"Don't Let Me Go..." ( A One Direction Fanfic. ) <3

Chapter 3

This was it. This was my time, to prove to everyone I wasn’t what they thought I was. I could just imagine the feeling of walking up the steps of Riverdale High. The aroma, the atmosphere. It all brought back so many memories.

Thankfully, he wasn’t to be seen yet. I didn’t want to see his face the first thing I walked into the school.

 Niall and I turned the corner…and there it was.

We were right infront of my high school. Where it all began. Where I had gone for so long, and now I was back. After a month.

 But I was a complete different Annie. Not the one people used to adore, admire, idolize. My popularity had dropped down to zero, and I was just an outcast now…or better known as the slut. My life really had been flipped upside down. I pulled my shirt down, fixed my hair, and pulled my bag up closer to my shoulder, and took a deep breath.

My fingers trailed along Niall’s, as he fit them into my hand, holding my hand tightly.

“Are you ready for this?” He asked, his blue eyes looking down at me protectively.

I bit my lip, and nodded. “Ready as ever. It’s now or never.”

Niall smiled at my positivity, and we walked up.

Surprisingly, I hadn’t received any odd stares, or dirty looks just yet…but that was probably because I hadn’t even entered inside the school.

Niall guided me towards the school, where I wasn’t even looking ahead, but instead just facing the floor in shame, hiding myself from people.

It was so hard to gain my old confidence back. Once it was gone, it was the hardest thing to have back.

I heard a bunch of screeches and squeals coming ahead of me….oh how familiar they sounded.

I looked up, and couldn’t help but smile.

“OH MY GOD, ANNIE! IT’S BEEN SO LONG!” Taylor jumped on me giving me the tightest hug. I laughed out loud. It really had been so long. I hadn’t seen their cheerful faces for the longest time.

“GIRL, YOU’RE STILL LOOKING FINE!” Jamie added in, giving me an even tighter hug.

“Hey guys, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you.” I confessed to them. It was the truth.

“We’ve missed you more, you still need to give us more deets on certain things…what happened with—“

Taylor began to ask, but Jamie nudged her hard in the ribs, gesturing for her to stop.

Of course. They wanted to know what was up with my dad. How he had died. Why he did. It’s funny how even I still didn’t know the answers to the those questions myself.

But what I was most afraid of them asking….what had happened that summer….and just a month earlier. The month previous to now was what had really changed my life forever.

When you think things can’t get any worse…they really do.

Taylor quickly looked over to change the topic, and her eyes widened at Niall. “Oh my god! And Niall, you too! Just because Annie disappeared on us, it didn’t mean you had to as well! We’ve missed ya bud!” She hugged him tightly, but he just stood still and awkwardly wrapped his arms around her.

“Tay…Niall was just over helping you unpack into your new house just yesterday…?” Jamie cut in to ease the awkward moment.

Taylor casted hera dirty look and blushed embarrassed. “Um, well what are we still doing here, let’s go on in! You probably have a ton to catch up on after missing a month of school!” Taylor exclaimed.

I nodded and looked over at Niall, gesturing him to walk with them.

 I heard Jamie whisper into Taylors ear. “Yeah great job Taylor, telling her about how much work she has to catch up on, no pressure at all! You’re on a roll on how to make a person feel bad today!” Jamie exclaimed in a sarcastic tone.  

Taylor faced the floor embarrassed once again. I laughed to myself, at least these two were one great reason to finally be back.

“WASSUPP ANNIE FANNY!” A voice called behind me. I rolled my eyes and groaned. Of course. I knew who it was right away.

 He wrapped is arm around me and he whipped those lonlong curls out of his face.

“Harry, how many times have I told you to stop calling me that! It’s so dirty!”

Harry smirked cheekily. “Why do you think I still do it then?” I grinned and punched him lightly.

He made a pouty face and rubbed his arm. I laughed to myself. So far, today was going well.