Escaping Grace

"Hi you guys!" I burst, seeing Vale and Clarke fighting to be in the middle of the screen as we Skyped.
"Hey! Grandma says hi, too," Vale told me, shoving Clarke out of my sight. "And that she's sending her cookies back with us."
"Awesome! How's your stay been? What did you guys get for Christmas?"
"Mom bought me perfume, and I think they got Clarke some kind of weird ---."
"It's not weird, Valerie. Leah understands. It's Destiny," he shoved his way back into sight. "They bought me Destiny."
"But you don't have the new Xbox."
"I fucking bought him one," Vale glared at him, her face filling up the screen as she pulled the laptop to her. "At Dads suggestion. Now I regret it. He's been playing non stop since."
I smiled.
"So what did Andy get you? It better have been something good," Vale raised her brows. "Do I need to neuter him?"
I glanced at Andy where he sat on the couch, glaring.
"Ha, no. Look," I leaned forward and let the necklace dangle.
"Ohhh, pretty! So he did do good. How was Ashleys party? Did CC behave? I hated that I had to miss it."
"Um, yeah, he seemed kind of lonely, but he was good, " I forced a smile.
He'd passed out naked under the Christmas tree when Oli dared him to strip dance.
But I wasn't going to tell her that.
Andy chuckled, and I glanced back at him, waving my hand for him to be quiet. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me away from the camera. I squeeled as he draped me across his lap, smothering my face in kisses.
"Leah! Why are you disappearing on us?"
"Um, hold on!" I called, and batted at him.
"Tell them you gotta go," he murmured. "I just started talking to them. Five more minutes," I gave him a swift kiss, and then scuttled back to the computer.
"Sorry! And yeah, his party was so cool! You wouldn't believe all the people eho were there!"
"Oh, I can believe it. He posted that ridiculous video online." Clarke told me as his sister rolled her eyes. "I think sis here nearly died when she realized she missed Ronnie Radke."
"Hey! He's freaking amazing, okay?!" she flailed at him. "If it wasn't for CC, and I had been there with that hotcake of delicious ---."
Andy leaned over where he could be seen. "I could always tell him that next time I see him if you want."
Vale looked horrified.
"Don't you fucking dare!" she nearly shrieked.
"Valerie Durant!" I heard her mom in the background. "Language!"
The look on her face could have destroyed half of America.
Andy laughed as he leaned away.
"Vale, don't look like that," I ordered, grinning. "You can meet him some time later."
She didn't look convinced.
"Who else was there? I didn't get to watch the whole video," Clake sighed.
"Well, there was Ronnie, Danny Wors---."
"IM NEVER COMING HOME AGAIN!" Vale started, and Clarke gave her a shove, sending her flailing off the bed with a shriek.
"You were saying?" he asked.
I listed off all the people I could remember, and Vale and Clarke looked unbelievably disappointed.
"When's his next party?"
"Ashley? I dunno. But get this! He has someone!"
"What?" they stared at me. "Who is it?"
"I dunno, he hasn't said, but he's got a gift from her and its this really pretty guitar bracelet he's been wearing around."
"Any ideas of who it could be?" Vale wondered.
I frowned, trying to think. "He hasn't mentioned anyone that I can think of..."
"Does Andy know?" I looked over, but he shook his head.
"He's not said anything to any of us."
"No. But it'll come out eventually." I sighed. "He can't keep her hidden away forever. I wonder if it's anyone we know," I started to speculate. If it was someone I knew I was going to feel like a real idiot for not realizing it.
"So what do you wanna do for your birthday this time?" Clarke asked me, suddenly eating a cookie. "You can't pretend you're not getting older."
I grimaced. "I don't wanna do anything."
"You can't do that again," Vale sounded annoyed. "We're gonna have to throw a party this year."
"Vale, I only know you guys." I frowned. "I don't want a party."
"What? You know a lot of people."
"I don't want a party," I said again, and Vale sighed.
"Fine, be lame. But you can't pretend you weren't born forever."
I could feel Andy looking at me, and I was pretending not to notice. I hadn't had a party since my dad had died, and I didn't want one now. I had managed to supress a helluva lot of memories and I wasn't going to revisit them.
So no party.
I just wanted to completely forget my birthday.
"What? Fine, Mom. WHAT? Oh, hold on," Vale suddenly muttered, leaving the room to hear whatever it was her mom was saying.
Clarke watched her go, then reached over, sliding a plate of cookies into view.
"She'll kill you for eating those."
"She'll never know it was me," he told me, and slid her empty plate back out of sight. "I'll bring you extra."
"I never saw anything," I smiled.
"What?" Clarke suddenly called, and after a moment groaned. "God, she's such a pain. We'll talk later, cool? I think our aunt is back again."
"Okay. Tell Vale bye for me!" Clarke gave a nod, and I exited out of Skype as he disappeared.
"Why don't you want a party, babe? Ashley would be ecstatic to plan one for you." Andy said, watching me as I shut down my computer. I shifted uncomfortably, and shrugged.
"I don't want one is all."
"Leah, come on. What is it?"
I pressed my lips together, and glanced over at him. He knew way more then anyone else, and he'd never given me a reason not to trust him. I just hated bringing it up because I hated people feeling bad for me.
I glanced down, fiddling with my necklace. "I just don't like celebrating."
"Why not?"
"Andy, I don't---."
"Leah, we're not doing this anymore, remember? No more secrets. If it bothers you, tell me, I'll try to help." He was staring me down with his ill-be-pissed-off-because-ill-think-you-dont-trust-me-again face, and I frowned at him.
Fine.
"My dad died the last time I had a party. I just don't like thinking about it. you want some pizza?" I scrambled to my feet. "Or something to drink? I think I want some soda."

Notes

Make sure to check out my other fan fic, Make Me Feel Alive.
And Leah is finally trusting Andy more!. Unfortunately, the story is going to start winding down now, and I hate to end it. Maybe I'll write a sequel, I'm not sure yet.
So leave a comment!