chapter 9

So I just watched the new Mamma Mia trailer and it was amazing. I was listening to some of the songs in it whilst typing this. I thought I would share one of the songs with you. :)

Dancing Queen - Mamma Mia

This is dedicated to LamoniaBaker for all of the votes. You made my day! Thank you.

"Annie, Annie. Watch out!" A voice screamed to me as I giggled, running away. I ran into the kitchen, looking for mom so that she could come and save me.

"Mommy! Mommy! Save me from the evil monster!" I shouted, finding mom in the baking in the kitchen. In no time, I ran behind her and clutched her legs. With my small height, my head managed to reach her legs.

Mom smiled down at me and then looked at the culprit. She gave him a disapproving look but still smiled at us.

"And what do you think your doing?" She asked him, putting a hand on her hip whilst she put the other one on top of my head.

"Playing." He said, smiling brightly.

Mom chuckled at him and then looked around the room. "Where's May?"

I shrugged my shoulders. She was probably hiding somewhere, lucky girl.

"I don't know mommy." I quietly said. She looked down at me and smiled before walking past me. Mom walked out of the kitchen and to up the stairs. Instantly, I followed her. He also joined me.

We walked up the stairs silently, hearing mom's footsteps as she searched for May.

"Do you know where May is?" I asked him quietly, my green eyes meeting his.

He shrugged unsure but his smile said another story. "She's...gone somewhere. I don't think she'll be coming back any time soon."

I opened my mouth to reply something but before I could ask him what he meant, mom screamed. Her scream sounded so painful; broken and sad. It made me want to cry.

My eyes snapped open into reality. I couldn't believe I had that nightmare again. It had been so long -- I was only three when that memory happened. It was such a long time ago.

My eyes ached from the sudden bright light and I tried to shield it with my hand but failed when I saw it had needles strapped to it. I frowned and tried to move my arm but I just couldn't.

I could hear a beeping sound, it beeped like a heartbeat. I could smell disinfectant and I could feel the scratchy, thin sheets. I was in a hospital.

But why?

I started to panic, the fear of not knowing what happened to me and if I was alone. Was I in some sort of accident? Was I hurt?

Before I could buzz for help, the door to the room opened. My parents both stepped in, with a worried looking Ren, Cora and...Xavier? Wait what? Why would Xavier be here? That doesn't make any se-

Oh wait! He started talking to me yesterday and he kept following me around like a lost puppy. And then today, I had cheer practice and Stacy came up to me and warned me. She was the one who did this! She got one of her goonies to step away whilst I was flying making me land on the floor and hit my head and back.

What the hell? Why the hell would somebody be so cruel?

"Oh, thank god you're awake Anna. I was so worried." Mom came up to me, tear stains on her cheeks as she hugged me tightly. I gripped her shirt, enjoying the feeling of warmth and safety.

All too soon, she pulled away from me and let dad replace her position. He hugged me tighter and whispered things into my ear about how I was going to be okay and how he was going to look after me. It gave me some comfort to know that.

Next, Cora and Ren rushed into my arms, crushing me. My ribs started to hurt from it and I winced. Obviously, that didn't go unnoticed by anyone as they were quick to pull away.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry Ann--"

"It's okay." I cut Ren off, giving her a small smile to reassure her. I didn't want her to feel guilty, it wasn't her fault for being a worried friend.

"So... how long was I out?" I asked them, sitting up and settling in the seat. I could feel Xavier's gaze on me, but I chose to ignore it. He was partly the reason I was in this position. I wasn't going to blame him but if he hadn't started taking a certain interest in me then I wouldn't be on Stacy's pissed off list.

"A couple of days sweetie. You hit your head pretty hard." My eyes widened how long I was asleep. I was out for days? No way, I couldn't have hit my head that hard -- could I?

"We were so worried." Ren said, sitting on the end of the bed. "Was it an accident?"

I didn't reply at first. Do I lie to my parents and say it was or do I say somebody intentionally tried to hurt me? If I chose the latter, my dad would flip and demand to make the culprit pay. Now, I'm not going to reject that offer because Stacy did need to be punished for what she did, but I don't really want my dad to fight my battles.

