Sitting his office, she chews on her bottom lip, trying to decide whether or not to ask a question that has been in the back of her mind, nudging itself closer and closer until she could hardly ignore it. She watches him as his hands fly over his keyboard that looks complicated in ways she could not begin to understand, and with quick hands he removes his head phones down to rest around his neck.
"What is it, Annie?" His voice echoes around the empty room, and she looks up at him startled.
"I didn't say anything." She admits, shock leaking through her words, which makes his mouth tilt upward into a smirk.
"You didn't have to. I can feel it, you're tense and uncomfortable. It's making me tense and uncomfortable. So what's wrong, Annie?" The rolling chair moves by the actions of his feet until he comes to rest in front of her, she reaches out to place her hand on top of his to let him know where she is so he doesn't have to move any further. As she goes to pull back, his hand moves like a snake and captures hers, tethering her to him. A link that reminds him his nightmares are false and she is real, alive. For her, it's a reminder of why she wants but can't have. She takes a breath and begins.
"Back in Russia, when I found Lena," Annie starts off, growing even tenser as she delves back into the story that has haunted her ever since she arrived back to America. "Lena said the reason she knew I would end up falling for Simon was because I had a type. The 'mysterious bad boy with a clarity of purpose' she said. Was she right, Auggie?" She asks him, her voice begging his answer to negate Lena's observations. "Is that all I am? that easy to peg?" She wanted him to throw it out the window to be run over until they were dust under boots and could not surface again. All she needed to know was that Auggie did not agree and she could move pass.
"That depends, Annie." Auggie turns from her, letting go of her hand and pushing off to get back to his keys to work on whatever research needed doing. She looks at him, not really seeing him but instead sees the hurt betraying her best technique at hiding her emotions- not like he could see it either way.
"I see." She replies flippantly, as though not to show that she cares. She stands up and smooths down her pants to hide her shaking hands as one thought runs through her mind that could destroy her. She walks toward the door and leaves him at his desk. Auggie brings up his hand and pinches the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes tightly shut as if he could see a light bursting in mind when he knows she has left the room.
Annie continues to walk out the doors of Langley and into the garden with the stone bench. She sits down with a heavy sigh. Auggie thinks Lena is right. That thought runs around her mind in circles- trying to shatter her resolve. She lets out a sigh as she hears footsteps behind her and turns around to the friendly face.
"Hey Annie."