~Emily’s POV~
I was at my locker by the time Andy finished vomiting. I had a mirror in my bag that I didn’t hang up on the door like I did in senior year. Nobody had a mirror in their locker in university, and I haven’t seen anyone hanging around their locker yet so I tried to make my trips to my cold metal home quick like everyone else. I kept looking at the mirror in my backpack between classes; I looked horrible and I hadn’t slept at all.

‘You’re pushing yourself’ My inner voice echoed. You’re damn right I’m pushing myself; I didn’t gain pre-admission by taking it easy.

Although it’s Friday, I didn’t smile until I admired the masterpiece I created in my binder in Sociology. I made the letters in Mrs. Emily Biersack look like ninja throwing stars and it was awesome. “That’s it.” I said out loud. “That’s the one.” I sat back and looked up at the board thinking nobody was paying attention when I saw Ashley. How long had he been gazing at me?

“What?” He mouthed.

I closed my books and shrugged. He turned around for the rest of class.

I think the instructor noticed how delirious I was, so to torment me she stopped the lecture half an hour early to allow us to brainstorm in our groups. She wanted us to come up with a project idea and present it to the class on Monday. I didn’t want to see Ashley because I knew I looked like shit, three glances in the mirror confirmed that. When we sat together in the cafeteria I noticed the bags under his eyes, he looked slightly pale but I didn’t know him enough to ask if he was okay. His glossy eyes reminded me of Andy’s.

“We’ve narrowed it down to three ideas: Domestic abuse, sexual revolution, and gangs” Ashley said and looked at me.

Why did he look at me when he said ‘gangs’? Did I look that bad to him? Did I look like I was out running game all night? “Only one of those sounds like fun.” I chimed in.

A list of our group member’s phone numbers had been placed in front of me at some point. I added three new contacts to my phone and wrote my info down, passing it to Ashley. I had his number, not that I would use it.

~Andy’s POV~
The bathroom fan was the first thing I heard. I felt the cold linoleum against my skin and opened my eyes to see the counter, the toilet and the empty towel rack. The towel was wadded up and pressed against my stomach, I faintly remember throwing up but I don’t recall the moment I decided to spoon a towel.

I sat up halfway and felt dizzy. “Ugh” Came out of my mouth and I looked around for my phone. At some point I’d brushed my teeth and left a cold glass of water next to the toilet. In one long sip I finished the glass and propped myself against the tub.

I felt a sharp pain trickling down my forearm before I saw the cuts. There were two deep slices down my left arm with dark red beads of blood dried on top of them. I don’t remember doing it, but it’s not the first time it’s happened so drowning my arm in cold water and picking the beads of blood off didn’t bother me. Seeing the bright red tinge of new blood seeping out from the washed away clots made me think of what Emily would say. I could tell her anything in the world, but after last night I couldn’t tell her this. I already made her cry once.

I gagged at the smell of strong coffee but told myself I needed it to feel human. Eventually I’d clean up the mess last night left behind but all I wanted right now was to talk to somebody. I put on a sweater and pushed my hair out of my face.

“Babe!” Olivia answered the call with video, which she never did and she picked a lovely time to start. I need to start covering my webcam with tape.

“Hey.” I smiled at her. Her face changed to a look of disgust.

“Have you been drinking? You look disgusting.” She leaned away from the screen.

“Yeah.” I said. “It’s Friday.”

“You looked horrible the last time we spoke.” She eyed the camera up and down. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I needed to talk.” I suddenly developed a lump in my throat.

“Do you?” She rolled her eyes, pouted her lips and stared at me. “I’d rather make out.”

“I wouldn’t.” I raised my eyebrows and stared back.

She laughed, leaning closer to the screen, “Come on dirty boy.”

“No.” I looked away.

“I want you inside me.” She said.

“I’m not in the mood.” I shrugged and stared her down.

She laughed again and leaned to the webcam. “Mmmm you make me so wet.” She moaned.

I bit my lip.

“Do you want me to beg?” She sat back and waved her tongue across her top lip slowly.

“No.” I whimpered. Dammit, she always gets her way.

She looked right at me. “Please baby.” She moaned softly, slipping her hand down her pants.

“Olivia. Stop it.” I tried but I was already hard.

