Dear Annie,Uncle Kalvin came over.It was... difficult and painful to sit through that dinner.Dad doesn't know what happened for his own good because we don't want him to have a heart attack but Jack on the other hand has been on my tail because he doesn't think I'm doing okay.Jack used every cell in him to refrain himself from jumping over the table and strangling uncle Kalvin.I don't know how I feel.It feels like it's hard to breath. It's like I'm suffocating or drowning and everything around me is caving.I'm okay though.- Annie
Leo read the letter he once again swapped with the old one from her locker. He had been doing this for a week now and still hadn't figured out how to talk to Annie though he wanted to.
He couldn't stop himself from reading the letters that were meant for nobody but Annie. He was filled with concern and curiosity.
He learnt that she had many secrets that were never clear enough in any of the letters for him to figure out what it was she was hiding.
He felt bad and wanted to know what was going on with her so he could help but he didn't know what he could possibly do without letting her know he knew something was up. If he did that, he would have to explain how he reads her letters without her knowing.
He had started smoking more often because he couldn't figure out how to numb the choking feeling he felt every time he read her writing.
Sometimes the letters were poems.
The other day, one simply read:
It's so much easierto act like none of this mattersand to pretend to wear a smilethan to confessmy heart is nearly broken
He didn't know what to think or how to feel because all he wanted to do was give her a hug but he didn't even know how to talk to her.
Annie sat outside on the bleachers, writing her thoughts down on a piece of paper like always when Leo walked over, freezing when he saw her sitting there.
He went out there to smoke like he normally would do, he wasn't expecting to see her.
"Hey. Annie, right?" He asked as he stepped up and sat a few feet away from her.
She looked up ad blinked, a little confused when she first saw him and then was filled with surprise that he was speaking to her. "Yes."
She took a moment before looking down at her paper again but not having it in her to write, feeling odd to write when he was sitting near her.
Leo nodded, biting down on his lip. He felt enraged with different emotions, wanting to punch himself for not knowing what to say because he was always good with talking to girls.
"What are you writing?"
Annie looked up to him again, confused as to why he was trying to talk to her. She cleared her throat, "Nothing, just... thoughts. It's weird, just something I do." She shook her head, feeling stupid for telling him that because she knew he would think it was pathetic. But he didn't.
"Like... a journal?" He asked, not wanting to give away that he knew they were actually letters. He couldn't have her knowing that he knew the truth.
Annie shrugged, her cheeks going beat red in embarrassment. "I don't know if that's what I would call it." Her voice was quiet and soft like waves flowing. He was growing to admire her voice.
"You could tell me those thoughts." Leo spoke confidently though he was clenching his fists from the anxious feeling that was going through his whole body. "I mean, if you wanted to. If wanted someone to talk to." He wanted her to know he was there for her though she didn't understand why.
Annie looked at him, stunned. She didn't understand why he was offering kindness to her. "Oh. Um, thanks." She didn't know what to say either, she wasn't really one to talk to many people so her shyness was showing evidently.
Leo nodded, smiling softly. "Your Jack's sister, right?" He already knew the answer but wanted to make conversation still.
Annie nodded her head slowly, "I am. How do you know that?"
Leo smiled. "You guys look alike. And Jack and I are friends, I guess. Not close or anything but we talk sometimes."
Annie nodded, looking at the empty football field. "Right. Not a lot of people know that."
"Really?" Leo, again, already knew that was true but wanted to keep the conversation going and figured with her nature she probably wouldn't say anything first.
Annie nodded again, "Yeah. Our personalities are quite differential for people to see it."
Leo shrugged, "For what it's worth, I can see it. I mean, you're both nice, kind-hearted people. Jack's just... louder, I guess."
Annie chuckled softly, "More outgoing is probably a better way to explain it. And that's an understatement."
"No harm in being more of an introvert." He grinned, looking at her.
Annie smiled, her cheeks heating up once again. She couldn't help but feel anxious and nervous simply being around someone who everyone admired while she was nobody - people didn't even know she existed which she was fine with. "People wouldn't agree with that." She looked down at her paper again, feeling out of place making eye contact with him.
"What do you mean?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowing. He had a feeling she had reason to say that but wasn't sure what it was. He also had a strong feeling she wasn't about to tell him.
She shook her head, "Oh, nothing. Never mind."
Leo nodded and wanted to ask more but didn't, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.
Annie looked at him after a minute, "I should head inside... before next class starts."
