Dear Annie,I hardly knew him so why do I miss him?Maybe it's because it was easy to talk to him? He was nice to me,maybe it's that.I think I was mean. When I walked away from him in the library, that was mean of me.Maybe I should have forgiven him.No, I can't be stupid again.I've forgiven people before when they did this to me before and in the end,they just kept doing the same thingover and over again.I won't let him do that to me too.- Annie"Are you okay?" Amari asked as she leaned towards Annie in the cafeteria. "You look upset."Annie shrugged, not sure if it was a good idea to tell her friends about her very short-term friendship with Leo ending. She guessed that's all it was.She knew Jay and Amari would be mad and Jay would probably say something to Leo. Jay did tell her to be careful."I'm okay," she finally spoke, not looking at her friends. "I'm just tired.""Are you sure?"Annie nodded, hating that she was lying.-"Hey, Annie!" Jack's loud voiced yelled for Ann
Dear Annie,I don't care anymore.Leo just... warms my heart and makes me feel important.And maybe I am just being stupid again by trusting himbut I can't help it. He's easy to trust.So, I'm going to stop overthinking itand just let myself be...friends with him, I guess.No more over analyzing or over thinking.I'm just going to trust.- AnnieLeo smiled as he read the note for the third time, not being able to control his chest feeling warm as he was seeing that Annie was opening up a little bit.It was progress, even if it wasn't a lot."Hi," Annie looked up when Leo had sat down beside her in their English class they shared.Annie blinked, still not used to the fact that he really was trying to be friends with her. "Hi," she smiled softly, looking down at her desk.Leo smiled, finding it cute how she was still so shy around him. "I was actually wondering if you would proof-read my essay for me.""Really?" Her eyebrows furrowed together.He shrugged, "Yeah, you said you like En
Leo thought he had made good progress with Annie. He was beyond glad that she was actually trusting him and opening up to him.She was always on his mind, he could never stop thinking about her. When he wasn't with her, even if it was for a little while, he would miss her and hearing her voice and seeing her little smile that he wished she would show more often.Like I said, he thought he made good progress.Dear Annie,I cannot figure out whether or not I messed up.I opened up to Leo and told him things that nobody aside from family, Jay and Amari know.As much as I do think I'm starting to trust him,and as much as I do like his companyand want to tell him thingsand feel comfortable doing so,telling him about my mom was one thing.If I start to open up moreand tell him the worse things,the things that might've hurt me more,how do I know he's not going to get scaredor think I'm a freakor look at me differentlyor think I'm disgustingand then just walk away like everyone els
Dear Annie,Leo's voicemail... kind of made my morning.I don't remember the last time I had a bad day which means things have been goodwhich is a good thing.But it's not going to last.Nothing good ever lasts.- AnnieA smile was brought to Leo's face knowing he made Annie happy, even if it was because of a stupid drunk voicemail he left. However, the smile faded as he continued reading. He hated that she didn't believe she could stay happy. He hated that she didn't think good things would last. He wanted to show her they could. He wanted to change that belief of hers."So... Leo,"Leo glanced over when Andrea Murphy appeared beside his locker with a sly little smirk resting on her face.Andrea was one of the popular, well known girls in the school. She got lots of praise over her good looks and perfect body. She was full of herself because she knew everyone loved her and wanted to be her. She loved attention more than anything.She trailed her fingers down his arms in a seductive
Leo couldn't stop thinking about what Jay said. He hated that there was no way he was going to get answers.He kept wracking his mind trying to figure out what Jay meant when he said that his people screwed Annie over before. In the last three years, he never heard anything about Annie or knew much about her. He saw her around, usually just sitting by herself in the library but surely if something had happened, talk would have spread around the school."What's on your mind?"Leo looked up when he saw Annie giving him a small smile.Instantly, he felt relaxed as a smile grew on his lips. "Math," he lied. "I have a test later."Annie nodded her head, glancing around a little. "I'm sure you'll do good." She bit her lip, avoiding his gaze.Leo tilted her head as he looked at her, "Want to sit?"Annie looked at him again, her eyes lighting up a little.She had walked over to him when she saw him sitting in the library by himself during the free period they both had. She built up the courag
"I don't know how you eat raw salmon straight," Leo scrunched up his noes as he watched Annie eat.She shrugged, "I'm not a picky eater. I thought you said you like sushi.""I do!" He retorted. "But raw salmon, alone, not in sushi or anything... that's a no."Annie chuckled softly, "It's not that bad.""Or maybe you're just not a picky eater," he grinned.Annie's lips twirled up in a grin, "Or that.""I want to know more about you, Annie Halden," Leo leaned forward a bit, propping his elbows up on the table and resting his chin on his folded hands. "You're a mystery."Annie quirked an eyebrow, "What do you want to know, Leo Smith?"Leo grinned, "First kiss."Annie's eyebrows shot up. "Okay..." she shifted in her seat a little. "14, freshman year. I was volunteering at a summer camp for kids. One of the other volunteers, same age as me. His name was Frankie Fisker. Terrible kisser."Leo's eyes were lit up with amusement. "Frankie Fisker, although a terrible kisser is a lucky man."Anni