“Please?” She moaned louder, biting the corner of her lip. “Take me now.” She whispered.

I unzipped my jeans and gripped my essence rod, sliding my left arm up my torso. She moaned in high pitched gasps as I teased circles around my nipple and moaned deeply, leaning my head back and switching my hand from my nipple to caressing the back of my neck.

“Harder.” She moaned. I stroked faster and moaned deeper. “Pull out and feed me some zipper dinner.” She moaned loudly.

I closed my eyes and thought of her tongue snaking around my lightning rod.

“You taste so good.” She moaned.

The incoming call song played and I glared at my phone. Dammit.

She sat back and folded her arms. “Your mom just killed our lovefest.” She said flatly.

I let go of the shorter leg of my tripod. What the hell? “How’d you know it’s my mom?” I lied, staring at Emily’s name.

“Who else would you talk to?” She scoffed.

“Lots of people.” I snapped.

“Ooh you’re grouchy.” She laughed and pushed the webcam back. “You wanna finish?”

“I didn’t want to start.” I snapped again.

“Tell mom I said hiiii.” She waved and disconnected.

I picked up my phone, accidentally swiping my thumb over the answer button before setting it on the computer desk.

“Eight hours of programming and you turned into a ceiling. Interesting.” Emily said.

“What?” I looked at the screen and saw her head resting on her pillow. “Oops, I didn’t mean to answer with video.” I said, looking around. “Umm...” I was very aware of my unsheathed sword and for some reason when I saw her in bed I got hard again.

“It’s Friday. Thought you could use my company. Is this a bad time?” She gave me a weird look.

“Ummm….” I looked down at my phone.

“I’m guessing that’s a yes.”

“No.” I didn’t want her to go. “No I was just uh...sleeping.” That did not sound believable. “I was sleeping.” I shook my head in disbelief.

“Andy I can see you.” She reminded and giggled.

I couldn’t tell her my member was swollen and I was thinking of her. “Can I call you back?”

“Sure but I might fall asleep.” She yawned.

“Wait, I’ll sleep with you.” I squeezed my eyes shut in embarrassment when I realized what I just said.

She fell silent, her eyes grew wide.

“I mean. I was about to take a nap, but I was kind of in the middle of something when you called.” I was blushing. I didn’t expect her to blush back.

“Are you?” She bit her lip. Don’t say it. Oh God, don’t say it. “Are you high?” She asked.

I breathed a huge sigh of relief and laughed. “You got me.” I looked and sounded stupid as I sat at the computer hiding a hard on from my phone.

“Have you slept at all?” She moved around and leaned on her stomach, putting the phone on her headboard. I could see right down her shirt. “Guess that’s a no.” I was staring at her cleavage.

“I’m blazed like a mofo.” I sounded like it.

“Do you want me to let you go?” She shook her head.

“Listen, I.” This isn’t going to sound right, no matter how I say it. I was being intimate with Olivia when you called, and I accidentally answered but I’m not sorry because Olivia was being a bitch and now I’m staring at your cleavage and holding my sword.

“You’re thinking too much.” She said, breaking the awkward silence. “You need to rest.” She laid her head down and leaned her phone on the pillow next to her.

I lay down and did the same. For a moment I looked at the pillow next to me and saw her face, soft and peaceful, blinking slowly and falling asleep. “Em.” I whispered. She stayed up all night for me.

“Andy.” She smiled and brushed her hair back with her fingers. She had her hand on the pillow next to her mouth and tucked the other arm underneath her pillow.

Don’t say it. Nothing good will come out of saying it. “I.” I looked at her desperately.

“Shhhh.” She hushed. I closed my eyes and relaxed for the first time in hours.

“Remember the sunrise?” I looked at her.

“Shhhhh.” She wagged a finger at me. “Close your eyes.”

I closed my eyes for a moment. “Emmy.” I whispered.

“Andy.” She whispered back.

I looked into her eyes through the phone screen. “Em I.” I shut my eyes tight, ready to tell her I loved her.

“Goodnight Andy.” She whispered.

I kissed the top corner of my phone and rested my head on the pillow. “Goodnight Emmy.” I forced my eyes closed and fell asleep to the sound of her breathing softly.

Notes