SECOND CHANCE LOVE by Lisa Ann (free reads TXT) 📖

I did a face plant with the floor. Again he picked me up bridal style carring me to my room.

"Annie are you ok and don't you try an lie to me because you know you can't?"

I stood up and held onto his arms, looking up at him. "I'm shaken up and still scarred, but I'm ok now that you're here," I said in a weak smile.

"That's good. Well I'll turn around so that you can change, ok?" Dare said turning his back to me.

I changed into a pair of boxers that I used as shorts and one of Dare's old shirts.

"You can turn around now Dare," I said tapping his shoulder.

"What would you like to do today Annie?" he questioned me.

"Well, could we go back to your place and have a sleepover?"

"Yah we can do that if it makes you feel better. I'll help you pack an over the night bag while you call your aunt and tell her what you're doing," he told me.

After calling my aunt to tell her that I would be spending the rest of the day with Dare at his place until she came home in the morning, I hung up.

I placed the house phone back in the kitchen to notice that Dare was leaning against the wall with his arms across his chest and a smile on his face.

At his feet sat the overnight bag that he must have packed while I was on the phone with my Aunt Robin.

"You ready to go?" Dare asked picking up my bag with one hand then reached for my hand with his other.

I laced my fingers through his and felt how warm his touch was. I could feel that maybe my heart was telling me that I had hidden feelings for Dare; my best friend in the world. But I couldn't, could I?

"Yeah I'm ready."

CH. 3 My Past Catches Up

When Dare pulled into the driveway of his house, I noticed Leo standing in the doorway holding hands with his girlfriend Tess. They were our closest friends.

Tess had long curly brown hair with blond highlights and dark green eyes. While Leo had had short wavy blond hair with black highlights and hazel eyes.

As soon as Dare and I got to the front door Leo pulled me into a great big bear hug, slowly trying not to scare me by his touch.

"I'm so sorry that I hadn't gotten to you in time before Marcus tried to hurt you Cheyanne," Leo said in a hurt voice.

I hugged him tighter letting him know that is was okay to keep hugging me.

"It's not your fault Leo. You got there when you did and that's all that matters."

Leo smiled down at me and replied, "Yeah you're right."

I knew Leo thought of as a sister because I was always over so much when we hung out.

Leo let go of me and grabbed Tess by the hand pulling her inside. It felt good to finally be around my friends instead of being alone in my house.

"We'll be upstairs hangin' out. So just holler if you need anything man," Leo said to Dare as he pulled Tess upstairs with him.

Dare put my bag in the hallway and slipped his arms around my waist from behind pulling me softly against his chest.

I could feel his cool breath against my neck as he whispered, "Well it looks like we're all alone down here, huh?"

I knew that if I answered him that we would both end up laughin' in the end.

I wanted to ask Dare how he felt about me, but I was afraid that he didn't feel the same way.

Maybe this is just from me missing Dare so much. I mean, how could I fall for my best friend?

Then I felt Dare's arms tighten around my waist trying to get my attention. I hadn't realized that I had spaced out like that.

"Annie are you okay?" Dare asked concerned.

Blinking a couple times I shrugged my shoulders, "Yeah."

At the same time I was thinking about weither or not I liked Dare more as a friend, I was also thinking about what happend at my house with Marcus and how much it reminded me of my father.

He would come home drunk sometimes and beat my mother and me. When my mother died, I was left to live with my father alone.

My father would yell, slap, push, anything that would leave a bruise on me, but nothing else.

That's why I freaked when I noticed that Marcus was drunk. It started reminding me of my father.

So after me father decided to leave, my Aunt Robin took me in and if it wasn't for her I would have nowhere to live.

Dare knew all about my father and what he did. He helped me get used to being around people again and not flinching everytime they moved.

With Dare being around I don't flinch as much, but when I'm alone with someone or a group of people I tend to freak out a bit.

At first I only aloud Dare to touch me because I've known him my whole life.

Then when Leo and Tess showed up it took me a little longer to not be afraid of them hugging me or just being alone with them.

Everyday I would get better, but I still have those days where I couldn't be around anyone but Dare and sometimes Leo and Tess.

Dare turned me and lifted my chin up with his fingers making me look at him.

"Annie what's really wrong? I know you better than this and I can tell something is bothering you," he questioned.

"I'm scared because of what happend at my house with Marcus reminded me of my father," I said quickly looking down at my feet, so I didn't have to see Dare's face.

CH. 4 Going To The Beach

Dare pulled my face up to met his gaze. "Annie breath," he said calmly.

I knew I was having a panick attack. They only happend when I think of my father or when someone gets to close for comfort; like today with Marcus.

It's been months since I last had one. I looked in Dare's eyes and took a deep calming breath.

"You ok now?" Dare asked.

I shook my head yes. Later on Dare and I were in the living room watching tv when Tess came skipping into the living room.

"Hey you guys want to go to the beach with Leo and I?" she asked jumping up and down.

"We'll only go in the water if you want to Cheyanne," Leo said coming to stand next to Tess.

They knew that I didn't know how to swim, but I didn't want them to not have fun cause of me.

"I don't mind if ya'll want to go in the water. I can just sit in the sand and enjoy the view of the ocean," I said looking at Dare.

After we all packed our things we headed to the beach to have fun and God knows I need it right now.

The beach wasn't to crowded so we were able to find a good spot to sit. Dare and Leo laid out some towels for us to sit on while Tess and I pulled out the food to eat.

"So Tess," Leo said smiling at her, "I was wondering, what would you do if I dumped a bucket of water on you while you were sitting here tanning?"

Tess looked up at Leo and narrowed her eyes, "Well I don't know? I guess you're just gonna have to find out won't ya?"

I knew that Tess was wanting Leo to dump the water on her so she could get revenge on Leo.

Tess could be a really evil person when it came to getting revenge. I just hope Leo is up for it.

That's when Leo pulled out a big bucket of water and dumped it right on her head.

I laughed as Tess gasped in shock because he actually dumped water on her.

"If I were you Leo, I would start running for your life," I told him through my laughter.

Tess jumped up smiling one of her evil grins and chased after Leo. It was so funny to see the look on Leo's face.

It was alomst like he wanted Tess to get revenge on him because it left me alone with Dare.

Leo ran towards the ocean as Tess followed after him yelling, "Leo, you know you can't run away from your punishment!"

When Leo was standing in the water he stopped and turned to face Tess.

"What are you gonna do Tess, huh? Cause you know that if you get revenge on me, of all people, that you're going to feel bad afterwards," he said crossing his arms in front of him.

Tess stopped walking and loooked at him knowing that he was right. If she did get revenge on him that she would feel bad later on.

"Well Leo, this time I'm not going to feel bad afterwards. Also who said said that I was going to be the one to get revenge on you?" Tess smiled her evil grin.

That's when Dare came up behind Leo and dumped bucket of sand on his head.

Leo turned around to see who dumped the sand on his head.

Dare tried holding back his laughter, but couldn't.

"I'll get you later man," Leo threatend Dare.

Dare just shrugged his shoulders and headed to where I was sitting on the blankets watching them.

"So Annie, what would you like to do since Leo and Tess are occupied with