The following Monday at school, things had shifted.Leo walked over to Annie when he saw her at her locker, taking her books out. "Hey," he leaned against the neighbouring locker.Annie nearly jumped out of her skin, surprised by him."Woah," Leo chuckled. "Didn't mean to scare you. Sorry."Annie avoided his gaze, her breathing more heavy than normal. "It's okay," she exhaled out, continuing to grab her things.Leo's eyebrows pulled together, quickly seeing that things were off. "Are you okay?" He reached forward to touch her arm but she quickly stepped away from him and shut her locker."I'm fine," she looked down at her feet. "I just... have to get to class." She turned and scurried down the hallway before he could stop her.Leo ran a hand through his hair, frustrated because he couldn't understand why she was being so weird and pushing him away. He thought they were at a point where she could trust him and actually tell him what was on her mind.Throughout the day, every time he wo
"Annie, can we please talk. Just let me explain." Leo was practically begging, standing in front of her table where she sat in the library.Annie ignored him, picking up her book and walking out of the library.Leo wanted to hurt someone, to punch anything, even himself.He knew all along that what he was doing by reading her letters was wrong. Especially after they had become friends and she had started to trust him. He knew he should stop and he wanted to, he even tried to but then he couldn't help himself.It was the only way he could know how Annie was feeling, to know what she was thinking and to get a brief glimpse on what was going on.He didn't excuse it because he knew he messed up. He should have returned the first letter he had ever found.He tried to justify it in his head, tried to come up with ways to explain this to Annie so she could know that he was only ever worried about her but he knew there was no use. Nothing he said would be good enough, nothing would make her t
"I can't believe you came!" Amari squealed as she looped an arm around Annie's shoulders as the two of them, along with Jay, walked up the crowded bleachers to find some seats."It's not that big a deal," Annie mumbled, staring at her shoes as she walked up the steps. She knew this was very unlike for her. She never came to any after school events - even when Jack wanted her to stay for games.She didn't know how she managed to come tonight. Something about Leo asking her made her feel a sense of importance, a feeling she hadn't felt in awhile. After how kind he had been to her, she felt bad not showing up."It is!" Amari laughed as the three of them took a seat on the bleachers. It was packed, the whole school here to watch the game. "What convinced you to come?"Annie glanced out at the field to see if she could spot Leo. She shrugged softly, "Thought it'd be fun. A change."Jay quirked an eyebrow as he nudged Annie, "I like this side of you. Annie breaking out of her shell."In res
"I can't believe you came!" Amari squealed as she looped an arm around Annie's shoulders as the two of them, along with Jay, walked up the crowded bleachers to find some seats."It's not that big a deal," Annie mumbled, staring at her shoes as she walked up the steps. She knew this was very unlike for her. She never came to any after school events - even when Jack wanted her to stay for games.She didn't know how she managed to come tonight. Something about Leo asking her made her feel a sense of importance, a feeling she hadn't felt in awhile. After how kind he had been to her, she felt bad not showing up."It is!" Amari laughed as the three of them took a seat on the bleachers. It was packed, the whole school here to watch the game. "What convinced you to come?"Annie glanced out at the field to see if she could spot Leo. She shrugged softly, "Thought it'd be fun. A change."Jay quirked an eyebrow as he nudged Annie, "I like this side of you. Annie breaking out of her shell."In res
"I can't believe you came!" Amari squealed as she looped an arm around Annie's shoulders as the two of them, along with Jay, walked up the crowded bleachers to find some seats."It's not that big a deal," Annie mumbled, staring at her shoes as she walked up the steps. She knew this was very unlike for her. She never came to any after school events - even when Jack wanted her to stay for games.She didn't know how she managed to come tonight. Something about Leo asking her made her feel a sense of importance, a feeling she hadn't felt in awhile. After how kind he had been to her, she felt bad not showing up."It is!" Amari laughed as the three of them took a seat on the bleachers. It was packed, the whole school here to watch the game. "What convinced you to come?"Annie glanced out at the field to see if she could spot Leo. She shrugged softly, "Thought it'd be fun. A change."Jay quirked an eyebrow as he nudged Annie, "I like this side of you. Annie breaking out of her shell."In res
