Summer Heat

Chapter 1

Owen could spot the man anywhere. Andrew Greene wasn't really a dominating presence, but he had been a constant one in Owen's life the past few months. Well, except for the past three weeks and two days. Other than that.

"Hello, Owen."

He nodded at the other guy. He hadn't really said anything to him since that day, back before school let out, when Andrew had slapped his daughter. He had yet to really forgive him for that.

"So I suppose Annabel wanted you to meet her here too," Andrew said, looking around the airport. They were standing near baggage claim, waiting for the girl in question to show up. Not to mention her mother, who had gone down there a week ago as her own, mini-vacation. Owen wasn't really concerned with Grace's return to Lakeview though, only Annabel's.

"Yeah."

Andrew smiled then, but it didn't reach his eyes. He had gone three weeks without his daughter. Really, it had been three weeks without his wife too, who he hadn't seen since then. Whitney had been the one to take Grace to the airport, so he hadn't even spoken to her. He didn't find it fair that this boy could just barge in on their family moment. And why? Because his daughter was dating him? Pah.

Owen, who was now focusing on watching for his girlfriend, ignored the other man. He didn't care what he thought of him. He knew that there was no doubt his girlfriend's father was jealous. It wasn't Owen's fault though, that he was so much more important to the man's daughter. He couldn't help it.

The moment of truth came for both guys though, when they could both finally spot the girl, walking with her mother towards them. Her hair was darker, but both were expecting this after she had told them so over the phone. Still, it was quite a shock for both of them, especially Owen, who only knew her as a blonde. Andrew though had seen her dye her hair once, long ago, when she was in the seventh grade. She was still both their girl though, as each could tell from the way she carried herself and how her blue eyes shined when she spotted them.

The closer she got, the straighter Andrew stood, prepared for her to hug him. Owen though just smiled, watching her. Neither thought for a second that she would go to the other first. Only one of them could be right.

"Owen!"

He just laughed slightly, wrapping his arms tightly around her as she did the same to him. "Hi, Bella."

"God, it feels like it's been forever." She laughed slightly as she pulled back. Owen kept his hands on her though, reaching out to tuck some hair behind one of her ears. She had some new earrings in, which she had sent him a picture of a few days ago. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Owen said, laughing slightly again.

Grace, who had come up after her daughter, just sighed as she went to her husband's side. "Don't look so down, Andrew. He's all she's thought about."

That didn't make him feel any better, but given the circumstances, he figured that was his wife's plan. Andrew just cleared his throat before saying, "So did you want me to take you back home, Grace, or are you going to stay with Whitney?"

She just shook his head at him, not getting a chance to answer as her daughter chose then to speak.

"Dad, Owen wants to take me out to dinner," she said, interlacing her fingers with her boyfriend's. "Is that okay?"

Andrew frowned. "Well, your mom and I planned to have dinner at home. Whitney's coming home and was going to make-"

"Please?" She was staring up at him now, her blue eyes fading back to their innocent look. "I haven't seen him in forever."

She hadn't seen Andrew in forever either. Still, he just swallowed before saying, "That's fine, I suppose. Come on, Grace, let's go get the bags. Don't stay out too late."

"We won't."

Still, Andrew at least thought Annabel would hug him. Something. Instead she just pulled Owen along, headed out of the airport with her willing boyfriend. Again, Owen couldn't blame him for being jealous. He had held the spot of the most important guy in Annabel's life for a long time, after all. Still, Owen was king now and he didn't feel like vacating that spot any time soon.

"Your hair is so different."

Annabel just giggled. "I know. Do you like it?"

"I like you."

"I know that, but did you like it better before?"

"I don't know. It's still you, huh? It's just like if I always wore sunglasses and one day I didn't. You'd still like me, huh?"

"No."

"Bella."

She just squealed as she squirmed away from him. Owen pressed harder though, pinning her under him with all his might.

