It was finally Saturday and Anna never felt so out of sorts. She knew how to adjust to situations to suit herself and her mission. Knew it well considering how well she was fitting in at this school. The Annabelle before would have never been able to survive a day with Mina Romero, Dan Slater, Jessime Beaumont and Angela Staton. The previous Annabelle would probably only been able to tolerate Angela, seeing that their dislike of each other would generally keep them apart.

But with Mina's incessant chatter, Dan's stifling niceness and Jessi's cocky grins, the old Annabelle would have hated every second of it.

She wondered when she began to change.

She supposed it could have been when she stood talking with them in the hallway. Or maybe it could have been when she actually laughed at the lunch table. It could have very well be every other time after that, seeing that she found herself within one of their presences at some part of the day. She couldn't quite put her finger on when the old Annabelle began to fade and this new one started taking up residence. All Anna knew was that her life was now completely changed.

It really hit her when she stood in her dorm room, staring into Mina's mouth as the girl jabbered on. She wasn't hearing a word of it. All she could think as she stared ahead was that this was her friend. Mina Romero was her friend, a treasured one at that. Anna didn't know how to be a friend. She wasn't very sure what rules she should follow, what answers she should give to a question. But she knew now that she liked Mina, more than just a simple accessory to her mission.

Mina's my friend, she thought again, this time in awe. When the hell did that happen?

So was Dan. Mina said something, calling Dan's name and Anna's brain immediately reverted back to all her encounters with the perpetually nice Dan. Always had a smile on his face, always saying something nice. That was the only word she could think of to define him: nice. At first it was too nice; all that nice was eerie and uncomfortable. But now she liked it. Dan was her friend too. Her life was spiraling out of control.

"... so now I think that if we really want to make the best out of this date, we're going to have get their jaws to hit the floor. Otherwise, what's the point, am I right?"

Anna blinked, her eyes coming to focus on Mina's big green ones. "Huh?"

Mina rolled them. "You didn't hear a word I said?"

"Give me short version."

"I was saying," Anna couldn't count how many times she's heard Mina say that phrase over the past month, "that we need to seriously get those boys' eyes dropping out of their heads. And we better do it soon too, because we're running out of time. What do you have in mind?"

Anna frowned. "I'm still confused. Running out of time?"

Mina grabbed her bedside clock in a frantic, wide-eyed manner. "It's already two o' clock, Anna! Of course we're running out of time!"

"But they won't be coming for us until seven."

"So? We still haven't come up with any outfit ideas and we still haven't done our hair, and – Oh God, our makeup!"

"You think that's going to take us five hours?"

Mina cocked her head to the side. "You've never went out on a date, have you?"

Anna shook her head silently. Never thought about it until now. In fact, it wasn't until now did she even consider it a date. It was just an excuse to stick close to Jessi to protect him, but now, she wasn't so sure. Was this a date?

"You're kidding me!" Mina was on Anna's bed in a second. "You've never been on a date? Ever? Like, ever ever?"

"You like making me repeat myself, don't you?"

"I just can't believe it."

"Yeah, well, I've never really cared enough before." That was an understatement. It wasn't just that she never cared, it never even crossed her mind. "So, if you're asking for outfit ideas, I can't help you."

"I kind of figured since all you wear is black jeans and tank tops." Anna huffed a tiny laugh as Mina jumped off the bed. She was a bottle full of excited energy, never staying in one place at the same time. Apparently, going on a double date with her best friend was the best thing to ever happen, so to speak. Anna couldn't understand it, but she couldn't help laughing at Mina as she paced up and down, grinning foolishly. "Okay, so I was thinking. It's almost December, and it's super cold outside but we can't go out in big jackets. I mean, what will we look like? We need to show those guys our hot bods, am I right? Even if we freeze our toes off."

"I don't like that idea," Anna said with a shake of her head. "Next."

"No? Okay, how about this? We wear comfy, warm clothes but only up top."

"And have my legs exposed? I don't think so."

"Ugh! Okay, fine we cover up. But on one condition."

"And that is?"

"We match." Mina's wide grin told Anna it was just as bad as it sounded.

"You mean wear the same clothes?"

"Not exactly. More like we're in the same colours. And no black!"

"I only wear black." Black was her war paint. She layered herself in it because, not only did she like it, but she blended into the night easily that way.

"Not today you won't. And since you've never been on a date before, you don't have a say in this. Trust me, Anna. I know what I'm doing."

Anna opened her mouth, ready to say that no way was she allowing Mina to drape her in pink, but decided against it. Mina was right. She knew nothing about going on a date.

