A/N - I know Annabelle doesn't perform a song in this chapter, but the song would not necessarily be sung by her..... What am I talking about you ask? The chapter title is my favorite song by the one and only Sass Jordan and of course I will suggest you listen to it, hmm, maybe while reading.. :)

Enjoy....

You Don't Have to Remind Me

"So, is it true"? Lita said as she put her bag down on the table.

"Is what true"? Annabelle replied as she sat up a little adjusting herself to a more proper position now that she had company.

"Is it true that Simone resigned"? Lita questioned as she noticed Annabelle beginning to fidget with her coffee cup.

"Yes, that is what I heard" Annabelle replied non chanlantly not wanting to open herself up to any other questions that Lita may have.

"Hm, that just really surprises me" Lita stated as she moved her bag to the chair so she would have a more clear view of Annabelle who was now sitting directly across from her.

"Why"? Annabelle asked, however, she was now wishing she could just get up and walk away without being noticed.

"Well, I know she was on sabbatical, but Dr. Craig had said that she was only going to teach abroad for one year and then return to continue her tenure here" Lita responded hoping that she would glean more information than the monosyllabic responses she was being given at the moment.

"Well, maybe she just changed her mind. Jason had said that she was working with her dad on different projects while in Italy" Annabelle stated, trying to defer any information that she may have to the fact that she and Jason are band mates.

"Like what"? Lita asked knowing that Annabelle was holding out with the details of Simone's change in career.

"It has to do with photojournalism or something" Annabelle responded hoping for some kind of reprieve from this line of questioning.

"Oh, well, what is she doing now"? Lita continued her interrogation realizing that Annabelle had some kind of inside track into Simone's current situation.

"The last I heard, she took a job with Traveler Magazine, and "- Annabelle's attempt at being vague was cut short by Collins appearance at the girl's normal spot for their daily ritual of muffins and coffee in between classes.

"Hey ladies, what a surprise, seeing you here" Collins said in a sarcastic tone.

"May I help you"? Annabelle responded with just as much sarcasm toward her best friend who had just become her savior.

"Hey Collins, how are your classes going so far this semester"? Lita asked the dark-haired girl who took it upon herself to sit on Annabelle's side of the table.

"Good, just getting baptized into the world of germs and other deadly organisms" Collins replied as she set what looked like a volume from the Encyclopedia Britannica on the table that was actually her textbook for an Epidemiology class.

"Sounds like fun" Lita stated in a less than enthusiastic tone, a little annoyed with the fact that Collins had great timing as usual.

"It is actually, like right now, I can tell you that there are more than likely various strains of e-coli on your"- Collins was cut off by Lita saying, "Okay, okay, I don't want to hear anymore thanks" as she looked down at the muffin she had been picking at during her conversation with Annabelle.

Annabelle just grinned at her friends attempt to get Lita to leave their little bubble as she saw Lita pick up her bag and wrap up the muffin in a napkin to discard it in the nearest trash can.

"Alright ladies, I still have a couple of classes to get through today, so, have fun and I will see you later" Lita stated as she threw her bag over her shoulder, waved to the girls who were both holding back a chuckle at Lita's sudden change in demeanor.

"Bye" The girls said in unison.

"That was mean Collins" Annabelle stated with a smirk trying to seem appalled at her friend's actions just moments before.

"Oh, you know it was funny" Collins replied as she gave a knowing toward the door that was now closing after Lita had exited the union.

"Yeah, maybe a little" Annabelle stated with a shrug while trying to stifle a giggle.

"What were you guys reminiscing about this time"? Collins asked with a little disdain in her voice.

"Well, she seemed very interested in why Simone resigned all of a sudden" Annabelle replied letting out a little sigh, feeling relief that she didn't have to continue that conversation.

"What did you tell her"? Collins asked in a curious tone.

"Nothing too specific, I tried to just act like Jason was the one to fill me in on what Simone has been doing" Annabelle replied hoping that her vague answers were enough to satisfy Lita's curiosity.

"Well, not that it is any of her business, but, Simone is no longer a professor here, so your relationship with her, whether you are just close friends or well, anything else for that matter, shouldn't be an issue" Collins stated matter of factly.

"You're right, but I just don't know how she will react if I just came out and said, 'Yeah, me and Simone are together, we are in love, so your chances with me are slim to none'" Annabelle replied as she took the last sip of her coffee.

"Actually, I would love to see the look on her face when you finally decide to go public with your secret love affair" Collins said while grinning widely.

"Gee thanks, but, I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon. Not that I am going to take an ad out in the paper or anything, but, I really think that Simone is still hesitant about people knowing about our relationship" Annabelle replied in a somber tone as she lowered her head just a little at the realization of her words.

