Zacky’s POV

Why in the name of God does Annabelle has to live on the 5th floor? & how the hell does the elevator doesn’t work? Some of us don’t like to work out. Especially when you’re so out of shape like I am right now. I start walking to her apartment & just as I’m about to knock, the door flies open while Annabelle is hugging some guy. It’s not Justin. “OBVIOUSLY it’s not Justin, numb nut, they broke up a long time ago” I mentally scowl myself. I clear my throat & Annabelle jumps a bit.

“Zacky, hey” She says, letting go of the guy. I notice her getting kinda nervous & I turn to look at the guy.

“Well, I better get going” The guy says. “I’ll give you a call so we can sort all the details out, ok?” He says to Annabelle, giving her a kiss on the cheek & nodding to me before walking towards the stairs. I follow the guy until he’s out of sight.

“Come on in” Annabelle says, pulling me in. “How are you?” She says & I notice a lot of boxes laying around her living room & dining area.

“I’m fine” I say. “Who was that guy & what the fuck happened here?” I say, looking through a box that was filled with all kinds of art materials.

“Oh, he was just a friend & this, um…” She hesitates before she turns to look at me with a smile. “Some crap I’ve had lying around that I’m gonna take downstairs to storage” She says, crossing her arms over her chest, looking at me. I eye her carefully, nodding. “I just have to get dressed & grab the gifts & we can go” She says, walking to her room. I sit on the couch & look that her TV is disconnected as well as all her video games. I start noticing all the things that are missing too as I look around the room more carefully. Various pictures are missing as well as some of her paints. & it’s then that I notice her agenda on the coffee table. I don’t mean to be nosy & pry on her business, but I can’t help lean over to see that she has the initials ‘AH 1 PM’ on Wednesday. Who the hell is AH? Could it be the guy that left a few minutes ago? I see something sticking out & grab it. Plane tickets? To New York? She’s been traveling to New York a lot these past months.

“Hey, Ann?” I say, placing the ticket where I found it.

“Yeah?” She says, while I stand up & start looking at all the boxes. I find the pictures in one, carefully wrapped so they don’t break when they move. “What?” She says, walking out to see me with one of her all time favorite photos. We must’ve been 18-19 at the time, making her like 13 & we were at this old park where we used to get together to get drunk & smoke. It was all the guys & Ann, sitting on top of Matt, laughing her ass off while taking the picture. I remember that day like it was yesterday. Johnny dared Annabelle to climb a stupid tree. She did, but fell, breaking her right hand. I remember getting scared shitless but Annabelle just kept laughing, saying her Mom was gonna be so pissed & would ground her, which she did. She had the cast for over 3 months, having fucked her wrist in little pieces. That’s when she started painting & drawing with her left hand. So now she’s ambidextrous & great at multitasking. That’s why she’s the only one I allow to get near my guitar.

“Why is everything in boxes?” I ask. I see her sigh. “I mean, your XBOX is unplugged. You NEVER disconnect that thing” I say. She bits her lip. “And why is this…” I say lifting the picture. “And this…”Lifting another picture of the whole Hurley family at Jeremy’s wedding. “Packed away? It seems like you were moving” I say & I see her swallow hard.

“I…” She starts, but gets choked up. “I have to finish getting ready” She says walking away. I don’t know if I saw correctly or not, but I could swear I saw her eyes glistening with what seemed tears. I was about to bitch when my phone started buzzing on my pants. I see that it’s Val calling.

“Annabelle is finishing getting ready” I say knowing what she was about to ask.

“Why is it that she’s never ready when somebody goes pick her up?” She asks & I nod. That is true. She’s never ready on time. Everybody always have to wait for her. She always gets caught up with something… or someone on this case. “Tell her to hurry up” Val says & we hang up. Just in time, Annabelle walks out with a bright pink one shoulder dress. Her hair is really straight, almost reaching her shoulder. Her bangs swept to the side with a hair clip. We’re attending a Valentine’s party at Matt’s & Val’s house, & we all were requested to wear pink & white. I look at Annabelle from head to toe & finally see that she’s not the crazy little girl that climbed trees & fell from them. She was a grown woman now.

