It Started With A Kiss-->updated till chapter 18

annehuda

Principal Mckenzie summoned the two girls to his office.  Annelise almost fainted when Cassandra reported to him that her 18 karat yellow gold Tous bear pearl bracelet that she planned to wear today was gone, and Annelise was the prime suspect since no outsiders had entered her room except her.  Principal Mckenzie made an announcement calling for Alex to be a witness, and he sprinted down the hallway.

Annelise was relieved when she saw Alex.  Principal Mckenzie started the Q & A session with Alex about what happened at the party last night.  Alex told him everything he knew to him.

“So you saw Cassandra taking Annelise to clean herself up?”

“Yes.  But I didn’t saw Cassandra taking her upstairs”

Principal Mckenzie looked at Cassandra.  “Where did actually you took her?”

“I took her to my garage, where I put the key to my room.  I always kept my room locked during party because I don’t anyone to make out on my bed.  I asked her to help herself”

“So you didn’t actually send Annelise to your room after all?  You just handed her your keys” Pincipal Mckenzie calmly get the facts straight.  Accusing a fellow student of his as thief is a crucial matter, he need to get to the bottom of this before he handed any of his students to the juvenile court.

Cassandra flushed till her cheek turned bloody red.  “Well, she was gone.  She just creeps out from the party quietly like a little mouse on the run.  Even Alex doesn’t know that she had left.  Why would she want to leave if she didn’t steal anything from me?”

Principal Mckenzie rubbed his chin, and turned to Annelise.  “Annelise, was it true? You left the party without telling anyone?”

Annelise nodded.  “Yes, I went home by myself.  Amanda already left the party with Brianna and Medee, and I don’t want to spoil Alex’s good time at the party.  I remember, it was about a quarter to 9pm”

Principal Mckenzie wrote something in his note.  He was drawing a timeline.    After he was finished, he asked her another question.  “Well, you cannot be walking home.  With whom did you went home last night?”

Annelise understood what Principal Mckenzie was implying.  She needs an alibi.  She needs someone who can prove that she wasn’t at the scene when the crime happened.  “I….I did walked home.  And I was hitching a ride with this elderly couple from Arizona.  They were heading to Chicago”

Principal Mckenzie took off his spectacles and rubbed his temple.  Alex bent down his head in disappointment.  There’s no way for Annelise to defend herself from Cassandra’s accusation.  Although there was no single evidence that point Annelise to the crime, but almost half the school saw that Cassandra offered Annelise to use her room.  And from half the school, Annelise alone was the only one who knew where Cassandra put the key to her room.

Cassandra smiled triumphantly.  She loved it when she can prove that she was right.  Annelise began to sob.  She has been called many names, but being charged as a thief when she’s not was too much.  “I didn’t do it, Principal Mckenzie.  I swear” she pleaded.  

Alex who was seated in the middle of the girls put his hands on hers, and she gripped it like she doesn’t want to let go.  “I know, Anne.  You’re not a thief.  I believe you.”

Cassandra scowled at him repulsively.  “Oh please, Alex.  Isn’t it obvious? Maybe she feels it was right to steal my pearl bracelet after I tie-dyed her white dress with tropical cocktail.”

“Cassie, I knew Anne for my entire life.  I know she won’t give a damn about your teddy bear” Alex stared at her ominously.  He looked like he was ready to punch her if she said another bad word about Annelise anymore.

Cassandra was fidgeting in her seat.  She was hoping that Alex would, at least persuaded Annelise to admit but now he is completely ‘Team Annelise’.  “Look, I just want my bracelet back okay?  Principal Mckenzie, I’m not taking back my accusation until Annelise can prove she’s guilty”

Principal Mckenzie nodded.  “Very well, Ms Patrick.”  Principal Mckenzie calmly looked at Annelise.  Her eyes were red from crying.  “Ms Harrison, I’m afraid I can only give you a day to prove yourself guilty”

Annelise’s grip on Alex’s hand tightens.  “That’s impossible!”

Principal Mckenzie closed his notebook.  “Think thoroughly, Ms Harrison.  You had to dig deeper.  You probably miss out on something crucial last night”

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Bracelet Tous Bear Cassandra yg kene curi tu

Tous Bear adalah jenama barang kemas yg terkenal ngan signature bear nye....

annehuda

CHAPTER 15
Annelise tailed Alex out from the Principal’s office.  She’s done with crying, she wiped clean any remaining tears on her brown eyes.  Thank goodness she didn’t wear any mascara today.  Cassandra was the first one who exited the office; she walked out with confidence that her accusation will be right once this day was over.  She doesn’t care at all that the accused one was the sister of her boyfriend.

Amanda hugged Annelise warmly once she saw Annelise back at the hallway.  She heard the news, and she felt guilty for leaving Annelise alone last night.  Annelise hugged her back.  She was grateful Amanda was there.

“Go home, Annelise.  You should not be at school today” Alex sternly ordered Annelise to do so.  But Annelise flatly refused.

“No! Why should I go home? I’m not guilty!”

Alex completely ignored her.  Instead he fished out a bundle of keys and gave it to her.  But she shoved it back to him.  