I'm an independent woman who fights for herself. I don't like others doing stuff for me.

My eyes glance around the room at everyone. They end up landing on Xavier who is sat on the sofa, staring at me. This is the first time I've given him some of my attention. He gives me an encouraging look to answer and, so I do. "Yes, I did the move wrong and somehow ended up moving a bit so one of the cheer leaders couldn't catch me."

Xavier's eyes narrow at my response and I immediately look away. He knows I lied so does that mean he knows the truth?

It appeared that everyone else in the room bought my lie. I just had to somehow... convince Xavier to not tell anyone? Or did he already know? So, in that case, I would have to tell him not to speak a word about it. After all, this was my fight. I was going to do things on my own terms.

After that, everyone started talking about what I missed. Apparently, we weren't set much homework at school which was all good and some of my cheer friends sent their support for me. Mom and dad had spent every other second after work here when I was unconscious. It warmed my heart to know that, but it also made me feel guilty. They didn't deserve or need to be worried about something else. They already had so much on their plate, me getting myself into drama was not going to help them.

I need to distance myself from Xavier. Which is easier said than done. The less we interact, the better.

"Me and your dad are going to get some food. Do you want anything?" Mom asks me as they both get up.

"No thanks." I answer her, my eyes showing distaste at the thought of hospital food. I absolutely hate it. Mom nods in understanding and starts to walk away.

Cora glances between me and Xavier for a moment. "Me and Ren are going to get something to eat as well."

"But I'm not--" Ren starts to protest but when Cora grabs her arm and squeezes it, she stops. Ren gives Cora and questioning look and then they seem to communicate. Eventually, Ren gives me a smile and says. "I mean, I am hungry. Famished actually."

I give her an unconvincing look as they both walk away. But then I remember Xavier is in the same room as me. They're leaving me alone so that we can talk! No, god no.

I gave them a pleading look to not leave me with him but apparently, they don't seem to see it as they walk out without a second glance. Great, just great.

"How do you feel?" Xavier asks me as he gets up from the sofa to come and sit on the chair beside the bed.

"I'm fine." I reply, looking down at my hands.

"You know, when somebody says their fine, it actually means that they aren't fine and that they want help but they just don't want to say it directly." I give Xavier a look of disbelief. Where the hell did that come from? He spoke like somebody who was intelligent. Huh, I guess you shouldn't always judge a jock.

"Well then." I start. "How about I'll be fine soon?"

Xavier nods and then relaxes into his seat. His eyes stay trained on me, taking all of me in. I too observe him and that's when I notice how frustrated he looks. He looks tense and angry at something.

"Why are you here?" I blurt out, my eyes widening at how rude I sounded. A blush starts to form on my cheeks and I avoid eye contact. "I mean, we hardly know each other, and we're not really friends so..."

Xavier chuckles at me which for some reason, makes me blush further. Great, way to embarrass yourself. What else do you want to say next? That it's that time of month?

"Can't I just be here because I actually care about your wellbeing?"

Huh, I never thought the cold--hearted Xavier would actually care about somebody. That's new.

"Uh...well...I-I" I stammer not knowing what to say. This just isn't my day.

"Apology accepted." He says, after finishing my show of embarrassment.

"Excuse me?" I ask, confused.

"You were trying to apologise but it's okay, I know I have that effect on people and so it's sometimes hard to you know, get your thoughts together." Xavier cockily explains, a smirk on his narcissistic face. The nerve he has!

"Do you enjoy being a complete asshole or are you so used to it that you don't even realize your being one?"

"You didn't even deny it!" Xavier exclaims, using the 'ha, I won something, and you didn't' voice. Why I outta...

"Screw you. You've seen that I'm okay so now you can go. Your presence isn't needed."

Xavier gives me an apologetic look as he shifts in his chair so that he's a bit closer to me. "Oh, don't be like that princess. I didn't mean to upset you."

"Sure." I mutter under my breath.

"What was that?" Xavier asks. Before I can answer him, Ren bursts into the room, her breaths labored and slams the door shut.

I give her a look of confusion as she turns around. "Sorry, I may have accidentally insulted a 70-year-old lady."

Word count: 1754

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Next update: 24th December

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