Come Back Here

Sitting through Brit Lit on Monday was both exciting and agonizing. Exciting because I actually like discussing "Hamlet," but agonizing because I wanted it to hurry the hell up so I could go to lunch and see Andy. Call me creepy, or out of my mind, I don't give a shit, I need to see him.

"Gerard, could you explain the famous 'To be, or not to be' speech?" The instructor asked. I was paying attention, but I kept my eyes on the clock.

"Well...uh..." I don't think Gerard quite finished the play. He kept getting frustrated at it and texted both Renae and I with questions. "So...Hamlet is talking, saying 'To be or not to be, that is the question'... and it's about... well dying and eternal sleep or living."

"Good, Gerard, I take it you read, I'll trust you didn't Sparknotes it like the majority of the class did."

T-minus ten, nine, eight, seven...

"Now class, I expect you to begin you're paper on this marvelous play..."

Six, five, four...

"I have already given you your rubrics. The paper is due Thursday."

Three, two, one...

Brrrriiiiinnnnnggggg!! The bell chimed through the anxious air and I rose from my seat in a rush to get to lunch. I almost left Gerard, but he grabbed my arm and told me to be patient.

I basically bolted to my locker, with Gerard having to keep up. Let's just say, he wasn't too pleased that I practically left him in the dust just to get to Renae's locker. It probably didn't look too good, either, because random running the halls is basically, charging through the crowds of people, and in the process, almost knocking them over. This is the most I've ever come into contact with these many people, and it felt weird brushing past tons of students who's names I didn't even know.

I finally arrived at Renae's locker where her and Andy were talking. I found myself shyly smiling when I saw the back of his head. Damn, he has long hair.

Renae motioned for him to turn around, and he slowly cocked his head my way. A small smile tugged at his lips, but it soon turned to terror. I was confused until it hit me. It physically hit me. Brent and his groupies threw something at me, most likely a pen. Before I could react, I was being shoved into the wall.

"You can't escape me, you little bitch." Brent spat in my face, speaking with a vile tone. "I'll give you another one of those to match." He said, referring to the black eye that was slightly visible through my makeup. "Did your emo fag boyfriend give that to you?"

When I didn't respond, I received a slap across the cheek. "Answer me, slut."

I spat in his face. Fuck, shouldn't have done that, I should know better. That set him off, and he looked if he would kill me.

"What the fuck?!" He yelled as I noticed Andy tackling him from behind, trying to pry him off of me.

"Celeste, run!" Andy shouted as he held Brent back.

Okay, in all honesty, would you leave him in that situation? I did escape from the spot I was in, but I wasn't going to budge, hadn't it been for Gerard grabbing my hand. Even when he tried to urge me away, I stayed put as I watched Andy replace my spot and Brent punched him in the stomach. I shrieked and almost lunged forward, but Gerard pulled me away. I was kicking and flailing. It should be me getting the beating, not Andy.

"Andy!" I called out his name as Renae took hold of me. Gerard was going to try to attempt to save Andy, but we already new to no avail. Where the fuck are teachers or staff when this shit happens?!

Another blow and I was crying. Why? I just want to know why these things happen to me? Why am I targeted? Is it because I dress different, because I listen to different music? Do I just have this magnet that says to beat the shit out of me? And in return, Andy is taking my beating.

"Gerard! Go fucking get somebody!" Renae yelled, still restraining me from being an idiot and running back in to save Andy.

Everything was a blur at this point. I didn't see anything quite clearly, and I didn't hear well either. Tears were running down my cheeks, but I only registered them based upon the burning in my eyes. I don't like violence, it gives me anxiety, and having to watch it done to someone I care about, makes me sick. This isn't right, why don't they see that what they're doing isn't right?

"BRENT FREDRICKS, GET YOUR HANDS OFF THAT STUDENT." A voice broke through the barrier in my mind. Was that Miss Purler's voice?

Before I knew it, Brent was letting Andy go, and his groupies were trying to scurry away.

"Cole Jenner and Garret Ethanson, you stay put. Mind to explain why this boy is was in your clutches?" Definitely Miss Purler's voice.

"You can't pin anything on me." One of the groupies responded, I think it was Garret. It had to have been, because Garret has a criminal record and people like that tend to respond in such a way.

