Back to Anna's POV. yay!

-----------------------

"I'M GUESSING BY your chirpy mood, you and hulk are back together?"

I turn to Finn, watching him catch up to me as we run laps around the field. "Yeah."

"You had sex didn't you?"

"What?" I almost lose my footing from surprise and land face flat on the ground but Finn catches me before that, grinning like an idiot. "No, I did not. Why would you assume that?"

"Because you're glowing and have been smiling all throughout. Good sex does that to people." He says nodding like a teacher.

"You're an asshole and no I didn't have sex." I say rolling my eyes as my legs kick off again.

"So why the smiles?"

I smile at that, my cheeks burning up as I do a one shoulder shrug. "I may or may not have spent my second night with Ian."

"And no sex?" He practically yelled.

I slap his shoulder, a guy slowing his steps to cast us a weird look. "Shut up, moron. And yes, for the last time. No sex. It was just sleeping involved. Yesterday night's own was particularly special." I smile again remembering how I woke up on Ian's arms at Five am and snuck back into my house while he drove away. Its one of the most splendid things I've done in all my life. My neck hurts a bit but it was so worth it.

"I understand that Hulk would be that boring. He's a total nerd, the annoying kind in everything. I have Physics, lab and tech with him and oh God, I want to pull my head out."

I giggle, "you're just annoyed because you're dumb."

"Precisely."

"Switch schedule with me, please. I have no classes except gym with him."

"No way. My grades are starting to look better now. We're paired in lab and physics."

"Lucky you."

I turn around and start jogging backwards, my eyes fixed on the bleachers. I see Ian sitting at the very top, his usual spot. He has a headphone on with a textbook spread out on his legs. I don't know if he's waiting for me or just spending more time in school to read, or both. I didn't think it's possible to like someone more. After last night, I feel more and more closer to him. I can't stop thinking about him, everything he has had to go through. Being with him is somehow surreal, the feelings I get, the way I act. The things I want, it almost as if...

I love him.

A yell escape my mouth as I hit my foot on something and fall, landing gracefully on my butt and as if that's not, my head hits the ground painfully and I shut my eyes, seeing stars from under my lids.

"Anna." I hear Finn shout and soon I feel hands on me shaking me violently. Stupid Finn. "Anna, don't leave me!"

"Ow." I groan opening my eyes, Finn's hand helping me up. I reach my hand behind my head and touch the spot I just hit hard, checking for blood. There isn't any, not even a bump. I'm such a drama queen.

Coach's whistle breaks through the air. "Time out. That's all for today. Anna, are you good?"

"We should call an ambulance." Finn suggests, helping me stand up.

I smack him, "no need. I'm fine."

Coach nods and I look ahead to see Ian looking at me. He's already down the bleachers and almost close enough to us. I guess my fall startled him and he came rushing down. That's honestly so sweet.

Finn assists me in walking, even though I don't need him and literally dumps me on Ian.

"Finn!"

"Bye." He waves and walks away. I huff but I honestly don't mind being in Ian's arm.

"Sorry about that." I slowly tell him, pushing myself to a standing position. My cheeks are burning up and I can't pin point why.

"I don't mind. Are you okay?" He asks and I nod.

"I'm fine." He nods and starts walking and I take in a gulp or air. This should relax me. I go after him and latch arms together. "Let's go on a date."

"A date?"

I shrug, "well, not necessary a date. Just... us... hanging out."

"When?" Ian asks looking ahead as if in thoughts.

"This is a bad time, isn't it?" I ask, making assumptions on his facial expression. "Don't mind me, you're probably very busy and don't have the time for hang outs. I'm sorry, sometimes I get way in over--"

Ian spins around to face me, looking down at me with a small smile on his face. I blush, halting on my rambling. "What?"

He shrugs, still habiting the small smile that says he knows something. I lightly hit his bicep. "What is it, why are you looking at me like that?"

He steps closer, "I'll love to hang out, Roxanna." My bottom lip folds between my teeth at the sound of my name, shivers running down, all the way to my toes. "But I have something I have to do first."

My face falls and I feel my breath hitch up, "Something like?"

"Tutor."

A breath of relief washes through me. I don't know why but for some reason, when he said he had to do something first. My mind immediately goes to his dad in prison, mother in an asylum and baby brother with foster parents. I feel that whatever he wants to do is going to be dangerous. Like all those other teen books that had bad boys and gangs in there. Ian has the looks of a bad boy and the attitude of an innocent goody two shoes. Maybe he isn't that complicated after all.

"Nerd."

"I'll see you later?" He asks.

"Sure."

I watch him turn around and walk away, missing him already with very bone in my body.

I really really really like him.

**

"You cannot be serious." I groan falling down on the arm chair and throwing my hands around my face.

"I'm serious. I swear on Santa's butt, I am." Ellie cries, following behind me and coming to stand in front of me. Her face filled with worry and eyes looking as if she's about to burst out in tears.

"Ellie, you know I can't." I say in a pleading voice, hoping she'll understand and maybe this day could revert to forty minutes ago before I stepped foot here.

"They say its pretty simple. There's even a book. What's so hard about following steps?"

"I cannot bake!" I yell out and watch in horror and dramatic slow motion as Ellie falls to the ground, covering her face with her palms as tears burst out from her. Regret washes over me and I pull myself off the chair, crouching beside her. I place my hand on her shoulder, "Ellie..."

"Leave me alone." She cries swatting my hand off her and turning away, the intensity of her cry increasing.

I sigh in defeat. There's no way around this. I'm never getting out. I remember Rachelle baking a lot of things for us when she was still here. She was the queen of everything. I don't think there's an area where she was lacking in. She would be perfect in a situation like this. She should be the one, our seven year old sister should run to when she needed cookies baked for her class activity.

