Annie's P.O.V
“Annie, come out and let your cousin drop you off. Do you want him to be late for his class?". My mum shouted from downstairs. I'm not a religious person, but today, I gotta do this. I clasp my hands together and close my eyes. “Hey Lord, how are you doing up there? You must be doing great. Today I'd like to ask you for a favour. Nothng's too much for you, so I'll go ahead and say it. First off, I want to kick those dickheads right in the asses, well literally. I wanna prove them wrong and shove my success right in their faces. Secondly, I want to kick off on my social life, and lastly but most importantly, I would like a boyfriend, so help me lord. Amen". I grab my stuffs and tries to hurry up before my mum meets me up with a broom.. Hey I'm Annie MacDonald, and this is my story. Tenth grade, I followed my friends to a party one of them was invited to, and I got the embarrassment of my entire life. I have four friends, or… I had four friends; Kate, Laura, Malison and Gabby, until two of them revealed their true colors at the party and embarrassed me.. I could still remember all they said like it was yesterday.. We arrived at the party and I was asked to leave. I asked my friends to come along with me, but Laura talked me off first saying “You were asked to leave, not us". “What do you mean?". I had asked. ”she means, you're the dorky one here with zero social life who thinks she can just attend this party because we..". Kate pointed at her and Laura “..were invited. So better get your ass out of here alone, unless of course, these ones..". She pointed at Gabby and Malison “...wants to join you". Long story short, they said a lot of things and insulted and taunted me, they even shamed me in front of my crush. I felt so embarrassed, but that's alright, I believe in An eye for an eye, a curse for a curse!! They better be prepared! *Smack* “Ouch". I groan as my mum landed a hot slap on my back. “Go now!". She shouted. My mum behaves like a typical Indian woman. She doesn't tolerate misbehaviour and wants everything done in perfection. She'd have killed me if she heard my prayers few minutes back.. “Fine, bye". I said and run downstairs. I grab the lunch pack she dropped on the table. Although I find it really childish, she was gonna drive to school to give it to me if I didn't take it myself. Trust me, it has happened before, and this was one of the things Laura remarked in front of basically the whole school. I rush outside and enter the Jeep parked right in front of the yard.. “Great. He is not here". I grumble, then pull down the mirror and look at myself. I don't look so bad, right? “You look terrible". Sam said as he entered the car. “Harsh". I reprimanded. ”And your opinion doesn't matter to me. Where were you by the ways? You made my mum smack me for nothing". “I went to get something, and… I still stick to what I said about your looks". He tsked. “Whatever". I sighed and look out the window as he began to drive. “But chill, take a good look at me. As a hottie like me, if I were in your school, I wouldn't even spare you a second glance". He mocked. I used my corner eyes to look at him.. He was indeed a hottie, no doubt. Sometimes I wished he wasn't my cousin so I could flirt with him, not like I don't do it now but, you know… there are certain limits I can't cross. “well thank God you aren't even in my league. Tch". I sighed. That was a big lie. He was way in my league. A hottie, smartie, a sportie, I mean, what the fuck are we talking ‘bout here? The car came to a halt, and that's when I realised he's reached my school already. “Thanks". I muttered half heartedly. I was feeling kinda choked and I felt I wasn't ready to face everyone yet. There was one thing about leaked news, or public embarrassment. It'll barely get out of their heads until you prove them wrong. We could say if another scandal occurs, they'll forget about yours, but that's barely true. The only thing that'll happen is that they won't focus much on yours like before, but that doesn't mean they've forgotten. I stepped out the car, and pull up my hoodie. I wasn't ready. I didn't feel ready. With my head lowered to the ground, I walked brisly into school. I shut my eyes as I felt all eyes were on me. Before, I was an ordinary student that remained unnoticed by students. I was the ‘Teacher's fav' type where I do things for them, they prefer me to most students, and stuffs like that, but now, I'm being recognized, but not in a cool way. I know right now, people are like ‘Isnt it that dorky student who can to the party last summer?' ‘Isn't she the girl who daydreams about all the hot guys in school?'. ‘Isn't she the girl who farted in science class?'. Okay this one was out. They didn't even know I was the one. But I swear, I didn't mean to do it. I ate a lot of protein that day, and I tried taking excuse from the teacher, but he just wasn't letting me go, and then…it came out silently, but the stench was worth making someone faint. Okay, back to what's what. ”Hey girl, watch where you're going". Someone shouts as I accidentally bump into the person and fell on my butt. ”Annie?". Another person, a yet familiar voice, seems to recognize. ”What a pleasant surprise. I thought you'd leave school because that blast last summer. Tsk tsk tsk, poor thing. Here, let me help you up". Yeah, Kate., How could I forget her tiny, stupid voice? I slap her outstretched hands and get my up myself. After dusting my Jean, I replied ”You wish I'd leave". This was yet another lie. I wanted to leave, but my mum wouldn't let me change. ”This school gave you a scholarship. Do you know how hard it is to get a scholarship these days? No Annie, you aren't changing!". My mum had replied firmly. Hold on a minute, who the fuck am I seeing with her?Annie's P.O.VI yanked my phone from my jacket pocket with shaky fingers, my screen slick with sweat, my breathing heaving and unsteady. I didn’t even hesitate—my thumb hovered over Bryan’s name, and I hit send.Annie: Hey, are you home?He replied almost instantly.Bryan: Yeah. You okay?Annie: No. Can I come over?There was a short pause. My heart pounded as I waited.Bryan: Yeah. Sending you the address now.Seconds later, it popped up. I didn’t even think. I started walking. No destination had felt right until now. Not home. Not Gabby’s. Just… him.