“Alex, I’m not going home and hide myself like I’m a criminal.  I can take care of myself, Alex!”  Even Amanda was shuddered with Annelise new profound boldness.  But Alex didn’t even bat an eyelid.

“Take care?” the trace of cynicism was perceptible in his tone.  “Well, Anne, last night you tried to take care of yourself, and this morning you end up in the principal’s office for theft!”

His words pierced her tender heart like knife slicing butter.  She thought that Alex actually believed in her, but he didn’t.  His own sister was being charged of stealing his girlfriend’s bracelet, how could that won’t tarnish his reputation at school?  He was just acting up in front of the principal to diminish the damage she has inflicted on him. She felt like crying again, but she braved herself up, and snatched the keys dangling in his palm.  

But before she walked away, she looked straight to his eyes, blinking back the tears that almost flowed, and declared to him her state of virtue, “I didn’t do it, Alex.  I don’t care if you want to believe me or not, but I didn’t do it”

Of course, Alex almost blurted out his reply but Annelise already walked away, along with Amanda.  Of course I believed you, Annelise.  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to compose himself.  Yes he can chase Annelise and explained to her why he was asking her to go home, to protect her, but he has a more important thing to do right now. He couldn’t waste another more minute, and he needs to find Keller.

Technology worked like magic for Cassandra.  In no time, she began texting her friends, telling them how sad she was for losing a bracelet that she planned to wear today.  Of how she trusted Annelise so much she let her enter her bedroom without her surveillance, and how dumb Annelise was for thinking she can get away from stealing her things.  The bracelet actually didn’t cost much, but Cassandra was so possessive of her belongings.  What hers cannot be touch by others, and she was more than satisfied that Annelise will be banished from the school, forever.  Now everyone will know not to mess with Cassandra Helena Patrick.

Henry overheard his classmate gossiping about it; it didn’t take half a day for the scandal to spread throughout the school like dried bush catching fire.  He tried to find Annelise, but she can’t be found.  He called, but she didn’t pick up.  He gripped his cell phone so tight, he was fuming mad at himself for not attending the party with Annelise last night.  This could be preventable, Henry thought.  If only…  He strode hurriedly towards the principal’s office.

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Alex skipped the third period and dragged his loyal friend, Keller to the empty computer lab.  He told Keller everything he knew about the theft.

“I have to send her home, Keller.  Whoever is it who done it, he will try to trap her again. I know” Alex restlessly paced back and forth, while Keller calmly sat at a chair opposite him.

“So you think this is a set up?”

“Yes! Of course! Someone who’s either trying to get at me or Annelise!”

“But dude, you got to remember that Annelise is the only one who got the access to Cassandra’s locked room last night”

“Well, if her door is anything like mine, anyone can unlock it with toothpicks. Maybe it’s already gone before Anne got into the room” Alex obviously wasn’t thinking about nothing else but doubt and speculation on Annelise’s case for the last two periods.   He can see that Alex’s faith in Annelise’s innocence will remain unshaken, and he better not question Annelise’s innocence anymore.  It would be pointless, but what’s the point of dragging him here?

“So what do you want to do about it, Alex?” Keller leaned forward; he was interested to know what Alex had in mind about it.

“Well, I figured if I was the real criminal”, he intentionally highlighted on the word ‘real’, as if Keller wasn’t clear enough of his judgment on Annelise “since I couldn’t stuffed the stolen things into Annelise’s locker or something, and I can’t wear that stuff and show it off to public, it would be too obvious, I should get rid of it as soon as I could”
Keller was impressed with his ingenious mind.  He really did think it through.

“And” Alex continued.  “If my theory is right, the criminal shouldn’t be far.  He’s near, he’s waiting for a time he could sneaked in, and maybe he would try to place the stolen property into Anne’s place, maybe her locker, or her bag.  As part two of his plan to ultimately put the blame on Anne.  Anne couldn’t get away from that”

Keller knew Alex was clever, but he always displayed his cleverness academically.  Keller continued listening to what Alex has in mind.

“Now he couldn’t, because Anne is not here.  Even if he put it inside her locker, it’s useless.  Anne didn’t even touch her locker, and every one knew nobody could enter the school unless the clerk opened it first this morning”

Keller blushed, actually last night he did broke into the school, through a secret door but maybe he should keep that to himself.  

“Now, he’s desperate to get rid of the stolen thing.  He can’t sell it to the Paul at the pawn shop.  He can’t just throw it away like rubbish; all his effort will be worthless. He must sell it somehow” Alex stopped pacing and stood right before Keller, his eyes gleaming with confidence, “He’s going to sell it on E-bay”

Keller knew that look in his eyes.  The fiendish grin on Alex’s face that he always show when he schemed a mischievous plan to fool the opponent’s team during huddle, he knew Alex got something devious in mind.  Keller hoped that it wasn’t illegal.

Alex explained to him that he needed Keller’s user name to E-bay so they could search for the bracelet on E-bay.  But Keller told him that he shared the username with his mother, who was too busy to go shopping last Christmas.

“Dervla Egan?  I thought your mother’s name is Dana, and aren’t your family’s name is O’Connell?”

“Dervla is my great grandmother’s name, and Egan is my mother’s maiden name.  Yeah it sounds Irish because we are Irish.  Dude, do you want my help or not?”

