“Annie.”

  “Stop it.”

  “You’re the one who’s doing all of this to avoid me.”

  The other boys hid their smirks behind their hands, moving away from the conversation.

  “We’ll leave you two to it -” Jasper trailed.

  “No!” Annie said haughtily. “I’m going to my class first. You all stay here!” She barked. They shrunk from her, nodding behind their snickering. “And for the rest of the term, James, I need you to bother somebody else.”

  His eyes glinted with a challenge. “Until the end of the term, you say?”

  “Did I stutter?”

  James bit his lip, observing Annie with a razor precision. “Deal.”

  She frowned, faltering slightly. “W-what?”

  “I said it’s a deal.”

  “What? There’s no catch?”

  “None at all,” he moved to wrap his arm around Tristan’s shoulder, walking away slowly. “You said until Christmas, no problem.”

  “Wait -”

  “But you didn’t mention anything after that,” he said lightly.

  “That’s not what I -”

  “See you at Christmas, Howell!” James blew her a kiss, winking devilishly. The other boys broke into a fit of laughter as they sauntered away down the corridor.

  Annie hoped he would forget her by December.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Before Annie knew it, Christmas had arrived, and she was one step closer to going home to see Patty for the holidays. The crazy events at Barcourt could rest under her pillow, for she was off to return to her life. At least for four more weeks.

  As she gathered her stuff out of her locker, placing it into her rucksack to take home, she felt a presence loom behind her. She quickly turned to find James’ handsome, chiseled face smiling softly at her bewildered expression.

  “What the hell!” She gasped, clutching her hand to her chest.

  “You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” his eyes twinkled with mischief.

  “Good as,” she frowned, quickly closing her locker. “Excuse me.”

  She didn’t have much chance to escape as James planted his arm on the side of her head, leaning over Annie. She pressed her lips together in frustration.

  “James,” she said firmly.

  “Annie.”

  “Let. Me. Go.”

  “I think you’re doing it again.”

  “Doing what?” She barked.

  “Running from me,” he lifted an eyebrow.

  “And why on earth would I stay a second more with you?”

  “Ah, you say things like that Annie and it hurts a man’s feelings. I’m a sensitive guy, you know,” he sighed playfully.

  “I’m sure you’ll survive,” she retorted.

  Annie moved to the other side of James, but he deftly placed his other arm to the locker, trapping her. Again.

  This was becoming a habit of his; ensnaring her in his arms. A habit that he was too fond of.

  “What do I have to do to get you to stay with me?” He murmured under his breath. He was too close. Tantalisingly close. She could see the fullness of his lips, the hardness of his jaw, the splattering of honey freckles adorning his skin.

  Annie couldn’t even think. His presence, his sultry voice, his masculine, woody fragrance overwhelmed her senses. Did he know the effect he had on women? Was he using it against her? Was it harder for her to say no if she didn’t succumb to his charms?

  She didn’t have time to figure that out.

  “Stay with you?” She breathed. Annie forced herself to remain composed. Deep breaths. Calm and steady.

  “Stay with me this Christmas,” he murmured into her ear. His warm breath tickled her ear, eliciting a sea of goosebumps on her skin.

  “Have you lost your mind?” she pressed her hands to his chest. She tried not to shiver at the contact; the heat she could feel beneath her palms. “I think you’ve watched too many romantic movies, and it shows. Be serious, please.”

  “Howell,” he grumbled darkly into her neck. “What part of me looks like I’m joking?”

  “Everything about you is ridiculous. We don’t even like each other,” she uttered tightly.

  “Correction - you don’t like me,” he leaned back, staring intently. “My feelings for you are clear.”

  “You have no feelings for me,” she let out a frustrated breath. She tried pushing his hard chest, but he didn’t budge. “There is nothing going on between us. You got that?”

  “Are you forgetting that we kissed, Howell?”

  “Keep your voice down,” she urged, looking around her. Thankfully, there was nobody lurking in the corridors.