"I know, I know, but I think with a little time she will just relax and be okay with everyone knowing, well, the important people anyway" Collins stated while placing her hand over Annabelle's to show her change in demeanor from joking to understanding.

"Thanks, I appreciate you saying that. I really do understand what she is feeling. I am still trying to figure out how I am going to approach this with my mom" Annabelle replied letting out a big sigh at the thought of the conversation she knew was going to be inevitable.

"Annabelle, I know you and your mother have had a rocky relationship, but I think it won't be as bad as you think. I am sure once she sees you two together and realizes how much you both love each other, she won't be able to be anything but happy for you" Collins said in a reassuring tone.

"I hope you're right. I mean, its not like I am ashamed or anything, actually the exact opposite, its just that I think I always assume the worst" Annabelle replied as she shrugged toward her friend.

"Yes, I am right, and its about time you realized that, then, these conversations will be much shorter" Collins stated trying to lighten the mood a little.

"Okay, Dr. Phil, I need to get to my wonderful Art Song class and from the looks of that book, you need to start reading" Annabelle stated as she began to gather her things to leave.

"I know, I know. Hey, before I forget, I just wanted to let you know that Cheyenne will be in Santa Clara in a few weeks for a pre-season tournament. Did you want to head down there with me to watch a game or two"? Collins asked hoping her friend would consider a taking the short road trip with her.

"I guess as long as it doesn't fall on a night that we are doing a show, I don't see why not" Annabelle said in a more upbeat tone.

"Okay, I will get the exact dates for you, and let you know" Collins replied trying to hold down her excitement.

"Alright chica, I need to get a move on, I will see you when you get home" Annabelle said as she smiled at Collins while grabbing her bag and empty coffee cup from the table.

"Okay, get going, get going, see you later" Collins replied as she motioned with her hands toward the exit.


"Anybody need anything"? Annabelle asked as she set her guitar down on its stand letting it rest for awhile while she headed upstairs to quench her thirst.

"Yeah, can you bring a round for all of us" Jason stated as he looked up from the set list he was holding debating on which new song to add to their show.

"Anything for you 'ladies' " Annabelle replied as she winked and began to laugh as she climbed the stairs to the kitchen.

Annabelle heard a smattering of fake laughs from her band mates and she was soon looking at the phone resting in her hand as she felt the vibrations on her palm.

"Hey you"! Annabelle answered with a smile in her voice.

"Hi, what are you up to"? Simone asked happy to hear the voice on the other line.

"Just taking a quick break from our jam session" Annabelle replied as she sat down at the table playing with the label on the bottle of water.

"Okay, well I don't want to keep you, I just wanted to let you know I am on my way home" Simone stated as she began the dance between the gas and brake pedal once she had fully merged onto the freeway.

"One, you're not keeping me, and two, um, do you mind if Jason isn't the only one here when you get home" Annabelle stated as she trailed off with a low husk in her voice.

"Well, it is a school night, so I won't mind company for a little while, but then our company needs to leave to make sure she gets enough sleep before her eight a.m. class" Simone said in a mock serious tone.

"Well, what if your company needed help with her homework" Annabelle said playfully.

" I don't think that is in my job description anymore" Simone replied trying to suppress a chuckle.

"Oh, okay, I see, um, well, I am going to get back to the boys so we can finish up and then I can go get my 'beauty sleep'. Be careful, bye" Annabelle stated in a flat tone as she hit the end button letting a huge grin form visualizing the look on Simone's face right now.

"Alright, heads up"! Annabelle shouted down the stairs as she began to toss water bottles from the top step so she didn't have to carry all of them down at the same time.

"Hey, hey, watch it, these hands are delicate instruments" Austin stated as he gingerly cradled the water bottle like he was catching a football, not wanting to jam his fingers.

Annabelle just rolled her eyes as she picked up her guitar and took her place back in the room of boys that as much as they joked and teased each other to no end, she knew they would do anything for her and of course, she for them.

The band played a few more songs and finally agreed on which new song they wanted to add into their set list for the upcoming show.

"Alright guys, I am officially declaring this practice over. Unless you need to use the bathroom, get out" Jason said teasingly as he put his guitar back into its case.

"Geez, man, you got a hot date or something" ? Austin replied while clicking the last clasp on his guitar case.

"No, I am just over looking at your ugly mugs, my ears are ringing and I am tired, so, go, bye, hasta, clear out" Jason said playfully shoving his band mates up the stairs.

"Alright, alright, we're going" Austin replied as he and the other guys made their way up the stairs.

