Chapter 4

I look up at Spencer as I take a drink of the wine he ordered for me. He smiles as he takes a bite of his steak. He chuckles as he clears his mouth. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I shrug and look down at my plate. 

"It's just a bit weird seeing you after four years. I mean you look so different from the high school jock I knew." He rolls his eyes. 

"Yeah, well, things really changed after my mom died." I give him a sad smile. 

"How has that been?" He looks away for a moment. 

"It's weird. I get these moments when I want to tell her some good news or bad, and I remember that she isn't here anymore. I guess it really took a toll on me the year you left." I swallow harshly. 

"I'm sorry," He shakes his head. 

"Don't be ridiculous. I told you to leave. College was your dream, and I wasn't going to ruin that for you. I just had to adapt to not having you right around the corner." I search his eyes. 

"What brings you to Georgia?" He takes a deep breath. 

"After a while, Arizona just wasn't what I wanted. It didn't feel like home anymore. So I took a year to travel. I just got back from Alaska. I found a job offer here in Georgia, only a few miles from the college. I thought that I would stay and give you a visit that was long past due." I nodded. 

"Yes, I completely agree." He chuckles. I lean forward on the table. "So, where are you staying right now?" He shrugs. 

"I was going to stay at the motel right off the highway until I can find a place." I scuff. 

"You made that decision knowing you have a best friend who owns a place here?" He chuckles as he looks down for a moment. 

"I didn't want to intrude on whatever you had going on. I mean, it has been four years. Who knows what could be different? I didn't know if you had a boyfriend or maybe you were engaged." I let out a dry laugh. 

"I do not have either. But glad to know you didn't get your hopes up." He shakes his head. 

"There has to be somebody you like. I mean, there is no way you saved yourself for me all these years?" I giggled. 

"There may have been somebody but that doesn't mean anything is going to happen." He gives me a confused look. 

"And why is that?" I take a deep breath. 

"Because Maggie dated him." He leans on the counter. 

"I'm listening," I let out a dry laugh. 

"Theo," He chuckles. 

"Really? Theo Hyde again? I thought that after you went to college, that little crush of yours was gonna go away?" I let out a nervous laugh as I played with my unused fork. 

"It did for a while. When he and Maggie got together. I told myself that I couldn't like him anymore. But the longer they were together, the more it hurt. I don't know, I guess I'm just not used to this dating life. I mean, I have only ever liked one guy, and he doesn't even see me." He grabs my hands. 

"I'm sure that's not true. And even if it was, I'm sure you have a billion guys just lining up for your attention." I roll my eyes at him. 

"Yeah, because guys are attracted to girls who would rather stay inside and study rather than go party?" He shrugs with a grin. 

"I am. I'm sure I'm not the only one." I scuff and pull my hands back. 

"Okay, Romeo." I look down at my phone to see the time. I sigh and look back up at him. "Have you already paid for a room?" He shakes his head. 

"No, I came to see you first." I smile and stand up while taking out my wallet. He throws money down on the table while stopping me. 

"I asked you to dinner, not the other way around. Besides, when have you known me to let you pay anything when it came to food?" I roll my eyes. 

"Fine, let me pay you back by offering you my spare room? For as long as you need it." He shakes his head as we walk out of the restaurant. 

"No, I can't-." I turn to him, stopping him halfway to his car. 

"This isn't a suggestion." He sighs. 

"Fine," I smile and walk over to his car. 

I roll over onto my back as my alarm goes off. I groan and look at the time. I turn off my alarm and get out of my bed. I grab my clothes and a towel. I walk to the bathroom in my room and strip out of my clothes. After a quick, well-needed shower, I was finally a bit more motivated. I got dressed and walked out of my room. I turned towards the kitchen, and to my surprise, Spencer was in there. I give him a confused look. He smiles at me. "Morning," I mumble. 

"Good morning," He slides a cup over the counter my way, and I look down to see tea. I smile as I pick it up. "I almost made you coffee when I remembered you don't like it. Although I was a bit surprised when I found some in the cupboards." I sip on the tea and hum. 

"Teresa stays the night sometimes, so I keep some here." He nods. I smile as I look at him. "Thank you," 

"It's not a problem," I pull out my phone and look at the time. I let out a sigh. I set it on the counter, as well as my tea. I pull out my keys and look around for one. As soon as I find it, I take it off my key chain. I hold it out to him. He looks at it confused. "What's this?" 

"This is the spare key to my house. If you are going to be staying here, I want you to have it." He shakes his head. 

"You are way too trustful. I mean, I could be a thief or a threat to you in some kind of way." I tilt my head while narrowing my eyes. 

"Are you a thief or a threat to me in some kind of way?" He scuffs. 

"Of course not. But that's not-." I set the key on the counter. 

