The Water In My Lungs

Imogen plucked at the strings on her guitar as always. It was midnight and there were no signs of Andy. She almost threw in the towel until she heard a familiar rustling in the bushes, like she'd heard that first time she thought someone was watching. She looked down to see Andy smiling up at her. He was placing his foot on a branch of the tree by her window, testing the stability.

"Can I come up?" He asked, grinning. She nodded, smiling like a fool and he hesitantly climbed the wobbly tree.

He pulled himself up and sat on the padded window sill with her. They just stared at each other for a few minutes, small smiles on both of their faces.

"Isn't this romantic?" He chuckled. She nodded as he laced his fingers with her's. "I feel like I've known you forever."

"Me too." Imogen said honestly, but then she remembered the conversation she had earlier today with her sister. She popped up and turned away from him.

Andy looked confusedly at her, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She sighed, tracing the pattern of her quilt.

"Imogen don't lie to me." He said, standing up and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"It's my.." She shook her head, "My sister."

"What about her?" Andy asked.

"She likes you." She said, biting her lip, "Or she says she does."

"You act like I give two fucks." Andy breathed out a laugh. "She's a bitch. Cheats on everyone. Why would I go for her when your standing in front of me?"

Imogen turned to look at him, "Your the first guy who has ever said that to me."

"This has happened before?"

"More times than you think.." Suddenly Andy's arms were wrapped around her in a warm embrace that stole her breath away.

"It's not going to happen with me. I promise." His lips placed against her forehead and she
shuddered. "Cold, right?"

She chuckled and shook her head, "Not this time." He grinned at her and tilted her chin up to him. She swallowed harshly, thinking she had an idea where this was going. He leaned in closer to her and all of the sudden she pulled back. Her face was beet red. "I-I, Andy I'm sorry.." She shook her head in embarrassment.

"Hey hey hey, it's okay." He took her face in his hands, and soothingly rubbed her cheeks, "I understand why you're nervous, we just met."

"I just, I don't usually kiss on the first date let alone the first day." Imogen bit her lip.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have even-"

"No it wasn't your fault. I really want too, trust me. I'm just not ready." She said.

"Imogen, you're so beautiful. So much more beautiful than Brooke." Andy said brushing her hair behind her ear, "Will you sing for me?"

"I-I.."

"Please?"

"I guess." She said, grabbing her guitar off of the window sill. "What should I sing?"

"Sing an original song, I know you have one." He grinned at her.

"I do but.."

"But?"

"It's personal." She blushed.

Andy raised an eyebrow at her and leaned in close to her ear, "If we're going to make this work you have to open up to me." He left a kiss behind her ear lobe. She swallowed hard and nodded.

Do you believe in happy endings?

Or the mendings of human hearts?

Oh I believe in both I'm certain

Because these curtains are state of the art

If you'd occasionally happen to spy on me

You'd think I'm having one sided conversations

But I hear him talking back

You'd think I may even lack some sanity

But maybe I can't let go

And so I'll say I finally wrote your song at last,

Sorry that this one came out so sad

Every tear I had was shed for the man

That gave me a better sense of life and meaning

To motivate there's no short cuts to success

I'll wait for his guiding hands.

My guardian angel until the very end

I see a cold seat on the couch where I remember

That just four years ago around December,

You sat me down and held me next to you, so close

How I long for things to be restored

To back when times weren't quite this hard

In the car that song you sang to me

Never rang so loud before

Oh what I'd give, for just another hug from you

You may be gone, but love will never die

So I'll say I finally wrote your song at last,

Sorry that this one came out so sad

Every tear I had was shed for the man

That gave me a better sense of life and meaning

To motivate and no short cuts to success

I'll wait for his guiding hands.

My guardian angel until the very end

Tears can't run dry, when I start to cry

When I hear people speak of how you'd be so proud of me

And how I hope this song will reach your ears

I battled all my darkest fears

I once was blind but now it's clear,

Wherever I go I know that you'll be near

I finally wrote your song at last,

Sorry that this one came out so sad

Any tear I had was shed for the man

That gave me a better sense of life and meaning

To motivate there's no short cuts to success

I'll wait for his guiding hands.

