I was going through some files on my computer, and came across this, so I thought I would share. I do not own anything. Just some thoughts I had on what would happen after the movie ended. Comments welcomed.
The road twist and turned, as the government vehicle in which Simone was taken away in, maneuvered the same path that just 6 months before had brought Annabelle to her, was now taking her away. Simone sat staring out the window, playing with the beads Annabelle had given her, as she was being lead out. After she escaped the hold the officer had on her to run into Annabelle's arms. She could still smell Annabelle, feel her arms around her, feel her kisses. Tears started rolling down her face. Not being able, nor wanting to stop them. Her mind drifted back to the night before. The night she spent with the love of her life. For a split second she caught herself smiling, but that faded when she caught a look from the driver in the rear view mirror. She was in trouble, more trouble then she'd ever been in, but she didn't care, all she cared about was she was never going to be able to stare into those blue eyes again.
"Annabelle" she heard a voice call after her down the hall as she ran back to her room. Tears had stained her cheeks. "Annabelle, wait" the voice called again. But she kept on her path. Finally reaching her room she flopped down on the bed, buried her head into her pillow and let out her cries.
"it's ok" she heard the voice that was calling her in the hall, say as a hand rubbed her back.
She lifted her head enough to see Collins consoling her. "I love her"
"I know you do"
"she's gone"
"I know" Collins said in a sad tone.
Annabelle turned to look at her friend. As tears ran down her face. She could feel the puffiness in her cheeks. Collins wrapped her arms around her and whispered in her ear "I'm here for you. You can cry on my shoulders" Collins added and tighten her hold.
"thank you" was all she could get out, as the tears began to fall more.
Collins noticed a figure in the door way. Looking up to see Kristen standing there with a look of concern on her face. Not sure if she should enter. Collins gave her a nod, and soon she was sitting on the bed on the other side of Annabelle.
"how long until you turn 18" Kristen ask when Annabelle stopped crying. She and Collins had never left her side.
"2 weeks" Annabelle managed to squeak out.
"and we graduate a week later"
"so" Annabelle said sniffling.
"maybe you can talk them into dropping the charges" Collins said with a smile.
"yeah maybe" Kristen agreed.
"but still, Simone's life is over" she said fighting back tears "she won't be able to teach again"
There was a knock at the door, Kristen got up to answer it. "Annabelle, mother Immaculata wants to see you in her office, downstairs"
"oh" Annabelle said sitting, not bothering to fix her wrinkled uniform. And followed sister Clare down the stairs.
The car pulled up outside a government building, Simone knew it was not the police station. The driver got out and opened the door, "please step out of the car mam" Simone just nodded, and did as she was told. The man ushered her inside the build down a long corridor to an office. "sit here" he said pointing to a chair. Simone sat there playing with the beads, running them through her fingers. It was the longest 15 minutes of Simone's life, when she finally heard the door creak open and slam shut behind her, the blonde haired lady, she knew from television and newspapers to be Senator Tillman.
"don't get up" the Senator said in a stern voice, as she walked over to the desk and tossed down the pile of folders she had in her arms. "alright" she said in her stern voice, clearing her throat "here's the deal" she said finally meeting Simone's eyes "in her not to seldom phone calls or letters Annabelle has mentioned you"
Simone adjusted in her chair as to try and get comfortable, it was hard looking at the woman sitting across from her, who resembled Annabelle so much.
"I…" Simone tried to get out but was cut off.
"don't talk just listen" the senator said in her stern demanding tone. As she spoke again her voice changed to a loving tone "she obviously is in love with you" she paused to push around some papers "alright, so here it is" she said pushing a paper toward Simone. "I'm not going to press charges. Annabelle will be 18 in less than 2 weeks" she paused again as Simone took the paper in front of her reading it. She looked up at the senator
"I love her too" she said in barely a whisper, but the look on the senator's face said she heard her.