Leo nodded, "Oh, okay." He stood up, watching her shove her things away. "Well, it was nice talking to you, Annie."
Annie glanced at him and smiled sheepishly, "Thanks. Um, you too."
"See you around," he called out as she headed away, taking her by surprise. She simply smiled once more before scampering off.
Dear Annie,I'm honestly a little confused as to why Leo has been talking to me. Maybe it was just because I was there so it would be rude to ignore me.Then again, he didn't have to come sit on the bleachers with me.I'm confused.It's odd because we're from two different worlds.Maybe it's not as big as I'm making it out to be.I don't know.- AnnieLeo sighed as he read the letter. He just wanted her to feel comfortable around him so he could be her shoulder to lean onto but every time he spoke to her, he was starting to realize that she would only get more conflicted.Annie wasn't someone who had a lot of friends. She kept to herself and tried to hide away in the shadows so now that one of the school's popular boys was starting to notice her, she didn't know how to feel.Annie pulled out a piece of paper as she was about to jot down some thoughts - write another letter. Before the pen even hit the paper, the chair beside her was pulled out and someone sat down beside her, joining
Dear Annie,I've been having some goods day.The nightmares have lessened but I know it's only about time that they hit me hard.Do you ever sit in silence and find that all the things you ran from never really left?I'm... okay, I think.- AnnieLeo ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. What the hell is she running from?He had so many theories, so many questions he wish he could simply ask Annie but he knew that couldn't happen.As guilty as he felt reading her personal thoughts, he was too far in to stop now. He felt like a fish caught on a hook he couldn't escape from."What's going on with you?" His best friend, Justin appeared by his locker, causing Leo to shove the letter away before he could notice it.Leo gave him an odd look, "What do you mean?"Justin gave Leo a bland look, "Come on man, you've been so... weirdly quiet and distant the past little while.Leo shut his locker and started walking down the hall, "It's nothing. I just haven't been sleeping well. Must be the ni
"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
Annie slowly sipped on her smoothie as she tried not to shift around in the booth, feeling very uncomfortable, anxious, and unsure right now."So," Leo quirked an eyebrow, giving her a soft smile. "How was your first football game experience?"Annie let out a small, shaky chuckle. "It was... good. Better than I thought it would be.""Good, I'm glad." Leo sipped on his smoothie the same way Annie did, raising his eyebrows as he looked at her while sipping.And let out a small chuckle before she went more serious. "Can I ask you something?" Her voice was quiet.Leo perked up, surprised to hear those words coming from her. "Of course, anything."Annie paused for a moment, "Why did you... want me to come? To the game and now here?" She avoided his gaze for a moment before looking at him, her eyes soft.Leo sighed, smiling slightly. He was starting to adore how sweet and gentle she was. "Well, I wanted you to have a good time and maybe get to know you better."Annie smiled a little smile b
"Fuck," Leo grumbled under his breath as he hesitated to open the folded piece of paper he held in his hands.He went back to Annie's locker, breaking into it to return the last note he had taken before the football game. He decided he wasn't going to take and read anymore.Now that him and Annie had become somewhat friends and since she was starting to warm up to him, he felt even more guilty about the notes and knew he should stop. She would tell him things when she was ready to.But then, when he was returning the last note he took, he couldn't help himself as he saw the new one so he took it, not knowing what to do.He knew it was wrong and it was betraying her trust, nor was it fair to her but he just couldn't help it. He wasn't patient and he wanted to easily just know what she was feeling and thinking. He knew he still had a long way to go to get her to trust him and tell him things but Leo just wanted to make sure she was okay right now and the only way he could do that was by
Dear Annie,I was right.I was so, so right but it's my own faultbecause like an idiot,I ignored my instinctsand let myself become fond of him.And because I went against my better judgement of staying away and keeping distanceand not warming up to people,like I expected,another person got to know me just a little betterand then left.Realized I was a freak, a loser, a nerd like everyone thinks I am.Should I be surprised? No. Not at all.Anyways,it's okay because like usual,I'll just stick to myself.- AnnieLeo felt a pang of guilt as he read the letter, very well knowing that it was about him. He hadn't spoken to Annie in almost two weeks, ever since they went to get smoothies.All he wanted was to protect her from getting hurt and now he was the one who was hurting her.He knew they weren't close so maybe it shouldn't be a big deal but he also knew that Annie didn't get close with anyone or bother at all with anyone expect her two best friends. So the fact that she was st
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
"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