A Bounty Less Love
Chapter 2
I pushed the door shut behind me. The house was quiet and dark. I pursed my lips and made my way to the kitchen table and sat down. I untied my apron, setting it on the kitchen table as I passed by. I shot a look over my shoulder at the clock on the stove. It was midnight. I put my head in my hands and fought back tears.
My entire body was throbbing with pain. I had went into work at 6 am. I was an opener, meaning I had to be there early enough to get everything cleaned and turned on. I was suppose to be home at 5 pm, the time night shift got there. Instead, I had taken my friend Gale’s shift. He had wanted to go to a party tonight, and I was trying to get in enough hours so I could get myself some new work shoes. So instead I got off at 11:30 pm and got home at midnight.
My back hurt and my feet were throbbing. I bent down to unlace my shoes and pulled them off. I wanted to cry from the relief. I grabbed the shoes before standing up and wobbling into our bedroom. I pursed my lips.
“Andy?” I called into the darkness. No response came so I flicked the light on. I rolled my eyes. He wasn’t home. Of course he wouldn’t be home. Why would I expect anything less from him? The tears that had been building up since the moment I stepped into the house finally began to fall down my face.
I angrily opened my pajama drew, then slammed it shut. I threw my dirty clothes into the hamper and as I studied the hamper I realized that Andy had not done the laundry yesterday like he was suppose to. Meaning I wasn’t going to have a clean uniform for tomorrow. I sat on the edge of my bed, my crying turned into full on sobbing. ‘Fuck Andy.’ was my only thought.
At that moment I wanted nothing more than to pack up all my shit and just leave. I probably would have done that if I hadn’t heard my front door shut. I could hear Andy laughing as he stumbled through the house.
“Princess!” He exclaimed as he entered the bedroom. The smell of stale cigarettes and beer clung to him. I wiped my face, Andy’s brows rose in concern. He made his way to the bed and sat down next to me. He pulled me to his chest.
“Don’t touch me!” I hissed. Andy’s only response was to hold my tighter.
“Why are you crying? I hate it when you cry.” He said as he stroke my hair. Andy seemed to be sobering up pretty quickly.
I finally gave into his touch and began to sob uncontrollably. Andy just sat there quietly. He rocked me and rubbed my back. When I finally had calmed down a little Andy tried again.
“What’s wrong Audrey?” He asked. I leaned back and looked at him.
“I’m so tired of this.” Andy swallowed and bite his lip.
“Tired of….us?” He asked. I shook my head and wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
“No. Not of us. I’m tired of living like this Andrew. Our house doesn’t have heat or air conditioning. I work six days a week, and i'm constantly pulling doubles so we can have the house and food while you work on getting your band to take off. But I’m getting so tired of doing this all on my own Andy. I’m tired of coming home to either an empty house or to you and all your friends drinking all the alcohol in the house. The alcohol we really don't have the money for. I just..”
I sighed running my fingers through my hair.
“I need help Andrew. I need you to be here for me. I understand you can’t be here all the time, but I would like to at least spend the only day I have off with you. I just...things need to change Andrew. Or I’m going to leave.”
Andrew’s widened in shock at my last few words. His arms tightened around me and he rested his head against my shoulder.
“I’m sorry Audrey. I’ll change. I’m so sorry.” He whispered. He pulled back slightly then kissed me. He kissed me like it was the last time we’d see each other. He kissed me like I was the oxygen he need to desperately to live. I gave into the kiss and kissed him back.
My hands tangled in his hair as his hands moved down to hold my hips. When the kiss broke we were both gasping for breath. Andy leaned his forehead against mine.
“I love you.” He said, his eyes closing as he said it.
“I love you too.” I whispered before kissing him again. This kiss only lasted for a few seconds before we broke apart again. I smiled and cupped his face. Andy wasn’t a bad guy. Despite his criminal history and his drinking. I knew that he would try. I just need to talk to him more instead of letting things build till I couldn’t take anymore.
“Do you want me to make dinner?” Andy asked after a moment of silence. I shook my head no, I was honestly too exhausted to eat. Andy nodded his head and got off the bed. He walked out of the bedroom and came back with a bottle of lotion.
