"Anna, oh my God!"

Anna sighed silently when she heard Mina's squeal behind her. She had forgotten she was there. She picked up a bottle of water from the small pile clustered on the ground – she had no idea whose it was – and sprayed a good amount into her mouth as Mina ran up to her, all smiles and excitement as she normally was.

Anna wasn't the expecting the slap on her arm. "Why didn't you tell me?" Mina screeched.

"Tell you what, exactly?"

"That you're so good at cheerleading! You were so epic! I had to admit, I could have sworn you were going to embarrass yourself. You should have seen me. I almost bit right through my lip, I tell you. But then you went and did that and ... oh my God, Anna!" Mina slapped her again, her voice reaching such a high pitch, Anna felt her ears close to bleeding.

"Stop that," she said, handing the bottle to a girl who had walked up to the pile. The girl glared at her as Anna walked away. "It's annoyingly loud."

"Can you blame me for being loud when you just made Angela eat her words? You should have seen her face!"

Anna did see her face. It irked her to realize how satisfied she felt when she saw the anger simmering under her features. "It's not as hard as you would think," she said.

"Not as hard? Anna, that was, hands down, the hardest thing I've ever seen any cheerleader do."

Same thing I was thinking, Anna mused. She wiped the sweat from her temple as she watched the school field slowly clear out. When she saw the routine they wanted her to do, the first thing she felt was flabbergast. Anna didn't like the feeling, and she definitely didn't like that she's been feeling it more often than not since she arrived to the school. But the feeling rose and grew the longer she watched them, comparing it to the image she had in her head: the usual image of cheerleaders on TV. This was nothing like she had seen before.

It didn't stop her from carrying it out though. Anna never stopped to wonder how she knew how to do it so perfectly, not until Mina.

How did I do it so perfectly?

The more she asked herself the question, the harder the pounding in her skull got. She had to hold herself back from grabbing her head in pain. Instead, she just shook away the thought and focused on something else. "What did you want to tell me?" she asked Mina.

Already she could feel the pain ebb. Mina perked up even more. "Oh, yes! You wouldn't believe what happened. Guess!"

"What?"

Mina pouted, slightly. "I said, guess."

Anna wanted to roll her eyes. The urge surprised her. "Your cat died," she said, grasping at straws.

Mina's shoulders slouched. "What? That's horrible! Why would I be so excited if my cat died?"

Anna wasn't even aware she had a cat. "How should I know? You're excited about everything."

"That's an exaggeration and you know it!"

"Is it?" she asked, quirking a brow. While she spoke, she had been looking at Jessi as they wrapped up their soccer practice, but she paused in her gazing to give Mina a cynical look.

"It is!" Mina exclaimed, but then she was already waving the comment off. "But anyway, that's not it."

Anna released another silent sigh. "Dan said hi to you this morning."

"That's so lame," Mina scoffed. "A hi is nothing to get excited over. But you're getting warmer."

"Why don't you just tell me and cut the crap?"

"Dan asked me to be his girlfriend!"

This time when Anna looked at her, it was with surprise. "Are you serious?"

"Yes!" Mina was shining bright with happiness, smiling so hard it almost took over her face. "He asked me before his soccer practice when we met in the hallway! Oh my God, Anna, you don't how stunned I was. At first, I legit just stood there staring at him, like 'Boy, what did you say?' and then he repeated and, Anna, I swear to God I could have sworn my heart fell right out of my chest! Of course, I said yes and now we're official! And then, he asked me out on a date this weekend!"

"You went out with him last weekend."

"So? We can go out again, can't we? And before you say it, yes I know midterms are this week and I really should be studying, but how can I study when love is in the air?"

She was wrong; Anna wasn't going to say that. In fact, she wasn't going to reply to her, although she felt something warm spread through her chest at Mina's announcement. She couldn't be certain if it was genuine happiness for her or relief that Mina would finally stop using Anna as an ear for her to pine into. She desperately hoped it wasn't the former. She couldn't afford anything else.

"Oh my God, here he comes!" Mina slapped her again, excitedly. "My boyfriend's coming! Be cool, be cool!"

Not a problem, Anna thought as both Dan and Jessi jogged up to them.

"Hey, Anna," Dan greeted politely with a wave. "Hey, babe," he said to Mina and leaned over to kissed her cheek. Mina looked as if she was about to melt. Anna almost laughed.

"Dan," Anna said in greeting. He didn't look at her; he was too busy smiling down into Mina's grinning face. They didn't seem to notice that they were being watched until Jessi cleared his throat. They broke away instantly, red on both their cheeks.

"Get a room," Jessi joked and they both laughed.

"Oh, we will," Dan replied. Then, after shooting Anna a quick glance, he leaned closer to Jessi and whispered, "Dude, don't forget, okay? And don't punk out too."

"I'm not going to."

"Good, good. Shall we, Mina?"

"We shall."

