Annie are you okay? (Pm first Open)

[AngelofyourNighmares]

Annie rogers
27

https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.vcm7ORUnKbWEocFTU3qA1QDnEs&pid=15.1&H=207&W=160&P=0

Annie had been in love with the same guy since she was 16 years old, they were even engaged once, but he decided he needed something more, so when they were at the raw age of 21 she gave him his ring back and moved away, it was to much to stay in there small town where everyone knew they split up so she moved to new york city and started a new life as a writer. At 27 she had become very successful, but didn't make much time for herself and or love, not that she didn't have chances with men but none ever quite matched up to her ex.

She thought she would never see him again, until one night she would so to a party.. and he would be there, the last person she ever expected to see, and it would bring up feelings she long thought she was finally over. She didn't want to see him... but everyone had secrets and he was no different he had his own secrets of why he actually left Annie (you can decide his secret). She would soon find out the real reason he left her though she was still hurt over the breakup and she still wasn't over it.

(open for one guy pm first.)

 

[BeachBum25]

Shane O'Donnell
28

Shane had just returned from spending the previous six years in Ireland. At the age of 22, he had decided that he needed to trace his heritage, and he thought the best way to do it was by spending time in Ireland. He was first generation American, but never knew anything about his family history; his parents had been murdered in a botched robbery at a store where they had been shopping. He had hoped that his fiancee would go with him. He had even said that they could get married there.

Annie wasn't interested. She told him that she was not interested in spending an extended period of time in Ireland. What would they do? How would they live? Where would they find work? Those were all good questions that Annie asked, but they did not deter Shane. Something was driving him to go back. Finally, when he wouldn't give up what Annie considered to be his crazy idea, she gave him back his ring. That sent Shane on his way to Ireland.

Now, here he was, six years later, and there Annie was, standing across the room from him. She looked wonderful. Yes, he had followed her career. He did not expect to see her here. He didn't realize that she had moved to New York. He moved across the room until he was standing in front of her.

"Hello Annie"

 

[AngelofyourNighmares]

Annie was bored with this whole party... it wasn't her thing she would much rather be home sipping on a glass of wine, reading or writing her lastest novel, but her agent told her this was where she needed to be. For some reason she started to think of the past as she stook in a corner alone, sipping on her red wine, she wasn't driving of course so she could drink whatever she wanted. She thought about the day she had given her ex Shane the ring back.. of course she wanted to go with him, but they were also both in very different places in there lives.. she had been in college.. and Shane had just expected her to give all that up..looking back now she wished she had. She shook her head wondering where these thoughts were coming from and then she realized she had them all the time.. regrets that was what was happening she was having regrets. She shouldn't be having regrets though she had a great life, a lonely life but a great life.. and if Shane had loved her wouldn't he have stayed... and fought for her... she didn't know.. mayne there was more to the story.. who knew. She never would know. She knew he was keeping things from her though; So many secrets.

It wasn't as if Annie hadn't loved Shane, no Shane was Annie's soulmate, she had loved him more then anything in the world.. but she hadn't been just up and ready to leave everything they had already been working on. And she had told him just that, she had also told him they had already made a plan.. but now she wasn't part of his plan. I mean the idea of up and leaving everything had looked great on paper.. but not in reality. She shook her head, as her agent walked over to her. "Annie, mingle please.. try and have some semblance of fun.. you look like someone killed your puppy." Melissa said gently. Annie smiled and said she was trying.. but that she was fine she'd finish her wine and then go mingle. She sighed to herself as Melissa walked away.. great that was all she needed was for people to see into her thoughts.. she had to pretend to smile. She remembered just how hard life had been without the love of her life.. but somehow she made her dreams come true. She wished he'd have stayed...

It had been how long she thought to herself.. since she seen him last.. at least almost six years... a long time and she still had thoughts of him, most people would have let go and moved on by now; Then again they never really had the proper closure. She took a deep breath and finished her wine. Time to go and mingle... she thought.. ready to walk away from her little safe corner. She looked up when a man approached her until she realized...