“Lay on your stomach.” Andy instructed as he sat down next to me. I did as told. Andy worked my shirt up so my back was exposed and my shirt was bunched up around my shoulder. I turned my head so I could look at Andy. He squeezed some lotion onto his hands, rubbing them together then began to massage my back. Andy rubbed my back for a while then moved down and he started rubbing my feet. The entire time we spent talking. We talked about my job. We talked about Andy’s band. We talked about when I planned on starting college class. We talked about how Andy had decided he wanted to get his GED, since he had dropped out of high school. That was something I had learned after we started hanging out. Honestly a lot of people expected me to drop out after I started hanging out with them. Joke was on them when I graduated top of my class.
Andy moved back to rubbing my back, and he began singing to me. He told me the song was called Rebel Love song, he sang it to me quite a bit. I felt my eyes slowly slide shut. I forced them open and Andy chuckled. He pressed a kiss to my forehead and my eyes shut, this time I didn’t have the energy to reopen them. Instead I let sleep claim me.
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Andy’s P.O.V.
I pulled the covers up over Adury and got off the bed. I pursed my lips as I brushed some hair out of her face. God she was beautiful. I frowned as I thought about Audrey crying. I had been being so selfish lately. She had offered me so much support and had been my number one fan since she started hanging out with me.
I pulled my shirt over my head and threw it into the hamper. I studied the basket. ‘Fuck’ I thought to myself. I had forgotten to do the laundry today! I was suppose to run to the laundromat. They were closed by now and Audrey would leave before I had time to wash her clothes. I shook my head.
‘And the worst boyfriend award goes to me!’ I thought to myself as I pulled my belt out of the belt loops. I dug my phone out of my pocket and took off my pants. I stared at my phone, a thought suddenly crossing my mind. I should call Ashley. I glanced at Audrey watching her slow breathing. It was the only way I could think to help her.
I opened my phone and dialed his number. Ashley answered on the second ring.
“Hey A-Man!” Ashley slurred. I could hear the rustling of people and laughter. I rolled my eyes. Ashley was still at the bar. Figurid.
“Do you remember the proposal you gave me today?” I asked. Ashley was quiet for a moment. I was about to start talking again until I heard the sound of a door opening and closing, silencing the background noise.
“Yeah...what about it?” He asked. The sound of a lighter flicking registered to my ears making me suddenly want a cigarette. I mentally cursed at myself.
“Gave me a second.” I grabbed my cigarettes and my lighter out of my pants from where they laid on the ground. I threw the pants in the hamper then went to sit at the kitchen table, pondering my next words carefully.
“What exactly are you asking of me?” I asked.
“So you’re in?” Ashley asked. I could just imagine him leaning against the brick wall of the club, that smug smile on his face.
“What is my part in it?” I demanded.
“I need a new guy working for me since Jinxx jumped off the train since he’s engaged to that Sammy bitch.” Ashley said. I could tell he was grinding his teeth. He let out a deep breath and then spoke again, “Anyway, I need you to be a dealer for me and an errand boy. You’ll just sell for me, just weed. And any job I don’t want to take care of, you’ll do it. Nothing to crazy.”
I sighed. This shit was highly illegal. I was going to go to jail for a really long fucking time if I go caught. Suddenly, Audrey crossed my mind. Ashley was offering to pay me a chunk of change for this. I’d finally be able to buy her new clothes and hell, maybe we could move into a house with a working heater.
“Andy…” I turned and looked to where Audrey was standing in the hall, a blanket was wrapped tightly around her.
“Yes princess?” I asked. She shuffled from foot to foot then looked at the ground.
“I’m cold. Can you please come cuddle with me?” she sounded ashamed to be asking me this. I frowned.
“Of course. I’ll be right there.” I said. She nodded and walked back to the bedroom. I listened to the sound of her feet thudding softly against the hardwood floor.
“Yea Ash, I’m in.” I said.
“Great! I’ll go over the detail with you tomorrow!” Ashley hung up on me. I sighed and stood up. I put the cigarette out on the ashtray on the kitchen table. I made my way into the bedroom, crawling into the bed. Audrey laid her head on her chest and on arm was draped across my hips. I pulled the covers up over us before wrapping an arm around Audrey. I kissed her forehead, then slowly drifted off to sleep.