"I love you," he told her, staring down into her eyes. They were at his house, alone, trying to relax after dinner. Neither could accomplish that though as all their energy suddenly sprang up, both overly excited to see the other. "Blonde, brunette, black, red, green, white, blue, whatever. You're still my Bella."

Annabel leaned up slightly, kissing his lips gently. When she laid back though, she just said, "I thought about you all the time. You'd have liked New York."

"I'm sure," he agreed, moving now to laying down on the bed. To accomplish this, he moved slightly down her body until his head was pressed into her stomach. Nuzzling it slightly, he said, "Tell me about your trip."

"What's there to tell you, Bear?" She reached down, running a hand over the back of his head. "I called you everyday, we talked online, I sent pictures. You know everything."

"And? Tell me again." He pushed her shirt now so that he could rest his head on her flesh. "I need to hear it again."

"What are you doing?" she asked, looking down now.

"Tattoo checking. Roll over."

"Don't you think if I got a tattoo, I'd have mentioned it by now?"

"No. I don't know. You lie a lot."

"Not a lot."

"Some."

"Some," she agreed. "Now stop it."

He just pressed another kiss against her flat stomach before looking up at her. "You can't leave me again. I hardly survived."

"I bet you survived just fine."

"No."

"You went to see your dad, right?"

"And it sucked. Big time."

"Oh, Bear."

"I'm not kidding. It did. I hated it. I never want to be without you for so long again."

"You're so clingy."

"That's 'cause I love you so much."

"Is it?"

"Yeah."

Running a hand down his head, she asked, "What if I told you I lost your Ipod?"

"What?"

She giggled from the way he glared at her. "It was with my stuff, Bear. I'm just kidding. It's at home now, with my bags."

"Oh." He pressed his head back into my stomach. "Good."

"You wouldn't have forgiven me?"

"I'd have forgiven you. I'd have been mad, but I'd have forgiven you."

"I'd have bought you a new one, silly."

"Yeah, with all that doe you pull in from your job."

"Rude," she told him. "I would have asked Dad to buy it."

'Yeah, I know."

"It was still rude."

He kissed her stomach again. "Let me kiss it and make it better."

"Mmmm."

Then, suddenly, Owen pushed himself up once more before scaling her body. Once their eyes were level, he asked, "So what'd you do for three weeks without me?"

"I've told you everything."

"That's not what I mean." He lowered himself carefully before running a hand down her stomach and to the front of her jeans. "At all."

She blushed then, looking off. He just laughed as he kissed her head.

"Nothing."

"Nothing? At all?" He kissed her neck. "I did a lot while you were gone."

"A lot?"

"Mmmhmm. That's about normal for me though."

"God, you're weird."

"Just in love with you." Her cheek got a kiss this time as he worked her zipper down. "Not that you being here or not has much affect on what I do."

Annabel was still looking off. "You're the one that's never lets me-"

"Shhh." Owen shifted off her slightly now so he was resting on his side. He knew if he moved even an inch to the left, he'd fall off the bed, but figured he wouldn't need to be moving much anyways. "I missed you."

"I missed you too."

"I love you."

"I-"

He kissed her lips this time, silencing whatever she was planning to reply. When he pulled away, he just left his head pressed against hers, watching her eyes.

"You look different, you know."

"Do I?"

"Yeah. Not just your hair either. You look…I don't know."

"Maybe you just don't remember me like you were supposed to."

"Nope. I remember you." When she turned her head to face his, he rubbed their noses together. "Bella."

"Bear."

"You're still beautiful."

"Thank you," she whispered, letting out a breath as he finally slipped his hands under her shorts. "Owen…"

That was it though as far as their talking went. For a little while anyways.

"Was that okay?"

"Mmmm."

Owen rubbed his head into the side of her neck. "Can I take that for a yes?"

Annabel just turned on her side then, facing him. Reaching out with one hand, she laid it on his arm.

"Bear."

Smiling, he asked, "What?"

