Hello Mz. Hyde (Andy Hurley)

Chapter 21- Bang the Doldrums

Becca's POV

I ran backstage after the show completely out of breath, covered in sweat, and sick to my stomach.

"No," I mumbled. "No way, it couldn't be him." I looked up at myself in the mirror. My eyeliner was smeared and my lipstick was fading. My eyes were red and bloodshot. I felt dizzy and sick to my stomach. I scanned the dressing room to find something help me calm down until I spotted an open bottle of Jack Daniels on the table. Part of me told me not to drink it, but it was drowned out as I grabbed the bottle and took a swing from it, the alcohol burning my throat on the way.

I slumped on the couch as I saw Joe enter the dressing room, completely covered in sweat.

"Hey." He panted.

"Hey." I rested my head on the arm of the couch.

"That was a good show tonight." He breathed. I nodded and took another drink. "You saw Andy, didn't you?" He asked. I nodded again.

"So I haven't gone crazy yet." I said sarcastically. "Fucking great."

Joe took a seat on the couch next to me, I leaned my head on his shoulder. "He saw me a few minutes ago trying to get backstage. He told me that he wanted to talk to you."

I rolled my eyes and took another drink. "He probably hates me, doesn't he?"

"No, he doesn't." A familiar voice answered. I looked back and saw Andy standing in the doorway of the dressing room with Marie by his side.

I shot up in surprise, the bottle of alcohol shattering on the floor. "Andy?"

He nodded. "Hey Becca."

I scanned him up and down. The only noticeable change that had happened to him was that he had shaved his beard. As for me, I had a few more changes than him. "You shaved." I pointed out the obvious.

He laughed, making my heart hurt only even more. "Yea, I guess I can say the same thing for you." I rubbed the side of my head where I had shaved part of my hair as one of those brilliant half-drunk ideas that I had with Patrick and Joe last night, but was the luckily the only one that we had actually fulfilled. That's when I had remembered the tattoos too. I had gotten the heart gem on my wrist for him and Clara, and the mirror was one I had planned for a while. I didn't know why, but I really liked it.

"So why are you here then?" I asked.

"We think that Aubrey and Ryland's murders are connected." Marie answered. "And since you are the only one who saw Ryland's killer, we thought you could help us."

I nodded. "Yea, sure." I walked up to Andy, nearly tripping over my feet in these ridiculous heels. They seemed a good idea before and during the show, but now I regret this decision immensely. "I'll discuss what happened with Detective Hurley in private." I grabbed Andy's wrist and dragged him to Gabe's "Special Back Room." The familiar red tinted lights tinted my vision red and the muffled sounds of the outside were silenced. I sat down on the king-size bed, covered in rose petals, red satin sheets, and dozens of plush pillows in the shape of hearts. I gestured Andy to come sit next to me.

"What's all this?" Andy asked, sitting down next to me. But before I could give him an answer, my emotions took over and I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his neck.

"I'm sorry Andy." I gasped. "I'm so sorry. This should have never happened."

Andy sat there for a second to try and understand what was going on, but he gave in and pulled me tight. He smelled like coffee and cologne, while I probably smelled like sweat and alcohol at the moment, but I don't think either of us cared.

"What is it with the room?" He wondered as we pulled apart.

I laughed. "This is Gabe's 'secret room', meaning it's for anyone he thinks he can get lucky with."

He blushed. "Wait, does that mean..."

My eyes widened in relization. "What?! No, no, I just wanted to find somewhere private to talk to you. And besides, I look like a hot mess at the moment." I could feel my face heat up in embarassment.

Andy breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, not what I was thinking. And you don't look like a hot mess at all, I think you are beautiful."

I could feel the butterflies in my stomach again, just like when we had first met. My mind became clouded with the memories of that night, the best night of my life.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Andy asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I sighed in frustration. "I'm guessing you already know."

"Why you left?" He guessed. "Right?"

"Yea," I nodded, leaning on his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around my waist. I immediately felt safer than I had in a long time, like I could finally tell him everything.

"Then why did you leave?" Andy wondered. "Was it something I did?"

I shook my head. "It's complicated, but in no way is it your fault And."

"Then explain it to me." He stated. "Just please help me understand what is going on with you. You've been acting weird ever since the shooting and now you are really starting to scare me Bec. I don't want to lose you permanently."

"And I don't want the same to happen to you too," I answered. "I didn't want to leave you or Clara, you guys are my family. Leaving you was a last resort in order to protect you Andy."

"Protect me from who?" He asked. That's when I saw that I was trapped. I had to tell him, but if I did who knew how severe the consequences could be? If I told Andy, I wouldn't be just putting myself in danger, but I would be putting Joe, Andy, Clara, Marie, and Joe's baby's lives all on the line.

"From the person who killed Ryland, Aubrey, and is now after me." I said bluntly. "They are all the same person, and they are out to kill me. I left to protect you and Clara from them, they don't care about the collateral damage as long as they get their job done. They want me dead, and they will use anyone to get to me. I don't want you guys to get hurt, so I left. I did it because I love you too much."

I looked up and saw the hurt in his hazel green eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?" His voice wobbled. "I could have helped you."

I shook my head. "I was scared. I was so scared that they would come after you."

Andy rested his head on top of mine as I presssed against his strong chest. "You don't have to be scared anymore Becca. If this person ever tries to mess with you again, they're going to have to go through me first, I promise you that. "

"You're sure?" I asked quietly.

He laughed and nodded, planting a kiss on the top of my head. "I'm positive. I love you, you nerd."

I smiled, "I love you too, you dork."

We both stood up and straightened ourselves out. "Let's go home." Andy suggested, offering a hand to me.

I accepted his gesture, interlocking my fingers with his. "Yea, let's go home."

Andy and I walked back to Joe and I's dressing room, a huge weight lifted off both of us and a newfound happiness had found itself inside me. We met up with Joe and Marie in the dressing room, both of them were curled up on the couch and talking about anything and everything. I made a small cough to get their attention.

"Hey." Joe turned back to us. "I see that you two have finally made up."

I felt a smile spread across my face. "Yea, I guess we did." I leaned over and gave Andy a quick peck on the lips. 'And I think that there are some congrats in order for you two!"

Joe beamed with pride. "Thanks you two."

Marie nodded in agreement. "And we are so happy that you two finally made up, you both are perfect for each other."

She was right, Andy and I were perfect for each other. He was the only person that I could feel completely safe around, and I finally thought things were actually going to be okay for once. But there was something in the back of my mind that was telling me otherwise.