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Needs
A cool sheen of sweat was now making an appearance on Annabelle's skin. Her heart was beating a little more rapidly now. Her breath was just beginning to even out a little, but was still heavier than one would have if they were just standing or sitting still. She looked down at the shirt she was wearing and decided that it had become too hot all of a sudden and she soon reached down to the hem and with one swift move of her hand, she pulled the garment over her head with out breaking her concentration.
The perspiration was more noticeable now due to the cool morning air that was now biting at her bare arms and mid section. Her pace became more intense now that she had reached the bottom of the hill which would be her last stretch before she reached the spot she had deemed to be her goal distance this morning.
She was a bit more restless than usual this morning and when she sat up in bed and noticed it was only ten minutes after the last time she looked at her clock, she decided she needed to clear her head and she couldn't think of anything better than to go for a quick run in the chilled morning that had dew covering every blade of grass throughout campus and a slight fog was still hanging from the light posts that were still emitting a dull yellow hue right before sunrise.
She came to the top of the hill; well it was more like a slight incline that would lead her to the doors of the building she had become just as familiar with as the building that held her music classes. She was bending over, resting her hands on her knees, trying to regain some sort of composure before daring to open the massive doors that would lead her down the now cold corridor of Wheeler Hall.
Simone's schedule was pretty much set in stone now that she was a tenured professor. Which of course, now, Annabelle had mentally tucked this bit of information away for later use. She knew that she was on campus at least two hours prior to her nine o'clock class either to go over her notes, grade leftover papers or get a workout in herself and give her time to get ready before class.
Annabelle was hoping for the first scenario which would allow her to, if anything, get to say good morning to the blonde-haired beauty who was usually, always on her mind, however, she hadn't been able to see or talk to her in the last two weeks due to busy schedules, homework and a break from band practice just because it was warranted after the last few months of shows.
Jason and Annabelle had discussed the Julie situation the same night that it happened which of course gave Annabelle a little more peace of mind as well as a little more insight as to what Simone went through emotionally after her mother passed away. Annabelle and Collins had joined the boys to hang out a couple of times in the last couple of weeks, but there would be no sign of Simone during their gatherings.
Simone was finding it harder and harder to be around Annabelle in any capacity. Not that she didn't want to be around her, but she felt that with all the dynamics of their situation, she shouldn't be around her. She felt such a deep ache in her heart at just the thought of not being able to see or talk to her, much less act on her true feelings.
She tried to call Annabelle after she left the coffeehouse, but was almost relieved she didn't answer. She wanted to explain everything, knowing what Annabelle was thinking by the look on her face when she came through the door. Though, in reality, they had never said or done anything that would constitute being an official couple, she for some reason felt she needed to explain herself, again, knowing what that heartbreaking look thrown in her direction meant.
She would just sit and wish that this situation were different, but most of the time, she would just sit and think about Annabelle and the way she could make her laugh no matter how bad of a day she was having or just hearing the sound of Annabelle's own laughter while the band was together mercilessly teasing each other.
Simone found it easier to just allow herself to think about Annabelle, and to her, that was okay. When she was actually in Annabelle's presence, that was a whole different story and Simone was in a constant battle with herself in those moments, those moments that now, for the last couple of weeks, she has decided to physically be absent.
Annabelle was just missing the sound of Simone's voice and her nervous habit of tucking her own hair behind her ear when she was in close proximity to Annabelle. Even if she could just peak her head in her office and steal a small remnant of her perfume, or just say hello and be greeted by Simone's gorgeous smile, that would be all Annabelle would need for the next two weeks.
She finally made her way down the silent corridor, with classroom doors still locked from last evening's set of classes. Her heart was beating a little more rapidly now that she noticed a light coming out from underneath the small space between the door and concrete floor. She retied the long sleeve shirt around her waist, smoothed her hair out a little as she redid her ponytail and curled her fingers slightly and began to tap on the heavy oak door.
