Standing next to the refrigerator, I saw that Ashley still wasn’t awake. I decided to make breakfast for the guys that had been so generous as to let me into their lives.

I searched around for the ingredients to make pancakes. Once I had accomplished that, I searched around for a decent sized skillet. I mixed up the pancake ingredients in a bowl, and then turned a stove burner on, adding some butter in. The pan warmed up and I got to cooking.

A stack of pancakes later, I looked in the fridge for some eggs and bacon. The tile floor was cold on my bare feet, but I kept cooking. I looked up from setting two plates out to see Andy walking down the stairs. He was stretching and yawning at the same time.

“Good morning, hun.” I giggled.
“Morning.” His voice was raspy, tender, and deeper than usual.

His eyes were back to bright blue, and his hair was sticking up-- it made me giggle seeing him so innocent.

“You look good in my shirt.” He was looking at me with his sleepy eyes, a smile plastered across his face.
“Oh, do I…” A smirk spread across my face.

He just kept smiling and walked over to me, giving me a sleepy hug. He smelled good; like a man. Every man has a specific smell to them; I loved ‘his’ smell a lot. His arms were warm and they made me feel so safe, even though it was just for a moment.

He sat down at the bar in front of me and I pushed a plate of pancakes, eggs, and bacon towards him. I stumbled to the fridge and grabbed out the syrup, and butter. Over to the silverware drawer, I grabbed forks and knives.

Andy was already eating one of the pancakes folded up in his hand; like a taco. I let out a small giggle and put a knife and fork on his plate.

“Thaqueks.” He slurred with a mouthful of pancakes.

Ashley came stumbling down the stairs holding his head.

“Ugh. I have such a hangover.” He stuttered while pulling up a seat at the bar, next to Andy.
“Morning Sunshine. How was your date?” I asked him. “I see you drank a lot.” I slid him a glass of water and an Ibuprophen.

He just smirked a bit and grabbed a pancake.

“Has she left yet?” Andy asked, referring to the girl Ashley spent his night with.
“Yeah, she left earlier. Annndd. To answer your question, beautiful, it would’ve been better if it was with you.”
“Good to see that even with a hangover you’re still the same old Ashley.” I chuckled and pushed a plate of pancakes towards him.
“Only for you babe.” I walked around the bar and hugged Ashley, ruffling his already messy hair.

The boys sat at the bar shoving the food I had cooked in their faces. Man, they must’ve been pretty hungry. I guess home cooked meals are a perk of having a woman in the house.

“You look gorgeous today.” Ashley complimented me. Andy glared over at Ashley before returning to eating his food.
“Thanks Ash.” I giggled.
Looking over to Andy, I asked, “hey Andy, could you drive me to my house so I can get ready?”
“Of course. I’m done eating if you want to go now.”
“I just have to get my phone and my shoes.” I dashed up the stairs and into his room.

---

We both climbed out of Andy’s Challenger and made our way to the front door of my house. Finding the spare key under the doormat, I unlocked the door and we stumbled inside. We stepped into the kitchen and the I stared at the drunken mess I had made two days ago —bottles everywhere, the table was knocked over, papers were lying all over the floor. I couldn’t believe what I had done; and I didn’t remember doing any of it.

“I’m so sorry. I…I didn’t know it was like…I…I didn’t know I had done this.” I hung my head, upset with myself.
“Crystal, it’s alright. You don’t have to apologize for anything. Here, I’ll pick it up while you go get ready.”
“I can’t let you pick up my mess, Andy.”
“Too bad you don’t have a choice, baby.” He smiled at me as he began picking up papers off the floor.

I gave him a weak smile, stepping through the mess and into the hallway that led to my room. Safely inside my room, I let a few silent tears roll down my cheeks. Wiping them away with the back of my hand, I fell onto my bed. My life was in shambles; it always had been. I didn’t know how to have a ‘normal’ life, and now I was dragging Andy down with me. I felt so horrible for the mess I had created; not just the physical mess, but the emotional mess I’d put Andy and Ashley through. I knew that Andy’s room was a wrecked because he was probably awake for days, freaking out over me being in the hospital. I have to get my shit together! It’s not fair of me to fuck their lives up because they are too nice to leave. From this point on you WILL.BE. HAPPY.

I pulled myself together and got dressed. My outfit wasn’t too fancy, nor was it too casual; it was perfect for whatever shenanigans would ensue. I finished tying my shoe just as I heard a knock on my door.

“Crystal? Can I come in?”
“Yes, Andy.” As he made his way around the corner, I noticed his blue eyes were shining brightly, and he was grinning at me.

He stood in the middle of my room, studying all the random things that covered my walls. I’d spent months making this place perfect—it was my cocoon, and the only place I felt truly safe. Every little detail means the world to me, and now; someone who means a lot to me is looking over every inch of it. His eyes finally reached the Black Veil Brides posters that hung in the corner next to my bed. He smirked at me, realizing I was a fan of the band.

I flung my onto my arms, slid my phone into my pocket, and grabbed my car keys.

“You ready to go?”
“Yes indeed. Are we going back to Ashley’s house?”
“I think we should go on an adventure; I have to make your time in Missouri worthwhile.”

Notes

Haiiii! So, question: would you rather I write out every day [in the story], or every other day, or would you rather see time skips to important things? Tell me which you would prefer. Also, shanks so much for all the positive feedback! It makes me so very happy to know all of you like it. This story means so much to me--I'm writing it not just as something good to read, but something that's meant to help you. Stay beautiful everyone <3