Annabelle

I couldn't concentrate in class. Usually, Advanced Placement Chemistry was a breeze for me but now? The Greek letters and formulas were a blur to me, it could Pig Latin for all I know. I stared down at the phone held under my desk. Leo had not responded to my text but I wasn't surprised–he tended to get distracted in school which also wasn't much of a surprise since he had ADHD. Always hyperactive and energetic, I could barely keep up with him.

I was more of a go-with-the-flow type of girl, except for my studies because those were essential for me and my GPA and nothing would get in the way of that. Maybe I was too harsh in my text–was it too soon to be ordering him around? He seemed to like it. I gathered that it must have brought him some type of comfort, as if he needed something to ground him down to Earth.

Like a prick to a balloon, except I was the prick. I felt like a prick, if I was honest with myself.

"Annabelle Warren?" Mrs. Ellen called from her desk.

I jumped in my seat, knocking over one of my textbooks. The heavy textbook slammed onto the floor, causing everyone to jump and stare at me.

"Yes?" I said, expectantly, ignoring the students' stares.

"Your exam?" she replied and I quickly got off my seat, almost tripping over my shoelaces. She handed back the paper with a pleased smile.

"Great job as usual," she commented and I offered her a wavering smile.

Awkwardly, I walked back to my seat, my face flushing. Of course, I had to be the klutz of the class but thankfully, she was calling on the other students so they could retrieve their exams back as well.

It took an eternity for the fifth period bell to ring. I dashed out my seat, eager to find Leo and swallowed back a groan when Mrs. Ellen called my name. I walked back to her and she smiled once more.

"Annabelle, I understand that sometimes you have some matters to tend to but please make it less obvious when you're using your phone," she told me, but she didn't sound upset.

My face flushed an ugly red. Of course, I got caught using my phone in class and of course, she would have something to say about it.

"I'm sorry, it won't happen again," I whispered, nodding my head, unable to meet her eyes.

Her head tilted with an understanding nod and I walked the walk of shame out of the classroom.

One of the girls standing outside sneered at me–it was Roxie Baylon, another one of those annoying cheerleaders designated to make my life hell–and I ignored her until she decided that she had the need to say something.

"Teacher's pet," she said in that annoying, nasally voice of hers, glaring at me with baleful, brown eyes.

"Cocksucker," I shot back, flipping her off.

She gasped, as if she couldn't imagine me saying such a word but I did it. Jiovani had taught me a lot–including standing up for myself. She sputtered, trying to find something derogatory to say and I walked away, smirking to myself.

"Annabelle," a husky voice called out–and speaking of the Devil, it was Jiovani himself.

"Hey? What's up?" I replied, as he started walking besides, his tall, toned frame towering over other students.

Now, Jiovani was painfully good-looking to look at. He was tall and had the smoothest, palest skin ever–I even referred him to Jiovani the Vampire which he did not find funny at all. But, still, he had an irresistible aura that everyone seemed to be gravitating to. His hair was always long and shaggy, blocking his beautifully unique eyes which changed colors depending on his mood, and a shadow on his angular jaw that made him look like a model.

I had bumped into him one fateful afternoon in the cafeteria and me being the clumsiest person in the world, my food dropped on his sneakers and I made myself an embarrassment for the whole school to see, including Leo who didn't even bother to look my way.

Surprisingly, despite his intimidating attitude and untouchable looks, Jiovani was kind to me and yet stern, teaching me the ways of his life which involved building an impenetrable armor so I wouldn't get hurt easily. He had helped me with my stutter so much that it was basically gone unless I was furious, afraid or upset and he was always there for me. I considered him to be one of my closest friends, perhaps the only one who seemed to understand me.

"I just have some news for you," he told me with a fleeting smile, turning his head to side-eye me.

"Please–give me the juice," I said excitedly, nudging him.

"Jaxson...I, uh, asked him to marry me and he said yes–"

"OH MY GOD! Are you serious?" I squealed and he winced, his eye twitching slightly.

"Yes, Annabelle, I'm serious. You don't have to scream out loud for the whole world to know," he remarked, shaking his head at me.

"Sorry," I whispered, sheepishly, beaming at him with the pride of a mother hen. Now, that was a match I can definitely ship to my heart's content.

"Don't you dare apologize," he replied, with a slight frown.

"Sorr–"

"Shh..."

"Anyways, I have some news for you too...I'm back with Leo," I told him, watching his pretty eyes widen.

"Is that so? How did that happen? I mean, I saw him chasing you but I thought it was only to bother you," he commented, with a thoughtful look on his face.

"He was, but he wants to mend our relationship...so I decided to give him a chance," I admitted, with a shrug, searching his face.

"Just be careful, okay?" he said, with surprise still lingering in his striking face.

"I will. By the way, is that a hickey on your neck?" I pointed at his pale neck where a dark lip-shaped bruise marked his skin.

He laughed, shoving my shoulder good-naturedly.

"I don't kiss and tell," he chuckled, flushing slightly.

I pouted at him and shoved him back.

"You suck."

"Yes, I do."

⁂

A Few Hours Later

"Leo, stop!" I giggled, as he tickled me, my legs thrown over his legs as we sat on the couch.

"No can do, chiquita," he murmured wickedly, still poking my side with a playful look in his dark eyes.