“What?” She asks, opening her tiny clutch to see if she has everything.

“Oh, nothing” I say. “Shall we?” I say, walking to her side, offering her my arm. She laughs & places her arm & hand delicately on it. I escort her to her door & off we go to our destination.

Valary’s POV

I turn to see the crowd of people & see Annabelle dancing with Jason. She’s laughing, trying to make Jason’s hips to sway with the beat of the song & failing miserably. I still can’t believe they kissed. I see Jason getting annoyed & picking Annabelle up, so she isn’t touching the floor & sway with her, while she throws her head back in a big laugh, wrapping her arms around his neck. It’s nice to see her have a good time. Her dress raises a bit, not too much to see her underwear, & she whispers something to Jason, before wrapping her legs around his waist & him carrying her to where Michelle & I are. He places her on the counter, staying between her legs so she can fix her dress & not pull a Britney, before going to grab something to drink. “Well, well, well… aren’t you & Jason the cutest thing ever?” Michelle says. “I guess it’s a good thing he’s your partner at the wedding” She says, nudging Annabelle. Annabelle just rolls her eyes.

“We’re not dating. In fact, we’ve always been this way. You guys just started noticing since I told you we kissed” She says, crossing her legs. Jason comes back with 2 cups of beer & hands one to Annabelle.

“What are you guys talking about?” He asks before sipping from his beer.

“Nothing… wedding stuff” Michelle says, smiling, before walking away. We stay there, small talking for a while.

Michelle’s POV

Everyone is kinda beat & a bit drunk. The party was crazy so we’re all just chilling by the pool. It’s nice to see that even though we all have friends outside the ‘group’, it’s always the same group that stays by the end of the party. "Ok, my turn” Annabelle chimes, walking out of the house with a bunch of packages carefully wrapped. “First one… Jimmy & Leana” She says, handing them a package.

“Is it a picture of you making out with Gena? Cuz that would be the perfect gift” Jimmy says as Leana starts to unwrapped the gift. Baby Wren was being babysat by Jeremy & London. They said it was important for Jimmy & Leana to go out & have fun. “I can’t believe you did that when I was not present” He whines… AGAIN!

“Oh, honey, shut up” Leana says in the sweetest tone ever. We all laugh. “Oh my God” She says, eyeing Annabelle’s present. She takes out a box that reads {C}{C}‘Peek-a-boo Lap Dancing Kit’{C}. Everyone starts laughing.

“I just thought it wouldn’t be fair for Wren to have all the fun with peek-a-boo, you know. This way, you can play too” She says with a sly smile.

“Where did you get this?” Leana asks, reading the instructions.

“You would be surprised with the things you can find in New York” She says, taking another gift. “Johnny & Lacey” She says, handing them.

“Why am I scared of opening this?” Lacey says before opening. “{C}{C}Hot Date Party Pack?{C}” She asks, raising her eyes to Annabelle.

“You found it?” Johnny says, grabbing the box from Lacey & opening it, a pair of pink handcuff falling. “You’re the best. I thought they didn’t make it anymore” He says & Lacey just rolls her eyes.

“Matt… this is for you” She says handing him a gift. He unwrap it & a booming laughter is heard. “I thought with your temper, you really needed a pair of those when Val isn’t around” She winks at him. He shows us & we all laugh, except Val, who is blushing. “The guy said they’re perfect {C}{C}stress relievers{C}. & what better way to release stress than with boobies” She laughs when Matt throws one at Jason who is sitting next to Annabelle. “Don’t worry, Val… I got you a stress reliever too” She says handing her a small box. Val opens it & smiles. She takes out a small red bell.

“Oh, fuck no” Matt murmurs.

“Hey, she’s entitled to” Annabelle scowls him.

“What is that?” I ask. “A {C}{C}SEX BELL{C}??!?!? I want one” I say, sitting back down.

“1 ring for ready now. 2 for quick. 3 for desperate” Val reads out loud, making us laugh when she rings it once.

“Michelle, this is for you” She says handing me my gift. I open it & my mouth hangs open. It’s a {C}{C}bra{C} & {C}{C}g-string{C} made of candy. “So Syn will have a great time…” She turns to look at Jason with a kinky smirk. “How can I say it?”

