Annabelle’s POV

“I’m so sorry” I say, rushing into the store to find the girls sitting there, bored out of their minds. “Where is she?” I ask. Val points to a door & I set my purse down before walking to the door & knocking, almost tripping on the fucking white carpet.

“Go away” I hear the voice respond. I knock again.

“Mich, come on, open up” I say, sighing & placing my forehead on the door. I close my eyes. This is definitely not my day. “I’m sorry I’m late. My mom had a meltdown… again. She seems to have one every time I leave the house” I say.

Now that my departure day is so close, I think it finally has sunken to my mother that I’m moving a couple of hundred miles away. She’s always tearing up & hugging me out of the blue. I know she wants me to feel that I’m loved by her & that she will miss me more than anything, but it’s actually making it harder for me. Because with every hug she gives me, every hot chocolate mug she brings me while I’m packing, makes me not want to leave. Makes me realize that I’m not gonna have someone to do that to me when I’m in NY.

“You promised her” Leana mutters, making me turn to look at her & the girls. She’s playing with Baby Wren, who is 6 ½ month old. Time goes really fast. I can’t believe that the next time I’m gonna see her will be for her first birthday.

“I know, ok” I say a bit annoyed. “I tried. Trust me, I did. But I never seem to be able to make it on time” I say, flaunting my hands in the air from being pissed that I missed the last fitting of Michelle’s wedding dress. I missed all the other appointments due to the fact that I had so much to arrange with the moving, but I had promised her that I would be here to see her in her wedding dress one last time before the wedding. & I’m an hour late! You would think that since I’m obsessed with watches & own over 100 of them, that I would be a punctual person, but no. I’m always late. Every time is either this or that. I never can make it on time.

I take a big breath before adjusting my blouse & turning to keep knocking but I’m faced with Michelle… in her wedding dress. & she looks absolutely amazing. I keep staring at her, not being able to take my eyes off of her. & I feel my heart break a bit.

I can see why Brian’s in love with her & not me. She’s gorgeous. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a low self-esteem. I love myself very fucking much & I’ve never envied other girls that have bigger boobs or better hair. No, I’ve always been very comfortable with myself. I’ve got the looks, the personality & the brains, what else can I ask for, right? But I do consider myself an average/common you-look-great-but-don’t-make-head-turn-to-take-a-second-glance pretty. But Michelle… she’s stunning. Her smile is just perfect. She always seems to be in a great mood. Everyone loves her crazy antics. & she makes Brian extremely happy. So, who am I to try & take that away from him? Who am I to feel what I feel for him? Who am I to love him? I’m not even his friend anymore.

“So?” She asks, after a couple of minutes of me just staring at her, breaking my train of thoughts. I can see that my silence scared her a bit, making her think that I don’t like it.

“Wow” I say, looking into her eyes. “You look amazing. I think I went lesbian for a minute” I say & she laughs. I look at her & see that she looks, aside from beautiful, happy. All the wedding preparations & getting on everyone’s nerves finally took a second place in her mind & she was really enjoying being engaged & putting the last touches to her day.

“Aww… Thanks, Anna” She says, hugging me. “Do you think Brian’s gonna like it?” She asks me & I can feel my tears beginning to build in my eyes at the pure mention of his name. Being without Brian is slowly killing me… but no one has to know that. There’s a reason I haven’t told anyone, aside from my mom & brother, about what happened between Brian & I.

“Of course” I say shrugging off my own feelings. “He must be stupid if he doesn’t” I say, smiling to her.

“Oh, before I forget” She says, passing by me to where the girls are sitting. I see Lacey hand her this medium size gift. “I got you a going-away present” She says, grabbing her long dress so she doesn’t trip. She hands me the gift & I stare at her, her eyes urging me to open it. I sigh & start to tear open the gift wrapper & smile when I see what’s inside.

“Ha! Really funny” I say, seeing the clock.

“Hey, we thought it’s completely you” Gena chimes in.

“I was gonna wait ‘til your going away party to give it to you, but I couldn’t resist” She says & all the girls groan.

“What party?” I ask my eyebrow rose. Immediately Michelle’s face falls & she mutters ‘shit’ under her breath. “You guys were planning a party?” I ask & Val lets out a big sigh, before standing up & walking towards us.

“Yes, we were. But my lovely sister just fucked up the surprise” She says, glaring at Michelle. Michelle mutters an apology.

