If Not For Her

Chapter 9. "I didn't just dream of her"

Annabeth jumped into her brother's car, she was finally done with the first day. She waved at Adam and Chris. "How was your day?" Alex asked, starting the car. "Can we not?" she asked putting on the music. She started singing alongside Taylor swift, her brother joined in, they both had terrible voices. "You are going to miss me when I am gone next year," he said. She scoffed, "you wish." "You will see kid," he said taking a turn. "Your girlfriend is the same age as me, Leslie," she said looking out of the window.

"Don't call me that" he said. "That's your middle name dearest brother of mine," she said in a sing-song voice. "Guess we both are unfortunate in that department," he said. "I have practice at 6:00 maybe you could come?" he asked.
"Do you want something?" she asked. "Chris was saying you are looking for a boy, I know plenty of good ones and you should have a few affairs before you settle" " o my god Leslie," she said.

"I am just saying, Ollie. I can help you, you know" "right and I need dating advice from my brother," she said. "Hey not everyone's brother offers to help with boy problems," he said. " I don't have boy problems and the one meant to be will find me." " live in your dream world," he said. "I am grateful to you but unfortunately I can't. Emmalyn is coming over" she said

Alex took a left turn into their neighborhood. " You are kidding, the Ice Queen, not bad Ollie not bad" she closed the door shut loudly. They had new neighbors and their cars were there. "Slow," he said, coming behind her. "What happened to I can't stand to be in the same room as her, I hate her and all?" he asked. Anne rolled her eyes. "Are they home?" she asked. Alex tossed her their keys "both of them have surgeries"  he said. Both of her parents were surgeons and surprisingly Alex was on his way to becoming one too. Anne was sure he would kill the patients but again she underestimated him a bit too much.

Annabeth had different dreams, she wanted to become an artist and live a dreamy life, surrounded by art and beauty. She wanted to see every corner the world had to offer and she had a chance to do it. Alex made a sandwich as she propped herself up on the kitchen counter, she would miss him next year and the years after when he would be in college. "What?" asked Alex, "I will miss your sandwiches" she jumped down and sat on their kitchen table. Most days it was just Alex and her.

"Why are you two suddenly friends?" Alex asked sliding a glass of soda across the table. He loosened his tie and folded the jacket she threw when she entered. " Firstly, we are not friends," she said her mouth full of food. "Pig," Alex said finally sitting down, his jacket and shoes nicely placed along with hers. He was organized and responsible she was not, she relied a lot on him.

"I am not friends with Emmalyn Cole, I am just helping her" "to win the place in the summer program?" he asked. "To test her skills, so I can see how good she is all I know right now is that Madame Andrea was extremely pleased with her and that has been bothering me ever since" she finished and looked up to him. He was chewing his sandwich. "Say something, you idiot," she said. He looked offended "I am thinking about the situation, focus on the competition as I say keep your friends close," "enemies closer" Anne finished."I have calculus" Alex got up, "get some rest before she comes," he said.

Annabeth fell on her already made bed. It never forgot to greet her with comfortable softness. She closed her eyes, she couldn't get Nicolas out of her mind, no matter how much she tried. That smile, those dimples, those gray eyes, Anne loved it all. She wondered what it would be like to kiss him, his hand in her hair, his lips close to her. It was just both of them together when Emmalyn appeared, her blonde hair in the loose waves, a bit of natural makeup on her face. "Wake up Annabeth," she said, in a tender interrupting their romantic moment.

"Get up," she said again, she was holding Emmalyn instead of Nicolas, Emmalyn stroked her hair and brought her lips close to her. Then she felt a pillow on her head and then the pillow came again." I. Have. Been. Calling. You. Wake. Up" her brother said hitting her head with each word. " I am up, I am up," she said pushing her hair out of her face.  "Good " he stood up, "it's five-thirty. You overslept. I am leaving for practice. Mum, Dad will come around 8 and I'll be back by 7:30. Lock the doors properly," he said. "Fine," she said in a groggy voice.

He closed the door behind her, she rushed up to find nice clothes. She didn't want to dress fancy but also did not want to feel bad when Emmalyn would pull up in perfect outfits and she would look like a homeless person next to her. At last, she decided on a lilac sweater and a pair of black jeans. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and wore her glasses. She also put on a layer of lip gloss. She looked at herself in the mirror. She looked good and checked her phone, there was a next from her, she would be there at 6.