Chapter 2
The school day was essentially finished, so she just headed to her car and drove home.
"What the hell happened?" Her brother, King stood up from the couch as soon as she walked through the front door.
"I don't know what you're talking about..." Anna tried to walk up to her room, but her brother grabbed her arm and looked at her with concern.
"Lise... what happened? Your first day and I get a call from the school..."
"Nothing, King." She avoided his gaze, her eyes beginning to tease with tears.
"They did it again, didn't they?" King pulled her into a hug and sighed.
Anna sniffled and sobbed into his chest once. "It's always the same-"
"Shh- hey- it's okay. It's okay." King tried to comfort her the best he could. . . .
Luca went to go pick up his sister from school and then went to head home. On the drive, Luca told his little sister all about what he had did that day and about the strange girl he had met. When they got home, their father was passed out on the couch.
"Go on to your room and do your homework." Luca whispered to his little sister. He then went to his room and pulled out his phone to listen to music. . . .
The next day was the same. He dropped off Olivia at school and he headed to the high school. Again, he had a smoke before he went inside. Some part of him was looking forward to seeing Anna again, but he didn't know why. When he finished his cigarette, he decided to sit down on bench next to the front doors and pulled out his phone. Anna was late that morning. She rushed out the door and swooped in her car, almost flooring it. The engine purred loudly as she arrived in the parking lot. Her silver 1967 Pontiac Firebird's tires screeched to a halt when she found a spot near the front.
She put the car in park and got out, booking it toward the building, her long wavy locks billowing behind her with the soft breeze. Luca was getting ready to head inside when he heard her tires screeching from the parkinglot. He looked up to see The car. That beautiful car whip into it's parking space. He watched as Anna got out of the car. Luca's mouth gaped open. She liked classic cars! Luca smirking slightly at her as she walked up the stairs to the front doors of the school.
"Heh, nice ride."
She smiled slightly at his comment and giggled a bit. "Thanks... it was my grandfather's. My dad died before he could finish restoring it, so I did it myself, with some help from my brother. Maybe I'll take you for a spin sometime."
With that, Annalise headed inside the building, playing with her soft, flowing tresses that cascaded down her shoulders. Her cheeks were a slight red from being so close to Luca... but she tried not to let it show. Her smile faded the more she walked down the hall. Dirty glances, sneering comments... they all just made poor Anna wilt. By the time she got to her classroom, her smile was completely gone and her shoulders slumped inward a bit. The glow she had right before she walked in was gone, too. . .
With that, Annalise headed inside the building, playing with her soft, flowing tresses that cascaded down her shoulders. Her cheeks were a slight red from being so close to Luca... but she tried not to let it show. Her smile faded the more she walked down the hall. Dirty glances, sneering comments... they all just made poor Anna wilt. By the time she got to her classroom, her smile was completely gone and her shoulders slumped inward a bit. The glow she had right before she walked in was gone, too. . .
Luca decided he would talk to Anna after school today. He waited out the day, looking forward to seeing her. When the last bell rang, he jumped from his seat. He went out to the main room where the front doors were. When he saw Anna, he smirked a bit and walked up to her. He acted like he hadn't been looking foward to seeing her all day.
"Yo!"Annalise was holding her bag in front of her. When she heard a loud voice behind her, she tensed up and gripped at the bag's straps. Then she looked over to the side and saw who it was. Her eyes were red again, as she'd skipped most of last period hiding out in the bathroom crying. She gave him a soft smile and sighed.
"Hey. You here to take me up on that ride?" She spoke softly; loud enough to be heard, but not to the point where her voice would break.
"Uh, yeah....you good?" Luca noticed that something was wrong, but he didn't want to seem too soft, yet at the same time, he felt like he needed to be there for her.
"Yeah... I-I'm okay... better now that you're here." Anna had to force a bit of a smile that time. She didn't want to lie to Luca, but she didn't want to bother him with worrying about her. She slung her bag over her shoulder and tugged at her long sleeves as she led him to her car, placing her bag in the back.
"Hop in."
She got in the driver's side and started the car with ease, the engine rumbling, humming as it idled while she waited for Luca to get in. Luca got in the car after her. He looked around the interior of the car, admiring every little detail. He ran his hand across the smooth dashbord. Luca sighed in awe.
"Wow..."
“You like? Wait until you see how she runs.”
