Anne Marie Rossdale // Eighteen Years Old
Tink.
Why do you make me do this, child? Why?
Tink.
I only do the things I do out of love, Anne Marie. You know that.
Tink.
Maybe this time you've learned your lesson.
It wasn't the swelling of her cheek or the painful bruises that littered her body that eventually stirred Anne Marie from her restless slumber. No, she had grown accustomed to the aches and pains of her father's heavy hand years ago. Instead, the insistent chime of pebbles pinging against her window made the young woman slowly rise from her sheets, her blue eyes finding and reading the red numbers that illuminated the face of her alarm clock. It was past midnight. Which could only mean one thing. Lifting herself from her mattress, one hand running through her waves of golden hair, the other pressing gently against her latest injury, Anne Marie shuffled to her window in a daze. Lifting the pane of glass from it's resting place, she poked her head past the entryway only to be welcomed by the faces of her two closest friends.
"Well, hello there, sleeping beauty."
"Coming out tonight, Annie?"
Anne Marie had known Theresa and John since before she could remember. They had grown up together, and they were the only two people in the world (besides herself and her father, of course) that knew the real stories behind the bumps and bruises that always appeared along her frame. Though the trio each came from different walks of life, the three of them had some how managed to find solace in each others company. Theresa was the girl that everyone envied. She had the glitz, she had the glamor, but, she also had a heart of gold. John, on the other hand, was rough around the edges. He cussed like a sailor and drank liquor as if the stuff were water, but he was also one of the most compassionate people that Anne Marie had ever had the pleasure of befriending. As for herself? Anne Marie was just an average girl. Her family was middle class, she made decent grades, and the only thing she had ever really been good at was singing. She didn't have Theresa's money or John's 'idgaf' attitude. All she had was her voice. And even with that, they were the only two that had ever heard it.
Giving the two of them a soft smile, Anne Marie slowly shook her head and sighed, giving her shoulders a subtle shrug. "Not tonight, guys. I need to study." Crossing his arms, John perked a brow at her excuse and simply scoffed while Theresa added,"Annie, that was the same excuse you gave us Tuesday. You'll have to do better than that."
"I'm serious.", Anne Marie muttered.
Palming her hips then, Theresa rolled her hazel eyes and gave Anne Marie a playful grin."You already know you'll do fine on that Chem final, so drop the act. Besides, John and I feel neglected. You haven't come out with us in forever."
"It's only been three days, Tessy."
"Your point?"
Shaking her head some, Anne Marie couldn't help but smile down at the two of them."There's just no winning with you two, is there?" Flashing her a triumphant set of pearly whites, John simply shook his head."Nope." Laughing and shutting the window, Anne Marie left the two of them standing outside as she went to her closet and pulled on a pair of jeans. Giving herself the once over in the mirror that sat nailed to the closet door, she decided that The Beatles graphic tee she wore to bed would suffice. Grabbing the small, leather coat that sat on the edge of her bed, Anne Marie slipped out of her room, being extremely mindful of the degree of noise she created as she scurried down the stairs and out of the front door.