She just shook her head though before moving closer to him. "Do you want me to-"

"No, Bell. I don't."

Still, she tried doing what he did, i.e. running her hand down his stomach. He grabbed her wrist though before she got very far.

"I said no."

"I can feel you, Owen, against my leg. Why won't you let me-"

"I said no."

"What do you think I'll do, Owen? You touch me. How is this different?" She was blushing though, clearly not wanting to really talk about it. "I have nothing to compare you to, if that's what you're afraid of. I won't…it's not that big of a deal, okay?"

Leaning her head forward, she rested it on his chest. Owen sighed as he let go of her hand. She didn't try again though, instead just resting her hand against his stomach now.

"I love you," he whispered in her ear before settling on the bed. He was kind of uncomfortable, given that fact that Annabel was right. She could feel him. Still, he figured he could just wait it out, mainly because he didn't feel like moving.

"I know, Bear."

He laughed slightly then. "Tomorrow is the 4th of July."

"I know. Kirsten was so mad that I was leaving before that. I told her I had to though."

"Our concert tickets."

"Yeah."

"You'll love the band."

She made a noise in the back of her throat.

"Well, you'll tolerate them. For me."

"Always for you."

He let out a long breath. "Rolly's going."

Against his shirt she asked, "What'd about Clarke?"

"They're-"

"Again?"

"Well, for now."

"He's not bringing someone, is he?" Annabel removed her head from his chest, looking up at him now. "'cause I don't feel like pretending to like her."

"It'll just be the three of us, Bell."

"That's almost just as bad," she complained lightly as she rested her head against him once more.

"Yeah, I know. He's my friend though," Owen said in a 'What can I do' kind of way.

"I know. Your best friend."

"Something like that." Closing his eyes, Owen asked, "Do you want to go home now or-"

"No," she told him. "I want to stay here with you a little longer. Then we can go back to my house. I'll give you all the stuff I brought back for you."

"Mmmm. I got you something too, while I was in Arizona."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Just a new necklace."

"A necklace?"

"Yeah," he sighed, reaching out to rub his index finger across her lips. He could feel some gloss come off on his finger. "I saw it when I was in a store and thought of you. It's these little angel wings."

"Aw."

"It'll look nice on you."

"You think that everything looks nice on me."

"That's 'cause it does."

"Mmm, Bear."

"You want it?" Owen stood up then, adjusting himself when he was fiannly turned away from her. "It's over here."

Going over to his desk, Owen pulled a little jewelry box out of a grocery bag. "Here you go."

Sitting up, Annabel took it from him, frowning slightly. "This looks expensive."

"Not really." He shrugged before sitting down next to her on the bed. "Do you like it?"

Opening the box, she slowly lifted the necklace out. "Yes. I do. Where did you get it?"

"The mall. My dad wanted me out of the house, so he sent me to the mall." Owen took it from her. "You wanna wear it?"

She nodded making him smile. "I'd love to."

"Here." Shifting on the bed, Owen pushed her hair to one side of her neck, not yet used to the new coloring. "You said Kirsten dyed her hair too?"

"Black."

"Oh." He kissed her neck before putting the necklace on her. "Good?"

She held the little wings in her hand as he snapped the clasp in place. "It's so cute. Thank you, Bear."

He moved to sit with his back against the wall before pulling her into his lap. She rarely sat in his lap, but that was mainly because there was no reason to usually. He liked it though, when she did sit in his lap. She always seemed to aware of her movements and hardly ever squirmed. That was probably for the best in most cases.

"What'd you get me?"

"CDs," she told him as she wrapped an arm around his neck. "A t-shirt too."

"You know my size?"

"Huge?"

"Ha."

"The guys that Kirsten kept trying to set me up with were freaking twigs," she said, poking his stomach. "It was kind of funny."

"I don't think it's funny."

"Oh, Bear. It's not that serious. She just thinks that I shouldn't-"

"I don't care what she thinks. That disrespectful to our relationship."

