Harry

I had everything put together before I’d called Annie so I knew that I didn’t need to do anything but try and sleep tonight. Once we were off the phone I turned on some television. I was having a hard time focusing because I really just wanted it to be time to see her again. I felt like I had gone mental in the past 48 hours. I’d had an extreme attraction to Annie for months. I remember the first time I met her. Ben had suggested a book to me. He told me to stop in to the bookshop by my house to pick up a copy. He said that the girl who worked there had suggested it and he knew I’d love it. So the next day after I’d gone for a run and cleaned up I took the walk to the bookstore.
I’d never gone in before but it had always looked nice from the outside. The first step in the door and I knew it would be somewhere I’d likely find myself visiting again. The shop wasn’t giant but wasn’t small. There were large, red leather chairs that you imagine in the library of a luxurious home near one wall in front of a fireplace with a low table in front of them that had stacks of books and magazines on top. The counter at the front had computers for the employees as well as a little coffee bar and glass cases of beautifully decorated baked goods. There were comfy seating areas spaced throughout the store. The art that hung on the walls was magnificent. Photographs, paintings, and even a large mobile hanging from the high ceiling. There was a spiral staircase at the back of the store that took you to a lofted area with cushions, bean bag chairs and kids books on every shelf. There was a young girl at the counter, a woman who looked like an older version of her at the back leaning out of an office and another in one of the chairs by the fireplace.
Annie had stood from the chair immediately upon seeing me and come over to greet me. She was warm, inviting and had enchanted me the moment I saw her. The second she opened her mouth it was obvious that she was American. She was short and I nearly laughed, barefoot in the middle of the store. I caught a pair of flip flops underneath the table by her chair. When I asked about the book she laughed and said I was the second person in a week that had come in that she’d sold that too. If she’d known who I was she gave away nothing. But smiled and chatted politely helping me find the book and even another one she thought I’d like before helping me check out. She gave me a cookie that day, on the house and told me to come back and tell her what I thought of the books. I don’t know that I’d ever read a book that fast in my life. I was back the next day when the shop opened to see her again.
When I asked Ben if it had been the American girl with blue eyes that had helped him he laughed. Said he didn’t notice her eye color when she was helping him find books. He endlessly gave me shit for being so smitten with her. But I knew he liked that I was happy and telling stories of a new woman. We were only home for two weeks before I left again. I’d read more books in that span than I had the last two months, potentially two years. All because I wanted an excuse to talk to her and see her. We’d talk music and movies and art. Not just books, which was good because I’m sure she’d run laps around me if we were only talking books. Though she did admit that she often lied to customers about reading wonderful literature when really all she wanted was a trashy romance or a chick lit maybe two for an afternoon off. Before I left I came in so she could stock me up with some suggestions. After a scavenger hunt on my part I found her on twitter. I’d been gone about a week when I sent her my first tweet telling her I’d already run out of books and needed some suggestions to buy on my iPad for a long bus trip. She replied with suggestions from herself and the two other woman I’d met in the store that first day, Lizzy and Lyla.
That was nearly six months ago. The girl I met that day had gone from the sales associate helping me that I found attractive to a new friend to the girl I was seeing in that span. Well at least I hoped it would be the girl I was seeing. I caught her flinch today when Patrick called me her boyfriend. Admittedly it was really soon for someone to be saying that but I liked the way it sounded. I hadn’t been someone’s boyfriend in a while. Sure, I’d dated. I’d spent time with women. But none that I wanted to call me their boyfriend, especially after one snowy weekend trapped in a flat. But she made me feel different than those women had. Just the little bubble appearing in an iMessage screen telling me that she was typing would make my heart beat faster.
I smiled at my thoughts. I was laying in bed recalling, with vivid detail, the first time I met Annie. She had on a black maxi dress that had slits up to her mid thigh with a grey and black stripped top over it that flowed beautifully around her body and hung off one shoulder. The neck was large enough that I could catch a glimpse of her cleavage if she moved the right way. Her hair still had a lot of blonde highlights in it at the time and hung in loose waves to the bottom of her shoulder blades. She had on a necklace with a small bird painted on it and a few rings to go along with a watch. She fidgeted with her hair a lot, though unlike most women it didn’t seem like a flirting tactic or a nervous tick. It just seemed like she naturally played with her hair a lot, twisting it in to a bun and letting it fall out immediately. She had short fingernails that were painted black to match her toes. And very little makeup on, just a noticeable bit of black eyeliner. But she didn’t appear gothic or dark, just like she wanted to be herself and this was how she felt that day. It was refreshing to see someone so comfortable in their own skin and that her smile was the accessory she wanted to highlight most, which never disappeared when we were around each other. I was broken from my memory by my phone ringing.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Why did you say that you should’ve stayed?” Annie asked causing me to smile.