My entire body was throbbing with pain. I had went into work at 6 am. I was an opener, meaning I had to be there early enough to get everything cleaned and turned on. I was suppose to be home at 5 pm, the time night shift got there. Instead, I had taken my friend Gale’s shift. He had wanted to go to a party tonight, and I was trying to get in enough hours so I could get myself some new work shoes. So instead I got off at 11:30 pm and got home at midnight.
My back hurt and my feet were throbbing. I bent down to unlace my shoes and pulled them off. I wanted to cry from the relief. I grabbed the shoes before standing up and wobbling into our bedroom. I pursed my lips.
“Andy?” I called into the darkness. No response came so I flicked the light on. I rolled my eyes. He wasn’t home. Of course he wouldn’t be home. Why would I expect anything less from him? The tears that had been building up since the moment I stepped into the house finally began to fall down my face.
I angrily opened my pajama drew, then slammed it shut. I threw my dirty clothes into the hamper and as I studied the hamper I realized that Andy had not done the laundry yesterday like he was suppose to. Meaning I wasn’t going to have a clean uniform for tomorrow. I sat on the edge of my bed, my crying turned into full on sobbing. ‘Fuck Andy.’ was my only thought.
At that moment I wanted nothing more than to pack up all my shit and just leave. I probably would have done that if I hadn’t heard my front door shut. I could hear Andy laughing as he stumbled through the house.
“Princess!” He exclaimed as he entered the bedroom. The smell of stale cigarettes and beer clung to him. I wiped my face, Andy’s brows rose in concern. He made his way to the bed and sat down next to me. He pulled me to his chest.
“Don’t touch me!” I hissed. Andy’s only response was to hold my tighter.
“Why are you crying? I hate it when you cry.” He said as he stroke my hair. Andy seemed to be sobering up pretty quickly.
I finally gave into his touch and began to sob uncontrollably. Andy just sat there quietly. He rocked me and rubbed my back. When I finally had calmed down a little Andy tried again.
“What’s wrong Audrey?” He asked. I leaned back and looked at him.
“I’m so tired of this.” Andy swallowed and bite his lip.
“Tired of….us?” He asked. I shook my head and wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
“No. Not of us. I’m tired of living like this Andrew. Our house doesn’t have heat or air conditioning. I work six days a week, and i'm constantly pulling doubles so we can have the house and food while you work on getting your band to take off. But I’m getting so tired of doing this all on my own Andy. I’m tired of coming home to either an empty house or to you and all your friends drinking all the alcohol in the house. The alcohol we really don't have the money for. I just..”
I sighed running my fingers through my hair.
“I need help Andrew. I need you to be here for me. I understand you can’t be here all the time, but I would like to at least spend the only day I have off with you. I just...things need to change Andrew. Or I’m going to leave.”
Andrew’s widened in shock at my last few words. His arms tightened around me and he rested his head against my shoulder.
“I’m sorry Audrey. I’ll change. I’m so sorry.” He whispered. He pulled back slightly then kissed me. He kissed me like it was the last time we’d see each other. He kissed me like I was the oxygen he need to desperately to live. I gave into the kiss and kissed him back.
My hands tangled in his hair as his hands moved down to hold my hips. When the kiss broke we were both gasping for breath. Andy leaned his forehead against mine.
“I love you.” He said, his eyes closing as he said it.
“I love you too.” I whispered before kissing him again. This kiss only lasted for a few seconds before we broke apart again. I smiled and cupped his face. Andy wasn’t a bad guy. Despite his criminal history and his drinking. I knew that he would try. I just need to talk to him more instead of letting things build till I couldn’t take anymore.
“Do you want me to make dinner?” Andy asked after a moment of silence. I shook my head no, I was honestly too exhausted to eat. Andy nodded his head and got off the bed. He walked out of the bedroom and came back with a bottle of lotion.
