Wow! I haven't been looking at the number of reviews until someone pointed out how many there were. Gosh you guys! Thank you so much for reading my story! In case you haven't been to my website to check out responses, I'd just like to say, for the record, that I'm so happy you guys like my story. All I wanted to do was write something I thought people would enjoy, and as far as I know, you guys do like it, and you have no idea how happy I am to know that. And I guess what I really want to say is Thank You for all of your words of encouragement, all of your critiques, and for taking time out to read it.

Here's the next chapter!

Chapter 29: Trying to Get to You: Part 1

Annie walked through the St. Louis mall with her father. It was nine o'clock in the morning on Christmas eve, and in three short hours, she would be standing on the Orton's doorstep with Randy's Christmas present in hand. She was so excited; he was going to be so surprised.

Annie had bought Randy a gold Rolex and had it wrapped at the jewelers. She had even had his full name engraved on the back. She knew that a lot of the guys in the back wore them to show status, and she thought that with a gold belt around his waist, what better than a gold watch around his wrist to match? She had been wanting to find a gift that would serve as not only a way to pay him back for everything he's done for her, but also as a really KICK ASS present.

"You look excited, Annie. When are you going to go to the Orton's house and give him his present?" Annie's dad asked, breaking her current chain of thoughts.

She laughed at his perceptiveness, "I'm very excited, dad. I've missed him so much, and I really love him, daddy."

Tim smiled at his daughter, "Well, I'm sure he feels the same way, sweetie. So when are you going to give it to him?"

She laughed again at his repeat of the question, "Around noon is when I'm going to go and see him, but I'm debating on waiting to give it to him tomorrow."

"Hmm…that's a tough decision, indeed. I mean, I'm sure he can wait until tomorrow, because he doesn't know what it is, but I find that the trouble with gift giving is the wanting give the gift early. I know I have trouble with that. I always get excited and want everyone to open their gifts early," he laughed. "Why do you think we always open presents on Christmas eve night? Because your mother and I just couldn't wait to see everyone open the presents we bought for you and each other. And well, I still haven't mastered patience, so it stays that way."

Breanne laughed, "And here I thought it was some kind of deep family tradition."

Tim laughed with his daughter as they exited the mall and headed back to his their hotel. Their rooms were right across the hall from one another so that they wouldn't have to go far to meet each other, and so that exchanging presents would be made easier. Tim smiled as he thought of what he was going to be giving his daughter for Christmas. He knew she'd love it.

~~~

Randy read the sign as he passed it, "Now leaving St. Louis." He smiled as he looked over at the wrapped gift that sit in the passenger's seat of his car. He knew she would like it. Inside the small box lay a pair of costume made earrings to match her necklace.

Randy smiled to himself, it was eleven thirty, he would be in Piedmont by five. So, if he got Breanne and her father to come with him, they could be back in St. Louis by eleven, if that's what they wanted, of course. He really wanted them to come back with him. He wanted his parents to meet Tim; he was a great guy, and he was sure they would get along.

Most of all, though, he wanted to see Annie. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her; he wanted to show her how much he loved her.

~~~

Annie rung the doorbell to the Orton's house. She smiled widely when Randy's father, Bob Orton Jr., opened the door. A look of shock crossed his face, "Wow, that was fast."

Annie's brow furrowed in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"Well, Randy just left here thirty minutes ago to go to Piedmont and surprise you."

Annie's eyes widened in surprise and horror, "He did what??" she asked in a whisper of disbelief.

"Oh shit," Bob Jr. said, finally catching on to what had happened here, "You came here to do the same," he nearly laughed at how ironic this entire situation was. Here were two people, trying to surprise each other on Christmas eve, and totally bypassed each other in the process.

"I'm sorry, but I think I need to go…to go to Piedmont and try to get there either before him or at the same time," she said putting together her determination as she ran from the door to her rental car, "I'll be back soon, I hope!" she yelled to Bob Jr. as he waved good bye and yelled "Good luck, Annie!"

Annie jumped into the driver's seat, her heart beating a thousand miles a minute. 'Calm down, just calm down. All you have to do is call his cell phone, and tell him to turn back.' She calmed herself and took out her cell phone, and dialed his number.

She waited while it rang and rang. She did this several times before finally admitting the obvious, 'He isn't going to pick up. He must have it turned off! Shit!'

Annie made a decision quickly as she picked up her phone and dialed her father's number. She began speaking as soon as she heard him say 'hello'.

"Daddy? I have to go to Piedmont tonight. It turns out that I'm not the only one who wanted to surprise some one," she blurted out, panicked and hurriedly.