His grin was contagious and I couldn't help but smile back, slowly getting familiar with his goofy antics. Leo was one of the guys who hung out with the smart kids, but he was the class clown and the entertainer so everyone always enjoyed his presence. I never would have known that he had a crush on me until one day, out of nowhere, he came up to me with his varsity jacket tied loosely around his lean waist and asked me out without so much of a warning.

I had said no multiple times, thinking that he was playing a prank just to entertain his friends. But his dark eyes were wide and earnest and he looked like he was being genuine. Still, I gave him a hard time, avoiding him as much as possible, my heart quickening every time he managed to find me in the library. He was persistent to the point that he exhausted me since I would start running away from him but he always caught up to me, with a wide grin on his cute, tanned face.

Why would an attractive, popular guy try to get with me, a dork? I was studious and awkward with a terrible stutter and glasses that didn't fit my small face. I was shorter than everyone else and had nonexistent curves, no chest and some hips which gave me a decent derriere but I knew guys were perverts and I'd rather not have them ogle me, so I would wear loose pants and long skirts.

I knew, based on my observations, that Leo liked blonde girls with big, perky boobs and skirts that flashed their bright thongs for the whole school to see. I've seen him chase girls like Anastasia or even Roxie before he tried to find something else that would feed him the attention he craved. I was nothing compared like the girls he drooled after and I knew Latino guys were basically dogs who went after anything that had short skirts and a curvy body.

And he wasn't exactly easy to resist. He was tall and lean, toned from playing soccer and many times I would see him ripping off his shirt as I walked past the school field. Guys like him were not my type at all–he was too much for me to handle, a wild card. With that flawless, tropical brown skin and bright, white teeth and big dark eyes framed with thick lashes and lean, rippling abs, he could have gotten any girl from this high school.

But he wanted me, for inexplicable reasons.

He must have seen something about me that appealed to him or else he wouldn't be in my living room right now, trying to steal a kiss from me while trying to get me to laugh. I wouldn't have given him the chance if I truly hated him–that was something I couldn't do.

"Earth to Annabear," he sang, nuzzling my neck. He tugged me closer, hauling my body as if it weighed like nothing over his lap.

I squirmed slightly, my hands resting on his broad shoulders, my skin prickling in awareness at his proximity. He continued to nuzzle the crook of my neck, his lips brushing across my jugular. My heart raced and nearly gave me a cardiac arrest and he pressed his lush lips near my ear. He inhaled deeply, sighing in content as I angled my neck so he could bury his face there.

"You always smell good," he whispered against my skin and I shivered as his warm hand played with the hem of my shirt, before sliding under, brushing against my quivering belly. "Like roses and cookies."

I clutched him harder, my fingernails digging into his shoulders as he started kissing my neck, his lips hot and sticky. He knew exactly what to do to get my body to respond to him and we fell into old patterns immediately.

He let out a hungry moan, meeting my parted lips. We kissed each other desperately, like normal horny teenagers, and I could feel his erection poking under me. I smiled–he was always ready–and I wiggled in his lap, trying to straddle him so there would be more friction. He maneuvered me easily on top of him, our bodies plastered tightly against each other. Slowly, his hands crept up to cup my ass, squeezing and molding tightly, his hips arching up to rub against me.

I let out a small squeak as he suddenly slapped my ass but the sting faded instantly as he continued kissing me with unrestrained desire. His tongue swept across mine, wet and exploring the caverns of my mouth. By now, I was getting lost under his intoxicating kiss, my hands tangling in his thick, fluffy hair. He moaned louder as I tugged his hair, angling his head up as I took control. He loved it when I was just as fired up as he was–I could feel the large bump grinding against my inner thigh and I probably would have stripped off all my clothes and let him have me on the couch if the door didn't creak open.

I stiffened and tried to scramble off his lap but he held me tightly, refusing to let me move. I glared down at him, still squirming in his lap but he just smiled back at me, his lips plump and swollen from our aggressive kissing. I pinched him but he continued smirking at me and I slowly lifted my head up, seeing my step dad staring at us with a large Dominos box cradled in his hands.

"I see that you guys are making yourself busy while I get the food," he remarked casually, heading towards the kitchen to put the pizza there.

My whole face exploded in flames but Leo didn't seem bothered at all. If anything, his cock was even harder against me as he eyed me lustily.

"No," I mouthed to him, trying to slide off his lap.

"Yes," he whispered needily, rubbing hard against me.

I frowned at him, but my body was screaming for him to continue doing what he was doing. My step- dad walked back inside the living room, an eyebrow raised when he saw that I was still straddling Leo, who seemed completely absorbed with massaging my bottom with his large palms.

"Shall we eat?" He asked pleasantly, a hint of amusement flickering across his handsome face.

Leo's head twisted back as he tried to peer at him. He frowned at the interruption but his grip tightened over my ass as if he didn't want to let go of me.

"Leo!" I hissed with wide eyes, trying to communicate non-verbally that his behavior was inappropriate. I didn't want Ethan to take it the wrong way–and I sure as hell did not want to give him a show.

"Annabear," he hissed back but he understood the message, finally releasing me.

I slid down his lap and he bit his lip, waggling his eyebrow at me.

"Later," he promised with a wicked grin.

I rolled my eyes at him, standing up with shaky legs, straightening my wrinkled clothes. To my irritation, the cool blue eyes which belonged to my stepdad lingered on my flushed face, and I could already feel his judgment.

Great, now he thinks I am horny slut, ready to open my legs for sex.

It was a hard pill to swallow and I avoided his stare as we headed to the kitchen.

Well, this was going to be an awkward family dinner.