Finding Anna

Chapter 2

I slowly got up in pain, walking over to the stairs. Keeping my hand on the spot where I had just been kicked, I slowly go up the stairs and down the hall to my room.

Once inside my room, I lift up my shirt to reveal a huge purple and black bruise. I lightly touched it and winced in pain. Tears started streaming out of my eyes. Crying just made the pain worse.

I put a hoodie over my shirt and put up my hood. I grabbed my bag and walked back downstairs. I need to get out of this house. I see Sam still sitting on the floor where I had left him.

"I'm going out. You probably should too. We don't need another pointless beating from Dad." I tell him quietly and he nods. We walk out of the house as quiet as we can and get in my car.

"Take me to Erin's." Sam says looking out the window. I nod even though he can't see me. I then back out of the driveway and drive him to his friend Erin's house.

Erin has been his best friend ever since he was a baby. They do everything they can together. Erin knows exactly how our life is. He had to deal with this kind of crap when his Dad was around. Just a year ago, his Dad died in a car accident. It was hard on Erin that he didn't have a Dad anymore, but he wasn't much of a father to begin with.

I pull up to Erin's house and look over at Sam. He's staring at the house and I can sense that he's afraid.

"Call me if you need anything, okay? Anything at all." I tell him. He looks over at me and a tear falls from his eye. I wipe it away and hug him tight.

"I love you, Anna." He says and sniffles. I rub his back holding back tears.

"I love you too, Sam." I say and let go of the hug. I give him a small smile and he returns it. He then gets out and waves. I wave back and drive away.

I wipe away the tears that have fallen and drive to the bar. I know what you're thinking, and no, I don't drink when I'm upset or angry. I don't drink at all. I go to the bar to get some food, listen to the gigs that play that night, and hang out. Get my mind off of things.

I park my car in the bar parking lot, grab my bag, and go inside with my hood still up. I see the owner, Al, and give him a smile and a wave. He kindly returns it as I go and sit down in a booth facing the stage.

I order a burger, fries, and a coke. Since all I ate was cereal this morning, I'm pretty hungry. I watch the performers as they all sing their songs.

A few minutes later my food and drink comes. I begin to eat as a blonde haired boy comes on stage with a guitar. I smile to myself as I watch him sit down and adjust the microphone.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Niall Horan, and tonight, I will be singing Angel With A Shotgun by The Cab." He says into the mic. I almost choke on my food when he says the song he is going to sing.

The Cab is my favorite band. I guess I came on the right night. I smiled as he started to sing and strum on the guitar.

He has a voice like an angel. I find myself humming along with him and tapping my foot to the beat.

He is now on his feet and rocking out singing the song. He's got everyone in the bar on their feet dancing. I smile at the boy singing up on stage and having a good time.

When the song ends, everyone is clapping and whistling. I clap along with everyone. That was by far the best act of the night. He smiles and thanks everyone for listening, then walks off the stage and sits in the booth in front of me. I smile at him when he's not looking and continue eating.

I then take out my phone and check my messages. I see three texts from my friend Andrea, and two from Sam. I decide to check Sam's messages first to make sure everything's okay.

Erin just showed me his new car. It's pretty sick! -Sam

Going out for a spin in his car! WOO! -Sam

I smile at the messages from him. I'm glad he's having a good time. I text back a reply.

Sounds like you're having fun! Be careful out there Sam. Say hi to Erin for me! :) -Anna

Then I check the messages from Andrea. Two of them are asking me if I want to go to that party I heard about today. I rolled my eyes and read the last one.

Too bad you didn't come, A. We're having a pretty sick time! -Andrea

I roll my eyes at her text messages and don't even bother to respond. She knows parties aren't my thing. I look up to see someone walking over to me. Niall.

"Hey, um. I saw you sitting over here when I was up on stage and I thought you were seemed like you were a nice girl." He said smiling. I could tell he was nervous.

"Niall Horan, right?" I asked him with a smile and he nodded.

"That's me." He said and I giggled making him smile.

"Would you like to sit down?" I asked him and he looked at the seat and back at me.

"Sure." He said and sat down in front of me.

"You're a really good singer." I told him.

"You think?" He asked.

"Yeah! You're amazing. And The Cab just happens to be my favorite band." I tell him with a smile. His eyes lit up as soon as I said that.

"No way! Their mine, too!" He said excitedly and I giggled.

"Nice!" I said and we talked for a while. He was really funny and liked so many of the same things I do. He told me about his family and his nephew, Theo. He even showed me a picture of him and he's so cute!

Niall seems like such a great guy. He's sweet, funny, cute, a great singer, outgoing. Just overall great. Perfect even. Wait. Am I falling for someone I just met? That can't be possible.

Can it?