The Puppet Master

*Emilie's POV*

Ashley stood, gently helping me up. He looked shell shocked to say the least.
"You, umm, you should rest." He whispered.
"Yeah." I whispered back, cheeks turning crimson. Oh my god I kissed him. On the lips. And now it's all awkward!
He helped me to one of the alcoves with the benches, his softly calloused fingertips brushing my forearm where the bandages sat.
Instead of letting go when I was seated, he held my arm and gently undid the bandages. The effort required to hide them was gone. I didn't have the brain power for it.
The white medical gauze fell away, flashing the hideous thick lines. I expected him to kiss them or something and tell me I'm beautiful. I expected him to romanticise it or something horrible. He didn't. He traced the scabs softly.
"Why?" He asked.
"Why not?" I replied, automatically rebellious, "It's not like I mean anything."
He looked... appalled. "You mean everything. To your mom, your dad, your brother, you meant everything to your grandmother. Doing this to yourself is not what she would want."
He looked at my arms again and flinched, walking away like he couldn't bear the sight of them. I guess it must be painful to him...

"Ignore him." Andy told me softly from the shaddows.
I jumped out of my skin. "How long have you been stood there?" I sighed.
"Long enough."
"Didn't your mother teach you eavesdropping is rude?"
"She did, but I don't like listening to people."
"You literally just enjoyed listening to a private conversation. You like listening just not obeying."
"Oh, I can obey." He said suggestively.
I rolled my eyes. He walked forwards and took my arm. He was firmer than Ashley, held steady instead of shaking in emotion, his hands were softer but cool against the burning cuts.
"You're still beautiful." He whispered, kissing down my arm. I shuddered. This was what I expected off Ashley, but didn't want him to do, yet when Andy did, it was different. It wasn't cliché because he poured genuine emotion into each movement. He kissed up my arm again, keeping pressing butterfly kisses up my bicep where there wasn't a mark, following the line of my shoulder across my collarbone and up my neck and jaw. His mouth was cold and I was insanely warm. There was a fire burning low in my stomach that heates everything unbearably, begging my clothes to come off and pleading for his cold lips. Breathless, I was breathless. I tangled my legs around his hips, letting him kiss me. I felt like we were nothing and everything all at once. Like his body was all there was on earth and I wanted more of it, every inch. I tugged the bottom of his shirt, teasing it away from his skin. Then it all just snapped.
He pulled back sharply, smoothing out his hair.
"You're, um, you're great but-" he began.
I cut him off. "I'm not Juliet, and I'm younger, and you just saw me kiss your best friend." I stated, understanding him somewhat. He nodded with a small smile.
When did my life become a YA novel? Or that Katy Perry song; "You're hot then you're cold..."? Honestly, I should join a convent, less drama.
A shrill squeak saved me from an awkward conversation.

"Jenny!" Jinxx grabbed her, holding her up. I rushed to the room.
"Jen?" I asked, stroking her hair. "Jen did you find them?"
"No," she answered, "There was nothing."

Notes

*Ronnie Radke voice* I'M BACK!
Kinda. I have exams and a lot of bs. But enjoy this little gift. It's to mend all our shattered hopes of marrying Andy ;) in all honesty im super happy for them, and Juliet looked so gorgeous in her dress! ♡♡