A little more drama than normal headed the girl's way. Thanks again for reading and reviewing!

One

"Is this seat taken"? The brunette asked a focused Annabelle.

Annabelle looked up to see a brunette smiling in her direction with an armful of books and said, "Hey Lita, nope, it's all yours".

"Thanks. Are you ready for this week"? Lita questioned as Annabelle moved some of her papers to give Lita more room at the table.

"I think so, I have a few things I still need to brush up on, but for the most part, I am ready, well, ready to get it over with" Annabelle said with a chuckle.

"Well, just to give you a heads up, if you decide to get your Master's, make sure you have good insurance so you can have carpal tunnel surgery later on because the majority of your classes require ten page papers for each assignment and all the tests are essay format, none of that multiple choice stuff you get to do now" Lita stated before she took a sip of her coffee.

"Thanks for the warning, but that is a long way off for me, if I even consider it so" Annabelle replied while shuffling her papers to find the rough draft of her composition for music class.

"What are you working on"? Lita asked pointing to the paper with music notes scattered across the page.

"My final project for one of my music classes. We have to compose and original piece and play it for the class and get critiqued by the professor and other students" Annabelle answered while still focusing on the dots on her paper.

"Oh, so you have to sing in front of the class"? Lita questioned.

"No, not this time, we just play our piece, just music, no words" Annabelle replied while showing Lita the paper with her melody carefully placed on the lines of the sheet music.

"Can anyone sit in on the class"? Lita asked hoping to be granted this wish of watching Annabelle in action.

"I don't think so, but maybe they will make a recording while we are playing so we can listen to it later" Annabelle replied not really knowing the answer to her question.

"Oh, okay, maybe you will let me listen to it sometime" Lita stated in a hopeful tone.

"If you're nice, maybe" Annabelle replied with a smirk.

"Hey, there you are"! Collins exclaimed.

"Hey yourself"! Annabelle replied.

Collins made herself comfortable in the seat next to Annabelle and across from Lita and said, "Hi my name is Jenna, but most people call me Collins, as she stuck out her hand for an introduction to the brunette who was now a little disappointed at the interruption.

"Hi, I'm Lita, nice to meet you" Lita responded with a light handshake and a smile.

"Anyone want anything from the deli"? Collins questioned.

"Yeah, could you get me one of those 'as big as your head' cookies and a water please and thank you"? Annabelle responded to her best friend as she stood up with her wallet in her hand.

"No thank you, actually, I need to get going, have a ton of papers to grade before tomorrow. Good seeing you again Annabelle, nice to meet you Collins, have a great night" Lita stated as she picked up her empty coffee cup and books and began to move through the tables in the Union toward the exit.

"Bye"! the girls said in unison thinking it was odd that she left so quickly.

"Okay, I will be right back and then you are going to spill the details about 'that'" Collins stated as she pointed toward Lita's direction with an inquisitive look.

"What"? Annabelle asked innocently.

"Okay, anyway, I will be right back" Collins stated with a sigh.

Annabelle sat pondering exactly what Collins was getting at, hoping it wasn't what she was thinking also, because well, she thought Lita seemed cool, but that's about it, nothing more as what seemed to be coming out of Collins mouth with her accusatory tone.

"Here you go, let the sugar rush commence" Collins stated as she tossed Annabelle the cookie that she had to hold with two hands to take the first few bites.

"Thanks, you are a lifesaver"! Annabelle exclaimed.

"I know, I know. Now, are you going to tell me who that was"? Collins asked Annabelle like she was on trial.

"I met her at the airport on the way home from Thanksgiving break and it just so happened she recognized me from the show we did at Merkle's the week before. So we got to talking and I found out she is a grad student here at Cal. I told her about the show last week, so she showed up with her friends and found me after the show so we talked a little more. Actually, Simone was standing there as well and they started talking like they knew each other, so I dismissed myself to help pack up when she said maybe we could meet on campus sometime for coffee, and well, she just found me sitting here a few minutes ago, and then you came over, and well, that's it" Annabelle replied all in one breath.

"Oh, I see. So, did she ask you out yet"? Collins stated while getting right to the point.

"What? No, why would you think that"? Annabelle responded confused and a little bit perturbed by Collins question.

