Stardust // Reggie Mantle (3)

Chapter Nine

Anna gasped. It was stunning. She immediately sideled up to the side of the machine, getting ready to shake it out. FP mirrored her actions.

"C'mon, ready?" He questioned. Anna nodded, and the pair began shaking the vending machine back and forth until the jewel fell down into the slot.

Anna squealed in excitement as she heard it hit the bottom. FP bent down to retrieve the expensive piece of jewlery. He held it up to Anna, who immediately giggled with excitement.

Jumping up and down, Anna clapped with joy. "Yes!" She exclaimed, her eyes set on the sparkling gem.

"My lady," FP called, as he lowered to the jewel into Anna's out stretched hands. She stared at it with amaze as FP did the same to her.

"You know, I've been thinking of asking you something," he began, breaking the silence. Instead of saying anything, he slowly began to lean forward.

Anna's first instinct was to lean forward as well. Suddenly, in the middle of their lips and bodies nearing, something flashed upon Anna's mind. She hit FP in the stomach, somewhat hard, successfully pushing him away from her.

"Woah!" FP exclaimed as he stumbled backwards. "What the hell, Anna?"

Anna turned her shoulder to FP, no longer welcoming his closeness. "You were gonna kiss me!" She exclaimed.

FP tried to feign confusion. "No," he paused. "I wasn't." Anyone with a brain could sense that FP was clearly lying.

"You know, just because we got together that one time, does not mean I'm into you. This is a role playing game, for God's sake." Anna turned her gaze to FP, obviously hurt. "Everyone else thinks I'm a slut. I thought you were different."

FP stood silently, observing the girl who was now self consciously crossing her arms over her chest and staring at the floor. Something told him that being slut shamed wasn't the only reason for her outburst.

"Somebody did something to you, didn't they?"

Anna looked up at FP's deduction. "What?" She exclaimed. "No, of course not. I don't know what you're talking about."

FP looked unimpressed. "Yeah, you do," he accused. "We both know you weren't like this before."

Anna stayed silent. The air in the room was thick with tension. She couldn't tell him. She wouldn't.

"I said I'm fine!" She exclaimed. "God, just leave it alone," she demanded, turning away to cross to the other side of the room.

"I'll tell you what happened with me and Alice," FP called. "If you tell me why you're acting so weird."

Anna almost refused, but she was curious. So she turned back around. "Fine," She agreed. "But you go first."

"It was nothing serious," he began, leaning up against the vending machine. "You know, just messing around, which she was cool with." He paused and looked away. "The more we've been playing G and G, the more I've been thinking, it could be more."

Anna paused. "You should talk to her," She suggested. "For real. Take a shot. You're the deadeye after all." As much as she sometimes disliked Alice, she did feel for her. If she had gotten pregnant in high school, she'd want the father to know.

FP shrugged. "Maybe. But I believe that it's your turn. Now, spill."

Anna bit her lip and looked away. She swallowed before beginning. "You know Jack Sinclair?" She asked.

FP furrowed his eyebrows and looked at Anna with surprise. "You mean full fledged South Side Serpent Jack Sinclair? Cause, yeah, I know him."

"Well, it's just, he and I-" She paused, unsure of how to get the words out. "We, um, had a bit of a fling, and now he acts like he owns me or something. He doesn't like me talking to other guys, or having other friends. And sometimes-" She paused again, choking on her words. "And, uh, sometimes he gets mad." She glanced up at FP. "Like really mad." She paused. "You get it?"