"We'd go back to not knowing each other." They both sighed. "It would be awkward anyway, considering everything that's happened."
"Close your eyes." Nick stated.
"Why?" Annie asked, confused by the sudden change of topic.
"Please," Nick pleaded. Annie shut her eyes. Nick leant over and gently placed his lips on hers. Initially, Annie flinched. She soon relaxed into Nick's soft, warm lips. They pulled apart and gazed into each other's eyes.
"That wasn't awkward," Annie stated.
"It was," Nick couldn't find words to describe it.
"My baby," A woman's tearful voice said from the door. Nick didn't recognise her. She was heavily pregnant, late 30's, bags under her eyes and obvious worry on her face.
"Hi Mom," Annie sighed. The woman waddled over to Annie's bed and sat opposite Nick.
"Where have you been, I was so worried!" Annie's Mom was already crying silent tears.
"I went to a club last night with,"
"A club? I thought I told you not to after last time."
"Mom!" Annie emphasised. "I'm 17!"
"And who's this; your boyfriend?"
Annie looked at Nick, he nodded slightly. "I guess so."
"I thought I said no boyfriends till you were 21?"
"So what you can have 2 guys falling all over you but I can't have one?" Annie exclaimed. Her Mom's face hardened.
"Mrs Taylor?" A Doctor asked. "May I have a word?" Mrs Taylor nodded and left. Annie sighed and looked at where her Mom was just sitting.
"What's going on?" Nick asked.
"My parents are divorcing. My Mom cheated on my Dad, and didn't admit it till she was 4 months pregnant with another man." Annie sighed. "So I ran away. I've been staying with a different friend every night, telling them my parents were out of town."
"Why'd you do it?" Nick asked. Annie said nothing. "Why?" He repeated.
"To escape." Annie interrupted. Nick was listening. "I was sick of all the fighting, and aggression, and drinking, my Dad took up smoking and my Mom kept moaning at him, saying it was bad for the baby, then he'd just go on about it wasn't his. I was caught in the crossfire." Annie whispered. "Nick my family is falling apart." She finished.
"Is that what you think?" Annie's Mom reappeared. Nick put his hand back in Annie's, entwining his fingers with hers, though she barely held on.
"Mom, I,"
"Forget it Annabelle, go live with your father when he leaves."
"No, Mom, please," Annie pleaded but her Mom had already left. "I don't want to go to Seattle." Annie whispered.
"You can't go to Seattle!" Nick protested. "Not now."
"I don't want to. Never did. But where else can I go?"
"You could come stay with us. Try and sort things out with your Mom…" Nick suggested.
"I couldn't stay with you, and Mom won't forgive me until she's happily married with Rob and waving the ring in front of my face."
"It wouldn't be a problem,"
"It wouldn't be right."
"How about we take it one day at a time. You'll be staying here for a while anyway." Nick added. Annie stretched her arms out, examining the red scabby burns.
"I'm glad I don't remember getting these. But I," She trailed.
"But you what?"
"But I wish I remembered the night meeting you." Nick looked around the room, remembering the photo's they'd taken of their friends, the couple they'd taken of themselves. He picked up the camera. "We took pictures?" Annie asked. Nick nodded. Annie flicked through the photos. "What are Zoë, Tash and Lexi doing on the stage?"
"The Macarena." Nick answered. "My friends are there too. There were a little tipsy. They'll probably be a bit hung over today." Nick joked.
"It was only last night?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I just thought it had been longer. You looked like you'd waited."
"I was really worried." Nick whispered.
"That's so sweet." Annie blushed. Nick squeezed her hand.
"I have been named the 'sensitive one'."
"And what would that make your brothers?"
"'The ladies man' and 'the odd one'. Assign to a brother as you will." Annie laughed. Nick cleared his throat. "Annie, I'm not sure how to word this, but we've been friends for," Nick looked at his watch. "Almost 10 minutes now." Annie laughed. "I thought maybe we could,"
"Yes." Annie interrupted.
"You don't even know what I was going to say?" Nick asked.
"Something along the lines of asking me out." She shrugged and smiled. Nick beamed.
"Whoa, nick's smiling what happened?" Joe asked, swaggering into the room confidently.
"Nothing." Nick dismissed it quickly.
"Course." Kevin saw through the obvious lie.
"So, Annie, I'm Joe, that's Kevin, how're you feeling?"
"Meh. And hi." Annie smiled.
"That bad, eh?" Kevin asked. Annie nodded.
"Nick we brought this from home for you." Joe said, pulling something from behind his back.
"My guitar," Nick breathed. "Thanks guys."
"We knew you'd want it." Kevin smiled.
"Guys you know I'm allowed home today right?" Nick asked.
"Oh," Joe muttered.
"Obviously not." Nick sighed. Another Doctor appeared at the door.
"Where's Sapphire gone?" He asked.
"Who's Sapphire?" joe asked quietly.
"my Mom." Annie answered.
"She left a while ago. Work to do at home, I think she said." Nick lied.
"Aah, I see, thank you." The Doctor left, barely believing the lie.
"Thank you." Annie whispered.
"I'm hungry. Anyone want anything to eat?" Kevin asked.
"No thanks." Nick and Annie answered at the same time.
"Ok. I'll be back in 10." Kevin left.
"So what's going on with you two?" Joe asked seriously, not teasing Nick for a change. Annie sighed. Nick took a deep breath and looked up at his brother standing above him.
Nick nodded. He didn't want to tell Joe about the kiss just yet.
"So you've actually got somewhere with a girl nick?" Joe teased. Nick rolled his eyes and Annie squeezed his hand. "Finally! I mean, how long were you going to take?" Joe exclaimed.
"Ouch, how loud?" Annie exclaimed. Joe's eyes scrunched up, he wasn't particularly loud…
Please review xxx