Chapter 2: Chapter 2
A short time later Anabel found herself in an empty classroom, leaning against the wall as her friends surrounded her. She couldn't help but think back to earlier in the morning when she left home for school. Everything feels so different now. All the good feelings that she was feeling earlier seemed to have disappeared completely, leaving only a dull ache in her chest as the thoughts swirled around in her mind.
She tried to ignore it though, instead, she focused on the group of people surrounding her, listening to their laughter.
"I am so excited for our next practice match." Hinata smiled widely, wrapping his arms around Oikawa's neck in a hug. "I know I'm going to beat you guys, but I still can't wait to show all the team my amazing setter skills." Hinata let out a dreamy sigh, letting his arms fall from Oikawa's Neck, as the taller teen wrapped his arms around him instead, pulling him close against his body.
"If you wanted my attention all that bad, why don't you just kiss me~?" the shorter teen said in a playful tone, nuzzling his face against Hinata's shoulder. "Maybe you'll be able to distract me enough for your set to work!" The blonde grinned, pecking the other boy on the lips before stepping away.
Anabel blushed furiously, watching them from the corner of her eye. She knew she shouldn't be looking, but she couldn't seem to stop herself. Their closeness seemed so natural, and she envied how easily they talked around each other as if they'd known one another forever.
They were perfect for one another.
The thought hit her right in the heart and Anabel turned away, walking slowly towards a table. She sat down, putting her head in her hands. Her eyes stung and she tried hard to fight back tears, knowing that they wouldn't get any easier to hold back, even after so long. Her grandparents were gone. Gone for good. And soon they wouldn't be able to stay away anymore. Soon she would have to live alone. Her parents died when she was four years old, and as far as she knew, she was the last one of her extended family left.
Anabel had lived her entire life surrounded by loving people. Her grandparents were the best people that could be ever asked for in raising a child, and Anabel adored them dearly. They had raised her to be strong, to put aside anything and everything to give the world what it deserved. She remembered that night well. The night that she had gotten married and her grandparents had been invited. Her grandparents had always loved having them over, and she couldn't believe how happy she was that night.
Her wedding was beautiful. It was a small affair, just the three of them. It was a quiet, simple service, which was just what Anabel preferred anyway. It had been so nice getting to spend the rest of her life with Grandpa and Granny. It was almost as if nothing had changed. As if the accident hadn't happened.
That had been a year ago.
Two weeks after that, she started to notice some changes. They started with small ones. At first, nothing much. Just small things here and there. She didn't know what it meant at the time, but she soon realized that everything was changing. Her grandparents were no longer coming over to see her during the day, nor were they bringing food or gifts with them as they had been doing for most of her life. She hadn't thought too much about it, at least until they stopped by a few weeks later to wish her luck before saying goodbye, giving her hugs for the last time before heading out to visit her grandparents, who were spending time in France with them for some business trip. They told her that they loved her and that they hoped to spend a weekend together soon, although they weren'T sure when they would return. That was the last time they were ever seen.
They didn't leave any kind of note or sign. Nothing. One minute she was talking to her grandparents, and the next it was as if they were suddenly never born. It scared the hell out of her. Not that she had any reason to doubt it, but it frightened her nonetheless. After that day, her grandma had told her to stay away from the place for fear of being found, but she wasn't quite ready yet to do that. So she decided to stay in touch with her grandfather's friends in France to find out what exactly was going on with them. They kept telling her that everything was fine and that they were perfectly fine and that she didn't need to worry. But her intuition was telling her otherwise.
And so Anabel stayed in Japan after graduating high school s, and eventually moved back to America. To the place where her grandparents once lived. Where the accident took place. Where they died. Where they still lived.
But the town where she grew up, the town she had grown up in, was now completely different. No cars parked outside of its houses or shops or any sort of public transportation. No kids running through the streets yelling and laughing, no children hanging out in the playgrounds playing in the sunshine. No one came running across the street to greet, No lights were flickering in the windows. No sounds filled the air. None of that. Everything was dark and cold and empty and Anabel wasn't sure she liked it at all. The change terrified her.
It frightened her to death.