"I will see you Friday, usual time" Jason stated from the bottom of the stairs.

"Bye" The boys said in a unified obnoxious tone as they shut the door behind them.

"Alright Jas, just let me get my stuff and I will be out of your hair" Annabelle said as she began to make her way upstairs.

"Hey, I didn't mean you had to leave, well unless you needed to" Jason said as he lightly grabbed her arm.

"Oh, well, actually I do have a little bit of homework to do, but, well"- Annabelle was interrupted by Jason saying, "She should be here any minute, just chill" as he gave her a squeeze around her shoulder and then went back to putting the rest of the equipment back to its appropriate spot in the room.

Annabelle just smiled and began to tackle the cords that were still attached to the amplifiers.

Once everything was put away, they began to head upstairs when they heard the sound of a car door shutting. Jason just winked as he walked past Annabelle down the hallway and into his room.

Annabelle shook her head in amusement at Jason's antics and followed his lead but stopped at the first door she came to and went inside.

She flopped herself on Simone's bed and rested her head on top of her hands, eyes fixed on the door.

The sound of keys being set on the counter was soon being heard and a few moments later, Annabelle's eyes were no longer fixed on the door, but something else.

"Hey, how was traffic"? Annabelle questioned as she raised herself up on her elbows.

Simone just walked past her bed and went straight to her closet to change clothes.

Annabelle was about to follow Simone when she heard "I thought you had homework, you know, the kind you do at home".

Annabelle froze in her spot for a moment not really sure about Simone's tone of voice at this point.

She came to sit on the edge of the bed when she saw Simone reappear into the room and noticed a slight smirk resting on Simone's lips at that moment.

"Okay, well, yes, I do have homework, so I guess I will be going home, to do it" Annabelle stated flatly as she began to move away from the bed and toward the door.

Annabelle was just about to open the door, but decided to look back at the blonde-haired beauty who was now putting her hair up and not putting up any protest to her exiting the room.

Annabelle turned back around and began to reach for the doorknob when she heard, "Hey" in a slightly hushed tone and felt her arm catch fire from the fingertips that were slowly moving from her shoulder to her elbow at the moment.

Annabelle slowly turned around to see blue eyes burning deeply into her own. She was soon feeling her breath hitch when Simone had decided to close the gap between them that felt like a wide canyon just minutes before.

Simone couldn't help but let a small smile wash over her face when she leaned in and said "I wanted to at least say goodbye" as she let her mouth settle inches away from Annabelle's and then pressed gently onto Annabelle's waiting lips, moaning slightly into the contact that now had Simone at a loss for words and thought. Annabelle felt the hard surface of the door behind her as she was soon losing the battle she had started earlier on the phone when Simone moved even closer quickly deepening the kiss and pressing her own body further into Annabelle's and was soon feeling soft fingertips caressing her lower back.

Annabelle soon felt a cool sensation wash across her lips as she noticed all contact had been removed only feeling the short breaths that were now escaping from her own mouth.

She opened her eyes to see Simone also trying to reign in her breath and witnessed the faint red tint that was now resting on her cheeks. Annabelle began to move forward to decrease the newly created space but was soon finding herself being pulled into Simone's arms and heard "It's late, I know you really do have homework, and that's what you get for hanging up on me" as she felt Simone's warm breath wash across her ear. Annabelle closed her eyes for a quick moment trying to steady herself enough to move away from Simone's embrace, and as she took a step back, she caught a glance of Simone's eyes one last time, leaned in for one last soft kiss, and said, "You, you, are, that was, so, not fair".

Simone reached around Annabelle, did her best to keep a straight face, leaned in to her ear and said "I know" in a low whisper and was soon nudging the blue-eyed beauty out the door and as it quietly clicked shut, she heard a deep sigh come from the other side, finally released the smile she was keeping at bay and ran her hand through her hair as she settled under the blanket to allow her body to recover from the long day at work as well as the brief encounter that just occurred seconds before.


"Did she get taller"? Annabelle asked as she saw Cheyenne block what was to be her tenth shot of the night.

"She says she hasn't, but I think she has, or maybe it's just that their coaches have them work out a lot differently than she did in high school. Collins replied while watching her cousin reach down to pull up the opponent who was now sprawled on the ground after running into her attempting to make a layup.

"Well, whatever she has been doing, its working. I mean I thought she was unstoppable in high school, but now, I really feel bad for the other team" Annabelle said as she took a sip of Coke from a cup that was so big she had to use both hands to hold it.

"Yeah, I do to" Collins said as the final buzzer sounded signifying the end of the second half that had USC taking the game by twenty points and Cheyenne recording her third 'triple-double' of the season already.