“Because I wanted to tell you that. And because I meant it. I should’ve stayed. Or perhaps made you come home with me. My bed is lonely and feels like you should be in it which is strange considering you’ve never even seen my bed.”
“I have though.”
“Oh really? Did I miss having you over for a sleep over?” I asked laughing.
“No. But you text me a picture the morning you were leaving for Los Angeles. You didn’t want to get out of bed and told me to come up with reasons not to leave London and skip your flight. You were in bed in that picture, half naked I might add.” I heard her giggle float through the phone.
“I was actually completely naked. I don’t normally sleep with clothes on. Made an exception for you this weekend. Don’t get used to it.”
“I don’t think I’m gonna complain about you sleeping naked. Nope definitely can’t think of a reason to complain about that. Though it might be torture when you send me your good morning selfies.” I had gotten in the habit of sending her pictures of me making stupid faces in the mornings when I was staying in Los Angeles over the winter. It was always mid afternoon for her when I sent them and she usually told me to get my ass out of bed and live a little. “Must admit, you being back here has been less educational in the morning without the random facts you would text me at night when I was sleeping. And definitely less cheerful without your stupid smile pictures.”
“I’ll try to up my game then.” I paused for a moment listening to her breathe on the other end of the phone. Her voice was normally in a lower register but tonight in particular it was, she sounded tired. “You sound exhausted.”
“I am. Woke up really early this morning.”
“It was an early morning. You can sleep in a little tomorrow. I mean, I’d obviously rather have you be here enjoying an early morning with me but if you must sleep in your own bed at least I know you’ll be practicing your favorite hobby of sleeping.”
“I will be. No one to hog my bed tonight.”
“Hey! I wasn’t hogging.”
“You were. It’s a good thing I like to snuggle,” she said. “Because you were definitely dead center last night with your legs stealing my half.”
“It’s because your bed is so small. My feet hung off the bed if I didn’t sleep crooked or try to wrap my legs around yours.”
“Well you are a bed hog.”
“Fine then we will just have to sleep at mine. I’ve got a giant bed. You can have all the space you need.”
“Mmm, I like that idea. My pillow smells like you.” I heard her yawn.
“Get some rest baby. I’ll see you in the morning,” I said.
“Okay, goodnight Dimples.”
“Goodnight baby. I’ll let you know when I leave in the morning.”
“Okay. Bye,” she said and hung up the phone. I went in to the messages and opened the one I had with her.

Message with Annie
The odds of being killed by falling out of bed are one in two million.
You’re cute.
The letter ‘E’ is the most used letter in the English alphabet. And you just used it twice. :)
I also used the letter “U” twice. Like U are sUper weird and yoUr Usless facts are trUly a Unbelievable way to end this UnUsUally sUperb weekend.
Now you’re the cute one.
I’m supposed to be sleeping. Someone told me I sounded exhausted.
You shouldn’t trust him. I hear he was stupid and left a pretty girl laying in bed by herself tonight.
He did. Obviously he doesn’t know what he’s missing. [photo]
He really is a stupid man. He not only left you alone but he left you with his shirt.
Mmhmm. And it’s cozy. I love flannel. He should be aware that this is staying with me now.
Noted. He will now just go without a shirt. [photo]
Bastard. You’re naked aren’t you?
Possibly. I mean you could come over and find out.
I don’t know where you live or I’d be waiting for the tube right now in my pajamas.
You could forget to pack pajamas tomorrow. ;)
Pervert.
Says the girl who just texted me a picture of her cleavage. Are you trying to sext me Sugar?
No. I was trying to convince you to not only come back over here but to perhaps leave more shirts around. This is comfy.
Don’t tempt me with the coming back over. My bed smells like clean sheets. Yours smells like beautiful woman.
You can thank Burberry for that scent. :)
I’ll buy some for my room then. OK baby. Sleep. For real. I’ll see you at 11.
Goodnight babe. Xx
Goodnight.