“Ok just browse for that teddy bear thing”

“It’s Tous Bear.  Geez… you never read Seventeen magazines before?”

They searched for it and Alex was right all along.  There on the screen before their eyes, a bracelet with irregular round shape of pearls with a piece of a gold teddy bear ready for sale.  It was put at sale exactly this morning; few minutes after Annelise’s went home.  The background seemed familiar to them and after zooming out and in, they agreed that it was put on a white slated tile table; the Home Economics room.

“This things shouldn’t cost that much.  No wonder why nobody bidding on it” Keller pointed at the price displayed beside the picture.  

“If you say so, it’s obvious that he wasn’t the real owner.  Just show me this guy bios”
Keller expertly clicked his way through.  It was said there that the owner was someone name Danielle Harris, the scream queen???!!! They both spoke the words together. And the Danielle Harris lives in Sacramento, CA but Alex pointed at one blunder the Danielle Harris made.

“I don’t know that Sacramento share the same area code as Glenview” Alex grinned devilishly.  “He thinks he’s smart, but I’m smarter”

Alex crackled his knuckles as he stared at the name ‘Danielle Harris’ sharply.  He’s ready to move to stage two of his plan, and nothing could stop him from getting this Danielle Harris.

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Annelise didn’t go home at all; instead she just stayed in her family’s car, bawling her eyes out at the school parking lot.  Amanda volunteered to stay by her side, but Annelise politely asked her not to.  She doesn’t want Amanda to get in trouble for skipping school because of her.  Enough is enough, she thought as she saw Amanda entering the big red building.  No one should get in trouble because of me anymore.

She wanted to go to the restaurant where her parents were at this time, but she was afraid of their reaction when she told them about the theft.  And she prayed for the Principal to be considerate enough not to tell her parents about it.  Her father would be gentle on her, but her mother, she will be scornfully mad.  Once when she was in Grade Two, she was slapped by her mother for breaking her mother favorite china.  And another time when she was in kindergarten, he mother pinched her arms after Alex told their mother that Annelise lose his toy car.  She rubbed her upper arm like the bruise was still there.  Her mother was cold towards her but when she’s angry, she could get physically abusing.   There’s no way she should tell her parents.

She was lost.  She couldn’t hope for Alex to shield her anymore, Alex must be very disappointed at her.  Haven’t she disappointed him enough all this years?  That she was just another excess baggage he must carry, a black dot in his white paper of image.  She was about to turn on the ignition when Amanda came running at her like she was chased by a rabid dog.

“Annelise…..” she couldn’t breathe.  Amanda never exercised her whole life, suddenly sprinting up like that clearly took a toll on her metabolism.  “Annelise…. The Principal…he asked for you…now!”

Annelise was surprised.  Her heart was beating rapidly.  What is it now?  She dragged her feet heavily out from the car, she don’t know what to expect but she hoped it is not another stone lumped on the heaps of tragedies she has been carrying all along.  Amanda held her close as they walked in the school building.  The hallway was empty; all the students were already attending classes at this time.

Annelise walked into the Principal’s office, alone, with no hope but lots of queries.    Henry was there, and he was talking to Principal McKenzie.  What does this had to do with her?

‘Ms Harrison, I’m not sure what happen between Mr Schmidt and your brother but at time like this, you should put it away for your sake” Annelise doesn’t understand at all what Principal McKenzie was delivering.  

Annelise carefully seated herself at a vacant seat beside Henry.  Henry looked calm but serious. But when he saw her, he smiled.

“Mr Schmidt here told me that he was the one who escort you out from the party last night” Principal McKenzie explained to her.

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Annelise was speechlessly shocked.  She looked at Henry who was eerily calm, she wanted to tell the truth but Henry quickly placed his hand on hers.

“It’s okay, Anne.  I already told Principal McKenzie here that you couldn’t tell what really happened last time because Alex was there” How Henry was able to keep cool while lying through his teeth was something incomprehensible to Annelise.  “You remember the first time I met him, he almost punch me on my face”

Henry winked.  Now Annelise felt like she wanted to punch him too. What does he think he was doing?  To be charged with theft was something, but to participate in fabricating a false alibi to the Principal is something else.  

“I think there must be some kind of mistake here, Principal. I...I…” she desperately wanted to say the truth but she couldn’t.  It occurred to her mind that this wasn’t about her anymore.  Henry has willingly lied to the Principal to save her, to put himself in risks for her sake, it would be right if she just say the truth but it will do Henry wrong.  So she sat back to her seat, and agreed with everything that Henry said.

Principal McKenzie was satisfied with the alibi that Henry has provided to him. It matched his timeline.  Henry explained to him that Annelise called him to pick her up, and by the time he was there, the party has moved to the outside, to the pool.  And Annelise was waiting for him at the gate.  It was impossible for Annelise to be at Cassandra’s room because it would take almost 10 minutes for Annelise to walk there, and Henry was there in less than 15 minutes.  The Patrick and Campbell is practically neighbor, separated by an acre of orchard, and Henry recalled he was brought there by his grandparents to the Patrick’s residence once, and he remembered exactly where the garage was because his grandfather needed to borrow a tool.  