My guardian angel until the very end

Oh, until the very end

My guardian angel until the very end


Andy's mouth hung open as she strummed the last chord of the beautiful song. "That song.." He shook his head, "You wrote that!?"

"Yeah." She nodded and blushed deeper than she already was.

"It's amazing, Imogen, you have a talent!" He exclaimed.

"Thanks." She chuckled strumming a few more chords out. Andy leaned on her knees as she played to him, to the only person that's ever listened.

Eventually they both fell asleep, Andy's head laying on the guitar and his body in the middle of her legs, and Imogen's hands were tangled in his hair.

They laid there asleep for hours until the door slammed open. Brooke and Annie stood there, dumbfounded. Andy and Imogen popped there heads up, sun was steaming through the window and they realized Andy had slept over.

"What the hell, Im?" Brooke exclaimed. Andy and Imogen looked at each other in worry.

"I, we-" Imogen tried but Annie cut her off.

"She's under his spell, just like everyone else he, well you know," She paused for emphasis, "Wants to get with."

"That's not true, I like Imogen, unlike you Annie and I will never like people as superficial as you again, not now that I've met Imogen. She has true beauty." Andy said, grabbing her hand and standing up.

"Imogen I told you yesterday that I..." Brooke flicked her eyes to Andy and made a face.

"No Brooke, I'm done. I'm done trying to please you!" Imogen exclaimed, "That's not fair. I met Andy first, you can't just sweep in and take him!" Brooke's mouth dropped open.

"I'm telling mom about this." She seethed.

"Fine, like she'll care." Imogen said. Brooke and Annie ran out of the room leaving the two of them alone once again. Andy grabbed her face and turned it so she looked at him. Then he pressed his body to hers and grabbed her arms and rested them around his neck. He pressed his forehead to hers.

"Wow." He said, chuckling.

"Look at all the shit you've brought into my life and we're not even dating." She smiled pushing their noses closer.

"Well I can't help it, I'm a popular guy." He said. She nodded and buried her face in his shoulder.
The door opened and they broke apart. Her mother stood there, looking curious, with Brooke and Annie.

"How did he get in here?" She asked.

"I let him in." Imogen said, before Andy could interject.

"Well Im, this is not appropriate for someone your age. Don't do it again." Her mother fumbled over her words since she'd never really said that many to her. Her eyes softened when she saw how much she looked like....him.

"Whatever. You can't just step in after fifteen years of not being a mother and suddenly become one. It doesn't work that way." Imogen spat.

Tears welled up in her mothers eyes, "You don't know anything."

"Fine." Her mom ran out and Brooke and Annie stared at them.

"Where did your taste go?" Annie asked after a few moments of silence.

"It just got here." Andy said wrapping an arm around Imogen's shoulders and glaring at the two other girls.

"Whatever!" They said walking out of the room. Imogen locked the door and slid down it. Tears threatened to spill out and Andy saw. He bolted to her side and pulled her on his lap. She felt so safe and secure in his embrace. So at home. He didn't say anything just softly hummed into her ear as she cried.

They stayed like that for what seemed like hours. Andy felt his phone buzzing but he ignored it. "Spend today with me?" He asked, knowing he'd be crazy busy this week.

"Okay." Imogen nodded.

"I have to go home and change. You can come with me if you want." He said, shyly. He was a little nervous about his family meeting her. Especially his father.

"Alright." She said, "Let me change and stuff." He chuckled and let her off his lap.

She came back in the room ten minutes later with a pair of black leggings, spiked boots, a tank top and her leather jacket on. Her hair was clipped back on one side and teased all around. To Andy, she looked like a goddess.

"Shall we?" He asked, offering her a hand. She took it.

"We shall."

Notes

Song credit- Dad's Song by Set It Off