Andy's POV (yes finally i know lol)
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Alara's pacing was never a good thing. Not in the 8 years he had known her. The last time he'd seen her pace was when a fellow Wild One had died.

His name was William. He was a good man, or rather demon, though he and Andy were never extremely close.

And Andy was the only one who knew about Alara and William's secret relationship. Alara was embarrassed and blushing when he had walked in on them sharing a rather intimate moment. It was one of the strangest moments of his life, seeing Alara blush, because he had never seen her flustered like that before.

"You have to swear," she had warned him on that night. "You have to swear on your life that you will let no one find out." He had promised he would, although he never considered his life very high of worth. Andy cared about Alara and the rest of the Wild Ones as a family, much more than he cared about himself.

William had died about a year ago and Alara was still recovering quietly and alone. They all knew she still wouldn't want to talk about him so none of them brought it up. The day he died was the day Alara's eyes began the Change. The day her eyes started going black. Within a week the Change had transformed her eyes fully pitch black. Even at the funeral, Alara didn't let anyone find out about their relationship. Andy had to admit she was a good liar. Andy's heart ached for Alara when William died, because he always thought of her as a precious (though not fragile) sister. He knew how much William meant to her.

Even Jinxx, her biological brother, never found out. Though Jinxx could read minds Alara had a "special bond" as you would call it, where she could block her mind off. It probably annoyed her sibling sometimes. Often times Andy wished he had the power because he was a dreadful liar and Jinxx could always see through him. Oh, just wait until he tries to talk to me about Quinn, he thought.

He'd absolutely hate for him to be in his brain. While he was thinking about her. Like all the things he loved about her. The way she always smiled timidly. The laugh he wanted to write endless songs about. The scattering of freckles across her nose and the way he couldn't tell the color of her eyes.

The time he sang to her only the night before last came to his mind. The song was a rough draft since he hadn't yet showed it to his band members. Still he liked "The Mortician's Daughter". Though he had been a bit self-conscious and anxious to sing it to Quinn, she seemed to enjoy it a lot. He began writing a song for her, but it wasn't finished yet.

Now it hurt to see how scared she looked in front of Alara. He wanted to comfort her somehow. But he knew she was strong. Which brought him back to Alara pacing. Quinn had just been pushed off a building and she was probably going to beat her up for it. Who had pushed her off? The only one who could've done it around there was Gerard. But he was the one who caught her. Could he have done both?

He didn't really enjoy walking into Gerard holding Quinn, seeing her clutching onto him, and nestling into his muscular structure. She didn't look too uncomfortable either. Of course Andy didn't want to be too overprotective and possessive, especially when the most he and Quinn had done was kiss. They weren't on dating terms yet. Only if she wanted to, he meant.

Quinn was not a thing to be owned.

"Okay," Alara said breathing out slowly. "Tell me everything that happened." Andy was a bit shocked to see her calm, especially when she usually got frustrated with other girls.

Quinn pushed her bangs out of her eyes shyly and he felt his heart beat slightly faster. "It started with me walking to campus. Gerard noticed I was alone and joined me despite me trying to push him away. I eventually snapped and... well I..."

"Spit it out."

"I kind of, sort of, accidentally slapped him."

Andy coughed down a laugh, which earned himself a glare from the girls. Quinn's lips tugged upward for a second, but she grew serious again as she proceeded. "Next thing I knew, a fallen angel, Ivy, had a gun to my head. She forced me to the top of a building saying how she was going to teach me to "let my wings out" or something. But instead she just pushed me off and then I was falling. And you guys probably know the rest."

"It was an idiotic thing to do, letting him walk with you," Alara scolded her.

"It wasn't her fault," Andy spoke up. "She tried to get him to leave her alone."

"Well maybe trying wasn't good enough," she snapped, then transported herself away. Andy shook his head. "She can be really moody sometimes. Don't blame yourself."

She nodded, not saying anything. "Do you live anywhere nearby?" he asked. Quinn's expression was questioning. "Dorms are close to campus...?"

"No, I mean home."

***

"Here it is," I say after lifting up the ceramic pot holding my mother's violets. She always hid the spare key there. It felt a bit weird after being in Andy's gigantic house and letting him into my much smaller one. At least my mom's house is tidy and well-kept.

I slip the key into the lock and twist, allowing the door to unlock. My mom is supposed to be away on a business trip in California and I'm praying that I'm right as I unlock the door, hoping she's all the way on the other side of the country. Pushing it open I call out, "Mom? Mom, are you here?"

No response. I breath out, relieved. Thank God.

After we're both inside I shut the door and lean against it. "Both my parents are away right now. My mom's in California and my dad might be with her," I tell Andy. "Why'd you want to come here anyway?"

"I thought you'd rather be close to home since the past few days have been kinda hectic and maybe you just wanted some time away from everything," Andy explained. He gestured to the door a bit awkwardly with his long arm. "I should probably be going now so you can have some time to yourself."

"Wait!"

I grab onto his arm without thinking. "Stay for a while."