Henry too expressed his surprise when he saw Annelise drenched in orange liquid, lying through and through like he was a professional swindler.  Annelise just tagged along, agreeing everything and anything that Henry said.

Finally Principal McKenzie declared that Annelise was innocence, and Henry grinned triumphantly.  But Annelise just sat there guiltily, unhappy even though she’s now not on the top of the suspect list anymore.  

Annelise couldn’t look at Henry at all.  Even when they were both out from the office, walking side by side, Annelise refused to even glance at him.  She was disappointed at Henry, she should be grateful, she knew that, but there’s nothing decent in Henry’s act of saving her.  

“I came up with this plan, and I tried to call you but….” Henry tried to start a conversation but Annelise didn’t respond at all.  Instead her steps went faster till he was left behind.  He watched her strode away from him, avoiding him like he was a plague.  Henry knew he couldn’t do anything.  Annelise was a victim, she was at a wrong place at a wrong time, but he was worse.  He was going too fast; too fast he has crossed the borderline.  Some other time, he told himself.  He is just not ready to give up on Annelise yet.

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Alex didn’t know how to react when Principal McKenzie called him during recess and declared that the case was closed.  A part of him was relieved when Annelise was proven not guilty, but another part of him was displeased when Henry was the one who prove her not guilty.  And it irked him more when Principal McKenzie advised him to end any rows he had with Henry since Henry has factually saved Annelise.

“Just because he came from a European country, it doesn’t make him a knight in shining armor, Keller” Alex expressed his discontentment to Keller. The class they were sitting in was empty; everyone has gone home since 10 minutes ago.

“Are you jealous of him, Alex?”  Keller moved three paces away from him upon asking the crucial question.  He puts himself at a safe distance so Alex’s punch won’t reach him.

“What? I’m not jealous.  It just… you know…he should come out earlier.  If he really cares about Anne, he shouldn’t wait till like half a day and confessed everything.”  He blabbered like an angry old man.  “He could be lying, you know.  I mean, why would Anne want to cover him up like that?”

“Well….” Keller rubbed his necks with his right palm.  “First time you meet that guy, you almost beat him.  I was there, Alex, remember?”

“That doesn’t mean I hate him” Alex denied it.  “I still think he was lying.  Anne won’t make up a story about a couple from Arizona, she could just say the truth” Alex was unhappy with the likelihood that Annelise once again lied or hide something from him.  Didn’t just a few days ago she promised her that? No more lies, no more secrets.  What power does this Henry guy had on her that she keenly broke the promises she made with him?  That very thought bewildered him.  Bewildered him so much he wished he should just punch that German boy the very day he met him, so he will stay away from Annelise for good.

Keller packed his notes and books into his bags.  He remembered an appointment he made with a vet this evening, and he’s going to be late if he stayed there and listened to Alex ranting about a credulous new student from German who heroically saved Annelise.  “Well, Alex, I’d say, if that Henry really did lied straight to the face of our shrewd Principal McKenzie, that’s just means he cares so much about Annelise he risked anything to save her.  That shouldn’t be a bad thing right?  With you going away, at least someone is taking care of Annelise”

Alex was not amused at all with the idea of being replaced with someone else.  Keller patted his shoulder, but Alex was still sullen.  

“Look Alex, Annelise’s case is closed.  You better act quickly on how to tell your girlfriend we’ve found her bracelet auctioned off on E-bay.  Closed this case once and for all, my friend”

Keller was right.  But Alex couldn’t help himself from thinking about Annelise.  There was a big probability that Annelise was lying to him all along.  Maybe Keller was right, maybe Annelise was secretly in a relationship with Henry she would have done everything to keep him from knowing about it.  Even to the point of sacrificing her future for it. The class was empty, Alex realized that.  What he didn’t realized was that it almost 4.  And he doesn’t want to go home.  He’ll meet Annelise there, and he’ll be so irately angry at her, and who know what he’ll say to her?  He’ll make her cry, again.  And that’s one promise he wished he didn’t have to break.   He needs to cool off, so he took his bag and headed to the school gym.  He’s going to unleashed it all on the punching bag.

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When Annelise reached home that evening, she wasn’t thinking about Henry or the theft or anything at all.  She was thinking about Alex.  What she should say to Alex, of how she explained it to him.  She thought maybe she should serves him a slice of his favorite raspberry cheese cake, or tidied up his room, heck, she was even thinking if she should stay at Amanda’s house for a few days and posted him a card that said ‘I’m sorry but I didn’t lied or hide anything from you. I swear’

He cursed Henry for suddenly came up with a lie like that.  She remembered the recent promises she made to Alex.  No more secret, no more lies.  Annelise knew Alex has all the right to be mad at her, but she wished that Alex won’t forget his promise too.  No more tears.  She wished Alex would listen to her, and still trust her.  She thought it was weird that she was more concern about Alex’s feeling that anything else.  Alex does matter to her, so deeply.

The doorbell rang.  She looked through the peephole, and it was Amanda.  Amanda must have heard about Henry’s confession and she must be here for the scoop.  Nevertheless she let her in.

