Chapter 14 - "Is It Ever What It Looks Like?"
"Are you sure?"
She couldn't breathe; she couldn't think…she sure as hell couldn't formulate coherent words. He made her dizzy and he made her lose her equilibrium. For a moment, she thought he was joking. Could he really think she was having seconds thoughts?
After seeing that he was serious, his eyebrows knit in worry, tears sprang to her eyes. He cared enough about her that he would walk away from that right then, if she asked.
Well she cared enough about him that there would be NO way she was going to ask. No way.
With a growl of frustration at being so close, yet so far away from what she wanted, she moved her lips the fraction of an inch it took to meet his.
The moment they touched, pillowy lips meeting pillowy lips in a burst of passion, it was like the stars realigned. No, more than that, it was like the whole reason for the existence of the earth at that moment was the kiss they were sharing.
She met his lips softly and gently, not wanting to push anything too far. Chris responded accordingly, moving his mouth softly and slowly, relishing in the mere feel of it. He seemed content to do that all day, not making any attempt to move faster.
All his restraint was lost, however, when her tongue timidly traced his bottom lip, silently making the next move. In that second, the kiss changed from tender to electric, sparking something in both of them.
His hands began moving, unable to chose a place a stay, all the greediness and possessive he had inside him for her making it almost impossible for his hands to remain in one place. After several moments of indecisiveness, he finally settled on digging one hand into her hair, massaging her scalp tenderly, after hearing her small moan of approval.
The other hand rested in the middle of her back, clutching the material of her off white shirt, his fingers pushing her closer and closer to him.
Annie's whole mind was clouded and every nerve ending in her screamed body screamed to be closer to him. His mouth tortured her; kissing her passionately, virtually devouring her mouth one moment and then tickling her senses with breathy soft caresses of his lips on hers. She couldn't decide which she liked better. She just knew she never wanted it to stop.
Moving the hand that was on her back down, he wrapped it securely around her waist and began pushing her backward, the chair rumbling on its wheels behind her knees as she let him lead her. He kept going further and further until the chair hit against the wall.
Not removing his lips from hers, he pulled her over and roughly kicked the chair out of the way before pressing her up against her bay window. His lips left hers then, giving them both a chance to breathe a moment before he began attacking her neck, thereby preventing any possible chance for a gulp of air to make its way up her closed throat.
She had never felt more completely in bliss in her entire life. Nothing had given her such intense pleasure…such utter happiness…as did the feel of Chris' lips on her skin. Touching, biting, licking, caressing, loving. It was magically, emotional, sexual, beautiful.
She had the urge to touch him. Running her hands slowly up his chest, she was surprised when he grabbed her wrists, stopping her movement. Gripping them tightly, he shot them up over her head and she felt the cool glass of the window against them.
His mouth crushed into hers heatedly and she reciprocated with just as much vigor and passion. But still, she had to touch him, feel his skin under her fingertips. She wrenched her hands from his grasp. Surprised, Chris let her go and took a full step back.
Breathing heavily, Annie met his eyes and saw something she never expected to see. Fear. Vulnerability. He thought she was going to push him away. She knew he could always read her, everything she was feeling, with one look into her eyes. She wasn't disappointed that time.
A small smile graced his face as he took another small step forward. Once again making the final move, Annie continued the path she had been trying to take with her hands, running them over his chest and up his shoulders to wrap around his neck.
Chris ran a finger over her swollen lips and a full-fledged smile replaced the lazy half grin he had before. "I was right. That was so sweet. Really hit the spot," he told her, keeping up the food metaphor, "It was a combination of peaches and you and…Caesar salad."
Annie's eyes widened and her skin blushed a deep red. "Ohh…tell me you're kidding."
He shook his head, "Nope, sorry sister. But I wouldn't have had it any other way."
His eyes darted across her face and settled on her lips. She knew he was going to kiss her again and her heart began beating wildly in anticipation.
