What Really Happened (HD)

Heading up the secondary trail towards the peak of Kaster Mountain, Anna followed close behind Brian, occasionally glancing behind her. It didn't make any sense, she knew it, but every time she looked back and didn't see Kenny and Gwen trying to catch up, disappointment filled her body. "We're almost there, just past these trees," Brian suddenly said, pulling Anna's attention back to him. Pushing through a final set of spruce trees, Brian turned, leading her through a small pass between some of the mountain rises.

"And here...we...are!" Brian happily exclaimed as they came out the other side. Anna found herself standing on a small but perfectly flat bit of Kaster mountain. She was able to look out, seeing nothing but sky and stretching land all the way north. Brian moved to her side and rested a hand on her back while pointing with his other hand, "See there, that's Greenwall. Can just barely make it out,"

"Wow, it's so small," Anna awed, a smile slowly growing as she marveled at the view, "This is so amazing, Brian," She gave the teen a warm glance, "Thanks for showing me this. You're right; this was worth the hike,"

"Glad you think so," Brian lightly chuckled as he took a few steps behind Anna and then suddenly wrapped his arms around her stomach. Anna let out a small surprised gasp as she felt Brian gently pull her back into a warm embrace, resting his head on her shoulder, "I know it's never looked as pretty as it does with you here now,"

"B-Brian?" Anna stammered, her head lowered and eyes locked on his lightly holding arms,

"Anna...I've been thinking of this for so long. Just a moment where I could be alone with you," Brian continued, "I don't want to put you on the spot, but going out for drinks with you, having you here with me at the lodge, and then bringing you here...I just can't help myself. I really care about you, Anna. I meant everything I told you that night. Don't you think that we could --"

"O-Oh Brian," Anna reached down, placing her hands over his...

A Few Weeks Ago...

Anna and Brian made their way into Frozen Lanes bowling alley; the blonde girl was a tad sullen that Kenny and Gwen had abruptly disappeared from their four friends' hang out. There was nothing wrong with Brian, she enjoyed his presence well enough, but she really felt like she was starting to get somewhere with Gwen as a friend. Without Nicole around, there wasn't this feeling of separation, like she was the odd girl out. And then, of course, there was Kenny...and that itching question in her head asking, Why the hell did he have to suddenly go somewhere with just Gwen?

Even after Brian had bought them a lane, Anna had changed into her shoes, and they found their bowling balls; Anna still couldn't get that nagging question out of her head. Why do I even care? It's not my concern what Kenny is doing and who he is doing it with. I can't be upset if he has an interest in her; Gwen's a beautiful girl...

"Anna!" Brian lightly yelled, and the tipsy girl finally snapped out of her thoughts, "It's your turn," He lightly chuckled, motioning to the lane,

"Oh! T-Thanks, sorry, a lot on my mind all of a sudden," Anna apologizes as she jumped out of her seat, grabbed her ball, and walked over, rolling it down the lane,

"That's okay, no worries," Brian assured her, watching as her ball curved and knocked down six pins, "Nice one!" Anna smiled and returned, waiting for her ball to return, "So, uh, anything you'd want to talk about?" Anna tilted her head, "You know, about what's on your mind?"

Anna's eyes widened slightly, "Um, no, thank you," She swiftly denied, grabbing her bowling ball and walking right back up the lane, "It's honestly nothing..." She took another shot and knocked down another three, "Damn, close..."

"You'll get it next time," Brian gave her a gentle pat on the back.

A pair did a few more frames, each with some minor small talk, and while Anna was doing relatively average, Brian was having a great game. His entire scoreboard was filled with either strikes or spares only. On the seventh frame, Brian ended up rolling yet another strike, and Anna couldn't help but be in awe, "Wow, Brian, you're really good at this!"

Brian gave a humble shrug, "I have a little practice from the lane we have at my house, but usually I'm not rolling this well," Brian took a seat in the chair next to Anna and stretched his arms around, letting on rest around the back of her, "I think you might be my good luck charm,"

With the bits of **** still swirling inside her, Anna for once didn't grow shy at the flirtatious compliment and merely let out a giggle, "I doubt that you, of all people, need a good luck charm."

"Maybe so," Brian nodded, her eyes warmly resting on Anna as he spoke, "I'm certainly lucky, considering this night has gone from drinks with friends to us bowling on our own. How else could I get alone time with the wonderful Anna Ross?"

The blonde let out another giggle, "I'm touched you feel that I'm such a commodity," She returned though her mind immediately wondered why she hadn't heard from Gwen or Kenny still; they promised to call after all,

Brian noticed the shift, "You alright? Was it something I said?"

