Spin the Bottle

-Ashley's POV-

We had almost finished the movie when Brent interrupted us.
"Dinner time, faggots," he told us. "And yes, you have to come down." I sighed, taking off the blanket.
"Please don't call us that, Brent. Remember when we were friends? What happened to that?" Brent pointed to Andy.
"He happened. Come on, before it gets cold." He stomped down the stairs.
"I feel like I'm ruining your relationship with your family," Andy said as we stood up and stretched after laying down for so long. I shrugged.
"I don't care. I was bound to bring home a boyfriend at some point, they need to accept who I am," I replied. "Though of course, none of them would be you and therefore not permanent," I added.
"Are you saying we'll be together forever and this could some day progress beyond just boyfriends?" He questioned, taking a step towards me. I took his hand in mine, staring into my eyes.
"Yes. If that's what you want." Instead of kissing me like I thought he would, he did something different. Andy picked me up and spun me around as if I weighed nothing, before holding me in his arms bridal style, then crashed his lips against mine.
"Of course that's what I want. Not today, not tomorrow, but someday, my Ashes, we'll get married." He set me down again. I kissed him, heart leaping, pulse racing, as everything around me faded out. He meant forever. He really meant forever. I didn't know how a person could be this lucky.
"Lovebirds! Get down here!" Brent yelled from the bottom of the stairs. But at least he didn't call us fags. Andy and I looked at each other and laughed as we walked hand in hand to the second floor where Brent was waiting. I don't know why, though, considering he didn't like me anymore. He bit his lip.
"You ok?" I asked him.
"Did you mean it?"
"Mean what?"
"When you said you would get married some day."
"Of course we meant it. Why do you ask?" He shrugged, looking at the floor.
"I saw you guys up there, with the spinning at all."
"And your point is?..."
"It was actually kind of sweet," he admitted to us, blushing before he pulled himself together. "Don't tell anyone I said that." Andy laughed.
"We won't," he promised. We walked down to dinner. Unfortunately, we were late, and therefore everyone stared at the three of us as we took our place at the table in between Aunt Carla and mom, thankfully. Tensity hung heavy in the air, a dark, wet, curtain that shadowed everyone's faces when they looked at us. I ignored it, gaining strength from Andy, who always helped me, and Brent's comment. We managed to survive dinner and were about to retreat back to the attic when one of my cousins tripped Andy. He caught himself and pretended it didn't happen, but I was sick of this. My family should be supportive, not destructive.
"Quit it, Marcella," I snapped at her.
"Or what, fag boy?" She teased. I turned to face everyone in the room to make an announcement.
"I'm sick of everyone treating us like this. It's not right and not fair. Andy and I should be able to be ourselves without being judged, flipped off, or insulted. Love is love, no matter what gender. I love Andy and he loves me. There's nothing you can do about it except accept it, because we're not changing." I grabbed him and kissed him passionately, and he kissed back just as deeply. When we pulled away, the once bustling room of people was dead silent, frozen in shock.
"Come on, baby, let's go back up to the attic," I suggested, and we turned our back on the statues before they came to life again.
"You're not going anywhere but out of this house if you're going to act like that. It's wrong. Leave my house," my grandfather ordered.
"Gladly if you act like that," I shot back, fed up with them. And so, Andy and I marched out of the house and sat on the porch. They locked the door behind us.
My parents did nothing to stop them.
"At least there's no snow and it's not very cold," Andy pointed out cheerfully. I couldn't help but laugh.
"You're really looking on the bright side? My family is a menace, look how they're treating you. I'm so sorry, Andy. I should have refused returning. This is all my fault."
"Hey," he said, stroking my face. "Remember what I told you before? I couldn't be happier as long as I'm with you. I don't care if I'm in a town of homophobes or supporters, you're here and that's all that matters. Stop blaming yourself for them, honey, ok?"
"Ok," I smiled. Andy always knew how to make me feel better. "Now how can we make the most of this?" A boom of thunder answered my question. I glanced up at the sky to see dark storm clouds threatening to spill over. Drops of rain began to splatter down. "Wanna dance in the rain?" I asked Andy. He grinned.
"Nothing would make me happier." I stood up and took his hand in mine, twirling him around as the rain began to pound down harder. He spun me next, laughing as we danced foolishly to the song of nature drumming the ground all around us. We slowed down when we were fully soaked. Andy began humming softly to himself while I had my face resting on his chest. We rocked back and forth slowly.
"Mm, what are you humming, dear?" I asked him, and he paused in thinking.
"I don't actually know, I was just making up a song in my head."
"Can I hear it?"
"It's not very long, but sure. So take your hand in mine, it's ours tonight, this is a rebel love song, hearts will sacrifice, it's do or die, this is a rebel love song... Yeah that's all I have so far," he mumbled, blushing. I was stunned, pulling away.
"Andy, that's amazing! You're a great singer, too. We should totally form that band you were talking about earlier!"
"You think so?"
"Of course I think so!" I hugged him again.
"Psst! Guys!" Brent hissed from the doorway. We ran over there. "I'm not supposed to be here, but I thought you might want some dessert." He passed us each a paper plate with a small piece of pie on it.
"Thank you, Brent," we both told him.
"You're welcome. Check the back door in like 10 minutes, I'll leave you a couple towels." I meant to thank him again, but someone called his name and he had to go.
"Wow, that was nice of him," Andy said afterward as we sat on the porch eating pie. The rain was clearing up, thankfully. We picked up the towels and hid in the shed to dry off once we finished. Brent had also left us a message written in pen on a napkin.