“You were with Henry last night?  Where you two did went last night? You have to tell me Annelise. You have to!” Amanda assailed her best friend with endlessly streams of questions like a vulture on a carcass.  

“Annelise, what you did to Henry was romantic.  And what he did to you was romantic too. Oh you guys were like Romeo and Juliet.  Wait, does that means Alex was the evil guy here?”  Annelise didn’t know how to start telling Amanda the real truth.  

“Mandy, it is not what you think it is, okay” Annelise tried to calm her down with a mug of warm coffee.  “Henry is not like what he seems”

Amanda put her mug of coffee on the kitchen island, and leaned closer toward Annelise.  Annelise didn’t look so excited or thrilled to talk about Henry.  At first she thought that Annelise and Henry were keeping their relationship hushed because they don’t want Alex to find out, but now it seems so opposite.  

“What do you mean by that? Henry is not like what he seems?” Amanda tried to dig out more information from Annelise.

“Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good guy.  What he did was good, but….” Should she be telling Amanda that underneath that charming persona of Henry, he was actually a proficient liar?

“You know what, Mandy.  Let’s forget about it.  It’s over anyway.”  Annelise refused to elaborate more on Henry.  She was too kindhearted to do so.  Beside, Henry was only telling a little white lie.  She shouldn’t validate him as a hypocrite based on that one little white lie, right?  She mentally assured herself.  

Amanda held back her next question, maybe she should give Annelise more time to open up about her and Henry.  Annelise is a timid, obedient girl, though recently she has been showing a bolder side of her especially when confronting her brother, and yes Annelise did told a lie or two but she was still the shyest girl she ever knew.  Maybe she was just shy.

“Ok Mandy.  Moment of truth.  Where did you go to last night and with whom you were with?” Annelise stared squarely at Amanda.  She smiled cheekily while Amanda worked her brain out.  If Annelise was so secretive about Henry, why should she reveal to her about Keller? So Amanda made up a story which was not entirely untrue.  She did tell her how Medee and Brianna tricked her to go to school and trapped her there, but she skipped the whole Keller’s part.  Instead she excited Annelise with how brave she was escaping from school all by herself.

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The two girls chatted happily, unaware with Alex’s arrival at the front porch.  But someone was already waiting for Alex, it was Cassandra.  Obviously she was not happy with how the case has closed.  She tried to call Alex, but Alex was unreachable.  Alex intentionally has turned off his cell phone during his time at the gym.

Alex was too exhausted he wanted to pretend that Cassandra wasn’t there.  But her red convertible was too noticeable, and so was the look of frustration on her face.  Alex walked to Cassandra’s car, which she park by the road and seat himself in.  

“Oh Alex, don’t you believe it?  Annelise escaped!  I swear I didn’t misplace it, it was stolen Alex! And it was…..”  Cassandra kept on whining, but Alex was too worn out to focus on what she was talking about.  The leather seat was so comfy he almost fell asleep.  But he can’t.  Cassandra’s snarling voice was too loud to his ears.

“Cassie, it was just a bracelet okay.  I’ll buy another one for you.  In fact, if you love it so much I’ll buy the whole stock available for you.  Just let it go okay?” Alex shut her up from her self-centeredness once Cassandra started to condemn Annelise.    Cassandra cowered in her seat, she should knew that she and Alex will never been in the same page when it came to Annelise.  For her, Annelise was nothing than a clingy, wimpy girl, a damsel that will always be in distress.  And Alex was the willing slave, he trusted her too much and blindly he couldn’t see that he has been wasting his precious time while he pampered Annelise.  Cassandra challenged herself if someday she could change Alex’s fondness; she thought she made it when Alex agreed to go to Andover.  But apparently she still got a long way to go before she got hold of Alex.  Oh what did you see in Annelise, Alex?

“It’s over, Cassandra.  Get over it.  Annelise is not guilty and maybe sometimes you can be wrong” Alex didn’t mean to hurt her, but she was too arrogant to admit the truth that has been laid right in front of her eyes.  If only Cassandra wasn’t too self-absorb with herself, maybe Alex could learn to love her more.  

“Get out from my car, Alex.  I don’t want to talk to you anymore!”  Alex humbly did as she told him to.  Cassandra zoomed off from the street; clearly she was exasperated with Alex.  But Alex couldn’t care less; he was fed up with Cassandra endlessly demoting Annelise like she was a lowlife.

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“Oh hey Alex!  You’re late today!”  Amanda cheerfully welcomed Alex home, while Annelise rigidly sat at the corner of the sofa.  The girls were watching television at the living room when Alex entered the house.  Alex smiled back; he was too weary to join the girls.  So he went upstairs, straight to his room.  Annelise misunderstood it as a sign of his resentfulness.

She was glad Amanda was there with her, Alex wouldn’t dare to scold her in front of a guest, but just a few minutes later, Amanda received a call.  She had to get home, something about Kaleb getting worm.  Annelise cursed herself repeatedly.  

Alex was lying on his bed, but he was fighting the urge to sleep because he needed to take a shower before he can do so.  He was drenched in his own sweats, and he stinks.  He knew he need to get up now but his warm bed was so inviting.  