"Shane?'' It was half question half shock.. she'd know him anywhere.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d1/d7/ec/d1d7eca8cbd9eab7d63e78940ec1b226.jpg (dress Annies wearing)

 

[BeachBum25]

Returning from Ireland, Shane had found a job with a marketing firm in New York. While in Ireland, he had attended university... not just any university... he had attended and graduated from Trinity College in Dublin. Upon graduation, he knew it was time to return to the States.

He had made some incredible connections in Ireland. He found his family and had spent a lot of time with them learning of his family's history. He worked odd jobs to support himself, although his family refused to take any money for room or food. He saved his money and using money from a family member who insisted on helping him with college costs, he was able to earn his degree. He later discovered that the money that was being spent on his college was dirty.

Returning home wasn't as great as he thought it was going to be. He had come to love Ireland; the beautiful country, the friendly people. Returning to America, although it was home, it was hard. Getting a job right away helped, and he was able to dive right into the work, which was why he was at this boring party.

While mingling was how he had seen Annie. The only thing that changed about her, physically anyway, was that she was even more beautiful than when they had broken up. Beautiful wasn't an accurate description. It was more than that.

"You look stunning Annie. That dress is amazing." He paused as he took in the incredible sight before him. "So, how have you been... other than the fact that you have become one of the best writers around?" He thought to himself.... she is going to be MINE.

 

[AngelofyourNighmares]

Annie loved what she did she loved to write, it had been her life's passion and being in New York had been a lifelong dream of hers.. maybe she should be thanking Shane, she never would have left there small town and moved to New York if it was not for him leaving her. She had finished out her schooling at NYU, and loved every minute of it; She had tried to date but noone could live up to Shane. Shane it always came back to Shane.

She had many good friends, and she loved her agent as if she were a sister, at times though she missed her mom, her dad had passed on about a year or so ago.. and she had thought Shane would come to the funeral, but then again they had basically cut one another off. She didn't want to cut Shane off but they both decided it would be easier. She had often wondered how life was treating him in Dublin.. but never called to find out, it was just to hard. She had enough time moving on after he left... hearing from him would only make it that much harder. She had to cut ties and just move on.

Moving on however was harder then she had ever thought it would have been, but she did it anyway. She moved on and fell in love not with a man, but with her writing, it was what she lived and breathed now.. and she wouldn't have it any other way. She had fallen in love with her work and with New york and thought she had forgotten all about Shane, until now.. until tonight. She bit her lip a little and tried to keep her thoughts at bay. Ha she thought maybe she could base a book on her and Shanes torrid past.. yes that was a idea for her next book. She took a deep breath and wondered if perhaps that would be wise.. Shane she remembered was a avid reader.. and she wondered if he'd ever read one of her books, nah probably not.

She was ready to mingle but not quite yet.. she wanted to only stay right where she was. She tucked a strand of stray hair behind her ear, and looked up. She had to catch her breath. There he was the man that had captivated her thoughts for the evening.. and he was speaking to her.

She blushed a little when he told her that she looked stunning and that her dress had been amazing, she looked down as if to say who me. She bit her lip, as she looked at him... trying to meet his eyes. She smiled as best as she could, when he mentioned that she had been one of the best writers around, she wondered if he was just saying that or if he had actually read her work. She took a deep breath she was lost for words.. ''I... what I mean I am good... how are you, its been a long time." She finally managed to squeak out, she was feeling so many things; Anger, elation, love, hurt.

 

[BeachBum25]

The sight of Annie sent shockwaves through his body. He had been following her career. He had been reading her books... the ones that were on the best seller list, and the ones that didn't do so well. He loved her writing. He could always see her passion in what she wrote. He often wondered if some of that passion had been motivated by their time together. He was certain that some of the anger that he saw in some of her works was motivated for her anger towards his decision to go to Ireland.

"I am doing well, thank you. Of course, not as well as you are. You are a best selling author and, based on the fact that you are at this party, I am assuming that you have moved from our hick town to the lights of the big city that never sleeps."

The big city suited Annie much better than the small town they were from. In addition to being the right place for her, New York served as motivation for her writing. It gave her so many more ideas to weave into her writing. She was truly where she belonged.