He looks a bit shocked, almost like it surprised him that I would want him here. Am I giving off the wrong vibes? Of course I'd want to be around him.

"Go sit on the sofa and I can get music and food. That is... if it's okay for you to stay a while...?" I question. And if you'd actually want to.

"You got it," he grins.

Once I'm sure he makes it to the living room, I leave as quickly as I can. Running to my mother's bedroom, I stumble around, pushing things out of the way in hopes of finding her Bluetooth speaker. After opening the drawer in her bedside table, I spot it and grab it triumphantly. In a nervous rush, I connect my phone to it and search for something appropriate to play. Probably not any rock or metal... maybe some Hey Violet? Nah too much pop and energy. Hamilton? I don't think show-tunes or anything would be right. I finally settle on Halsey because it can be kinda soft and chill at times. Let's just hope none of the sexy songs come on because that'd just make everything plain awkward.

I hurry back to the living room and set down the speaker and hit play when I'm in the kitchen. Searching around the fridge I call to Andy, "You good with pizza rolls?"

He chuckles. "Of course." I get them in the microwave and after a few moments they're ready. I set them down on the inn table and take a sit next to Andy. The song "Gasoline" is playing at the moment.

Andy shifts his body to face me. "We should play a game."

"Yeah?' I say, not really able to hide the curiosity in my voice. "What is it?"

"Just a question game really," he explains. He shrugs. "I want to know more about you, Quinn Thompson." It's the strangest thing to hear him saying my real name. Colorful bubbles rise in my chest, giving me the urge to laugh. This might be the first time he's ever said it. "I'll go first," he volunteers. "Middle name?"

I groan into my hands over-dramatically. "Noooooo that's the worst one to ask first."

"Too bad. It's against the rules to not answer."

"Ugggh. Firstly, I hate you for that and secondly, Quinn." The look of confusion he wears is hysterical. "Your parents legitimately named you Quinn Quinn Thompson? That's a bit cruel."

"I go by my middle name, dumbass," I joke tapping him playfully. "My full name is actually Elizabeth Quinn Thompson. Elizabeth just seemed too formal though. It's just not me." He nods, chewing on a pizza roll. "I definitely wouldn't go by my middle name. Mine's Dennis." That makes me lose it and I double over from laughing so hard, and it's pretty embarrassing because I end up snorting once, but it still makes me laugh harder. "Oh come oooonnn," he whines. "I didn't laugh at you!"

"I'm sorry!" I barely choke out. "I-- don't know-- why-- I'm laugh--ing this hard!" My laughing fit grows as he tickles me unexpectedly. I shriek and try to pull away from him but between the laughs and tickles, I can't fight it. We're both taking gasps for breath and just when I'm about to take in another it's stopped abruptly by lips pressed to my mouth. He pulls back ever, ever so slightly as if asking for permission, and I give it to him, pulling his body to mine by his jacket. He runs a hand through my hair and puts the other hand on my lower back, sending a shiver down my spine. Gripping his jacket in my fist I pull even closer to him. The lyrics barely register through my kiss-induced haze. The lyrics of one my favorite songs playing. It's "Colors", I realize. I can't even think about it. All I can think about is Andy. This beautiful person who has come to find joy in my presence. Who thinks I'm beautiful also. But I realize something else: I can't let this kiss go any further. I can tell neither of us are ready for that. It's hard to, but I break my lips away from his, our foreheads touching and I stare at his lips for a few breaths, hardly believing those soft pink lips were just kissing mine.

"Blue...."

I love the way he makes such a plain word sound so full of meaning. I like the way his lips form it. But I need an excuse to break this off. But what am I supposed to say without sounding rude? I genuinely enjoyed that kiss so what am I supposed to say? "Thank you"?

"You want me to leave don't you?"

I look back at his face. "I'm tired that's all."

His gaze falls to his hands in his lap guiltily. He thinks he's done something wrong. Reeeeal good job, stupid, I silently reprimand myself. "Come sit with me. Just for two minutes okay?"

We head to my room and I sit down on my bed, then lying down and inviting him to lie with me. He does, on the other side of my mattress. He probably regrets kissing me.

"I'm sorry," I say eventually, willing myself to look into his eyes.

"Why do you always apologize even if it's not your fault?" he says, gazing at me sleepily. "You really shouldn't blame yourself so much."

"Do I really do that? I'm sorr--"

I break off and the both of us chuckle lightly. He reaches over and curls his fingers around mine. "Please don't think you're anything less than perfect, Blue." I look down at our intertwined fingers, trying not to smile like a freaking idiot. I want to stay here and study every little color in his eyes forever. "Because you're perfect to me."

He kisses the top of my head gently and gets up to leave, untangling our fingers. Just when he's at the threshold I call out. "Andy?" He stops and looks back at me. "Will you stay with me? At least until I fall asleep?" He lies back down to my side and wraps his arms around me. No matter how cliche it may seem, it's still the best feeling.

Chapter published: June 30, 2017