Chapter 3:
Anna raced
through the hallways towards her office. Tears poured down her cheeks. She had
survived the interview by not looking at him.
Quickly she
slammed the door behind her and collapsed in her plush leather chair.
“Anna?” Sara
questioned concerted over her friend’s tears. “Is it....”
“Don’t worry
about it. Just go away!” Anna hollered turning her back towards the door. This
was a private matter no one else needed to hear.
“Poor girl!”
Sara sighed as she walked away. “She’s really taking it hard.”
“Well, ya
gotta remember, that a month ago he was her world. When your world crumbles and
vanishes like Anna’s, the pain doesn’t leave quickly.” Another of Anna’s close
friend whispered.
“I know. But I
think something new is bothering her from today. I just don’t know what it is.”
Sara finished, then walked off to finish her work.
You’re returned
For how long, I’m not sure
Please don’t pity me
I have enough pain to deal with on my own
I’ve moved on
and so have you
Don’t look at me again
It’s over, I’m gone
with no return
“Brian, are
you okay?” Nick asked that evening. He had gone home with him for that night.
“What was up with you during the interview?”
“Don’t worry
about it, Nick. You don’t know anything about it and I would like to keep it
that way.” Brian commanded, really leaving Nick with no way to even disagree.
“That’s fine.
I’m here though if you even need to talk about it.”
“I doubt I
will. So just don’t even bring it up.”
“Sure thing.”
Silence filled the room after Brian’s last sharp comment. Startling both of
them out of their thoughts, the phone rang. Dully, Brian reached over to pick
it up.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Brian.
It’s Kevin.”
“What’s up?”
“Not too much.
Can you do me a favor?”
“Depends.”
Brian sneered. He was no in the mood to be nice. But he knew he had to be.
“Can you run
back to the Teenbeat magazine studio and give them this message.” Kevin
continued telling Brian. Brian scribbled words as fast as he could onto a sheet
of note book paper. “You might as well wait until tomorrow morning. They won’t
be open tonight.”
“Okay! Can I
go now?” Brian sniped ill at all the things his cousin was loading down on him.
“What is wrong
with you?! Ever since that interview something has been bugging you.”
“Kevin! Just
stay out of it! Why is everyone so worried about it! Gosh! It I wanted you to
know I would tell you. But I don’t want you to know!”
“That’s fine.
I’m gonna go. Don’t forget to take that message tomorrow.”
Brian didn’t
answer, just hung up the phone.
“Well B, I’m
going on home for the night. I’ll catch you later, okay?” Nick sighed as he
grabbed his jacket. Brian still didn’t answer. He was already too lost in
thought. Nick shook his head confused. Something was hidden terribly deep in
his heart if he wouldn’t tell.
That night,
Brian tossed and turned. Nothing could make him the least bit tired. He hadn’t
had this problem since he had just started out with the Backstreet Boys. Except
there was one problem with it now, there wasn’t that one person he could call
at any hour of the night. The one that would talk to him no matter how long it
took him to fall asleep.
An empty sleepless night
is certainly no fun.
It eats you up from inside
with it’s burning loneliness
Nothing that perfect stays
But it could have
if only you had held on tighter.
“Anna! What
are you doing?” Brian yelled from across the empty school gym.
“Trying to
play basketball, well at least...I don’t know!” Anna replied s the ball she
shot didn’t even come close to hitting the goal rim.
“Hold on! Your
form is all wrong.” he hollered walking over towards Anna. “Here, it’s like
this.” Brian helped her hand positioning situating each finger as he stood
close behind her. “Now try, you might actually hit the back board.” He teased.
“Fuuny.” Anna
smirked. Slowly she bent her knees, then pushed with the frce of her legs and
arms. The ball soared through the air, going into the net with a gorgeous
swish. “Wow!” She breathed. Looking behind her, Brian was starring. He wasn’t
breathing, then rapidly blinking his eyes to make sure it was real. “Oh come
off it, Brian! You know I got skills now!”
“Yeah sure! It
was pure luck!”
“Thanks for
the help.”
“Anytime.” he
leaned over, giving her a kiss, congratulating her.
Suddenly
Anna’s office door swung open puling her mind away from the past.
“Ummm.....”A
startled Brian mumbled. He hadn’t known Anna was the editor. If he had he
wouldn’t have done this after the way she had treated him. “Kevin, asked me to
give this to you.”
Anne took the
sheet of paper from him. Even seeing his handwriting brought back memories, he
used to write her so many notes.
“Thanks,
Brian.” She sighed.
Brian stopped
dead in his tracks as he heard his first name roll off her tongue. She hadn’t
said it cold or harsh like the last time she had said his name. He face was
puffy as if she had been crying.
“What are you
looking at?” Anna questioned.
Brian cringed
as the coldness returned to her voice. “Are you okay?”
“You know
what?! I’m sick of being asked that question. I’ll be blunt...no, I’m not okay.
After losing my faience in a car wreck a month ago, there is no reason for me
to be okay. Then you had to come waltzing back in my life. Bringing back all
the pain and misery from the broken relationship.” Anna finished as tears
started to roll down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry.”
Brian sighed. He had no idea she been through so much lately. It was unreal.
“If you were
truly sorry, you wouldn’t have left me standing in the hallway that day years
ago. That was just pure mean! After all we had done together. Was it 8th-11th?”
“Yeah.”
“You just left
me! I never knew what you were going to ask me.”
Brian could
hear the anger and pain in her voice from the past. “Well...I was going to ask
you out. To make out dating official after all those years.”
“So you just
dropped the idea once you got called to be a Backstreet Boy?”
“No.”
“Then why did
you never call, never do anything to get in touch with me?”
“I did!” Brian
defended. “You were never home! I even stopped by your house one time! Why
didn’t you ever call me?”
“I tried to! I
asked your mom for the number of where you were all the time. You were always
working. Then you started traveling all the time. California, Florida, new York
and then Europe. What am I supposed to do then?”
“I don’t know!
So it seems like all those years were ruined because we always called at the
wrong time.” Brian sighed running his fingers through his hair.
“Not only
that. It doesn’t help when you say on TV that your only true love you’ve ever
had was Lieghanne. They even asked if had a high school sweet-heart and you
said no! What am I supposed to take from that? That I wasted that time with
you, only for you to forget it?” Anna yelled standing up behind her desk.
“What can I
say besides, I’m sorry?! I screwed up on that! I don’t blame you for being mad.
I would be too.” Brian agreed.
“Please, just
leave. I’m tired of dealing with everything, I have work to do.” Anna cried
motioning towards her door.
Brian complied
and left. Although he really didn’t want to. He had found her again and he
wasn’t about to let her go.
The past hurts
If you already hadn’t leaned.
Some wounds never heal
Only grow deeper with time
I haven’t forgotten my love
I never will
Even though you thought I had
You were hidden deep in my heart
with your memory held most dear
I know you don’t know
I didn’t till you just now
But you still own my heart.
The key is in your hands
Please don’t loose it
I’m waiting
Ever so patiently
for you to come and set my love free.