The Mortician's Daughter

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Andy, we already know that. But that doesn't-"

"No." He said. "Not like that. Not how you think I do."

I furrowed my eyebrows together in confusion and watched as Andy avoided my gaze. Ashley didn't look quite as confused as I did and instead had is mouth set into a tight and impatient line.

"What do you mean?"

Andy shook his head, finally making eye contact with me. His eyes were shining with a vulnerability I had never seen before. "You know." He whispered.

And then it struck me. All of Andy's insane acts of jealousy and hovering when I was around Ashley or even spoke of him were all the product of the lanky man's immense feelings for me. Him wanting me to stay away from Ashley due to the bass player's crazy ways so I wouldn't get hurt was most likely true but, little did I know, there was more to it. Way more.

My heart was racing at an incredible speed but I couldn't decipher why. Could it be the fact that I had romantic feelings for him ever since I was a freshman but pushed those emotions aside in worries they would potentially ruin our close-knit friendship? Or could it be because this confession may create a wider gap between Andy and I; damaging our friendship beyond repair?

I cursed quietly and looked down at my shoes as I attempted to recollect my thoughts. There was an thick silence in the room, leaving me unsure if the two brawling men where still in there with me or not. "Why didn't you tell me sooner, Andy?" I asked, my voice coming out considerably harsh.

I looked up to see both men still standing before me. Ashley's eyes were locked on the side of Andy's head, narrowed in a deadly way. I'm sure he already made the assumption that this was "full proof" plan of Andy's to finally, once and for all, get me away from him. It was a reasonable theory, but I didn't want to jump to conclusions.

"How could I?" Andy said strongly. "Ever since you were little you thought of me as your big brother. Despite how I feel about you, I refused to say anything about it because I didn't want to ruin what we had; even if what we had wasn't what I wanted."

"So all of your attempts to keep me away from Ashley, all the things you said about him, were so you could have me all to yourself? Isn't that kind of possessive?" I placed a hand on my hip and glared at Andy challengingly.

He scowled. "Well when you put it like that, yeah.. But it's not like that."

"Kinda seems like it." Ashley murmured.

Andy eyes narrowed in on his band mate. He stalked over towards Ashley at a slow pace with his fists clenched at his side. "Got something to say, Ash?"

Ashley threw his hands up on mock surrender and with a smirk on his face he said, "No, no. I just think it's really cute how whenever I attempt to make this right with Dahlia, you've always got something new to tell her. Whether it's about me or, and this is a new one, your hidden desire to be with Dahlia, you always seem to intrude on our personal conversations with a new thing that you pulled out of your ass." Ashley cocked his head to the side as he awaited Andy's response.

Andy's shoulders visibly shook and his face reddened as he closed the already small gap between himself and Ashley. The two men were sizing each other up, silently challenging one another to throw the first punch. I made the quick decision to step in before it escalated to that.

"Enough! This has gone on for too long and I'm sick of it!" I looked between the two, my hands placed firmly on their chests. "You guys are playing a fucking game of tug of war with me! Did either of you, even once, think to ask about my feelings? How I felt?"

That heavy silence was back, my ragged breathing being the only sound to be heard . I refused to look at either of them anymore and instead directed my narrowed gaze to the floor as I allowed my hands to slip in between them and back down to my sides.

Andy sighed. "Lia.."

"No." I said, "Don't speak. I don't wanna hear another bullshit apology from either of you. You guys can yell at each other, threaten each other, hell, you can even kick each other's ass for all I care! Just leave me out of it. I'm done." With that, I started for my bedroom.

"Dahlia, wait." Ashley pleaded, grabbing my elbow.

I yanked my arm out of his grasp, shook my head, and continued my walk down the hallway, slamming my bedroom door behind me. I had officially thrown in the rag, given up, surrendered. I couldn't deal with being tossed back and forth like a ragged doll.

I was done.

Notes

shortish chapter but it's late & at least I'm updating!