"Well, I stopped when I first noticed you weren't alone at the table and noticed how she was looking at you while you were focused on your paper. And, she left in a hurry once I sat down, so, well, I feel like I interrupted something" Collins explained.

"Well, I didn't notice anything to that effect, and no you didn't interrupt anything, we were just talking about my project for music class" Annabelle said a little too defensively.

"Okay, okay, I believe you, but, I think she likes you, more than in a friendly way, so, just warning you" Collins said with a knowing look.

"No need to warn me Collins, I am a big girl, and what would be so wrong if she did actually like me that way"? Annabelle stated in a hurt tone.

"Oh, sorry, I just thought that, oh, um, never mind, there is nothing wrong with it, as long as that's what you want, well, then um, go for it" Collins stated in a not so confident tone.

"Well, I still think you're wrong about Lita, so can we just drop this"? Annabelle pleaded.

"Okay, so have you started the essay for English yet"? Collins asked a still flustered Annabelle.

"No, I just barely finished the book, so I have some notes written out already, but once I start writing, I should get done pretty quickly" Annabelle replied.

"Yeah, the novel I chose was pretty boring, but, I made it through and have most of my essay completed, just need the conclusion" Collins stated hoping to get some other kind of reaction from Annabelle other than the distant look she had been getting throughout the conversation.

"I have already read Jane Eyre before, so after re-reading it, the essay will just flow out, but I have been more focused on my composition the last couple of days" Annabelle replied while looking down at her sheet music.

"Are you finished with it"? Collins asked.

"Just about, I am just trying to get the tune in my head down on paper, but I am torn between making it a full song or just a quick few lines that flow together well" Annabelle said with a shrug.

"Well, I hope I get to hear this masterpiece of yours" Collins said in a stern tone.

"Of course, how about I play it for you when I come over for dinner tomorrow night after my meeting" Annabelle replied in a more relaxed and friendly tone.

"I would love that! Okay, speaking of which, I need to get back home to start my take home final for Environment Biology. Call me later okay"? Collins got up and gathered her things and moved closer to Annabelle, noticing the concentrated look on her face and said, "I am sure it will sound wonderful, just let it flow from your heart and you can't go wrong. I will see you later". Collins gave Annabelle a quick hug and headed out to the parking structure.

"Bye, I will call you" Annabelle replied as Collins turned and headed in the other direction.

Annabelle picked up her things and headed back toward her dorm to begin the first of a few long nights studying and finishing projects during this finals week that would find students in the libraries, labs and coffee shops until all hours bingeing on caffeine and sugar to help them stay coherent long enough to cram for exams or anything else they needed to finish.

Annabelle was trying so hard to focus on her studies, but her mind would wander from time to time to the encounters she has had with her blue-eyed professor. She had to stop herself many times from popping in on her in her office and just showing up at her house.

Annabelle knew there was a definite attraction between the two, she had started to notice Simone's gazes a little more and now that Jason was trying to voice his opinion as of late, she was finally feeling some sort of validation to what she had thought all along.

She respected Simone so much that she didn't want to over step any boundaries that society for the most part had set for someone in Annabelle and Simone's station in life. She also cherished the times that she spent with Simone talking about life, past experiences, or just joking around. She didn't want to lose that, but it was becoming more difficult to just sit in the same room with her and not be in some sort of close proximity. She knew that she had never felt this way about or around anyone before.

But, she couldn't just bring herself to come out and say anything, because that would be too easy, it was easier to just set her feelings on the back burner and just pine after the blonde by stealing glances, touches and writing about love and longing and have those feelings only materialize through her music.

Annabelle was pulled from her inner monologue by her phone vibrating in her pocket and when she saw the caller I.D. she stopped in her tracks looking at the name on the screen, she swallowed hard before she flipped open the phone and said a nervous "Hello, Mom"?

"Hi Annabelle, how are you"? Senator Tillman said in a caring tone.

"I am good mom, how are you"? Annabelle replied trying to wrap her mind around the reason for the phone call.

"I'm fine. I wanted to call to let you know that I won't be home when you get here on Saturday. I have to fly to Sacramento and sign off on some emergency funding bill and take care of some other business so I will be back the following Tuesday. I am sorry I won't be there when you arrive, but I promise that when I get back, we will spend some time together" Senator Tillman stated in a sad tone.