“Eating it?” He says & Annabelle nods. Everyone laughs & my mouth hangs open. Can’t say I won’t enjoy it.

“And here’s to Brian… so Michelle will have a great time eating it too” She says, handing Brian his gift. {C}{C}Its a candy posing pouch{C}. I blush immediately. “Aww… don’t be shy, Michelle. You can save it til the honey moon” She says & everyone laughs. I don’t know how she comes out with this things but I hope she doesn’t change. It’s refreshing. No wonder everyone loves her to death.

“And what did you get Jason?” I hear Brian ask, eyeing them. Jason turns to smile at Annabelle & she just shrugs.

“She gave me a {C}{C}sex play{C}” He says & I furrow my eyebrows. He must have noticed all the confused looks. “It has all types of role play & stuff like that” He says like it’s not the biggest deal.

“Sometimes foreplay isn’t enough” Annabelle says.

{C}Brian’s POV{C}

“Sometimes foreplay isn’t enough” Annabelle says & I clench my jaw. What does that’s supposed to mean? Are she & Jason going to use the fucking sex play? Are they fucking around behind my back? “Well, I’m tired. Can you give me a ride?” She asks Jason, getting up. He nods. She goes inside & I follow her. We haven’t really talked since the whole mistletoe incident. I see her walk towards the coffee table where she left her purse. I stand there watching her checking her phone. She looks great tonight. That color is made for her. She turns around, never looking up from her phone & not noticing me standing there, until she runs into me, stumbling back a few steps. “Fuck” She mumbles, looking up. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t laugh. What the fuck are you doing standing there?” I laugh again & immediately quiet down when I see her hard look.

“Sorry” I say. She rolls her eyes & walks up the stairs. “Where are you going?” I ask her from the bottom of the stairs.

“I left something at Matt’s room” She says. “I’ll be right back” I sit on the steps & sigh. What the hell is going on? I can’t let these feelings I’ve had to ruin my friendship with Belle. Losing her would kill me. I can’t picture my life without her. And who am I to tell her to stay away from JB? He’s one of my best friends too. I should be happy for them. If they want to date, they should date, right? Who am I to tell them no? And I’m getting married. I think that completely strips me from any right of getting jealous... if I ever had a right to. “Here” She says, handing me a folder. I look at her. “I felt bad for making Zacky those sketches” She says & I open the folder to see one drawing of a {C}{C}skull playing the guitar{C}. “I know how much you liked those, so I made you a few so you can choose if you keep them or not” She says & look to another {C}{C}drawing{C}. “I’m not sure if they're House of Syn enough” She mutters & look at her. She’s biting her lip. “I think {C}this one’s is pretty cool” She says. I turn to look at the one she’s pointing. “Would look great on women tank tops” She says looking at me. I smile. “Do you like them?” She says & I nod.

“They’re great” I say, closing the folder. “Listen, Belle, we need to talk” I say & I see her cast her eyes down. “You’re my best friend. I love you to death & I want you to be happy” She nods her head, playing with her rings. “What happened that night at Zacky’s place was-”

“Nothing” She mutters & turns to look at me. “It was nothing. We almost fucked up by kissing because we were drunk. Nothing changed between us” She says & I see she’s serious. “It happens, right?” She asks & I nod. “Good. Cuz I really need my best friend right now” She says & I furrow my eyebrows. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you” She says & I see nervousness on her whole body. I smile knowingly.

“There’s no need for you tell me. I already know” I say & she looks at me confused/shocked.

“Y-you already know?” She asks & I nod my head yes.

“& don’t worry. I completely support you” I say & her look doesn’t change. I kiss her cheek & hug her.

“Uh… sorry. Annabelle, are you ready?” Jason says from the living room. She nods her head & gets up, walking to the front door. I walk towards Jason & pull him into a hug.

“If you hurt her, I’ll fucking kill you” I mutter to him, before patting his back & walking to where the rest of the guys were. If he’s gonna date Belle, my Belle, he better treat her like a fucking princess. She's everything to me & I will not stand there seeing her get hurt. JB better live to her & my expectation, cuz I will fucking kill him if he ever hurts her.