The Water In My Lungs

"Imogen!" Andrew sang, running into the Bradley home. There were no cars parked in the driveway but only a single motorcycle. "We've got to go!"

Andy and Imogen came running down the stairs, bags in Andy's hands.

"Hey man." He said, smiling at Andrew.

"Hey." Andrew said, "Come on, if we're late to rehearsal we are dead. Literally."

"Great to see you too, Andrew." Imogen shook her head, and the trio ran out to Andrew's car.
Andy loaded all of Imogen's bags and his one, before sliding in the back with her.

"We're picking up Kiera by the way." Andrew smirked.

"Fuck! Why?" Imogen exclaimed.

"Because we're friends, Immie, you've got to get over this ridiculous thing with her." Andrew said.

"Who is Kiera?" Andy asked.

"A stupid brat who think's she is better than everyone else," Imogen huffed, "And I am not going to get over it."

"Whatever." Andrew rolled his eyes. Andy slid his arm over her shoulder and kissed her cheek.

"Well I'll be here for you, babe." He said, making Andrew roll his eyes.

"Don't encourage her, Andy. Kiera and Imogen have hated each other for ages. I'm trying to close the fight." Andrew said.

Imogen shook her head, "She's awful." Andrew just rolled his eyes and sped down the road. Before they knew it they were pulling in front of a huge home, almost as big as Imogen's but not quite.

She looked up at Andy and blushed a bit thinking of what happened the other night. He smiled down at her, as they heard the back of the car open.

She buried her face in Andy's chest and groaned. He rubbed her arm as the passenger side door opened and a girl with bright, blonde hair, tan skin, and a thin body hopped in the car.

"Hey Andrew! How are you?" She smiled, hugging him.

"I'm great." He said, pulling out of the driveway. Kiera's eyes drifted towards the pair in the back and she immediately was taken back.

Imogen's boyfriend had tattoo's and piercings? This was great! Kiera could use this against her to get better parts..

"Hey I'm Kiera." She smirked, turning to look at him.

"I'm Andy, Imogen's boyfriend." He said, adjusting in his seat.

"Awh you guys are adorable." She fakely, gushed. Imogen rolled her eyes and rested her chin on Andy's shoulder.

"Thanks." Andy said, running a hand through his newly shortened hair. Imogen leaned up to press her lips to his and he smiled against her mouth, knowing she just wanted to make Kiera jealous and he did too. He could already tell this girl was a class A bitch who wanted what Imogen had. Well, minus himself.

"Turn on some music." Imogen said, pulling away. Kiera was looking at the couple in disgust.

"No! Kiera and I are listening to the new Taylor Swift album." Andrew laughed.

"Dear god, Andrew, how are you going to be in a rock band?" Imogen shook her head.

"I like rock music too!" He said, "You two just watch a movie or something." Imogen took out her laptop and clicked on a horror movie she had in her iTunes. She plugged her headphones in and gave one to Andy. He smiled at her and rested his cheek on her head.

Throughout the drive she heard Andrew and Kiera talking. The words 'hardcore' and phrase 'too fast' got mentioned a lot. She knew they were talking about Andy and her and that really pissed her off.

Three hours later Andrew stopped in front of a rest stop. The competition was in New Mexico so they still had a while but Andrew was hungry.

"Okay guys, I'm starving." He said. Andy and Imogen took the headphones out of their ear's and hopped out of the car. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into his chest. She sighed happily and wrapped her arms around him, feeling him kiss her temple. "You guys can't go five minutes without touching each other." Andrew shook his head.

"Well you know what, when you fall in love tell me how you do it." Imogen smiled, fakely. Andrew was pissing her off today so she just held onto Andy. He reached down and grabbed her hand, before pulling away. She smiled at him and they followed Kiera and Andrew into the huge rest stop. It was only ten in the morning so Imogen figured they were getting breakfast.

Andy's hand guided to her hip as he saw Kiera whisper something to Andrew. Imogen sighed and turned her head so it was pressed in his shoulder. "If I had known she'd be riding with us.." She sighed.

"Don't worry about it." He said, kissing her cheek quickly. The couple walked inside the rest stop, and seperated from Andrew and Kiera.

They walked over to a small Starbucks and waited in line. Andy's hands stayed firmly around her waist the whole time. Ever since they had sex, he felt even more protective of her. If that was possible...

It was a more of a 'yeah, we're forever' thing, than a high school relationship. Andy knew when something was real and it was obvious this was.

He really wanted to get her a promise ring, but most of the money he earned went to his mother.
They walked up to the counter and Imogen smiled at the girl working it. She didn't smile back though, she was too mesmerized by Andy.

"Hi." He said, and Imogen swore she saw the girl drooling.

"Uhm hi, c-can I help you?" She stuttered, swallowing hard. He glanced down at his girlfriend.

"What do you want, baby?" He asked.

"Hmm just a tall soy latte." She said, as he rubbed her arm.

"Okay, a-anything else?" The girl asked. Andy chuckled.

"Just a grande black coffee." He said, gruffly, making the girl want to faint. She'd never seen a man like him..

"That'll be 6.15." She said, and Andy handed her a ten. She gave back the change and Andy smiled.

"Thank you." He said, and they walked over to wait for the drinks.

"Your such a tease." Imogen laughed.

"What do you mean?" Andy said, leaning in and resting his head in the crook of her neck.