"Oh really? Principal's office, now, all three of you." I don't think I have ever heard Miss Purler this pissed off. "Gerard, would you mind taking him to the nurse's office?"

Renae let go of me and wiped the tears from my face and ran over, volunteering to take Andy instead. She didn't protest, and I immediately went over to help Andy. He was leaning against the wall, clutching his stomach. He whimpered slightly when I tried helping him off the wall. Seeing him like this was making my stomach turn into knots, but I had to be the strong on right now, because I will not break down in front of him like this.

We were silent all the way to the nurses office. I was silent all throughout the time we were in the nurses office. The moment the nurse left to go grab something from God-knows-where, I finally spoke the thought that was itching at my mind since I helped him up.

"You shouldn't have done that..." It was a whisper, I didn't want anyone but Andy and I to hear.

His deep voice was hoarse, "What was I suppose to do? Watch you get beaten?"

As much as I appreciate not getting beaten up, I would rather have taken that beating than Andy. "Yes." I clutched my eyes shut to prevent more tears from falling, "You don't know how it affects me to see you in pain. Or seeing it happen."

I think Andy was going to respond, but I couldn't tell, because he wasn't given the chance, the nurse had come back into the room.

"Here you go, Andy, here's some ice. I'm clearing you from the rest of your classes, I think it would be wise for you to go home and get some rest. Do you have a car? Or someone to drive you?"

"Nurse McHarris, I can drive him." I piped in. There was no way in hell I was letting him go home alone. I wanted to finish talking with him, and keep an eye on him.

"Marvelous, Celeste, would you like me to clear you from third block?"

"Actually, I was wondering if I could be cleared from fourth as well. I was hoping to keep an eye on Andy."

"Excellent! I'll clear you both. Take care Andy, continue to ice."

"Thank you." He said, not taking his eyes off of me.

He seemed to be in a hurry to get out of the office, and I don't blame him. I wanted out of there too. He seemed to be able to walk fine, but I still could see he was in pain. I don't even know how bad he was beaten, I couldn't process it. I always block out violence, my brain just shuts down until it's over. That's probably why I haven't ever been able to fight back, or do anything when it occurs.

I drove today, so we walked to my car that I had picked up from my house Sunday night when he left for his business trip. That reminds me, after school today was when Rena planned on delivering the evidence. It was setting me on edge, because something told me something bad was going to come out of this, but another part of me told me it was for the better.

Once we situated ourselves inside my car, I grabbed my phone to text Renae that we would be going over to her house, and I asked her if she could collect our homework. Missing two days in a row of third and fourth block would not be fun work to make up. Regardless, we can't stay, or at least I couldn't knowing Andy was hurt.

The drive to Renae's house was quiet, except for the low music I had playing on the radio. I didn't pay any attention to it, I was too focused. I channeled all my attention to driving, because without doing so right now, I would stray to Andy and end up getting lost in both my mind and the road.

Renae had given me the spare key to her house, so getting in was a breeze. We went straight to the kitchen to replace Andy's ice-pack before going upstairs to Renae's room, which is where I was currently residing. I closed the door behind us and Andy sat on the bed.

The atmosphere was full of tension. I didn't know where to start. I wanted to yell at him, but I also just wanted to comfort him. I wanted to go on a rant, but I also wanted to hug him and make sure he's safe.

"You don't realize, that when I see you hurt, or being hurt, it feels like someone is ripping my insides out, Celeste." Andy was the one to break the silence.

I guess the words both shocked me, but at the same time they didn't. If it was how I felt in the same exact situation, why wouldn't he feel the same way as well? But at the same time, why would he?

"Andy, I-I don't do well with violence... Seeing you in that situation, again, for me, tore me apart. My mind shut down, I couldn't handle it and all I want to do is yell at you that you were so stupid but dammit, I just want to cuddle you and make sure you're okay!" I was panting. I didn't even realize that that's what I was saying until it was out there. "Anyways, why would you even do that? Take a beating that's directed at me?"

"Celeste, I think it's pretty clear why." Andy deadpanned.

"Then tell me! Because I can't seem to understand why anyone would!"

"It's because I fucking love you, Celeste!"