“Alex…” there was a knock on his door, and Annelise calling out his name.  He opened the door, and Annelise was there in front of him holding a cup of warm coffee.  Her nose twitched, Alex smelled like a skunk.  

“You look tired, Alex” Alex didn’t answered, instead he slumped himself back at his bed.  Annelise placed the coffee at his table lamp, and seated herself at the edge of his bed.  

“I made you something.  Maybe you need some caffeine, well, you know it’s too early anyway for you to sleep” Beside you seriously need to bath, Alex.  Annelise offered him the coffee.

Alex rested on one elbow, took a swig of the black coffee, and suddenly he sprang up from his bed and bolted to the open window.  The coffee tasted so weird he threw it all out.

“Anne, what did you put in the coffee?” Alex reached for a bottle of mineral water in his bag and gargled with it.

“Well, grounded coffee, hot water, and then I added some Gatorade for kicks”.  Annelise stuttered.  “And I know you don’t take sugar so I replaced it with maple syrup”  

The coffee was kicking all right.  Repulsively kicking it jolted him up from fatigue.  The coffee tasted nothing like coffee at all.  

Alex drank up the whole mineral water to clear the remaining acidic taste of the mixture Annelise made for him.  From the corner of his eyes he saw Annelise cornering herself at the closed door.  And he laughed, he laughed so hard when he saw how panic-stricken Annelise was.

“Look, Anne.  Can you please next time just stick to the original recipe?  You could poison someone with your cooking”

Annelise was so ashamed with herself.  Her culinary skill was not in par with Alex, yet she still want to experiment.  She didn’t meant to poison him, but she saw how Alex creatively mixed different ingredients to make a yummy beverage, she thought maybe she could do the same.  But apparently her combination didn’t work.  

“So you are not mad at me?” Annelise coyly asked.  

“No, I’m not mad at you.  Not at all” Alex sat back at his bed, and tapped the bed a few times.  A gesture for Annelise to come and sat beside him.

Annelise obediently sat at his bed.  Alex’s face was still glowingly red for laughing too hard.  He was in a good mood.

“And I’m not mad at you keeping a secret from me, Anne. I just thought what really matter is that you’re safe”

Annelise knew Alex was lying.  She can sense the quiver in his voice, and how he steered his eyes away from her.  

“I swear Alex.  I’ve made a promise to you.  I swear everything I’ve said to you is true.  I didn’t….” Alex put his fingers on her lips, hushing her.  He couldn’t hear another word from Annelise anymore.  He was afraid that the lines of lies that Annelise uttered to him will deteriorate the trust he has built on her.   

“You don’t have to please me, Anne.  I know you’ve made a promise to me.  And I made mine too.  I’m trying to hold on to that promise”   he smiled bitterly, while his fingers gingerly caressed her face.  Annelise wanted to say something, but she understood it very well.  Alex couldn’t trust her anymore.  Whatever words that came out from her mouth will only confused him more, and she’ll be undeserving to be heard by him.   

She wanted to tell him that Henry was the one who made up all the lies, but would he believe her?  She doubted it that he will.  She wished that she remained charged as guilty though she’s not than to lost Alex’s trust in her.  

“Alex, what can I do?  What can I do to make you believe in me again?”  Annelise was determined to set everything right with Alex again.  She’d do anything that he asked her to.  She will.

But Alex just said nothing; he got up from his bed, and took out a towel from his rack. “I need to take a bath, Anne.  Thanks for the coffee anyway” And Alex headed out from his room, leaving Annelise alone in her room.

Annelise sat there for a moment.  Clearly she has lost all hopes in regaining Alex’s confidence in her.  And Alex did hold on to his promise, he promised not to make her cry, but she did cry.  Only this time, she’s crying alone.

hotmum

wow!! .. at last ada entry ... ...

agak nya annalise end up dgn alex atau tak? ...

annehuda

wow!! .. at last ada entry ...  ...

agak nya annalise end up dgn alex atau tak? ...
hotmum Post at 6-9-2011 11:16

    susah nk cakap sbb diorg ni kan adik beradik walaupun sbnrnye tak sedarah n sedaging.

ntahle hot mum, tak fikir lg endingnye mcm mane...huhuhu

annehuda

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Cassandra carefully maneuvered her car left, entering the compound of her neighbor, the Campbell.  It has been a long time since she visited them; the last she remembered was when she was 12, selling brownies as girl’s scout from house to house.  The house in her memory was supposedly an old colonial style house with chipped white pain and heavy glass door that creaked, but now the Campbell has done a heavy renovation on their house.  Now it was painted in pale yellow, the rustic wood porch was now decorated with lattice fence and hanging pots of blue star-shaped flowers,  their weather beaten roof were now replaced with new tiles, and the Campbell even added a little garage to park 2 cars at the right side of their double-story house.  When did the Campbell become so rich? She thought.

But she wasn’t there to visit the elderly couples.  She wanted to meet their grandson, and there he was, at the front porch trimming the hedge with garden shears, manicuring it into perfect squares.  He was shirtless, with a Bermuda short that covered till his knees, and he didn’t heard her coming since he had his ears covered with earphones.  He was humming his favorite tunes, repeating the chorus ‘Heute ist mein Tag' like he was in a trance.  She wanted to honk at him to get his attention, but knowing it was so unladylike for a classy girl like her, she parked her car at the pebbled pathway and walked towards him.