Anna chuckled at Mina's excited silent scream as she turned away to leave with Dan.

The air grew. Something was simmering in it, something that Anna couldn't quite put her finger on, but she knew without a doubt that it came from Jessi. He was fidgeting, staring out in front of him, watching the milling students. For a split second, his eyes darted to Anna but when he saw her looking, they shot back in front.

"What's wrong with you?" Anna was genuinely curious and she allowed herself that, at least.

"Nothing," he replied quickly. "Nothing at all."

"Then why are you standing so far as if you're afraid of me?"

"Me? Afraid? Of you? Psh." Even so, he barely inched closer and his eyes never landed on her for more than two seconds. Anna's brows rose higher into the air.

"You sure 'bout that? Last time I checked, two people don't have a conversation with two feet between them."

"I just ... want some air, that's all."

"Sure, sure."

After a swallow and a few moments of silence, Anna watched, half amused, as he inched closer. He took a deep breath then turned to her, but when Jessi saw Anna staring at him, he lost his confidence. He turned away. "So," he began. "I saw your little performance."

"I think the entire school population saw my little performance."

"You're pretty good. You're almost as good as Angela."

"No one is as good as Angela," Anna admitted. The words felt sour on her tongue but she couldn't help but confess. "Still, I did pretty well for a first timer."

"Extremely well for a first timer," he said. "Suspiciously well."

"Don't hurt your head," Anna chuckled lightly. "I'm not lying, I never did anything like that before." And just like before, she wondered why she was so good. As soon as the headache began forming again, she banished the thought. She decided to focus them on something else. "You're not so bad at soccer."

"Not so bad?" Jessi scoffed. "I'm pretty damn good, that's what I am. You should see me during matches."

"Oh, so you're saying when it's just practice you don't put out your all?"

"Pretty much," he shrugged, before a grin split his face. "I don't need to when Dan and I kick ass out there with our eyes closed."

"I noticed the connection you two have."

"It's much more than a connection. We have a weird type of bond, like we were made for each other."

That shocked a laugh out of Anna and she doubled over. "Made for each other? Pretty mushy for a guy, don't you think?"

"Hey, guys can be mushy too!" But he was laughing, his brown eyes lighting up. I love when she laughs, he thought as he watched her tear up.

It didn't last very long but the fact that it happened was what shook Anna. Still, she pushed the shock away and focused on the person in front of her, the guy who had a weird talent of making her laugh.

Suddenly, she tensed up. Jessi was talking, his voice a low drone in her ear, but she wasn't listening to him anymore. She had felt the subtle shift in the air behind her, even before a hand landed on her shoulder. As soon as it did, Anna's instincts took over. She grabbed the hand, squeezing it hard as she whirled to the side. She barely had time to check to see who it was before she was behind him, shoving his painfully bent arm close to her body.

"Hey, hey! Whoa!"

It was a boy, sandy haired, taller than her. She recognized him. Johnny, the boy from the movie theatre. He was trembling, sending fearful looks over his shoulder at Anna.

Anna released him and stepped away. "Don't ever sneak up on me like that."

"What are you? Crazy?" the boy exclaimed.

"There's a chance," she answered blandly. "What do you want?"

As fast as quicksilver, the boy's expression melted into a cocky grin. "Just checking to know what time you want me to take you out this weekend, babe."

"Excuse me?"

"My friends still want to meet you, babe. What do you say? Around four?"

"You must be kidding me."

The boy laughed, something low that Anna had a sneaking suspicion was supposed to be seductive. He inched closer. "You'll have fun, I promise."

"Hell to the no."

"Oh come on, babe. We'll show you a good time."

"She said no, dude. Back off." Anna blinked when Jessi shoved himself between them, pushing Johnny lightly.

Johnny frowned. "Who the hell was talking to you? You're the one who needs to back off, this is a private conversation."

"Not when you're talking to her it's not." Jessi swerved into the way when Johnny attempted to pass him. "She said, no."

"Get out of my way, pretty boy. Don't think I won't hesitate to punch your teeth out."

To his credit, Jessi laughed. "If you think you can touch me, why don't you go right ahead?"

Johnny's face ripened like a tomato. "Don't test me, pretty boy. Get out of my damn way."

"No, you said you would punch me so I want to see you try. Come on, punch me. Let's see if you can actually get my teeth out."

Anna was thoroughly enjoying Jessi's confidence. It fit him better than the fidgety guy she had been talking to a few minutes ago, she decided.

Johnny, on the other hand, evidently didn't think so. He blew air from his nose, puffing himself. If Jessi hadn't tensed up, Anna would have made him fight the battle himself. But, from what she knew about him, he couldn't fight. Never been in one, and never took lessons for one. He was just blowing hot air.