"that's what I was hoping you'd say" she said her voice softer now, and a smile was on her face. "so here's what I have to say" she said pausing again. "Annabelle turns 18 on the 15th, graduation is the 21st. I ask that you not have contact with her until then"
"what's this mean"
"it means, Simone, may I call you Simone? You can call me Laura" the senator asked standing up and heading around the desk and took a seat in the chair next to Simone. Simone just nodded wanting her to get on with what she was about to tell her, feeling the anxiety in her chest. "it means, my dear" she said taking her hand "if you and my daughter really are in love, you can be together"
"just like that?"
"just like that" the senator said looking into those blue gray eyes her daughter had fallen hard for. "however you will not be able to teach again. You can thank your aunt for that"
"yeah" Simone said nodding. "so no contact until after graduation?"
"right, and Annabelle has to be the one to contact you" the senator stated "although there is one exception" she said reaching out for Simone's hand "you can send her one email, after the 15th letting her know where you will be and your phone number. She will reply, but you may not" Simone nodded understanding. "she's been in so much trouble in the past." The senator said shaking her head, "I'm thankful I was able to do something about it this time." She paused to look into Simone's eyes "you have some sort of power over her, I don't know what it is, but she's changed. Her grades are looking better, and she seems almost happy"
"oh"
"whatever hold you have on her, is what has prompted me to do what I'm doing here today."
"I love her"
"no talking please I have more to say" she said clearing her throat "can you do me a favor and try and talk to my daughter about our relationship, we haven't always been on the same page. Hell not even in the same book, most of her teen years"
"I'll do my best" Simone said with a slight smile.
"alright with that said, I look forward to getting to know you in the future"
"me too" Simone said watching as the senator stood up and made her way to the door.
"one more thing" she said as Simone sat back in her chair. "I'm not too thrilled about the age difference, how old are you anyway?"
"29" Simone looked up and met the Senator's eyes.
"I guess that's not so bad then" the Senator said "as long as you love each other"
"I do Senator Tillman"
"Laura, please" Simone just nodded "John will bring you home, I will arrange for Anna to pack up your room and your stuff will be sent to you"
"thank you" was all Simone could get out. The senator just nodded and gave her a slight smile.
The door to mother Immaculata's office was closed. Sister Claire knock hard, as they heard "it's open" the sister opened the door and Annabelle went inside. To her surprise her mother was sitting there with a disapproving look on her face. "come sit" her mother demanded. Mother Immaculata had quietly slipped out the door.
"hi mom" Annabelle said in a shy tone not making eye contact
"oh Anna, what have you done this time" she sighed shaking her head.
"I fell in love" Annabelle whispered not looking up. Trying hard to keep the tears at bay.
"I know" her mother replied sighing heavily. "I have already talked with Simone"
"she's not in jail?" Annabelle asked lifting her head up to look at her mother, she was surprised, it wasn't like her mother to have a heart.
"no honey" she said reaching for her hand. "in your all too rare letters and phone calls I realized there's something about this teacher and you had fallen for her, and after talking to her, learning she loves you also" she paused to take her daughters hand "Anna honey, hear me out"
"ok"
"I already went over this with Simone. She will be contacting you in an email, after your birthday, letting you know where she is at and how to contact her."
"what?" Annabelle felt a pull at her heart.
"you can have no other contact until after you graduate on the 21st"
"mom" Annabelle almost knocking over the chair as she stood up. To hug the woman who had given birth to her.
"she loves you" her mother said in the warmth of her daughter's arm.
"and I love her" Annabelle squeaked out.
"I know dear" she said releasing her daughter.
"so Simone and I can be together?"
"after graduation, yes, if that's what both of you decide"
"oh mom, thank you" Annabelle almost screamed and hugged her mom again.
"one more thing" she said pulling her daughter off her "I would like us to work on our relationship, I know we haven't had the best one up to now."
"yes mom anything for you" Annabelle said cutting her off.
"I'll be back for graduation, and would like you to have dinner with me" the senator said releasing her daughter "oh and I have arranged for you to be able to pack up Simone's things for her, someone will be by in the morning to collect them"
"that sounds amazing" Annabelle said trying hard to hide her excitement.
"you can go now" her mother said nodding to the door.