"Take the key. I trust you more than most people in my life." He sighs as he picks up the key. He smiles. 

"Thank you, gorgeous." I nod. 

"I am going to be home shortly. I'll see you sometime today."

"Yes, you will. Although I do have to start my job so I won't be back until around 4 or 5." I pick up my bag and phone. 

"Alright," I take a big drink of my tea and hum. "This is good." He chuckles.

"I'll keep that in mind." I take another drink before setting it down. I turn towards the door and walk to it. 

"See you later." 

"Have a good day." As I got out of my car, Teresa was waiting on the curb for me. I give her a confused look as she smiles crazily. I grab my bag and shut my door while locking it. 

"So? How did things go?" I start walking to the doors. 

"How did things go?" She scuffs.

"The talk with you and Spencer? Did you talk long? Did you guys go back to your house? Did you guys kiss? Did you guys have sex?" I stop walking and turn to her. I open my mouth to object to her craziness. 

"What are we talking about?" Laura asked as she and Maggie walk up. I look at them as does Teresa. 

"Spencer came by yesterday to visit Anna," Teresa said excitedly. The girls look at me with wide smiles. 

"Omg, is he hot?" Maggie asked. 

"Like on a scale?" Laura asked. I roll my eyes. 

"He is like Channing Tatum hot," Teresa answers. They squeal. 

"What did you guys do?" Maggie asked as she looked at me. 

"Nothing, okay?" They look at me skeptically. I sigh. "He asked me out for dinner as a friend. We talked and then he drove me home." They squeal again. 

"So is he leaving so soon?" Maggie asked. 

"Where is he staying?" Laura asked. 

"Did he just take you home, or was there more?" Teresa asked. I groan. 

"No, he is not leaving anytime soon. He in fact just moved here. No, we did not do anything when he took me home. And he currently staying with me." I said as I turn around. 

"Woah," They chimed, and I was getting pulled back into the interrogation circle. 

"What do you mean he is staying with you?" Teresa asked with a smile. 

"He was going to stay at a motel, and I offered my spare room." She smiles. 

"You like him." I roll my eyes. 

"Yes, the guy is hot, but he is my best friend." They scuff. 

"Bull, I don't believe that is just it," Maggie said. I roll my eyes. 

"Yeah, well, there is only one guy that I've ever had a crush on," Teresa says. Maggie gives me a confused look. 

"Who?" I glance at Teresa, and she looks at me nervously. I look back at Maggie.  

"It doesn't matter. Guys, can we please get to class? I don't want to be late." They opened their mouths to say something but I turned around. I get to my locker to have Jasper waiting there. I sigh loudly and look at him. "Yes, Jasper?" He smiles. 

"I heard Spencer gave you a visit yesterday?" I nod and turn to my locker. 

"Did you hear that from Teresa?" I asked as I put in my combination. 

"No, I actually heard it from him. He and I are friends, you know?" I glance at him. 

"The last thing I remember was you and Theo getting pissed at him for nothing. I mean Spencer and I pretended to date in Junior year, and you guys flipped out on him." He gives me a confused look. 

"Wait, you and Spencer never really dated?" I returned the look. 

"You mean you didn't know it was fake?" He lets out a sigh as he turns towards his class. 

"I always thought you two were dating. I mean, you acted like it." I roll my eyes. 

"Spencer is my best friend. That's all it will ever be," He looks at me with an uncertain look. 

"You say that now," I start walking backward, to my classroom. 

"Come on, Jasper, you know who I'm crazy about." He nods and rolls his eyes. 

"Oh, right, the love of your life who has no idea how you feel? How original," I turn around to come face to face with Theo. I gasp. He gives me a small chuckle. 

"Hey, Sparky," I let out a deep breath. 

"Don't do that to me," I start walking to the art room. 

"You never told me that you have more than a crush on this guy you were telling me about," I look at him. 

"What do you mean?" He shrugs. 

"Well, I heard part of your conversation with Jasper." I nod slowly. 

"The truth is, I've liked this guy since I first met him in grade school. The problem is that he never really noticed me. Maggie and Laura seemed to always get his attention. I thought that I had lost my feelings for him, but I was wrong. They are there and stronger than ever." He stops me from walking and looks at me. 

"Whoever this guy is?" I give him a confused look as he takes a moment to think about his words. He lets out a nervous laugh. "Whoever this guy is, he is stupid for not noticing how perfect you are. On the inside and outside." I open my mouth to question it. 

"Hey," Maggie said coming up to us. I look at her ready to apologize for talking to Theo. She turns to him. "Hey," He looks at her and gives her a warm smile. 

"Good morning beautiful," I took a deep breath hoping they wouldn't notice the disappointment on my face. I gulp and turn around.