"Bear," she sighed, turning in his lap to face him. "Pay attention to me. Huh?"

It almost felt sinful, making out with her. It was something about her hair and the way she had been acting. It was almost like this wasn't Annabel at all.

"New York made you bolder," Owen sighed as she pulled away, resting her head against his shoulder now. "You know that?"

"Maybe Arizona just made you more timid."

"I doubt it."

"I don't feel different."

"Maybe I'm just feeling weird about you being back." Owen slipped his hand up the back of her shirt. "I know it hasn't been that long, but it feels like it. I really did miss you, Bell."

"I missed you too, Bear."

"Even with all those hot guys you were with in New York?"

"You mean the twigs?" She reached out with both hands, holding his face in them. "I wouldn't be interested in them whether you were here or not."

"Well, that's a blatant lie. You'd naturally want to get to know the other guys and you might even have liked one of them. Who knows? Who cares?" He watched her eyes as his hands made it to the hooks of her bra. "You're mine, aren't you?"

Annabel stared at him, not even flinching as he started to mess with back of her bra. "Only if you're mine."

"You suck at taking off a bra."

"In my defense, I had never tried that before." Owen kept tapping out a beat on his steering wheel. "I'm just glad you didn't freak out this time."

"I let you…touch me, Owen. Like really touch me. My boobs are nothing now."

"Then why couldn't I take your shirt off?"

"Why can't I take your pants off?"

"You could."

"Oh, whatever. You don't even let me touch you."

Owen glanced over at her. "Can we not talk about this right now?"

Shrugging, she leaned against the car window. "God, it's good to be back home."

"You haven't even gotten to your house yet," he pointed out.

"Just being in Lakeview is nice."

"So…where does everything stand with your parents now that you're going back home?"

She didn't even look at him. "I heard Kirsten and Mom talking. Mom said that he says that it wasn't even serious, that it was just a thing, something to do. I don't know though. Mom's hurt. And Kirsten is pissed at him. They were fighting before, about the wedding, but God, now they're-"

"That wedding's still going on?"

She nodded slightly. "Yeah. I met Brian's parents while I was down there."

"Really?"

"Yeah. They were nice, I guess."

"You guess?"

Shrugging, Annabel said, "I just don't think she should get married so soon, you know?"

"They've been together a couple of months now."

"I know, but…I wouldn't marry a guy unless I knew him for at least a year, if not more."

"Really?"

"Well, yeah." She sat up some. "Marriage is serious to me. It's for life. If I'm going to get married, its going to be to someone that I know that I can be with, even if I fall out of love with him later."

"That's deep."

"So is marriage."

"Hmmm."

"Would you marry a girl? If you hadn't known her a year?"

"If I loved her."

"But, Owen," she complained. "You won't love someone for ever."

"I'll love you forever."

"No, Bear, you won't."

He frowned. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that people just don't love each other every single day. There'll be times that you won't love me. You have to know me enough to fight through that."

"I know you. It hasn't been a year."

"You know this me." Annabel looked at him. "We're only in high school."

He frowned. "You spent too much time with Kirsten."

"I'm not saying I don't want to be with you, Owen. I'm just saying I wouldn't want to marry anyone before I'm at least twenty-five."

"What?"

"Yeah." She frowned. "I want to have a good job and be, like, independent already."

"What about kids?"

"What about kids?"

"When would you want kids?"

"Not till I was married for at least two years."

He groaned. "Do all girls have this so mapped out?"

She shrugged. "I just want to wait until I can actually take care of them. And I'd want my husband to have a good job too."

"So not a traveling musician?"

"Bear, you can't even play an instrument yet."

"I'll learn by then."

"Then we won't have kids together. Ever. I wouldn't even marry you."

"Oh, whatever."

"I won't."

He shook his head as we pulled up to my house. "This is a stupid conversation."

"Whatever."

Getting out of the car, he asked, "Where does love fall into your plan? Huh, Annabel?"

