Short Stories

I need you....I aways have.

Angst
Fluff
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Anna Treasure, a shy, timid, kind, loving, 19 year old girl.
Duke Evermore, a 20 year old boy, who had anger issues and had trouble making friends.
Anna and Duke have known each other since they were 4, so Anna was use to Duke's temper, and his ego. She learnt to deal with him, and love him for who he was, but it seemed as if her feelings were one sided.

Things started to change when they got to high school, and moved into dorms, Duke managed to make a decent group of friends, there was happy go lucky Jonus, party animal Martha, the not so bright Mark, and the only one with common sense Alex.
Duke took a while to warm up to them loud rambunctious group, but once he did....Anna started to notice the change, she got along with Martha and the others of course, but she could see a change in Duke, like he didn't need her. When she confronted Martha about it, the answer she got was, "Don't be silly! I'm sure Duke still wants you around, don't worry so much!".

This was comforting to Anna for a while, until she really began to notice....

"Duke? I was wondering if you'd like to have a study session with me, tomorrow?" Anna asked, "Can't, The boys and I are going to the arcade tomorrow." Duke said bluntly, "Oh, well we could do it now if your free?" Anna offered, "Uhhh! Anna, I'm busy! Go bug Martha, or something!" Duke said aggressively, "Oh, ok, sorry to bother you, Duke." Anna said softly.

This happened more than once for different reasons, whenever Anna offered to do something with Duke, he'd either lash out and yell at her, or just ignore her. This happened often, and Anna had a soft nature, so it hurt her when she felt she was a burden to others, so....she just stopped showing up to group events, like going shopping, the arcade, going to the skatepark, all and any events the group came up with, Anna would decline.

One day Anna had quietly snuck into the kitchen for a drink, she noticed how Duke smile and laughed more when he was with the group than when he was alone with her. A small smile appeared on her face, she always loved it when Duke smiled, she always tried to get him to smile at least once. 'Looks like you no longer need me by your side.' Anna thought as she quickly and quietly made it back to her dorm, or so she thought.....

Martha had seen Anna enter the kitchen, she'd seen Anna staring at Duke with a soft smile, she also saw her smile drop and the small tears threaten to fall as she made her way back to her dorm.
Now, Martha was never the kind of girl to leave a friend hanging, so she followed Anna, with the excuse that she was going to the bathroom, truth be told she did need to pee....badly.
Once she was done in the bathroom, she made her way to Anna's room, only to find the door slightly ajar.
She pushed the door open, only to see, the dresser drawers open with a few clothes missing, and the photo on her bedside table was missing, it was a group picture of Anna and the gang, Martha then noticed a letter on Anna's desk.

Dear Martha
I know you saw me in the kitchen, and I know you'll be looking for me. Don't worry I'm fine, I'm going to stay at my grandmas old log cabin, that Duke and I used to play in, please as a friend I asked that you don't come looking for me, or to come get me.
IIt has also come to my attention that Duke doesn't need me for him to live his life. I don't know when or if I'll be back. Please don't tell the others about this, unless they ask, thank you.
Love Anna
P.S. Duke: I'm sorry I didn't say this sooner, but....I love you.

Martha being Martha, didn't like the idea of liking to her friends, but she did as Anna asked.

Two days, for Two days, Duke has felt like he's forgotten something, but what? "Duke, bud, you good man?" Jonus asked, "I feel like something's been missing for the passed two days." Duke said as he opened a can of coke, "Yeah, but I wouldn't say what....it's more like a who?" Mark said poking his sandwich, trying to sound like he knew what he was saying, "Hey, has anyone seen Anna? I haven't seen her for the passed two days and I'm beginning to worry, she's been acting off." Alex said coming around the corner like a lost puppy, he was extremely fond of Anna, she was like the sister he never had. "Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her for a while too." Jonus said scratching his head, "Isn't she always with Martha?" Mark asked, "Yeah, where is the little shadow?" Duke asked, he called Anna "Little Shadow" because she would be so quite, that you don't realize she's there, he liked to think Anna was his little shadow, because she followed him the most, he also found her presence soothing. Just then Martha came around the corner, "Yo, Marth, have you seen Anna anywhere?" Jonus asked, "Oh, yeah she left." Martha said while grabbing and apple. Her replie caused Duke to spit coke in his mouth all over Jonus, "Eww, Thanks man!" Jonus said sarcastically, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE LEFT?!?!" Duke yelled wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, "As in she left, gone, poof, bye bye." Martha said biting her apple, "She even left the note." Martha said handing it to Alex, but Duke snatched it out of his hands be for he could read it.

As Duke read over the letter, he felt his heart shatter, he'd never meant to hurt Anna, or push her away, she was his best friend and his only friend for the longest time, but he knew he messed up....big time.
And he'd be damned if he didn't fix it.

As soon as he finished reading the letter, he dropped it, ran out the door after grabbing his jacket, keys, and helmet. He hopped on his motorcycle, and made his way to the log cabin as fast as he could, if not faster.

Anna was sitting in front of the fire place, with her arms around her knees, she'd been crying like this every night until she fell asleep on the couch.
Anna was very shocked when she heard the doorbell ring, she got up to answer it, not caring what she looked like.
As she opened the door she was engulfed into a hug, by a much taller figure, "You idiot, what were you thinking." She recognized that voice instantly, "Duke?" She choked, "What were you thinking Annie?" Duke asked closing the door, tears falling down his face. "I-I-I thought you'd be better off without me around....s-s-since all I am
is a burden to you, and I annoy you, P-P-Plus you looked happier with them then you did with m-m-m-me." Anna stuttered, looking down more tears falling down her face. "Anna, you don't annoy me, and your not a burden." Duke said lifting Anna's chin so she was looking them, "You were just the easiest and the person I felt save with, so I took my anger out on you, and that was a jerk move on my part, I should've never done that to you, you just wanted to spend time with me like the good old days." Duke said hugging her, "And I need you in my life, Anna, I always have....I love you." Duke whispered loud enough for Anna to hear him.
That sentence was enough to make Anna breakdown and hug him back.

The two of them sepent the weekend at the log cabin alone, making up for lost time.
But they'd have hell once they got back to the dorms. Since Duke didn't tell the gang where his went, where he was, and what happened....

Oh well, they'd deal with that once they got back, but for now, they'd just enjoy each other's company.

The End
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