Esme couldn't help but notice how Andy took a few moments to respond and react when she shared feelings or embraced him. Sometimes he pulled away because he was scared. He was scared that she would recoil or grow sick of it him. That she would cast him aside or laugh in his space.

Whenever they were alone he always suspected something or expected all of this to be a big.cruel trick. Always doubting himself and.ir bothered her. She was concerned about him and their relationship and if she didn't find out why it could ruin what they had.

So finally she brought him to her room and asked why when they were sitting on her bed. The door was shut and she assured him her sisters weren't nearby. " What's made you so afraid? So suspicious and anxious?  I'm not just going to hear it from your mind. I want to hear the truth straight from you. I want to know what happened to you and I want us to trust each other. Cast aside only suspicions and fear. And be much closer. But whatever your holding back is preventing that."

Andy took a deep breath and looked down at himself." A few months into my first year of high school after Lauren and I were estranged a girl started paying attention to me. She laughed at my jokes listened to everything I said. She didn't care about the bullies and she seemed like she actually liked me. Then I asked her on a date. She suggested a place and when I got their my main tormentor Trevor  slammed me into a wall. I ended up with scraped palms,  bleeding from my nose, bruises on my back and neck. Then she turns out to have filmed the whole thing calling me horrible things.  She was part of that guy's plan.  Learning what secrets what I liked against me. They left me there after spitting on my hair and clothes. I managed to limp home and tell my parents it was a bad date and that I fell badly. "

" No one knew?" She asked concerned.  He looked ashamed and embarrassed. " Couple dozens of kids at school and the video might still be online."

" Not for long." She put away the thought of having Sage erase that video from whatever sites it was on for later and of tracking down the bully for later. Maybe as a nice surprise. 

"That's the worst thing I've heard about you. This left internal and emotional harm worse then the dance. I understand why this influenced and traumatized you.  I'm going to listen and help you through every scarring  thing from your past. If you want to tell me everything and if you let me I'll talk to you. But I can promise you I will never laugh or look down on you."

She created a small telepathic link between them. Andy thought about it for a moment before telling her  everything.  Neither of them regretted or stopped themselves. No hesitation nothing held back and when it was over both of them felt better.

Andy finally let go of burdens he carried for so long and Esme learned so much about him. He stopped hesitating and started reacting faster when they were in a moment. Hw didn't have anything slowing him down.