The Boy, The Girl, and The Game (Artemi Panarin)

Pressure to be Perfect

-Artemis POV-

I open the door to Annabelle's office and look at the chair which was empty. I haven't been in here much, there was a desk and a chair and not much more. The wooden floors were accented by white walls and it was pretty dark, the only light coming from the window. I walk around and can't seem to find her anywhere... until I hear crying. I follow the sound and find her curled up in ball on the bench in the window. She was staring out the window with her long hair falling everywhere. You can still see the tears stream down her untouched face as the lights of the city reflect off of her. My initial feeling was panic, I've never seen her anything other than happy and I wasn't sure how to approach it. Does she want to talk about it or figure it out herself? I walk over as she continued to stare out the window with tears falling.

"I'm not used to people always being here" she laughs with a sniffle.

"I don't really know what to do. I didn't think you cried" I say sitting across from her.

"I don't like crying in front of people, but everyone cries" she comments still looking over the city. Rain lightly hits the window as I watch her sit so very still, the lights of Chicago radiating off her flawless skin.

"Are you okay" I ask slowly trying to read her.

"My life is perfect. I'm living my dream and I'm only 23. I have the best jobs I could ask for and more money than I know what to do with. People think of me as some type of miracle worker and... and I can't do it anymore. All the pressure to be the perfect friend, the perfect daughter, the perfect girlfriend, the perfect writer, the perfect sister. I love that people think highly of me but it's all too much" she admits as the tears fall harder. I have never seen someone who seemed so on top of the world tumble down so hard. She thinks she has to be Thor every day of her life but even gods get knocked down.

"You don't have to be like that, Belle. You're admired by everyone, there's no denying that, but you're setting your expectations way too high for yourself. You can't make everyone happy" I say trying to help.

"I know that. I forget sometimes, but I know. It's just so frustrating because my life is so great and I should be happy but I can't be because I'm constantly worried about something I worked so hard on going wrong" she says with a sniffle.

"Honey you can't think like that. The best players in the NHL are graveling at your feet and not because you're begging for attention but because they respect you. Without trying you make everyone fall in love with you, you're special" I say resting my hand on her knee.

"But I can't heal my brother. I can't make the penalty kill better. I can't live up to these expectations I've set for myself. I can do all these great things and that's awesome and all, but I can't save my brother. And it sucks because he's a great ball player, I give him a hard time because it drives him to be the best and he'll probably never play again. I know not to let things out of my control effect me but he's my brother" she says. I wipe a tear from her face and she finally looks at me.

"You don't have to be the strongest person ever all the time. What's happening to Tyler, it's really sad. I would be more concerned if you didn't cry, but crying doesn't make you weak. And when you're upset I want to be the person you go to for comfort. I love the hell out of you and I understand that you're independent but you know how important it is to fight as a team" I say. She crawls over and into my lap as we both look out the window as the rain turns into a drizzle.

"I'm scared" she whispers and I squeeze her tighter.

"I am too. But I'm a firm believer that no matter what happens you're going to make it. You're smart, beautiful, strong, and most of all you have hope" I finish, kissing her head.

"Never let me go" she says lowly and I feel my heart break. I know this is hard for her, she isn't used to not being in control and she's terrified. But people have always gone to her with their problems, but where does she go when she has problems? Out of everyone she decided to confide in me and that made me feel... nice.

"I'm never letting you go" I say in her ear and she nods.

"Pinky promise" she asks turning around while holding out her pinky. I wrap my pinky around hers and for the first time tonight she gives that smile that I've fallen in love with.

"Pinky promise" I repeat. We take off for bed as she sheds her pants and changes into a over sized t-shirt.

"You don't mind, do you" she asks looking down at her outfit.

"Not at all, but I usually only sleep in my boxers" I admit shedding my shirt.

"Whatever makes you most comfortable" she giggles getting under her covers. I still can't believe how big her place was.

I get under the covers and she moves her body to fit perfectly with mine and I wrap my arms around her waist. Her hair was in a messy bun and I could feel her her legs become entangled with mine and I let out a deep breath. I kiss her nose and I could see her smile shine bright throughout the darkness.

"I love you" she smiles and I had to smile back.

"I love you too" I say and her eyes shut. I watch her fall asleep as I fall more in love with her.