Did she seriously just send me a picture of her laying in bed in the plaid shirt I’d worn out on Friday night? With the shirt unbuttoned past her breasts? I opened the photo again. She had. She was amazing and I was going absolutely mental. How did all of this happen? Six months of getting to know each other. Two months of me practically begging for drinks, not even a date, just drinks. And here I am after two nights in the same bed as her feeling lonely and missing the way her lips felt against mine. This didn’t seem possible but I also knew it was real. It was happening and there was no turning back at this point. I eventually fell asleep but didn’t manage to stay asleep for long intervals. I woke up every hour thinking I would sleep through the three alarms I’d set on my phone. When the first finally went off and I woke up without hesitation.

Message with Annie
The average person laughs ten times a day.
And you’re already at one.
Shhhh!!!!! I’m sleeping.
How do you know that? What if I didn’t laugh at your fact?
You did. You’re an absolutely dreadful liar.
Dolphins sleep with one eye open. You should too because I’m totally gonna kick your ass for waking me up. Tomorrow morning…watch your back.
No need to watch my back. You lay facing me when you sleep. :)
And now you’ve laughed twice and you’re not even out of bed yet.
You’re so cheerful in the morning. What is wrong with you?
Wait…you’ve got to be fucking kidding me? IT’S SIX FUCKING THIRTY DIMPLES. GO BACK TO SLEEP.
Can’t sleep. Too excited. I’ve got a hot date today.
Well hot date or not I’m going back to bed. And I’m considering shutting my phone off so I can sleep.
Fine. I won’t send my morning selfie to you.
Now why would you want to deprive a girl from laughing for a third time?
I knew it! You laughed! I win! [photo]
Wait…why would you laugh at my picture? Don’t you think I’m pretty??
You win and now we’re at four. Is your goal for me to laugh ten times before I’m out of bed?
Well that would just make you a gold star student - coughoverachievercough. I don’t encourage people showing off how they are better than the other people around them. You should frown for a few hours so that you don’t get too far ahead.
FIVE!
Yes!! I’m gonna win this day. Woo! Happy dance! Doing the naked, still in bed happy dance!
You’re strange. And I’m going to sleep. BYE.
Meanie face. :P
Shut up.
Nope.
Yes.
Can’t do it.
Shutting off my phone.
You lie.
No I don’t. Well I do sometimes but I’m not right now. I’m tired. Go do whatever you wackos who wake up early do and I’m going to snuggle with my pillow again.
See you in 4 hours and 47 minutes.

I got out of bed and went down to the small gym I kept in the house. After my normal workout and running a bit extra to burn off some excess energy I started to get ready for the date. I showered quickly and stood in my closet for probably 20 minutes trying to decide what to wear today. I went with black jeans and a white t-shirt before pulling a jumper on since it was cold out. I ran my fingers through my hair before loading everything in to the car. It was 10:30 when I left my house after sending her a quick text that I was on my way. It didn’t take nearly as long as yesterday to get through the city to her flat. She buzzed me up and was waiting at the door when I got there.
Without a word I picked her up and she wrapped her legs around my waist. Our lips collided as I walked us in to her bedroom. I laid her down on the bed without our lips or bodies parting. We laid there for a few minutes kissing before either of us came up for air. I looked down at her and couldn’t help but smile. I kissed her quickly a few times before I finally spoke to her.
“Hi.”
“Hey,” she replied. “That’s the kind of greeting I like. Do we really have to go on our date? I’d be fine laying here and kissing you all day.”
“As would I…” I kissed her in the middle of my sentence. “But, I did plan this really great day and think maybe we should go on our date. Though I did like that greeting quite a lot. Someone must’ve missed me last night.”
“Maybe a little bit.” She laughed at herself.
“Are we at 10 yet?” I asked.
“Well past it after your texts. I like laughing this much.”
“You’ve got a great laugh so I like making you laugh.” I kissed her again moving my hand beneath the jumper she had on. I was expecting bareskin and got a t-shirt that was on top of two tank tops. “Too many layers,” I said finally finding her bare skin and grazing it lightly.
“You’re taking me outside I’m assuming from the dress warm instructions. Need layers or I’ll freeze to death.”
“No freezing to death. But good that you’ve bundled up. I’ll eventually get you out of a few of those layers.” Another kiss. “Are we ready to go?”
“Yeah,” she said. Her eyes looked almost glazed over as she smiled at me. A few controlled blinks and she was okay. I only imagined I looked the same way. I felt intoxicated by her mere presence. One more kiss and I stood up pulling her off of the bed. We got her in her coat and bundled up. She had left her duffle on the floor by her bed. I grabbed her camera bag and snuck it out with me. I opened the door for her to get in the car and pulled away. “So do I get to know what our date is yet?”