"Wait, slow down. Tell me again, sweetheart."

Annie took a deep breath, "I'm going to Piedmont tonight. Randy's headed that way to do to me what I was going to do to him. He thinks I'm home for the holidays. He's headed there to see me, and he's got his cell off so I can't get a hold of him!"

"Okay. Do you have your house key?"

"Yah, I got it. I'll try to get there before him, and be back sometime tonight, okay?"

"Okay, Annie. Good luck."

"Thanks, daddy. I love you."

"I love you too, sweetie. I'll talk to you later. Bye."

"Bye," she said as she passed the sign that read, 'Now leaving St. Louis'. She turned on her radio to try and ease her nerves. She was, after all, going twenty over the speed limit. REO Speedwagon blared through the speakers as she drove. (A/N: keep in mind, that although this song is only a few minutes long, it is covering their entire journey to Annie's house, okay? It's like in a movie, you know? Where they show all this stuff happening and a song plays in the background, yah, that's what I'm trying to do here, lol).

I can't fight this feeling any longer.

And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow.

What started out as friendship,

Has grown stronger.

I only wish I had the strength to let it show.

I tell myself that I can't hold OUT forever.

I said there is no reason for my fear.

Cause I feel so secure when we're together.

You give my life direction,

You make everything so clear.

~Randy noticed it was too quite in his car and tried to tune it into a good station. He found one playing a song he liked, although, he'd never admit it to anyone.~

And even as I WANDER,

I'm keeping you in sight.

You're a candle in the window,

On a cold, dark winter's night.

And I'm getting closer than I ever THOUGHT I MIGHT.

And I can't fight this feeling anymore.

I've forgotten what I started fighting for.

It's time to bring this ship into the shore,

And throw away the oars, forever.

~It was getting late, as Annie drove non-stop. It wouldn't be long now. She only hoped that it wouldn't be too late when she got there.~

Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore.

I've forgotten what I started fighting for.

And if I have to crawl upon the floor,

Come crashing through your door,

Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore.

~It was four thirty, and Randy was only thirty minutes away from Annie's home in Piedmont. He smiled as pictured her face when she opened the door and pushed on the accelerator. Thirty minutes his ass. Fifteen minutes was more to his liking.~

My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you.

I've been running round in circles in my mind.

And it always seems that I'm following you, girl,

Cause you take me to the places,

That alone I'd never find.

~Annie only had forty five more miles to go, then she would be home. She just prayed that she got there before he did.~

And even as I wander,

I'm keeping you in sight.

You're a candle in the wind,

On a cold, dark winter's night.

And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might.

~Randy pulled into Annie's drive way at four forty-five. There weren't any cars in sight, but he got out of his car regardless. He walked up to the door and knocked…no answer. He then saw the sign on the front screen door 'On vacation for the holidays', it read.~

And I can't fight this feeling anymore.

I've forgotten what I started fighting for.

It's time to bring this ship into the shore,

And throw away the oars, forever.

~Randy sat down on the doorsteps, trying to figure out what to do next. He had come so far to see her, and it was pointless. He sighed heavily before he realized he could call her to see where she was. 'Had her dad gone to Ohio to see her instead of her coming home?' He picked up his cell phone.~

Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore.

I've forgotten what I started fighting for.

And if I have to crawl upon the floor,

Come crashing through your door,

Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore.

Annie was now entering her home town. She sped down the road, and saw her white house in the distance with a car in the drive. She could barely hold in her excitement as she speedily made her way to her home. She heard her cell ringing, and knew it had to be him. She ignored it, as she was only ten feet away.

Randy looked up as he heard a car coming down the road. It pulled into the drive way throwing gravel when it stopped. His eyes lit up when he saw who sat behind the wheel. Crystal blue eyes met his. They stared determination at him before they broke eye contact and the car was turned off.

Annie grabbed Randy's Christmas present as she stepped out of the car and shut the door, "I've been trying to get to you all day, you know that?"

To be continued……LOL!!!

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Okay, so there it is! Part two to this will be up either this weekend or Monday. I'm not sure b/c I'm going to a Christmas party tonight after work, then I'm staying the night at my best friend's house, and going to work after that tomorrow, so I just don't know, lol. You guys had better review all of these new chapters, because I am soooooooo working my ass off to get them to you, lol.

Anyway, thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy! Oh, you may be wondering why there are two parts to this, and it's because I have something in plan for them while their in Piedmont. I'll only give this one hint: Jennifer, aka, totallystreakin, has been asking for this since her first review, and well, it might just happen, lol. There will probably be a subtitle.

Pammi