Bending down slowly, he put a hand behind her neck and pulled her to him. She went willingly, allowing him to tease her by letting his breath mingle with hers a millimeter away from her mouth.
"Chris…" she murmured hoarsely when she couldn't take it anymore.
"Maaaary," he tossed back, the reverberation of his voice on her trembling lips sending shockwaves through her. He brushed his nose back and forth over her hers tenderly.
"Chris…" she said again, her voice almost completely leaving her…the name coming out barely a whisper when his mouth changed paths and found her earlobe instead. "Why do you always do this?"
He took a moment to move away and meet her eyes before resuming his attack on her temple and hairline. "Don't get me wrong Mary, I love your lips, but they're not the only thing about you that's kissable," his eyes twinkled when he pulled back once again, "And don't tell me you didn't like it 10 minutes ago."
"No, I did," she answered and immediately felt her cheeks flush. He was the only person that had the ability to get her so flustered.
He chuckled heartily and smoothed some of her hair out of her eyes. His gaze was unwavering and full of adoration as he watched her grow uncomfortable at what she had admitted. "Now don't get embarrassed on me. Since when do you blush so easily?"
"Ever since you started…ohhh…" she buried her face in his shoulder.
He sighed contently and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to him and feeling her arms slink around his waist to return the embrace. He rested his cheek on the top of her head and rocked them back and forth.
She pushed back then, and stared at him with a new determination in her eyes. Reaching down, she pressed a kiss in the crook of his neck. One higher and another higher than that.
A shaky breath came from Chris and she saw his Adam's apple bob up and down. "What are you trying to do to me?"
"Returning the favor," she answered, rather enjoying the salty taste of his skin.
"I…uhh…that's…not fair…" he stuttered almost inaudibly.
A kiss was placed on his jaw line when she let out a giggle. It turned into a chuckle, and soon she had stopped her ministrations to simply laugh.
"What's so funny Mary?" He asked.
"I just…I realized that I'm kissing my best friend," with that she continued laughing, her head bent.
Eyes darkening into muddy swirls, Chris took a step back. "I don't think it's funny."
"No, me and you isn't funny. It's just all these years; SJ, Justin, our friends, my mom…I told them all they were crazy and now…" she kissed him soundly on the cheek, "Now all of a sudden, I'm getting all tongued-tied around you and I'm kissing you…it's too much. Strange."
He brightened immediately and ran his hands up and down her arms, as if keeping her warm. "It is pretty ironic. But I never want anything to be strange about us. I want it to be…what it is. If our relationship evolves, then it evolves. I never want it to be tense."
She saw the devious look on his face before another word exited his mouth. He spoke again, "Unless, of course, it's tense like this…" he lowered his head until only his spiky hair remained in view and kissed the hollow of her throat. She instantly stiffened.
His point proven, he kissed his way back up to her ear and whispered, "And I never want you to be frustrated with me…unless it's frustrated like this…" with that his lips met hers for the third time. He applied almost no pressure, and every time Annie tried to deepen it, he moved back, making it impossible for her to be satisfied.
Slapping his chest in annoyance when he pulled back completely, she bit her lower lip and tried to ignore his amused laughter.
Finally, he sobered and put a finger under her chin to look her in the eyes. "And I never want to make you cry…unless it's because I make you so happy, so exhilarated, that you can't stop the emotions from bubbling over…when you feel so perfect and beautiful and loved, that the tears just won't stop falling."
He watched her eyes brim and took a shaky breath before gathering her to him. "I take it back. I don't ever want to see you cry. Not ever."
Both people moved at the same time; Chris lowering his head and Annie raising hers, until their lips met again. He cupped her face and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs gently.
Their mouths connected perfectly. This time the kiss was full of wonder and contentment, both parties without a pain or care in the world.
At that moment, there was a vibrating from Chris' pocket and both he and Annie jumped backward in surprise. He touched it and rolled his eyes. "It's my pager." Taking the offending object out of his pocket, he threw it against the wall, hearing it make a satisfying crunch when it hit.
