The Darkness in her Eyes

10

I open my eyes, trying to focus where I am, and Bree is just staring at me.

"Wasn't last night so much fun?"

I grumble. "You were drunk for most of it,".

"That's the fun part, Annie,". she laughs as she goes to her closet and grabs some clothes. "Dad just got off the phone with your Dad, you're staying the whole weekend isn't that going to be awesome?".

"I guess so,".

We walk into the kitchen and grab some cereal. Uncle Joe situates himself in his favorite chair. "You girls had fun last night?"

"Oh, Dad, it was so much fun, and your shy little niece even danced a little,".

I spit cereal out of my mouth and give Bree some dirty looks.

"She danced, huh,".

"How would you even know that? We were outside," I say.

Bree smiles and says, "I have my ways".

We settle back in Bree's room and watch lifetime movies. Bree is on the computer messaging her friends. "Annie come check this out".

I get up from the bed and walk over to her computer. Craig is messaging her.

"Is Annie with you, will you please tell her to call or message me,".

Bree responds, "No chance, loser."

"Knock it off Bree, I really have to talk to her,".

Bree looks at me, "Do you want to talk to him or not?"

I shrug, "I don't know,".

Bree responds to Craig with, "She's over at my house, come over. Enter at your own risk,".

"Be there in five,".

I roll my eyes and go back to watching the Lifetime movie. I wonder what he has to say. He's probably pissed that I went to the dance with Andrew.

"There's a visitor here for you Bree," Uncle Joe yells from the kitchen.

What is with this family and constantly yelling?

Craig opens the door and sits beside me on the bed. He looks at Bree with hopeful eyes. Bree fires back with a hateful look.

"I'm not leaving Dude! Say what you have to say in front of me too". Bree puts her hands on her sides and looks at him with such intimidation, that she makes me nervous.

"What do you want, Craig". I ask.

"You quit responding to me last night, we didn't even have a chance to talk".

"I fell asleep", I said.

"I know you didn't fall asleep that quickly, we need to talk about it, and you know it".

"What do you want to talk about?", I sighed.

"Why did you go on a date, you were supposed to be thinking about us trying again?" He looks up at me with desperation in his eyes. "Why, Annie?".

Bree stares away and starts messaging on the computer.

"I liked him, and this is supposed to be a fresh start for me".

"This could be a fresh start for us too", he says as he slides his hand into mine.

"I told you, Craig. I'm still thinking about it, I'm not sure. You hurt me pretty badly".

"I wrote you something", he slides a piece of paper in my hand. Don't read until you are alone". He looks over at Bree, who laughs.

"Fine".

Bree walks over to the bed. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it's time for you to go Craig".

I get up. "I'll walk you out".

As we head out of the door, he looks into my eyes. "You don't have to do everything your family wants of you. I love you, Annie".

"I still love you too".

He reaches for the back of my neck and kisses me with a fierceness.

I look over and Andrew is parked in his car, next to Craigs.

"Leave Craig, now".

Craig looks over at Andrew parked beside his car.

"Is this the guy Annie?".

"Leave Craig".

He walks over and opens the car door.

"Are you the one that took my girl out? Answer me now".

Andrew just looks at me with a confused look in his eyes.

"Uncle Joe!".

Uncle Joe walks out. "Craig Boy it's time for you to leave buddy".

"Andrew comes in and I can explain".

Bree was typing on her computer as we were talking. I wouldn't put it past her to do something like this but why.

"Andrew, come inside, so I can explain."

"I think I'm going to leave, Annie. If I knew you were with someone else, I wouldn't have gone to the dance with you".

I stutter, "Listen. I'm not. He's my ex, it's been over for a year".

"You kissed him back, it doesn't look like it is over to me".

"It is".

"I came over to see if you wanted to watch a movie with me, but I think maybe we will have to go another time" He looked at me with such fierceness. There were tears in his eyes.

"If that's what you want," I said.

I slid into the passenger side of his car.

"What are you doing Annie?".

"Listen. Things in life are not all rays of sunshine, I've been through some shit. Craig is part of that. He was from a place in my world when everything was innocent to me. I was raped a year ago and that is why I transferred schools".

Andrew shoves his fists into the steering wheel. "I can't believe what happened to you". He looks for Craig's car. "He didn't do anything to you did he".

"No, he didn't".

Uncle Joe and Bree are standing outside just staring at us.

"I have to go, but message me tonight?" I ask.

"Sure".

He speeds off and I go into the house with Bree.

"Explain what you did! Now Bree".

Bree looks at me guiltily. "I wanted Andrew to know he doesn't have a shot; you shouldn't be pulling him around when you clearly have Craig in the palm of your hand".

"I just want to go home".

"Stop being dramatic, Annie. It all worked out didn't it, now you have two boys fighting for you".

I walk away. "That's not what I wanted".