Soon Annabelle heard the sound of a chair rolling on the thick plastic mat that it was usually resting on and then a shadow made itself known through the frosted glass squares and her breath hitched just slightly at the thought of getting to see who was on the other side.
Simone opened the door and was soon having to restrain herself from looking any other way than directly into Annabelle's eyes considering her state of dress from her previous activities.
"Hi, how, um, what are doing up so bright and early this morning"? Simone stuttered out, but still letting her face show a bit of happiness toward her visitor.
"Oh, I couldn't sleep any more for some reason, so I figured I would go for a run to clear my head, and, well, somehow I ended up here" Annabelle replied with a shoulder shrug and a smile.
"You look like you need to warm up a little bit, come in" Simone said in a concerned tone.
"Thanks, but I am actually still cooling off a bit, I know its cold out, but my layering technique soon had me uncomfortably hot, so" Annabelle said as she moved over to the smaller rolling chair next to Simone's desk.
Simone sat down in her own chair and said "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit"?
"I just wanted to come torture you a bit, I haven't seen you in awhile, so I have some catching up to do" Annabelle said while playing with the stack of papers on Simone's desk.
"Oh, so what you mean is that you are here to help me grade papers"? Simone said teasingly.
"Um, that would be a 'no', that is what you get paid for right? I just thought I would come by and make sure you were doing your job properly and not sleeping on your desk or something" Annabelle stated as she got up and pretended to look over Simone's shoulder at her ungraded stack of essays.
"Well as much as I would love to sit and chat with you, I do actually have to earn my paycheck and finish these up before the next batch comes in" Simone stated in a flat tone pretending to be occupied with said papers while she grabbed her green pen.
Annabelle leaned in a little closer, even in her post exercise state and said " They forgot a comma right there" while she pointed to the area where the missing punctuation mark should have been and soon realized Simone was releasing a sigh as she set down her pen.
"Thanks for pointing that out, because I would have never found that" Simone replied in a sarcastic tone doing her best to remain calm under the circumstances.
"Just trying to help" Annabelle said coyly.
"Yeah, well you're version of helping, really isn't if you weren't sure" Simone stated playfully as she slowly pushed her chair back gently nudging Annabelle out of her much too close for Simone's comfort space, pulled the long sleeve shirt from around Annabelle's waist and continued by saying "Here, put this on, I don't want you to get sick once that cold air hits you".
"Are you kicking me out already"? Annabelle asked in a slightly sad tone.
"Yes, one, you need a shower, two, I need to get to work, and three, well, one and two should be good reasons enough" Simone replied holding back on her last comment which would have gone something like 'I can't concentrate with you in here and especially with you dressed like that'.
"Okay, I get the hint, I have stunk up your office and you want me to leave before I start to leave puddles on your floor" Annabelle said teasingly.
"Yep, you got it"! Simone replied with a slight chuckle.
"Okay, but I know where you live, well at least part of the time, so you have been warned, I may decide to grace you with my presence again" Annabelle stated as she finished pulling her shirt over her head and when reaching back to readjust her ponytail she snagged her necklace and it fell to the floor.
Simone bent down to pick it up and said, "Is this new, I don't think I have noticed you wear this before".
"Actually, I got it at my last meeting, my, um, rehab meeting, and my sponsor gave it too me" Annabelle replied a little nervously.
Simone looked over the simple silver necklace with a token looped through it and she noticed it was engraved with the serenity prayer on one side and the words "11 months sober" on the other.
"Here let me help you" Simone stated as she motioned for Annabelle to turn around as she gently reached around her neck to clasp the necklace back in its rightful place.
Simone secured the necklace and ran her hand along the lower part of Annabelle's neck to slightly adjust it so it wasn't off center.
Annabelle stood motionless for a moment relishing the feeling of Simone's gentle touch that had now descended to her shoulders. Simone gave a gentle squeeze signifying she was done adjusting the necklace when Annabelle turned around and said "Thanks".
