A/N: Hey everyone! I know I promised to update earlier but it has been a bit of a crazy week. It's a bit of a short chapter as I haven't got much time to upload it on the website. This note is just about a painting that I mention called 'The Water Lilly Pond' painted by the amazing Claude Monet in 1897. To see the image then go to: 8:

"Annie you have had that phone number for four days now! Why haven't you called him?" Charlie asked as Annie paced up and down her bedroom floor in front of him

"I don't know I … I don't know if I can trust myself around him" she stopped walking and sat on the bed next to him

"Do you want to see him again?" he asked and she turned to him

"Yes, but the problem is that he infuriates and angers me by being so open and wanting to pry into my life. But for some reason it is as if I want him to. What can I do to get my mind off Ben?" she asked lying back on her bed and Charlie did the same

"You could talk to Nicholas. You know he felt so bad about the newspapers. He's sent out a statement to the press saying you're just friends and that should leave him alone to live his life" Annie was taken aback

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? How do you know that?" she said angrily and over the top sitting up

"Because you were grounded! I couldn't see you; he came to see me about talking to you and told me so I told him how you were grounded"

"Oh my God he must think I'm a nasty girl. Oh God help me" she said covering her face with her hands, she kept them there for a moment then lowered them with a sigh "I have to see Nicholas. I have to give him something" Annie rushed from the room

"Annie wait for me" Charlie called after her. Annie reached the front door, grabbed her jacket, opened the door and gasped in shock as she was stopped by the figure in front of her. Nicholas stood there with his finger posed ready to push he door bell.

"Hi" he said softly lowering his hand to which she didn't respond. Instead of a reaction from her they were distracted by Charlie falling down the last few steps of the staircase and crashing onto the floor. Annie laughed as did Nicholas as Charlie stood up and staggered towards the door

"I'm ok people, just a little scratch" he said dusting himself off

"A bit of acrobats to wake you up Charlie boy?" Nicholas asked and Charlie smiled

"Something like that … Well I'm going to go to the kitchen because I want to get some … um … JUICE! That's it some juice … so I'll just…" he walked away and Annie let Nicholas into the house

"You were right about Charlie, he can be rather eccentric. Ok cards on the table time, I'm so sorry about what happened"

"No Nicholas you have nothing to be sorry about really, I guess I got a taste of what your life is like. I really want us to be good friends too. So I want you to have this" Annie pulled out a small envelope out of her jacket pocket and handed it to Nicholas

"Should I be scared?" he asked and she shook her head. Opening the envelope he found a small plastic pouch with two plastic cards and two pieces of folded paper inside.

"I had you and your father added to the database for access to the wetlands. You both have separate cards and passwords so you have to check on the papers which passwords match which card number. I thought that maybe the wetlands could be your hiding place like it is mine" Nicholas looked up to her in shock

"I don't know what to say" he said softly

"Say you except them and that is enough for me" Nicholas nodded with a smile and gave her a hug. As he hugged her she felt something under his jacket dig into her chest

"Nicholas what on earth have you got under there?" she asked parting from him

"Oh I'm sorry did I hurt you?" she shook her head and he smiled with relief. "Well you see when I couldn't get in contact with you I thought of how I could make up to you what had happened. I remembered from our conversations how much you like art and how Charlie hates it so I did some investigating" he pulled out the Newport magazine from one side of his magazine and opened it to one page that he had pre marked with a tag. He showed it to Annie and she recognized the picture instantly.

"Claude Monet 'The Water Lilly Pond' painted in 1897, I love his work. You've heard of the exhibit of his works and the other impressionists that are to be displayed for one day here in the OC art gallery?" Nicholas nodded

"You've heard about it"

"Heard about it? I've been begging my parents to take me but the money is too much even for OC standards. I would commit murder to go see them up close. It would be amazing"

"Well I don't know about you committing murder but if you still want to then go ahead" She looked confused which turned to shock when he pulled two tickets out of his jacket.

"H…H…How did you…?" she asked holding the tickets with her hands shaking slightly

"Well when you are royalty in the OC many people will want you at there social occasions even for free as I'd bring extra publicity. I told them the second ticket would be for my dad but he agreed to let it pass to you"

"I don't know what to say"

"Say you except them and that is enough for me" Annie nodded with a smile and gave him a hug. As they hugged Charlie reappeared with a sandwich in his hand

"Well it's about time you two made up" Nicholas and Annie parted

"I thought you were getting juice" Nicholas said and Charlie shook his head

"Well it started at juice but then you guys were taking so long that I got hungry. So did I miss anything important?"

---

That night Annie sat in her bedroom thinking what to do. She finally grabbed the phone and dialed the number. As the ringing tones came through her phone she felt her heart beating faster.

"Hey this is Ben. I can't get to the phone because I'm probably working so leave a message and talk for however long you want to" BEEP

"Hey Ben this is Annie from the beach … I thought that maybe if you wanted to that is … we could met up for coffee or something? My cell phone is 45557908372… Call me"