She tapped his shoulder, and he almost jumped out from his own skin.  He turned around, and his right eyebrow rose upon seeing a rare visitor at this unlikely time of the day.  Cassandra stood in front of him, ogling at his naked chest.  He was undoubtedly tall, but he wasn’t scrawny like those Asian kids that she knew at Glen View.  His body was statue-like, almost 0% fat but all brawns, a feast to women’s eyes.  

“Aren’t you cold?”  Cassandra crossed her arm around her upper body; she was getting uncomfortable seeing him half naked for too long.
Henry blushed when he realized he was shirtless.  He grabbed his shirt that lie on the lattice wall of his porch and put it on, hastily.  “So what can I do for you, Cassie?  My grandparents, they went to Chicago, seeing some old friends there”

Cassandra cleared her throat, and looked at him seriously.  “First, it’s Cassandra, to you Heinrich.  We’re not that close and you only knew me less that a month to call me that”.  

Henry nodded, understandably.  She was right, they had never chatted with each other before.  And it has been quite a time for him to hear someone calling him by his Germany name, it was somewhat refreshing, but now he felt homesick.  

Cassandra continued talking to him amidst the grimace on his face.  “I know that you lied to the Principal to protect Annelise”

For a few seconds, Henry looked terrified, and Cassandra was so certain she has pinned him down.  Then he grinned, and relaxingly he leaned on the hedge like he doesn’t care about it at all.  “ist das neu?   Habe ich was verpasst?” Was that something new?  Did I miss something here?

Henry was mocking her.  She angrily curled her fist into a ball, as Henry cheekily grinned at her.  “Stop it, Heinrich.  I knew you were lying, don’t deny it and don’t take me as a fool.”

He knew she was infuriated with her, yes he was surprised that someone actually found out that he was lying in order to protect Annelise, but he doubted it that Annelise would told anyone.  Cassandra must have done her own investigation on this matter.  Cassandra is smart but relentless; Henry began to think highly of her.  

“Yes, I did lie, Cassandra” Henry confessed.  Cassandra surely didn’t expect that, she imagined Henry would beg her not to burst his bubbles, especially not to the Principal.  And Henry looked so relaxed, that she herself couldn’t utter a word to complacent herself.

“But I want to know how did you found out about it?” Henry calmly asked her.  The sun was almost set now, and the rays of lights dissipate slowly as the sun descent into the thick woods that surrounded the house, creating a grim environment  all around them. Cassandra had a creepy feeling that Henry could attack her to cover his secret, she thought how psycho could this guy be?  He lied for a girl he knew for less a month, he confessed that he lied to her, and instead of begging to be saved, he was asking for her method of finding the truth.  Henry was eerily calm, like the main character she watched in American Psycho.  

“Look, I’m not going to hurt you, okay? You caught me, I just want to know how” Henry put his hands up, showing her his bare palms.  The shears that she imagined so sharp it would stings her flesh, was long thrown to the ground.  Her irrational fears must have shown on her face.  She shook her head, thinking she had watched too many psychological thriller movies.

“Well, I have a security camera at the gate. And I checked it, Annelise walked out alone.  You never been to my house that night”

Henry certainly didn’t realize that. He sat down at the porch’s steps, and took a big swig of lemonade that he had prepared earlier on.  He didn't offer one to Cassandra, he doubted it that Cassandra would want to share drink from the same bottle with him.

“Why do you want to protect her so much?  She’s dragging Alex’s down, and now she’s forcing you to commit a crime.  You could be expelled because of her”  

Henry heaved out a long breath.  “I have an intuition that Annelise was innocent”

Cassandra scoffed.  She wanted to laugh it all out.  She thought that Henry was too smart to rely on a fine thread of baseless intuition.  But Henry delivered her a mocking grin that annoyed her so much.

“Hey Cassandra, I remembered that your father installed a security camera in your garage too.  Right above that wooden container box where he keeps all the keys.  I remember he told me he wanted to make sure that your brother, Jason won’t snuck out with one of his fancy car”

He sneered as he watched Cassandra’s reaction upon hearing what he had said.  

“What  did you say?” Cassandra obviously didn't know about that one little fact.  Her father won't tell his children about it, he won't be able to catch them red handed then.

“I’d say” Henry rose, and stood before Cassandra, looking down at her as now he’s almost a foot taller than her,  “it’s getting late, and you better go home now.  You need to look at that video too, and see if Annelise was indeed guilty”

Henry turned his back to her, he was about to walked away when Cassandra said something to him.  “Hey you know, I could tell Principal about this, I have the proof, and you could be punished.  Aren't you afraid I'd do that?”

Henry looked back at her, she wasn't curling her fists anymore, instead she was curious to know his answer.  Henry thought solemnly, and sighed out.  “Well, at least if you want to sent me to the dungeon, I hope you'll be righteous enough to put Annelise out from this accusation.”

She was even curious to know why Henry was so loyally confident to Annelise.  Alex bore the same level of confident to Annelise too.  What is so special about Annelise that they would sacrifices anything to save her?