I froze at his words. He what?

I blinked very rapidly, "You w-what?"

"I love you." He restated, this time more calm. "And I know I haven't known you long, but dammit, Celeste, I love you and I have since the moment I saw you. That's why I took the beating for you, and I'd do it again without a second thought."

I think I blinked one hundred and eighty-two times before I asked, "Why?" Everything was just crashing into me like a tidal wave.

"I... I can't explain it, Celeste. You don't mean you tell me you don't feel anything when we kiss? Or when I hold you? Or when we talk?"

"I just didn't think you felt the same..."

Andy got off the bed and threw the ice-pack aside. In an instant our lips were colliding. I didn't notice until now that he had taken out one of his lip rings. Either way, the metal didn't stay cold for long as our lips collided again and again.

I pulled back just enough to whisper, "I'm sorry," before we connected again. My fingers interlocked in his hair as we stumbled back toward the bed. When we landed on it, Andy whimpered. I realized probably shouldn't be making out like this while he's in pain and sore.

I wiggled out from under him. Andy gave a confused look. I tossed him his ice-pack.

"You need to ice. Get under the covers and I'll put in a movie."

He gave me a puppy face. Damn him being so cute.

"Now." I state, turning around to grab a movie in Renae's room. The Dark Night Rises seemed like a good fit, so I popped it into the player and grabbed the remote before retreating back to the bed.

I curled up next to Andy, making sure not to cause him any discomfort. He wrapped his arm around me and leaned my head into his side. I could stay like this forever. In Andy's arms, that is.

***

Renae barged into her room as always after she came home from school. Andy and I had dozed off in each others arms and I suddenly woke with a jolt when the door to her room slammed. Renae just stood looking at us for a solid minute, but I was confused due to my sleepy brain not realizing what time it was and that Renae should be home and not school.

"Did you two just cuddle the entirity of third and fourth block?" She asked and I immediately blushed. We pretty much had now that I think of it, besides the mini fight we had and the minimal kissing.

"Awe, you're so cute when you blush." Andy said with a husky, sleepy voice. I had to conceal the moan that was producing in the back of my throat, but I couldn't control the shivers it sent up my spine.

"Who's cute when they blush?" Gerard's voice chimed in from behind Renae's. "Awe, look at them, Ree."

"I see them, Gee."

"Wait, they haven't done it yet, have they? Fuck, I don't want to owe you twenty bucks, Ree."

"They haven't to my knowledge, Gee."

I snapped my head toward them "You have a fucking bet on when we are going to sleep together?!" Andy laid there, laughing while I stared at my friends horrified. That is not something I want them to be thinking about.

"Ree's got sometime within the next two months, and I'm everything exceeding."

I buried my head into the soft, grey pillow. Andy was still laughing. I guess it is sort of comical, but come on guys! We weren't even dating four hours ago! That actually makes me think...are Andy and I a thing now? I know he professed his love for me, but I didn't say it back...well, not exactly anyways. I had told him that I just didn't think he felt the same, but I didn't full out say the L word.

Which leads me to another topic. Am I in love with him? I definitely care greatly for him, the thought of hurt or with anyone else makes me sick to my stomach, and I have this strange, unknown sense of safety around him. Not to mention that spark when I'm around him. Even in his arms right now, my heart is racing and my mind is foggy.

"Anyways..." Renae spoke after a couple minutes of laughter and silence, "Cel, I dropped the evidence off. It's done."

Knots twisted in my stomach and a sour feeling crept into my mind. Something just didn't seem right about doing this. I know I have to, because I can't just keep taking the abuse until I can move out, but something isn't right.

"Oh, okay." I said, a little shaky.

Andy lifted my chin, de-burrying my head from the pillow. "Hey, are you alright?" He said, making me meet his eyes and little piece inside me melted when I gazed into his enchantingly blue eyes. I could drown in them and not care how long I'm under.

"Something...just doesn't...feel right..." I softly said, trying to keep my cool.

He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "What do you mean, Cel?"

"I just have a feel something is going to happen, something bad."

He kissed my forehead, mumbling only so I could understand, "I won't ever let anything bad happen to you again, at least not without going down with a fight."

I blushed again. But if he only knew.

Notes