"I know you have to mingle. I have watched that woman come over to you several times. I am assuming she is your agent, or publicist of some such. I would, however, like to have a glass of wine with you, so, after mingling, maybe we can meet back here in this corner that you have so gracefully made your own."

 

[AngelofyourNighmares]

Seeing Shane again, brought up so many feelings she had since thought she had let go. She took a deep breath trying to gather some sense of control back into his situation. She could not deal with this right now, part of her wanted to run away from the room. She looked at him softly and could tell he had read her work. She wondered what he thought of her work, if he had even read the bad stuff she had put out there. She took a deep breath this was all to much for her... she had never expected to see him here, but he was handling the situation alot better then she was.. for he seemed unmoved. She rubbed her hands together and tried to control her raging feelings.

She listened gently as he spoke. She was glad that he was doing well, when he left that was all she wished for is that he would get everything he was seeking in Ireland. She blushed when he mentioned that he wasn't doing as good as she was. "I have and I do love it here, but home is home.. I moved because of... well never mind that, it was the best move for me." She said gently there was no sense in dredging up the past though she knew thats what needed to be done, or neither of them would ever have closure.

She needed another glass of wine, or even something stronger at this point.. she wanted so much to talk with him, to see how life had been treating him, but she wasn't sure if she was ready for any of this at the moment. She looked at him gently and wondered what to say, in the past she could talk to him about anything, now not so much, in the past he had been everything to her.. but now they were strangers to one another. She looked at the floor and then back up to him. She needed a excuse to leave this party.

She looked at him and nodded, she did have to mingle she promised Melissa... even though at the moment her stomach was in a uproar and she just wasn't sure she was ready to face people after facing Shane. She nodded her head again, still at a loss for words. "My agent." She responded as a answer. "This party is not me." She whispered looking away from him. She laughed a bit when he mentioned the corner that she had made hers. "Okay." She said agreeing to meet him back there.

 

[BeachBum25]

Shane could tell that Annie was uneasy. He couldn't blame her. How could he? He had turned their world upside down. Yes, they were young at the time, but they had been together forever. They were supposed to spend the rest of their lives together and his decision changed all of that.

He was not angry for the decision she made. Well, he had been angry in the moment. That moment when she removed the ring and threw it at him had upset him more than any other moment in his life, however, he did not blame her. Annie did what was best for her. Shane's decision had been made in what he believed to be the best decision for him. Neither decision was the best for them as a couple.

"I saw you were drinking red. I will have a glass waiting for you when you return." He smiled at Annie. Shane wasn't convinced that she would return. Her body language told him that she was still upset with him. He wondered if she said she would meet him just to get away from him. Only time would tell.

Moving around the room, Shane did his own mingling. As a new executive in a high end marketing firm, he needed to be out and be seen by the people. He didn't like these kinds of events, but they were a necessary evil in the line of work he was now doing.

After a while, he went to the bar and ordered two glasses of red wine, and slowly made his way over to the corner where he had first seen Annie standing. Once there, he turned around and faced the room full of people; wondering if she would meet him.

 

[AngelofyourNighmares]

Annie had been so uneasy... and it showed, or at least she was clear that it showed. Why couldn't seeing him again just be simple.. hi how are you.. and goodbye.. but nothing was ever simple between the two of them. She would look at him then at the floor all the while she tried not to think of the past.. no matter how hard that was to not to. They had been young.. and this situation reminded her of that song by Adele when we were young.. she was sure he hadn't heard it but it had been one of her favorite songs.. and it always made her think of Shane.. now wasn't any different. She looked at him and smiled a uneasy smile.. she wanted this to be easy.

He had never been upset by the decisions she had made, but he could at least act like it phased him somewhat as it was doing to her. Why had they agreed not to talk to one another, maybe if they had she wouldn't be herre standing with him feeling like a ass. She just wanted him to seem as distraught as she was in seeing him, but it was as if he didn't even care, and that hurt her more then anything else in the world. She thought back to that day.. why didn't he fight for her.. why didn't she fight for him.. maybe age played a part.. maybe they just didn't love one another enough. She shrugged her thoughts clearly overtook her. Her emotions were all over the place, and she felt tears fill her eyes.. but quickly blinked them away, not looking at him.