"Love is important, Owen, but it's not the most important thing. Commitment is. Don't marry the one you love, love the one you marry."

He snorted. "Divorce happens, Annabel."

"I think it's used to frequently, that's all."

"What if I marry a girl and I don't love her? Huh? Then what? Am I supposed to be unhappy?"

"It depends, Owen. It's a case to case thing. But if you married her and had no plans for what to do when you don't love her and still have to be with her, then yes, be unhappy."

"Whatever."

"You're acting like a dick over a fake marriage that doesn't exist."

"Oh, I'm acting like a dick?"

"Are you saying I am?"

"I'm saying…God, Annabel, only you could fight with me after being away for so freaking long." When they got to the porch, he sat down on steps. "Come here."

Slowly, she sat down next to him. "I'm sorry."

"You apologize too much." He reached over, interlacing their fingers. "I love you, Annabel. And I don't plan on stopping."

"I know, but-"

"There are no buts. I love you." He looked at her then. "Okay?"

"I-"

"Do you know what time it is?"

The two teens looked behind them to see Andrew there, standing in the doorway.

"Uh…" Annabel pulled out her phone, checking the time. "Ten."

"Get inside."

"Dad," she said slowly, standing after disentangling herself from Owen. "My curfew is midnight."

"On a normal night, Annabel."

She glanced at Owen. "How is this not a normal night?"

"You just got home. Did you not think that I would want to see you? Huh?" He crossed his arms. "I think it's about time you went home, Owen."

"Dad, what is your problem?" Annabel frowned. "You're acting like I did something wrong."

"You did," he said. "You came home-"

"Andrew," Annabel heard her mother call from inside the house. "Leave the kids alone. And come in, Owen. Annabel's presents are up in her room. Go on up."

"Mom's home?" Annabel asked, frowning. Andrew looked off then before turning and heading into the house, mumbling something about how they had an hour before Owen had to be out of the house.

"Come on, Bear," Annabel said as he stood. Taking him by the hand, she led him into the house before up the stairs.

"What was his problem?" she asked the second they were up in her room with the door closed. "My God."

"Bella," he sighed, going to sit down on her bed. "He's just upset, you know?"

"Why do I know he's upset?"

"'cause, Bell, me."

"You?" She crinkled her nose before going over to where one of her parents had left her bags on her floor. "What about you?"

"You know, you were all over me at the airport. He was, like, expecting you to hug him or whatever and then you didn't."

"What?"

"Yeah. You could tell. He got upset. He was all flustered and stuff." Owen looked down at his boots, kicking at her carpet. "I should have taken these off at the door. Oops."

"It's okay," Annabel told him, distracted by what he had said previously. "So do you really think that he-"

"I think I'mma take them down stairs," Owen said, slipping them off. "I don't want to, like, track stuff through your mom's house or whatever."

"Owen, it's fine."

"It's not though." He stood then, picking the shoes up. "I'll be right back."

"'kay." She was messing in her bag now, not even looking back at him. "Bring me a bottle of water up, huh?"

"Sure, Bell."

Heading down the stairs, Owen dropped his boots off by the door before going into the kitchen. Andrew was in there, staring into his open fridge.

"While you're here, Owen," he began, not even turning around, "I would like for you to take the Nintendo 64 home with you."

Owen, on edge around the guy after how he flipped out earlier on the porch, just stared at his back for a moment. "You can keep it if you-"

"Grace thinks… We think that perhaps it would be best if you take it back." The man closed the fridge before opening the freezer, quickly pulling out ice cream. "She thinks… We think that perhaps part of my problem is how childlike I have been acting."

Owen, not knowing what to say, just got the bottle of water his girlfriend had asked for before heading back up the stairs.

"Okay, Bear, ready to be amazed? I listened to some of these CDs and others were given to me to give to you from Brian and Kirsten. She knew this one guy in a band that-"

"Your dad creeps me out," Owen interrupted, handing off the bottle of water before going to sit down on the edge of her bed. "He just randomly told me that he wants me to take the 64 back."

