How Are We Not Together?

Chapter Two (Nathan's P.O.V.)

I slammed the door shut behind me and grimace at the loud 'bang' it produces, afraid for a second that I broke it off its hinges. With a huff, I toss myself face-first onto my bed, groaning loudly when my body hits the sheets. I then roll over and run a hand across my face, limply pushing it through my hair as I stare at the ceiling absently.

A thousand thoughts are running through my head at the moment, mainly the question about if I'm going to the party at Noah's tonight as a celebration for senior year, but there is something that constantly keeps coming to the front of my mind: Anna.

I keep replaying the scene during breakfast in my head, remembering how my heart had risen and the hit the ground with a 'splat' within two seconds. Next thing I knew, I had bolted up the stairs and into my room.

I knew Anna only considered me as a brother, no ifs-ands-or-buts. I wasn't even the awesome brother who she worshipped, more like the brother who liked to give her noogies and play pranks on her. It had always been that way, ever since third grade when I gave her a Twinkie on the bus and laughed hysterically when she started screaming from the fake bug I put on the bottom. I never understood why, but from that moment on, we became best friends.

Or at least we 'seemed' like best friends. I hardly spent time with her, only visiting her when I thought one of her friends was cute enough to date for a week or when I needed a place to crash at three in the morning. I spend the time I used to spend with Anna playing pranks and watching cheesy horror films getting wasted and hooking up with random chicks at parties now. I knew she was pissed at my on-again-off-again friendship with her, but she never failed to forgive me for the stupidest things I've done. I guess that's one reason I'm so attracted to her.

She's a pretty girl, I will admit that. With her olive complexion and dark hair, she had a body to die for, not to mention the most gorgeous gray eyes ever. She was hotter than most of the girls I make out with and had a personality to match. She was like a fire cracker at times, loud and rambunctious, but had moments where she is down to earth and sweet. Anna was one of the most amazing people on the entire planet, hands down.

I roll over onto my stomach and absently grab a pillow, inhaling and stiffening when it smells like Anna: vanilla and mint. I let a smile crawl onto my face before I chuck the pillow across the room, pushing myself off the bed.

Grabbing clothes off my floor, I toss them into my already overfilling hamper, digging through a pile of clean clothes I was too lazy to put away and pulling out a plain black shirt and a pair of dark wash jeans. I hastily pull them on and reach for the doorknob when I suddenly stop.

Confused, I think about why I'm rushing to get dressed and out of my room when school doesn't start for another hour. That's when I hear her voice trail up the stairs and my stomach falls like a ton of bricks.

I turn away from the door and run both of my hands through my hair as I pace the room. Inside, I debate between apologizing or ignoring her until school. I know deep down I should apologize for storming out, but the part of me that hides my feelings for Anna tells me to ignore her. I curse to myself and regret liking Anna, which then causes me to feel guilty about NOT wanting to like Anna.

Finally, I swallow my pride and swing the door open just as the front door clicks shut at the bottom of the stairs. I take that as my signal to hurry and rush down the stairs to the living room where I see Anna sitting in her car through the window. I smirk slightly at her bed head and my shirt that she's wearing and feel my heart swell at the same time, leaving me with a mixed feeling.

Anna looks up and sees me through the window, her eyes widening in shock and then narrowing into confusion before she ignites the car. She doesn't look at me again as she pulls out of the driveway and down the street, leaving only a plume of exhaust in her wake.

I stand in the living room for a few minutes before sighing, grumbling under my breath as I trudge into the kitchen.

Mom looks up from the stove, pushing around some eggs on the pan before sliding them onto a plate for Serenity.

"Morning, honey. You done having your temper tantrum?"

I scowl at her and unconsciously scan her, noticing how her cheeks are slightly sunken and her skin is paler than normal.

"You should go to the bathroom!" Serenity pipes up from the table, tapping her feet against the chair with a wide grin on her face. "Mommy says you're cranky when you need to use the potty."

I send her a glare and collapse into a chair at the table, picking up my fork when Mom sets a plate in front of me loaded with eggs and potatoes.

"Serenity, stop teasing your brother. Finish your toast."

Serenity huffs and folds her arms over her chest as she frowns at me, shaking her head and sending her pigtails sailing through the air. "It's not my fault Nathan is so in love with Anna and he has to go potty."

I choke on a bite of potatoes and hit my chest with my palm to cough it up, sending me into a fit of wheezes and tears.

Luke sends out a shrill giggle beside me, throwing his arms up and clapping his chubby hands together as he laughs at me. Even Mom is laughing at me, trying desperately to hide her smile and failing as she takes the plates to the sink.

After I manage to breathe normally, I send Serenity a sharp glare before pushing myself out of my seat, kissing Luke's head. "Well, I'm gonna head to school where the Pumpkin can't bully me."

"I wouldn't bully if you weren't such a baby!" Serenity fires back, laughing when I pinch her cheek.

"Kids." Mom reprimands, placing her hand on her hip and raising an eyebrow.

I laugh and kiss her cheek, grabbing an extra slice of toast from around her. "See you, Mom." She smacks my arm with her spatula and I wince, hurriedly rushing out of the kitchen.

I scoop up my backpack from the rack in the front hall and slide on my shoes, heading out the door at the same moment Levi pulls up to the house.

Levi honks the horn and dangles his arm out the window, giving a shout when I slide across the hood of his Buick and into the passenger seat.

"Jesus, watch the paint job, man!" Levi smacks my shoulder and we bother erupt into laughter.

"Whatever, Mr. Prissy."

Levi sends me a warning glare before beginning to drive to school, lounging in his seat a little as he drives.

"So how was the horror movie with Anna?" Levi flicks his eyes to me before returning to the road.

"It was cool. She fell asleep so I decided to let her spend the night at my place." I shrug and look out the window as I try to calm the butterflies in my stomach.

"Ohhhhhh.... Someone tried to lay the moves on little Anna." Levi teases, laughing when I reach across and punch his shoulder.

"I did not, man. She slept on my bed while I slept on the floor. Besides, she was pissed this morning when she found out I let her crash at my place on the first day of school."

When Feller High School looms before us, I feel a rush of excitement, already seeing a few guys I know lounging on the front steps of the school. A group of scrawny freshman clamber past the doors in a huddle and I check out a few junior girls walking along the front lawn. They catch my stare and I wink at them, sending them into a fit of giggles.

Levi pulls into an empty parking space and shuts off the car, both of us climbing out and shutting the doors.

"I bet she was. She hates your guts man." Levi holds up his hands in defense when I narrow my eyes at him. "In that brotherly sort of way. Speaking of which, there she is."

I look the way that Levi is pointing and see Anna, clad in a simple dark flower print dress, laughing with Sage as they walk up the front steps. Anna looks in our direction and stops talking when she sees me, looking like a caught deer. Sage continues gossiping, pulling on Anna's arm until they're inside, our gazes still locked.

I stuff my hands in my pockets and huff softly, glaring at Levi when he slaps my back and chuckles as he strolls past. Slowly, I follow him inside.

It's barely past nine twenty in the morning and I already know that today is going to be a long day.