Come Back Here

While the guys were grabbing stuff, Renae took pictures of my broken body. I say broken because it might as well be. All the beatings I've endured over the years, I'm surprised it's still in one piece.

Gee and Andy came into the room just as I was pulling my shirt back down.

"We getting some girl on girl in here?" Gerard joked. Renae scolded him with her eyes. This was not the time to be making jokes.

The guys set everything down, either on the bed, or near it on Renae's dark wooden dresser. Gerard put in an In This Moment CD, which I don't know, I just know it has Whore on it. Truthfully, it was just for background noise, no one was listening to it. Renae was calling an intervention, trying to prove to me that I need to stay her house for a few days until he at least leaves on his upcoming business trip. I'd love to, but I just know I'll be punished for it.

I always ask myself what I did to make him detest me this much.

After Renae had lectured me for a solid thirty minutes, I was on the brink of tears. This isn't the first time she's tried convincing me to find a way out. I just don't know how, and its terrifying to even think of what would happen if everything backfires. It's the fear that prevents me.

Gerard had to pull her out of the room because he knew the last thing I needed was a lecture. He had to tame the flames that we're igniting in Renae, which meant getting her out of this room. Of course she tried protesting, but Gerard's stronger than her. Before I knew it, it was just me, my screwed up and emotional self, and Andy, sitting on Renae's bed.

Andy broke the silence, causing me to shake farther than I already was. But in a good way this time. "Celeste," his deep voice was enough for me to crawl over to him and hug him. "I was going to ask if you wanted a hug, but..."

I burst into tears. He held onto me, his arms wrapped around me tight as I sobbed into his chest. I knew my eyeliner was running, and my tears were soaking his thin shirt, but I was an emotional wreck at the moment, and I couldn't stop the dams from holding back the rivers that forward from my burning eyes.

"Hey, hey, shhhh, its okay..." He smoothly said.

"I understand if you never want to see us again." I said through sobs.

"What do you mean?" He asked confused.

"You just meet us and now my personal drama is exploding onto you." I cried, clutching his shirt.

He stroked my hair, calmly but assuring me. "Celeste, I would never leave you."

Just then, the door opened, and Gerard and Renae were starting to come in. They stopped dead in their tracks, mumbling something about giving us a moment before closing the door again.

Andy looked down at me, his blue eyes filled with a look that I couldn't quite read. He wiped the pad of his thumb over my falling tears. Something about him made me have this sense of safety. It was as if he had an aura that said he wouldn't let anything happen to me while he was here.

You could say what happened next was inappropriate for the time, considering why we were here, but I liked it. It seemed to fit.

He gradually lifted my chin and laid his lips on mine. I kissed back instantly, melting into him. We familiarized ourselves with each other's lips. You could say we were making out lightly, but Gerard and Renae barged back in, ruining the moment.

"Cel, hate to interrupt your little fun time but we need to start making a plan of when we're going to present our evidence."

"Tomorrow, Ree. Can we just...let's just have a good time." My gaze never averted from Andy's. I was sure I looked like shit, but I wanted to look at him, at his perfect face. The way his hair feel almost over his eyes, his eyeliner done better than mine ever could be (seriously, why is it so fucking perfect?!) and must importantly, his eyes that are so blue I could swim in their eternal color.

"You two are not fucking in my bed." She replied.

***

Andy was sitting on Renae's balcony. It had gotten dark outside rather quickly, and the moon light was luminous against our dark apparel. We all followed him into the spacious balcony and took our seats in the few chairs.

Andy pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one up. He offered me one, and I accepted. I've never smoked a day in my life, but I could use a destresser at the moment. Gerard and Renae declined, deciding their destresser would be a bag of Cheetos.

Andy lit my cigarette before lighting his own. I took a small drag before coughing horribly. This earned me some chuckles from Gerard and Renae.

"Take it slow, you'll get used to it."

As I continued to smoke, it seemed to become easier and easier. I blew my last ring of smoke just as Andy put his out. I followed his lead of smashing it on the ground, which got us some dirty looks from Renae. I promised we'd clean it up in the morning. For now, we would watch movies in Renae's room.

As we piled onto Renae's bed, popping in Batman movie, I curled into Andy's side. He wrapped an arm around me. I took the time to notice that he had a tattoo on his arm. How the hell did I not notice it before?

It didn't take long until Gee and Renae were out cold, spooning each other. This left Andy and I with some alone time. I really just wanted to talk to him, about anything and everything.

We laid facing each other in the dark.

"What's your favorite superheroro?" He asked as a conversation starter. I already liked where this was heading.

"Loki." I answered.

"He's a villain though, not to mention Marvel."

"Loki. You cannot tell me otherwise. What's wrong with Marvel?"

"They don't have Batman. Not to mention most of their characters aren't as cool as DC." He replied.

"I take it you like Batman?" I asked.

"I am the ultimate fanboy when it comes to Batman."

I chuckled. "You're a dork."

He smiled. It wasn't a shy, or small smile, it was his actual smile. It was so bright, even in the dark. It melted my heart and my limbs felt weak, and it was intoxicating and indulgent.

"You're turn to ask something." He shyly said, tucking a bit of my bangs behind my ear.

"Do you want more tattoos?" I asked out of complete reliance on my cloudy brain, hoping it would sound okay. It honestly sounded better in my head...

"I want a sleeve of Batman, and some other stuff. What about you? Want any tattoos?"

"Nothing in particular, but I'd like one. Your turn."

"What's your biggest dream?" He asked, his voice lulling me to sleep a little.

"I'd like to work with music somehow. Not like in a band, but produce it. What about you?"

"My dream is to be in a band, to make music."

"You sing?" I asked calmly.

"Yea."

I sleepily smiled, "I didn't know that."

"There's a lot you don't know about me."

"Sing me something."

He didn't protest or ask questions, he just started softly singing to me. I don't know what the song was because I was too tired to listen intently, but his voice was soothing. I fell asleep to the sound of him singing to me.

Notes