𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝑒𝓇𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝒸𝑒 ✧ 𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞

~two~

(annie's pov)

after lunch i went to art with lilia and then to stem. on the way to stem i stopped by my locker, as i grabbed my books i felt a presence near me and as i've said no one usually talks to me because i don't like talking back.

i turned my head to see the one, the only, asher angel. i glared at him for a second and then put my books in my book bag. i began to shut my locker but he stopped me by grabbing the door.

"is that your brother?" he said pointing at the picture of caleb inside of the locker door. his voice was expected for a sort of shy person but it was also smooth. he didn't really sound anxious like i was in that moment.

i looked at the picture for a second and adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder before i looked at him.

"yeah that's caleb."
i responded in a low tone as my eyes trailed to the floor.

"does he go here...? or another school? i've just never seen him around?" asher asked in a curious voice.

why is he talking to me? why does he care so much about caleb? i hate talking to people outside of my friend group and right now he is making me very uncomfortable. so that lead me to respond in maybe more of a rude tone than i probably should have.

"why do you care?"
i cut my eyes at him as i shut the locker door completely so he wouldn't be able to see the picture anymore.

"uh i don't know i've just noticed that the same picture of him has been in your locker since i started coming here and i was curious." he said this time in more of a shy voice than before.

"no he doesn't go here...." i paused as i felt a lump forming in my throat. the thoughts of caleb were starting to fill my brain, but i finished "he doesn't go anywhere."

asher furrowed his brows a little in confusion. with my eyes still glued on the floor i just told him the truth because he clearly had no idea what i was talking about.

"he passed away almost 5 years ago."
i stuttered out.

"oh..." he responded hesitantly. he didn't know what to say and neither did i so i just walked away.

why was he talking to me? he is supposed to be shy too. normally shy people don't talk to each other. he's kind of freaking me out to be honest, like how does he know about the picture? it's inside the bottom left corner of the door so normally no one sees it but me.

anyways i got to stem and i have this class by myself so it flew by pretty quickly. once i got home i greeted my dogs and hugged hayley. i normally walk home seeing as i live right down the road, but mom picks up hayley because she doesn't trust her to walk home by herself yet. i honestly enjoy this time by myself though. i get to put on my head phones and block out the world.

i went up to my room and grabbed my notebook then started jotting down some lyric ideas. i've been working on a song for years ever since caleb passed. i don't really have a name for it yet but some days i just become inspired and start writing. i haven't had one of those days in a while, but for some reason today was one of them.

to be honest it isn't really a song it's just a bunch of my thoughts on a piece of paper. it has no order or rhythm it's just a page with words.

after i finished i laid it on my desk and texted jayden.

annie: we might have a problem

jayden: what is it?

annie: asher talked to me.

jayden: what? why?

annie: he asked about the picture of caleb in my locker.

jayden: what the heck? how does he know it's there? are you okay?

annie: same, i don't know, and i don't know.

jayden: if you need to call i'm here ok.

annie: thanks, i love you.

jayden: love you too bb <3

jayden has been my rock since caleb passed. of course i have my mom and hayley but it's nice talking to someone who isn't going to cry about him like i do. at least not in front of me.

but she does have a point. am i okay? no. it's been five years since my brother passed and i still can't fathom it. the more and more i thought about him this led me to go to my closet and pick out one of caleb's hoodies that i have.

i slipped it on and then curled up in my bed and just started reading. this was my other safe place. as close to caleb as i could get. he loved reading and so do i.

i have one of his teddy bears from when he was little on my head board as well so i grabbed it and cuddled it as i read. this was my happy place.

(a/n: i hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. the first few chaps will mostly be about you getting to know annie but i hope you stay tuned for what's coming)