It isn't all misery

Chapter 9

Dedicated to Talia because you're fab and I hope all is well! (:

“I can have fun too” The voice startled me and I felt myself inhale the grape. A small one luckily, so it flew down my throat, but I was still taken aback. That could have been potentially disastrous.

I spun to see Andy standing there, and felt myself blush. This was the second time he's scared me, and he'd heard me whispering 'I can have fun'. What kind of lunatic does that make me look like? He picked up the fact that I wasn't talking and stepped forward.

“Of course, I don't know the context in which your 'fun' is, but I'll assume it's all pretty similar” he chuckled, then moved towards the grapes. “We need to stop meeting like this. One of these days I'll choke you to death” he looked at me really seriously, then a smile crept onto his face. I laughed with him, trying to hide my nerves.

“What are you doing in here?”

“I had to call my friend and uh...food” I admitted. He laughed silently, his mouth occupied by food and nodded understandingly.

“Shall we get back outside then?” he asked, so I nodded. I don't know why I was still shy around Andy. Maybe it was because I'd spent more time with Ashley and was slowly getting used to his company and, though they're all my idols, maybe I'm just still a little starstruck.

Andy walked with me back through the kitchen. “So how did it go last night...Did you wake up with Ashley?” he seemed to ponder whether to add the last bit, before asking anyway. How do I respond to that?

“Yes” I said simply. Truthfully. He turned to me and raised his eyebrows suggestively with a cheeky smirk as we stepped out the back door. “But nothing happened like that!”

“I'm surprised, with a guy like Ashley. He's a great guy but it's not a secret that he, uh...” he trailed off and looked at me, and I understood. “Maybe you're special” he added, quickening his pace. I didn't reply as I followed him up the garden. He slowed again and came into step beside me. “Are, uh, are things getting serious would you say?” he asked.

I dared to look up at him. A shadow cast under his defined jaw line and his black mane gently blew around his neck in the breeze. He was looking straight up, into the distance, watching the others socialise. I could feel any coherent thoughts in my brain slowly drift away on the gentle wind along with Andy's hair, as I looked up (in more ways than one) to the man I've admired for years). And honestly I didn't know how to answer. I didn't know what we were, me and Ashley. Was this anything? We'd kissed and been on a supposed 'date', but was this actually a thing? Despite my uncertainty, it still surprised me when I replied with:

“No.”

He glanced down at me, a small smile playing on his lips. Was he happy about that? Was he just being nice? I felt my cheeks flush under his gaze and I turned my head away.

“Look who I found” Andy announced. He smiled at me again then went to talk to Jake as Sammi came over to me, with Jinxx and Ashley, fanning herself with her hand.

“Don't you guys think it's getting pretty hot?” she said, letting out a breath. Ashley checked his phone.

“It's just coming up for one, the sun is directly above us” he told us.

“You had to check your phone to tell us about the sun” Jinxx laughed and I did too.

“Maybe I'll take a dip” Sammi said, eyeing the water. “What about you guys?”

“Maybe later” Jinxx said.

“I don't think I will” I said politely. Not only did I not have a bikini or bathing suit, was I even ready to strip down in front of these guys? A few hang outs, but I'm not prepared to get down to a bikini and get in the pool. Nope.

“I'm sure Ella has a bikini around here somewhere if that's what you're bothered about?” Sammi told me. I shook my head.

“I just don't think I'm hot enough to get in” I said, stroking my arm nervously.

“I get it” she nodded. “Ashley, you in?”

“Yeah, maybe I'll get in later, with Jinxx” he said with a smile in his direction.

Although I'd said I wasn't hot enough to go swimming, I was certainly starting to feel the sun on my back, and was thankful for the baggy arm holes of Ashley's shirt that I was wearing, allowing a nice breeze to blow through. The smell of hot dogs and other meaty goodness drifted through the air and I heard laughter. Chatting. More laughter.

My surroundings seemed to be distancing themselves from me. Like I was being taken out of the scene and watching from afar. This social gathering of rockstars and their friends was like a dream, a memory that you couldn't quite remember. A vivid product of my imagination. Was this real? I wanted to fan myself, to cool my ever-heating face, to feel some cool air against my skin, but I couldn't feel myself move. I was burning up. Was this real? My surroundings started to rush, and I wondered whether this really was just a dream and I'd wake up in the restaurant, waiting for my friends.

But I felt an all too real pair of hands reach out and grab my arms. It didn't matter, I was already falling. I hit water and heard it splash around me, but it was faint. I was being engulfed and suffocated, and then I was unconscious. 

So I felt the need to give you guys an actualy cliff hanger. Good? Bad? And what are your thoughts so far? Who are you shipping?! Haha, thank you guys for reading, you guys are fab, let me know what you think!