Since the day almost three months ago that Nick had returned her book bag, they’d hung out a lot, fought even more, and had eventually become friends.  Nick was the first real guy friend Annie had since Paul.  Paul was her ex-boyfriend, the one who invaded her dreams nightly, and just the thought of him made her stomach turn.

    She tuned out Nick’s bitching about the song that was playing and looked out the window.  She remembered when she and Paul had met at Camp Wyatt three years ago.  He was so amazing in the  beginning.  Always bringing her flowers, telling her how blessed he was to have found her at Camp Wyatt.

    “Wyatt, of all places baby.  You were there, and I was there, I knew there was a reason Jeff made me come that summer,” Paul would always tell her.  He would shower her with kisses and when they made love he was so tender and loving.  She smiled at those memories.
 

    “Yo, earth to Annie!!!” bellowed Nick.  Annie was shaken out of her world,

    “Huh? What?”  Nick looked at her,

    “You okay woman?”  Nick looked concerned.  Annie stared back out the window,

    “Yeah, I’m fine.  Why do you ask?”  Nick stared at her, then back at the road, then back at Annie.

    “Well, cause I’ve been begging you for like 15 minutes to change this cd, and you haven’t said anything.  Sure you’re alright?”  Annie quickly became annoyed,

    “Can it Carter!” she said bitterly.  Nick got the message and just kept driving.  I hate when she does this.  Just asking if she’s okay, but she won’t take my help.  Damn, why does she have to be so beautiful?.  Okay, Nick, get ahold of yourself.  She’s your friend, and that’s it.  Nick sighed and kept his eyes on the road.

    Annie was looking out the window at the passing road.  She and Nick were going to the mall, but her heart wasn’t there, nor was her mind apparently.  Her mind kept thinking about Paul.

    “Baby, you know I love you.  I love you more than I ever thought possible. If you’d let me, I’d give you the world,” he told her on their first anniversary.  Annie believed him when he said that to her.

    “Paul, how can you be so sweet to me?” she always asked.  He always gave her the same answer,

    “It’s because you’re my baby, and I love you.”  The first year of their relationship had been exactly like that, all romance and love.  At Camp Wyatt, they’d been set up by her best friend Brooke and Jeff, Paul’s best friend.  They had been inseparable since that night, and we’re completely in love with each other by summer’s end.  Luckily, Paul lived only about 20 minutes from Annie in Redondo Beach.  Annie felt she had finally someone who knew her inside and out, and that made her feel so good.  Paul was so funny, and shared her biting sense of humor.  She had always wanted that in a boyfriend, and was totally stoked to find it in Paul.
 

    About a year and two months into the relationship, Paul started getting a little weird.  Annie had just graduated from high school and was getting ready to start college at UCLA, and Paul started to freak out on her every now and again.

    “I want you to call me as soon as you get back to your dorm, every night Annie, and I mean it!”  Annie didn’t really think too much of it at first, he’s just being protective, that’s all, she thought.  She did as she was told, and went about her daily college happenings.  She loved college in the beginning.  She wanted to be involved in so much.  She was excited about possibly joining the Writer’s Guild and wanted to try her hand at the track team.

    “Hey, honey, I think I’m gonna go to the Writer’s Guild meeting this week.  My English professor is running it and he’s so amazing.  Sounds like fun!” she said happily one afternoon.  Paul’s eyes clouded over,

    “What’s so amazing about this professor?” he said bitterly.  Annie noticed the change of his voice and the look in his eye.

    “He’s just really smart, and he’s really encouraging me to express my feelings more, that’s all.”  Paul got even more upset,

    “So, why don’t you just go fuck him!?  That’s what you’re really going to do, isn’t it?” Annie jumped to her own defense,

    “No, I have no fucking idea what you’re talking-“ SMACK!  Annie was on the floor, sobbing. Paul had hit her hard across the mouth.  She was bleeding.

