NEVER MIND
ʚ chapter nine ɞ
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"You look beautiful, Annie." Annie saw Elijah standing outside her house, leaning against his car as he looked at her outfit. The passenger door was already opened so it wouldn't take too long to leave.
Annie stood up on her tippy toes to give Elijah a hug. He embraced her back; she fitted perfectly in his arms like they were made for her specifically. The hug lasted a good ten seconds before they pulled away.
"It's nice to see you again." Annie said looking up at him. Without any more context Elijah stepped back so Annie could step in his car.
The weather in Los Angeles hadn't been at its best lately and gave Annie shivers as she was met with the cold leather seat. Thankfully, Elijah got in the car a little too late to notice Annie's shivers. Annie didn't want him to know she was cold.
"You want your seat to be heated?" He asked like he could read Annie's mind. It was that moment when Annie realized she had clamped her arms against her chest like her life was depending on it.
She released the tension in her arms and nodded her head. He turned both their seat heating up and pulled out the driveway.
Annie looked out the front window as she saw Los Angeles pass by. Every now and then she saw Elijah glance over to her. She tried her best not to smile, it would give away that she liked him instantly.
"You know, if you keep looking at me you might kill both of us." It made him giggle. It didn't give Annie the butterflies she got whenever she made Asher laugh but his laugh certainly did not just pass by without having an effect on Annie.
She couldn't quite lay a finger on her feelings towards Elijah. He was handsome and all and he made her laugh, but it's not Asher. Asher made her feel a different type of way on a whole other level.
"Where is your mind at?" Annie looked at him but kept quiet. How could she answer him if she didn't even know the answer herself? She left the question unanswered.
Elijah's hand left the steering wheel and pushed on one of the many buttons in his car, music filled Annie's ears.
It didn't take them long before they got to Panera Bread. Elijah had suggested it the night before and Annie was beyond excited to know Panera Bread was his first choice. Asher always refused to take her to Panera bread since he hated it.
Elijah stopped the car and got out before Annie could even realize the car had stopped. He opened her door and held his hand out for her to grab. Annie grabbed it with a smile and let him pull her up.
Annie shivered when his warm hand left hers. "Wait, I have something for you." Annie was confused as Elijah walked walked to his trunk and came back with a jacket.
He offered her the jacket and she took it gratefully. It matched her outfit perfectly which made it even better.
They walked inside and a soupy smell hit Annie's nose. Elijah smiled at Annie's tongue licking her lips; he found it adorable.
"Want to sit over here?" Elijah pointed against one of the tables in the middle of the restaurant. Who sits in the middle of a restaurant when you have all the tables available?
"No." Annie grabbed his hand and dragged him over to one of the booths at the window. Annie sat down with a smile and Elijah copied her actions. "Perfect."
"You're so adorable, you know that right?" He had a smile planted on his face he couldn't get rid of no matter how hard he tried.
Annie shook her head and lowered it in an attempt to hide her blushing face. Loose strands of hair fell in front of her face. She sat back leaning against the backrest with her arms crossed.
"What may I get for you?" The waitress basically forced Annie to reveal herself from her hiding place.
"I'll get the soup of the day please," Elijah said immediately. Even though Annie loved the soupy smell as soon as they walked in, she changed her mind last minute.
"I'll get the Caesar salad with mac and cheese on the side please." She said.
While Annie was ordering, Elijah couldn't help but admire her face. Especially her eyes really impressed him. He saw the same sparkle Asher saw in her eyes and it drove him just as crazy.
Little wrinkles formed under Annie's eyes when she smiled at the waitress just after she thanked her. Annie's eyes moved passed his and looked straight out the window. It was like everything moved in slowmotion.
"Guess he's not the only one." Annie's words awoken Elijah from his stare. Elijah was confused about what Annie was referring to.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Her tone was blank and Elijah didn't like it. It was almost as if Annie was annoyed by something. Elijah was confused with Annie's behavior, did he do something wrong?
"Here you two go, enjoy your meal." The waitress smiled nicely and walked back to the counter. Annie send her a smile as a thank you.
"Enlighten me." Annie had already started her meal while Elijah couldn't help but to be worried about Annie.
"About?" She said with her mouth full of lettuce.
"Everything, everything that is going on in your life at the moment. Listen Annie, I want to know if we can pursue this relationship but I can't if you keep shouting down. And I know we only just met yesterday but I think something really beautiful can blossom from this spark we share."
His words made her realize he was right. Everything he has been doing since they reunited this morning, she has been comparing to Asher. The way he made her laugh a little bit louder, or the way she felt a little more comfortable around him.
It all confused Annie. Why does everything feel better when it's with Asher? And more specifically, why did Asher have to ruin it?
Who knows what she would be doing if he hadn't messed it all up, would they be getting on to better terms already? All Annie knew is the whole ignoring thing was hard on her. The more days it lasted, the more she gravitated towards Asher again.
A warm hand connected with hers. She looked up and saw a certain look she hated. "Don't you dare pity me right now."
"Look Annie. I know things with you and Asher are still raw and it's not long ago but if you don't want to, tell me. If you don't want intimacy this early on, I will wait. I will wait as long as you need." He rubbed his thumb across Annie's hand.
"That's not it." Annie curled her bottom lip in between her teeth while fighting back tears. She didn't want to break down, not in front of him and not in a restaurant.
"Then tell me." He was trying not to push her to much but he wanted to know why she was feeling this way.
"I can't.. I can't. Not now, not ever." With only one bite taken from the salad, Annie left the restaurant.
She couldn't take it no longer; holding in her tears wasn't one of her best traits. With the only luck she seemed to be getting today, an Uber was about to pass her when she stopped him.
She typed in her address and waited impatiently until the driver pulled the car out of park. It was probably one of the longest rides home she had ever been on.
***
"You're home earl-" Annie didn't even have to cut Asher off. He immediately knew she was upset when he saw her throw her keys on the floor.
Asher and the rest of the friend group looked at each other awkwardly. All of them thought the exact same thing, they knew the breakfast didn't go well.
Asher got up and went to her room. He knew she would probably send him back immediately but it was worth trying.
He peeked his head through the doorway and saw her sitting on her floor with her back against her bed. He walked in further and Annie noticed him. She sighed and stood up.
"You know me and therefore you know I don't regret things often because I believe everything happens for a reason. But the second your lips met mine, I knew I would regret it at some point. From that moment on I loved you more and more each and every passing minute, Asher Angel. Do you have any idea how that has impacted my life? I don't think you do because you have been hurting me ever since. You pretended like it meant nothing to you while I know from the deepest of my heart it did everything with you the same as it did with me, and the fact you ignored it makes it even worse. I'm seriously considering leaving for a week to let things ease between us."
Asher was flabbergasted by her words. She couldn't go, how can he go a full week without her? He could barely cope without her while she was at breakfast.
"You can't." He stated without mentioning any arguments. "I'm your boss. You're forbidden from leaving this house for more than five hours."
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i'm trying to make some new covers but i hate all my attempts so that's awesome