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.- Annie
Leo 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 her at her usual spot in the library.
She looked up to see Leo, a confused look taking place on her face. She wondered why he was coming up to her once again. What could someone like him possibly want from someone like her?
"Can I... help you?" Her voice was gentle and quiet, bringing a small smile to Leo's face.
He shrugged, "I saw an empty seat, thought I'd say hi again."
Annie blinked. She wanted to ask him so many questions, wanted to figure out why he was suddenly taking an interest in her but she stayed quiet. She nodded her head slowly as she placed her pen down, "Oh... okay. Hi."
Leo let out a small chuckle, finding her shyness cute. "Hi. What are you working on?" He glanced at the blank paper that was in front of her.
She licked her lips, staring at the paper for a moment. "Just studying," she excused although she hated lying. She just didn't want to embarrass herself by mentioning anything about her letters.
Leo nodded, although he knew more than Annie thought he did. "What's your favourite subject?"
Annie was taken aback by the question because she wasn't expecting him to actually carry out a conversation with her. She paused before softly saying, "English, I guess. There's so many different perspectives and ways to communicate your thoughts..." Annie trailed off, staring down at the table when she had realized she had started to unnecessarily ramble. She tried to hide her face away by draping her hair around her face like a curtain, trying to hide the embarrassed blush that had crept onto her cheeks.
Leo's lips twirled upwards in a grin as he didn't fail to notice the blush, but he thought it was cute. "I never thought about English like that but you're right."
She looked at him, her eyebrows raised a little. "You like it too?"
He shrugged nonchalantly, "I don't mind it. I'd say I'm more of a science junkie."
She blinked, surprised. "Really?" Her voice was so gentle and soft and quiet - so precious and innocent in a way that made Leo want to keep hearing her talk.
Annie was surprised because Leo was a popular jock. She hadn't pictured him as someone who would be interested in things like science.
He nodded, grinning. "Yeah. I think it's interesting to see how things work. There's so much more behind the naked eye." He gave her a knowing look, but she didn't notice it. In a way, he was also talking about Annie when he said that.
Annie gave him a soft smile, looking away from his gaze because she was just that shy. "I never thought about it like that, either." She repeated some of his words causing him to let out a small chuckle.
Annie fiddled with her fingers, a warm feeling in her chest because she was seeing that Leo was much kinder than she had imagined him to be. She was intimidated by him before she knew him, she still was now too but she was seeing a side to him she didn't expect to.
"Are you going to the game tonight?" He asked her, causing her to look at him again.
She shook her head softly, "No... I don't usually go to those things."
Leo held back a frown though he already figured she wouldn't be going. "You should come."
Annie blinked, unable to hide the fact that she was surprised by his words. She didn't understand why Leo would want her at one of the football games. For a brief moment she wondered if this was part of his game, something he did to charm girls.
"Why?" Her voice came out in a breath.
Leo shrugged his shoulders, "It'll be fun. Plus, everyone should see a high school football game to say they've had the ideal high school experience once they've graduated."
Annie sucked in her bottom lip as she thought. Nothing about her time at high school so far was ideal but she was getting through it. She couldn't wait to get leave this place.
Leo could see the gears turning in her head as she debated. He was only growing more intrigued by her.
"I'll think about it," she finally spoke.
Leo grinned as he stood up, "Cool. I guess I will see you around, Annie Halden."
Annie watched as he started to walk away, feeling nothing but confused.
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
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
"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