    “Oh shit!  Baby, I’m so sorry!  Oh baby, baby, baby, please get up!  Honey, baby, I'm so sorry.” Paul kept apologizing and holding Annie.  She was sobbing.  Her mouth was bleeding and she couldn’t say anything.  She let Paul hold her, and after a while she began to believe his apologies.

    “Baby, I’m so sorry, it’ll never happen again.” Paul said with tears in his eyes.  Annie looked into his eyes, they looked honest.  They finally looked like the eyes she used to look into and see herself in.  He hugged her and begged for her forgiveness, and she returned the hug and whispered that she forgave him.
 

       “Whitten!  Annie!” yelled Nick.  Annie was shaken out of her memories.

    “What?”  She had been crying.

    “We’re he-“ Nick saw her face.

    “Annie, what’s wrong?”  Annie looked out the window again, and wiped away her tears,

    “Nothing.  Just thinking about something, that’s all.”  Nick looked at her; he looked a bit uncomfortable.  He was never sure how to comfort a girl, let alone someone like Annie.

    “Do you wanna talk about it?” he asked.  Annie just shook her head no, wiped her tears away and said.

    “C’mon Carter,  we’ve got some Christmas shoppers to offend!”  She jumped out of the car and grabbed her bag from the back seat.  She walked up to Nick,

    “C'mon!” and slapped him on the stomach.  Nick rolled his eyes as she walked away.  Damnit, one day, I’ll get through to her.  I wonder what the hell made her cry?  he thought.

    “NIIICCCKKKK, get your ass over here NOW!” wailed Annie in the parking lot.  Nick curled his lips into a sexy smile, grabbed his stuff from the car, and bellowed,

    “Coming, BITCH!”

    “Hey, fucker, I heard that!” she yelled!  People were looking at them.  They were used to that kind of attention now.

    “Annie, one day, that potty mouth is gonna  get you into trouble,” Nick scolded.

    “Yeah, most likely it will, but until then, I’ll use my mouth to it’s full advantage and if people don’t like it, they can eat me! Got it Nick?” Annie smiled as she said that.  This made Nick smile,

    “Yeah, I got it…dork!”
 

        It was nearly Christmas, and Brooke walked through the mall at a slow pace, searching for the perfect gift for everyone.   She had already finished shopping for her family and only had Annie and David to finish buying for, and she was stumped.   Annie always proved to be a challenge, sure she always did the regular stationary bit to accommodate their frequent letters, but when it came to finding that something special to get her, she always had the hardest time.

Brooke perused a small jewelry store, filled with handcrafted exotic things mostly made from silver, and she found the most beautiful silver watch to get David.  It was perfect, and she decided to get it engraved for him, finally finishing off his gift.  Brooke's eyes wandered in the display cases as she rattled off the inscription she wanted engraved  to the sales lady.

    "With  - all  - my  - Love...." she glaanced down far at the back of the case, her eyes catching on something and she leaned in closer to get a better look.

    "Kevin."  She said lightly under her breath.

    "You want it to say With all my love Kevin?" the saleslady repeated.

    "Huh, what?"  Brooke asked, her eyes still trying to better see what was tucked deep in the back of the case.

    "I asked if the inscription was correct.  With all my love Kevin."  She repeated again only louder, Brooke's head shooting up to face her.

    "Oh no, no. Just with all my love.  Sorry."  The cashier sighed and erased the name, placing the slip of paper on the watch.

    "That'll be ready in a few hours, anything else?"

    "Yeah, Um I'd like that too."  Brooke said leaning over the glass and pointing to the object that had grabbed her attention.  The woman nodded and pulled it out putting it in a box, ringing in her sale and reminding Brooke the watch would be ready in a few hours.  Brooke nodded, thanking the woman and walking out of the store with a strange feeling sitting on her shoulders.