"Why?"

"Your mom wants him to do it or something, I guess," he said, shrugging. "That it makes him too childlike."

She just shook her head as she put some CDs in his lap. "Here. All for you."

"Dang." He looked at the ones with cases and the clearly homemade ones. Nodding at her stereo, he asked, "Do you mind?"

"'course, Bear." She went back over to the bag. "Here's your shirt too, by the way."

"Cool," he said, hardly glancing at it as he went to go check out what really mattered; his new CDs.

Annabel rolled her eyes before beginning to unpack her things. "How much do you love me now? You know, now that I brought you music?"

"So much," he mumbled, hardly listening to her. "You're my world."

"Mmmm." She pulled his Ipod out of the bag before setting it on the bed. "There's that, Bear."

"Thanks," he mumbled, not looking to see what she was talking about as he changed songs on the first CD.

"I have never seen you so distracted by a song before. God, I could flash you right now and you wouldn't even care."

"Cool."

"Owen," she complained. "Listen to me. God. You can listen to your music later."

"…What?" He glanced at her now. "What are you talking about, Bell? I didn't-"

"Hear me, I know. Try listening, huh?"

"I'm just…distracted…I guess…" He was facing the stereo now as he changed CDs this time. "Or something…Annabel…"

"You're impossible."

"Cool."

"Whatever," Annabel sighed as she gave up. They were both silent for some time, Annabel even leaving the room a few times to take care of stuff. Owen didn't care though as he stood there, right next to the stereo, listening to his new music. He loved new music. He loved it so much.

"Hour's up."

By this point, Annabel was laying on her bed, on her laptop, while Owen was sitting in front of the stereo, still listening to music. Her father though was now in the doorway, staring at the two of them.

"What, Dad?" Annabel glanced up. "We're not doing anything. He's just-"

"I gave you an hour. It's up. The two of you spent all day together. Goodnight, Owen." Andrew looked at the boy, but he didn't look back at him. "Owen. Owen!"

"…Me? Are you talking me?" Owen glanced over at his girlfriend's father. "I'm sorry, what are you talking about?"

"Get out. Go get the Nintendo and get out."

He frowned. "…Why? Because the door was closed or-"

"Are you deaf, boy?"

He glanced back at Annabel. "Uh, no. I was-"

"Dad," Annabel sighed, standing. She quickly closed the distance between them before wrapping her arms around her father. He froze up for a second before patting her on the back. "I missed you."

Owen made a face before looking back at the stereo. Let Andrew think he won for the moment. That hug? Only a consolation prize. Owen had already won, back at the airport.

"Well…I just…I missed you too," Andrew said, smiling slightly. "I'm sorry I've been so…I just wanted you to come home tonight. I haven't seen you either, you know."

"I know." She finally let him go, smiling slightly. "I thought that you and I could go out to eat tomorrow. Or do something. Are you off?"

"Yes," Andrew said, glancing over at Owen who was enrapt by his music once more. "I was going to go golfing, but you can come. If you want. The two of us."

"Sure, Dad."

Owen rolled his eyes. Annabel already knew that he was working all day, so he would be unavailable until their concert that night. Still, he figured she wasn't going to let Andrew in on that, if only to let him think that he was scoring out over Owen.

"Then we can go out to eat after, huh?" He patted his daughter on the shoulder before looking at Owen. Hesitating, he said, "You can stay longer if you like, Owen."

He hardly even made a noise of compliance, now back fully into his music. Stay, go, whatever. He just wanted to listen to his music. That's all he ever wanted to do.

…Other than that groping thing Annabel and he had done earlier. That and music. He could live off those. He really could.

Told you it wouldn't take long. I honestly love this series. I haven't written this much for some this fast in forever. Not since the Change series for Maximum Ride. Not that any of you care about that, but whatever.