Annabelle's locket

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

"I was waiting for the right time to give this to you." he pulled out a beautiful silver heart shaped locket. It was simple yet elegant. "Open it up." Noah looked at with as if he was sad. I put my hand on his arm. "This is wonderful." I assured. I opened the locket and I saw a picture of me and on the other side a picture of..my mother. I gasped and stared into the frame of my beautiful mother. I went to sit down on a nearby bench. I held the locket in my hand, staring into the picture. She was smiling and her eyes seemed to have a glow, an everlasting shine. "That was your mothers locket." I heard his tender voice next to me. "My moms? How did you get it?". "Your dad gave it to me. I know him so he said if I saw you at school, to give it to you. I didn't because I realized how much this meant to you."

"Why would my dad give it to you?" I asked, now grasping it tight. He reached for my open hand and squeezed it. I pulled it away and he gave me a gut wrenching expression. I felt a stab of betrayal. By my dad, and by Noah. Suddenly, I felt reality starting to unfold in front of my eyes. This mushy love I had invented for myself with Noah. Just like the blonde night rider girl he dated, I was pawn in his game. I thought about the whole thing. It wasnt too late to go home. To be with my dad. To be safe. I'm sure the night riders didn't find me there and are looking somewhere else. "I'm going home." I blurted. "What, Annabelle are you crazy!" he grabbed my arm and I faced him, hot faced. "Maybe I am, I don't know. Point is, this is my mother we're talking about here. This is my locket, you didn't know my mother." I snapped and started walking away. People were staring at me as Noah ran in front of me. "You can't leave. Its not safe for you. Or your dad."

"I'm going."

"No you're not."

I sighed. Well he probably was right. I sat down on the edge of a big ceramic pot that held a tree. "Did any of that mean anything to you?" , I could hear his voice through my hands buried in my face. I kept my face in my hands, thinking about an answer. Of course. "Yes but-" my lips trembled.

"But nothing." he replied and I could feel his tenseness. "Noah. I'm emotionally scarred right now. I have so many damn things going on." He stood up and pulled me up to his chest. "Anna, I'm here for you. I'm sorry about the locket. I care for you."

he tucked a strand hair behind my ear. Who was I kidding? This man had me in his trap. "You are stubborn." me eyebrows knit together. Noah's cocky grin appeared. "You can't resist a face like mine."

I leaned in close to his face and then pulled away, holding back a smile. His lips curled downward with disappointment. "Thank you. For the locket." I hid my frustration with him and my dad. "No thanks at all. I should've gave it to you sooner..."

"Noah I was upset. I have been a lot lately. You'll just have to deal with me." I smirked. His face lit up. "Yeah your mood swings are making me nervous, I admit." Noah stepped closer to me. "I got a gift for you. It's nothing special, I just thought it's the thought that counts." I shrugged. "You can give it to me at the hotel."

"Hotel?" I asked. "I reserved a room before we left." "What's the hotel?" I asked. He just laughed and looked up at the amazing tree.

"Are you serious?" I looked up at the Plaza hotel, garnished in Christmas decorations. He watched me as I admired the grand structure. "Want to go in and get warm?" Noah said with sarcasm.

The lobby was a movie scene, gold embellished and a tall evergreen tree placed in the center. An old man who reminded me of a butler from one of those mystery movies, escorted us up to our room on the fourth floor. "Please enjoy your stay at the Plaza Hotel." he vanished as we stood outside our door. I couldn't wait and opened the door. It was very fancy for what I was used to. Noah began sliding my jacket off. "You like it?" his breath made my skin tingle. "Yes, it's lovely." and he hung it on the door.

That night was wondrous. I wandered throughout the hotel as Noah watched football, and met people. I had met this older lady who was very cute, with dimples, and heavy make up. She told me about her cat she had as of now up in her room that she had smuggled in. She started to worry after she said this that I would tell Mr.Hopkins, the. man at the reception desk. "Down worry. It's out secret." I smiled. "Oh thank you dear." she gobbled and walked away. I also met a little boy who was probably five who lost his mom. I helped locate his mom who apparently was in a man's room. I didn't explain to him why. "She's wishing him a merry Christmas." I assured. And lastly I met a girl around my age, not two years older than me. She was very pretty. I felty self-esteem decline as she appeared. Her hair was black that rippled down her back. She had smoky eyes and a body and guy would swoon over. I thought of what Noah would do. I tried not to think like that...

After talking with her about college, I went back up to the room and went into the bathroom. I gasped as I walked in and he was wet and shirtless, with just a towel on. I couldn't help but stare at his perfection. "Sorry." I muttered and quickly left, feeling my face heat up. I went to the other bathroom and took a shower, changed into pajamas, and brushed my teeth. I gave him the watch, he liked it. It was a sleep filled night as I felt Noah's arms wrapped around my body.

Morning came. We got ready as I changed into jeans, boots, and a navy fleece. Noah insisted we go to the bank to grab some cash, so we walked across the street and into a city bank. I sat in a waiting chair as Noah cashed in. Being in New York City, many kinds of people walked into the store. An older woman came in and went to check in with the man who looked to be the owner. He was tall, business like, in a fashionable grey pinstripe suit. "Nice weather, isn't it?" the man asked, cashing her in. "Lovely." the woman grabbed the money and left. Another woman walked in, quite a bit younger. She had bouncy brown hair and dark mascara filled eyes. She walked up to the owner. "Amanda." he smirked, darkness in his eyes. They definitely knew each other. The door opened and I looked and immediately knew something was wrong. There was something ominous about this man. Do you ever get that feeling someone is there when you're alone, or something wasn't right? Thats how I felt. He had dark clothes on and a smirk plastered on his face. His eyes met mine and that's when I noticed a gun in his sweatshirt. "Gun!" I pointed and everyone stopped, and starting scrambling to the ground. He swiftly got it out and pointed it at me.