"No, Brian, not at all. You're being very sweet," Anna hugged the upper half of her body and stared down at the floor, her right foot bouncing anxiously, "It's tonight; it's made me have a lot to think about. I'm wondering what kind of person I'm going to turn into now that I'm going off to college. What friends I'll have, what I'll be doing and...and who I want to do it with," Anna nervously explained, "I don't think I'm that same girl I was when I was with Eric anymore,"

"That's okay," Brian immediately said in a supportive tone, "I'm not the same guy I was in high school, and that's a great thing!" He exclaimed with a short laugh, causing Anna to look up now with a small smile of her own, "Everyone starts to change, and you're right, we're going to college. We're going to find out a lot of new things about ourselves and experience a lot more stuff. So you came out tonight on a casual date of sorts with a couple of friends; who cares? Didn't you have fun?"

"I did, yeah," Anna agree with a warm look back at the blonde, "A lot of fun actually,"

"Then why are you so worried, hmm?" Brian leaned forward, "Things change, but change can be a good thing. You might feel like you're a different person, but at the core, you'll still always be you," The teen reached out a hand, brushing a few of Anna's golden locks behind her ear, "A smart, intelligent, beautiful woman with a sweet heart..."

Anna pulled her head away, "Oh, um, thank you..." Brian retracted his hand, and his brow raised as she got up, "I think...I might go home,"

"Hey, look, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable just now; I wasn't trying to --" Brian attempted to apologize, jumping to his feet as well,

"No, no, it's -- Don't worry about that, I think I'm just not feeling well from the drinks," Anna **** on a clearly awkward smile, "So, I'm sorry, but I'm just gonna go home. We can talk later or something?"

"Oh, sure, Anna...want me to drive you at least?" Brian offered, though Anna shook her head before he could even finish speaking,

"I'm not too far, and it's a nice night; I could use the time to think; thanks, Brian." With that, the blonde girl turned and all but rushed out of the bowling alley, leaving the rebuffed teen behind. By the time that Kenny had finally called to check in with him, Brian had piloted his way to another girl at the alley, having easily won the Dartwin local over with some of his charm, and brought her back to a hotel room. It wasn't the way he wanted the night to end, but he wasn't willing to give up on Anna; he just needed another shot to win her over.

"Sorry, but can you please not do that?" Anna asked in a firm but still respectful tone as she pulled Brian's hands away from her body and stepped away from his embrace. Brian stepped back as well though his eyes were filled with genuine surprise, "Look, I've tried to be nice about this because you're being so nice to me. I've sorta...ignored the touches and glances you've given me over the trip, but I have to be honest with you." Anna let out a short exhale but kept her eyes firmly locked on Brian's, "Brian, I don't feel that way about you. I like you, but I see you more like...a brother or just a very, very good friend."

Brian's shoulders slumped, and he did little to hide his disappointment, letting it spread over his face, "Then why did you agree to come on this trip? To come up here to this peak alone with me? I mean, I wasn't trying to be pushy about it, but you had to have known how I felt about you, Anna,"

"I did know about your feelings, I've known since high school, and I guess I hoped that if I just didn't feed into it, you'd eventually move on. I don't like having to do this, Brian; I feel so mean," Anna crossed her arms and diverted her gaze, "And I...agreed to go on this trip because Gwen was going...and so was Kenny,"

Brian suddenly blew out a short scoff, and Anna looked up at him instantly, finding his brow slightly narrowed, "So that's what this is really about, isn't it? Kenny." Anna was in disbelief at the genuine jealous frustration that was suddenly bursting out of Brian, "You'll mess around with him, but not me, right?"

"What on earth are you talking about?" Anna's arms lowered, and her own brow started to narrow,

"As always, everyone likes Kenny more, but why should I be surprised? He's the good guy, right? Nice. Friendly. I'm just the douchebag." Brian muttered in spite, "No matter what I try, how much I change, I'm never going to live down who I was,"

"That's not what I said, Brian. None of this has anything to do with your past, or Kenny for that matter," Anna sternly interjected,

"So what, is it a physical thing then? Is Kenny just the kind of guy you like? What makes him so much better than me that you're willing to give him a chance?" Brian swiftly returned, and's Anna's lips tightened,

"You know what, I understand that you're hurt and upset, but I don't appreciate what you're insinuating here. If I don't want to do anything with you, I don't owe you any kind of explanation, certainly not to the level of telling you why I'd prefer someone else more!" Brian's eyes widened, the reality of his reaction fully dawning on him,

"Anna, I --" Brian meekly started to reply,

"No, I'm...I'm done right now. If you're talking to me like that, then I don't --" Anna let out a low grumbling growl and stormed past him, "I think it's best if you and I have some distance right now; I'm heading back down to the springs."

Brian hung his head low, "I'm sorry..." He softly apologized, letting the girl walk off without any further objection.