"Chris!" She exclaimed.
"I'll buy another one," he responded, reaching out to her once again.
They leaned forward, each expectant of the kiss that was going to occur. Chris smiled slightly as they grew closer; both still timid even after all that had happened in the last few minutes.
RING!
"Dammit!" He growled in frustration as he felt her let go of him.
"Don't throw the phone Chris," she ordered.
"I know," he answered harshly, mad not at her, but the cell phone now in his hands. He switched it on, "What the hell do you want?"
He listened to the other line a moment before shoveling his hand through his hair, "Yeah, I know J. I'm be there soon…man, it ain't none of your business what I was doing."
The phone was hung up and he turned to look at Annie. "I'm late," he told her.
"You better go then," was her answer. He could hear the bitterness in her voice. She wanted him to stay just as much as he wanted to.
"I…uhhh…I don't want to go Mary. But I can't help it. I got here a half an hour early, but I'm still like 20 minutes late. We really have to get this stuff done…" he tried to explain.
"GO Chris. I understand, you have work. I do too anyway. And the sooner you go…the sooner you get back, right?" She asked shyly.
Chris' face lifted. "Yeah, that's true…" He linked his arms around her waist. "How 'bout we do something after I'm done?"
"Won't you be tired?" She murmured, letting herself get tugged into his grasp.
"No, not when I think about what I'll be doing," he answered in certainty.
"Well then, what about my house?" She asked, "I have ice cream."
His eyebrows wiggled playfully. "Ice cream? KINKY!"
Her mouth dropped open, "I didn't…that's not…"
He chuckled softly, "Oh hush. I know what you meant. And I think that ice cream with you sounds like the best offer I've had in a LONG while."
"Then we'll talk?" She asked hopefully, referring to the confusion of the situation they were in.
He nodded, "Then we'll talk."
She smiled her agreement and approval of this plan before taking his hand and leading him to the door. "Get outta here now. Before I change my mind."
He gave her a hopeful look. "Oh please change your mind! Don't let me go…lock me up and take advantage of me instead."
She laughed angelically, throwing her head back and closing her eyes. He watched her with gentle interest.
When she quieted down, he firmly cupped her chin and brought it down before giving her a long and tantalizing kiss on her forehead. It was NOTHING like the brotherly kisses he used to give to her. This one made her want to kiss him back. Hard. And his forehead was not the place she planned to start.
He didn't give her the chance however. With one last wink, he was out the door, leaving Annie standing by herself feeling alone and utterly awestruck.
Her body was frozen…rooted in the spot she was when he left. Her mind was still in a fog, but mass confusion was setting in and suddenly what little bit of her analytical mind she had a grasp of began spinning into overdrive, thinking and rethinking all the possibilities and pitfalls of what had just happened.
In those few moments after he walked out, her brain flew in a million different directions, weaving thousands of different outcomes to thousands of different scenarios about where she and her best friend were headed.
And as it began to feel like it was too much, the door to her office burst back open and she had just enough time to make out Chris coming toward her before he wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and crushed his lips to hers.
He allowed one of his fingers to toy with the strands of hair that were falling out of the upsweep she had wrapped them in. Their tongues swirled, danced with and teased each other for several beautifully sweet minutes before Chris pulled himself together and gathered the will power to step away.
Holding her forearms tightly, he bent down to look in her eyes and said, "Don't think too hard. You'll go crazy, okay? Wait until tonight."
With that, he slid his hands down her arms, eliciting a shiver from her, before taking hold of her delicate hands. Bringing one, and then the other to his lips, he kissed them sweetly, and then just as quickly as he came, he was gone.
(one hour later)
Annie tapped her pencil in inconsistent rhythms on her desk. Tap-tap-taptaptap--taptap
Finally, she gave up and threw the pencil against the wall in frustration. Her hands hit the table top in the rhythm her pencil had been moving.
