Young Annabelle Series: Young Annabelle, the Truth About James, What My Heart Wants (35 page)

My eyes snapped down to the field, finding James in an instant. He stood beside our teams bench (whatever you call them I don’t know anything about Baseball), swinging his bat.

Behind the fence I could see a few girls jumping up and down excitedly. I could hear them screech loudly even over the high volume of the entire area.

“Well look who it is!” Jenna smirked. “His number one fan, jumping up and down, juggling her slutty slut boobs. Someone should really tell her that she’s not the pitcher for the Royal Heights Baseball team.”

Jenna’s swim team mates laughed loudly. I chuckled, shaking my head. Jenna did not like Donna. Even more than me.

“What the hell did Donna do to you?” I asked, confused.

“She messed with my best friend.” Jenna explained
, turning to look at me. “And that made it personal.”

“Well gee, I don’t know what to say to that.” I laughed. “I guess, I love you too!”

“Bitch, don’t get sentimental with me now. I’m in bitch mode, I need to feel rage if I’m going to make fun of all those idiots down there.” Jenna informed, full of attitude.

I continued to laugh as Jenna made snarky comment after snarky comment, ripping apart the entire
Baseball team from both schools, and especially James. He had no shield against Jenna’s angry bitter mouth, he was getting a beating like no other.

And I was not going to stop it. Not anymore
. Even if he looked really cute in his Baseball uniform.

Gulp!

*~*~*

Surprisingly, I got really into the game, shocking myself. The score was tied and it was down to James to make a good hit so that his team mates on second base and on third base could cross to home plate.

I think that’s what you called it.

Donna and her hot girl crew were screaming loudly, chanting ‘Go James’. I wanted to plug my ears. I didn’t look at Jenna. I knew what her reaction to that horrible display of affection was without needing to look, disgusted.

I stared at my ex, confident as he walked in front of the catcher holding his bat firmly in position. I crossed over to Dean, who seemed focused
, ready to use whatever he had to make James strike out.

Losing for either them was not an option. And whoever did lose, was not going to take it well. This was personal, especially since they fought last month.

Everything just got serious. This was the moment. Dean swung his arm back, throwing the ball with what seemed like lightning speed. James swung his bat and missed.

“Strike one!” The Umpire guy yelled, I think that’s the Umpire at least.

Dean prepared another pitch and threw it even faster. The ball landed in the catcher’s mitt, James missed again.

“Pay attention!” Our coach yelled, clearly exasperated.

I thought this was supposed to be a friendly game? It seemed more competitive to me, like it was more important than the Baseball team was letting on during the week.

I didn’t get it.

“This is it.” Jenna said. I watched the field with intense focus and was on edge. Who was going to pull through, James or Dean?

Dean threw back his arm, and then quickly hurled the ball towards James.

James swung his bat, this time hitting the ball high into the air, a cracking noise followed. The ball flew into the air, flying high and far. James dropped his bat and shuffled slowly from side to side, waiting to see where the ball was going to go and whether or not it was going to be a home run.

When the ball went past the Outfield players, the entire crowd from our school erupted into a crazy cheer.

It’s a homerun, obviously, even I knew that.

“That douchebag actually did it.” Jenna said in disbelief. “He hit the homerun that won the game!”

She was pissed, she wanted him to fail, to be a disgrace and a failure to the school.

“It’s fine, it’s more than fine, look how happy everyone is.” I gestured with my hand to the happy frenzy at the bottom. The people on the hill were happy too but not as happy as the diehard fans, meaning Donna and her hot girl crew who were jumping with joy, squealing as if they’d just won the lottery.

Jesus, it’s not like they’d won. James won, the Royal Heights Team won. Who the hell did they think they were? They were nothing but groupies, sad high school groupies!

Calm down!
I took a deep breath, hoping to calm my boiling blood. Which surprised me, why was I getting all upset?

I stared down at the field. James was in a hugging frenzy with his team mates. Dean kicked the dirt walking back to his side with his head down.

Awe! Don’t be upset!
I mentally told him. I watched him slump down on to the bench, curling his hands over his face.

He’s upset, clearly.

“Well will you look at that, Miss Thang there is pushing her way through the crowd towards boy wonder.” Jenna sneered. My eyes snapped back to James as Donna creeped her way through the crowd, jumping into his embrace, hugging him tightly. He pulled back grinning. Donna clearly not having that hurled herself again into him, this time her lips collided on to his, kissing him hungrily in front of everyone.

“Oh my
God! I think I’m going to be sick!” Jenna said, disgusted. “God get a room!”

Yeah! Get a room.

Or don’t and just stop kissing, that’d be cool too.

Not that I cared.

Looking away because my stomach and heart couldn’t take much more of their PDA, I found Dean still hunched over on the bench.

He was so sad, and that made me feel sad. It was a close game. He shouldn’t feel sad, he should be happy. And it was just a friendly game, so it’s not like there were points or it affected their standing in their league.

He needed a boost to cheer him up. I pulled my phone from my pocket and sent him a text.

Annabelle:
It’s okay, don’t look so sad…

I watched Dean like a hawk for the next few seconds. All of a sudden his head snapped up and he reached into his duffle bag which was resting next to his feet on the ground. He pulled out his phone. He stared at the screen for a few seconds before his head snapped up scouring the area like a mad man. He didn’t find what he was looking for so he quickly tapped away at his phone’s screen.

A few seconds later, my phone beeped.