I on the other hand suck at things like things. I was present in the kitchen whenever my mum and Rachelle did their magic. Rachelle got better with watching mum, I- I got dumber. I only recently started to get better at cooking. I wasn't nearly good and could just manage to bring forth something edible. Baking however, baking was another issue entirely.

"Fine, I'll help." I reluctantly say, the frown on my face barely letting the words come out clearly.

I. Do. Not. Want. To. Do. This.

Ellie immediately pulled her hands off her face. I could see her face and eyes already getting puffy and red. Fat tears leaving a streak. I'm a horrible big sister. "Really, Anna?"

No!

"Yes." I put my arms around her, pulling her closer to me. "Although I don't see why we can't just wait for mum."

"She has a meeting in school. And if we don't start now. It won't be due tomorrow morning and only I would be left out without bringing something and then I'll be left out and my teachers would scowl at me. My friends won't talk to me and I'll be--"

"Breathe." I say chuckling slightly as I pat her back.

Ellie smiles. "I want blueberry cookies."

"I love blueberries." I tell her standing up and walking into the kitchen. I could hear her little feet following behind me. After searching the fridge and cupboards, I turn to her. "We'll probably have to visit the store first."

Ellie runs upstairs in the blink of an eye to go change her dress and grab scandals for me, while I draw up a list of the things we'll need, using the internet for directions. In less than two minutes we're out of the house and in less than twenty we're back home. It's almost funny how Ellie has so much energy now, running around without so much as a groan or grumble.

I'm concentrating intently on measuring cups of flour when my phone loudly vibrates on the kitchen island, startling me and Ellie who was staring at me with as much concentration as I was giving the measuring cup. I jump a little causing the flour to fly off the cup pouring all over me. I'm wearing this shirt for the first time since laundry day. Ellie sighs throwing a rag to me. I drop the flour, slap my hands together – which isn't really a good idea – and rub the rag around my face hoping to get some of the white magic dust off.

I then proceed to pick up my phone that's now loudly ringing, flicking my finger over the screen without looking at it. "Hello?"

"Roxanna."

And just like that – poof, my mood and body pecks up.

"Ian." I call, watching Ellie from the side roll her head around. I hope I don't sound as excited as I feel. "You're calling me."

I hear him chuckle, "last I checked, I was."

I mentally face palm. "Yea, sorry."

"Is this a bad time?" He hesitantly asks.

"Bad time?" I look around the messy gravel island, the scattered ingredients lying around, my iPad paused on a baking video, my little sister glaring at me and I scoff. "Ha, of course not."

Then I remember. "Wait, is this about our date? I mean... Hanging out?"

"Um..."

Now I think I'm going to cry.

"It is. Isn't it?"

"Yes but if you're busy--"

"I'm not busy." I jump in. "I'm not busy at all." Then I look around me. Who I'm I kidding? "Actually..."

I didn't get to finish the sentence because then there's a knock on the door, followed by the loud obnoxious bell. I can hear it ringing even through the phone. "What was that?"

"The doorbell, I think."

Before I can even say 'moist', Ellie runs to the door and opens it – I'll have to warn her about that next time. The line goes dead and I dramatically drop my phone down. My heart beating in anticipation of whoever was at the door. I could hear hushed voices between Ellie and whoever she opened the door for. On any other circumstance, I would have rushed to the door in alarm but in this case, I have an idea of who she's talking to.

I love and hate that I'm right.

"Anna, your boyfriend's here." Ellie announced running into the kitchen.

However, I'm not looking at her but at the tall figure following behind her. He's still in his school uniform which is a lot better than how I'm dressed right now. I tear my eyes away from his magnificent body and look down at myself. I'm dressed in an over sized tee that's knotted up at the side, with grey nick short shorts below and Gucci flips. I don't even want to know what my face looks like but I know for sure that my hair is in its messiest bun state.

Ian nods at me and smiles. "You look great."

I groan, my head bending off view. "Oh my gosh, how are you here right now?"

"Please don't chase him away, Anna." I hear Ellie say and I look up in surprise.

"Why not?" Not that I'm going to anyway, just out of curiosity.

"He's my friend and he knows how to bake cookies."

I look up at him, "You do?"

Ian rounds the island, "not to brag..." He swipes his thumb over my cheek. "I do and without getting bathed in the process."

"This is because of you." I say, gesturing to myself. "Your call startled me."

"You actually look good."

I cross my eyes at him, "don't lie. I look like those ghost monsters parents tell scare their children with."

He laughs and I can't help the smile that adorns my face. "On the plus side, I never get scared of ghost monsters. I find them cute."

"Are you trying to say, you find me cute?" I ask crossing my arms.

Ian cups my cheeks. "You're adorable."

I smile, "like a wet dog?"

"Like a baking Anna."

I chuckle and Ellie yawns, breaking us apart.

"Are you guys done? I'm getting hungry."

I grab a handful of flour and toss at her, she yelps jumping out of the way and running away, all the while giggling.

"Ian and Anna, sitting on a tree..."

"I dare you to complete that, Elizabeth Richards!"

Ian walks around, shrugging his jacket off. Then I watch him undo his sleeve buttons, draw the sleeves up and start undoing the shirt button. I blink.

"What are you doing?"

"Not stripping in your kitchen." He casually says.

"Ian!"

His booming laughter bounces off the walls of the kitchen as he throws his jacket to my face. "I really I'm not. Naughty."

I sigh, subtly taking a whiff off his jacket. "Meanie."

"Come on, let's bake."

Now, the tables have turned.

I. Want. To. Do. This. Badly.

-----------------------------