Chapter 16 Rebranding Lessons
-Annie-
By the time I get home after the events between Max and Daniel, the room is empty. Max has left, and Miles is already back in his room. I’m glad that I don’t have to face him because if I know my brother, and I think I do, I’m going to get an earful about not dating his teammate.
The next morning, it becomes clear that my earful is going to take place whether I want it to or not.
Miles is pretty normal in front of Mom and Dad, but when we head out to the car, it’s clear my brother isn’t going to avoid the conversation any longer.
I make a move to head to the Davises’ front door, but before I get two steps in that direction, Miles says, “Annie, I’ll drive you today, I don’t even have to get Steph.
She’s riding with friends so that we can chat.
” I could keep walking and ignore him, but I love my brother, and sometimes I even enjoy his company.
So, I know that I should get this over with so we can both move on.
I reply, “Sure, let me send a quick text.”
Annie
Daniel I’m riding with Miles today
Need to ask him a few questions for the Visual News
I’m not sure why I lie, but I don’t want to make it seem like my brother controls my actions either. I want Daniel to think of me without being tied to Miles. I get a reply back in short order, and it’s a one-word reply.
Daniel Davis
ok
Daniel's one-word response bothers me. Before I can dive too deeply into it, I put my phone away and follow Miles to the car. He starts the car, turning the radio so low that it’s a hum in the background.
Before he even puts the car into drive, he clears his throat.
“Annie, Davis isn’t a great guy, and before you interrupt me or get angry, remember that I’ve spent the last month having to be in a locker room with him.
Even before whatever it is that you two started.
” He is wearing a serious look on his face.
“Why should I care if he is a good guy?” I say, knowing that I do care, but I’m not about to give in to Miles.
“Annie, give me a break. You’ve only ever dated guys that are generally well below your level and that are not bad dudes,” Miles throws back at me.
“Davis has spent the last month giving us the details about all the girls he’s been with.
I don’t think you want to add to his number.
If he adds you to his number and brags about it, Annie, I’ll kick his ass, and I have no problem admitting it.
” Miles sounds like he really would commit an act of violence; his hands on the steering wheel are so tight, his knuckles are turning white.
“I’m not going to stop talking to him, Miles,” I say, continuing when he glares at me.
“But I’m in no rush to be anyone’s next number—we aren’t even dating,” I reply to him, giving him more information than he probably cares to have.
We pull into the parking lot, not directly next to another car.
He parks the car and turns to look at me.
“Annie, you're my sister. I realize you are going to date guys, I’m not an idiot. I just want the guy you are interested in to be interested in you the way you deserve.” “Thanks for the information, Miles. I really will keep it in mind,” I reply.
I truly appreciate that my older brother wants to protect me.
After we get out of the car, I add, “Love you too, Miles.” This earns me a smile from my older brother before we both head into school in opposite directions.
***
When I get to my locker, Meg is already there.
She looks behind me, and I’m sure she is looking for Drew because, for the last few days, we have been arriving in a very close window.
Trying to draw her attention, I tell her I rode with Miles today.
“You’ll have to make eyes with Drew later,” I tell her, and she replies, “Well, why did you do that and ruin all my flirting plans?” I fill her in about the events at the end of watching the game film and my conversation with Miles.
By the time I relay all this, Meg is giving me a little worried expression.
“It sounds like Daniel is a player, Annie. I’m going to have to agree that you don’t have any experience with guys like that.
Isn’t Daniel the first boy you’ve kissed outside of already calling the guy your boyfriend?
” Meg asks. “I kissed Jake during Spin the Bottle in middle school, and he wasn’t my boyfriend.
” Meg lets out a sigh of desperation. “Annie, you are making my point even easier because you're right, he wasn’t your boyfriend when you kissed, but he was by the time we started school the following Monday.” I think back on it; she’s right, Jake had been my boyfriend very shortly after the very public peck on the lips during Spin the Bottle.
Meg and I start walking to first period before she says, “Just be careful, ok?
And unless he calls you his girlfriend, please for the love of God, Annie, don't think you're the only girl he’s talking to.” I tell her ok as we walk into first period, and the subject is dropped.
***
I haven’t seen or gotten a text from Daniel all day.
A part of me felt like maybe my brother was right, and I should stop whatever this little flirting thing is with him.
