I don’t know exactly when, but I did fall asleep. I woke up abruptly. Andy’s head was cradled in his arms on the couch near my face. He was still propped up against the couch but asleep. He fell asleep comforting me? His face was just inches from mine. It was so quiet I could hear his faint breathing. His lip twitched, dear lord they are still perfectly kissable as I ever remembered them.
Kiss him I thought. Just kiss him. I wanted to so badly. I took a breath. I held it then let it out, getting angry at myself for not doing it. On the count of three. One. Two. Three. Nothing, I just stared at him god dammit I’m just a chicken. Andy stirred, I immediately closed my eyes to make it look like I was still sleeping. I heard shifting, then I heard a screen door open and close. I peeked with one eye. Andy was nowhere to be seen, he was outside, probably smoking.
I sat up. I had an instant headrush. After a moment of recollecting myself I got up. I saw Andy standing at the stairs on his back porch. I went outside and stood next to him. He was just sort of zoning out.

“Andy” I said touching his shoulder, he turned to me “You ok?” I asked

“Yeah…it’s just” he said not finishing

“Just what? Did I say something wrong?” I asked worriedly

“No, it’s not you trust me” he smiled “but…after you shared something so painful with me, it got me thinking” he said

“About?” I asked

“Life. How it works. How it plays out” he said sitting down on the steps “How it can be so hard for others, but so easy for someone else” he said

I sat down next to him

He laughed to himself “Here you are after you told me about something so horrible, and I’m sitting here thinking about how lucky I am to even be alive” he said

“What do you mean?” I asked

“A few years ago…I almost lost my life” he said “Sometimes it haunts my thoughts that I should have died that day, but I didn’t” he said

“Wha- what happened?” I asked. I knew what he was exactly talking about.

“I got in a really bad car accident” he said “I should have died” he sighed

I couldn’t find a single word to say

“I don’t even remember it hardly. All I remember was that I was stopped at a light. I saw green, the light it turned green. I pressed on the gas pedal and suddenly everything was dark” he said

“Andy” I said putting my hand on his shoulder

“I heard someone” he said “I heard someone screaming my name like in a bloody carnage movie” he continued.

He heard me? He heard me screaming his name! He must have barely been conscious!

He took a deep breath “I woke up in a hospital bed a week later, I had been in a coma” he said

“Andy, I’m so sorry” I said rubbing his shoulder

“Ahhh, it’s fine” he shrugged “I’m here today, that’s the only thing that matters right?” he asked

“We’re both here” he said staring off into the sky “After everything life has thrown at us, we’re still alive” he said

It was almost as if Andy knew. Like he knew I was in that car with him. Almost as if he never forgot me. But in the end, I couldn’t fool myself and actually believe he remembers me.

“Alright, that’s enough depressing shit for one day” Andy said standing up. “I should probably get you back to the restaurant, to get you to your car” he said

“Yeah…” I said a bit upset, I wanted to still hang out with him

He must have read my feelings in my voice “aahh don’t worry we’ll hang out again, today was ruined, but we got to know each other a little more” he smiled

I couldn’t help but smile back. I suddenly hugged him, he seemed surprised.

“Thank you Andy” I said

“For what?” he seemed confused

“For being alive” I said

“Ok then?” he said

We made it back to my work, I told Andy what my car was, which happened to be a red Grand Am. He pulled up next to it. I got out of the car and shut the door. Andy rolled down the window.

“I won’t be available tomorrow, or the day after that, but after that I’m available” he said

Two days? I won’t see him for two days? Well I can’t have him all to myself, he has family and other friends her after all.

“Ok” I said

“Maybe we could have an actual fun day” he said

“That is very needed” I smiled

He smiled “Bye Sonny, I’ll see you later” he said

“Bye” I said as he rolled up the window

He pulled out of the spot and sped away. I sighed and turned on my heel to go inside. Once I made it in Misty was waiting at the door for me, she was holding out the home phone to me nearly shoving it in my face.

“Ok Ok jeez” I said taking it

I put it against my chest “Who is it?” I asked

“Your mom, she seems really pissed” Misty sat down on the couch

Oh jeez. Here it goes. I put the phone to my ear.

“Hello?” I said

“Sonny?” she asked

“Who else?” I said annoyed

“Michael came home with a sprained wrist today!” she half yelled into the phone

“and….so?” I said

“SO? SO? Your little boyfriend did it!” she yelled

“Andy’s not my boyfriend, and Michael got what he deserved” I said

“Just what exactly did he do to deserve that?” she pressed

“He touched my ass! While I was working!” I snapped

“Oh whatever, it’s all in your head” she said

“Hardly, Andy caught him doing it, he wasn’t going to stand for it” I said

“You know what? You’re no longer welcome in my household if you can’t get along with Michael” she snapped

“Why would I want to go over there anyways? It’s like hell on earth” I hung up the phone

“What did she want?” Misty asked

“She “Uninvited” me to her house” I rolled my eyes using air quotations

Misty laughed. I headed down the hallway to the bathroom. I opened the door and was about to step in.

“DON’T” I heard a shout. I immediately covered my eyes. Tate, thank god he had wrapped a towel around himself before I saw anything.

“Oh I forgot! Tate’s here” Misty yelled down the hallway

“Thanks for the heads up!” I yelled backing out of the bathroom

I guess I can’t bitch at Misty for Tate staying here, it’s her place too. Originally she lived by herself until I came along, I help her pay rent, so I’m lucky enough to even live here. I went into my room, which had a bathroom and washed my face. Standing at the sink I let the water drip. I looked at myself in the mirror.
Fucking hell.