“Aww… you guys are so sweet, but I don’t want a party” I say & they all stare at me like I’m crazy. Maybe I am, but I like it. “It’ll just make this whole moving process even harder” I say, speaking the truth. Michelle hugs me & whispers in my ear something that I don’t hear. I think she was whispering because that might’ve been a sob, since she has a few tears running through her cheeks when she let’s go of me. “Don’t cry” I say, pulling her to me, making her seem shorter than me thanks to my high heels. “Besides, instead of being worried about a party for me, we should be worried about your bachelorette party” I say & she looks at me. “Go get out of your dress so we can get going” I say, softly pushing her towards the door she appeared earlier.

“What party?” Leana asks, Baby Wren passed out on her arms.

“Well… we’re going to VEGAS” I say & they all scream & jump.

“OH MY GOD. Are you serious?” Lacey says, coming to hug me.

“Yes, & you guys have an hour to get your shit together & meet me at the airport” I say, grabbing my bag.

“WHAT? We’re going now?” Gena says, standing up.

“Yes. This will be Michelle’s bachelorette weekend” I say & I see Michelle rush into the room & close the door, a bit loudly. I smile. I really need a weekend away to forget all the drama that’s going on in my life right now.

*~*~*

“Annabelle?” Someone says as I’m sitting in the middle of the airport, messing around with my phone & twirling a lock of my hair in my finger carelessly. I need a haircut. My hair is a little past my shoulders now. I turn up to stare at the green eyes that bring girls all over the world to its knees.

“Zacky?” I say, shocked that he’s here. Are the guys going on tour?

“What are you doing here?” We ask at the same time & laugh. He motions for me to answer.

“I’m waiting for the girls” I say, giving him a look. “You?”

“Waiting for the guys” He says, eyeing me the same way.

“Where are you going?” We ask again at the same time. “Vegas” We answer at the same time. My mouth hangs open in shock after a short gasp, just as his.

“Hey, V” Matt says, not acknowledging me, until he follows Zacky eyes. “Anna? What are you doing here?” He asks.

“She’s going with the girls to Vegas” Zacky answers for me.

“Really? Why?” Matt asks, crossing his arms across his chest, his muscles tightening together.

“Michelle’s bachelorette weekend. Why are you guys going?” I ask, mimicking Matt’s actions.

“Brian’s bachelor party” They both answer.

“You got to be kidding me” I mutter to myself. Just when I thought I was gonna escape from all this bullshit with Brian. I take a big breath. “Where are you guys staying?” I ask standing & rubbing my temples. I can feel the headache building up already.

“The Palms” Zacky answers. I let out a frustrated groan. “YOU TOO? Oh, man” He says, throwing his hands up dramatically. Guess he isn’t pleased that we’re going together either.

“Ok, everyone chill. We’re just gonna be in the same city… and hotel. But that’s it. Everyone is gonna be doing whatever the fuck they want & we don’t have to see each other. We’ll probably end up at some fucking cheap strip club & you girls are gonna be getting massages & all that shit” Matt says. “Vegas is a big city” He says & I nod. He’s right. Not about the massages though. Unless the one giving the massages are really hot guys with barely anything on.

“Hey, guys” I hear his voice behind me & I close my eyes. Thank God I’m wearing sunglasses. Otherwise, the guys would’ve seen my eyes. They would’ve seen that look that I get where I have to swallow hard for me not to cry whenever he’s around, or is even mentioned in a conversation. “You wouldn’t believe who I found at the entrance” He says & don’t even turn. I just lower my head, thinking that maybe that way I’ll go unnoticed. “Lacey. She says they’re going to Vegas too. Apparently Annabelle invited them” He finishes & I bite my lip.

Annabelle… that’s how he calls me now. How can he call me that? I’m no longer Belle. I know I said that I hated being called Belle… but I loved when he did it. It’s his nickname. No one can call me that… only him. But he doesn’t anymore.

“We know” Zacky says exasperated pointing at me & I immediately feel his stare at the back of head. I feel that sharp feeling in my chest whenever my lungs refuse to expand & let me breathe properly. A feeling that comes whenever I'm around him or even thinking about him, which is all the time. I slowly turn around to find him staring at me. We don’t say anything. I can’t even tell what he’s thinking since he’s wearing sunglasses too.

“What is going on?” Matt asks, noticing the tension that was soon built when he arrived. “Is everything ok between you guys?” He asks, coming to stand by us. I nod my head & give him a small fake smile, before excusing myself & walking away… going to a place where I can let a few tears spill, take a deep breath while I wipe them & put on that façade that I’m used to wear now.