  James penetrated her with his unrelenting, passionate gaze; there was no mockery there, but he wouldn’t let her go, not for a second, until she admitted the one thing she never wanted him to ask.

  “You kissed me back,” he observed her.

  “It was a mistake.”

  “You’re an awful liar.”

  “You can say whatever you want if it makes you feel better, but I’d rather you just leave me alone.”

  “But I don’t want to,” he said simply.

  “Well, that’s not my problem.”

  “It is.”

  “Because?”

  “Well, it might be because of the small, tiny problem that I can’t stop thinking about you, Howell. I want you to be honest with me. It’s awfully upsetting when you lie to me. Give me some credit - I am a Knightley.”

  “James -”

  “I hate it when you say my name like that,” he groaned.

  “Look,” she said firmly, pushing his chest pointedly. “I don’t owe you anything. Not a single thing. Whatever you think there is between us - it’s all in your head. You kissed me - by the way -and I returned it because... well, I didn’t really know what I was doing at the time but I can assure you it won’t happen again. We’re enemies, and that’s what we’ll always be. I’m the scholarship kid and you’re the stuck up piece of shit that I’ll always hate. That’s how it is, and that’s how it will always be.”

  “You don’t seem sure,” he leaned forward. “You talk fast when you’re flustered and trying to make someone believe your point, even if you don’t believe it yourself.”

  “You don’t know me.”

  “Maybe I’m getting close.”

  “Nothing has changed between us, James.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “See, here’s the problem, Annie,” he pressed his forehead against hers, his gaze locked onto her eyes, watching the way she fluttered her eyelashes. “I don’t believe you. I mean, you could try to convince me and I’ll do it your way. But something tells me you can’t.” James cupped her face under his broad palm, lightly stroking her blushing cheek. “I like you, Howell. I like you a lot and I don’t plan on letting you go.”

  She pushed him away, not wanting to indulge in this conversation any longer. He retreated, allowing the space to walk away.

  “You’re insufferable,” she murmured, tugging her backpack closer.

  “I am,” he nodded unabashedly.

  “Well, have a nice Christmas break,” she said robotically.

  “You could say it like you mean it.”

  “But then I’d be lying and we all know my poker face sucks,” she quipped, walking right past him.

  She missed the way James smiled fondly at her retreating figure, taking pride at her fiery stubbornness. This side of Annie excited him. It was the real Annie underneath all those steely layers. She wanted to push the world out? Well, he was the expert on that. Too bad she wouldn’t be able to win this battle.

  ---

  “Patty!” Annie exclaimed happily. She saw Patty’s soft, grinning face emerge from the car, waving merrily at Annie.

  “Annie!” She called. Annie ran to her godmother, giving her the biggest hug she could muster after the hellish first term.

  “You have no idea how glad I am to see you,” Annie breathed contentedly.

  They released each other from the hug. Annie motioned to the car. “Let’s get this stuff in the car and get the hell out of here!”

  “You’re sounding like you want this to be your last day here,” Patty remarked.

  “Don’t tempt me.”

  Annie smirked as she loaded the car with her suitcase, carrying the bags into the trunk and closing it shut. She moved to head into the passengers’ seat when she glimpsed James walking towards a very shiny, expensive black car. He had his bag lugged over his shoulder, as he lifted an indifferent eyebrow to a tall man in a dark suit. Annie narrowed her gaze. She recognised the man. It was the Foreign Secretary. James’ father.

  They looked like they were having a very heated conversation. James looked pissed as hell, glaring daggers at the man. She had only caught those glimpses of his fury when he unleashed his wrath to his bully victims. Annie had been one of them.

  Perhaps she had been staring for too long as James glanced sideways, catching her expression. He gave Annie an unreadable look behind those troubled eyes before he turned back to his father, uttering a few more words.

  Patty walked next to her, following her line of vision. “Friend of yours?”

  “Hardly.”