"I can't believe you came!" Amari squealed as she looped an arm around Annie's shoulders as the two of them, along with Jay, walked up the crowded bleachers to find some seats."It's not that big a deal," Annie mumbled, staring at her shoes as she walked up the steps. She knew this was very unlike for her. She never came to any after school events - even when Jack wanted her to stay for games.She didn't know how she managed to come tonight. Something about Leo asking her made her feel a sense of importance, a feeling she hadn't felt in awhile. After how kind he had been to her, she felt bad not showing up."It is!" Amari laughed as the three of them took a seat on the bleachers. It was packed, the whole school here to watch the game. "What convinced you to come?"Annie glanced out at the field to see if she could spot Leo. She shrugged softly, "Thought it'd be fun. A change."Jay quirked an eyebrow as he nudged Annie, "I like this side of you. Annie breaking out of her shell."In res
"I can't believe you came!" Amari squealed as she looped an arm around Annie's shoulders as the two of them, along with Jay, walked up the crowded bleachers to find some seats."It's not that big a deal," Annie mumbled, staring at her shoes as she walked up the steps. She knew this was very unlike for her. She never came to any after school events - even when Jack wanted her to stay for games.She didn't know how she managed to come tonight. Something about Leo asking her made her feel a sense of importance, a feeling she hadn't felt in awhile. After how kind he had been to her, she felt bad not showing up."It is!" Amari laughed as the three of them took a seat on the bleachers. It was packed, the whole school here to watch the game. "What convinced you to come?"Annie glanced out at the field to see if she could spot Leo. She shrugged softly, "Thought it'd be fun. A change."Jay quirked an eyebrow as he nudged Annie, "I like this side of you. Annie breaking out of her shell."In res
"I can't believe you came!" Amari squealed as she looped an arm around Annie's shoulders as the two of them, along with Jay, walked up the crowded bleachers to find some seats."It's not that big a deal," Annie mumbled, staring at her shoes as she walked up the steps. She knew this was very unlike for her. She never came to any after school events - even when Jack wanted her to stay for games.She didn't know how she managed to come tonight. Something about Leo asking her made her feel a sense of importance, a feeling she hadn't felt in awhile. After how kind he had been to her, she felt bad not showing up."It is!" Amari laughed as the three of them took a seat on the bleachers. It was packed, the whole school here to watch the game. "What convinced you to come?"Annie glanced out at the field to see if she could spot Leo. She shrugged softly, "Thought it'd be fun. A change."Jay quirked an eyebrow as he nudged Annie, "I like this side of you. Annie breaking out of her shell."In res
"I can't believe you came!" Amari squealed as she looped an arm around Annie's shoulders as the two of them, along with Jay, walked up the crowded bleachers to find some seats."It's not that big a deal," Annie mumbled, staring at her shoes as she walked up the steps. She knew this was very unlike for her. She never came to any after school events - even when Jack wanted her to stay for games.She didn't know how she managed to come tonight. Something about Leo asking her made her feel a sense of importance, a feeling she hadn't felt in awhile. After how kind he had been to her, she felt bad not showing up."It is!" Amari laughed as the three of them took a seat on the bleachers. It was packed, the whole school here to watch the game. "What convinced you to come?"Annie glanced out at the field to see if she could spot Leo. She shrugged softly, "Thought it'd be fun. A change."Jay quirked an eyebrow as he nudged Annie, "I like this side of you. Annie breaking out of her shell."In res
"I can't believe you came!" Amari squealed as she looped an arm around Annie's shoulders as the two of them, along with Jay, walked up the crowded bleachers to find some seats."It's not that big a deal," Annie mumbled, staring at her shoes as she walked up the steps. She knew this was very unlike for her. She never came to any after school events - even when Jack wanted her to stay for games.She didn't know how she managed to come tonight. Something about Leo asking her made her feel a sense of importance, a feeling she hadn't felt in awhile. After how kind he had been to her, she felt bad not showing up."It is!" Amari laughed as the three of them took a seat on the bleachers. It was packed, the whole school here to watch the game. "What convinced you to come?"Annie glanced out at the field to see if she could spot Leo. She shrugged softly, "Thought it'd be fun. A change."Jay quirked an eyebrow as he nudged Annie, "I like this side of you. Annie breaking out of her shell."In res
"I can't believe you came!" Amari squealed as she looped an arm around Annie's shoulders as the two of them, along with Jay, walked up the crowded bleachers to find some seats."It's not that big a deal," Annie mumbled, staring at her shoes as she walked up the steps. She knew this was very unlike for her. She never came to any after school events - even when Jack wanted her to stay for games.She didn't know how she managed to come tonight. Something about Leo asking her made her feel a sense of importance, a feeling she hadn't felt in awhile. After how kind he had been to her, she felt bad not showing up."It is!" Amari laughed as the three of them took a seat on the bleachers. It was packed, the whole school here to watch the game. "What convinced you to come?"Annie glanced out at the field to see if she could spot Leo. She shrugged softly, "Thought it'd be fun. A change."Jay quirked an eyebrow as he nudged Annie, "I like this side of you. Annie breaking out of her shell."In res