"Oh man," she groaned. Her mind could stay focused on nothing but Chris. Thinking about where he was and what he was doing. She licked her lips. The way he smelled, that grin he got when he saw he resolve crumbling. The passion in his bright brown eyes…the passion for her.
She had to get out of there. She had to do something besides sitting still. "Don't think too hard."
His words came back to her, and in a flash she had made up her mind. Grabbing her coat, hat and purse, she ran out into the cold and headed to Jive Studios.
She arrived at her destination in a good amount of time, having "accidentally" flew "slightly" over the speed limit. She walked briskly past the front desk, sending a wave to the receptionist on the way.
Hopping on the elevator, she pressed the buttons with trembling hands and bounced up and down in excitement. She was going to see him again. Sure, it had only been…a few hours, but she felt like she had absolutely no will power when it came to him lately.
And what that man could do with his mouth, dear Lord, it gave her butterflies in her stomach just thinking about it. She shifted her weight back and forth, left and right rocking in anticipation.
The bell dinged and she nearly jumped off the contraption in her haste, almost tripping over the door because she didn't give it time to fully open.
Wasting no time, she collected herself quickly and scuttled down the hallway. Her heart pounding in her chest kept her going; faster and faster. Past offices occupied by men in suits concentrating on what they were doing or staring bewilderedly at the young woman bounded past their windows.
Around a corner and almost there….
She slammed head first into a hard body. Losing her balance, she toppled backward and would have fallen if it weren't for two sturdy hands darting out and holding her steady.
Lifting her head, she looked at the person she nearly trampled. A small smile played on her lips. "Oh, hi JC."
Chris fiddled with his headphones and got up off the stool he was given when the man behind the glass cued him. He cleared his throat a moment before the all-too-familiar music swelled in his ears.
"When winter comes in summer, when there's no more forever, when lies become the truth…"
"No, no Chris. You're going too slowly! Pay attention man."
Chris rolled his eyes and ignored the look of annoyance the man behind the booth threw him as he reset the music. "Try again."
"When winter comes in summer, when there's no more forever, when lies become the truth…"
"Chris! You're always a beat and a half behind. Wake up!"
Growling in frustration, Chris just barely restrained himself from hurling the headset into the wall just like he did his pager. "I'm sorry. I have a lot on my mind right now."
"Well, whoever she is, the longer it takes you to finish this, the longer it's gonna be 'til you see her again. Now relax and DO IT AGAIN."
Chris' mouth opened and closed again quickly. "Yeah…alright."
The music was cued and he closed his eyes in concentration and listened carefully to the intricate strands of music. The melodies woven together to make what would undoubtedly be another beautiful ballad.
There weren't going to be many on the new album. The guys had decided to use a lot of JC's material, which was harder and edgier.
Chris took hold of the mic with one hand and took a gulp of air before singing again, his voice more powerful and strong than it was before. An image of HER appearing behind his shut eyelids.
"When winter comes in summer, when there's no more forever, when lies become the truth…"
One eye peaked open expectantly and his face scrunched up as if he was waiting for bad news.
The man smiled, "Great Chris, that was perfect."
Chris sighed in relief and began removing his headphones.
"Let's try it once more to be on the safe side."
"Ahhh!" The man stood up just in time to see Chris crumble to the floor, his hands clutching his heart, his eyes squeezed shut in pain.
"Hey Annie, where ya headed so quickly?" He asked, letting go of her forearms.
She shook herself to regain her nerves. "I'm…uhh…I'm looking for Chris."
A knowing grin appeared on his face. "So I was right, huh?"
She got up on her tiptoes to see over his head and to the sides of him. "Hmm? Oh yeah, something like that."
His hands replaced themselves on her arms. "Woah there. Calm down. Chris is recording right now and if he sees you, he'll never get anything done. He'll be coming to get me after he's finished, so you're welcome to stay with me to wait for him. I'm sure he'll be more than happy for the surprise after the work he'll most likely be doing in there. You know Chris…short attention span."