She nodded her head gently when he mentioned the wine she was drinking. "Thank-you.' Was all she could say she had to get away for a moment, or she was going to lose it. His smile still made her go weak in the knees. She had to return she thought to herself... she needed to really know how he was doing she wasn't heartless she still cared about him, hell part of her was still in love with him. She wasn't really upset at the past anymore, now she was more hurt that seeing her had no effect on him. "I'll be back.'' She promised.

She watched as Shane moved around the room with ease doing his own mingling, while she was having a hard time doing so. She sighed to herself, she was happy he seemed to be moving on just fine, but she really wasn't.. this was to hard for her. She didn't want to be here anymore, she wanted to be home and snuggled up in her bed right now.

As she mingled and promoted her new book, she searched for Shane whom she noticed was over at the bar. She took a deep breath and made her way over to the corner that she had vacated earlier.

 

[BeachBum25]

Shane watched her moving back toward the corner. He wondered how much he would tell her.... how much he should tell her. He had followed her career all of these years, not because of her writing prowess, but because he still loved her. He was disappointed in the fact that she would not go to Ireland with him, but he didn't hold it against her. Maybe he should have. Why had she been unwilling to join him? If she had, the journey might have been different. Of course, they would be different.

Her career took off when he left. He had often wondered if he had held her back. Even in high school, she was recognized as an outstanding writer; having several pieces published. Then, when he left, her writing blossomed into something great. Even at such a young age, her ability was heralded as being among the best.

He handed her a glass of wine as she approached. Once she took the glass, he placed his hand on her hip and leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "I have followed your writing Annie. You are amazing. The ability you possess combined with your incredible beauty makes you second to none. I am so happy for you. Even though I have not been here to celebrate with you, I have celebrated your successes from afar."

There was still an uneasiness that Shane could sense in Annie. He removed his hand from her hip and took a step back into the corner. "I just want you to know that I did not plan this. I had no idea you were going to be here. I would never do anything to upset you Annie. I am sorry you are uncomfortable with me being here."

 

[AngelofyourNighmares]

She walked back towards the corner, even if that was the last place she wanted to be at the moment, she had to show him she was okay; Even though she was far from okay after all. She couldn't tell him she still loved him after all this time, she wasn't ready to admit that to him yet... it was the last thing she needed to do or wanted to do she just wasn't ready for that yet. She wondered what would have been had he have stayed, or had she had went with him, she wasn't sure.. all she knew is now she'd never know.. they both had made there choices and had to live with them. She couldn't be angry anymore she decided that she had no right to be considering the fact he had given her the option of going with him. She knew why she didn't go fear, but also they had already made plans to live there life in there small town go to college together and make a small like and start a family, then he upped and changed everything. Though if she had joined him, would either of them be where they were in there lives now, she just didn't know nor did she have the answers. She took a deep breath and waited for him to join her as she tried not to think of the past anymore for the time being.

It was hard not to think of the past however, when the past was right across the room from her. Part of her wished that she would never have given him the ring back, at least then she would have had something to remember him by. She took a deep breath and tried to think of something other then Shane and the fact that he was here. Get it together Annie she reminded herself, she needed to get it together. Him leaving her, and her not going with him was probably the best and the worst thing that had ever happened to either one of them. She was grateful in part maybe now they could get some closure.

She smiled as best as she could as she accepted the glass of wine that he had handed to her. She gasped when he placed his hand on her hip and her heart started to race, for a moment she almost dropped the glass for a second; When he kissed her cheek butterflies fluttered all through her tummy. She was stunned when he admitted that he had followed her writing. She bit her lip a little and looked at him gently, not sure what to say to him. All of his words were shocking her into silence and she didn't know what to say or do. ''Thank-you. Your words are very gracious and they mean alot to me.'' She said softly not meeting his eyes however. She blushed when he said that he had celebrated her success from afar.