---The neighborhood he lived in was quiet, nestled between rows of sleepy houses with trimmed hedges and basketball hoops that looked untouched. When I got to the door, I barely registered the nervous flutter in my chest before I knocked.Bryan opened it almost immediately.He looked surprised—but not in the uncomfortable, awkward way. More like he was relieved I’d actually come."Hey," he said, voice soft. "Come in."I walked in, bar
Annie's P.O.V I went to Gabby's house after school. After I had gone home to change. I stared at the familiar door for a full thirty seconds before knocking. Gabby’s house had always felt like a second home to me. I used to let myself in without thinking twice, dropping onto her couch and raiding her snack cupboard like it was my birthright. But today, I hesitated. My hand hovered midair, heart pounding in a way that felt ridiculous for something as simple as knocking on a door. It was just Gabby. My friend. My almost-sister. I knocked twice. No response. I reached for the doorknob out of habit, surprised when it turned easily. The door creaked open just enough for me to slip in. “Gabby?” I called out softly, stepping into the hallway. Music drifted faintly from upstairs—some mellow indie track that wasn't Gabby's style, yet sounded really familiar. I walked up, my footsteps soft against the carpeted stairs. The closer I got to her room, the clearer the music becam
Author's P.O.VMalison wasn’t proud of how things had gone with Annie.She knew she and Gabby had been cold—deliberately so. But the guilt still clung to her like smoke, thick and suffocating. She missed Annie’s weird jokes, her way of tilting her head when she didn’t understand something, her mother's delicious food packs, even her annoying obsession with matching her pens to her mood.But if she were being honest with herself—which she was trying very hard not to be—she had pushed Annie away for a reason. Annie has shut her out and they wanted her to have a taste of her own medicine. Plus Annie had a way of noticing things. And Malison couldn’t risk being seen right now.She sat cross-legged on the empty classroom floor, laptop balanced on her knees, the cursor blinking on a fresh document she had titled: "Fragments of Something I'm Not."It was supposed to be fiction. A story. Something vague and poetic about a girl who kissed another girl and couldn’t stop thinking about it. Mal
Annie's P.O.VA whole week.That’s how long it had been since I stepped foot in school. Seven long, coughing, aching, fever-ridden days. At first, I thought the break would do me some good. Maybe even clear my head, or reset whatever strange glitch had taken over my life lately. But all it did was give me space to think—too much space. And when the silence settled, it was impossible to ignore just how loud the absence of my friends felt.No calls. No visits.Not even a “Get well soon” text from Gabby or Malison.I kept checking my phone, hoping to see something. Anything. But the only message I got was from Bryan—of all people.“Heard you’re down. You okay?”I stared at it for a long time before replying. We ended up chatting a bit—nothing deep, just casual banter. But it felt... comforting. Now I was back. And everything felt worse.I walked through the school gates that morning with a strange heaviness in my chest, like I was stepping into a battlefield where everyone had already c
Annie's P.O.VI blinked, then instinctively backed out. “why do you wanna know?” “You are!” He said, with affirmation and a smile. “Sure. Think whatever you want” I was going to strongly disagree, but that would only make his claim even stronger. Denial is a river in Egypt. “Annie,” I turned towards the door to see who called my name. Their mum was back.. She walked towards me with a warm smile. “What a pleasant surprise” once she was clode enough, she embraced me..“And your invisible son here” Bryan muttered. She chuckled as she pulled him in for the hug too. Now, I don't know if it was imagination but Bryan's elbow rubbed at my boobs for like three seconds before it went away like it was never there in the first place. I pulled away from her embrace. “Aren't you meant to be in school though?”“I-uh, wasn't feeling too well”“Ouuu” she purred. “Come here” she led me to the chair..” should I make you some tea ?”“No, it's fine” I responded. “Just water will do”“Zach,” sh
Annie's P.O.V“Cole?” A lady walked into the house. He sprang up on his feet. “You are here. Aren't you meant to be at school by now?” He asked as he walked to stand next to her. I stood up too, trying not to believe it was what I was thinking..“Annie, this is— this is my girlfriend, Metilda,” she snakes her arms around his. “Metilda, Annie”Oh, so I was just some insignificant person. I smiled, but it didn't quite reach my eyes. “Nice meeting you” She replied with a curt smile. She has this expression like she was waiting for me to leave, like I was interrupting something. Message gotten.. “I—uh, I'll take my leave now.” I walked them, brushing against him the process. I felt him turn, but I didn't turn back. Cole was dating some hot chick. She looked young though, or maybe, it's just my eyes playing tricks with me.. it could also be my mind wanting to believe that.. I sighed as I walked back home.. I got home and there was no one home, but the house was locked and Crap — I