That Summer
Here With Me Instead
*Annabella’s POV*
I had slept through most of my flight and I woke up as the announcement of descent was being announced. We landed at around 9 and I headed right for baggage claim because I didn’t want to have to wait very long. My bag was one of the first off of the plane and I grabbed it as fast as I could as did the person next to me. Wait a second, I’d recognize that bracelet anywhere I thought as I looked at the bracelet that Bryerwood gave out every year to the captain of the hockey team with their name and year on it and the one next to me read Landeskog. “Goddamnit.” I said under my breath but obviously not enough because then I heard him, “Annabella?” I turned my head and mustered up the best smile I could and saw Gabe standing there. Damn he looks good I thought as I looked him up and down. “Hey Gabe.” I said as he gave me a hug. It was awkward and I pulled away fast. “What are you doing here?” He asked as we walked towards the exit of the airport where I knew my family would be waiting. “I’m home for Christmas.” I answered trying to not sound like he was an idiot for asking me that question. “Right, stupid me. Same reason I’m home.” He said smiling at me. I hadn’t seen him since we broke up and it still hurt a lot seeing him now. I’d watched him play in every game, only because he was on the same team as Matt and Jake, but I hadn’t planned on seeing him in person. “Yeah, listen Gabe, I gotta go. Merry Christmas.” I said as I spotted my family in the parking lot. “Merry Christmas Bella… We should get together before you leave and catch up. I miss you.” He said giving me another hug and that one hurt a lot more. “Uh… sure.” I said smiling weakly. With that he headed off to his family and I headed off to mine and couldn’t help but be happy.
“Sugar cube!” Matt yelled as I dropped my bag by the car and he hugged me. “I missed you so much!” I said squeezing him as tight as I could. “You’ve been doing amazing.” I said smiling at him as he let me go. “Well thank you. And I missed you too.” He said smiling. Next up was Gally- “Good god I’ve missed you so much.” He said hugging me as tight as he could. “I didn’t know life would be this boring without you and Katie but goddamn it’s awful.” He said as he finally pulled away and I laughed. “I could have told you that you’d be miserable without us.” I said pointing at him. I then looked over to my brother who was eagerly waiting for his turn to hug me, as were my sister and parents. “Jake!” I yelled as I jumped into his arms and he spun me around. “Hey Bells.” He said kissing my head. “I missed you.” I said pulling him back in for another hug which he returned, “I missed you too but now we have a 2 weeks to wreak havoc.” He whispered to me with a wink. Next I hugged my parents, my sister, and Nate and had basically the same old conversation- missed you, glad you’re here, etc. I sighed after I hugged everybody while my dad was putting my bag in the car. “What’s wrong sugar cube?” Matt asked putting his arm around me. “I just wish Katie was here… we haven’t talked much and I miss her.” I said and when I looked up I saw a beaming Katie and a grinning family. “Oh my god!” I yelled as I ran at Katie and we tackled each other in a hug. “I missed you so much!” We said in unison and started laughing. “I’ve missed you guys.” Gally said coming in between us and putting an arm around each of us. “We missed you too Gal.” Katie and I said in unison to which we started laughing and he looked shocked.
On the ride back to the house I was in the car with Matt, Jake, Katie, and Gally and I knew Katie had something on her mind because she was really quiet so once we got back to my house I pulled her outside, “Alright, spill.” I said sitting down on the patio in one of the chairs as she sat in the one across from me. “What?” She asked trying to sound confused. “Oh please Kay, I know when something is on your mind.” I said leaning on my elbow which was propped up on the table. “Alright… well… I’m kind of… seeing… dating….” She stopped. “Seeing, dating who?!” I asked as my eyes got wide and I started bouncing up and down. “Uh… Beau?” She answered like it was a question but I just screamed and practically jumped over the table to hug her. “Finally! You finally got a hot boyfriend!” I continued to yell as we jumped around. “Shut up! No one else knows!” She whisper yelled at me and I sat down again. “So, what’s going on with you and Gabe?” She asked narrowing her eyes at me. I didn’t answer so she continued, “I saw you guys hugging at the airport Bella.” She said like it was the most obvious thing ever. Bella I thought. Brendan called me Bella and hearing it made me miss him and realize I still needed to call him to tell him that I’d landed and hadn’t died or something. “Nothing, we ran into each other at baggage claim, he hugged me and it was awkward, he asked me why I was here and then realized he was stupid for asking, he hugged me again after I wished him a Merry Christmas, and then he said we should get together before we both leave… and uh… that he misses me.” I said the last part really quietly but I knew Katie had heard it because when I looked at her she was fuming. “You are NOT seeing him Annabella.” She said. “No shit Katie. I had no intentions of seeing him… I have no reason to.” I said wanting to add because I found someone new and don’t need him anymore but I stopped myself. Brendan and I wanted to tell people slowly and this wouldn’t be slowly. I knew Katie was my best friend, but I at least wanted her to officially meet Brendan and talk to him before I told her I was dating him. “Good.” Was all she said before she went back to happy Katie. We spent the next hour out there just talking about Beau and college and Pittsburgh and Montreal until we were called inside.