She didn't want to feel this uneasiness around him anymore, but she didn't really know what to do. She was glad when he removed his hand from her hip as her face turned back to her normal color. She looked at him when he spoke, she believed that he had not planned this, she was sure this would not be the way he wanted to run into her, it wasn't his style.. or at least in the past it wouldn't have been his style. ''I know you, and I know you wouldn't do that." She said and smiled a bit at him, finally able to meet his eyes. She knew he meant what he said, he was nothing else if not honest he had always been that way. ''Im not uncomfortable.. I was just caught of guard." God she was a horrible liar.

 

[BeachBum25]

He smiled at her when she said that she was not uncomfortable. Despite the many years of absence, he knew her better than that. If she could have run out of there at that moment, she would have done it. That had always been the way Annie was. He knew she hadn't changed that much.

She was the most beautiful woman in the room, and she was also the most accomplished. He was happy that she had returned. Shane wasn't sure why he wanted her to return, but he did. He stood there looking her over. She was amazing.

"I have only been back for a month. Although I have been following your career, I could never find out where you were living. I figured you had moved to New York, but I had no way of confirming. I am here because I took a job with a marketing firm. I actually turned down another job in marketing, because they do a lot of work for you, and I didn't think it would be right for that to happen after what happened between us. I care for you too much to get in your way."

 

[AngelofyourNighmares]

She didn't like to lie, and she was never very good at it either, but how could she not be a little uncomfortable. She knew he would know she was lying he knew her better than anyone else in her life, even her parents.. and yes she might have changed but she hadn't changed that much. If she could have fled the room she might have done it, but she had changed and would not do that; No matter how much she might have wanted to. She took a deep breath and looked at him softly.

He was still the best looking guy he had ever looked at, she shook her head she didn't want to think of him in that light anymore, it was to hard seeing him in that way. Returning was the right thing to do after all they needed some closure; She needed the closure. She could feel his gaze eyeing her but she didn't think much of it, it had been a long time since the two of them had seen one another. Another strand of hair flew into her eye, but she ignored it as he started to speak again, she was glad he was initiating the conversation.

'I moved here.. right after.. well you know.'' She said in response to him having just moved here a month ago. She took a deep breath as he again admitted to following her career, did that mean he had been trying to find her she wondered to herself. She was surprised he didn't go to her parents to find out where she had been living she was sure they would have gave them the address in a heartbeat, but she didn't mention that to him. Marketing she had never took Shane for the type.. but she knew he'd be very successful, he always was. She smiled a little when he mentioned he didn't take the other job. Get in her way.. she had never once felt like that. "You were never in my way." She said firmly before taking a long drink of her wine and looking at the floor.. they needed to talk and here wasn't the place.

 

[BeachBum25]

"I didn't think you would think that, but I was afraid that working with you would be a distraction, and that would get in your way. I have missed you Annie, and I have never stopped thinking about you. If we were spending a lot of time together with the marketing of your books, I am certain I would have been a distraction."

He knew she was uncomfortable. They needed to talk. They both needed closure. They didn't have it all those years ago. he knew that Annie was upset with him, and he needed to let her get it off her chest. In the corner at this party wasn't the right place to do it. Hopefully, she would agree to see him. That way, she could have her closure.

"Annie, we need to talk. I know you have things to say to me. I know you need to get things off your chest. We can't have that conversation here. This is not the place to have such a conversation." He paused for a minute. "Maybe we could get together soon someplace where we can talk privately. Unless, you wanted to go someplace tonight and talk."

Shane was pretty sure Annie wanted to get it over pretty quickly in order to finally put it to rest. He wasn't sure if she wanted to do it tonight.... especially the way they were dressed, and he knew she wouldn't go back to his place.

 

[AngelofyourNighmares]

She looked at him, she hated when he did that when he could just see right through her, or when he put words in her mouth, he didn't know anything she thought to herself.. yes he would have been a distraction, but she also wondered what it would have been like if they were to work together. She couldn't deny that she had missed him, and she had done plenty of her own thinking about him as well, especially lately. She nodded her head as if agreeing with him, even if she didn't necessarily believe in what he was telling her.