With that, Anna peeled out of the parking lot, flooring it til she reached the speed limit.
“I’m gonna take you somewhere, and we’re gonna see just how fast she goes. Maybe I’ll even let you drive her.”
Anna drove a while before pulling into what looked like an abandoned raceway. She pulled up to the beginning of the track and looked to Luca.
Anna drove a while before pulling into what looked like an abandoned raceway. She pulled up to the beginning of the track and looked to Luca.
“You ready? Too late!” She floored it, the car speeding down the asphalt. Luca was pushed into his seat by the acceleration of her car. He didn't want to admit it, but he was a bit scared at first. When Anna reached the end she stopped and looked at Luca triumphantly.
“Well?”
Luca was staring straight ahead, eyes wide open, but otherwise, no emotion. He looked over at Anna and a big smile plastered on his face.
"Whoooo!! Again!"
Luca was like a child again. He felt so free.
“Seriously? I- okay...”
Anna floored it back down the track and laughed a bit when they reached the end - er, beginning of the track.
“You really like this, huh? Do you... want to have a go? Being extra careful of course,” That last part seemed lighthearted, like she was teasing.
After Luca ran down the track a couple of times, Anna drove him back to the school parking lot. Instead of leaving, however, she sat carefully on the hood of her car, which was now parked next to Luca’s. Luca sat down next to her on the hood of her car. He looked up at the sky, blue slowly turning to purple then to black. He smiled a little as the stars started to come out.
After Luca ran down the track a couple of times, Anna drove him back to the school parking lot. Instead of leaving, however, she sat carefully on the hood of her car, which was now parked next to Luca’s. Luca sat down next to her on the hood of her car. He looked up at the sky, blue slowly turning to purple then to black. He smiled a little as the stars started to come out.
“Thank you...” She mumbled, smiling just a bit, “You... you made my day a lot better...”
"And you just made my whole year." He spoke quietly hoping she didn't hear.
Annalise turned to look at him, her brows furrowing slightly. She had heard his comment, but decided not to say anything about it.
“You know... you’re the only person here that... that’s bothered to even be remotely nice to me... it’s... it’s made coming to school more... tolerable... you’re... you’re pretty great...”
Luca just smiled, not wanting to say anything that would ruin the moment. He looked down at his watch where it read 7:30. He jumped off the car so fast and ran to start his car.
"Shit! Shit shit shit!!"
"What? What's wrong?"
"I have to go, now! I'm sorry, I'll- uh I'll see you tomorrow."
Anna stared after him in disbelief. She sighed and hopped off her car, got in, and drove home.
Luca zoomed home, scolding himself for forgetting to pick up his sister. He sped into the driveway. He ran into the house to see his sister sitting on the couch with red, puffy eyes. He sighed glad she was safe, but tensed up when he heard his father in the kitchen. His father walked out in front of Luca with a bottle of whiskey in his hand.
Luca zoomed home, scolding himself for forgetting to pick up his sister. He sped into the driveway. He ran into the house to see his sister sitting on the couch with red, puffy eyes. He sighed glad she was safe, but tensed up when he heard his father in the kitchen. His father walked out in front of Luca with a bottle of whiskey in his hand.
"Well look who it is. If it isn't the idiot boy who forgot to pick up his sister from school. Now tell me boy, where were you? Where were that was so important that you couldn't even bother to pick up your own sister?!"
Luca looked at him and spoke through gritted teeth.
"I- was out.."
"Where?"
"Why do you care?"
"Where?"
"Why do you care?"
Luca's father took his fist and connected it with Luca's face. He fell to the ground, blood filling up his mouth. Luca glared up at his father.
"Fuck you." After he spoke, he spit blood onto his father. After this, his father punched him again, but this time knocking him out cold.
. . .
The next day couldn’t come soon enough. Anna was nervous, however. She still didn’t know why Luca had run off so quickly. She sighed and slowly made her way to the entrance, keeping her eye out for Luca. When she spotted him in his usual place, she slowly made her way up to him and sighed.
“H-Hi-“ And then she caught a glimpse of his face; bloodied lip, bruised cheek. Her eyes widened a bit, her brows furrowing... and then her eyes filled with tears. The only person she cared about at this school had been hurt, and she didn’t like that.
“Luca...” She said quietly, “Are you okay..?”
Luca looked away, ashamed and embarrassed.
"St- stay away from me." He abruptly stood up and went inside.