And as if that was not terrifying enough, the doctors told her that she may never have them back. Her mother and father weren't coming back to her, either. Neither of them was even alive anymore. They just vanished, as if nothing had ever happened. Like the accident never occurred. It scared the hell out of her. It made her cry and scream and beg for them to come back. She hated the silence and emptiness everywhere she looked and wondered just how many years it had taken them to finally disappear. She didn't know how it had happened, but she was terrified. Terrified that she would never hear her mother sing her lullabies again, or her father would take her for an ice cream date and tell her a bedtime story, just like he used to do every night before he went to sleep. Terrified that they will never talk to her again about anything, not until her deathbed when they will finally ask her how she is doing, whether or not she likes her classes, and what she's doing for fun.
There was no one to tell her that her parents wouldn't die. No one to assure her that they weren't going anywhere. Just her. Her and no one else. No one to tell her that everything was going to be alright, because it won't be alright. Because she lost both her parents. And no matter how many times she told herself that she would eventually move on, that she would heal, she wasn't quite convinced. If anything the pain remained, growing stronger and worse each passing day until eventually, she found herself drowning under the weight of it all.
So this is why she didn't want to go back to England, where her grandparents live. Not without seeing them. So that she wouldn't forget everything they taught her. So that she could finally start anew without fearing that the pain would consume her if she wasn't careful.
Anabel didn't know how long she stood there thinking to herself, only moving once more when she heard footsteps behind her and felt two familiar arms wrap around her shoulders, squeezing gently. She looked up in surprise, noticing for the first time that she must have started crying. Hinata pulled her closer to him, kissing the top of her head as the girl buried herself into his warm body.
"You're okay. It's okay. Everything's going to be alright. We're going to be alright." He whispered soothingly, his fingers running up and down the girl's back in an attempt to help her relax. He didn't understand how Anabel could still be so worried when her life was so stable. How could she still care so much despite losing everything? It made him think that she did care that much.
Anabel nodded slightly against Hinata's chest, letting out a weak laugh as she hugged him tighter. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay...I'm okay." She sighed shakily, sniffing. "Sorry...I just needed to get my emotions out somehow..."
He shook his head. "No need. Come here," He murmured, picking her up bridal style, ignoring the protests coming from her. He ignored her complaints as well, carrying hay to their bedroom where he deposited her on the mattress. He watched fondly as she crawled into his sheets, curling up on her side before he joined her.
"Everything's gonna be okay." She said softly. "Your grandparents are gonna be fine and we'll be fine." Hinata smiled faintly and laid back, holding her close, pulling her hair loose from its braid. They lay quietly for a moment, watching the moonlight stream through the window.
"Do you wanna watch some TV?" Hinata asked her. "You seem to like TV lately." Anabel rolled onto her stomach so that she was facing Hinata.
"Sure. What do you want to watch?" She replied, smiling slightly at his hopeful look.
"Anything you want." She smiled again and sat up a bit more, reaching over towards her nightstand for the remote control. A sudden realization came to mind as she fumbled with it in her hand, a grin spreading over her lips.
"How much money do you owe me right now?" She asked slyly. Hinata gave her a quizzical look but shrugged and reached for his wallet anyways.
"Five thousand yen. Why?" He asked when he handed the money over.
"Because it's your birthday, silly!" Anabel giggled. Hinata's eyes widened slightly, and his cheeks turned pink.
"Birthday?!" He exclaimed, covering his face embarrassedly.
"Mmhmm. Happy Birthday, Hinata." She grinned and kissed the man on his cheek, making him blush even harder than before. She knew it didn't count as a kiss since it was her father and grandmother's anniversary today, but for some reason, Hinata seemed happy about having been able to celebrate his birthday with her, no matter how little money he had left after paying the bank.
"Happy birthday, Hinata." She repeated tenderly, resting her forehead against his and closing her eyes. She closed her eyes as well, trying to imagine things were normal, and that she wasn't lying in bed thinking about the fact that everything between her and her parents had ended forever the second she left Tokyo three years ago. Even though she could feel the tears pricking the corners of her eyes, she kept them closed anyway. She didn't want to make a big deal out of something like that. She wanted to enjoy their alone time while it lasted. They weren't going anywhere after all, and maybe one day they wouldn't have to be so sad for so long. Maybe one day they won't be feeling like they can't breathe, and everything will feel okay again.
Maybe one day.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who has read so far! I hope you enjoyed this CHAPTER! Please let me know what you thought of it :)
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