She didn't like to feel uncoomfortable, and she had to admit it would have been nice if he had felt that way a little too. She needed to talk, wanted to talk but where they were wasn't the time and or the place. She needed closure, wanted it, so maybe she could finally move on. Years ago they just simply cut ties... and she needed more then that. It wasn't that she was upset well she was but it was more so with herself that at him, honestly. She looked around the room, the two of them had drawn the gazes of a few people and yet she didn't really care. She took a deep breath and looked at him. She needed closure.. she needed things to be at a end.. not just somewhere in the middle.

"I know we do.'' She agreed. He was right she had alot to say to him, but probably not what he was thinking, considering he seemed to know exactly what she was thinking it was so annoying to her. He was right though they could not have the conversation there. She watched him as he paused for a moment, seeming to think for a moment. She didn't know if she could wait til some other time to talk to him, or if that would be better to do.

She decided they needed to talk tonight. "I am not quite dressed to go to a coffee shop and neither are you.. we can go to my place if you want.. and I mean only to talk." She said firmly.

 

[BeachBum25]

It was not going to be the most pleasant of experiences. He knew that she was upset with him. Shane knew that Annie needed to get things off her chest. He didn't blame her. He also knew that his calm demeanor would aggravate her. It always had. Shane did not show his emotions. He had decided that showing your emotions was a sign of weakness. It had always driven Annie crazy. She always thought that it was a sign that he didn't have any feelings.... nothing could be further from the truth.

"Annie, I am offended that you even make a statement like that. I didn't realize you thought that little of me, but I should have, I guess." He stepped back from her. Still, he showed no emotion despite being angry that she would think that he had an ulterior motive in meeting with her.

"I'll tell you what. If that is really what you think about me, there is no need to meet. I thought I would give you an opportunity for closure and to get your feelings for me off your chest, but obviously, you have already started with it. Maybe we should just forget about it."

 

[AngelofyourNighmares]

Why had she even said that; Only to talk she knew Shane alot better then that to know he'd never try adn take advantage of her.. she shook her head angry at herself now, what the hell was wrong with her. She knew what was wrong with her, seeing him again sent her through a whirl wind of emotions while he stood there unphazed and that bothered her. She sighed and wondered, wished she knew what he was thinking right this very moment. She was becoming more and more annoyed by the moment and she knew thats why she said what she had said. It wasn't her. None of this was her, she was becoming unglued and she didn't like the feeling; It was like she was on a roller coaster that she just could not get off of. She closed her eyes for a moment to gain her composure. For fucks sake Annie get your shit together she told herself mentally, but mentally she was a complette train wreck at the moment.

She was offended that she had made the statement as well, she had been angry but that was no reason for her to say something like that to him. "I don't think that of you.. I'm sorry..." She said quickly feeling bad for what she had said. She was surprised when he stepped back from her and she looked at him, the pain and confusion in her eyes evident, she was never very good at hiding her feelings, especially from Shane. She placed the drink on a table that sat closest to her and then rubbed her hands together.

You looked up as he spoke, the anger clearly evident in his tone. He knew that's not what she thought about him, he knew her better then that. ''Shane I said I am sorry... I wasn't thinking." She almost added and I've been drinking but kept that part to herself. She looked at him becoming angry herself. ''Oh give me a chance, what about you, your standing there as if seeing me after all this time had no effect on you what so ever, so don't take that hide road with me Shane." She said and knew they were growing looks from the other party goers, and yet she just didn't care. ''I don't want to forget about it, we owe each other this." she said calmly this time.

 

[BeachBum25]

Shane watched as Annie responded to him. He could not believe that she expected him to be all emotional about them meeting up like this. He thought that she knew him better than that. Of course, this could just be her emotions flowing. He looked around at the people starting to watch. The fact that Annie kept going even though people were watching sent a clear message to Shane that she really needed to talk and to get the closure she felt she had been denied six years ago.