Tell this to anyone and you will regret it. I'm sorry I treated you guys the way I did when I first met you. Honestly, you scared me, because I don't know if I'm straight or not, personally. I always thought it was impossible until I saw you two, and the fact that I don't know myself scares me. I've never had a significant other that I really cared for. You guys were really cute dancing in the rain out there, by the way. Rip this up and throw it away once you're done reading it. Speak of this to no one, not even me.
-Brent
P.S. Don't be too harsh on Aunt Carla and your parents, they're trying to get you back in but no one's allowing them to or letting them leave.

"This is pretty surprising," was all I was able to say afterward. Andy nodded in agreement, cuddling next to me to try to stay warm and dry. We hung out there in the shed, just with each other, not words. The car ride home was the same way after mom and dad's endless apologizing. I helped Andy set up his things in the guest room before heading to bed. I had to admit, it felt good to sleep in my own bed again.

-Andy's POV-

I woke up to the sound of 'happy birthday' being sung by three voices, one enthusiastic one in particular. I sat up groggily and rubbed my eyes.
"What's this?" I asked, staring with blurry vision at a chocolate cupcake with blue frosting and a candle in it. The singing stopped.
"Happy birthday, Andy!" Ashley exclaimed excitedly.
"Huh? It's not my... Oh, wait, no, it is my birthday!" I laughed, waking up some more. I had completely forgotten about my birthday.
"Blow out your candle, baby!" I grinned and did so. Ashley set the cupcake down on a nightstand table and jumped into bed with me, putting an arm around my shoulder and kissing my cheek repeatedly.
"Uh, so how old are you turning today, Andy?" His dad asked awkwardly.
"17," I answered through Ashley's kisses. I finally turned to him to give him a real kiss on the lips.
"We'll give you two some privacy," his mom told us as they both left the room.
"Ok, so how are we gonna split this cupcake?" He asked. I shrugged.
"Honestly, I'm just impressed that you remembered my birthday when even I forgot about it." He shook his head.
"It's settled then. I'm taking you somewhere special today."
"You already bought me VIP concert tickets," I reminded him.
"Yeah, but that's like a month away. We need to do something today." I pressed my lips to his.
"I already have everything I need right here. But sure, why not go somewhere?"
"Here, you eat your birthday cupcake and get dressed. Meet me downstairs, I'll have a plan, ok darling?"
"Thanks baby." I kissed him one last time. I really did have an amazing boyfriend.

Notes

Yay, another chapter up!! Ok, uh, what else?? Oh yeah, don't know when the next update will be, sorry. Shouldn't be too far away.