Post by Annabel Lee on Aug 18, 2016 4:21:11 GMT
It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee
• • •
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee
• • •
“I don't want to go.” Annabel felt Az's arms tighten around her for a few moments while she swirled her finger through the hair on his chest, the whole reason she had nicknamed him Fuzzy in the first place.
“I know you don't doll. You know I ain't gonna kick you out.” He leaned down to kiss the top of her head, and it made her scrunch up because she felt all tingly inside.
“I know,” she said with a sigh. “I know I could stay for a while longer. I know you wouldn't mind and I know that my dad wouldn't mind either. I told him I would be back tonight though and I'll feel bad if I'm not.”
“He's a grown man Anna, and he wants you to be happy. I'm sure it wouldn't bother him any if you called him and told him you wanted to stay.” He was looking down at her when she tilted her eyes up to glance at him.
“I know that too.” She made a face, trying to figure out how to express what she was feeling inside. “But I told him and I feel like if I change my mind now that...”
“That you would be breaking a promise?”
“Yeah, kinda like that.” Her frown deepened a little, the expression rather foreign on her face. “I know that I didn't even technically make him a promise. But what if I stay and then I start slacking off on my training and I don't focus on my wrestling and...”
Az chuckled. He wasn't at all offended at the unspoken implication she had just made. Mostly because he knew she had no idea she had even made it. “You're probably the most focused person I've ever met doll. Somehow you manage to train with Kelsey and fly out here to watch me and sew stuff and catch Pokémon and keep up with your own training and take care of your old man. I don't know when you find the time to sleep.”
Annabel blushed at that before making the admission, “Usually when I fall asleep on the plain or at my desk or sewing table.”
“Gotta be careful burning the candle at both ends like that. You'll wear yourself out.” Azarius finally unwrapped his arms from around her so he could sit up and stretch. His back and shoulders popped in a way that made Annabel cringe. Then he pulled her right back against him and pulled the covers up to her shoulder. “What do you want to do babes?”
“I don't know Fuzzy, what should I do?” She looked up at him, hoping he would have some advice.
He didn't have advice, but he did have a kiss. It made her cheeks get all red again. “I can't tell you what you want to do. You've got to make that decision for yourself. It won't hurt my feelings if you decide to go. I don't think your dad will be hurt if you say.” It wasn't quite hope that she heard in his voice, but there was something. That something that let her know that he struggled with the distance that was usually between them too.
She rested her head against his shoulder and squeezed both arms tightly around his waist while she thought about her options. It felt like forever before she had made a decision. “I'm going to call dad and let him know I'm staying a little while longer.”
“Alright. Sounds good to me.”
“But I have to go for my morning run tomorrow.”
“We'll run as far as you want.”
“And we have to go to the gym.”
“I'll take you to mine. You can do all them squats that keep your booty in shape.”
“Az!”
“What? It's a compliment. You know I love that ass. Look at you gonna sit there and blush now but I know you love it when I grab that booty.”
Annabel was blushing so hotly that she tried to hide herself under his arm. He kept laughing and pulling away though. The worst part was that he was right! She was still getting used to his unabashed and direct flirting. Her own felt so clumsy to her by comparison. It wasn't like they hadn't... y'know... but it still made her blush to think about.
“Yeah yeah. You're right and you know it.”
He grinned. “Long as you know it too.”
With a content little sigh now that the decision had been made, she settled back down against him. A thought came to her, one that sent a little pain through her chest before it led to her question, “Az?”
“Yeah?”
“Would you tell me about your mom?” She still hadn't told him about hers, not like she had Kelsey.
“Sure. What you wanna know?”
“I don't know. Anything you want to tell me.”
The silence that passed was almost long enough to become uncomfortable before he shrugged. She knew that he had been trying to decide why she was asking. They hadn't talked too much about their parents yet, even if she had invited him to come meet her dad sometimes. “Alright, sure. You want to order room service?”
She hesitated. She did, but... “If we do we have to go for a run in the morning.”
“Absolutely. Running everywhere. No matter what. I swear on my swear jar.”
Annabel giggled and squirmed free of him so that he could get up and call room service. Any guilt she had been feeling over leaving her dad alone for a while longer had melted away. Az was right. Her dad wanted her to be happy. He had said so himself. She wasn't losing her focus she was just... learning that she could include more. ...Right?
• • •
For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee
For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee