Escaping Grace

"Uh, hey, Leah," he said after an awkward moment.
"Hey..."
"So I was just leaving," he said, and I moved out of the way quickly. He stepped around me, pulling his jacket on as he did.
I stepped into the apartment and turned to close the door.
"Oh, hey, um, tell Vale I'll call her later, okay?"
"Uh, sure, no problem," this was getting weird. "You could tell her yourself, y'know. I can make an excellent freezer waffle."
He hesitated, and stopped as if debating his options. "You know what? A freezer waffle sounds amazing," he smiled, and I smiled back.
"Come on in," I chuckled, and closed the door after him. I glanced about the apartment, seeing it reveled Andys in cleanliness.
I sighed. "Gimme a few minutes to change and I'll be right back," I said, heading to my room, right off from the kitchen. Like Andys, the kitchen and living room shared space, but the rest of the rooms were down the hallway past my room. I would die for a shower, I thought as I changed into comfy clothes. I glanced longingly at my bathroom door, but I didn't have time. I pulled my hair into a quick bun and washed my face, and then headed back into the kitchen.
CC had made himself at home, sitting on top of the small kitchen table. He was texting when I came back in. "So where were you, anyway?" he asked as I opened the freezer.
"Um. I was... Getting coffee."
"Coffee."
"Yeah," I pulled the Eggos out, and popped them in the toaster. "But I forgot my wallet."
"In last nights clothes?" I turned with a frown. "I fell asleep in them. What is this, the Inquisition?"
"Sorry, " he said hastily, glancing down at his phone. I pursed my lips, then grabbed some plates from the cabinet.
"Syrup?"
"Yeah. And butter." I grabbed the butter from the fridge, and slid it across the table to him with a spoon. He didn't say anything, just fixed his own waffles.
I heard crashing from Vales room, meaning she was rising from her beauty sleep. I started boiling some water on the stove.
As CC munched on his five star breakfast, I made myself hot chocolate.
Vale suddenly appeared from her room, and blinked. CC turned, giving her a smile full of waffle. She blinked, then cracked a smile back. "I figured you would have left."
"Well, your roomie offered me breakfast and I couldn't turn it down," he said, and Vale looked at me in surprise. She knew I couldn't cook.
"Eggo," I lifted up the box as I sipped my hot chocolate. "Yours are about done."
She walked to the toaster as they popped up. "Don't you have a band meeting this morning?" I asked as I waited on my own Eggos. "Yeah, at ten. Ash and Jinxx are over at Andys trying to wake him up. He sleeps like a rock."
I tried not to choke on my hot chocolate.
"That's how Leah is. And God forbid if you wake her up," Vale rolled her eyes. "I won't make that mistake anymore."
CC laughed. "We gotta meet Jake at the studio. He says sorry he couldn't make it last night. Family thing."
I listened, buttering the waffles. I frowned.
Did I tell Andy I liked waffles?
I suddenly wished I could remember.
At least my headache was more of a dull throb now rather then a jackhammer.
"Dude, what happened to your phone?" Vale suddenly demanded, and I glanced over.
"I got splashed by a taxi last night after all of you ditched me and it got messed up."
Vale sat it down, an apologetic look on her face.
"It's whatevs," I said, feeling super tired. "I'm going to go to sleep, so I'll see you at the studio."
"What? It's like nine," Vale blinked.
"NINE?" I gasped in horror. "VALE, I HAVE TO MEET CRAIG AT TEN."
"So?" Vale looked at me. I didn't respond, just ran into my room with an Eggo in my mouth. I showered in record time and threw on comfy clothes, a Set It Off hoody and my comfiest jeans. I grabbed my toothbrush and ran towards the laundry room.
I stopped, seeing CC and Vale sitting at the table.
"WE HAVE TO LEAVE IN FIVE MINUTES."
Vale jumped, and they both turned to look at me. "Leah, chill. Nate probably wouldn't even get up until twelve, and you know Craig is never on time. Early mornings are never early. Whose bed did you wake up in to make you so grouchy?"
My face reddened slightly, and I jerked my toothbrush out of my mouth, about to yell.
"You have toothpaste everywhere and look like a rabid dog," Vale said, glaring at me.
I narrowed my eyes.
Fine.
FINE.
I stalked back to my room and finished brushing my teeth, then hastily applied my makeup. I didn't want to be here when Andy got here. I needed a couple days before I had to see him, not hours.
Agitated, I walked to my nightstand and pulled out my pills, pouring two out in my shaking hand. I popped them in my mouth and sipped the glass of water I always had by my bed.
I took a deep breath.
Don't freak out and beat up Vale, I told myself as I pulled on my converse. Do not go in there and embarrass her in front of CC she wouldn't do that to you. Yes she would, she did, I then thought, jerking on my other shoe.
I glanced at the door, hearing laughter. Well I'm glad they're having a great time, I thought, jerking a brush through my hair and tearing at my tangles. I quickly did a side braid with what hair I had left, and took a moment to calm myself.
When I felt calm enough, I stepped back out of my room, rolling my eyes. Vale had leaned over the table to kiss CC, and only my door being slammed broke them up.
I didn't say anything, just grabbed my purse off the coffee table and threw my case in it --- not my back pocket this time.
"Hey," I straightened, "I lost my keys so don't lock the door."
"Again?" Vale sounded exasperated. "Yes," my voice was defensive as I walked to the door to leave. "We can't all keep up with everything as well as you," I jerked open the front door, and then shut it.
Fuck.
I slowly opened the door.
Andy and the rest of his mates stood at the door, Ashleys hand raised to knock.
"Sorry, come in," I said, taking a step back, blushing.
I had just slammed the door in their face. I could melt into the carpet right now.
They all stepped inside, and CC greeted them from his perch still on the table.
"Hey, you guys got here fast," he said brightly, and Vale sighed.
"We got a meeting," Andy reminded him, glancing at me.
"We're late." I hesitated by the door. I glanced at the clock. I really did need to go, I hated being late.
"Dude, nice place. How'd you get it?" Ashley asked as he gazed around.
"One of Leahs cousins hooked us up," Vale responded. "She's good for stuff like that."
"Really? Are you part of the mafia or something?" CC looked at me curiously, and I rolled my eyes.
"No, im not. But I'm actually really late," I apologized, taking a step out of the apartment. "It was nice seeing you guys again."
"I need a smoke," Andy suddenly said, and started off towards me.
I hastily stepped out of the way, and the door closed behind him. I
didn't pause; I started quickly for the stairs. I made it to the second floor before he caught me, grabbing my arm. I glanced up nervously, and he immediately let me go.
"Why'd you run off this morning?" he asked, hands disappearing into his coat pockets.
"I had a meeting," I said, looking wt my shoes. "That's what I'm going to now. I'm actually late."
Andy frowned, but shrugged. "Okay."
I fidgeted, feeling my face slowly start to redden. What am I supposed to say? I wondered, glancing up at his face. He was just looking at me.
"What?" I asked self consciously. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Just usually the girls I sleep with I can't get rid of. You're acting like I have the plague."
"I am not," I said immediately, frowning at him. "I just have an early morning. I had to leave."
Please let me leave, I thought anxiously. Andy let his breath go, then shrugged.
"Okay," he said again, and I started to leave.
"Oh, here," I turned as he spoke, and barely caught my keys as he tossed them at me. "You left these."
"Thanks," I said, and clipped them on my jeans.
"THAT'S who the keys belong too!?" We both turned to look at the stairs at the same time. The rest of Black Veil Brides stood at the top of the stairs, staring down at us.
I think all the color in my body went to my face.
"Why didn't you just tell us that?" Ashley was staring.
"It wasn't any of your business," Andy snapped back, and I took a few steps away.
I turned and hurried down the remaining flights of stairs, hearing Andy call after me.
I ignored him, beyond embarrassed.
I burst outside my building, and started off in a random direction.
Now they all would know, I thought, biting my lip. It's not that I was ashamed of sleeping with Andy, it's just that I had been raised not to kiss and tell. Actually, I had been raised any sex before marriage would get you sent to hell, but that seemed a very extreme idea to cling too.
I hailed a cab. I
had a meeting, I didn't have time to freak out.

Notes