Far And Away.

Looking into Andy's eyes Flora felt tears come to her own. He sang so beautifully, his fingers curling perfectly around her fret of the old acoustic. His plush pink lips looked so fresh and kissable in that moment Flora almost pushed the guitar off of his lap and crashed their mouths together. She was head over heels for her next door neighbor and judging by the playful and loving look in his eyes, he knew.

He strummed the last note of the song and the pair stared at each other in silence for a few moments. The candles around them flickered and produced light on both of their wind burned cheeks. Andy said nothing: he just placed his guitar on the ground and opened his arms for her. She smiled and happily wrapped her own arms around his middle.

"I love you too, Andy." She whispered, right against his heart. His lips curled into a grand smile as he rubbed her blanket covered back.

"I was hoping you'd say that." He said, making her chuckle. "I hate to ask cheesy questions but.."

"Will I be your girlfriend?" Flora smirked.

"Bingo." Andy winked.

"How could I say no?" She grinned. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.

"I'm so glad." He said. She buried her face in his neck, and sighed in content.

"This was sweet and all, but I'm freezing!" Flora laughed against his skin.

"Well then let's get home." Andy said, kissing her gently once more. Her beautiful blue eyes blinked as a snowflake fell in her lashes.

"How did you even get all of this stuff up here?" She asked him, looking around. He stood up and began blowing out candles.

"It might have involved bribing a janitor." He smirked and Flora laughed.

"How much?"

"Twenty bucks." Andy said, gathering all of the candles once they had been snubbed and putting
them in a canvas bag. Flora only rolled her eyes as she looked at charmer in front of her, whom she had hated not so long ago.

"So that's the price for getting a girlfriend?" She chuckled, standing and folding the blanket that had been around her.

"Nah, that's the price of being on the roof without getting in trouble." He smiled. "I'm pretty positive you cost a lot more than twenty bucks, Flora." He pulled her tiny body to his, "In fact, you don't even have a price. The love you offer, it's priceless." She let the blanket fall to the ground as his lips came to rest on hers again.

Andy always knew what to say to her to make her swoon. He knew the right times to kiss her, or the right times to hold her hand. Everything with Flora was right and he knew that he had to cherish her because if he lost her, he didn't know what he'd do.

After a couple more minutes of the blooming kiss, wind and snowflakes swirling around them, the couple descended back down the old stairs. Andy's guitar was bouncing against his leg as they walked back to his parents car. He begged them to let him take it to school this morning, and Flora found it slightly odd, since they usually just walked or rode the bus, but now she understood why.

"Flora, why can't I ever read your writing?" Andy asked, out of the blue. Flora felt her cheeks flush. Most of her writing lately had been influenced by him.

"I don't know, I guess I'm just private about it." She lied.

"You don't have to be. I wouldn't judge you." Andy promised.

"Maybe I'll let you read one of my stories in a little while then." She smiled. She'd let him read the one about the Civil War. That wasn't heavily influenced by him.

"Okay." He smiled, glancing over at her. She was beautiful-her eyes looking tired after a day at school and her hair still blown around from the wind outside.

Andy pulled into their complex and jumped out quickly. He grabbed his bags and guitar as Flora took the blankets.

Their steps banged against the stairs as they quickly raced up them. They'd probably just hang out in Flora's room and listen to music but those were the most relaxing times. When there was nothing to do.

As they drew closer to the Walsh family apartment they heard the sound of music already playing. Not just any music: The Misfits.

Andy hummed along to Die, Die My Darling as they walked inside. It smelled like cleaning supplies and Flora smiled as she realized what her mother must be doing. Cleaning.

"Cleaning day." She grinned as Andy put his guitar and bags down on the kitchen table. "Mom?"
Donna skidded into the couples view, her hair thrown up in a messy bun, and a mop in hand. "Oh great! I though the apartment could use a little cleaning. Why don't you two help me?"
Flora and Andy took off their shoes and coats before joining Donna. Pretty soon they all got into a groove. Mopping different rooms, and singing along to the songs produced from the playlist Donna concocted.

Two hours later Flora and Andy were strewn across the couches, eating the frozen pizza Donna had just cooked for them. They were watching the old Adam West' Batman television series and geek-ishly quoting almost every word while Donna was over at the Biersacks.
Andy and Flora were positive this was going to be the best Christmas break of their lives. Only because they would get to spend it together.

Notes