So when Johnny threw the punch, Anna flew in front of a puffed up Jessi and caught it. Johnny's eyes went wide when he saw Anna gripping his fist. "Why don't you back off?" she asked calmly, staring up into his frantic eyes. He was stronger than her, so he managed to pull his fist away, but clutched it to his chest, cradling the fingers that had been squeezed in on themselves.

"I said I didn't want to go out with you then," she continued. "And I still don't want to go out with you know. Instead of picking fights, why don't you take the obvious hint and go find some other girl to bother. As you can see," she paused, her eyes narrowing into slits, "I am not the one."

"You little –!" He lunged back after her, but he was hysterical. Sloppy. A step to side and a foot in his path was all it took for him to get a mouthful of grass. Jessi exploded with laughter behind her. Johnny scrambled to his feet. He spat out the dirt in his mouth, then sent Anna such a scathing look, his burning eyes were just about ready to release steam any moment. Then he ran off, cursing her all the way.

The sound of slow clapping had her turning back to Jessi. "That was so cool, Anna! Where the hell did you learn to fight like that?"

Anna's mind work quick, drawing on her beloved skill of lying through her teeth. "TV," she said. "I watch a lot of spy movies."

"Really? Me too! I live on those things."

"You don't say." She smiled to herself, turning away as she made her way to the building. "And you don't know how to kick ass too?"

"I can probably throw a punch here and there, maybe get a guy off his feet." He shrugged. "I don't know actually. I've never been in a fight before."

"Why does that not surprise me?" If she hadn't read his file, she would have been. It was hard for her to believe that someone could be on this earth nearly eighteen years and never been in a fight. She had been fighting since was twelve. As for before that? She wasn't sure.

"I'm a pretty boy, didn't you hear? I can't afford to mess this face up."

"You better not."

"What was that?"

"Huh?" What did I just say? "N-nothing." Was she stuttering?

"It sounded like you said I better not get my face messed up. Why? You like it that much?"

"Don't put words in my mouth."

"Hey, I wasn't the one who said it, it was you." He was clearly enjoying this. While Anna was not. She couldn't believe she had said that. "You can admit it, Anna. You love this face."

"Shut up."

"Hey, just admit it."

"I said –"

"Yeah, yeah. 'Shut up'. Not until you admit that you love this face. You love all this –" Jessi's next words came out in a wheeze when Anna's punch knocked his breath out his lungs. He doubled over, clutching his stomach as she continued to walk away.

"I said, shut up," she muttered. Her face was hot. Why was her face hot?

"Anna!" Wheeze. "Wait ... up!" Wheeze. "Anna!" Wheeze.

Anna halted, right at the doors and waited for him to catch up. He was panting by the time he reached her.

"Boy, Anna." Wheeze. "You sure ... pack a punch."

"TV," she replied. She continued walking, but slower this time so that he could keep up with her.

"So, um, you plan on watching TV this weekend?"

"No," she looked at him. He was fidgeting again. "Why?"

"Because, uh, damn it, I'm not normally like this."

"So honest about it too," she said dryly.

"I'm serious. When I ask a girl out, I don't normally get tongue tied like this."

"Are you asking me out?"

"W-well, yeah. Damn, I was supposed to say it better than that."

"Should I feel special that you're tongue tied?" She did feel a bit special, even when she knew the answer to his question. But watching him grow more fidgety was increasingly becoming entertaining.

His hand found the back of his head and rubbed. "Y-yeah. Okay, wait. Let me start over. Annabelle Ferguson, would you, uh, do me the honour of going out with me this weekend?"

Instead of answering, she ignored the leap of her heart and said, "Mina and Dan's having their date this weekend."

"Yeah, about that ... uh, well Dan wants it to be a double date and so he asked me to ask you."

"So you're only asking me because Dan asked you to?"

"W-what? No! No, of course not! Anna –"

Anna's laugh broke him off. They were standing before the girls' dorm building now. She shook her head slightly, waving her hand as the laugh faded. "Stop freaking out. Yes, I'll go on a date with you. No need to start sweating over it."

"Really? Yes!" Jessi swooped in and scooped her off her feet. Anna's heart pained her from its beating while her face heated up. Her eyes grew wide when he spun her and she struggled to put her face back on when he put her down. "This is going to be fun, Anna," Jessi said excitedly. "I just know it."

"Sure, sure. Run along now. We both need a shower."

"Yeah, right. Okay." That giddy boyish smile never faltered in the slightest. "I'll see you in first."

"You don't have to do that. I'm a big girl."

"Hey, let me be a gentleman and wait for you to go in, okay?"

"Okay, fine." She turned, lifting her hand in farewell. "See you."

"See you, Anna!"

Anna slipped inside the building. She ignored the girls looking her way and pressed her ear against the door. There was a shuffle from outside, and what sounded like a whoop before footsteps led her into silence. When Anna turned away from the door, she didn't realize she was smiling.

She kept telling herself, over and over, that she only said yes to be close to him, for better protection, but when she reached her room, she doubted her own thoughts.