With a sigh, she conceded. Mina squealed in joy. "Great! Okay, you go and shower while I pick out our clothes. And take your time, Anna. It's a date, you aren't rushing off to class."

"I thought we didn't have any time to waste," Anna grumbled but she dragged herself off the bed anyway.

"Yeah, well, even so, I don't need you spending only ten minutes in there. Pamper yourself a bit. Now, go!"

So bossy, Anna thought as she got her things and closed the bathroom door behind her. For a while she just leaned against the door, thinking hard. Her mind was a jumble. There were things shooting up in her, clouding her brain. Bafflement yet acceptance crept through her at the mere thought of Mina running around alone in the room, her new friend running around in the room behind her. She wasn't thinking about Mina finding something she shouldn't have, she wasn't even thinking about why she was laughing to herself as she replayed Mina's antics. She was thinking hard one what Mina would pick out for them to wear.

Anna knew she shouldn't be thinking about such trivial things but she couldn't help it. It excited her, just as much as it frightened her at the next thought that occurred.

She knew now that Dan and Mina were her friends, accepted the absurdity of it. But it wasn't until she stood under the shower head did she realize that she wasn't thinking about the mission because of one reason. She didn't just consider Jessi as a friend, he was way more than that.

The thought shouldn't have frightened her – Annabelle never got frightened – but it did, and that frightened her even more.

**

When a knock came at the door, Anna was now full of nerves. She couldn't help it, not with Mina running rampant in the room like she was a madwoman. "We're not ready," she kept whispering to herself while Anna sat like a porcelain doll, being fussed over. In her opinion they were ready, but apparently, Mina had other things in mind.

So, while the boys waited outside and Mina continued to rush about, Anna stared at herself in the mirror. When she first looked at herself, she couldn't be certain it was really her she was staring at. Last she checked her lips weren't so rosy pink, and her cheeks glowing with a permanent blush. Nor did she ever think her eyelashes could become so long, her eyes so large, the brown so bright.

Whatever Mina did to her face, it was magic. That was the only explanation she could think of to explain the transformation she underwent. This was magic and Mina's a freaking sorceress.

To make matters even more unusual, she was donned in a colour she never thought she would ever wear. Pink. At first, she was against it, even wrestled Mina to the ground to get her away from her. But the perky girl was not going to go down that easily and, in the end, Anna found herself wearing a pink sweater, tight jeans and brown boots. It was simple, and she liked that. It was a nice outfit, she admitted to herself, but such words never passed her lips.

Mina was dressed in a pink sweater too, although it was darker and longer. Black leggings wrapped her legs and on her feet were black vans. She had put her hair up into a cute ponytail, whereas Anna's was clipped back from her face. Mina was a master at this, she admitted also, because Anna never felt prettier.

"I think they're becoming impatient," Anna said, turning to Mina.

"I know, I know! I just have to fix my makeup real quick!" She rushed into the bathroom.

Anna thought her makeup was fine but she wasn't complaining. As soon as Mina went into the bathroom, she calmly got up and grabbed her shoulder bag. She remembered why she was here, why she was even going on this date.

Anna picked up her glock from under the pillow and threw in her silencer in with it. She tucked her twin knives into her boots, but left the rod behind. It didn't go well with the outfit.

Mina came back out just as she zipped the bag up. "Ready!" Mina announced with a smile. Her lips were a glossy red, but it fit her perfectly.

She opened the door, revealing Jessi and Dan standing in the hallway talking. When they spotted Anna and Mina, their talking stopped. Then they both grinned on cue.

"Damn, girls," Dan said. Jessi's eyes ran over Anna, appraising. Ann astared intently at him. What does that mean? Do I look good enough? She couldn't tell what that dark look in his eyes meant. It was making her uncertain.

Mina and Dan faded into the back of her mind when Jessi stepped forward.He took her hand and Anna felt something run up her arm. It felt like a jolt, but how could that be? "I never thought I'd see the day,"Jessi murmured down to her.

"Huh?"she whispered. Her breathing felt laboured, her mind a jumble. He smells so good.

"You're not dressed in black." He grinned. "Pink looks cute on you,Anna."

Anna blinked, forced her mind to come back. "Don't get used to it. I'm never wearing this again."

"That's too bad. I like my little princess amour dressed like this." That smile of his was turning her brain to mush. Why was she doin gthis date again? Oh yes, because she liked him.

Wait, what?

Anna blinked madly at her wayward thoughts. Subconsciously, she was aware that Jessi still held her hand, that he led her out of the dorms but the majority of her brain cells still lingered on that one traitorous thought.

 She liked him? When the hell did that happen?

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