    "Why did I do that?"  she asked herself, sitting down on a bench and opening the small box to look at her purchase.  "I need therapy."  She smiled and laughed at herself and returned to the undaunting task of finding the perfect gift for Annie.
 

        She returned home exhausted, a days worth of shopping draining her of all the energy she had, but she was satisfied with the gifts.  She had finished buying for every single person she needed to, and found the best presents for everyone, included Annie, her toughest shop.  She walked to her room, hiding everything in her closet form the wandering eyes of David and laid back on her bed, ready for a nap.  She had barely closed her eyes when the phone rang.

    "Hello."  She yawned.

    "I didn't wake you did I?"

    "No David, just got back from the mall." She sat up on the bed, wiping her eyes, and yawning again.

    "Did you buy me lots of stuff?"  He said like a five year old, causing Brooke to laugh.

    "Nah, you've been a bad boy!"  She teased.

    "Do I get a spanking?"

    "No you do not!"  She laughed even harder.  "Are you coming over?"  Since David had confronted her about her behavior last Monday her attitude changed around him, she was trying so much harder with him, and it was sort of working, but she still had her moments.

    "Actually I want to know if you wanted to go out?  Crawford's having a party.  Please say you'll come?"  As tired as she was she didn't want to refuse so she hesitantly said yes and hung up the phone.  David was coming over in an hour to pick her up, which didn't leave much time to shower and change.  She popped in her  Enrique Iglesias CD and turned the volume up loud, hopping in the shower and singing along to the music, sure she couldn't sing worth a lick, but she didn't care.

    "All I need is the rhythm divine.  Lost in the music you're heart will be mine. All I need is to look in your eyes viva la musica  say you'll be mine."

    Brooke sang as she rinsed the conditioner from her hair, and stepped from the shower, wrapping a big fuzzy blue towel around herself.  She was in the best mood, not a bit tired anymore and actually excited to go to the party.   She dried her hair and got dressed just in time for David, opening the door with a smile.

    "Wow, you're actually ready?" He said, his eyes expressing surprise.

    "I'm just full of surprises tonight."  she said, David raising an eyebrow at that statement, unsure of how he should read into it.  He shrugged and took her hand, leading her down the stairs to his Jeep.  He opened her door for her, leaning in to kiss her as he did, Brooke kissed him back, although it felt emotionless to her.  He put his face near her neck, inhaling gently,

    "You smell good."  he sighed, and she rolled her eyes, her perfume always drove him crazy.

    "Yeah yeah, let's go."  She said, shooing him away so he could get in the drivers seat.  They drove in silence to the party, Brooke afraid her unintentional coldness had upset him.  Damnit, she thought, I don't mean to be that way when he's sweet to me, it just happens.  They arrived at Crawford's house and they both got out of the Jeep and David immediately took Brooke by the hand, grabbing it sort of angrily.

    "David, what's the matter with you?" She asked, her feet practically dragging in the snow as he pulled her.  He stopped in his tracks.

    "Nothing.  I just want to get inside."  He never looked at her, just relaxed his grip and walked slower.

    "Jesus, do you see what I have on my feet, I'm not really able to run.  In the snow for that matter."  She shot back, gesturing to the chunky heeled boots she was wearing.  Sighing in frustration when he didn't respond.  David knocked on the door and walked right in, the party not quite in full swing.  She let him go off to the kitchen, Crawford coming up next to her as she angrily took her coat off.

    "What's got you all pissed off Kennedy?"  Crawford called everyone by their last name, it usually annoyed her, but this time she was too mad at David to care.  Mark Crawford was a generally nice guy, he just got on her nerves a lot.  He was a little taller than her, big bulky foot ball type guy, she thought.

    "David." she stated bluntly and turned around in time to catch Crawford checking her out.  He looked up quickly a blush creeping up his neck, Brooke smiled and shook her head.

