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CHAPTER 5 Why Does She Like Him?

Evan

After school, I went home and waited in my room patiently for Annie. She was supposed to get here soon after me. Any moment now.

The doorbell rang all of a sudden, so I jumped up. It must be her.

"You are late," I said irritably. I looked her up and down. She was wearing the same clothes from school.

"Sorry. Mom had me do some chores," she said quietly.

"Or is it because you were too busy hanging out with the squirrel?" I asked.

"Squir...oh you mean Brent. No, that's not it," she said. I stared at her face. I don't think I ever remember her lying about anything, so I accepted her answer.

"Come with me," I pulled her by the arm and went to my room, then slammed the door shut.

"I don't understand," Annie said while adjusting her glasses. "Your room looks clean." she looked around then looked at me with confusion.

"Forget about the cleaning. What is the deal with you and Brent?" I asked directly. I was dying of curiosity. What did that squirrel have that fascinated Annie so much?

"Oh um...we..I think I like him," she was hesitant.

"You think you like him," I repeated. I was suddenly feeling annoyed. It wasn't an uncommon thing for a teenage girl to like to have a crush, but why did she have to pick that squirrel face? Couldn't she find someone better looking or more athletic?

"Yeah. He said I was cute. No one called me cute before," she gave me a shy smile.

I blinked. I always thought she had a cute round face and no one else ever called her cute? That's weird. "So one guy calls you cute and you gonna fall head over heels with him? Are you stupid?" I don't know why but this conversation was making me angry.

"I am not stupid! I do like him. I think he is cute too and he asked me to go to the movies with him on Saturday," she blurted out.

"Oh really now? Little hamster got herself a date with the squirrel boy. How sweet," I mocked.

"Evan, please. Please don't ruin this for me! I won't have another chance, most people think I am too skinny or too ugly," she pleaded. Her eyes were starting to tear up. Jeez...is she gonna cry now?

"Okay okay, Jesus. Date that dork, I don't care," I said gruffly.

"That's why I can't do chores for you anymore. Brent said he doesn't like me being a pushover," Annie said.

Oh, so that's where her courage came from.

"You know what, I'll go ahead and take pity on you. I won't ask you to do anything until you go on your stupid date. I wanna see how it falls apart. It'd be amusing," I smirked.

Annie's face brightened up. "Okay! Then I'll go home now," she said and started to leave, but I grabbed her arm as I heard her stomach growl.

"You didn't eat much when you hung out with that dork, did you?" I stared at her intently. She looks hungry, plus her stomach doesn't lie.

"No...I skipped lunch," she said hesitantly and looked down.

"I fucking knew it. I can't leave you alone for one minute. What would happen if you passed out? That squirrel sure as hell wouldn't carry your ass to the hospital with those scrawny arms!" I scolded her. "Go sit on the kitchen table. I'll heat some food."

"You don't have to! I'll go home," she protested.

"Did I ask you!" I roared.

She pouted but didn't dare go against me. She sat down on the kitchen table and waited like a good girl.

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