“You know what, I’m pooped so I’m just gonna go to bed.” I said looking at the clock as it read 10:30. “Alright sweetie, but get a good night’s sleep because we’ll all be back tomorrow.” Matt said as he gave me a hug followed by Gally and Katie and then they left. I quickly headed up to my room and clicked favorites where Brendan was the 5th contact down. It rang about 3 times before he picked up. “Thank god! I thought you got murdered or kidnapped!” He yelled sounding really concerned and I just laughed. “That’s not funny babe. I was really worried about you.” He said in a calmer tone. “I’m sorry Bren. My family doesn’t know about us so I couldn’t just say ‘oh, I need to go call my boyfriend now’ and come call you. I had to wait until everyone left and I could be alone.” I said lying down on my bed and staring out the window at the moon. “I miss you.” Brendan said after a couple minutes of silence. “I miss you too.” I whispered back. “How’s the moon?” He asked. When we had first gotten together we talked about everything and that included how I loved looking at the moon from my window because it had the best view.
*Brendan’s POV*
“Amazing, but it would be better if you were here to see it with me.” Was her response. “I know babe, same here.” I said looking out at the moon from the deck of my apartment. You could see the water from here and the reflection of the moon off of it was gorgeous, but I wanted Annabella here with me. We talked for a few more minutes before we got off the phone because she was exhausted and because I had to pack for my trip home tomorrow. I fell asleep that night thinking of Annabella and how this time next year I wanted to be taking her home with me for Christmas. “Best Christmas present ever.” I said aloud before falling asleep.
*Annabella’s POV*
After Brendan and I got off the phone I took a shower because I felt gross after sitting on a plane for 7 hours and then got into my pajamas and into bed. I hadn’t been lying when I said I was exhausted, and I fell asleep soon after my head hit the pillow, but not before thinking of this time next year and hoping by then I’d be able to say ‘oh I need to call my boyfriend’ without having to sneak off and I hoped that it would be referring to Brendan. “Or maybe he could just be here with me instead.” I said aloud before I felt myself drifting off into sleep.
I had slept through most of my flight and I woke up as the announcement of descent was being announced. We landed at around 9 and I headed right for baggage claim because I didn’t want to have to wait very long. My bag was one of the first off of the plane and I grabbed it as fast as I could as did the person next to me. Wait a second, I’d recognize that bracelet anywhere I thought as I looked at the bracelet that Bryerwood gave out every year to the captain of the hockey team with their name and year on it and the one next to me read Landeskog. “Goddamnit.” I said under my breath but obviously not enough because then I heard him, “Annabella?” I turned my head and mustered up the best smile I could and saw Gabe standing there. Damn he looks good I thought as I looked him up and down. “Hey Gabe.” I said as he gave me a hug. It was awkward and I pulled away fast. “What are you doing here?” He asked as we walked towards the exit of the airport where I knew my family would be waiting. “I’m home for Christmas.” I answered trying to not sound like he was an idiot for asking me that question. “Right, stupid me. Same reason I’m home.” He said smiling at me. I hadn’t seen him since we broke up and it still hurt a lot seeing him now. I’d watched him play in every game, only because he was on the same team as Matt and Jake, but I hadn’t planned on seeing him in person. “Yeah, listen Gabe, I gotta go. Merry Christmas.” I said as I spotted my family in the parking lot. “Merry Christmas Bella… We should get together before you leave and catch up. I miss you.” He said giving me another hug and that one hurt a lot more. “Uh… sure.” I said smiling weakly. With that he headed off to his family and I headed off to mine and couldn’t help but be happy.
“Sugar cube!” Matt yelled as I dropped my bag by the car and he hugged me. “I missed you so much!” I said squeezing him as tight as I could. “You’ve been doing amazing.” I said smiling at him as he let me go. “Well thank you. And I missed you too.” He said smiling. Next up was Gally- “Good god I’ve missed you so much.” He said hugging me as tight as he could. “I didn’t know life would be this boring without you and Katie but goddamn it’s awful.” He said as he finally pulled away and I laughed. “I could have told you that you’d be miserable without us.” I said pointing at him. I then looked over to my brother who was eagerly waiting for his turn to hug me, as were my sister and parents. “Jake!” I yelled as I jumped into his arms and he spun me around. “Hey Bells.” He said kissing my head. “I missed you.” I said pulling him back in for another hug which he returned, “I missed you too but now we have a 2 weeks to wreak havoc.” He whispered to me with a wink. Next I hugged my parents, my sister, and Nate and had basically the same old conversation- missed you, glad you’re here, etc. I sighed after I hugged everybody while my dad was putting my bag in the car. “What’s wrong sugar cube?” Matt asked putting his arm around me. “I just wish Katie was here… we haven’t talked much and I miss her.” I said and when I looked up I saw a beaming Katie and a grinning family. “Oh my god!” I yelled as I ran at Katie and we tackled each other in a hug. “I missed you so much!” We said in unison and started laughing. “I’ve missed you guys.” Gally said coming in between us and putting an arm around each of us. “We missed you too Gal.” Katie and I said in unison to which we started laughing and he looked shocked.