“Who’s that?” Jenna asked, jerking her chin to my phone resting on my lap.

“I think its Dean.” Smiling nervously I opened my phone’s screen. His name popped up and my smile grew. I was ecstatic.

“Is it him?” Jenna asked, excitedly.

“Yeah.” I answered and opened his text.

Dean:
Anna? You’re here?

I grinned and quickly texted him back.

Annabelle:
Yep! This is my school silly, have you forgotten me already?

I sent the text and quickly looked down the hill, his demeanor was noticeably different. He was happy again.

“Well will you look at that, someone’s not depressed anymore.” Jenna laughed, staring down at Dean. “The power of women knows no bounds. We control everything!”

Her team mates laughed as did I. I watched Dean tap away at his phone, his smile growing.

My phone beeped a few seconds later.

Dean:
Baby, I never forgot you! Where are you?

I put my phone down, grinning like crazy.

“What is he saying?” Jenna asked, peering over my shoulder to see my phone. I laughed and held it away so she couldn’t see the screen.

“He wants to know where I am” I told her.

“Well what the hell are you waiting for?” Jenna exclaimed, impatiently.

I texted him again and my fingers shook from nervousness.

Annabelle:
Look behind you, up on the hill!

Taking a deep breath, I pressed send. After a few seconds Dean swirled around, scouring the hill.

“Anna! Wave!” Jenna cried, grabbing my arm, attempting to raise it. I yanked it out of her hand and did it myself. I waved my arm up and his eyes met mine in an instant. He waved back, grinning happily. He looked away and tapped at his phone again.

My phone beeped a few seconds later.

Dean:
Can we talk?

“What’s he saying?” Jenna asked.

“He wants to talk.” I answered.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Go for it!” Jenna cried.

I texted him back.

Annabelle:
Okay, when? Where?

Dean:
I drove here. Do you want to meet me beside my car in the parking lot in fifteen minutes?

Annabelle:
Okay, see you then.

I dropped my phone, feeling my face heat up.

“Well?” Jenna exclaimed. “What did he say?”

“We’re meeting in the parking lot beside his car in fifteen minutes.” I answered staring down at the field at Dean who grabbed his duffle bag off the ground. He looked up and met my eyes. Smiling wildly, he waved once then turned around joining his team in a huddle around their coach.

“Woah!” Jenna shouted. “Well this is moving fast! Anna, play it cool! And this time, don’t scare him away!”

I nodded. “Got it.”

*~*~*

I didn’t move from the hill until both teams had vacated the field. Especially James, I did not want to see him, or talk to him, not with having to go and speak to Dean right after. I didn’t need that toxicity in my mind.

“I’m going to Dana’s house, you want come after?” Jenna asked getting off the ground and wiping grass off her jeans.

“No, that’s okay. I’ll just go home after. I still have some homework to finish.” I explained, curling off the ground. I did have homework I needed to finish, but I also didn’t want to intrude on Jenna and her friends. We all got along but things were not the same.

I didn’t know how it happened. How we separated. I guess I had some catching up to do in the friend department, or I had to make more of an effort and become closer to her friends so we could all hang out more often.

How mature of me!
I thought happily.

“Alright, but don’t stray off suddenly after. I don’t want to hear tomorrow that something went horribly wrong and you somehow got it on with James again!” Jenna exclaimed, horrified.

“That will never happen. And even if I wanted it to happen, you think Donna’s gonna let him out of her sight. She’s as close as ever to making him her property. She’d claw my eyes out if she saw me anywhere near him.” I explained.

“If she did that, I’d claw her eyes out!” Jenna threatened, making all of us laugh. I trekked down the hill, waving everyone a goodbye.

“You better call me later with all the details. You hear me! I want details!” Jenna ordered from behind.

“Alright!” I laughed loudly, making my way down the hill. I walked behind the emptying stands on the dusted path. Most of the spectators had already left, leaving behind a few of my classmates chilling about. Two
Baseball players from our team still lingered on the field, grabbing the rest of their things, shoving it inside their duffle bags.

Are those James’s friend?
I wondered walking passed them. My mouth felt dry so I took a detour to the water fountain. I sipped the cold water for a few seconds, allowing it to cool my dry tongue. I heard feet rustling behind me and immediately let go, stepping away. I’d had enough water anyways.

I turned to see who it was and it was the two
Baseball players from the field. On closer inspection I realized who they were. I’d known them since freshman year, but I didn’t really ‘know’ them.

My eyes met the one right behind me and he smiled. He wasn’t as tall as James or Dean but he was taller than me. I could see he had dark brown hair under his backwards
Baseball cap. His brown eyes twinkled knowingly and then he did something shocking, he spoke to me.

“Hey, Anna right?” He asked. The other one with dark blonde hair was also a friend to James, came up and stood beside him, crossing his arms. I recognized him from last period History. I think his name was Tom. The first one, I wasn’t too sure.

“Hey um, I’m sorry I don’t remember your name.” I said to the first one. Tom burst out laughing, grabbing and jerking what’s his name’s shoulder, whose jaw dropped in shock.

“The name is Peter!” He cried, clearly horrified that I didn’t recognize him right away, considering he was one of the
Kings of the hallway. He yanked his arm out of Tom’s grip.

Oh Peter, that’s right!

“Oh sorry, I had a brain freeze moment. I remember we had first period Chemistry last year.” I said to him. “I went to your party last month.”