“And you are so confident that I won't see Annelise in the video, taking my keys and went to my room?  What if she did, Heinrich?  You'll lose everything, your reputation, your dignity, you'll be send back to Wolfsburg because of your blind trust to Annelise.  Won't you regret it?”

Her question was left unanswered for a few seconds.  Cassandra couldn't see his face as he was looking down at the floor, he was pondering of probabilities that Cassandra could be right, and his instinct was all wrong all this time.  He was afraid that he was betrayed by his own false instinct, Annelise didn't beg him to save her at all. He voluntarily did that, thinking no one would knew and the secret will be buried forever.

“Then proved me wrong, Cassandra.  Take a look at the video and tell me if I was wrong.  I'll take the blame.  When I decided to cover Annelise, I know the risk.  And I'm willing to take it”

Cassandra wanted to praise his boldness, but Henry already opened his front door to enter his house, and so Cassandra left too, with a plan to do what Henry has suggested to her.

annehuda

kisah sedih masa nk tulis chapter 17

my kitten tetiba cabut plug laptop, dahle tak pakai bateri. nsb baik ade autosave, ni jelah sempat nk selamat.

part 2 tgh ingat2 balik ni....

hotmum

alahaaaiiii ..... ingat la cepat2 anne .. hehehe ... lama sungguh nak ada n3 .. sure u raya habis2san .... hehehe ....

liawseng

kisah sedih masa nk tulis chapter 17

my kitten tetiba cabut plug laptop, dahle tak pakai bateri.  ...
annehuda Post at 26-9-2011 10:40

    yeay dah ada entry...lama dah tunggu : thanks anne..
samar dah kucing kita..mines  pun suka jer nak cabut plug laptop I.. kalao masa dia nak bermanja tapi kita x nak layan mula-mula  dia akan duduk atas my laptop..kalo tak jalan juga dia pegi cabut plug ..tensenn betull nasib baik comel

annehuda

alahaaaiiii ..... ingat la cepat2 anne .. hehehe ... lama sungguh nak ada n3 .. sure u raya habis2sa ...
hotmum Post at 26-9-2011 10:55

hari ni mmg tak concentrate keje nk ingat balik....aiii..nasib baik la si roly tu comel tau...

annehuda

yeay dah ada entry...lama dah tunggu : thanks anne..
samar dah kucing kita..mines  pun s ...
liawseng Post at 26-9-2011 16:15

    kucing mmg suka amek perhatian kan? tp kerenah diorg mmg menghiburkan....  

hotmum

Reply 97# annehuda

hahaha .. kucing siam? ...

annehuda

Annelise waited for Alex to come out from the bathroom.  She has made up her mind.  She doesn’t care what will happen to her or to Henry, but Alex has to know the truth.  She can’t stand being assumed as a liar anymore.  

She didn’t give Alex any chance to put on his clothes; she just went out with the truth behind the whole confession.

“Why would he want to do that?  You two just knew each other for like less a month” Alex expressed his dismay over the matter.

“I don’t know.  I really don’t.  But one thing for sure, Alex, we’re not an item, not a couple, not partner or anything.  He just the new kid in school, and I’m his first friend here”

Alex put on a V-neck green t-shirt stamped with the logo of his favorite band.  He still found her story a bit weird, and mistrustful.  There’s a part of him that actually relieved, if Henry mean anything, or at least something to Annelise, shouldn’t she protect him with her dear life?

“Alex we should tell the Principal.  It doesn’t feel right.  I’m not guilty but it doesn’t have to be proved through a lie”

Alex thought about it for a moment.  It was morally decent for him to do so, but for the sake of Annelise, he’s willing to be a hypocrite.

“No, just let it be” Alex continued talking as Annelise opened her mouth to argue.  “If we do that, we’ll go back to point zero, the point where you are the accused one.  So just let it be”

Annelise let out a long sigh, and looked at Alex who was tending his hair, acting like it was no big deal.  “Alex what if someone else found out?  I’d be blame for this, everyone will think Henry is my accomplice.  I mean he’s new, and he seems like a nice boy.  Nobody will think he’s the one willing to lie for the behalf of me”

Alex saw from his mirror, the reflection of Annelise with her head bow down, stifled a quiet sob as to hold back her first stream of tears from dropping down.  Alex knew she was worried, disappointed, and powerless.  A whole lot of things happened to her today, and none of it was caused by her.  It just sprung out like the parasitic weeds that no gardener would like.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay.  Trust me.  No one will bother to find out”  But his words of encouragement didn’t soothe her, instead he saw how watery her eyes were, and how her hands gripped together so tightly.  She was afraid, afraid of whatever dire occurrence will happen to her next.

“Hey” Alex moved to Annelise and wrapped his arms around Annelise, who was seating on his bed.  Her head was resting on his abdomen, and he already felt her tears dampened his shirt.  “Everything is going to be okay, I promise.  I’ll make sure it’s okay”

Annelise felt an instant ease.  Though she was curious of how Alex would handle it, but she didn’t bother to ask.  All she knew is how safe and protected she felt at this time, how his arms enveloped her, sheltering her against the cruel world.  She held on to him as long as she could, and he hugged her even tighter.  He even planted a little kiss on her crown of jet black hair.