I stir slightly waking up slowly. I stretch my arms out and open my eyes when I feel the emptiness of the bed. I lift the covers off and slide out of bed grabbing my phone. I’m shocked to see that it’s already eleven. There’s a few texts and I scroll through them slowly my eyes still adjusting to the light.

8:45am From: James

Morning babe:) Didn’t want to wake you, you’re too cute when you sleep. Come downstairs when you’re awake.

9:30am From: James

Are you awake?

10:15am From: James

We’re all down by the lake, mom went into town for the day, dad’s at work.

10: 45 am From: Rebecca

Wake up sleeping beauty! I’m missing my tanning buddy down here!

I smile before skipping to the bathroom to get ready.

[url=http://www.polyvore.com/annie_whitby_day/set?id=85616384]Outfit[/url]

As I headed out of the house I grabbed a magazine and a bottle water. I could see the boys messing around in the water. One was zooming around on a jet ski, one was sitting on the dock next to Beck who was laying out, and the other two were relaxing on tubes in the water.

“Hey guys!” I say as I kick off my shoes next to Rebecca who lays out a towel for me.

James waves from his spot in the water and I smile back.

“Hey baby.” He says excitedly, almost like he hasn’t seen me all night. I wave flirtatiously back which has him grinning and his brothers groaning.

I lay down on a lounge chair next to Beck’s and catch James’ eye. I sit up straight and slowly lift my cover up off then drop it on the deck. I see his eyebrows raise and his tongue darts out to wet his lips as he eyes me up and down. I giggle softly and blow him a kiss before relaxing back into my chair and turn to Beck.

“So what are our plans for the day?” I ask her and she smiles back at me.

“Just hang out here mostly, maybe watch a movie. Tonight we’re going out clubbing so it’s just going to be a relaxing day.” I nod my head in understanding.

Mike stands up from the edge and removes his shirt getting ready to jump in.

“Hey, Mike.” I call grabbing his attention. “Will you take a pic of Beck and I before you get all wet?”

“Sure.” He nodded and took my phone from my outstretched hand.

We scooted closer to each other and leaned in to smile. He handed it back and we looked through the few choosing our favorite.

“Thank you!” I smile at him he nods and I snap a pic of him diving in the lake.

As Nick brings the Jet Ski in I have them all close in and take a pic of the four brothers enjoying their nice swim. I show it to Beck before sitting down to make a collage on my phone. Once it was done I pulled up
Twitter and tweeted the picture.

@AnnieAldridge: Great first day in Whitby!! Hangs by the lake with the Neal clan... #TANME #vacay
#famlove @pete_neal40 @jneal_18 @rebeccaneal + Mike & Nick who are forever twitterless:(

Beck nodded approvingly looking over my shoulder. As my twitter notifications start to jump I move the phone in-between us. We giggle at all the crazy tweets and how many RT and favorites mine is getting so quickly.

@PensPensPens871: @AnnieAldridge OMG!! I cant believe your on #vacay with the Neals!!!! Offish jealous!!

@rocknRAUL: @AnnieAldridge Already meeting the fam?

@JepsonHales: @AnnieAldridge Tell James I said HI!!!

“James!!” Beck yells and I flinch smacking her stomach with the back of her hand. “Haley Jepson says Hi!”

“Who?” He yells back confused.

“A fan!” I clue him in.

“Ohhhh uh--hey! I guess?” We laugh at him and type away a new tweet. “Oh and thanks for the support!” I flash him a thumbs up.

@AnnieAldridge: @JepsonHales James says ‘Hey!” and “Thanks for the support!!” #GoPens

@JepsonHales: @AnnieAldridge OH MY GOD!!! This is the greatest day of my life! Thank you so so so much!!

@HAAAAYley: Okay, @AnnieAldridge is official the nicest WAG ever!!! She relays all fans messages, and gets James to reply personally!! #loveher #JAMNIE

“Jamnie?” I look at Beck and we both burst into laughter. “Oh my god, that just made my day!” She says and I nod along holding my stomach.

I retweet the tweet and then slide my phone away. We both finally die down enough to flip over and tan.

After swimming for a bit and then going in for some lunch the boys head back out to the lake. Beck and I decide to stay in and take advantage of the empty and begin to get ready. She has her own bathroom so I move my stuff in there and take the first shower and then contemplate what I’m going to wear as she bathes.

I decided on a simple black dress but paired it with my favorite Louboutins an the two nice pieces of jewelry I brought. As I get ready a wave of sadness washes over me, knowing that my parents bought me the jewelry and shoes. They were three of the few things I was able to bring with me. Everything else they took back.

It was part of my dilemma when I decided to move. They enticed me with their money, my designer clothes, my nice cars, and my gorgeous Upper East Side home in NYC. But I was never a girl after money. Sure, I liked to get dressed up once in awhile, I like to walk around the city with a Louis V bag, but I also like to twirl around my messy studio in a torn up old t-shirt.

When I made my decision my parents were livid. My dad left on a business trip and my mother refused to speak to me as I packed the few things I actually owned. My sister was already calculating how much more allowance she would get each month. My brother was the only one who supported me.

Alex was always the sane one in our family. Strong, dependent, down-to-earth, lovable. He always took care of me, protected me, and loved me when no one else would. Dad was always too buried in work and mom was too buried in cocktails. Alex was my rock. Until he turned 18 and joined the Army.

When we were younger and got woken up by the screams of our parents, or the many parties they threw, Alex would tell me stories. Stories about the two of us running away and raising ourselves. “We’d be better off” He’d always say. Then he’d rock me to sleep and make promises of our future.

“When I get old enough to work that’s what I’ll do Annie.” He told me seriously one night. “I’ll work and save the money. All of it. And once I turn 18 we’ll leave, you and me.”

“Where will we go?”

Alex though for a minute before grabbing a small map off my desk. He closed his eyes and told me to spin the map around and around. He dropped his finger and then looked at me.

“Pittsburgh.” He said confidently. “We’ll go to Pittsburgh.”

Notes

Three updates today! Make sure you go back and read them all! I'd love to hear from you guys!!