"It's okay mom, I understand, and yes, I would like to spend some time with you, just us, to just, talk" Annabelle replied in an understanding tone.

"I will call you Saturday night to make sure you got home safely, but I worry about you driving all that way, are you sure you just don't want to fly home"? Senator Tillman said sounding like the mother Annabelle barely knew.

"Thanks mom, but I want to drive so I have my car and I will be a little busy myself during break, so I will just be more convenient" Annabelle replied as she finally made it to her room and sat down on her bed.

"Okay, please be careful and good luck on your finals, I will talk to you soon. Goodbye Annabelle" Senator Tillman stated in a loving tone.

"Bye mom" Annabelle replied and then the line went dead.

Annabelle sat on her bed completely at a loss for words from the phone call she had just received from her mother. She thought that she actually sounded concerned for Annabelle and that she was really taking her seriously when Annabelle said that she wanted and needed to talk things out with her mother.

Annabelle knew this was a very important, probably the most important step that she needed to take in order to truly move forward with her life. She was now excited to share the news with her rehab group the next night, that she finally felt the shattered pieces of her life were slowly melding back together. She still battled her cravings now and then, but she had taken what the program had offered her and tried to apply those lessons to her life now, instead of just going through the motions.

She promised herself that when she felt the need to take a drink, she would call Collins or Jeffery her counselor. She knew that unlike before, she couldn't handle things all on her own like she thought. She finally came to the realization that it's okay to ask for help, it's okay to feel weak sometimes, that it's okay to wear your heart on your sleeve.

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Hey, how is your test coming" A

HI! Good, actually almost done.. C

Good, almost done with my music proj. A

Cant wait to hear it!! :) C

My mom called.. A

What??? C

I know, I am still in shock! A

Is evrythng ok? C

Yeah, she just wntd to tell me to be careful drvn hm and she will c me tues… A

WOW!! I am happy 4 u! C

Me 2 ! A

Still cmng over 2morrw? C

U betcha!! A

Good make sure ur hungry! C

Of course!! A

Nite!! C

Nite!! A

Annabelle pulled out her sheet music and took a quick glance over the pattern the notes were making over the page. She started to hum the tune to herself, checking again to make sure melody flowed exactly how she wanted it to.

Once she got to the last refrain, she started to hear words inside of her head that seemed like a perfect match to the composition in front of her. She soon began writing the words below the notes and grabbed her guitar so she could immerse herself completely in the thoughts that were now down on paper as she began to sing;

One
One touch can fill a life of longing
Not much is so much more than nothing
Yeah - All you need is
One
An open smile to win you over
One single step will bring you closer
Yeah - All it takes is one

And when you're running for cover
And you feel the sky falling down upon you
And when it feels like forever
Since you've seen the face of someone who loves you

Then one is all that you need
All that you need to keep you warm
Is all that you need
All that you need to move you on
It's all that you need
All you need is

One
One word to fill a room of silence
A hand to offer you some guidance
Yeah - All you need is
One
A moment long enough to notice
That everything's stepped into focus
Yeah - All it takes is one


And when you've running from questions
And it seems like uncertainty controls you
And when you looking for answers
In the eyes of somebody who knows you

Then one is all that you need
All that you need to keep you warm
All that you need
All that you need to move you on
Is all that you need
All that you need to get you home
All that you need
All you need is one

Annabelle just sat in silence for a few seconds after she played the last note. She re-read her words and all she could think about was the fact that she wishes Simone was here, right in front of her to hear these words that were flowing from her heart. She wished that if she were here, that she would know that these words were only meant for Simone to hear, that she meant each line, each note, as she looked into her eyes, those blue eyes that become a deeper blue each and every time she gets the chance to be in her presence.

For Annabelle, she felt in the deepest part of her heart, that Simone was the 'one' for her. "Maybe. Someday" Annabelle whispered to herself as she shut her guitar case, laid back down on her bed, and drifted off to sleep knowing tomorrow was going to be a long day, and another day without the person that she craved more than the taste of alcohol, more than the warmth it gave her running through her veins. She hugged her pillow just a little bit tighter and let out one last sigh.

End of the first 'semester' is coming up. How will the girl's feel about each other after the 'break'? Stay tuned!!

The song "One" is by Tina Dico

As always.. Peace!!!