The crowd had began to thin out quickly to either find their way to their cars, use the restroom, or grab a snack before the next game of the tournament started twenty minutes later. Annabelle and Collins began to make their way down the steps and through the tunnel that would lead them outside where the bus was waiting to take the team to their post-game meal.

"Hey guys" Cheyenne said as she came up behind the girls who were waiting on the half wall in front of the bus.

"Hey kiddo, great game, as usual" Annabelle stated as she wrapped the taller girl into a tight hug.

"Thanks, I am glad you could make it" Cheyenne replied with a shy grin as she pulled back a little from Annabelle to set her bag down.

"Great job missy" Collins said as she grabbed her cousin for a quick hug.

"Thanks, really, I am glad you guys could come. Did you want to come eat with us"? Cheyenne asked hoping for two head nods.

"Of course, but, is it okay if we eat with the team"? Annabelle questioned a now smiling Cheyenne.

"Yeah, but you have to pay for your own, and of course, you have to behave yourselves" Cheyenne replied as she picked up her bag and nudged Annabelle in the arm.

"Oh, I think we can handle ourselves, you on the other hand" Annabelle chided with a smirk of her own.

"Just follow the bus, I think we are going to the Olive Garden" Cheyenne stated as she paused on the first step of the bus.

"Of course, Italian food, what else" Annabelle quipped as her and Collins began their walk to find her car in the parking lot.

The place was humming with the sounds of silverware being moved across plates full of spaghetti, lasagna, chicken parmesan, waiters taking orders, asking if refills are needed and coming in and out of the kitchen. The girls found themselves at a table with Cheyenne and two of her teammates, one of which Collins knew due to her also being Cheyenne's room mate last year.

"Lisa, Jackie, this is my cousin Collins, well Jackie you already know Collins, and my, um her best friend Annabelle" Cheyenne stated as everyone settled in at the table.

"Hi Lisa, nice to meet you" Collins stated as she shook Cheyenne's teammate's hand.

"Hi, Lisa, hi, Jackie, nice to meet you" Annabelle stated as she greeted the taller girls but soon noticed that Jackie was giving her a weird look.

The chatter around the table ranged from the differences at each campus, to their class schedules, to music, but of course returned to the schedules of the three teammates that had found themselves eating, sleeping and breathing basketball.

"Oh stop whining, I seem to remember someone telling me that they loved playing no matter what" Annabelle said teasingly toward Cheyenne's direction.

"Why did you bring her again"? Cheyenne stated focusing her attention on Collins.

"Because she loves me, that's why" Annabelle replied before Collins could respond.

"She just lets you th"- Cheyenne stopped her rant realizing that Annabelle was now looking at her phone and excusing herself from the table.

"So when is your next game"? Collins asked trying to get the attention away from Annabelle's sudden departure.

"We play tomorrow at ten a.m., if we win that, we go straight to the final" Cheyenne stated as she still kept her eyes fixed on Annabelle who was now sitting in a chair at an unoccupied table smiling into her phone.

"Well, I guess that means you guys have early curfew, right"? Collins asked already knowing the answer.

"Yeah, well, we would anyway, coach is strict like that" Jackie chimed in as she rolled her eyes at Cheyenne's inattention at the moment.

"I will be right back. Bathroom run before we hit the road" Collins stated as she stood up to excuse herself from current discussion.

"Is that the Annabelle"? Jackie leaned in and whispered toward Cheyenne putting emphasis on the 'the'.

"Yeah, but please don't say anything" Cheyenne quietly replied giving her teammate a pleading look.

"What do you mean 'the' Annabelle" Lisa asked obviously overhearing her teammate's conversation.

"Um, nothing, I, uh, well, Collins just talked about her a lot when she came to visit, so, now um, she can put a face with the name" Cheyenne stuttered over her words while Jackie was stifling a chuckle.

"Oh, okay" Lisa replied in a disbelieving tone.

"What, do I have something on me"? Annabelle said as she approached the table noticing the funny looks and hushed laughs coming from the table of basketball players.

"No, um, Jackie was just telling us about how bad the girl smelled that she was guarding today" Cheyenne stated unconvincingly.

Annabelle sat back down and was now being stared at by two out of the three teammates.

"Okay, really, what"- Annabelle was cut off by Collins return when she heard "Anyone for dessert"?

All three players shot their arms straight in the air and Annabelle and Collins were looking at each other and laughing at the 'little kids' sitting across from them.

"Two orders of Tiramasu please" Collins stated to the waiter as he took the dessert menu from her hands.

"Oh, good Collins, Cheyenne will be bouncing off the walls until midnight with all the espresso in that thing" Annabelle said teasingly as she pointed in Cheyenne's direction.