"That poor girl just fell in love with you and you just smiled." She said, looking up at him.

"Didn't notice because I only have eyes for you." He whispered in her ear. She noticed the same girl staring longingly at them.

"Good." Imogen smiled up at him.

"Soy latte and black coffee." The girl said, and Andy grabbed them before thanking her. The girl leaned in so his girlfriend wouldn't hear. "Why are you with her?"

"She's my soulmate." Andy said, simply. He nodded and walked back to Imogen, handing her the cup.

"Thanks babe." She said, taking a sip. He kissed her forehead, noticing the girl still staring at them.

They walked hand in hand to where Kiera and Andrew were sitting. They both had food in front of them.

"You guys aren't eating?" Kiera raised her eyebrow.

"We're not very hungry." Imogen said.

Andy and her sat next to each other, hands still locked. She rested her head on his shoulder.

"So how did you two meet?" Kiera asked.

"We met at a music store." Andy said, quickly. Not wanting Andrew to interject, he shot a warning glare in his direction.

"Oh like that rock music Imogen likes?" Kiera laughed.

"Well yeah." Andy said, chuckling.

"Wow." She shook her head. "Well you don't look like the ballerina boyfriend type." Andrew snickered at her words and Imogen glared at him.

"Doesn't matter if we're in love." Andy said, setting his jaw.

"It does when your only sixteen." Kiera challenged.

"That's not what we're worrying about right now." Andy said.

"Maybe you should since it's illegal." Kiera said.

"It's consensual." Imogen said, sternly.

"Whatever." Kiera smirked, taking a bite of her bagel.

Andy squeezed Imogen's hand, letting her know he was there. He really didn't expect Kiera to be this much of a bitch.

"So speaking of the whole love thing, I've met a guy." Andrew said watching Imogen grab Andy's arm and close her eyes.

"That's great, Andrew!" Kiera exclaimed, "What's his name?"

"Micah.." Andrew blushed as Imogen only rolled her eyes. Andrew was being a dick and she wasn't forgetting that. "He's tall and dreamy and all together perfection."

"He sounds awesome!" Kiera gushed. Imogen took a sip of her coffee and looked up at her boyfriend. He looked uncomfortable and Imogen felt worry deep in her core that he'd feel that way all weekend.

"Imogen, you've got to meet him. I was the first to meet Andy, and it's only fair." Andrew smirked.

"Alright." Imogen said, rubbing Andy's knuckles. Kiera rolled her eyes at the couple before taking her last bite of bagel.

"So Andy what do you do?" She asked.

"I bar tend." He said.

"Don't you have to be 21?" She quirked her eyebrow and Andy sighed, angrily.

"I know a guy." He said, rolling his eyes. Imogen took another long sip of her drink. "I need a smoke, come with me?" Andy whispered in her ear. She nodded and the couple stood up.

"We'll meet you guys back at the car." Imogen said, taking his hand. They walked out together and to the smoking area. She sat down on his lap as he lit up, the cold air around them.

"She's a bitch." Andy chuckled. The only people around them were a few biker guys and a sad looking women, all smoking but Imogen.

She didn't mind that Andy smoked, she was just worried for his health.

"I know." Imogen sighed, pulling at her leggings. She was freezing right now and the only thing keeping her warm was Andy's arms. He could feel her shivering under him so he took his jacket off quickly and wrapped it around her shoulders. She smiled and pecked his lips. "I keep thinking about the other night."

"You don't regret it right?" He asked, nervously. Imogen giggled.

"No I want to do it again." She smiled and he grinned at her before kissing her neck repeatedly.

"Me too." He smiled, against her neck. He pulled away and took a long drag of his cigarette. "If Kiera hates me so much what are your other friends going to think?" He asked, his fag still between his teeth.

"I don't know." Imogen shrugged. "Doesn't matter, your here for me."

"I know I just don't want people to get angry because your tattooed, smoker, studded clothing, deep-voiced boyfriend is at a competition with you that's over run with preppy girls." He said.

"People may think that way but I don't care." She said, turning to look at him. He pressed a kiss to her lips and smiled.

"I love you."

"I love you too." She smiled, tasting smoke on his breath.

"Ewh! He smokes, Imogen!?!?" Kiera exclaimed. Andy and her looked up.

"Yeah." Imogen said, flatly.

"That's disgusting." Kiera shook her head.

Imogen felt herself growing angry. She knew why Andy started smoking. It was a stress reliever from his dad: that was something Imogen couldn't take away from him.

"He's my boyfriend, not yours. So it shouldn't matter." She seethed. "I'd really fucking appreciate it if you stopped insulting my other half."

Kiera's eyes widened, "Your other half?"

"Yes." Imogen said, definitely.

"Whatever. We've got to go. Andrew is in the car." Kiera said, walking away. Andy and Imogen stood up. He stomped out his fag and took Imogen's hand.

They walked behind Kiera, slowly. "Tell me we're not sharing a room with her." He whispered in Imogen's ear.

She chuckled, "We have our own room. Don't worry." She kissed his cheek, letting her lips linger a bit.

"Perfect." He smiled. They hopped in the already running car and Imogen immediately buried into Andy's side. He lovingly cuddled her as Andrew backed out of the parking space. Imogen slipped her eyes shut and quickly fell asleep.

Notes