"ok" Annabelle said moving to the door "oh mom"
"yes dear"
"I love you" she said smiled and walked out the door.
"I love you too honey" the senator said to the closed door.
"what a day" Simone said to herself as she walked into her beach house and flopped down on the couch. Looking around the living room most of the boxes were still there unpacked. She had found the box with her lap top in it, but hadn't wanted to deal with the rest. After sitting there for a while she decided to start unpacking them. She grabbed the first box and ripped the tape off. Inside she found a letter laying on top of a stack of books.
Simone,
I'm sorry you had to go through all of this, just know that I love you and am counting down the days until we get to be together. School sucks without you, but I'm making it though, just knowing in a few short weeks I will be able to hold you in my arms, and kiss those beautiful lips again. I better stop before I get us both in trouble again. I love you and I'll see you soon.
Yours always, Annabelle
Simone could feel the tears sting her eyes after what she had just read. Looking out the window "I love you too" she whispered. She finished unpacking the rest of the boxes and decided to start rearranging her things so there would be room for Annabelle's stuff when she arrived. When she walked to the kitchen to get a drink she passed the table that held the makeshift shrine of her ex-lover, who left this world all too soon. Stopping to look at the pictures, she felt a tear sting her eyes, and started removing the pictures off the table. Hoping that it would be filled with happy memories of her and Annabelle in the coming years. It had already been a week, one more and she can send her email she had been writing for the past week. She found herself getting excited by that fact. After remembering she was headed into the kitchen, she grabbed a bottle of water and headed back to her computer. The email was already long but she wanted Annabelle to know everything, how she couldn't wait to wrap her arms around her to hold her, to kiss her, and most of all just be with her. She ended up deleting most of it and found herself happy with what she came up with.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Kristen and Collins were shouting as Annabelle opened her eyes.
"ugh thanks guys" she said in her groggy tone, as she got up to use the bathroom.
"we got you something" Collins stood holding a box.
"thanks" Annabelle said taking the box and opening it. Inside she found a leather photo album.
"we thought you could put pictures of you and Ms. Bradley in it, you know once your life gets started" Collins said looking at Kristen who was smiling.
"thank you" she said hugging them both. She stood there holding the album staring at it, when she heard the ping of an email. The girls all looked at each other with hopeful eyes. Annabelle set the object she was holding on her bed and ran to the computer. And there it was in bold the senders name Simone Bradley. "Sorry guys I'll catch up with you later." Annabelle said as she sat down in front of the screen. The girls were giggling and Annabelle heard them whispering to each other as they left the room.
Annabelle,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAUTIFUL! I have so many things to say, but I want to start out with I love you! I cannot wait to start our lives together. I have been thinking about you nonstop since I last held you. Annabelle, you are an amazing person, and I wouldn't change what happened for the world. It was time for a change in my career, just wish it didn't happen like this, but again I wouldn't change it for the world. I have been writing this for over a week, I keep adding to it, and deleting as I go. So if you find me rambling just ignore me. I have been going crazy here. I haven't found a job yet, but it's only been a week. I guess I'm not too worried right now. With living at the school I have saved a lot of money. Thank you for packing my stuff up. You were probably a little freaked out by the pictures I had of you on my desk, I couldn't bring myself to put them away. I woke up every morning and stared at them for a while. Anyway I will be at my beach house, you know where that is, when you are ready. You already have my cell phone number. Just give me a call and I'm waiting with open arms, my love, waiting to start our life together. Again I love you, and I'll see you in a week.
Yours always, Simone.
Annabelle had to wipe the tears out of her eyes, as she hit the reply button…
Simone was in her kitchen washing dishes from her supper, when she heard the ping of her computer, notifying her she had an email waiting. It had been a long day of her waiting to hear that ping. She tried to keep herself and mind busy tidying up the beach house. Getting ready for what she had hoped to be the rest of her life with the love of her life. Yes, there were many years' difference be the two, 11 to be exact, with her now being 18, but Simone thought to herself, what is age but a number. She was silently hoping and praying Annabelle hadn't changed her mind. That was her biggest fear. She quickly dried her hands and almost ran to the computer. Opening up her email there it was in bold print Annabelle Tillman. Simone felt her heart skip a beat when she read the name. With shaky hands she held the mouse over the subject, which read, All over me. She closed her eyes for a moment remembering how the young beautiful woman looked on stage singing those words to her. Finally bringing herself to click open the file.
