first kiss ; awg

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✧ - A N N A B E L - ✧

my dads had never told me there was a party on tonight, so I'd had to decide on an outfit last minute.

"one of the guys I work with is throwing a birthday party," Timothy explained. "we won't stay long, if you don't want to."

"no, no, it'll be fine." I brushed off, wanting Dean and Timothy to have fun.

the party venue was beautiful. it was outside, in a clearing surrounded by lovely hanging willow trees which were draped in fairy lights. there was a stage in the middle where a small band were playing some songs, a tent with a bar in, and many tables set out where people were lounging around and talking.

I sat by a tree on my own, watching everyone with fascination. betting with myself how many drinks the man with a beard on the table closest to me could drink in an hour, or how many times the woman wearing dangerously high heels would get the message that the man she was talking to probably wanted to fuck her.

"it's a beautiful venue, isn't it."

I jumped in surprise, and my head snapped up to see a tall, lanky figure looking over me.

"sorry," a male voice. "did I scare you?" the stranger sat down against the tree next to me.

"no," I said simply.

"good, I think I have a habit of doing that. my name's Rhydian." he faced me and I got a much better view of him. he seemed around my age, with shaggy black hair and rather prominent cheekbones. overall, an attractive man. but something in the back of my mind almost stopped me thinking that.

"I'm Annabel," I introduced.

"I know who you are, Annabel." Rhydian sighed.

"what?" I said in surprise.

he plucked at the grass beneath us. "I go to your school."

I stared at him, confused. "I've never seen you before."

"you wouldn't have, would you? you're part of the pretty-well-known clique, but I can't say the same for the other 70% of the school."

"oh."

"I've wanted to talk to your for a few weeks actually, we're in the same trig class." he smiled at me gently, a smile I couldn't help but return.

"you look amazing tonight." Rhydian sighed, reaching to tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, but I flinched, and he pulled back his hand, embarrassed.

"sorry," he said quietly.

"no, it's okay, I'm sorry. I'll see you at school, I've g-gotta go." I rushed and pulled myself onto my feet, and sped off into the woods.

"Annabel! you're going the wrong way! Annabel!" he cried after me, but my feet were in control now, and I couldn't stop. I carried on walking for what seemed like 10 minutes until crash, I tripped over a tree root and fell onto the forest floor. it took that for me to realize I was crying. I pulled myself from the floor into a huddled sitting position, and clutched my knees to my chest.

what was wrong with me? why couldn't I just let Rhydian be friendly with me? Alex, my mind echoed, ringing through my head like the sound of a gong. what about Alex? he didn't care about me, did he? why did I care about him? how could I have been so stupid as to let Alex poison all my thoughts and occupy my mind day and night. Alex, Alex, Alex, like a mantra.

Alex. the first person since Dominic that my mind had latched onto, the first person since Harriet I'd felt safe around. the person I'd thrown myself in front of to protect him during a fight. the person whose texts would make me grin like a mad person. Alex.

the darkness of the sky seemed eternal, and I found myself enveloped in it, with no way of remembering how to get back to the party. my breath was ragged from crying and my breathing was heavy. shakily I pulled out my phone and called the person on my mind.

"A-Alex? please could y-you come help me-me?"

-

I really tried with this chapter okay

also Rhydian seemed sweet aww maybe we'll see more of him????

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