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Anna's POV~

My head was aching, my legs were hurting, my appetite was gone and I couldn't sleep. Wow. A whole package.

I couldn't focus much on homework so I just casually passed the time in my room but the more free time I spent, the more my thoughts went to many places. And those, made me very angry.

I tried sleeping but once again had a nightmare. Before my sleep I was dwelling on what Dylan said and it showed in my nightmares that I was really the one who killed Marcus.

Arghhh!!

I yanked at my hair and let out an exasperated sigh. I was frustrated with myself. I was done with absorbing it all.

I got up from the bed angrily and went to the bathroom to wash my face. I stepped on the tiled floor and turned on the light. Taking some steps, I now stood before the large mirror. I rubbed my sleepy eyes and turned on the taps.

Splashing cold water on my face, I now felt a little better but my eyebrows furrowed when I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

Dark rings had formed under my eyes. Dark, black and ugly rings. I looked like that Gaara kid from junior's section.

I felt so angry with myself that I didn't want to see my face and punched the mirror, breaking it into pieces. My hand started bleeding soon after with a constant sting.

Ouch.

I washed my hand and went back into my room after getting the bandages from the bathroom. Setting the peroxide and bandages on the bed, I sat with a pair of tweezers and starting pulling out the small pieces of glass, the ones I could see.

It ached too much but at least the pain was helping me distract from the emptiness. After applying peroxide, I wrapped my hand and turned off the lights after placing everything back to their designated places.

Sleep didn't even linger close the remaining night

and I made haste heading to school, even before the usual time I go there with Itachi. I didn't talk to anybody the whole time till gym where I had to sit patiently because Gai-sensei would be late

again. Uggghhh!!!

"Yo." I turned my head lazily to the voice's whereabouts to find Itachi.

"Yo." I replied monotonously. Itachi sat by me.

"Did you sleep?"

"No." He sighed.

"So much sleep have you gotten ever since this started happening?"

"Two hours yesterday and that time in gym a few days ago when you helped. Seems like your presence help me sleep. Well whatevez, I can't dollify you or something so we will leave it at that." I waved my hand in front of my face.

" What...did you...do?"

" Huh?" Then Itachi's face turned sort of serious, scary serious and I realized he had noticed my hand.

Whoops.

"Its nothing." I hid my hand behind my back.

"If its nothing then why is it bandaged and why are you hiding it?"

"Well...." I didn't want to tell him but the looks he was giving me made me guilty enough to start speaking.

"What?"

"I got frustrated-"

"Being frustrated doesn't do that."

"I punched the......mirror."

"I see-what?! Are you out of your mind or something!"

"If you were in my shoes, you would've done the same thing. Besides there are limits to endurance. Not even I can be patient for this long."

"Sorry."

"You should be."

"Rude."

"I am." There was a little while of silence until Itachi spoke again.

"You said my presence helps you sleep, so why don't you just sleep before class and I will wake you up when Gai-sensei comes?"

"Nice idea. But is it alright with you..?"

"That's why I suggested it."

"Fine." I stretched my arms a little then rested my head on Itachi's shoulder. Within minutes, my eyelids felt heavy and I fell asleep.

~Itachi's POV~

I watched her stretch her arms. I couldn't help but notice how smooth and nice skin she had.

How come I never noticed it before? Stupid thoughts! Stupid thoughts!

My mind which was wandering off somewhere instantly came back when I felt a light and weak weight on my shoulder. I turned my head towards the direction and found Anna fast asleep on my shoulder with a smile plastered on her face.

Blood rushed to my face. Yes, I was blushing.

What if someone saw us like this?! More importantly what if they get the wrong idea?! Although I wouldn't mind the wrong idea- what am I thinking?!

My heart was beating faster than ever but I had a warm feeling nesting inside my gut. Good warm feeling. But my heart sank and everything else just faded when I once again saw her smiling face.

She's been through so much, how can she put a smile like that after it all? Doesn't it hurt her? Or is she trying to hide all her pain? But still, what makes her smile through these situations? Even after yesterday, she's acting as if nothing happened.

"FLOWERS OF YOUTH!" Sensei's voice boomed which automatically woke Anna with a shock.

"What happened?!" She asked panicked.

"Mr. Late appeared." I informed and she relaxed.

"Phew. For one second I thought somebody died again. Oh well, I really feel a bit better after getting some sleep. Thanks." She smiled warmly at me which caused me to blush again and have those thoughts again.

She's seriously doing something to me..

~Anna's POV~

I couldn't really participate in PE because my hands hurt too much. Ugh. I should have thought this through.

"Next time, punch something softer when you're angry." Itachi said as if noticing my thoughts.

"How did you-"

"I know everything."

