Thanks again to all for the reviews!! Enjoy!

Again, I don't own characters created by Katherine Brooks, just my own OC's and storyline....

Precious Declaration

The band was done setting up and now the lead singer was introducing themselves as the "Cruisin Central" band and that they were going to play some original songs along with some covers. Collins was already sitting at a table in between the pick-up area and the bathrooms. Annabelle was waiting to get her coffee when she spotted Collins and gave her an exasperated look due to the fact that Cheyenne wanted to talk about things, things that Annabelle wanted to just put out of her mind forever but also knew she needed to deal with it head on, no more hiding.

Collins gave Annabelle a sympathetic look when she noticed Cheyenne was now waiting next to Annabelle for her coffee order. Annabelle felt Cheyenne's presence and turned to give her just a half grin and let go of a breath she was holding in for some reason.

Cheyenne, now resting on her elbows waiting for her drink, moved a little closer to Annabelle and said "I hope you're not mad I tagged along tonight"?

"Um, no, of course not, I am glad you came to visit you're cousin, you're her favorite you know" Annabelle said while staring at the Barista mixing her coffee concoction. Annabelle felt a gap form between her and Cheyenne and when she turned her head she noticed Cheyenne's eyes were glazing over with unshed tears.

"Hey, I am glad you are here, its just, I wasn't expecting to ever see you again, I figured you hated my guts, and rightly so" Annabelle said in a hushed voice.

Just as Cheyenne was about to respond, Annabelle turned her head when she heard the bathroom door squeak open and her facial expression went from concerned to red in about half a second when she noticed the owner of the hand that just swung that door open was the only person she could honestly say in her short nineteen years, made her turn into a puddle of mush at the sight of those blue eyes and the sound of her silky voice when discussing Shakespeare's mental state while writing Romeo and Juliet.

They locked eyes and soon Professor Bradley was smiling at Annabelle wondering why she looked like a deer in headlights.

Collins was noticing the look on Annabelle's face as well and when she turned in the direction Annabelle's eyes were fixed on, a realization had washed over Collins like she just figured out that calculus problem that had took her three days to complete.

Annabelle was attracted to Professor Bradley, not in a high school, hot and heavy for two weeks than on to someone else kind of way, but a true heartfelt can't control my actions or thoughts kind of way, Collins thought to herself as she continued to watch the scene unfold in front of her.

Professor Bradley noticed Collins at the table and was moving toward it. "Hi Collins" Professor Bradley stated. "Hi Professor Bradley, what are you doing here"? Collins asked.

Annabelle and Cheyenne finally got their drinks and were just about to sit down with Collins when Annabelle went to pull out the chair, Professor Bradley turned around and bumped Annabelle's hand which of course sent her coffee backwards and all over Annabelle's top.

"Oh, my God, I am so sorry Annabelle, here let me help you clean that up"! Professor Bradley exclaimed.

"No, its, its okay, Professor Bradley, it'll dry" Annabelle said while looking down at her shirt.

Annabelle soon felt a warm sensation coursing through her body that had nothing to do with the coffee. Professor Bradley had just grabbed Annabelle's hand and was now pulling her toward the bathroom while saying, "Come on, we can get most of that out, follow me".

Annabelle could barely move her feet and could not take her eyes off of Professor Bradley's hand clasped with hers.

Her heart was beating so fast and so loud in her ears that she barely heard Professor Bradley say "Here, dab it up with this" while she was holding out a damp paper towel toward Annabelle who was now just coming out of her hand holding stupor.

Annabelle blinked a couple of times, took a deep breath and said "What"?

"I said, use this to dab the coffee from your shirt" Professor Bradley said while chuckling. Professor Bradley noticed the dazed look Annabelle was wearing and just smiled back at her.

"Um, thanks," Annabelle stated while taking the damp paper towel from her professor's hand. Annabelle began to focus her attention to the coffee colored stain on her shirt and began to dab up the offending mark when she stuttered, "Professor Bradley, what are you doing here"?

"Remember, please call me Simone, I was never one for total formality, so away from school, I am Simone, not Professor Bradley" Simone stated as she leaned into the space around Annabelle to get her point across.

"Okay, um, Simone, what are you".. Simone cut off Annabelle by saying "oh, right my brother is the lead singer in the band playing tonight and I rarely miss a show"

Simone watched as Annabelle continued to fidget with the stain and made herself comfortable on top of the sink counter.

"Oh, um, that's so cool", Annabelle said flustered due to her lame "cool" comment.

"They play at most coffee shops around town and a few shows out of town once in awhile" Simone stated. "wow, I would love to do that someday"! Annabelle said with excitement in her voice.

"Well maybe you should see if".. Simone was cut of by Collins abrupt entrance into the bathroom asking "What is taking you so long"?

Annabelle looked at Simone, back to her stained shirt and finally to Collins giving her the 'why are you in here' face.

"Oh, um, she looks like she got most of it, here I will throw that away for you" Simone replied.

When she reached out to take the used paper towel from Annabelle's and when their hands touched, Simone was the one to feel that warm sensation and let her hand linger a little longer than necessary.

"Thanks Simone, for the coffee stain and the clean up" Annabelle stated with a smirk.

This statement caught Simone off guard, but she soon recovered and replied, "You're welcome Annabelle".

"Okay, can we go back to watch the band now"? Collins stated in an irritated tone.

"Oh, yeah, lets go"! Annabelle stated as she looped her arm through Collins' arm and gave one last look back at Simone and said, "Did you want to sit with us"?

"Thanks Annabelle, but no, I am here with some friends and we have a table in the front" Simone said while walking past the girls, then added, "Goodnight ladies and I hope you enjoy the band"!

"Goodnight Professor Bradley"! Collins shouted in a sing-song voice usually reserved for an elementary school playground.

As the girls made their way back to the table, Collins pulled Annabelle in closer and said "You wanna know a secret"?

Annabelle leaned in to hear Collins better and said "Yeah, what"?

"I think someone has a crush on Professor Bradley" Collins whispered in Annabelle's ear while smirking.

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