Survivor of a Twisted Fate

1993-1995

1993

Anna was twelve, and she and Xander were the best of friends. Since they didn’t go to the same school together, they hung out in the afternoons and weekends. She went to her town’s school, Glee Elementary, while Xander went to a private school in the city.

Anna made a few friends from her local school. Paul Woods and Michelle Dowel. The four would play on the weekends sometimes, and they all became really close.

*****

“Hey, I’m riding over to Xan’s,” called Anna, sliding down the banister.

“Homework? Chores?” asked Johnathan, looking up from his newspaper, and Anna smiled.

“Done and done,” she said, winking.

“Alright, go on, get out of here, kid,” he chuckled.

She raised her eyebrows and made a face.

“Not too late tonight,” called Annette from the kitchen,

“Every time you go over there, you lose track of time.”

Anna nodded.

“Okay, don’t lose track of time,” she repeated and shot her dad the thumbs up.

Before Johnathan or Annette could say a word, she disappeared out the door. She pulled on her baseball cap over her braided, long, auburn hair, hopped onto her bike, and rode to Maverick Manor.

*****

“Haha, Maverick, you are never going to grow hair!”

Anna heard a boy say, and she knew that voice. It was Justin Hardy and his goons, Lenny and Harry, and she couldn’t stand any of them. She threw her bike on the ground and ran toward the four boys.

Justin had sandy blonde hair and beautiful green eyes and was a total jerk. His goons both had brown hair and dull brown eyes. They followed Justin’s every command, and that’s how they got the nickname.

“Shut up, Hardy!” yelled Anna as she got nose-to-nose with him, and he smirked at her.

“Oh, hey gorgeous, why are you always sticking up for this loser?”

She searched his eyes and wondered why he had to be so mean. He was cute, but his attitude made him an ugly person. He glanced at her lips and smirked.

“Maybe you should come hang out with a real man?” he asked, and she snorted.

He chuckled, licked his lips, and gave her a clever look.

“Oh, I know because you are a loser orphan whose own parents didn’t want her,” he laughed, and Anna’s blood began to boil.

She screamed and lunged at him, knocking him down to the ground, and they rolled around punching, kicking, and screaming at each other until Xander’s and Justin’s parents came out of the manor.

“What in the world?” asked Lilian as she reached them.

She saw Xander on the ground with a bloody nose and then looked at Anna on top of Justin. She was beating his head with her fists, and Justin’s arms were over his face, protecting himself from her blows. Leonard walked toward them and pulled Anna back.

“Anna, what is the meaning of this?” he asked as Anna flailed in his arms.

Justin got to his feet, walked up to her, and sucker-punched her in the stomach. Immediately, Justin’s father grabbed him by the back of the neck, and Justin straightened.

“That is enough, young man!” he yelled sternly.

“But… she started it. Stupid little orphan!” Justin stammered angrily, and his father tightened his grip.

At that moment, Anna’s eyes welled up with tears as her lip began to quiver, and she ran inside. Lillian looked at Leonard with sad eyes, and he nodded to her. Quickly, she ran in after her with Xander.

“I’m sorry, my son has no manners and is rude to your guests,” said Mrs. Hardy and grabbed Justin by his ear.

“Ow, moooommmmm!!!” screamed Justin.

“All you boys in the car now!” yelled Mr. Hardy.

“Leonard, we are truly sorry.”

Leonard nodded. His friends left, and he went back into the house. Anna was okay and was off playing Alien Space Invaders in the game room.

1995

Anna and her best school pal, Paul, were turning fourteen and decided to throw their birthday parties together. Xander talked to his parents and planned it in his courtyard.

Paul was tall and lanky with zits on his face, a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses, and was a total nerd. His younger brother, Tom, whom she had babysat a couple of times, was tall, with thick black hair, a chiseled face, and athletic. He also had a crush on her. Anna thought it was sweet, while Paul thought it was annoying.

In the courtyard, blue and pink streamers all strung all around, and one table was set up for Paul’s gifts, and one was set up for Anna’s gifts. There was another table with food, snacks, and drinks galore. There was also a very large cake, thanks to Lillian and Annette getting together, making it for both Paul and Anna.

“So, Anna, have you and Xander made it to couple status yet?” asked Michelle as she raised her eyebrows a few times, and Anna laughed, shaking her head.

Michelle was petite with short wavy brown hair and was a girly girl. Also, she and Paul had made it official that they were boyfriend and girlfriend.

Anna giggled and shook her head.

“No, we are just friends,” Anna said, turning to Xander with a smile, and he smiled back.

“That’s right, best friends!” said Xander, and they all laughed.

“Hey Anna, I got something for you,” he said, and she turned toward him.

“Why didn’t you put it on the table?” she asked.

“Because I wanted to give it to you personally,” he said and handed her a small box.

Anna smiled and opened the box. Inside was a white gold ring with Anna and Xander spelled in cursive and connected with BFF. Happily, she slid it on her middle finger and smiled.

“Perfect fit! Thank you, Xan,” she said and hugged him tightly.

He hugged her back and then turned to Paul.

“Happy birthday Paul. I put yours on your table,” chuckled Xander, and Paul smirked.

“It isn’t a ring, is it?” Paul asked.

They all laughed, and Xander shook his head.

“Happy Birthday, gorgeous!” said a voice from behind them.

They turned to see Justin and his goon squad standing behind them.

“What are you doing here, Hardy?” asked Anna coolly as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Justin raised his hands in surrender and took a step back. In one of his hands, there was a gift bag, and it surprised her.

“I just came to drop this off and leave. I don’t want to cause any harm,” he said, and she eyed him suspiciously.

She watched him as he walked over to the table and placed it gently next to the others. Anna then saw Harry, one of Justin’s goons, smirk as he knocked a large present off of the table, and colored glass shattered everywhere.

Shocked at the sound, Annette looked over, and Anna saw her face go white. That was the gift her mother was giving her. It was a crystal dolphin moon light her parents saved up for, and without a word, Anna lunged at Justin angrily.

“You are going to pay for that, Hardy!” she screamed.

Swiftly, Justin moved to the side, and Anna flew past him. She stopped quickly and turned on him again this time hitting her target. She landed on top of him and threw punches.

“Anna!” called Johnathan and ran toward the kids.

He grabbed Anna and pulled her off of Justin.

“No, Dad, he ruins everything!” Anna screamed as she tried to get out of her father’s grip.

“Stop, Anna!”

She immediately stopped fighting him, and he let her go.

“Jesus, gorgeous, I didn’t knock that junk off the table,” Justin said, wiping the blood from his lip.

At the word junk, Anna lunged at him again, knocking him to the ground, and she looked at him angrily.

“Junk! My parents saved for that, and you and your goons ruined it,” she screamed as she stared into his eyes, and he just looked at her.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t do it,” he whispered, touching her face.

He watched tears build in her eyes, and his heart broke. Johnathan pulled her off of Justin again, and he scrambled to his feet. He looked at his goons, glanced at Anna, and the boys ran out of the courtyard. Surprisingly, Anna heard Justin yelling at Harry, and she thought it was odd.

“Stupid move, man! You just got my ass kicked, and I was trying to make this pleasant! It’s her f*****g birthday, man!” she heard him yell.

Michelle looked at Anna and raised her eyebrows. Anna snorted and shook her head.

Justin’s and the boy’s voices trailed off, and Anna looked up at her dad.

“I’m sorry, daddy. He ruined my present,” Anna cried, and he rubbed her back.

Everyone helped clean up the mess. The kids opened their gifts, and the party came to an end. Anna went home happy, with all her goodies.