    "Men!" He said.  Brooke busted out laughing, and Mark put his arm around her shoulder, guiding her to the kitchen where the seven or so people that had arrived were sitting.    She glanced around the room, the usual gang of David's friends sat around the table, a few girls she didn't recognize, and of course David.    She stayed with Crawford, walking over to the array of drinks he had on the counter,

    "So, Brooke.  What's your poison?"  Crawford asked.  Brooke glanced back at David who sat at the table with a beer, and who was still ignoring her.

    "Anything strong." She said.   Crawford nodded with a knowing smile and quickly mixed her a drink.  He handed her a tall glass filled with pinkish red liquid.  She hesitantly took it, smelling it and looking back up at Mark.

    'What's in it?"

    "It's a secret, drink.  It's good I promise."  She shrugged and took a small sip.  it was good, kinda pineappley and she couldn't taste any liquor at all.  She thanked Crawford and left the kitchen, not really wanting to be around David when he was in a mood.  She found the cd player and turned on the music, sitting in the  dark and finishing her drink before she even noticed.  She stood up, returning to the kitchen for another.

       "Jesus Crawford what was in that I think I'm drunk."  she joked, leaning against Crawford's shoulder.  "Just kidding!"

    "Christ Kennedy, you finished that in like 10 minutes, no wonder." He said, patting his lap for Brooke to sit down.  She did, her arm around his shoulder, she looked at David who just scowled at her.

    "Smile honey, it's a party."  She said bitingly to him.  "So Crawford dear, will you make me another."  She said.  He shrugged and started to get up, Brooke standing up as he did.  She sat down in the chair, crossing one leg over another and staring across the table at David, who scowled at her.

    "Here ya go."  Crawford said, handing her the drink.  She nodded in thanks and let him have his seat back.  She stood there laughing with everyone for only a few minutes when people started pouring in for the party.  Brooke, bored out of her mind since David was ignoring her, decided she'd answer the door for Crawford, she finished off her second drink and proceeded to welcome everyone to Crawford's party, which within an hour was an animal house.

It was close to midnight and the doorbell rang once again, Brooke sauntered over and took hold of the door handle, pulling it open with a smile on her face ready to greet the next round of party goers.  Her smiling face quickly turned into one of surprise when she stood face to face with Kevin.  They remained silent and motionless in the doorway, so much to say to each other yet no words to say them with.  He looked really good, black turtleneck sweater, black jacket and khaki pants, his dark hair done in his usual fashion, spiky and messed up like he just rose from bed.    Brooke held on to the door frame, the cold Kentucky air blowing through her cargo pants making her shiver.

    "Jesus, let him in, shut the door Brooke it's freezing as hell out there."  Crawford yelled from behind, putting an arm around Brooke's shoulders and pulling Kevin in.  "Great!  Kev, buddy, I didn't think you'd be back from Florida in time.   Kev, this is Brooke."

    "Yeah we already met."  He said, turning an eye back to Brooke, who had been staring at the shoes on her feet since Crawford arrived.

    "Well com'on in, let's get a drink Brooke."  She was thankful Crawford pulled her away from the awkward moment, breathing a relieved sigh, in dire need of a few more drinks now.  When they got to the kitchen Crawford mentioned that she was putting them back almost faster than he was, but since she was a girl she couldn't possibly measure up to him.

    'Excuse me?  Because I'm a girl.  I could drink you under the table Mark."

    "Is that a dare?"  He asked.

    "No, It's a fact!"  She said full of attitude, Crawford backing up in mock fright the hugest grin coming over his face.

    "Miss Kennedy, what are you trying to get yourself into?  Okay,  I double DOG dare you to drink me shot for shot, the winner gets a hundred bucks."