"You're welcome. I hope you don't mind me saying this, but, I think this is great and you should be very proud of yourself" Simone replied as she lifted the necklace a little bit from its resting place while looking deeply into Annabelle's eyes.
"No, I don't mind, actually it means a lot coming from you. I am proud of myself and after the twenty-third of next month, I will be one year sober. I also plan on being able to say that for many years to come, well, basically the rest of my life" Annabelle stated never relinquishing eye contact.
"I know it takes strong person to do all the hard work it takes to get to the point you are. I know in my heart of hearts, that you will continue on this path, and will be able to say those things five, ten, twenty years from now and so on" Simone replied while mindlessly taking Annabelle's hand into her own and stroking the back of it with her thumb.
"I appreciate that you think I am a strong person, however, I wouldn't have been able to do any of it without help from Collins and my counselor. I can't begin to describe what it means to have a friend like Collins, she is my rock" Annabelle said reaching for Simone's other hand and pulling her in a little bit closer.
"I know Collins has been there for you and I admire the relationship you two have, its very rare to find that person who would do anything for you, no matter what" Simone said trying not to let the shorter distance between her and Annabelle get any shorter. Simone continued by saying "I know you have Collins, but if you ever need to talk and she is busy, you know where to find me".
"Thanks Simone, I appreciate that, more than you know" Annabelle replied now looking down at their hands linked together fighting the urge to pull Simone in further so that there was no distance remaining between them.
"You're welcome" Simone said softly due to her voice suddenly becoming lost in the sliver of space left between her and Annabelle.
"I am glad I got to see you and bug you for a bit today, and thanks for not kicking me out right away, but I will be nice and let you get back to your work" Annabelle stated with a grin as she looked down at their joined hands then back up again, not raising her head, just her eyes.
"Well, you caught me before I had my dose of coffee this morning, so I wasn't thinking clearly, consider yourself lucky" Simone said enjoying this close moment with Annabelle, not really wanting her to go, but knowing she had a lot of work to catch up on.
"We are practicing tomorrow night, um, are you planning on stopping by" Annabelle said in a hopeful tone, as she remained fixated on Simone's deep pools of blue.
"It depends if someone ever leaves this office so I can get my work done" Simone said relinquishing her hold on one of Annabelle's hands to move a few stray hairs that had fallen around Annabelle's face, and tuck them behind her ear.
"Okay, okay, I am going" Annabelle stated as she tried to pull her hands away from Simone's grasp, but was now finding the grasp tightening a bit and she was being pulled into an unexpected embrace.
"I am glad I got to see you too, now go take a shower before your first class, so you aren't offensive to others" Simone whispered into Annabelle's ear not caring that she still had a slight residual of sweat remaining in her hair.
She enjoyed the warmth still radiating from her body and was soon getting lost in the feel of Annabelle's hands and soon her arms wrapping firmly around her waist, pulling Simone in so close that there was not a thread of space between their bodies.
Annabelle began to run her hands a bit higher on Simone's back when she felt Simone's breathing hitch a little but still no sign of her letting go. She continued her gentle caress of Simone's back and was now slowly moving her hands back down to her lower back and just as they got slightly underneath the hem of Simone's shirt, Simone began to pull away and said, hoping that Annabelle could not notice her heart beating out of her chest, "You really should get going, I, I will see you later okay".
Annabelle knew that look all to well. That look from Simone's eyes that said 'please don't go', but her voice was saying something totally different. Annabelle also understood, no matter how young in age she was, that distancing herself at this moment was the absolute right thing to do. She never wanted to put Simone in any kind of uncomfortable situation or one that would also be considered compromising for someone of Simone's stature. She reluctantly allowed Simone to fall away from her grasp and said, "I know, I'm sorry, I will see you later. Bye Simone".
"Bye Annabelle" Simone said with a slight ache in her voice as she watched Annabelle disappear from sight followed by her door closing with a soft 'clicking' noise.
TBC.......