The next morning, I woke up with a strong arm wrapped around my stomach. A body to my back, and the light snore of someone in my ear. I turned around and found him. Andy, sleeping right next to me. My brain, and body at odds with each other. The brain wanting to remind me that we just cuddled until we fell asleep. My body, on the other hand, went still for a moment. Then to my turmoil, the phone rang with the song, ‘Evil Angel’ by Breaking Benjamin. I thought I’d through that damn thing out the four-story window, but I had to answer it. Sighing I answered with, “Hello?” on the other side of the phone there was a creepy, cool silence that sent a chill through my spine. On the other side of the phone there came a voice, “Hi, is this Stevan?” they asked. “Yes?” I asked concern growing, “Hi Stevan, this is doctor Chang. There’s been an accident.” They said, my concern skyrocketing into space. “Accident? What accident? Who was in an accident?” I asked frantic, Andy waking up with a start. “Stevan what’s wrong?” he asked. “There’s a doctor on the line, saying that there’s been an accident.” I told him, the doctor continued, “There’s a miss Lane here. She was in an accident.” “Fuck” I muttered under my breathe. “You were on her emergency contacts list. So as per hospital policy, I called to inform you, and her parents that she was in an accident. Nothing fatal, just a couple scrapes and bruises.” I sighed a breath of relief. Thank the gods she was alright. It was then I blinked as something in the far-off space of the room started to shimmer with a weird glow, and then it went away just as quick.
Andy and I got into my car fast, and he ended up being the one driving us to the hospital. I still swear that boy was breaking at least six traffic laws, then almost got clipped a couple of times before we got to the hospital. It was a little surreal being here again. Sure, it was for a different reason, but the memories still came rushing as I saw my dad being pulled in to this hospital barely breathing, and so pale he looked like a ghost. I had skipped morning classes to hang out with him that day. I was going to take a half day, but things just went to hell about an hour after being here for a routine checkup. Now there’s something you need to know about my dad, I loved him, but he was an addict. Of course, I didn’t know that when I was younger, but slowly came to understand that after I saw him. Things just crumbled after that. Granted he had hyperactive nerves that continually sent pain through his whole body, and it didn’t help that he had been in about ten different vehicle accidents throughout his life. Still, he was family, and his car wasn’t running that day, so I offered to take him to his checkup at the hospital and get a couple of errands taken care of before I went to class for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, the fates had other, more malicious plans for us that day. Dad and I were at a grocery store, going down the aisles like we used to when I was a kid. He stopped and started swaying too and fore. He collapsed, and I immediately called nine one, one. Afterwards, dad had died while the paramedics tried to bring him back. His heart didn’t beat after the fourth time.
“Hey Stevan, are you okay?” Andy stopped in front of me held me still right there at the entrance of the reception room. I blinked slowly trying to gain some control of my thoughts. It was hard, with being here like I was that day. For the life of me, I don’t know why, but the waterworks started, completely out of my control. I hated myself in that moment. I needed to keep it together. I need to stay in control of my emotions, but it’s like something just clicked off in my head, and I was sobbing in front of my friend. Andy the doll just held me close catching the tears with his shoulder. I heard him say, “It’s going to be alright your friend is fine, but I’m guessing that’s not why you started sobbing like this.” He was right. I nodded in affirmation. We’ve only known each other for a brief while, but he could already see right through me. I calmed enough to say, “I’m fine, at least I think so?” it was all I could do standing there not to run like a bat out of hell for the exit. Yeah, me and hospitals not a good mix. I tried my best to stay away from them, and they didn’t come calling at my door. Well not usually…. Still, this was odd being here for a friend, well ex-friend but I guess this just proves that I still care for those who’ve wronged me. God love her Shay Lane broke my best friends heart without meaning to. It was not entirely her fault, of course, after all, there are three sides to every story, yours, mine, and the truth which lies somewhere in the middle of it all. The truth of Shay was that she still cared but didn’t know how to reconcile with my bestie. My bestie, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with her, and probably won’t for a very long time. Of course, Shay had to have a twin sister that ruined both of their relationships. Kateri Lane nicknamed Kat for short paraded around as Shay one night and no one the wiser knew that it was Kat. Hell, not even I did, at first. Each twin had their own kirks Shay was the smart and nerdy one while Kat was the party animal. Emphasis on party, like she went to just about every party there was. I’m not saying that Shay never partied, but she rarely did unless Kat and I forced her to come with us promising fun and nights she won’t soon forget. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened. Kat and Shay dressed the same for this party, and when a guy came onto Shay thinking she was Kat things happened. She was kissed, and my bestie saw it all go down. So, Shay didn’t stop the bastard from kissing her, but it’s not like she wanted it to happen. So, they’ve been on the fringe ever since.
