Tangled In

Chapter 9

"Anna hold up!" Anna didn't listen and kept rushing to her house. "Don't be a brat" She stopped. She turned around to look at Ben's face. She was red and her eyes looked like they were about to pop out. Her arms were crossed and she kept staring.

"Im sorry Anna I didn't mean to... WAIT!" Ben was tired yelling.

"My mom. An addict. Foster home. Orphan. Ben... I'm misserable..."

"Let's go talk."Ben said. Anna was dressed with a light bue skirt and a blue granny sweater which were part of the school's uniforms. Ben loved her nerdy looks. but when she was sad she looked wrecked. She started walking slowly and Ben followed. 

"What's wrong hipster friend?"

"They found my mom on a dumpster last night, thankfully with her ID but I'm afraid she lost her job and I'll go to a foster home."

"Oh shit shit shit."

"Exactly."

"Look, if you go I will too. And if you really gotta go I'll make my mom make you live with me or I'll go with you." Anna smiled and hugged him. But she kew her problems weren't solved. She had to speak to an adult, or someone who could help. Because her mom was not an option. She wasn't even sober and she looked anorexic. They went to Ben's house and finally sneaked into his room. His mom was busy. It was just like Anna imagined it. It was small but full of nerdy books. He had a tie over his chair and it was kind f a mess, like Anna, not like Ben.

"What do you wanna do?"

"Listen to music." Anna was firm about it. She just wanted to fade away.

"Okay let's listen this" The music started sounding. It was nice and very chill. Very hipster like Ben but Anna loved it.

"What is this?" She said while dancing through the rhythm.

"Lil thing by Knox Fortune" It sounded like one of those songs who one would listen in the car with the windows open and a dog behind on the way to California. Anna smiled and kept dancing, Ben followed. After a while it got late and they had listen like 2 hours of Spotify. Anna was tired and didn't say anything she just fell asleep on Ben's bed. His mom knocked on the door. He turned of the lights and got in the bed really near to Anna. She was small.

"Come in."

"Oh, did I wake you?"

"Well yeah but it is fine..."

"Go back to sleep honey." She closed the door and carefully walked away. Anna chuckled in the bed. Ben shushed her and laughed. They fell asleep. The next day Ben woke up hugging Anna. He carefully got his arm back and started walking till the wood sounded like it was 200 years old.

"Hey bro"

"Sup bro, how was your sleep?" Ben smiled at her.

"Ew bro sounds awful, but nice. Thank you Ben." 

"Indeed it does. You are welcome."

Anna had the same clothes she had slept on which was her school uniform. Yes they had uniforms. She showered without even asking. When she was finished she sneeked out of the room as quiet as she could and went downstairs. She left in silence, her hair down her glasses in her backpack. She waited for Ben outside his house. When he did the same thing he grabbed kombuchas and handed her one. Then they got on the bus. Ben thought Anna looked really pretty. She had long hair, really healthy and beautiful brown eyes. 

When Anna got to school, Henry was in her locker.

"We need to talk," He said with a serious expression.

"Tell me." She looked angry at him. She didn't have a reason but she just was.

"I'm sorry... I know I have hurt you, I know you and Emily-"

"Ok. Fine. Peace out bff." She smiled and turned away. At that moment she felt as confident as Spencer.

"Okay then, see ya."

Ben saw Anna. "Are you upset about them dating?"

"Not anymore. But he saw me the other day crying and I know he called you and kept kissing her. He didn't have the guts. So yeah I'm dramatic and mad, tell me something new."

"Okay geeze Louise"

"What?"

"I don't know you are starting to sound like my girlfriend..." Ben realized this as the first time he called her that and Anna's smile kept growing wider. At the end of the hall, Spencer was looking at them.