"Good thing you have your own bed" Jackie chided a somewhat pouting Cheyenne.

Cheyenne just gave a sheepish grin and took a sip of her water.

"Here you go ladies, anything else"? The waiter asked as he put the dessert down on the table.

"No, just the bill please" Collins stated as she picked up a fork to get at least one bite in before everyone, especially her cousin, inhaled the creamy concoction.

Cheyenne had most of one plate gone while the other girls took a bite or two each from the other plate.

"Hm, no surprise there" Annabelle said under her breath as Cheyenne devoured the last bite of custard.

"Yep"! Cheyenne said proudly as she licked the fork clean.

The other girls just rolled their eyes as they finished the other plate together and as the waiter brought the bill, Annabelle grabbed it before anyone else.

"I got it" Annabelle said in a firm tone as she handed the waiter the bill back in record time.

"Here, they give us money for food you know" Cheyenne stated as she pulled a twenty dollar bill out of her pocket and tried to hand it to Annabelle.

"Keep it, all of you, consider it my treat for treating me to a great game" Annabelle said as she pushed the money back toward Cheyenne.

"Thanks" The girls said in unison as the waiter brought Annabelle her change back. As soon as she finished leaving the tip, her phone went off again and this time she didn't leave the table right away greeting the caller with a warm "Hey" before she completely stepped away from the group.

The girls made their way outside to wait for the rest of the team to settle their bills. Annabelle moved to sit on a bench on the sidewalk that led to the parking lot. Cheyenne leaned into Collins space and said "Um, is um, Annabelle seeing someone"?

Collins took in a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds, not expecting the question that just came out of her cousin's mouth.

Collins took one look at Annabelle and noticed her lost in the conversation with what she assumed was Simone on the other end and then looked back at her cousin, who for reasons she didn't even want to think about, had those sad eyes that she hadn't seen in a long time. She knew Cheyenne had gotten over everything, well at least that is what her cousin led her to believe, even going so far as to not only introduce Jackie as her room mate a year earlier, she had also said that they had become an 'item' but that they weren't vocal about it because their coach frowned upon team 'romances'. But the look she had now, told her that it was all a facade, that for some reason, she hadn't fully let Annabelle go from her heart. Collins was internally warring with herself about how she should respond when she heard someone say "Are you ready to go"?

Collins turned and saw that Annabelle had a grin a mile wide on her face and seemed antsy to get going.

"Yeah, lets do it. Who was that"? Collins asked hoping to get out of having to respond to Cheyenne's question.

"It was Simone, she was just telling me to drive carefully for the one -hundredth time and that she would be a little bit late getting off work. Something about their computers being off-line for most of the day" Annabelle responded like she normally would when it was just her and Collins but she soon felt a pair of heavy green eyes on her when she suddenly realized where they were and who they were with.

Cheyenne knew who Simone was from the many times Collins talked about the professor, her brother, the band, and all the dynamics that went along with it. But when she saw Annabelle's body language and heard her voice inflections when she was on the phone with her, she knew, she knew that body language, she knew that tone of voice. Cheyenne had found herself head over heels a few years ago, with someone who made her voice carry that tone, her body move in anticipation while talking to them in person or on the phone. She knew the look in Annabelle's eyes as she told her cousin who was on the phone, she had seen that look in her own eyes once upon a time.

Cheyenne just forced a smile for her cousin and her cousin's best friend and said "Thanks again for coming you guys, it was great seeing you again, and um, thanks for dinner".

"You're welcome kiddo. I am glad I got to see you too. Good luck tomorrow" Annabelle replied as she reached up to give the basketball star one last hug.

"Good luck tomorrow, call me later okay" Collins said as she pulled her cousin in for a hug and a quiet goodbye.

With one last wave and 'goodbye' from Collins and Annabelle, the three teammates returned the gesture as they boarded the bus that would take them back to their hotel, back to their inside jokes, back to their own little world.

"That was fun, thanks for inviting me" Annabelle stated as she turned the key and revved the motor just a bit before backing out of the parking space.

"Yes, it was, now please, get us home in one piece" Collins replied as she clicked her seat belt knowing that Annabelle was anxious to get home, to get back to wherever Simone was going to eventually be later on.

Annabelle just gave her famous grin as she pulled out of the parking lot and onto the frontage road that would quickly get them to the freeway so they could join the rest of the motorists to navigate their way at a snails pace back their destinations along the corridor of college towns, ball parks, and airports, that continued to beckon the population to congregate in this Northern region of California.

Peace and love and I hope 2010 is a great year for everyone!!!

TBC....