Annie snuck back inside the house and into her room by 4, Annie knew in a half an hour her father was going to wake to start his daily morning routine that hadn't changed in decades.
Annie waved to Ethan through her window as she saw him lay in his bed, giving her a lazy wave back. She closed her curtains so she doesn't disturb him and started going through more of her things.
Since her room now contained new and old things she started filling boxes full of her old childhood things- knick knacks and toys. Even childish posters were replaced with the paintings she had made. The painting of the woman under water sat on the wall above her bed where Ethan had suggested. She hadn't put a lot of thought behind where each painting would go in the spur of the moment. But somewhere deep inside her, Annie knew that she put that one there on purpose.
Annie hung her clothes and put things away until it hit 6 am where she grabbed an extra pair of clothes and made her way to the shower.
Once she was in her room again with a her workout clothes on, some pale pink leggings, a matching sports bra and a black sweater overtop. She opened her curtains to see Ethan sprawled out on his bed, tangled in his sheets, his chest letting out easy, slow breaths- he was more than passed out, he was dead to the world for the next few hours. Annie let out a little giggle at the scene before her, turned around and continued with her day.
Annie made her way down to the kitchen, seeing that once again Margaret didn't make a plate of food for Annie. Annie smiled at Margaret, "good morning Margaret, I hope you slept well."
Margaret rolled her eyes, "I slept fine, Annie."
Annie nodded, grabbing a glass of water she sat at the kitchen island, waiting to say good morning to her father before going for a morning walk.
"Good morning Kyson," Margaret chirped with a smile as Kyson strolled through the kitchen, "breakfast is on the table, remember, dinner tonight starts at 3, I'm sure Kia opened her pool so bring your swimming gear."
"Good morning, yes mum," grumbled Kyson, never the morning person of the family.
Annie's father was the next person to come to the kitchen, he gave Annie a kiss on her head, then gave Margaret a kiss, followed by a pat on the back to Kyson. "Good morning my beautiful family, I hope you all slept well," he smiled.
"Good morning dad," Annie smiled.
Now that her father was in the room Kyson spoke up, "Annie, if you're going to go out of the house at night, could you be a little more quiet? You woke me up from a dead sleep last night and when I finally got back to sleep you woke me up by coming back!"
"You snuck out last night? What were you doing? Best not be a boy you were meeting!" Margaret looked at Annie with a stern look on her face.
"I couldn't sleep so I went for a walk last night, I'm sorry I woke you dearbrother, I'll be much quieter next time," Annie smiled to Kyson who narrowed his eyes accusingly towards her.
"Don't make it a habit Pumpkin, you need sleep, and maybe be try to be more quiet," smiled her father.
"It won't become a habit," Annie smiled, "well I'll be back in a bit, going to go to the park," Annie smiled, giving her father a hug before walking out of the house.
Annie made her way to the nearby park and started jogging a few laps on the paved path. As Annie continued her peaceful jog she heard a set of footsteps behind her at a slightly faster pace.
As Annie turned around to look, she collided with the person running behind her, both going down to the ground with a thud.
"Oomf, I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention" spoke the deep voice of a man. Annie turned her attention to the man above her, light brown hair and sharp features, his brown eyes peering into her blue ones as he stood up. Holding out his hand to help her up, she takes it and stands on her legs.
"It's okay," Annie murmured, dusting off her leggings.
"Are you okay? It's not everyday your tackled down by a large man," he chuckled. Annie brought her gaze back up to the man who had swept her off her feet- literally.
"I'm alright," Annie chuckled, "are you alright?"
"Yes I'm okay, I had a pretty cushion to land on," he chuckled, Annie blushed lightly at his words. "I haven't seen you around before, what's your name?"
They started walking side by side down the paved walkway, "Annie, yours?"
"Riley, I'm sorry again, coach likes us to get daily cardio and I was in the middle of switching a song. I've never swept a beautiful girl off her feet before," he chuckled.
"It's okay, it's not the first time for me," Annie chuckled.
"Played some high contact sports?" He asked.
"Something like that," Annie shook her head, taking in her surroundings. In the early morning the only people who were in the park were those on a walk with their pets or those who were doing their morning run. Otherwise the park was pretty deserted.
"So you must be the girl I'm celebrating coming home tonight?" Asked Riley, eyeing the woman intently.
"That would be me," Annie smiled, "though I don't think I need a party, Kia is just to kind to say no to," Annie shook her head.
"Nonsense, every party would be better with you there, I think every party needs you," he gave her a cocky smile. "Though I'm sure the women at the party would hate it, every man's eyes would be onyou after all."
Annie waved him off, "pfft, please, don't flatter me. I'm not all that and a bag of chips."
Riley chuckled beside her before leaning in closely, "then you clearly haven't looked in a mirror lately. Because from where I'm standing, you're the only thing in this room that isn't a blur. If you aren't 'allthat,' then the rest of us are in serious trouble."
Annie doesn't flinch, but a small, amused smirk tugs at the corner of her mouth,"wow. Do you practice those in the shower, or does the silver tongue just come standard with the clumsy feet?"
Riley lets out a loud chuckle, "usually I'm much more graceful, but you're a bit of a distraction. I'd say I'm sorry for the collision, but I'd be lying. It's the best luck I've had all year."
Annie takes a half-step back, putting a bit of distance between them again, "careful. If you keep talking like that, Kia's party is going to be the second most exhausting thing I have to deal with tonight. I'm just here for the cake and a quiet corner, not a fan club."
"Then I guess it's a good thing I'm not a fan. I'm more of a... dedicatedresearcher. And my first finding is that a 'quiet corner' is a terrible waste of your presence at a party."
Annie rolled her eyes, "a researcher, huh? Well, keep your 'findings' to yourself for now, Einstein. I haven't even had breakfast yet."
A slow, mischievous grin spreads across Riley's face, "Breakfast? Well, luckily for you, I make a mean omelet. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, I know a spot that has the best coffee in the town- though I doubt even their strongest roast could wake me up as fast as you did."
Annie laughs, a genuine, warm sound, but she holds up her hand- palm out, to gently create some space. "Slowdown there, Romeo. I think I'll stick to solo caffeine for now. I've only been back in town for two days, and I'm not quite ready to be 'researched' over eggs and toast."
Riley chuckled, "deal. But I'm claiming a full day of your time as a finder's fee."
"No promises," replied Annie.