My beautiful Simone,
The opening lines had Simone in tears already. She knew right there that this was the beginning of something magical. No one had called Simone beautiful before, not even Amanda. She wiped away the tears that were starting to fall and read on…
I'm sorry it has taken me all day to reply. I wanted to make sure the words were just right. I want to make sure everything is just right with you. I want to start out with this. Thank you so much for the birthday wishes, nothing made my day more than hearing, or reading, those words from you. I LOVE YOU TOO! More than you will ever know. It's like you have awakened something deep inside me that I didn't even know existed. I knew there was something special about you the moment I set eyes on you that first day. You looked so beautiful, walking down that hill.
Simone paused to wipe away tears, and remember their first meeting. With a smile on her face, she read on.
This week needs to hurry and get over with. I cannot wait to hold you, kiss those soft lips and look into those beautiful eyes, and tell you in person just how much you mean to me and, and how much I love you. God Simone, I can't believe how much you mean to me. In my short time here, you have shown me more love than I have ever received before. I never knew what it felt like to be in love before. I need to stop before I get us both worked up and there's nothing either one of us can do about it. So here's the plan. My mother is insisting I have dinner with her after graduation, on Sunday. She's not letting me contact you until after that. But I swear my love, I will be there as soon as I can. I will call you the instant my mother is out of my eyeshot. Until then, I have attached a file. Please enjoy. I love you beautiful. See you in a week.
Forever yours, Annabelle.
Simone paused for a minute wiping the tears away. She couldn't get the smile off her face. She kept rereading the words. Finally moving her mouse over the attachment icon at the top of the page, she heard Annabelle's voice ring through her speakers.
In the space between what's wrong and right,
You will find me waiting for you,
All your fortresses go down in the night,
To the dawn I'll see you through.
Cause I know, that you know
You're all over me now,
And it's clear you will show
Your curtains will go
But if your heart is cold, my sheets are warm
I will shelter you through the storm
I will shelter you all through the storm
The answers aren't so easy to find,
The questions will have to do,
Cause I've lost my mind deep in your eyes,
My only fix is you.
Cause I know, that you know
You're all over me now,
And it's clear you will show
Your curtains will go
But if your heart is cold, my sheets are warm
I will shelter you through the storm
I will shelter you all through the storm
Saying what I am what we are
It's a start towards the truth
Taking my breath with each delicate step in my heart it's you…
In the space between what's wrong and right,
You will find waiting for you….
Simone found herself lost in the voice.
"I love you"
She heard through her computer speakers, and all her worries were washed away, now all she had to do was wait a week, and she would be home, her home.
Annabelle was back in her room after a long day of classes. "I'm glad that is finally over" she said to Kristen, who was sitting on her bed across the room. It was the last day of classes, the Friday before graduation. Kirsten looked up and smiled. Knowing no words needed to be said.
"just think in a few days you will be with Miss Bradley"
"I can't wait" Annabelle said getting excited and flopping down on Kristen's bed. So she could be closer to talk about the upcoming adventure she was taking.
"your mom will be at graduation right?"
"yes" Annabelle said smiling.
"good I can't wait to meet her." Kristen said with a smile.
"hey what's going on in here" Collins ask entering the room the three girls had shared. After the fight Cat got moved to a different dorm which left the three friends together.
"we are just talking about how Annabelle can't wait to start her life with Miss Bradley." Kristen said with a smile. "and how I can't wait to meet her mom"
"I'm so excited for you Anna" Collins exclaimed and plopped down on the bed with them. They sat there talking and being teenagers for the night. Saturday went by in a blur, Annabelle kept herself busy with packing and getting ready for graduation.
