Chapter Seven

  Annie recovers from her shock and realizes Will was dragging her out of the cafeteria. She immediately tries to resist his pull. 

  "Will, where are you taking me?", she yells. 

  "I don't even know", he says in a surprisingly soft tone and lets go of her hand. She realizes they were in the hallway. "I just want you away from that guy". 

 "What is wrong with you? I don't remember ever agreeing with you or anyone that I couldn't talk to other guys except you" 

  "How can you be laughing with that guy? You were even going to let him touch you!" 

  "And so what? He's my friend" 

  "What of me? Am I not your friend? Why don't you laugh with me? You don't even smile unless you can't contain it anymore",he complains and she stills. "You don't even want to have lunch with me. Did I do something to you?" 

  "No. Get lost", she says and walks away. She returns to the cafeteria and meets everyone still murmuring. They quiet as they notice her entering and only begin murmuring again though in a controlled manner when she sits at her table. 

  "What did he say to you? Why are you upset?", Jake asks. 

  "I'm okay, let's just continue with our food" 

  "Still a foodie huh?", Jake teases trying to make her laugh but she gives no reaction. When she realizes his intent, she smiles dryly. 

  After lunchtime, Genny and Annie attend a class. Annie tried to listen during the class but her mind kept straying to her conversation with Will. He sounded very jealous. She thought Genny said he never cared about any girl, why was he then concerned about her talking to Jake? 

  "Miss Porter, I would have preferred it if you missed this class than.......", she hears the teacher say which broke her unconsciousness. 

  "I'm sorry ma", she apologizes cutting the teacher short. The entire class was staring at her which unfortunately, included Will. For a minute, she thinks she saw concern in his eyes but he turns away before she could be sure. The teacher continues teaching and she struggles to focus.  

 The class ends and she jumps to her feet, eager to get out of the class. 

  "Miss Porter, I want to see you in my office", the teacher says before leaving and she groans internally.  

  "Genny, you'll come with me right?" 

  "Sure", Genny replies and they leave together. Annie enters the teacher's office alone while Genny waits at the door. 

  "Good afternoon ma" 

  "Hannah are you having any problems? This is just your second week, you can't be losing focus in class already". 

  "I'm sorry, I'm just a little tired today" 

  "That had better be the case" 

  "It is" 

  "You may go", the teacher says and she turns to go rolling her eyes once she had turned around. She steps out and meets Genny sitting on a bench near the door of the office. 

  "Let's go" 

  "Come sit here for a minute", Genny beckons and Annie sits. "What really happened with you and Will?" 

  "Nothing much" 

  "But you're all ruffled", Genny complains and Annie sighs. 

 "We didn't talk much, I walked out on him before he could attempt making us talk for long. He seemed to feel really bad that I was hanging out with Jake and not him" 

  "Will?" 

  "Exactly why I walked out on him. He was sounding sincere but saying unbelievable things. I don't know what to think anymore. What if he really wants to be friends with me? What if he doesn't just mean to sleep with me? I feel like I should give him a chance to express himself but I don't want to. He's so convincing, what if he's just messing with me?" 

  "I can't believe I'm encouraging a girl to go after Will but maybe you should give him a chance. I still don't think you should be falling in love with him though but....." 

  "Who said anything about that?", Annie cuts in, flushed. 

  "Why are you so flustered?" 

  "I'm not!" 

  "Yes you are. Maybe you shouldn't even be friends with him, you're already falling for him as it is". 

  "I'm not. Let's get going already", Annie says and stands up. Genny continues teasing her as they head to their lockers. When she gets to her locker, she is just opening it when Will walks up to her. 

  "Hey, I'm sorry about the way I acted earlier today, it wasn't cool", he apologizes lowly.

  "You did have a point though" 

  "But a very bad way of expressing it" 

  "It's alright", she says and they smile. "So umm….. is the lunch offer still valid?" 

  "Yes but I don't know if you want to, It's okay if you don't want to". 

 "Actually yes, I want to". 

 "Really?", Will asks with a wide grin. 

 "Yes" 

 "Yes!", Will yells and punches at the air. 

 "You're so excited", she remarks surprised. 

 "Of course I am, I've been trying to convince you since you resumed here. It's been almost two weeks. 

 "Whatever", she says and shuts her locker. "So tomorrow?" 

 "Tomorrow it is then", he says and walks away. 

 "Annie what did you do to Will?", Genny questions puzzled as she walks towards Annie. "He looked so nervous when he was coming over and now he's grinning like a fool". 

  "Well I just agreed to his lunch offer and said I wasn't angry about lunchtime" 

  "Just that?", Genny asks again and Annie nods affirmatively. "Will sure is acting strange nowadays". 

  Meanwhile Will is walking away excitedly as he didn't expect that it would be that easy to wrap things up. After Annie walked out on him looking very angry, he started to regret what he did. He was scared that she would refuse to talk to him because of that. 

  He managed to drag himself to class only to find her looking distraught also. He kept stealing glances at her throughout the class but she didn't even notice which showed that her mind wasn't in the class.  

  Then the teacher began asking questions and called Annie. Annie didn't reply and the teacher began to query her. He looked at her as she realized herself and apologized to the teacher. Their eyes met after her seemingly insincere apology but he quickly turned away not wanting her to catch him staring. 

  He decided to apologize to her when she appeared unfocused even after being reprimanded by the teacher. He hated the distressed look on her face and hated even more the realization that he was the cause of her worry. 

  He was glad she forgave him immediately and now she wanted to eat with him on his table. He enters into the boy's locker room and sees the Le cinq guys sitting there. 

 "Guess what guys?" 

 "It's been a while since I saw you this excited. You have been morose this week", Harrison says. 

 "What is so exciting? Please inform us", Dave pleads. 

  "Annie is eating with us tomorrow", Will announces and the guys begin to rejoice except Kenneth. 

  "Umm….. I thought girls weren't allowed to the table", Kenneth points out. 

  "Just shut up, will you? That beauty in our table is worth breaking any rules to attain", Bob snaps. 

 "What's so special about her anyway? She's pretty, but that's just it". 

 "You are not allowed to insult my beauty Queen in my presence, it can earn you a punch" 

 "I will aid you in enforcing that", Bob supports. 

 "Okay, okay, I'm sorry". 

 "Better be on good behaviour tomorrow,I want her continuing on the table", Will announces. 

 "No way we wouldn't be as long as it concerns her", Dave replies.