“Well our first stop is going to be to get coffee. I don’t know about you but I’m tired. Thought a bit of coffee and sugar might do us good.”
“I’m cool with that.” Her phone started to ring in her lap. “Hmm. Weird.”
“What?” I asked.
“Nathaniel is calling me.”
“Are you gonna answer it?”
“Nope, today is about you. Whatever he wants he can leave in a message.” I stopped at a red light and she leaned over to kiss me.
“I need to focus on the road baby.”
“I know. Just thought you deserved a kiss.” I parked the car in front of Starbucks and we got out. We found every excuse to touch one another whether it was a hug or hand holding while we waited for our coffee. I liked that she wasn’t afraid to touch me in public. A lot of the women in my past were. There’s always the possibility of an overeager person with a camera phone. Annie didn’t seem phased by that reality at all. I caught her silencing her phone again once inside. I glanced down to see a picture of she, Kim and a man I didn’t recognize. Taller than Annie by a lot, dark hair that was covered by a backwards baseball cap. All three of them were making stupid faces. The name read Nate The Great.
“He must have something urgent to talk to you about. You can answer it ya know. I won’t be offended.”
“I know you won’t, which is amazing. But I don’t know what Nate could possibly need on a Monday. The shit should be working. Maybe he’ll leave a message this time.”
“You can call him from the car then.” I kissed the tip of her nose before our names were called. We grabbed our drinks and were back in the car in a few minutes and on the road. I saw her click to her voicemail and play it on speaker.
“Hey Annie, it’s Nate. I had some things I wanted to talk to you about. I’m at the office but not in any meetings until about 2:00 if you could call me back. Umm, please call me back. Fuck. I know I screwed up the last time I was back. Could you not avoid me and just call me back. I’m a twat but I need to talk. Please. Thanks.”
“You should call him.”
“I’m going to. Something must be up.” She called him back and I heard the phone ringing.
“Hey Belle,” the voice answered.
“Belle?” I mouthed out to her so he wouldn’t hear.
“Annabelle,” she silently replied. “Hey Natey. What’s going on?”
“I’m going mental. My brain is absolute shit. How did this happen?”
“How did what happen?” she asked leaning back in to the chair.
“I fucking miss her.” I saw Annie’s eyes go wide. “Mum set me up with a girl from the office she works in at the University. Went on a date Saturday and the entire time I wanted to call Kim and tell her about the girl I was on a date with. She was adorable and sweet but she wasn’t Kim. What did my family do to me?”
“What do you mean what did your family do to you?” She was laughing.
“My brother was in town this weekend with the kids and Bex. She’s ready to pop that kid out. But she’s so beautiful pregnant. I want all of that. What the fuck happened to me? I am supposed to be the dirt bag drummer and I want all of that. I put on a suit and tie every day. I live this life that I never thought I’d want and I actually like it.”
“Well that happens sometimes. Stability feels good. So does companionship. It’s nice to not always be alone Nate. Is this like a super new development like seeing Bex pregnant and having Noel home with the kiddos made you think about it?”
“No. I started thinking about it when I was down around Christmas. I was a fucking twat and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been such an ass to you. I shouldn’t have gotten so pissed. But I came straight from work. I’d had a long week. Knowing I wasn’t going to get to London in a while made me hate that the trip was so short. Then the guys showed up and kept going on and on about their writing sessions and the producer they are going to work with and how fucking amazing the studio they are going to record in is and I was mad that I was missing out on all of this. That was all I ever wanted. I went to law school to make my parents happy. I never thought I’d want my Dad and Mum’s life. Never. I always thought I was going to be the single guy who resisted attachment because the more women in my life the merrier. But fuck that. I want all of this shit I made fun of for years. She let me hold her when she slept the last time I was down. It was so different. God every time she touched me it was like I was dropping out of the sky. I felt like I was gonna throw up the whole weekend. And she told me that if I was going to be working on this case for the next month or two that she was okay with it. That we’d just be friends. I don’t want to be her friend.”
“Nate, that’s all you’ve ever wanted from her. I know it probably hurt to hear it back but have you thought of how much it probably hurt her to hear that every time you said it. She wanted you guys to be more exclusive than you were. I know that the rule was always that you didn’t sleep with more than each other but I know that she wanted more than just an exclusivity agreement on your penis. She wanted it on your heart.”