The nurse said she would allow visitors for Shay. It was a two hour wait time, and Shay didn’t seem happy about it when I came in with Andy to her room. She looked cheerful to see that I was there, but wearily of Andy. She didn’t do well with strangers until she got to know them. “Well, you gave me quite the scare there, Shay,” I said looking directly at her. “How’s Kat?” she didn’t seem to happy at the mention of her sister and was glaring at me. It didn’t faze me one bit, “Okay so strained topic of conversation. Got you, girl. Tell you what I’ll drive your unhappy ass home, or I guess you could stay here in the hospital for the night and get chewed out by your parents later.” Right on cue, her mom came flying through the door. Now Mrs. Lane never looked bad even when she looked like someone covered her face in black ash like she did now. Thankfully she didn’t care about Andy being there, though she did give him a side eye glance for a brief moment. She then walked toward Shay and had a stern frown on her face, and I was having none of that. I whispered ‘Good luck’ to Shay and slipped out with Andy in toe. We had just got back to my car before he spoke, “Well that was entertaining for all of five seconds.” My lip curled up to one side at that. His dry humor was funny but still dry. He winked at me and slightly smiled at the same time before going to the driver side door and opening it up while simultaneously unlocking the passenger side door. I slide in as he started the car, and we drove off back to my apartment. He drove the speed limit this time, and it took the right amount of time to get to my place as it always did.
Andy stayed with me again. I don’t know why, but having him near was a comfort that I could not afford right now. He was distracting, and out of everything I have to deal with this distraction was unwarranted. I needed to stay focused on the problems at hand. I had a midterm coming up, and I need to figure out who the cloaked guy is, and how to protect myself from him, and his wicked ways. Though I suspect that Andy was wanting to have his wicked way with me, himself and that thought just opened a whole slew of images in my head that I didn’t need right now. Ugh did I really have to be born male? Being plagued with a libido that could rival the gods. I forever had sex on the brain. It was always there in the back of my mind tormenting me with things that could never be, well not unless I wanted to go to prison. With that thought, everything calmed down a tad bit.
I really need to get rid of some of this pent-up frustration. Sure, cuddling with Andy for the past couple of nights had been great for my self-esteem, but things were really getting out of hand here. What the hell am I supposed to do with a six-foot god in my house? I couldn’t very well in good conscience have my way with the man, and even if I did want to, did he? On that thought, there was a knock on the door “I’ll get it.” Andy said from the living room. As he opened the door I was walking out of my room and saw the disbelieving look on Aryan’s face. She looked at me, and then at Andy. Clearing her throat, she said, “Well I see why you haven’t contacted me in two days. Been busy as of, late haven’t you?” her tone sarcastic as always. I smiled at her. I could always count on her to put a smile on my face. “What can I say? When you have a good thing going time waits for no one.” I said in the same tone she was using.
Now to the on-lookers Aryan’s and my friendship would seem strange, but it worked for us for years. Andy could tell she was gawking at him. “So…” I said, looking at Aryan, “Are you going to continue gawking at him, or are you going to come in and sit down?” I asked her moving out of the way so she could come in. “Oh, huh? Yeah, I’m coming in.” Aryan said while walking in. She gave me a look of pure amazement. ‘Damn boy you did fine’ her look said to me. I could usually tell her looks with just a glace. That’s how well we know each other. “Nice to meet you Aryan, I’m Andy,” he put his hand out and she shook it, “Same to you as well,” she said.
Everyone got settled in, on the couches. There was an awkward moment hanging over us. I could feel it but didn’t know what to do to break the silence. Finally, Aryan broke the silence, “So, how is everything?” she directed the question toward me. “Everything is fine. Andy has been here with me for two whole days, and nights. Which reminds me when are you going home?” I asked him. “Do you want me to go home?” He asked. “Well, I’m sure you miss your own bed,” I answered. He gave a slight nod of his head. Aryan gave me a look that said, ‘What the hell are you thinking?’ I just shrugged at her. There was another moment of silence before Andy said, “It’s true I miss my bed, but I want to make sure that you are safe.” My cheeks began to heat up at the way he said that. Andy is too kind.
“I’m fine, really!” I said, trying not to look as embarrassed as I felt. “Not to ruin this precious moment you two seemed to be having, but Shu I again with Andy on this.” She winked at me, and Andy didn’t miss it. I spattered, when did she start taking sides? “Hey, you’re supposed to be on my side damn it,” I said, looking at her with a frown on my face. I saw out of the corner of my eye that Andy was staring intently at me. It was almost like he was trying to ask me something with that look. Before I could answer that look with a look of my own Aryan said, “Well as fun as this was, I have to get going.” I stared at her blankly.
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