Annabelle’s POV

“I don’t know. I feel like something’s missing” I say to Alex, my next door neighbor, while eyeing closely to the new paint I made.

“I think is perfect” He says. “The way you mixed those colors are just… ugh, magnificent. Ms. Rose will be really happy” He says again. “Stop being so critical & insecure about your work. You’re an amazing artist” He says, placing his arm around my shoulder. I roll my eyes at him. He claims to be my biggest fan but nobody beats my Mom at that. He’s also the reason I paint. He’s always inspiring me… well, more like nagging me, to make a collection. Thanks to him, lots of my paintings have been sold, but I’ve never had the guts to put an entire collection together. When I was about to criticize my work some more, the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it” He says letting go of me. I turn to see Gena & Lacey.

“Hey. What are you guys doing here?” I ask, while I grabbed the painting & placed it over the dining table.

“Wow… you did that? That’s amazing” Gena says, walking towards the painting.

“Thanks. I think I could’ve done it better” I say, walking to where she’s standing & glazing over her shoulder.

“Bullshit” I hear Alex mutter & turn to see him & Lacey giggling.

“So… what are you doing here?” I ask them again.

“We’re here to go shopping & grab something to eat. We haven’t had time to spend together since the whole wedding planning thing” Gena says, fidgeting with the top of the dinning chair.

“Yeah. I can’t take more of Michelle’s demands. If I’m gonna put up with it, at least I wanna do it with a killer manicure & new clothes” Lacey says, plopping down on my couch, placing her feet on my coffee table.

“Don’t you have to work?” I ask, looking at Gena while walking towards Lacey. “And don’t you have classes?” I mutter the last word while removing her feet off my coffee table. She knows I hate when she does that.

“I took the day off” Gena says with as shrug. I turn to Lacey for her answer but she doesn’t give me one. She just shakes her head no. I was about to reply when someone interrupted me.

“OH MY GOD, ANN! JUST GO ALREADY” Alex screams frustrated. We all turn to look at him.

“What about the painting & Ms. Rose?” I ask him.

“Don’t worry about her. I’ll be here waiting for her. Just go have fun, enjoy some girl time. Since you’re not getting laid, go shopping” He says, plopping next to Lacey & turning on the TV.

“How do you that?” I ask him. “You know what? I don’t even wanna know” I say before walking to my room, grabbing a jacket & my bag. “I’m ready” I say, walking out again. “Please, don’t break anything” I say to Alex & he just nods. I walk with my girls by my side for a fun day of shopping.

*~*~*

6 hours later & hundreds of dollars less from my bank account, I’m back at my place. I put everything on the sofa, walking to the answering machine, seeing I had 4 new messages.

You have 4 new messages. Message number 1:

I hear the little robotic voice speak to me.

“Hey, Annie, it’s Jer. Just wanted to ask if you could babysit the boys Sunday night. Our babysitter cancelled & its London’s & I 8th year anniversary dinner. Hit me back with an answer. Love ya, sis”

I sighed, making a mental note to call my brother.

Message number 2:

“Hi, honey. How are you? Haven’t heard from you in 2 days. I hope everything is ok. Just wanted to know how my baby girl is doing. Call me when you can. Your mom says hi”

I hear Dad say. He’s always worrying so much. The truth is I call my parents every day so for me to be MIA for 2 days is a big deal. It honestly slipped my mind.

Message number 3:

“Hey, Anna… Alex here. Ms. Rose loved the painting. She almost cried when she saw it. I’m sure its gonna look awesome on her oversized walls”

Message number 4:

“Hey, Annabelle, this is Jay. I need you to fly to Florida for a photo shoot. I’m sorry it’s so short notice, but I don’t have any other photographer available. The flight leaves at 10 AM. The tickets will be waiting for you at the airport. You need to be there at 8 AM. You’re a lifesaver. Oh, & before I forget, I couldn’t get a stylist so you’ll have to get one yourself. Sorry for that too. Bye”

I groan listening to my boss’ message. I glance at the clock & see its almost 11 PM. How the hell am I supposed to get a stylist at this hour? He better be paying me extra for this. Just then, something clicked. I grab the phone & dial Gena’s & Zacky’s number. After a few rings, I hear a deep voice answer.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Zack. What’s up?” I say.

“Not much. What’s up?” He ask & I can hear him yawning.

“Were you asleep? I’m so sorry” I say, apologizing.

“Nah, I’m watching TV & just lazing around. Had a long day at the studio today so I guess that’s why I’m so tired” He says & I hear he’s channel surfing. “What can I do for you?”

“Oh, actually, I need to talk to G” I say walking to my bedroom too, planning on packing all my equipment before heading to bed.

“Well, she’s taking a shower right now. Want to leave a message?” He asks.

“Yeah, tell her I need her to come with me to Florida tomorrow”

“Florida?” He asks.

“Yeah. I don’t know what happened but my boss needs me to go there & I need a stylist, so… I need her. Please tell her to meet me at the airport at 8, ok? I’m not taking no as an answer” I say, looking for a small suitcase. I don’t think I’ll have to stay there for more than 2 days.

“Ok, I’ll let her know” He mutters.

“Thanks. Night” I say & hear him reply too before hanging up & I continue gathering all my stuff.

*~Next day~*

I’m patiently waiting for Gena to arrive. She called me & told me she was just getting here, but I don’t see her anywhere. I take out my phone to call her again when I feel some strong arms lifting me up & swirling me around. I’d recognize those arms anywhere. “BRIAN” I shriek. He puts me down & I turn to see him smirking, while Zacky & Gena stand there, holding hands, smiling. “What the hell are you doing here?” I ask him, after slapping his arm for scaring me.

“What do you think? We’re going to Florida with you” He says, his smile widening.

“What?” I ask him & it’s just then that I notice the small bag placed at his feet. I notice Zacky is holding one too. “Uh… no, no, no” I say, shaking my head.

“Why not?” He asks. “It’ll be fun” He says.

“No, we’re not going to have fun. We are going to work there” I say, lying straight through my teeth.

“Bullshit, Belle. You 2 were going to go to that Cuban bar you guys went last time & get shitfaced with Mojitos again” He says, rolling his eyes.

“We’re not” I mutter/scoff. “Besides, you guys have no tickets” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Wrong” Zacky says. “After your call last night, I called the airline & booked us 2 tickets. I upgraded yours so the 4 of us will go in 1st class” He says. We hear the ‘ding’ & the woman start talking, telling us to go a specific gate to board.

“This’ll be fun” Brian says, pulling me to his side & walking towards the gate. “You won’t even notice I'm there. I’ll be like a ghost” All I have left to do is groan. Like Brian could ever go unnoticed.