Only Across the Street

Prologue

Prologue:

Annabelle Candice:

I enter the house with my backpack about to fall off my shoulders, my coffee balancing on my computer, and my phone pressed to my ear.

"Yes, mother I'm aware that all three of us are expected to be at your company's dinner, but as you know the twin's open house and teacher conferneces night is this Friday, the same day, we can't make it."

I set my bag on the bench in the mudroom. I had just got in the car after my shift at the dance studio when she called to remind me that her and my father's company dinner is Friday at the same time as the twin's open house. And to make it even better it's in California! What does she want me to do? Take the twins out of school to fly there and back? Hell no!

"You must be there! It's nonnegotional!" She says through the phone.

"I am not pulling the twin's out of school to fly to California for a dinner they have no reason to be at!"

"You're not their mother, I am!"

"Then act like it, come home once a while!" I hang up, I'm done with her for the night, I'll talk to her tomorrow. I turn my phone completely off and sigh.

I wipe the single tear that fell and take a deep breath to collect my thoughts.

I walk out of the mudroom to find Anthony, my best friend since the 7th grade, making mac n cheese for us. He looks up from the counter and smiles at me. The twins must be upstairs.

I walk over to him, and I don't even have to say anything for him to know that I'm upset.

"Come here, Bella" He opens his arms and I walk right into them. "What happened?"

"My mother happened." I say into his chest.

Anthony has been like my brother since the day I met him, he is always there for me, he knows everything about me, even the things the twins don't know.

"Wanna talk about it?" He asks.

"After the twins go to bed, I don't want them to hear." I answer breaking our hug going to stir the Mac n Cheese.

After about ten minutes the twins finally come in.

The twins are 13 and are the complete opposite. Amelia is soft, kind, and stays out of trouble. Max on the other hand is mischievous, talks a lot, and is always in trouble.

"Annabelle?" Amelia says from the living room.

"In here!" I yell in response.

The twins come running in attacking me with a hug.

"How are you guys?" I ask.

"Amazing, I got to skate for three hours today instead of two, because Anthony's hockey practice ran late." Amelia says sitting on the stool on the other side of the island.

"Max?" Amelia says with a gleam in her eye.

"Max, what did you do now?" I sigh

"Uhm" He rubs his neck. "I kind of got into a fist fight with some kid today. Don't worry I won." Anthony chuckles causing me to give him a light whack on the head, which makes him laugh harder.

"Max, this has to stop. What is this the third fight this school year?" I sigh exasperated.

"Forth" Max mumbles.

"Max if you get into one more fist fight, I will have no choice but to pull you out of hockey. And I think you know that I don't want to do that because I know how much you love it." I say softly.

"I know." He says sighs.

I hug him tightly, because I know he only fought because they probably said something about our parents or Amelia. I kiss his head and let him go.

"Why don't you two go pick out a movie." Andrew tells the twins. They exit the kitchen silently.

Anthony looks at me. I just know he sees how tired I am. I just laugh because I know if I don't, I'll cry. He smiles sadly at me as we exit the kitchen with the food and four bottles of soda.

Welcome to my every night.

A/N:

Just an intro to the book, I hope you got a small glance at her life that you could enjoy.