"Yeah, I know Chris," she mumbled, then looked up at JC, "Sure, I'll hang out with you for a bit. I could you a little cooling down anyway."
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he guided her into one of the individual waiting rooms. They sat down and he handed her a bottle of water. She immediately rubbed it against her forehead.
He watched her and laughed lightly and her flustered position. "You never knew Chris could do it for ya, huh?"
"You have no idea…" she breathed, opening the bottle and taking a swig.
"So…" he prodded.
"So…" she countered.
Sighing, JC snapped his fingers and waved his arm in a zigzag like a sassy woman. In a feminine voice he demanded, "You better tell me everything that happened girl!"
He watched Chris' motionless body several seconds before shaking his head and bringing his lips to the microphone that would allow the man in the soundproof booth to hear him.
"Chris, all I ask for is one more time. The more you putz around in here, the longer it's gonna take."
His eyes opened and he was back up in a flash. "Only one more? You promise?"
"Yeah, this I promise you. Now put back on the damn headphones."
She grinned when she finished the story, a slight twinkle in her eye, a glazed expression on her face.
"Do you love him?" JC asked suddenly, already knowing the answer.
"I don't know, I've never been in love," she admitted sheepishly, "But I think I might be now."
He smiled sadly, not letting it reach his eyes, "I'm happy for you."
Her face immediately registered his words and Annie refocused. She quickly took his hand in hers and squeezed it. "Oh JC, you have no idea how much our time together has meant to me. I'm so glad we had it. I really am."
"I am too."
"Gotta find JC. Where the hell did that man go? This place isn't that big," Chris muttered to himself, his eyes shifting left and right looking for his fellow group member.
He heard the sound of quiet voices up ahead and slapped his forehead. "Your brain is obviously fried. Gee, JC WAITING in a WAITING room. Could it be any more…"
His voice trailed off when he saw JC and Annie sitting together on the couch talking to one another, her hand holding his. His face got hot and his blood pounded through his veins as jealousy clouded his mind.
Creeping out of view, he stood against the wall and listened to what they were saying.
She turned so that she faced JC completely and began. "I really care about you JC. And I really do think that it's because of Chris helping me 'snag' you that all of this is happening. I mean…I'm in love! It's the greatest feeling in world."
He smiled faintly, "I know, isn't it?"
"This so amazing, I mean, everything is happening so fast! One minute Chris is instructing me on how to talk to you, and the next…this. And I was so confused with him suddenly showing me so much attention; I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know how to handle it."
He nodded so she continued, "Chris and I will always be friends, but because of you, I have so much more. I mean, I wasn't sure what I thought through all this…everything was so muddled. But today in my office, when he kissed me, I knew…" she squeezed JC's hand, placed her other on top of it and looked into his eyes, "There is nothing between us."
Chris' heart fell to the ground. That was how she felt? He was sure she was moved just as much by what had happened in that office as he was. Her face, her eyes…she didn't pull away.
But maybe he was wrong. Maybe he was seeing what he HOPED he'd see. What he wanted to see, not what was really there. She was comparing him to JC…and apparently Chris had lost.
"The guys…they all told me to back off…" JC started.
"I know all about what they told you," Annie said, "And that wasn't right. It wasn't their decision. No matter how noble they thought they were being…it's our lives, not theirs."
He nodded, "But now that everything has worked out for the best, I'm happy that I kept pursuing you like I did. And I'm glad that you and Chris worked so hard to get us together. It was messed up and everything got REALLY out of place…but whatever works, right? It's all good now. Look at us…6 months ago we barely knew each other, and now…"
She grinned, "I have a really good feeling about us."
"So do I."
He had to be hearing wrong. Misunderstanding something. He turned to confront them. Perhaps a conversation would shed some light on the situation. Give him back his sanity.
He walked into the doorway and stopped dead in his tracks. There is front of him was the image of Annie and JC on the couch, locked in an embrace. JC's hands were in her hair and his head was buried in her shoulder.
