Annie could feel the muscles of her chin tremble like a small child, There's static in her head once more, the side effect of the constant fear, constant stress she lived with.
"Anna?" At the sound of her mother's trembling voice, It takes somethin...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
~•~ "So many strong women began as broken girls." ~•~
Who knew such small legs could run so fast. Andy and Henry sure hadn't. They were following her with the car, down and around two blocks. Annie hadn't even realised they would be waiting for her outside. She couldn't get herself to cry and she couldn't stop running. She told herself after Australia she wouldn't have to, she'd never have to run again, her 'death' had reassured her that she wouldn't but here she was. Andy drove straight past Annie and then the car came to a halt, and so did she, the two boys exited the car, something broke inside of them when they saw the distressed look on the girls face. This is exactly what they were worried about, they were so sure that family would corrupt this girl, they didn't realise it would happen so quickly.
"Oh, Anna." She heard Andy say before she was pulled into his arms, "This is what you wanted, isn't it? Aye? To be reunited with your family." Annie cried against his chest and he held her even tighter. "Not like this. I never wanted it like this." She pulled away, peering up at Andy with tear filled brown eyes. "They're monsters." She felt someone holding onto the tips of her fingers, Henry stood on Andy's right, looking at her pitifully, with her hand in his. Annie looked back at Andy as she heard him speak, "No," He lulled, wiping the tears from her face. "Yes," Annie nodded, it hurt her to say it, but was there any other way she could describe them? "And they've even got you two wrapped around their fingers because they know you're too scared to say no. You're too scared for your family, how can I affiliate myself with people that would take advantage of that? ... it's sickening." And that feeling in her stomach, wouldn't just fade, Annie wondered if it had been this hard for Michael to come around.
"You're already affiliated with them, by choice or not. We don't get to pick our family, Annie."
Annie shook her head, "I don't believe that. I picked Alison and Elsie, they're more family than they will ever be."
"That will be your choice to make." Henry said, people were beginning to peak through their curtains and watch the commotion. "Mums made dinner, you're welcome to join us, Anna. If you want?" Anna perked up at Henry's words.
"I am?"
"Always." Andy said, brushing the hairs from her face.
~•~•
Annie sat silently in the back seat, the bumps in the road rocking the car every now and then. "I spent years running towards my family," she thought of all the times she'd escape her adoption homes to get back to her sisters. "I never thought I'd find myself running away from them."
Henry was the one who spoke up next.
"Sometimes, we do things without thinking rationally. And we need a few moments to ourselves to recollect our thoughts. That's not running away, Annie. Even so, our instincts are our closest friends, and if your gut is telling you to get out of somewhere, it's best to listen to it. Does that make sense?" Annie was quite surprised that this had come from Henry. She nodded, slowly. "Yeah, it does." Her voice came out as a hoarse murmur.
"When did you become so wise, brother?" Andy seemed surprised too. "Always have been, you were just too busy noticing my faults." He countered. Andy rolled his eyes.
"You said your mum was a teacher, what does she teach?" Annie rested her head against the seat, her eyes fluttered shut. "Languages, mainly french and sign language, that kind of this." Andy answered. Annie's eyes snapped open. "Languages?" She said, it almost came out as a whisper, like she was in a daze. Andy chuckled, "Yeah, you any good at it?" Andy asked, taking a sharp left turn. "I'm fucking good." The words reminded her of a moment on the boat, with Tommy and she felt her stomach twist. She'd trusted that man, she knew he held secrets but, the depth of this one ... she forget how much she loathed men, sometimes.
"... And a piano." He was describing Polly's home, the best he could. Annie was watching him with wide curious eyes. "A piano?" She asked, rather loudly. Tommy chuckled, "You play?" He asked, Annie nodded. "Yeah, I play?"
"Any good at it?"
"I'm fucking good." She grinned.
She shook herself out of that memory. Everything about those two months had been a lie, almost like a trap, she wouldn't know what she was getting into and he wouldn't tell her because he knew she wouldn't have come if he did. And that broke Anna's heart.
"We're here. You sure you want to?"
Annie sighed, before nodding. "Anywhere but Watery Lane would be good." She conjured up a small smile, and Andy nodded, glad it was there. Even if she was faking it.
A/n boy besties> boyfriend. Seriously I love Andy and Henry! New faces next chapter! Vote and comment! What do you lot think about tier four?😬
Also , I think I will start a sequel once Anna has really settled in, like I'll do one for each season 😍 what'd you think? Or I might just keep it as one book
