on the ground but I sat down and didn't move. I wanted everyone to leave right now. I expected Carson or Nadia or Kenzie to come get me up, and drag me over there. But, it wasn't any of them. And they didn't drag me.