Chris doubled back. He felt sick.
He stumbled back until he was out of their view.
Slowly, they broke apart and he watched Annie deliver JC a deliberate kiss on the cheek. JC's eyes fluttered closed and he inhaled sharply at the contact.
Yeah, I know how you feel man.
Chris tried to regain his composure. Taking a silent breath, he straightened himself.
"Mary…"
Chris' eyes widened in shock at his nickname for her being used by JC. It was the last straw. He drooped down in pain as his arms clutched his stomach. He didn't wait a moment longer, simply lowered his head and ran.
He ran the hell away from the image of the happy couple.
Annie pulled back. "What did you call me?"
"Umm…" he thought for a moment, "Oh! I'm sorry! Chris warned me about doing that back all those years ago in LA. Only his nickname. But he calls you that all the time that sometimes I forget…"
She silenced his with a look that quickly faded into a smile. "It's okay, he has that effect on people. My own mother has been known to call me Mary from time to time."
"He uses it like your normal name. I am sorry," he apologized.
"It's okay," she looked around and then added, "Where is he anyway?"
He ran down the hall in a blur, his eyes not focusing enough to even realize where he was. He let his feet go by memory.
Suddenly, he crashed into a hard body and stumbled back.
Justin's eyes grew large as the looked at his best friend in front of him. "Chris, are you alright?"
It was then that Chris realized he was crying. The tears tasting salty and offending to his tongue as they burned their way down his cheeks.
Hastily, he rubbed his cheeks and jabbed his fists into his eyes, making a very child-like image. When he didn't speak, Justin reached out and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Did something happen with Annie?" It was an innocent question, but it caused Chris to snap.
Shrugging Justin off, Chris glanced up to look at him. The younger man was almost frightened by the storm he saw going on inside his eyes. Rage and hurt were evident even as the tears obscured his view.
He didn't have time to react as Chris roughly pushed him against the wall.
"Get the FUCK away from me! You and your fucking ideas!" He stalked away, leaving a completely shocked and disoriented Justin in his wake.
Sitting up on the ground, where he had slid down after being slapped against the wall, he yelled, "Shit Chris! What the hell is wrong with you!" His words took on the same affinity to cussing as his friend's had.
JC looked at his watch for the third time. "I have no idea where he could be. Do you want to go look in on him? I want to see if everything's going smoothly anyway."
Annie nodded eagerly, "Yeah, let's go."
The two of them walked out the door. They rounded the corner in the direction of the studio and came face to face with Justin slumped on the floor; his expression bewildered and angry at the same time.
"Justin, why are you on the ground?" JC called.
When Justin saw them, he jumped to his feet. "It's Chris man. I don't know what's wrong with him! He looked real bad."
Annie took a step forward, "Bad? Bad how?"
"I don't know! He was running like he was going to heave all over my shoes. I asked him if he was alright and he pushed me and ran to the elevator."
Annie looked between the men, a knot forming in her stomach. "Well…well maybe he went to my office. He doesn't know I'm here, so maybe he needed to speak to me or something."
There was a slight hesitation before he nodded, "I guess that could be it."
"I should go there and see, right?" She asked hopefully.
"If you'd like…" she needed no more encouragement. Before he could even finish his statement, she was running past him. He watched her run in huge strides down the hall and frowned. Something told him that the LAST place Chris wanted to be right then was anywhere Annie was.
He hadn't been to her office. No one had seen him and he wasn't waiting for her. Packing up her laptop and grabbing her briefcase, she made her way back out to her car.
Perhaps he had gone straight to her apartment, he did have a key.
Driving back to her home, she couldn't help but get the feeling that something was terribly wrong. She had always learned to trust her basic gut instincts on some things, and when her stomach was lurching and her mind was numb, she knew that there was a problem.
