Like I'm Right Beside You (BEING EDITED SLOWLY)

Chapter 16

NATHAN'S POV

I laid on my bed throwing a tennis ball to the ceiling. I couldn't stop thinking about Ana, about the kiss we had.

That was last month and nothing else has happened yet. I haven't tweeted nor posted any photos on my social medias.

Now more than ever I wanted to be left alone. I loved my fans, but I also wanted to have a normal life for a few more months. I had a feeling that wasn't going to happen...

I sat up on my bed and send a text to Anne.

Me: What are you up to? 🤔

Usually she always texted me back right away, but not this time. I hit my home button repeatedly thinking she would text me.

I didn't feel like doing any homework. I had to much going on in my head that involved Ana. I needed to distract myself.

Instead I went on Spotify to see if there was any music. I remembered I had ask Ana if she had a Spotify and she allowed me to follow her.

I went to her profile and looked through her public playlists. The very top one was 'This Is The Backstreet Boys.'

I've never heard of them before so I decided to give them a listen. I clicked 'shuffle' and 'Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)' was the first one that began playing.

This wasn't bad at all and the song was catchy. I began to hit the heart button when I found a new favorite song each time.

As I listened to them I got out my laptop. I sat on bed and opened it. I decided to search up the Backstreet Boys. They were really good! I was a fan already.

I went into google and searched up 'The Backstreet Boys.'

A few photos of them popped up and I kept scrolling down. I saw the Wikipedia and clicked on it. I began to skim the page.

They were an American vocal group with 5 members, I read in my head.

I went back to my original search and saw an overview of the members. It said a lot about them; who they were, their albums and a lot of photos.

I clicked on images and scrolled. As I skimmed the images I stopped on one.

I clicked on it and saw a lot of similar images. I began to see them one by one.

I had to zoom in to make sure I wasn't seeing things. Maybe it was an edit or photoshop.

But it was too real. So to make sure I clicked on 'all' so it could take me to my original search.

I deleted what I typed and starting typing a new search.

'Brian Littrell and Anne Jennings.'

It gave me a good amount of photos that made me realize what I had discovered.

I saw the biography of Brian and read it. It said he previously had dated Anne. The one I know, the girl I kissed.  But Brian and Ana had broken up.

There was a picture of them holding hands and what seemed like a picnic basket. I could only see their side profile.

I quickly closed my laptop realizing that Annie had a secret too.

ANNE'S POV

"What? I'm just joking. Why would I want to read a math book?" Madeline laughed.

I breathed out a sigh of relief.

"What is it with you? Why don't you want me to grab that book?" She sat back down on the bed.

"It's just that..you said you don't want to study, remember? I'm just saving you your life," I stuttered trying to think of a reason.

She pfft, "Relax professor. You got any lemonade?"

I nodded, "Yeah go get some."

As she left I got out my phone and noticed I had a text from Nathan.

Nate: What are you up to? 🤔

Me: oh just hanging out with Madeline :/ (help me!)

I laughed to myself.

"What are you laughing at?" Madeline said sipping her lemonade.

I quickly looked up, "Oh it was just a meme."

She put her cup on my desk, "What kind of meme?"

"Madeline! Please use a coaster," I said pointing to her cup.

She looked at her cup, "Alright..calm down."

She went back to the kitchen and my phone buzzed.

Nate: Should I come over and break the party?

Me: No it's ok. What are you doing?

"Ok I brought..who are you texting?" Madeline stopped in her tracks.

I quickly looked up, "No one."

She put her coaster under her cup, "Whooo? I know you lying.."

I sighed, "Who else? Nathan."

"I knew it! I knew you were texting him. Why are you covering it up?" She sat down on the bed.

"Because..you make a big deal.." my tone went to a whisper.

"A big deal? Anne, I just want someone who treats you good. I can't look out for you?" She said calmly.

"I-I just don't want to date anyone right now.. that's all.." I looked down at my phone and then at Madeline.

She finished drinking her beverage, "What's wrong with that? Don't you like him?"

I couldn't answer her question at that moment. I knew I still loved Brian, but he probably has moved on. That's what I should be doing too right?

"Do you think Nathan really likes me?" I randomly asked.

"Yeah he makes it obvious. I've seen you guys in the hallway," she explained.

"Then I should give him a chance. I should date him," I said.

"Then date him. No one's stopping you," she got up and went out.

Maybe she was right. I should give Nathan a chance. We should date. Me and Nathan should be a couple.