I snuggled into the duvet listening to Anne's complaints. She happen to be attending the same party Dad talked about the other night. Anne searched her wardrobe throwing several clothes on the bed.

"I can't find what to wear Laure and it's about time we leave." 

She finally said a word i could hear.
I wished she would search for a dress the whole night so i won't have to attend the party.

"You have several beautiful dresses Anne, Why stress yourself over a party?"
"It's not just a party," she frowned. "Antoine will be there."
"Like i care." I shrugged. "He didn't say a word to you after that incident Anne."
She sat down on the bed. "That's why i want to meet him."
"What are your plans?"
"I hope things will go back to the way it used to be."

We arrived at the Smith's that evening, it was obviously crowded with people in flashy dresses. I wished the celebrant and presented my gift alongside Anne. He happened to be someone she knows from school so I left them both to chat in search of a less crowded place.
I sat on a chaise lounge by the pool; it was pretty crowded but I felt safe beneath the full moon.

"Nice party huh?" He appeared before me.
"I'm not a fan of parties."  I smiled.
"I shouldn't approach you." 
"Then why are you here?" 
"Um, you are like a magnet and I am an iron." He chuckled.
"Is this supposed to be a compliment."
"Nope..."
He leaned in towards me; my heart skipped a beat thinking of what transpired between us the last time he did this.
"It's a confession." He whispered in my ear.

I jerked and landed in the pool. I saw my life flash before my eyes as i struggled to swim. I could hear voices of ladies screaming then nothing.
I opened my eyes to the  scenery of me being in his arms. 

"You got me worried sick !" He yelled while he wrapped me with towels.

I could swear I saw tear rolled down his cheeks but he was wet from head to toe.
I caused a huge commotion at the Smith's party and I felt like disappearing.
Liam escorted me to the guests room where I changed into a new dress after that i joined him at the balcony.

"Thanks for saving me though it's partly your fault..."
I said as I walked closer towards him. He laughed and glanced at me.
"I am sorry i haven't apologize for not showing up at the garden."
"You looked beautiful that day." He smirked. "I've been staring at the photo i took of you."
"W..w..what photo ?" 

He laughed and hand me his phone. I felt really embarrassed as I looked at my pictures.
After minutes of silence I voiced out.
"Why didn't you say a word?"
"If I did I wouldn't have these beautiful photos."
He quietly watched me  as I relaxed on the iron railings.
"Why did you leave?"
"I saw you with another lady." I frowned. "Do you normally kiss any girl you come across?"

My cheeks burned with embarrassment as he laughed out loud.

"Laure are you actually jealous?"
"Yes I am and I know I shouldn't be feeling this way because I meant nothing to you."

I hated myself for being emotional. I normally don't show all my cards but here I am confessing my feelings.
"I should probably head home, I nearly died today." I added to justify my words.

I heard quick footsteps behind me then he grabbed my wrist.
"Let's blame tonight actions on the water we consumed." He spoke huskily and we locked lips.

I lay on my bed cuddling my teddy while Anne sat on the sofa operating her mobile.

  "So you plan on sleeping without saying anything."
"I am really exhausted, you know what happened to me today."
"Not about that?"
"I really don't have the energy for guessing games Anne."
"Do not feigned ignorance, I saw you and Liam at the balcony"
I choked on my saliva " I didn't notice you."
"I cried my eyes out tonight and i went up to meet my friend to be comforted but..."
"I am terribly sorry Anne, what happened to you?" I sat up.
"It's over between us." Anne sighed, she looked so calm.
"You are joking, right?"

Anne walked by the other end of the pool smiling as she stares at Laure and Liam.

"Anne! I've been looking for you everywhere." Jade strode towards her.
"What do you want?"
"You have no right to act jealous okay, I thought you are my friend but you went ahead to steal my boyfriend."
"He was your ex when he asked me out Jade don't act like i stole Antoine away from you."
"Do you really think he loves you?" Jade chuckled. "He's just using you to get me upset."
"I won't fall for your words."
"Here he comes we'll see who's talking the truth."
"Anne, we need to talk." Antoine said while glaring at her.
"I am sorry for what happened the other ni...."
"It's over between us i tried to love you as much as you did but..."
"Jade sent you to say this." Tears began to form at Anne's eyes while she breaths heavily.
"I am truly sorry..." 