"Stop it dude, you're creeping me out."

"Are you sure, you took out all the glass?"

"Maybe. I'm not sure cuz it still stings."

"What? It can infect your whole hand you know that?"

"I study in high school as well so I know these basics." I replied.

"Doesn't seem like it as you're careless most of the time." Itachi scolded. "Be careful not to use that bad hand too much yeah?"

I silently agreed but the day didn't go that way because some guy insulted me and got the beating of a lifetime. And guess what happened? My bandages got red and redder still.

"Come on you need to get it cleaned." Itachi suggested when I nearly slipped from the blood droplets on the floor from my knuckles.

"Ya ya-" I didn't get to finish my sentence again because Itachi took a hold of me and started dragging me with him to the nurse's office. Awwh, he cared.

He knocked on the office door and barged in without getting an answer. The nurse looked a little shocked but when she saw my bleeding hand, she immediately sat up from her spot and got me seated.

"What happened!!" She asked panicked.

"Some wound reopened in a fight." I shrugged.

"How did you get this wound?"

"I uh-"

"She punched a mirror." Itachi spoke in my stead. I gave him a look. The woman undid my bandages and checked the wound.

"This need stitches. Wait here till I get things ready." The nurse got up and started running around her office finding her things. Panic and fear slowly starting setting in me.

Stitches? S-stitches? STITCHES?! NO FUCKING WAY!!

"NO WAY! NO NEEDLES!!" I got up and made a run for it but Itachi grabbed me by the waist and made me sit down by force. " I'm not letting needles pierce me!! No!! Let me go Grizzly!!"

"Sit still! You have to get this done or someone else would have to do it the more hard way!"

"N-no, no needles. Anything but needles."

"There's no other choice. But I will stay here with you if you want. You can hold my hand if it gets rough." I blushed at what he said or more like offered. I took a deep breath and nodded slowly, fear starting to leave but some was still there.

Soon the nurse sat in front of me with her many things which included a hook, threads and antiseptic and an injection for anesthesia.

"There are still some pieces of glass in here. I'm going to first take them out then stitch it."

Itachi gave me a look when the nurse informed about some glass pieces still being in my knuckles. I just looked away.

Soon all the glass was out and after cleaning the blood away and numbing my hand, the nurse started with the stitches. But...the anesthesia hadn't started working yet.

"OW!" I screamed.

"What happened?" Itachi asked concerned.

"She's sewing my freaking hand that's what's happening and it hurts like hell!"

"Here. Hold onto it." He gestured for me to hold his hand. I hesitated at first but then held it. Wow, what soap does he use? His skin is super soft. The moment I did so, blood started rushing to my face and before I knew it I was glowing red.

It still wasn't enough. Even after my hand was numb, I could still feel it. I needed something else to keep me diverted. I always hated needles and for it to be going in and out of my skin repeatedly, made you wanna scream.

As if reacting to my thoughts, Itachi started a conversation.

"Have you decided on what car you are going to have once you get a license?"

"Um..I used to drive in America so I already have a car." He gave me a weird look.

"Illegal driving?"

"Uh...yeah?"

"Somehow I am not disappointed. So what car?"

"'67 Dodge Charger."

"That's...." He searched for words then finally said, "a big car for you."

"Not really. I even used to race in it."

"Did your brothers know?" I rolled my eyes.

"Eric was my partner in crime. But I stopped after some bitch side-tackled my Beast and nearly killed me. But, I got away with a few scratches as compared to her." I grinned evilly.

"What...did you do to her?"

"Beat her half to death by a socket wrench-"

"That sounds familiar."

"Fast and Furious. Dominic Toretto. He's the one I remembered that time which saved my life."

"Anyways what happened after that?"

"Later on, I found out

she had connections to Jake and well she was acting on his orders to just 'injure' me but I heard that girl died afterwards. I read her name in the obituary."

Itachi remained silent as if in thought but I co

uld see the troubled look in his eyes. Maybe it was something I said.

"I'm done." The nurse announced and smiled at me a bit...weirdly. Then it hit me, SHIT! I was so absorbed in talking that I forgot what all of that must have felt like from her perspective.

"Uh, thanks."

"Now listen. Take these out by the end of the week. Your skin is a healthy kind so it won't take much time to set. And be careful next time."

"Ya. Thanks again. Bye." I got up and left with Itachi.

"See that wasn't too bad."

"Because you had me occupied in talking- oh ya, thanks for that too. It really helped."

"My pleasure." I couldn't meet his eyes because if I did, I would have fainted from all the blood that would have risen to my head.

I sighed heavily and bit my lip. My feelings for Itachi were a weight on my heart like none other. The fact that I couldn't really let them happen was eating away at me and making being in his presence unbearable for me.