  “He’s cute,” she added lightly.

  “Patty,” Annie groaned.

  “What? I have eyes,” she grinned. Patty turned back to James, raising her eyebrow. “And he’s heading right this way.”

  “What?” Annie said sharply. Patty was right; James was walking their way, with his dad right behind him. Both Patty and Annie straightened their backs, unsure of what was to come.

  “Hi,” James mumbled. He motioned to his dad. “Dad, this is Annie, she’s a good friend of mine.”

  James’ father gave Annie a shrewd, neutral expression but extended his hand out for a polite handshake. Annie accepted the gesture, still cautious about what James was playing at. She wanted to contest the ‘good friend’ part, but she would save that for another day.

  “Nice to meet you,” he extended his hand to Patty. “I’m Alistair Knightley, James’ father. And you are?”

  “P-Patty,” Patty stuttered. She shook her head, plastering a big smile. “I’m sorry, I mean, I’m Patricia, Annie’s godmother. I’m sorry, I’m just a little star-struck. It’s not every day the Foreign Secretary says hello to you!”

  Annie inhaled sharply. There must be a point to this. She waited patiently for James to open his mouth.

  James kept his gaze on Annie, smiling softly at the brooding glare she sent his way. He bowed his head, licking his lips.

  Alistair smiled faintly. “I wanted to ask if you and Annie would like to join us on Christmas Eve for dinner. It’s not everyday James talks of a girl like Annie.”

  Annie’s cheeks went bright red. Did he just…

  Patty widened her eyes, looking at Annie. “Oh! I thought as much!”

  “It’s definitely not like that,” Annie gritted her teeth.

  “Well, if you are available for then, let us know. We must be going,” Alistair nodded politely before motioning for James to follow him. James bowed his head to Patty, granting her a signature, devilish wink. “It was lovely to meet you, Patricia.”

  “You can call me Patty,” she blushed.

  Lord.

  Annie prayed that Patty wouldn’t fall for his charms too.

  His sharp gaze caught Annie smirking knowingly. He gave her a treacherously handsome smile, showcasing his pearly white teeth. “I’ll see you soon, Annie.”

  “I didn’t say yes,” Annie said.

  James smirked, turning away from them both. Patty whistled loudly, fanning herself.

  “What?” Annie growled lightly.

  “He likes you,” Patty said. “Posh boy likes you over there.”

  “Not true,” she grumbled, moving to the passenger seat.

  Patty joined her in the car, sitting in the driver's seat, tying her seatbelt while smiling at Annie. “You deny it all you want, but how boy looked at you? Phew.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Curiosity got the better of Annie.

  “He couldn’t keep his eyes off you! Even when he was talking to me, he went all googly eyed over you,” she laughed.

  “I don’t want to hear this.”

  “Face it, sunshine; posh boy has taken a shine to our Annie.”

  “Enough!”

  ---

  Annie was having the best time during her Christmas break.

  That was the lie that she wanted to tell herself.

  The truth?

  James Knightley was becoming a sharp thorn in her backside.

  It would have been the truth if it wasn’t because James Knightley had her phone number - God knows how. She suspected Theo was behind it. But it didn’t matter either way; what James wanted, he got. No question.

  “Howell! How’s my favourite lioness doing?” He said smoothly on the phone.

  “Stop calling me,” she growled. Annie had to keep her voice down. Patty still thought highly of the ‘posh boy’.

  He sighed. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, I just don’t want you calling me, okay?”

  “You didn’t RSVP,” he said childishly. “To my invitation for dinner during the holidays.”

  “Well, I can’t make it.”

  “And why not?” He scoffed.

  “I’m busy.”

  “Doing what?”

  “None of your business.”

  “Liar,” he said impatiently.

  “That’s not true. I have a prior engagement.”

  Sorting through my laundry, she thought.

  “I’ll find out,” he said. “Whatever it is.”

  “Just go away, you child.”

  “No,” he said.

