Annabel Lee

Chapter 1

I lay on my soft bed with the ocean blue sheets and white headboard. The owls were hooting loudly outside in the trees and the moon was shining brightly through my window, giving the night an eerie feel. I turned over to look at my digital alarm clock; 2:00 A.M. I groaned and rolled back over onto my back. I couldn't sleep. I've been tossing and turning for the past three hours, my mind to clouded with thoughts of the boy it felt like I could never have.

I could picture him, blonde hair the color of the sun reflected off the ocean and sea green eyes, standing in front of me. He always had to look down at me, since he was so tall. 6'2 I think. I could picture his radiant smile and the dimples peeking out around the corners of his lips. He was almost always smiling. Its close to impossible to see him frown.

Even though I could see him perfectly in my minds eye, it didn't matter. I could never truly have him. He would never be mine and I would never be truly his. For his family and mine have completely hated each other for generations. I have no idea why. No one ever told me. But, it would always go to far. It started out as a small argument, nothing major, but then my father's brother, Sebastion Carter, snuck into the Christopher's house and murdered their oldest son, Elliot Christopher. That's when the whole thing went south.

The Christopher's were furious and heartbroken and immediately tried to sue or something that involved court. It when on for a month or two and in the end, Uncle Sebastion had been put in prison and the Christopher's had gotten half a million dollars out of my family. But the fighting never stopped.

Something tapped on my window, breaking me out of my thoughts. I sat up and continued to listen. One tap. Two taps. Three taps. I couldnt stop the grin that started to spread across my face as I hurried to the window and opened it almost silently.

I looked down to see a tall frame of a boy standing on the grass below my two-story window, his blonde hair like a beacon in the dark. When he looked up I could see his blue eyes shining and a smile on his face. He raised a blonde eyebrow as he looked up at me. I was so breathless with happiness to see him I almost forgot what we had always said when he snuck over to my house late at night.

"Romeo, Romeo. Where for art thou Romeo?" I called down in a quiet tone, loud enough for only him to hear.

I could hear his voice, strong and true but still quiet, as he started to climb the trellis that ran along the wall near my bedroom window. "With love's light wings did I o'er perch these walls. for stony limits cannot hold love out." He was at my window now, waiting for me to step back. I did and he climb through with ease and instantly wrapped his arms around me in a warm hug. I felt myself mold into him, my arms wrapping around his chest.

"Good day, my dear Ethan." I pulled away enough to look up in his eyes, which were always sparkling a bright blue that seemed to be even brighter when he was around me.

"Good day, my sweet Annabel Lee." He whispered into my ear, his hair brushing my cheek. Even though Lee was my middle name, he would always say it along with my first name. But, he never says my last name. I never had to ask why, because I already knew.

We ended up laying in the bed side by side. No longer wrapped in each others arms, but one of my legs was laying atop of his and his arm was cradling my head. We were talking in hushed voices so no one would hear us.

I have no idea how long we talked, but it mustve been hours since when I looked at the clock again, it was 5:30. I looked down at Ethan, who's eyes where closed. Its amazing how fast that boy can fall asleep. I swear he was just talking five seconds ago.

I propped myself on one elbow and looked down at his sleeping face, feeling a smile come upon my own. I loved the way he looked when I caught him sleeping. He looked so peaceful and happy, I could still see a hint of his lopsided smile. He made me feel like all the stress, all the problems in our lives are just distractions that would fix themselves eventually.