2 Months Later.
"Happy birthday Annie!" The irritating noise burst through my bedroom door awaking me from a seamless sleep. Opening my eyes I see three beaming grins from Luke, Aunt Holly and Uncle Frankie. Poppy stirred in the cot. Well that's great. Wake the baby guys, nice. I clamber up and tend to Poppy.
"Oh guys! Thanks!" I fake the happiness I’m portraying. Luke goes to take Poppy from me so I can get sorted so I look remotely presentable for the rest of this god awful day.
"Come on Annie. We've got plans! Get sorted and wear something nice! You're going to love it!" Holly could barley contain her excitement.
"Oh god! I can't wait! Yay!" I scream with as much enthusiasms as I can. How can they not tell I hate this already? I pull on a pair of skinny jeans and a White tank top. Let’s get this over with.
As I'm about to leave the room Luke appears before me.
"How's my beautiful birthday girl?" His genuine smile distracts me slightly. Why can't you see I’m distancing my self Luke? Please give up soon.
His eyes search mine, as if waiting for some sort of demonstrative reaction. My body tingles and his hands trace my lips, he plants a smouldering kiss on them. Leaving them burning for more. "Happy birthday" He whispers. I never did understand his outlook on life. For the last few months I barley said two words to him. And he hasn't noticed.
'I wish he would just give up, the best part is falling, calling anything but love. And I’ll make sure, to keep my distance, say I love you when your not listening and how long can you keep this up'
"Thanks L...” I was interrupted by his lips pressing into mine.
'Please don't stand so close to me, I'm having trouble breathing I'm afraid of what’s you'll see I'll give you everything I am, all my broken heart beats until I know you'll understand'
His lips compelled into mine again, bursting with urge and contempt.
'And I keep waiting for you to take me; you keep waiting to save what we had'
"Come on Annie, I know the real you is there somewhere. Please, just open up and come back to me,"
Leaving me speechless once again with his way with words.
'How long can you keep this up?'
"Annie... Luke. Let’s go already!" Holly burst through the door like an impatient child. Glad of the distraction, I smiled through the tears and grabbed my coat from the end of my bed.
"So where are we going?" I ask harmlessly, Luke's eyes court mine briefly, before I had the chance to turn away, his hand absorbed mine.
We spent the day pacing the streets of London. We looked in and out of shops. I carried near enough a million bags. My feet were blistering, and my jaw hurt from this impeccable smile I had to fake for so long. We were wrestled amongst tourist in the vast crowds the swept the streets. After hours of shopping and site seeing we all bundled back into the car, full of junk food, exhausted and grouchy.
As we reached home everyone headed off to there separate rooms. Frankie and Holly headed straight to bed. I could hear the slight whisper of their snores. My mind couldn't help but marvel how they both met. High school romance? Night clubbing? Maybe through a friend or...
"I'll see you up stairs in a minute?" Luke's voice ruptured through my thoughts. I simply nodded and headed to the kitchen. I sorted Poppy's bottle out and headed up the stairs. I slipped through my room into Poppy, Cradling her into my arms I sunk to the floor and fed her. The room was dark and unobtrusive. I could easily fall asleep on this carpet. She sucked away at her bottle, her eyes drifting into a dream world. When all was finished I placed a kiss on her forehead and embraced her to my chest.
"Goodbye sweetheart. Mummy loves you". Placing her back into her crib I took one last glance at my sister. She was a spitting image of my dear mother
I closed the door tight behind me. I crept across the hall to the bathroom. Looking into the mirror, I barley saw who I was. Although I look impeccable. Without meaning to sound full of myself. I did. My skin near perfection. My hair lustrous and glossy. But my eyes, they were empty. No feeling, no emotion. Colourless. Blinking away a few tears which occurred. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and moved back towards my room.
Luke was passed out in bed, typical.
'I don't think that I’ll see you again, but we shared a moment that will last till the end'.
I placed a kiss on his forehead. "I love you Luke"
I took off the neck lance that I was wearing and placed it into his palm.
I grabbed Luke's hoody from the side of the room. I took off my skinny jeans and positioned them on the side. Replacing them with black shorts, I slipped into my trainers and tied my hair tight. Grabbing my duffel bag from the back of the wardrobe I took one last look at my sweetheart.
I snuck out the back door, and retreated back down the garden. My eyes began to swell up with sentiment. I took one last look and the house before I swung my leg over the top of the fence and catapulted over the other side.
I opened my phone and dialled a number
"I'm here. What now?"
"Annie, nice to hear from you. Glad you want to join us. So now. Walk, to the top of your road..."
"This road is over a mile long...”
"And keep walking. I'll swing by and get you."
The phone line went dead.
And so I walked... and walked, down a shadowy road. In the middle of no-where. Soon, but not soon enough, a black car slowed next to me, its blacked out window rolled down, there sat a man, eyes on fire with secretes which he hid.
"Hop in Annie" I tossed my bag in and got into the car.
"How long?" My tone dull. I was drained. I didn't want to be here anymore then he did.
"Hour or so feel free to sleep. You've got a long day ahead of you". I haven't even been to bed and my next day had started. This was not useful. Fantastic. Before long, my mind glided into sleep mode. Lights rattled past the windows of the car, my mind in a daze, was this something I should do? Possibly not. Was I going to regret this? Possibly. You've got to do what you've got to do.
Name: Annie Glasshouse
Age: 17
Job: Trained Assassin for the Private government society of the United Kingdom.
