Annalise took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She sat in the grass, cloaked in partial darkness, with her back against the brick of the house. She hadn't really wanted a cigarette, but she was smoking one anyway. Over the last week, she had thought of AJ as one of her delusional fantasies. Seeing him inside just minutes ago had brought reality crashing down around her. He was real, flesh and blood...not simply one of the products of her overactive imagination. The events that transpired in the early morning hours of last Saturday had been like a fading dream to her...now she knew that she had been trying to make it seem so. She knew that she was flirting with danger, skirting along the edge of something bigger than her, bigger than AJ. She only wished she knew what it was.
She could hear the noise of the party all around her...people laughing, coming and going from the front door, the music filtering through the wall. She some how managed to tune it all out, focusing instead on what she had just done. She had given him the note. Exactly why, she couldn't say. Annalise wasn't usually so impulsive, she only knew that what she had gotten wasn't enough...she wanted more of him. All week long she had recollected, and found herself wanting to watch him sleep, wanting to kiss his eyelids, and hold his hand. Then she would remind herself that those things led to familiarity, and she couldn't afford that. It was too personal. She could never get too personal. Whatever this was...it had to remain physical. She had written the note the night before, after Howie had left and Jade had gone to sleep. The irony of it was vaguely amusing...she only hoped he would find the humor in the situation. She almost felt sorry for Jade and Howie. Earlier in the day, Jade had asked Annalise for her opinion about AJ. Wasn't he sexy? Didn't he have great eyes? Didn't she think he'd be fabulous in bed? Annalise had to bite her tongue against laughter at that one. She wanted to ask Jade about Howie, exactly how long they had known each other, and why she had lied about it. Instead, she had chosen to wait...tonight she would inform AJ of the conversation she'd heard the night before. She wasn't naive enough to delude herself. Pretending that was the only reason she wanted to see AJ would be foolish. She was a grown up, she could admit to the desire she had for him. Still, she knew she was playing with fire. It would be easy for her to fall head over heels for AJ, she had known that after spending just five minutes with him. Once again, she had no clue how she knew that, she didn't really know him after all. She just had this feeling about him, one that she couldn't explain. Yes, she was definitely playing with fire. Now she had to make sure that she wouldn't get burned. The sound of footsteps crunching in the grass brought her out of her thoughts. Her head snapped up. AJ looked down at her, then sat in the grass next to her.
He took the cigarette from between her fingers, then inhaled a long drag. He didn't give it back. Finally, after minutes of long silence, he glanced at her.
"What time?," he asked quietly.
"I don't care...whenever," she answered, reaching over to take the cigarette back. He was too close, her fingers shook lightly as she took another drag.
The length of his thigh was pressed against hers, she could smell the musky scent of his cologne. They passed the cigarette back and forth, until it was down to the butt. She pressed it out against the wall. As much as his closeness unnerved her, she had to admit that it was kinda nice...just sitting there with him, staring up at the night sky. When she finally stood up, it was reluctantly.
"I have to get back to work."
"Okay," he said, rising from the ground, "I'll see you later then."
"Um, yeah...later."
He winked at her, then disappeared around the side of the house. She waited a few minutes, then walked back through the front door. She wasn't suprised to see Howie standing at the bar, talking to Jade. Nor was she suprised when they stopped talking as she approached.
"Was I interrupting something?," she asking innocently.
"No...of course not!," Jade reassured quickly...too quickly. "Um....I don't think you two have been introduced properly...Howie, this is my good friend and co-worker, Annalise Reso. Anna...this is Howard Dorough."
She shook his hand, "It's nice to meet you."
"You too,' he said, "Jade has told me so much about you."
"Oh really? She's never told me anything about you."
Jade would've said something, but Annalise was distracted by someone wanting a drink. She did notice the brief look of confusion and panic that passed between Jade and Howie.
The night went on, Annalise didn't see much of AJ. She was finally properly introduced to Brian and Nick, and every now and then, Kevin would glance her way and give her a knowing smile. Later, as Jade drove them back to the hotel in their rented BMW, she glanced over at Annalise and asked "So, what's on your agenda tonight?"
"Nothing much...I'll probably just go to sleep. What about you?"
"I'm meeting Howie at a club in about an hour or so."
Annalise smiled, "So you really like this guy, huh?"
"No! Nothing like that...he's just a friend."
"Sure he is..."
"Oh shut up," Jade mumbled. "Hey listen...I think Howie mentioned that AJ might show up later...maybe you should come with me."
"No...that's okay, I'm not in the mood to go out."
"Come on Anna...you never go anywhere. Just this once? For me?"
"No, really Jay...I'm tired. Maybe tomorrow night okay? We aren't leaving until Sunday."
Jade finally consented, grumbling under her breath. Annalise sank back into her seat and smiled...AJ wouldn't be 'showing up' at the club later. He had other plans. Once they arrived back at the hotel, Annalise waited until Jade had left again before creeping down the hallway to the second room she had gotten, without Jade's knowledge, before they left Texas. Ten minutes later, the quiet knock sounded at the door. She was giddy with anticipation as she pulled the door open. She didn't give him time to say anything. She had been waiting for this all night long, and she had to be back in the other room before Jade got back...she didn't want to waste too much time with words. She would tell him later. She threw her arms around his neck and jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist. He stumbled back a few steps, but quickly regained his balance, looking at her with suprised brown eyes.
"I don't have a whole lot of time," she explained, leaving a hot trail of wet kisses on his neck. He just nodded and
carried her to the bed.
Links to other sites on the Web
To Chapter 11
Back to CONTENTS
© 1997 crunkgrl62382@yahoo.com
Get your own Free Home Page