chapter 21

Little Talks- Of Monsters And Men

I'm dedicating this to @SparklySparky for adding this book to your reading list! Thank you!!

I woke up in the hotel room today feeling slightly uneasy. I felt like something was going to happen today, something big.

I have never really been superstitious, especially when it came to telling the future and all but I felt like something important will happen today. The feeling I'm having I've never had before.

Sighing, I got up from my bed and glanced at the alarm clock.

8.45am.

I told Jules to meet me at ten outside of the hotel. That gives me one hour and fifteen minutes to get ready.

I think I should shower first, washing always makes me feel refreshed in the morning. Stripping I hop in, faintly humming a tune from a song that came on last night.

The party last night was amazing. The dress made me look incredible. My dad had to keep glaring at boys who looked at me with desire and lust. To be honest, I was glad he did that. All of their hungry stares made me feel uncomfortable. It also felt wrong, it felt like I was betraying someone. Like I wasn't there's to look at -- which I'm not -- but its like I'm only one person to look at.

Oh god, what am I saying? I don't belong to Xavier just like he doesn't belong to me.

After showering, I put on a Hollister top and some skinny jeans. I don't really want to look fancy or anything, its only a little shopping trip with my new found friend.

I glance at the clock to see I've got half an hour until Jules gets here so I might as well do something productive.

I end up putting on a short episode of The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. Don't judge, but I actually really enjoy watching it. I know the theme tune off by heart as well.

By the time it finishes, I see I have five minutes until its time to go. Groaning at my very bad time awareness, I rush to brush my teeth whilst trying to put on my shoes. Funnily, I'm not very good at multi-tasking. At all.

Whilst trying to brush my teeth in front of the bathroom mirror, I attempt to slip my foot in the shoe. Of course, I end up falling into the sink with a yelp.

This day is always going so well.

Jules is stood by a palm tree plant, admiring the leaves. He looked so entranced by it, he didn't notice when I came up beside him. For several minutes, I just stood there waiting for him to notice me. Annoyingly, he didn't.

Rolling my eyes, I elbow him in the gut. Yelping like a squeamish girl, he jumps like ten feet away from me.

"What did you do that for?" He pouts, rubbing his abdominal.

I shrug. "You were so entranced with that plant, you didn't even notice me so I had to find another way for you to see me."

He glances at the plant then at me again. "Well then, clearly the plant is more interesting then you."

Shocked at his explanation, I gasp, taking a threatening step forward. "Take that back."

He shakes his head, his blue eyes filled with amusement. "I will not."

"I'll make you." I warn, narrowing my eyes at him.

Jules tries to not look unaffected by my threat but I can tell otherwise. I mean, he visibly gulped and widened his eyes. A clear indication he's afraid of what I will do. Rightly so as well, I may be small but I can pack a punch when I want to.

Take Ray Winters, for instance, a boy who was in fourth grade with me. The boy kept harassing me, claiming that we were two people who were meant to be together. He said to settle our fate as lovers, we had to share a passionate true loves kiss. The kid was crazy. He wouldn't leave me alone, persistently saying I was his true love. One day he took it too far when he tried to kiss me in the playground. I don't know where I got the courage from, perhaps from my irritation or perhaps from the hope that he will leave me alone. I punched him in the jaw, hard. I remember him running off to the teacher and going to the medical room.

After that Ray stayed away from me. Two months later Ray moved to Paris to study French. I never saw him again.

"Annabella, I was only stating the truth. You don't need to get all offended by it." He nervously says, taking a step back from me.

"No need to get offended by it?" I scoff at him. "How would you feel if you were told that a plant is more interesting then you? Huh? Would you be offended?"

Jules doesn't say anything whilst he goes over what I said.

Sighing, he runs his hand through his white hair. "Okay, fine. I would kind of hate it. I'm sorry okay?"

"Friends again?" He asks, giving me his attempt at puppy dog eyes.

Ignoring the puppy dog eyes, I ponder whether I should just let this go or if I should make him work for my forgiveness. I've never been told a plant, a freaking plant is more interesting then me before. They don't speak, move or do anything. They just grow; look nice.

Shaking my head, I contain the smile that's threatening to make its way on my face.

"Nope." I say, popping the 'p'.

Jules' shoulders slump as a defeated look comes on his face. "But Annabella..."

"Yeah?"

"I said I'm sorry." He pouts again, his light pink lips jutting out. The face he's making is quite cute actually. Others around us would probably think he's weird. A grown man pouting like an insolent five-year-old isn't something you see every day. For me though, its hilarious.

Shrugging my shoulders, I pretend to look down at my nails as if I don't care. Jules has no idea I'm only messing with him as a bit of revenge.

"Ugh, please don't be like this Anna."

I don't say anything.

"Annabella!"

I still don't reply as I try to contain my smile. This is just amazing, watching him get so worked up over this.

"Annabella, please." He groans and I still don't answer.

"I swear to god Annabella, you better answer me in the next five seconds or so help me..." He trails off, leaving me to figure out what he was going to do.

"You'll what Jules?" I innocently ask, looking up through my eyelashes.

"I'll..."

I give him an expected look, curious to know what he'll come up with.

"I'll...glare at you?" He says, even though it sounds more like a question. But really Jules -- glare? That's not scary in the slightest.

"Ooh, I'm so scared." I mock, raising my hands in the air as if I'm surrendering.

Jules gives me a glare, as he said and steps closer to me. I have to lift my head up to get a proper look at his face. He doesn't do anything for a second and so I just assume that's his 'threatening' tactic.

But the Jules bends down and grabs my legs, hoisting me in the air. I squeal, as I end up upside down, my face looking at his back. I realize what he's just done.

Jules threw me over his shoulder. I'm going to kill him.

"Jules put me down." I hiss, trying to wiggle my way out of his hold. Jules only tightened his hold on me.

"Nope." He says. I can hear the smugness in his voice as he said it and I bet he has a smirk on his face. "Not until you say you forgive me."

"Maybe I don't want to."

"You sure about that?" He asks, probably raising an eyebrow at me.

No, I'm not.

I don't tell him that though. Otherwise, he'll win this game.

"Positive." I grunt out as the blood rushes to my head. I feel my face turning red from all of it.

"I don't think you are."

Ugh, I'm not.

I'm stuck like this for a few minutes until it all just gets too much for me.

"Fine, I forgive you. Put me down." I demand, trying to keep whatever dignity I have left.

"With pleasure." He says and then begins gloating to me about how I shouldn't mess with him. "Nobody messes with me."

I roll my eyes and cross my arms. "You may have won the battle but I'll win the war."

"Sure, sure." Jules waves off. "And I am sorry, you are way more interesting than a plant."

"Aww, thank you." I say, hugging him.

Maybe this day will be okay.

"Annabella?" A familiar voice asks me.

Okay, maybe it won't be a good day.

Tensing, I slowly pull away from Jules. How the hell is he here? How is that possible?

Is this some sort of joke? Am I hallucinating?

I look up to see Xavier's grey eyes narrowed at Jules. His strong figure tensed as he clenches his jaw.

Xavier looks mad, beyond pissed.

"Oh no."

Word count: 1581

Xavier turned up! To ENGLAND! Aww, that's so sweet. Did anyone see that coming?

Also, I'm releasing a new book called You & Me in June. You'll see the description has been posted so please check it out!

Next update: 16th January