To Be Loved

26 - Annalise

Rory and I sat out on the balcony connected to his room after one of the many stressful dinners. He strummed his guitar, while I sat looking at the stars. He played a song I had never heard before. It was sweet but simple, but then he set the guitar down and looked at me.

"Would you go to lunch with me?" he asked.

"Of course." I said.

We sat and talked for multiple hours. When we went in it was one in the morning. We walked hand in hand to my room, no one would be up to see us. He stopped at my door and kissed me goodnight.

* * *

I woke up to the sound of my bedside phone ringing. I lazily picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Anna?" Rylee's voice asked.

"Rylee! How are you?" I said enthusiastically.

"I'm good, do you want to have lunch today? I haven't seen you in a while."

"Um sure, but I already had plans, you're more than welcome to join though." I said as well as giving him the time and place.

After the phone call I leaned over to my night stand to put on the beautiful ring Rory had given me a few weeks ago.

I changed into a red top and a white and blue pinstripe skirt. I grabbed my red heels and ran down to Haven's room to make sure Drew was getting her ready.

I left the room quickly and went to Rory's room. I knocked and heard him say, "come in" in a tired morning voice. I walked over to where he was sitting on his couch in the back of the room. He was reading the newspaper. I sat down next to him and rested my head on his shoulder, "Anything interesting?" I asked, referring to the newspaper.

"Well some fancy business man opened another office. Oh! And did you know princess Haven is getting married?" He said with sarcasm, "This is the fifth time this week they mentioned the engagement."

"Oh, really?" I asked.

"Yes, everyday there is a new theory for why they are getting married so soon after her birthday. Most consist of silly love stories." He said and rolled his eyes. If only they knew the truth. He looked down at his knee where my hand with the ring was resting and smiled.

"I love you," he said and kissed my forehead.

"I love you more," I said and giggled when he said that wasn't possible. We walked down to the dining room and sat in our respected spots. Slowly the others joined other than Brookes, of course. I still felt guilty, If I had said something, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. I had been avoiding talking to him, I was scared to be there alone. I felt his situation was my fault.

After breakfast, I decided it was time I talked to Brookes. I walked down the hall and pushed open his door, quietly closing it once I was in his room. I sat down at the foot of his bed, I looked at him peacefully sleeping and couldn't help myself from the tears that came to my eyes. I started silently sobbing. I felt the bed shift and heard laughing.

"Anna, why are you crying? I'm not dead yet," he said jokingly. I laughed a little, and hugged him.

"I'm so sorry." I mumbled

"You were only doing as I had asked." He whispered and hugged me back.

"But, if I had said something, you might be okay."

"Yes, and Haven would be going through a lot more. I sacrificed my health for the small chance that one day she'll be happy again."

"But, Brookes, she needs both her brothers."