“Lay on your stomach.” Andy instructed as he sat down next to me. I did as told. Andy worked my shirt up so my back was exposed and my shirt was bunched up around my shoulder. I turned my head so I could look at Andy. He squeezed some lotion onto his hands, rubbing them together then began to massage my back. Andy rubbed my back for a while then moved down and he started rubbing my feet. The entire time we spent talking. We talked about my job. We talked about Andy’s band. We talked about when I planned on starting college class. We talked about how Andy had decided he wanted to get his GED, since he had dropped out of high school. That was something I had learned after we started hanging out. Honestly a lot of people expected me to drop out after I started hanging out with them. Joke was on them when I graduated top of my class.
Andy moved back to rubbing my back, and he began singing to me. He told me the song was called Rebel Love song, he sang it to me quite a bit. I felt my eyes slowly slide shut. I forced them open and Andy chuckled. He pressed a kiss to my forehead and my eyes shut, this time I didn’t have the energy to reopen them. Instead I let sleep claim me.
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Andy’s P.O.V.
I pulled the covers up over Adury and got off the bed. I pursed my lips as I brushed some hair out of her face. God she was beautiful. I frowned as I thought about Audrey crying. I had been being so selfish lately. She had offered me so much support and had been my number one fan since she started hanging out with me.
I pulled my shirt over my head and threw it into the hamper. I studied the basket. ‘Fuck’ I thought to myself. I had forgotten to do the laundry today! I was suppose to run to the laundromat. They were closed by now and Audrey would leave before I had time to wash her clothes. I shook my head.
‘And the worst boyfriend award goes to me!’ I thought to myself as I pulled my belt out of the belt loops. I dug my phone out of my pocket and took off my pants. I stared at my phone, a thought suddenly crossing my mind. I should call Ashley. I glanced at Audrey watching her slow breathing. It was the only way I could think to help her.
I opened my phone and dialed his number. Ashley answered on the second ring.
“Hey A-Man!” Ashley slurred. I could hear the rustling of people and laughter. I rolled my eyes. Ashley was still at the bar. Figurid.
“Do you remember the proposal you gave me today?” I asked. Ashley was quiet for a moment. I was about to start talking again until I heard the sound of a door opening and closing, silencing the background noise.
“Yeah...what about it?” He asked. The sound of a lighter flicking registered to my ears making me suddenly want a cigarette. I mentally cursed at myself.
“Gave me a second.” I grabbed my cigarettes and my lighter out of my pants from where they laid on the ground. I threw the pants in the hamper then went to sit at the kitchen table, pondering my next words carefully.
“What exactly are you asking of me?” I asked.
“So you’re in?” Ashley asked. I could just imagine him leaning against the brick wall of the club, that smug smile on his face.
“What is my part in it?” I demanded.
“I need a new guy working for me since Jinxx jumped off the train since he’s engaged to that Sammy bitch.” Ashley said. I could tell he was grinding his teeth. He let out a deep breath and then spoke again, “Anyway, I need you to be a dealer for me and an errand boy. You’ll just sell for me, just weed. And any job I don’t want to take care of, you’ll do it. Nothing to crazy.”
I sighed. This shit was highly illegal. I was going to go to jail for a really long fucking time if I go caught. Suddenly, Audrey crossed my mind. Ashley was offering to pay me a chunk of change for this. I’d finally be able to buy her new clothes and hell, maybe we could move into a house with a working heater.
“Andy…” I turned and looked to where Audrey was standing in the hall, a blanket was wrapped tightly around her.
“Yes princess?” I asked. She shuffled from foot to foot then looked at the ground.
“I’m cold. Can you please come cuddle with me?” she sounded ashamed to be asking me this. I frowned.
“Of course. I’ll be right there.” I said. She nodded and walked back to the bedroom. I listened to the sound of her feet thudding softly against the hardwood floor.
“Yea Ash, I’m in.” I said.
“Great! I’ll go over the detail with you tomorrow!” Ashley hung up on me. I sighed and stood up. I put the cigarette out on the ashtray on the kitchen table. I made my way into the bedroom, crawling into the bed. Audrey laid her head on her chest and on arm was draped across my hips. I pulled the covers up over us before wrapping an arm around Audrey. I kissed her forehead, then slowly drifted off to sleep.
good start keep going!
12/6/16