Simone found herself listening to the song, the song that was wrote for her, and only her, over and over again. Hearing Annabelle's voice seemed to sooth her. Sitting on her deck, which looked out over the ocean, she stared out over it, the beads were in her hand again holding tightly. Wondering when Annabelle was going to call. It was well past 4. And she knew that graduation was over by 2, with her years at saint Theresa's she knew the schedule pretty well. Heading into the house to grab a drink she felt her phone vibrate, stopping her in her tracks. Pulling it quickly out of her pocket where it was resting. She quickly answered it.
"hello"
"hi beautiful" Annabelle's voice rang through the phone.
"hi" Simone said smiling.
"I'm on my way"
"good"
"everything ok?" Annabelle asked, Simone didn't sound too happy with her one word replies.
"yes my love, everything is fine, or it will be" Simone said smiling.
"do you need anything?"
"just you my love"
"awe" Annabelle said pausing. "that's all I need too" she said smiling. The phone sat silent for a minute. "I can't wait to see you"
"I can't either, how long until you're here?"
"well I'm not too sure"
"oh" Simone said feeling sadness sweep over her. She looked up and saw a figure walking down the beach.
"sure is a lovely day" Annabelle said through the phone. "I wonder what it's like on the beach"
Simone didn't say anything she just stood looking at the figure, which was coming closer. She quickly put the beads around her neck.
"well obviously, you're more interested in something else, I'll let you go"
"mmhmm" Simone managed to get out, and ran down the steps to the beach. Phone still to her ear. Annabelle saw her, and pulled her phone away from her ear shoving it in her pocket, and took off running the rest of the distance.
When they finally met, no words were said. No words needed to be said. Simone scooped Annabelle up into her arms, and hugged her for a long time. Finally, Annabelle pulled back and placed a soft kiss on Simone's lips, which deepened as Simone showed her love for the young woman she had in her arms.
"I love you" Annabelle whispered as they pulled away for air.
"I love you too" Simone replied their foreheads were resting on each other's. Taking a deep breath, and looking around, people were staring and smiling as they walked by the happy couple. If they only knew what the two had been through the last month. The last month which was hell for both of them. But now they were together, never to be apart again. "where are your bags?" Simone asked as she took Annabelle's hand and led her to the house.
"still in the car, I was on the phone when I got out remember?" she said playfully
"I do" Simone said with a smile on her face, a smile that Annabelle knew was just for her.
"I'll get them later" she said as they enter the beach house. She turned around grabbing Simone in a loving embrace, her mouth finding Simone's, "I have more important things to do right now" and it started all over again. Tongues lashing against each other, the energy in their kiss brought them to the couch, in which Simone took control and laid Annabelle down, climbing ever so softly on top of her love. She deepened the kiss. Annabelle's hands started wondering around the hem of her shirt. Simone pulled away from the kiss long enough to rip off her shirt and toss it onto the floor. Annabelle seeing, she wasn't wearing anything under it, looked up and smiled. Simone smiled back, that smile that tore Annabelle apart inside. She reached up and ran her hands on the now half naked, blue eyed beauty that was on top of her. Looking into each other's eyes no words needed to be said, as they began their assault on each other.
That night Simone was woken up by a dream. Or at least she thought it was a dream. She sat up in bed, breathing hard. It was dark in the room, the only light was the blue glow from the alarm clock, which read 2:34 a.m. she plopped back down, and felt a hand on her, she jumped, and sat up again.
"hey, are you ok" a soft voice asked.
Simone just sat there shocked, she thought it was all a dream. Was Annabelle really there? Next thing she knew she felt a warm soft kiss on her cheek. "baby, I asked if you were ok?"
"Annabelle?"
"who else would it be?"
"oh Annabelle" Simone said with tears rolling down her eyes. As she turned and wrapped her arms around her
"Simone, what's going on"
"nothing my love, I just had a bad dream"
"are you ok"
"yes, I am now" she said pressing her lips against hers. "I love you" Simone said pushing her down into the mattress.
"I love you too" Annabelle whispered