It is killing me not to text him. It’s been a little daring and adventurous, the flirting like we have been doing.
Maybe I should do a little ‘rebranding’ on my relationship image if both my brother and my best friend are in agreement that I’ve been playing it safe all these years.
But I also know that I don’t want to be an easy score or be a quick add to some guy's number. I’m pulled from my warring emotions and thoughts by the ping of my phone.
To my delight, it is the person that my mind has been debating all day.
Daniel Davis
Come over tonight
Annie
Why?
Daniel Davis
I figured we should do some rebranding homework
Annie
What does rebranding homework mean?
Daniel Davis
Be at the front door in 5 mins and find out
I set the phone down, taking a deep breath.
Should I go over, or shouldn’t I? Between Miles and Meg’s conversations today, I’ve gotten in my head.
I’m enjoying the kisses and stolen moments, but do I want him to ask me to be his girlfriend?
I’d be lying to myself if I said that I don’t.
On the other hand, I’ve also never had the rush of lust that runs through my body when we are kissing or touching.
It’s something that I do want to explore; it’s a new part of me I’m just finding.
This year is about finding a different Annie, rebranding me from the version Miles and Meg talked about today.
My mind made up, I grab a pair of sneakers, making my way downstairs.
I tell my parents I’m going for a run, and I’ll be back in about thirty to forty-five minutes.
They both give me mumbled agreements from somewhere in the house.
I leave the house, quickly crossing the yard to the Davis house, and knock on the door.
It’s only a matter of seconds before Daniel is there opening the door for me.
“What a surprise to see you, Annie, why don’t you come in?
” he says to no one but me. I enter the house, and it’s the same house footprint as it was when the McHenrys had lived here, but it now feels more fresh and open.
There are art pieces scattered along the living room walls and bookcases.
Daniel breaks my review of the house by asking, “Do you want anything to drink before we go upstairs?” “Yeah, that would be great,” I can hear my voice reply, but my brain is focused on the phrase ‘go upstairs.’ When I’d come over, I hadn’t thought about what or where we could be hanging out.
I guess my brain has assumed someplace like the living room, but it seems like Daniel has other plans.
I follow him and we go into the kitchen.
His parents are talking at the table. Daniel introduces me quickly.
They let me know I could come over any time.
Daniel hands me a bottle of water before taking my other hand and leading me away from the kitchen. I rush to say goodbye to his parents.
***
We are going up the stairs and down a hallway to the room at the end.
As we walk down the hallway, I can’t help thinking to myself that one of these rooms is probably Drew’s.
Is Drew home? I almost ask Daniel but think better of it.
He opens the door, and I step into his room.
His room is pretty straightforward: there’s what looks to be a full-sized bed, a desk, and some nightstands.
He has an overflowing laundry basket in the corner.
There is a frame full of football team-themed posters, as well as a few of the team's very famous scantily clad cheerleaders. While I’ve been looking around the room, Daniel has taken a seat on the edge of his bed.
He is watching me as I take in his space.
“Come here,” he says. I look back at the closed door.
My action must give away my concern about his parents being in the house because he says, “Annie, they don’t care what we do in here, they won’t be checking in on us if that’s worrying you.
” It was at least a little of what was worrying me.
My parents have a no-closed-door rule, and Dad had a practice of randomly coming by to ask a question.
I’ve seen it play out on more than one occasion with Miles.
It cracks me up every time Dad came downstairs, telling me and Mom that a crisis had been diverted.
Now here I was, with a boy behind his very closed door.
Daniel speaks again. “Annie, I said come here.” I jerk my head at these words; his tone had been on the edge of commanding, but now, looking at him, he gives me a wink, and that seems to relax my body.
I set my water bottle on the nightstand and step between his legs.
With him sitting on the bed, our faces are even and it's nice being his equal. “You want your first lesson, Annie?” he says. “I’m ready, what do you got for me Daniel?” I say as confidently as I can.
“Take what you want,” he says, inches from my face now.
I know I pinch my brows a little—what does he mean, take what I want?
Then I look at him I know I want to kiss him, so I close the gap between our bodies and do it.
I’m not in control for long before he pulls me on top of him and spins us down on his bed, effectively kissing my doubts away.