The Boy I Used To Know ( A Josh Hutcherson FanFic)

Chapter 10

"Sway, sway with the wind,

 Sway little dandelion unforeseen,

 Among the hay and living day,

 Enrich the smile your eyes began."

I bowed dramatically to Annie who is laughing her head off. "Now where did that come from, Mr Shakespeare?" She laughs. "Oh his name, if you shall so pitifully beg of me, is Sir Joshua the Great." I answer with another bow. Annie cracks up at my horrible British accent. "I'm not begging you, Sir Joshua." She playfully hits me. "My fair lady, I presume you are feeling rather hot, cool down shall we?" I  bend down to splash her with the clear river water. She gasped before giving me the game-on look. Annie shoves me into the water and tickles me. I laugh with a mouthful of water, trying to wrestle her in.

After getting soaked to the bone, we just laid afloat on the water together. "Josh, if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?" She asks. "Remember our secret hideout from when we were nine?" I turned to face her. She nods. "There's a meadow just beyond it, right? The place you told me you had a crush on Harry Potter?" She nods again. "While we laid down with the flowers swaying beside us, I remember the gentle breeze, the scent of wildflowers." I tell her. She doesn't say anything, instead she turns to look at me. "There's where I wanna be."

She smiles then quickly turns her head to face the sky again, making the water ripple just a little. "What about you?" I ask her. "Well, I'd stay here." She answers without a second thought. "Like right here?"

"Like right here." She repeats. "Like...right now?" I ask. She purses her lips, ignoring my question. We stayed silent for awhile until she decided to break the ice. "Thanks for the sketch, Josh. It was really beautiful." I nod as a reply. The birds began to slow down, their chirps softening as dusk arrives. "We should go." Annie says, standing up. I follow her back to the river bank, stilll dripping from head to toe. Since we didn't bring any towels, we packed up our stuff and let the wind air dry us as we walked.

"Look, Josh. I'm sorry I --" I stop her with a wave of my hand. "No.It's my fault. I shouldn't have implied that you'd mean right now. I was just caught in the moment." I tell her. She looks away, focusing her gaze to the ground. "So, no hard feelings?" I smile. She nods, giving me a weak smile.

By the time we reached her house, the sun has began it's steady descend. "Today was really fun, Josh. Thanks." She hugs me. "No problemo, senorita." I twisted my imaginary moustache, making her laugh. "See you tomorrow, Joshua the Great." She turns to unlock the door. "Wait!"

"Yeah?" she turns back round again. "There's ...uh... something I've been meaning to tell you." I start, carefully choosing my words. I wouldn't want to risk getting her suspicious. "But it'll be easier if you read this first." I explained, pulling out a half crumpled letter I wrote from the day before. "Oh ok, sure. Are you alright, Josh?" her eyebrows furrowed, trying to read my expression. "Yes. Yes, I'm fine. Never been better." When I answer, she relaxes and smiles again. "Well then, goodnight." She leans up to kiss my cheek.

SHE KISSED MY CHEEK. What? Did... Did that just happen? Annie blushes and hurries inside, closing the door. She sneaks a peek at me before she closes it behind her. When I finally snap back to my senses, she was already inside. On the way home, my face was plastered with a giddy smile. Like of someone who had just won the lottery.

My mom and Connor didn't notice my goofy grin as I stepped inside. "Dad's loading the car. You should probably get ready." Connor says. I dragged myself up the stairs, step by step. My heart sank with every creak of the floorboard. I hopped in the showers but had barely enough time to recollect today's events and what had passed between me and Annie. Everything was going so fast and time even faster.

Once I got ready and the car was loaded, I hugged mom goodbye. "Are you sure you can't come, mom? Or Connor?" I ask. She shakes her head, holding back tears. I didn't really mind. Her constant downcast mood is starting rub off on me and I just can not deal with negativity right now. If there was anything, it should be courage. I'm not going to die, that part is for sure. I don't think I'm even going to have to leave long. They'll be happy again in a few months. We'll all be.

Realisation hit me when I finally settled in the front seat. I'm leaving town. I'm leaving Annie. In all my 15 years, everywhere I went, Annie would come along. Even for family vacations, she'd come to ours and me to theirs. We're a package deal. Now it's different. I'm leaving and she doesn't even know. Breathing will get harder for the next few months, especially since I know I'm feeling something for her now. It's something I've been trying to hide for awhile now. Connor seems oblivious to it and so is Annie.

I looked out the car window to Annie's house. Her room lights are turned on. She must be reading the letter. I sigh as we pulled out the driveway. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Annie. But if I did, you'll wonder why I'm leaving. You'll try to stop me or come with me. Then you'll know what I have. You'll hurt. And I just can't do that to you." I mouthed, hoping she'll hear me when I'm gone. When we drove past her house, I whispered a silent goodbye and a single tear rolled down my cheek.

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Hey, everyone. I know I'm late. And I know I'm supposed to update by the second week of October but everything -exams and shizz- was pushing at me and I had to do other stuff first. I'm sorry. :( But here is chapter 10! And in case you've forgotten, I mentioned a surprise in store for chapter 10. It was the kiss! :D No biggie but still, I'm happy with the story flow. Tell me what you think. :) Comment, vote and all the good stuff.

xoxo, Adelynn