On the ride back to the house I was in the car with Matt, Jake, Katie, and Gally and I knew Katie had something on her mind because she was really quiet so once we got back to my house I pulled her outside, “Alright, spill.” I said sitting down on the patio in one of the chairs as she sat in the one across from me. “What?” She asked trying to sound confused. “Oh please Kay, I know when something is on your mind.” I said leaning on my elbow which was propped up on the table. “Alright… well… I’m kind of… seeing… dating….” She stopped. “Seeing, dating who?!” I asked as my eyes got wide and I started bouncing up and down. “Uh… Beau?” She answered like it was a question but I just screamed and practically jumped over the table to hug her. “Finally! You finally got a hot boyfriend!” I continued to yell as we jumped around. “Shut up! No one else knows!” She whisper yelled at me and I sat down again. “So, what’s going on with you and Gabe?” She asked narrowing her eyes at me. I didn’t answer so she continued, “I saw you guys hugging at the airport Bella.” She said like it was the most obvious thing ever. Bella I thought. Brendan called me Bella and hearing it made me miss him and realize I still needed to call him to tell him that I’d landed and hadn’t died or something. “Nothing, we ran into each other at baggage claim, he hugged me and it was awkward, he asked me why I was here and then realized he was stupid for asking, he hugged me again after I wished him a Merry Christmas, and then he said we should get together before we both leave… and uh… that he misses me.” I said the last part really quietly but I knew Katie had heard it because when I looked at her she was fuming. “You are NOT seeing him Annabella.” She said. “No shit Katie. I had no intentions of seeing him… I have no reason to.” I said wanting to add because I found someone new and don’t need him anymore but I stopped myself. Brendan and I wanted to tell people slowly and this wouldn’t be slowly. I knew Katie was my best friend, but I at least wanted her to officially meet Brendan and talk to him before I told her I was dating him. “Good.” Was all she said before she went back to happy Katie. We spent the next hour out there just talking about Beau and college and Pittsburgh and Montreal until we were called inside.
“You know what, I’m pooped so I’m just gonna go to bed.” I said looking at the clock as it read 10:30. “Alright sweetie, but get a good night’s sleep because we’ll all be back tomorrow.” Matt said as he gave me a hug followed by Gally and Katie and then they left. I quickly headed up to my room and clicked favorites where Brendan was the 5th contact down. It rang about 3 times before he picked up. “Thank god! I thought you got murdered or kidnapped!” He yelled sounding really concerned and I just laughed. “That’s not funny babe. I was really worried about you.” He said in a calmer tone. “I’m sorry Bren. My family doesn’t know about us so I couldn’t just say ‘oh, I need to go call my boyfriend now’ and come call you. I had to wait until everyone left and I could be alone.” I said lying down on my bed and staring out the window at the moon. “I miss you.” Brendan said after a couple minutes of silence. “I miss you too.” I whispered back. “How’s the moon?” He asked. When we had first gotten together we talked about everything and that included how I loved looking at the moon from my window because it had the best view.
*Brendan’s POV*
“Amazing, but it would be better if you were here to see it with me.” Was her response. “I know babe, same here.” I said looking out at the moon from the deck of my apartment. You could see the water from here and the reflection of the moon off of it was gorgeous, but I wanted Annabella here with me. We talked for a few more minutes before we got off the phone because she was exhausted and because I had to pack for my trip home tomorrow. I fell asleep that night thinking of Annabella and how this time next year I wanted to be taking her home with me for Christmas. “Best Christmas present ever.” I said aloud before falling asleep.
*Annabella’s POV*
After Brendan and I got off the phone I took a shower because I felt gross after sitting on a plane for 7 hours and then got into my pajamas and into bed. I hadn’t been lying when I said I was exhausted, and I fell asleep soon after my head hit the pillow, but not before thinking of this time next year and hoping by then I’d be able to say ‘oh I need to call my boyfriend’ without having to sneak off and I hoped that it would be referring to Brendan. “Or maybe he could just be here with me instead.” I said aloud before I felt myself drifting off into sleep.
@TazerKaner ok, I kinda know the feel (exams are coming up for me too) that's awesome though, I'm excited! :D
5/13/14