He wasn't at her apartment either. She waited hours, bowls and spoons ready for the ice cream they were supposed to have together. She sat at the kitchen table and simply stared at the utensils.
What if there was an accident?
Moving to her cordless telephone in the living room, she dialed the number to the townhouse. The guys should have been done with recording by then.
The phone was answered on the first ring.
"Chris, is that you?"
Annie sighed, "No Joey, it's Annie. I guess he's not there then, huh?"
"No…we don't know what happened to him. We're worried," the tone of his voice screamed that he was telling the truth.
"So am I. Do you have any idea where he might have gone? Any at all?" She questioned.
"I was going to ask you the same thing. Did something happen to you two?"
Annie was silent for a moment. "Well, something DID happen. I don't think it would have made him run out of the studio and push Justin like that though…"
Unless he was plagued with second thoughts…
"Well listen, if he comes back, we'll give you a…" he trailed off.
"Joey? Joey? What's happening??" She yelled when he didn't say anything for several seconds.
"Oh! Annie, umm…I've gotta go."
"But…" she tried to negotiate, but the phone was dead. Grabbing her coat, she picked up her keys on the way out and headed to the townhouse…the pain in the pit of her stomach worsening.
Four pairs of shocked eyes stared at him accusingly. He didn't blame them. He was happy SJ wasn't there.
"Who…who is she?" Justin finally spit out in disgust, pointing to the busty red head on Chris' arm.
He didn't have to introduce her, she did it for herself. "I'm Robin. Robin Morgan. You might have seen me as Tanya on Raging Hearts."
Justin scowled visibly, as did the others. "I don't watch soap operas."
She seemed completely unfazed. "Well, it's the second highest rating soap opera on television behind General Hospital right now."
"How did this happen?" Lance asked.
Chris shrugged, "We met at that bar down the street from the studio."
Eyebrows were raised. "You went to a bar?" JC sputtered finally.
"What the hell do you care where I was?" Chris retorted, his voice laced with venom. The entire room was taken aback.
JC threw his hands up in defense. "Sorry man, that's not usually your thing."
"What about Annie?" Joey said, once again cutting straight to the point. He never was one for idle chitchat.
Another careless shrug, "What ABOUT Annie?"
"Who's Annie?" Robin asked, turning to look at Chris.
"No one," he answered, "Just a friend of mine."
Eyes widened in shock. NEVER had Chris referred to Annie as 'just a friend', not even when they WERE 'just friends.' Something had most definitely gone on.
Fifteen minutes after she'd hopped into her car, she arrived at the house. She saw his car out in the driveway and knew he was there. Not even bothering to lock the car door, she jogged up the steps and burst into the house without so much as a knock.
Walking straight to the living room, she almost collapsed in relief when she saw him sitting on the couch. He was alright.
"Chris! You're okay! I was so worr…" the words stopped flowing when she noticed his hand entwined with that of a skanky looking red headed who seemed vaguely familiar.
She stood up and used the fact that Annie was so confused and disoriented to look her up and down. She was pretty, in a hometown kind of a way. Brown hair, brown eyes…too boring.
"You must be Annie," she said, extending her hand.
Annie looked at it as if it was covered in sewage. She glanced up at Chris, who wouldn't meet her gaze, and the other guys who watched helplessly. Finally, she limply took the girl's hand and gave it a quick shake. "That's me." She didn't even bother asking her name. She couldn't have cared less.
She answered anyway, "I'm Robin Morgan. I play Tanya on Raging Hearts."
A SOAP star? "Raging Hearts, I really…" she paused, "…have heard of that show."
Three hands were brought over their mouths to stifle laughter.
"So I hear you're a friend of Chris'," Robin went on.
Again Annie looked up to Chris for help, but he offered none, simply watched them from his position on the couch.
"Something like that," she finally managed.
The woman eyed her and Annie's eyes narrowed to match. Each woman found competition in the other one.
Only one was right.
"Uh-huh," Robin said, her hands on her hips, "And what're you doing here, exactly?"
