Never Again

06

Don't you call him baby
We're not talking lately
Don't you call him what you used to call me

Cherry
Harry Styles
2019

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A  N  N  I  E

"Mm." Annie mumbled almost silently as she opened her eyes only to end up squinting.

She rubbed her eyes and looked around seeing all the boys still asleep.

More sleep. Annie thought to herself as she laid her head back on her pillow. Wait! What! I didn't bring a pillow! The voice in her head yelled and Annie opened in eye to come face with a blue fabric.

A soft fabric.

What puzzled her was that she had nothing with this color of blue. And nothing this soft. Or warm and comforting.

Annie slowly lifted her head and saw a shoulder, then a neck. She looked fully upwards to see a sleeping boy. A sleeping Benny.

Somehow when she had fallen asleep she ended up laying down with her head on Bennys right chest and shoulder. Her legs wrapped loosely around his.

Benny's right arm was wrapped around her waist holding her and the blanket which had previously covered their intertwined hands had been placed under their waist revealing their hands which were still holding onto each other with strength, care and a soft gentleness that warmed Annie's heart.

At that moment Annie was grateful the boys were still asleep. If they saw the two, who knows when they would hear the end of it. They might have never.

Annie slowly attempted moving away from the comfortable position but failed as Benny's arm was around her waist and if she moved her legs she would wake him.

"Benny." Annie whispered softly to him causing him to stir slightly in his sleep though he didn't move. "Bennyyy." Annie whispered dragging out the y.

He still didn't move the way Annie hoped for. Instead he snuggled closer to her placing his head in the crook of her neck. This action caused Annie to turned crimson red.

"Um, Benny. Jet. Hello?" Annie whispered.

Benny didn't move as Annie watched him for about a minute so she made the executive decision to poke him.

She lifted her hand from his chest which made him stir as he mumbled and furrowed his brows.

She placed her index finger on his cheek and poked him gently. His eyes flickered before coming to a stop. Annie poked him again on the nose and his eyes squinted. Once again, Annie poked his chin and he lifted his hand from her waist to his face and rubbed it.

Annie took this chance to move a few inches from the boy before it got awkward.

Though he opened his eyes to see Annie moving her feet from his and her body. He turned pink.

"Did we.. did you... did I..?" Benny stuttered making Annie laugh and all worries of embarrassment disappeared from the girl in an instant.

"I think it got cold last night." Annie said with a small smile as she blushed.

Benny removed the blanket from him to move it to her only to completely reveal their locked hands.

B E N N Y

The two stared at their hands for a while before Benny slowly unwrapped his fingers to take his hand back with a red face.

But Annie, gaining confidence, took his hand back with both of hers and brought his larger hand to her slightly smaller one and intertwined them again taking time placing his fingers down to hold her hand.

That's how two hours before the others woke up were spent.

Benny watching Annie play with his hands. Unwrapping and wrapping their hands and fingers together. There was a small break a few times where Annie just held her pinky finger with his index finger.

Benny watched the girl, continue playing with his own hand intently. With care.

Watching Annie gave him a warm feeling in his chest. Near where his science teachers said was his heart. Every time Annie touched his hand he felt warmth. Completely ignoring his surroundings. Ignoring the boys. Ignoring the location. Ignoring their messy bed hair. Ignoring the dried drool on their faces. Ignoring the sun that beamed into the treehouse window. Ignoring the creaks every time someone moved in their sleep. Ignoring the growls from the beast. Ignoring his messy state. Ignoring her messy state. Ignoring anything. Everything. Everyone. Everyone except...her. He focused on her facial expressions. He couldn't hear the birds or the sound of people in the town waking up. He only heard her slow steady heartbeat and his fast pacing one.

He had feelings. Feelings for Annie.

Never in his life had he felt such at such a calming state with anyone who he could possibly imagine having a future with.

It was him, the boys, the sandlot, and baseball. That's all there ever was. Now he had an infatuation with someone.

He knew it wasn't love or if he was madly in love with her. He knew it was a small crush.

He felt he was going crazy. He had only just met her and he felt romantic feelings towards his friends sister.

It sounded insane, but he did. An infatuation with the strangest girl he ever met.

She played ball and she was good at it. Yet she cared for simple things instead of "important" things. She loved making crowns and enjoyed wearing dresses once in a while for the fun of it. To feel like a princess.

She did activities associated with "tomboys" but was a sweet kind girl who loved to dream.

And he was falling for her. Badly.

"Annie?" A voice said with a tired tone. Benny finally came back from the clouds to see Scotty who was now half awake. His eyes still closed.

"Yes?" Annie spoke softly not wanting to wake the others.

"Is that you humming?" Scotty asked with his eyes still shut.

"Sorry, I was enjoying the morning. It's a beautiful morning." Annie said with an apologetic smile Scotty couldn't see.

"Oh ok." Scotty said as he laid back down and fell asleep.

And the whole time Annie kept her eyes on Bennys hands. Not moving her gaze to someone else. She kept her hands locked with his. Not caring if anyone saw. And she hummed.

Beautiful morning.. Benny thought as he stared at the girl who continued her task at hand.

•••
Cheesy. I know.

Chapter's   question:
What's your favorite fruit?