    "Make it two hundred and you're on!" She said arrogantly, pushing the sleeves of her shirt up to her elbows.  Crawford agreed shaking her hand, the noise in the house getting louder with the news of the bet.   Soon she and Crawford sat across the table from each other, the room around them packed as they began doing tequila shots.  A quart of tequila later, Crawford cried mercy and the room erupted in a loud cheer for Brooke, the champion.  She downed her final shot, and rose from the table, giving Crawford a friendly smooch on the lips.  She yelled at the top of her lungs that she was the winner, her drunkenness hitting her like a snowball to the head, and was taken into the living room to enjoy the dancing and music in celebration.    David still had yet to say two words to her, and was off on the side of the room talking to some girl, and frankly she didn't care.

    "Wanna dance Brooke?"  A dejected Crawford asked, appalled that this small girl who weighed at least a hundred  pounds less than he did, had beaten him in a drinking contest.

    "Of course Crawford, bit don't think for a second I'm gonna forget the two hundred dollars you owe me!"  She laughed, wrapping her arms around his brawny neck and spinning out onto the floor with him.   She laughed and laughed as they danced, a small crowd of people watching them, Brooke going a little overboard and dancing a little dirty with him, but he obviously didn't care.  The song ended and Brooke had to go sit down,  Crawford agreeing, his shade turning a little on the green side.  She walked into the kitchen and there at the table sat David, and Kevin.  She didn't know what to do, what to say or anything.

    "Hey."  She finally muttered to both of them.

    "Hey."  Kevin replied, David still sat silent, just staring at her with condescending eyes  In her liquored  state Brooke let loose on him,

    "Why are you being such an ass to me tonight David?"  Brooke said, opening the fridge and grabbing a beer unconsciously, she didn't even drink beer.

    "Why are you being such a slut?"  Brooke quickly turned her blue eyes his way, the most confused look on her face.

    "What the fuck are you talking about?  I'm being a slut am I?"  She said as she slammed her beer onto the counter, the bottle of Bud foaming over the lip of the bottle all over her hand and the counter.

    "You've been all over Crawford tonight, God only knows who else.  Everybody saw you dancing out there."  He stood up and went over to her, taking the beer from her hand and setting it on the table.

    "I have NOT been all over Crawford!  We were just dancing and maybe I'd be around you more if you'd said two words to me in the four hours we've been here."

They stood chest to chest, their faces inches apart screaming at each other, oblivious to anyone else that was in the room, even Kevin.  Brooke wanted to punch him in the face, how dare he call me a slut, she thought her anger building.

    "If you hadn't been such a cold bitch to me in the last few months maybe I'd want to say something to you."  Brooke looked at the ground, knowing Kevin may have heard that, and knowing it was sort of true.  But Brooke was too pissed and drunk to care, she looked back up quickly, her eyes practically red with fury, like a mad bull ready to attack and hit him where it hurt,

    "Maybe if you knew how to satisfy me I wouldn't be so cold to you, you son of a bitch."

    Brooke's comment drew a deathly silence from the crowd, except for a small snicker in the back, as she pushed out of the room and took off outside, not caring that it was bitterly cold and that she didn't have a jacket on.  Brooke ran down the front steps and took off down the driveway, continuing down the street.   She didn't know where she was going or what she was doing, she just had to get away.  Finally she stopped, the liquor finally catching up to her as she leaned against a phone pole and relived every ounce of tequila she had drank.  She coughed and walked back towards Mark's house suddenly stopping and sitting down in the snow covered grass, tears falling from her eyes.  The world was spinning around her like she was on the tilt-a-whirl and if it didn't stop soon she was sure she would be puking yet again.  She shut her eyes and the spinning stopped, she planned on keeping them shut forever.  Brooke steadied her breathing, happy she didn't feel the urge to puke and unaware that she was cold and soaking wet.  Suddenly she felt the warmth of a coat around her shoulders and turned around to look at it's owner.

    "Com'on let's go inside."  He said, helping her stand, and holding her up so much he was almost carrying her.  She stumbled along in the snow, everything still spinning, although not as much, aware of the strong arm around her and thankful someone came to get her.

    "Thank you."  She said as they made their way back up the steps into Crawford's house.