I don't remember this being your house, you two-cent… "I was wondering why Chris didn't come by today." Her comment was directed above Robin's red head to Chris.
He lifted his right ankle to rest on his left knee, his right foot shaking nonchalantly, "Oh the ice cream, right? Yeah, I didn't feel like it today, sorry."
She looked like someone had punched her and Chris wanted to cry himself at the look on her face. The feeling was all but gone in a second when JC rose from the couch to stand behind Annie, as if in protection.
She didn't seem to notice. "I don't understand Chris. Why didn't you call?"
"I guess I forgot," he replied angrily, jumping off the couch to grab Robin's hand possessively, even though the sensation of her skin against him made him want to blanch. And she wore SO much perfume. It was ridiculous. "It's not big a deal Annie."
She took a step back away from him at his words, her back hitting JC's chest. "Annie?" She whispered softly.
"That's your name, isn't it?" He snidely responded.
"That's not what you call me," she answered.
Her voice sounded so forlorn to him. Doesn't want to lose her best buddy Chris.
"Well things change," was his rebuttal, as he brutally twisting the words he had used the day before in the cafeteria.
"Chris, I still don't…" he cut her off.
"There's nothing to understand Annie," his use of her real name once again made her blood curdle, "I have Robin," he began, tugging the smug woman toward him, "And you have…JC." The last words were bitter and Joey, Lance and Justin watched as their best friend basically gave the love of his life away. For no conceivable reason.
And yet none could move to stop it. It was too much at once.
And it wasn't their fight.
JC? Annie's thoughts rang out, startled. Why would he even think that…unless he wants me to be with him. This must be his way of telling me…that this afternoon meant nothing. I guess we don't have to have that talk.
She looked at the smirking face of Robin, at Chris, his eyes boring into her, and then down, at their entwined fingers and bodies smashed next to one another. Steeling herself, she gritted her teeth and lifted her eyes to get rid of the vile image they made.
"Yeah," she said finally, "I guess I do."
His eyes were emotionless and Annie couldn't understand it, but she was hit with the overwhelming urge to get THE HELL out of there. As quickly as possible, without losing any more of her pride.
Especially not in front of that bitch.
"Alright, since that has been cleared up, I think I'm going to go," she turned around then and made a hasty exit, ignoring everyone that watched her; each with their own separate emotions toward her, aversion, respect, pity…and love.
Annie burst back into her apartment. The moment she walked in the phone rang. Rushing to the kitchen to pick up the phone attached to the wall, she greeted the person.
"Chris?"
"No, Annie, it's me."
"Oh, hi Mom," she said. It was the first, and hopefully last time Annie would ever be let down by hearing from her mother.
Tina Benton would have noticed her daughter's odd behavior instantly on any other day, but that day she had her own things on her mind. "I have something to tell you honey."
"What is it?" She asked, her voice showing no sound of caring at all what the answer was. That didn't stop her mother.
"Last night Robert was over and he…he asked me to marry him! And I said yes!" The announcement was followed by a squeal of excitement.
Annie gripped the wall with her hands, the phone nestled between her shoulder and her ear. "What?"
There was a pause. "I said I'm getting married." This time her voice was slightly less enthusiastic as she finally sensed a problem in her daughter.
On any other day, Annie would have been thrilled with that news. Robert was a great guy, and her mother deserved more than anyone to be happy. But on that day, mixed with all the other events of the day, it was like fuel to the fire.
There were too many new developments…too many new emotions and feelings Annie suddenly had to deal with. It was too much.
After another long pause, she did the only thing she could think of to do. She hung up the phone. A moment later, she picked it up off the hook and let it drop, clanking against the wall, the cord barely keeping it from hitting the ground.
Moving blindly, she didn't get as far as the opposite wall until she gave out, pressing her back against the wallpaper and sliding down until she hit the ground.
She wrapped her arms around her legs, buried her head in her knees and did the only thing left to do.
She wept.