  “I don’t want to go!” She raised her voice.

  “And why not?” He growled.

  “Because I don’t like you!”

  There was a silence on the phone. Had she gone too far? Was this the final straw for him? HIs ego could be bruised beyond repair and he could never talk to her again.

  As much as she thought she wanted that outcome, a part of her dreaded the thought. She had grown to enjoy arguing with him. She liked his company.

  Maybe she needed her head testing.

  “James?” She said tentatively.

  Why didn’t she hang up?

  It would be so easy to do it.

  But she knew the answer; she couldn’t let go just like that. Maybe she was sick and maybe she was stupid, but she didn’t want to shut the door on their... relationship.

  “I’ll convince you,” he said with a newfound determination.

  “What?”

  “You’ll change your mind,” he said simply. “I won’t take no for an answer.”

  “Hey, listen -”

  “That’s a promise. Take care, darling.”

  After that, he hung up the phone, leaving Annie with the dial tone. She hung up the phone, biting her lip.

  She knew that James could get whatever he wanted. That man would not rest until he achieved his objective. It was pure arrogance; she thought. To think he could make her come to him as though it was as simple as moving a chair.

  But Annie refused to buy into that mantra. So that was her exact reason for refusing every one of his calls.

  He would call her incessantly, deliberately annoying her with messages about what she was doing during the day. She muted his number promptly, and he took that as another challenge to try again.

  Did she enjoy his attention? Why didn’t she tell him to stop again?

  Because she didn’t want to.

  There was a letter in the post in the next morning with Patty’s name on it.

  Patty headed into the kitchen to where Annie sat, eating her cinnamon flakes. Patty frowned, opening up the envelope. It was sealed with a wax stamp. This letter wasn’t a telephone bill, that was for sure.

  “What’s that?” Annie said with her mouth full.

  “Huh,” Patty raised her eyebrows. She read the full entirety of the card. “It’s an invitation from the Knightleys.”

  Annie spat out her food. She rushed off the breakfast stool, moving to grab the card. “Give me that.”

  Hello Ms. Adams,

  It’s James Knightley here. I sincerely hope you are doing well. You look fantastic, as always. (Don’t ask me how I know, I just know.)

  As you probably might remember my father invited you both for dinner during Christmas. Annie wasn’t going to come. I knew that.

  You see, I wanted to ask you if you could persuade her to come.

  I like your goddaughter.

  A lot.

  In fact, it’s probably the only time I’ve ever fallen in love for a girl.

  And your beautiful goddaughter is that person.

  I know I have no right to ask, but I would forever be in your debt.

  Yours sincerely,

  James Alistair Knightley

  P.S. Your daughter is probably scowling at the letter right now. That is normal.

  “I’m going to kill him.”

  “I think it’s sweet,” Patty mused.

  “Well, I’m glad one of us does.”

  “You’re not going?” Patty said, biting into a bit of toast.

  “Of course not,” Annie frowned.

  “It’s a shame,” she shrugged. “You don’t like him?”

  “I didn’t say that,” Annie said. Sighing loudly, she took her seat next to Patty, resting her head on her hand. “I wish I could stop thinking about him.”

  “I knew it!” She shouted giddily. Annie jumped at the change in tone. “I knew you liked him!”

  “I never said that!”

  “You didn’t have to,” she smirked.

  “You’re just as bad as him!”

  Patty’s expression sobered up as she eyed her goddaughter’s brooding face. If she looked closely, she could really see Annie’s mother in those beautiful brown eyes, twinkling at the sign of trouble, watering in the face of tragedy.

  Clearing her throat, Patty forced herself to pay attention to the matter at hand. Now was not the time to delve into memory lane.

  “I think you should see him.”

  To Patty’s surprise, she didn’t retort back a biting reply. Maybe she had grown tired of pretending to hate the boy. How Annie looked at James, Patty knew there was something there; a spark, a fire - something that would keep the two of them hooked.