“She has it. It’s all hers and I fucking hate it. I’m miserable. I can’t stop thinking about her. I feel like I smell her in my flat and she’s not been here in two months. I found a nightgown she left here when she stayed the last time as I was getting ready for this fucking date. My god I couldn’t get the image of her in silk out of my head the whole night. Do you know how fucking distracting that is on a date? I had to be a dick and drop the girl off on the street outside her flat because I was afraid if I walked her to her door that I’d try to sleep with her just because I missed Kim and I didn’t want to do that to her. It’s pathetic. I’m in love with a girl that I could’ve had a million times over and now I’m not sure that I can.”
“Why is that?” she asked.
“I talked to Cameron yesterday. Told him I wanted to plan a visit and he said that you were seeing someone new and that you had brought along a friend for Kim on Friday night. That they got snowed in at yours. She’s going to find someone better than me and I’m going to be this pathetic heartbroken sack of shit.”
“She did spend the weekend with someone. But as far as I know they left things on a casual basis. She said she works too much and he definitely does. He’s not in the city a lot. He’s gone a large percentage of the year.” I reached for Annie’s hand and rubbed my thumb over the back of her hand at that. I hated that I’d eventually have to leave her for long periods of time. She didn’t deserve to deal with that but I was going to be a selfish prick as long as I could and keep her to myself if she’d let me.
“Do I stand any chance against this guy? Based on my talk with Cam you finally put the poor Direction bloke out of his misery and agreed to see him. It’s the Irish one she’s with isn’t it?”
“It is,” Annie said. She sounded conflicted. “I think you stand a chance but I don’t know for sure. She had fun. I think she likes him. He’s easy going. But I also know she’s lying to herself when she says she wants something casual. She never wanted that with you. She wanted to be your girlfriend from that first date.”
“I know. How did I fuck this up?” Nate asked. I felt bad for the guy. I knew what it felt like to think you’d missed your opportunity with someone. The chance at happiness.
“You lied to yourself. That’s almost the worst part. Natey, I love you and you know that there’s no way I could hold you puking in my bar against you. But I don’t know what to tell you when it comes to Kim. She wants more and you can’t screw with her feelings. You can’t blow this. If you hurt her I’ll castrate you.”
“I know you will. If I cock it up I’ll let you. You can bronze my dick and wear it as a prize for calling this months ago.”
“I did call this. When she had to go to Manchester for work you were a pathetic piece of shit all weekend. I told you then that you were in love with her.”
“God I wish I’d listened to you. Maybe this wouldn’t suck so much now. Why did this have to happen now? I mean I literally started dreaming about buying a house. One of my realtor clients showed me a few really great houses up here. But every one of them made me wonder if she’d like it. If it was enough for her. If our kids would love growing up there. Cried in my car after the last one.”
“Nate. I’ll help with whatever I can but you have to realize that I’m in a tough spot. Niall is one of Harry’s best friends. I can’t play favorites or I might fuck up my relationship before it gets off the ground.”
“You won’t,” I said.
“Belle! Am I on speaker? You’re with him? Fuck.”
“Sorry,” she said quickly. “Didn’t realize you were going to confess that you got the shit kicked out of you by love. I thought you were gonna tell me that you were still coming for the Super Bowl party.”
“Am I still invited?”
“Yes,” she said. “Are you gonna kick my ass for having you on speaker?”
“Maybe a little. I’m sorry Harry. I’m an ass. I’ll buy you a pint this weekend and explain.”
“It’s okay mate. I know what it’s like to get the shit kicked out of you by love and not expect it. Woman have that power.”
“Yeah they do. You’ve got one of the worst on your hands too,” Nate said laughing. “She’s brutal. But she’s stupid for you.”
“Nate!”
“What?” he asked. “He knows that I cried and that I’m in love with Kim. You are stupid for him. Last time I was in London I tried to touch that damn quilt and you hit me. I had a bruise for weeks. It was a fucking blanket.”
“I still think it’s your fault it doesn’t smell like him anymore.”
“You’re also delusional. I didn’t make it smell any different. Now what am I gonna do about this weekend?”
“Figure out how to tell her how you feel. If you love her fight for her,” I said. Annie looked at me shocked. “Niall is one of my best friends but he’s 20 and not ready to settle down. I saw the way she looked when she talked about you. If you play your cards right and she hasn’t 100% moved on I think you’ll be okay.”