He stepped forward and took her wrist in his hand. "Annie, enough. We will meet. I don't think you need to give these people anymore to talk about, and you certainly don't need any tabloid reporters that are here to have information to write anything about you." He maintained the grip on her wrist as he looked at her.

The eye contact they made seemed to calm her down a little. "You know me Annie. You know I do not show my emotions externally. You know that I keep them bottled up, but I always shared them with you.... privately. Do you really think that because I went to Ireland that I would have changed? I want us to sit and talk so I can share those emotions of seeing you... with only you."

Stopping, he maintained eye contact with her; making sure that her focus was on him and not on the people in the room. "Give me your address. You leave now and then I will leave in about 15 minutes and I will get a car service to your place. We can sit and talk. I promise, I expect nothing more." He winked at her, smiling.

 

[AngelofyourNighmares]

She didn't like feeling this way, but she couldn't help the way she felt, and or reacted. It wasn't that she expected him to be crying over seeing her here like this, she just expected a little shock or something. She knew him well enough to know he was a man that never showed his emotions, but she expected something.. it was just her she thought to herself, for the simple fact her own emotions were overtaking her. She didn't really care that people were starting to watch, though she probably should. She felt bad for her own reactions, but a person just couldn't shut off the way that they felt, as if it meant nothing to them, unless you were Shane and she scoffed at that a little.

When he stepped forward, she almost stepped back a little, and when he took her wrist in his hand she gasped a little at his touch. She felt as if he were being a little condescending and it made her want to scream... don't Annie enough her she thought to herself, she wasn't some child he could just talk to any way he wanted. He was right thought about the people watching them, and also about the tabloids that was the last thing she needed in her life at the moment, and Shane knew that too. She shook herself from his grip and looked at him sternly. ''Fine." Was the only thing she could say as she shook her head.

She took a deep breath and finally her nerves and herself started to calm down a little. Yeah I know you she thought and you know me, you know that was the one thing I always hated about you.. though she never once tried to change him nor would she, she loved him just the way he was.. she rolled her eyes a little at her own thoughts.. she hated feeling so vulnerable. "I didn't think you would have changed nor would I have wanted you to, I always liked you just the way you were, even if you piss me off.'' She said and hald heartedly smiled at him. She nodded her head at the end of his sentence, did she really want to know his feelings she thought to herself.

She looked at him and wondered what he was really thinking. She took a long deep breath and bit her lip, not sure what to do or say for a moment. She muttered off her address when he asked for it.. just like old times, she would do anything that he asked of her just like in the past.. but she had changed over the years.. she wasn't as soft as she once was, the years had toughened her up. She shook her head okay. ''See you soon.'' Was all she said as she went to fetch her jacket, and then out the door to her limo she went, and then climbed in and settled herself as best as she could.

 

[BeachBum25]

One of the things that Shane could never get over was the fact that Annie wanted him to be as emotional as she was. It wasn't him. He did not wear his emotions on his sleeve. He did, however, always share the way he felt with her... privately. It was obvious that this had not changed. She was clearly upset that he had not reacted differently to seeing her.

Shane allowed Annie to leave without saying another word to her. Much of what he had done while they were in that corner had been to not attract attention to her. He did not want pictures of her in an emotional state showing up in any of the tabloids; nor did he want any articles written about any confrontation she may have had with some guy at the party. He was nothing. She was the celebrity, and he was trying to protect her; something she obviously did not recognize.

He moved around the room and spoke with a couple of people. He still had a job to do, so, he used the time to meet new people and to try to deepen the connections he had with the ones he already knew. Someone came up and started asking him how he knew Annie. It was obvious that the guy was a tabloid reporter. Shane responded simply, "She is an incredible author and I just wanted to say hello to her. I have never had the opportunity to meet anyone who writes as well as she does." Shane then turned and walked away from the guy.

Opening an app on his phone, Shane made arrangements for a car service to the address Annie had given him. When he got out of the car at the address, he was amazed at the building. Yes, she had done very well for herself. When he went to the security desk, he was told that Annie had called down to let them know that Shane was coming. He was told to take the elevator to the 25th floor. When he got off the elevator, he knocked on Annie's door.