Anne could hear distant chuckles and comments, she felt like falling into the pool to hide.

"Mon amour," Gabriel grabbed her wrist making her to face him and kissed her. "This is the dude you told me about right?" She gazed at him confused. "We meet again Antoine, let me properly introduce myself." He smiled. "I am Gabriel, Anne's boyfriend."
"What charade is this?" Jade yelled.
"I just want to clarify things, there's nothing to end okay because there was never a relationship." He pulled her hands and walked away.
****

"Oh my God!" I yelled. "Gabriel did that?"
"Yes," she smiled. "After talking with him, he made me realize i had a crush on Antoine i can't deny that but i felt pity for him that's why i decided to say yes to his proposal."
"Anne!" I moved closer and punched her. "You never listen to me, I've been saying this for a long time."
"I am so sorry..." She beamed.
"Hope you are fine."
"I won't lie, I felt hurt but I'll be fine with time." I embraced her. "Tell me about Liam."
"I don't like him."
"I didn't ask about that Laure," she chuckled. "That's not how it seems."
"Perhaps I felt grateful he saved me from drowning and I wasn't in my right state of mind that's why that happened."
"If you say so."
One thing I learned in life is that you can lie to people several times but you can't lie to yourself.
"I've fallen for him." I whispered.

I feigned tiredness in other not to attend service the next day because I didn't have the strength to be surrounded by people or in other words i was avoiding Liam.
That evening I got ready to head to the park with my sister who planned on meeting her friends, I decided to follow her to clear my thoughts with beautiful sceneries.
  I excused myself to look for a perfect spot to read my book.
"Who said nature isn't beautiful?" I inhaled deeply as I walked in between cherry trees.

"You are more beautiful."
I turned briskly, there he was sitting on one of the benches.
"Come sit," he tapped the bench and I obeyed. "I didn't see you today."
"I was tired."
"I asked your friend and she said you'll be going out with your sis this evening."
"That's why you are here."
"Isn't that romantic?" He chuckled.
"I'll call that stalking." He glanced at me and burst into laughter.
"I'm so sorry for snogging her in your presence. She's my ex and..." He sighed " it still doesn't justify my actions but believe me when I said she forced herself on me sort of a goodbye kiss. I'm not trying to sound proud or..."

I looked at him struggling to find words to explain himself. He looked cute in that confused state perhaps when it comes to love one shouldn't be too calculative. I decided to let myself free fall into his arms.

"I like you." I placed a kiss on his cheeks and stood up, he was dumbfounded as he watched me walk away.

What's next? I asked myself as I lay on the bed feeling confused. I've never confessed my feelings before; Are we dating now? I don't even have his number. Several thoughts ran through my mind.
I got up from bed to meet my big sis.
As I walked down the stairs quietly I had voices. It seems as if they were arguing.

"Mum!" My big sis yelled trying to calm the storm. "I thought you had a sound conversation this evening, I stepped out with Laure so she wouldn't see her parents in this state. Do you think she'll clap if she hears you filed for an annulment?"
"An annulment..." I cried as I revealed myself.
"Laure sweety that's not true." Dad tried to be his charming self. I could see fear in his eyes, he loves mum so much he bragged about it every day, was it all pretense?  Tears gushed down my cheeks as I stared at mum; she looked so tired.
"Laure," a soft smile rested on the lips of my mum. "We are leaving the country in two days time. I've prepared everything you'll need."
"Mum!" I cried.
"I need time okay, I can't stay with my husband and still feel lonely he needs to reflect on his actions." She raised her voice. "I don't want you to start spending vacations with your parents separately."
"That's exactly what is about to happen." I said.
"Listen to mum okay, it's just for a year."
"A year!" I screamed. "I'll have to change schools."
"You planned on studying abroad Laure. You should be pleased your dreams are coming true."
"I don't want it this way." Tears profusely dropped down my cheeks. "I told him i liked him and I'm just leaving like that."
"You'll realize this are just childish emotions when you grow older. You'll find someone better." Mum said as she exit the living room.

I prayed so hard that night, I asked God to wake me up from this dreadful dream.