“Thanks mate. I may owe you more than a pint.”
“Well you can pay up this weekend. We’ve got a full weekend planned. It’s my 20th on Saturday. You can tag along. I mean sure it might be awkward with Niall around but I don’t know that it’ll be that awkward. He’s a hopeless romantic. If she looks at you anything like I imagine she does he’ll back off unless he’s got true feelings for her.”
“Nate, I’ll see what I can do about getting your old key to you so you can get in to the flat before she gets home. Maybe you stop by the bookshop Friday when you get in to town. Your cousin has me working in the morning. Lyla and I are the only ones that will be there. Lizzy has an appointment or something. I figure you’ll head down in the morning and take a long weekend.”
“That’s my plan. I owe you Belle. I’m a piece of shit.”
“You are but for some reason she’s okay with that. But I’m technically on a date so I’m gonna let you go. I’ll try calling you tonight or tomorrow. Depends on how the date goes,” she said laughing.
“I’m hoping it goes well. I like this lad already. Thanks Harry. I look forward to meeting you on Friday.”
“Me too Nate,” I said.
“Okay Natey, I’ll call you later. Bye.”
“Bye,” he said and she hung up.
“Holy. Fucking. Shit.”
“Didn’t expect that did you?” I asked.
“Not at all. I knew he was acting different the last time he was here but didn’t expect that things had changed that much. I’m not sure what to think. She had fun all weekend with Niall. She likes him. I can tell. But she’s keeping herself closed off a bit. Told him she just wanted casual, start as friends even though they’ve slept together. She’s gun shy. It took a while for her to fully recover when Nate said he didn’t want to be serious. We all knew they were lying about wanting to be casual. Nate thought he was supposed to want that. But I’ve always known that he wanted more he just had to come to terms with wanting it all. He’s 34 and still acted like he was 24 until his last visit. Well until his band showed up and he was trying to act a part. Like he had before but with a larger bank account to cover a bigger tab at the pub. He was messed up.”
“Well I’m not sure how much I should be helping. Niall and I talked on the way home. He likes her a lot. But I think he knows that she’s ready for the next phase in life. Marriage, kids, the lifelong commitment. He’s not sure he’s ready for that and shouldn’t have to. I mean we are still young. Some of us don’t want to fast forward through life as much as the others.” I sort of wanted to fast forward. Zayn, Louis and Liam did too. Niall liked being young and having fun. I did too but knew the moment I met the right girl I’d be right there with the guys spending nights on a bus calling my girl and telling her I missed her. I was open to the chance that would happen and I knew Niall was but he wasn’t in as much of a hurry as we all were. Relationships provided a stability we all craved because our lives were anything but stable. Niall was the one who handled the crazy the best of all. He always had been.
“I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have to be involved in this. He’s your friend and I totally ruined our date.”
“Did not,” I said quickly.
“We’ve been sitting in your car for 20 minutes next to the river. You’ve got something planned. What is it?” I reached in to the back seat and grabbed both of our cameras and handed hers to her.
“I want to show you my London. The places I love most. Let you photograph them so that I can put them in my room like yours are. I want you to see London through my eyes.”
“Harry…” She looked shocked. “That’s such an incredible idea. I love it.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine. As she broke the kiss she rested her forehead against mine. “This is quite possibly the most person, thoughtful and perhaps romantic date someone has planned for me and it hasn’t even started yet.”
“Well then. Let’s get started. Time to put your beanie on.” I grabbed it from the center console and secured it over her long hair. “Better. Now come on Annabelle. Let’s go.”
“I like that you call me Annabelle,” she said as we were walking the path along the river. She’d stopped twice to take pictures. “Where did you hear someone call me that?”
“I didn’t. I picked up your Poe book. You had Annabel Lee bookmarked. I liked the way it sounded.”
“I’ve been Annabelle to family since I was young. Though spelled differently but it’s part of why I love that poem.”
“It’s beautiful. Like you. I like it.” She turned to me and snapped a picture on your camera.
“That’s gonna be the best one of the day. I know it.”

Notes

Well that's quite an interesting development for a Monday! What on Earth will Kim decide to do? WIll Nate completely blow his chance? Has she fallen for Niall? What will Annie and Harry do? They've got so much invested in the lives of the ones they love. This could be an interesting weekend they have waiting ahead. And they still have to get through their first date!!

I hope you loved this chapter a much as I loved writing it. I'd love to hear what you thought. Please let me know!!

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