Skin

She sat in a room, the darkness seemed to emanate from her own pain and sadness. Pictures scattered the floor like rain that fell on the pavement beyond her window. Her head hit her knees as the phone rang again and again. Silently she sobbed as the answering machine picked up again.

“Anna, please, baby, answer the phone. I know you're there. Anna, I'm sorry, I can fix it. I can. But, baby you have to let me. Please, Anna. I love you.” The voice on the answering machine crackled as it sighed and she could hear the click as the phone disconnected.

Her head raised as she glanced at the light on the machine blinked obstinately. Teasing her. Taunting her. Reminding her of all the good times that they had, they used to out weighed the bad, didn't they?

~fashback~

“C'mon, Max! Hurry up, the ferry's going to leave with out us.” She called back to her love, the man who made her world spin on it's axis, as she ran towards the dock.

“Anna,” Max ran behind her laughing, “Anna, slow down! We have plenty of time.” She squealed as he finally caught up to her and trapped her against a brick wall. “Besides, I'm a superstar. They'll wait.” He whispered against her lips before tasting them in a passionate kiss.

“Max, we have to go...” She groaned against him, not fighting, but giving into his touch. Sighing she brought her hands up to his face, pulling him closer to him. “You're incorrigible.” They laughed together as they slowly parted.

“We have to catch our ferry,” He grinned and ran, pulling her, towards the dock.

~end~

She picked up the closest picture to her. The two of them, happy together on the ferry. An older couple took their picture before advising them to make sure they treasured their love. She scoffed as the phone rang for the millionth time that day.

“Anna, it's Marc.” The voice sighed sadly. “Anna, we know you're hurt and we hope you know that we're here for you.”

“Marc, tell her we love her,” a female voice crackled through the background, causing Anna to smile at her friends.

“I am, V, just relax.” Marc whispered back to her. “Anna, look, Max isn't here, and he's not coming here. At least not if you are. We'll keep him away, but girl, you shouldn't be alone like this. All holed up in your house. Anna, it's not healthy. V's coming to get you.” The phone clicked so the answering machine picked up the dial tone before shutting off. She sighed as the room fell back into silence. She knew that she only had minutes before her friend would be there to drag her out of obscurity and solitude and into questions, and what they believed to be comfort.

It's not that she didn't love her friends, but they were his friends too. And although everyone involved knew it was his fault, she felt guilty taking them away from him. They were, after all, his friends first. What right did she have to them?

Lost in her thoughts she jumped at the insistent ringing of the phone and the quick message that followed.

“Hey it's Anna and Max, we can't come to the phone-”

“Because we're having sex!”

“MAX! I'm trying to leave a-beep.”

“Anna,” he breathed into the machine. “Please pick up, baby. I just want to talk. Anna, please....” His voice burned through the air causing the tears in her eyes to fall down her pale cheeks. “Anna... I love you... I know I screwed up, but I just... I can't live without you, baby...” She could hear a scuffle on the line and a new voice flooded the room.

“Max, you've got to leave her alone, man. Give her time... space... and accept the fact that she doesn't want to see you right now.” The new voice coached him. “I'm sorry, Anna. I'm taking the phone from him now. He shouldn't call again.”

She sighed and rested her head against the wall behind her, memories rushing back to her.

~flashback~

Music pumped through the speakers as she sat up in the VIP room sipping her water, taking a break from dancing. She smiled as she caught a glimpse of Max, her Max, heading towards the room with drinks. Her smile began to fade as last minute his direction changed and he headed towards the dance floor. What was he doing?

“Marc?” She asked his best friend sitting next to her. “What's going on?” Her eyes never left Max as he swiftly danced his way to a beautiful woman with jet black hair. He glanced around quickly before handing the woman a drink and kissing her fiercely.

“Oh shit!” Marc exclaimed after following her gaze. “Anna, it's not what it looks like.” She tried to believe him as Max wrapped his free arm around the woman pulling her closer to him.

“No, Marc, I think it's exactly what it looks like.” She sighed defeated tearing her gaze from the pair and towards Marc who looked very guilty. “How long, Marc?”

“How long for what?” He asked sheepishly.

“He knows her, Marc. I know Max, and he knows her. How long has this been going on?” She looked back briefly to find the pair walking, with their arms wound around each other, towards the bathrooms. She shook her head and turned back to Marc.

“About two years, Anna. I'm sorry, he made me promise I wouldn't tell you.” He cried as she stood up broken.

“I don't blame you. You're not the one cheating.” She sighed heavily her heart lying broken on the table. “I'm done.” She looked towards the bathroom that the couple disappeared into and walked out of the club.

~end~

She picked up a blank piece of paper and wrote the words burning into her skull, before picking up the bag sitting next to her and walking out of the house into the dark and the rain.

Five minutes later, V opened the door to the house calling her name.

“Anna? Come on, let's get out of here. We'll make some tea and just sit around for a few hours, watching movies.” She walked over to the table and found a piece of paper, picking it up she read it.

I drift away to a place
Another kind of life
Take away the pain
I create my paradise

Everything I've held
Has hit the wall
What used to be yours
Isn't yours at all

Falling apart, and all that I'm asking
Is it a crime, am I overreacting

Oh, he's under my skin
Just give me something to get rid of him
I've got a reason now to bury this alive
Another little white lie

So what you had didn't fit
Among the pretty things
Never fear, never fear
I now know where you've been

Braids have been un-tied
As ribbons fall away
Leave the consequence
But my tears you'll taste

Falling apart and all that I question
Is this a dream or is this my lesson

Oh, he's under my skin
Just give me something to get rid of him
I've got a reason now to bury this alive
Another little white lie

I don't believe I'll be alright
I don't believe I'll be OK
I don't believe how you've thrown me away
I do believe you didn't try
I do blame you for every lie
When I look in your eyes, I don't see mine

Oh, he's under my skin
Just give me something to get rid of him
I've got a reason now to bury this live
Another little white lie

Oh my permission to sin
You might have started my reckoning
I've got a reason now to bury him alive
Another little white lie

(performed by Alexz Johnson)

V sighed deeply before flipping open her phone and calling her boyfriend. “Marc, she's gone. Call Max. It's over... It's so over...” She closed the phone and walked out of the house with the poem and a heavy heart for both of her friends.