Downers [Andrew Graves X Male OC]

Chapter 4: Pacify Her

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"Mrs. Graves, do I really have to wear this? It's embarrassing!" You stammer, the bracelet reading her contact information as she dresses you in a warm sweater, laughing softly at your half tantrum. "Yes, Owen, just in case you get lost, I know you get distracted. Please be careful, and tell me everything, dinner should be ready when you're back." You nod and give her a hug, being the only kid left in the house as Andy and Leyley left you. "Do you remember where they told me to go?" You grab a paper for her and she draws a cafe, a small map made of lines, since you don't quite understand addresses yet.

"Stay near Andrew-!" She exclaims as the door shuts behind you, nodding even out of her sight, a sudden anxious feeling growing in both you and her.

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Leyley meets you at the cafe, you brought $5 Mrs. Graves gave you and you show her, smiling as you go to explain but she grabs your arm, leading you to a sketchier area you recognize. You tug your arm and stand still shaking your head, "not alone-" "shut up, you'll get a cookie. I know already. Stop being a crybaby, Andy's gonna be there soon."

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You sit on dirty wood, hearing Leyley complain about Andy taking long but you focus on a rock, kicking it between your legs. You worry silently, your stomach hurting as the minutes pass.

"Finally!" Ashley tugs you towards her, "Huh? What are you guys doing here?" A girl with pigtails says, next to Andy. "Surprise! I wanna hang out too!" Ashley smiles with her teeth, slightly scaring the peer, "oh... I guess that's fine.. but who's he?" "He's Omen, he lives with us sometimes." Andy introduces you while you reach out for a handshake, seeing Mr. Graves do it before, the girl only gives you a puzzled look, "like... a curse?..." your hand lowers itself slowly, feeling your stomach turn more you stand behind Andy.

"Say, did you tell your mom you're here??" Ashley cuts the tension, leaning towards the girl. "No, why?" "Heh heh! Just wondering. I mean I'm surprised she let you come hang out with a boy!" ... "No way! She thinks I went to study with Julia. But why are you here, Ashley?" "Divine intervention." "...... What's that even mean?"

"It means she's full of crap. Don't listen..." Andrew cuts the conversation off, stepping between the two girls. "So! Are we going inside or what?" Ashley begins to look around for an entrance, "is that allowed..?" She adjusts her pigtails, antsy as you pull Andrew towards the corner, Ashley taking the girl to find a door.

"Why is that girl here? What's her name?" ... "She's Nina, she likes me and Leyley wanted to play with her." You can tell Andy's nervous, seeing him play with his fingers and you take his hand, nodding "Do you like her back? How old is she? Can we get a cookie after? Your mom gave me enough for two I think!" You hand him the five dollar bill, giving a wide smile and before he can react to your bombard of questions, Leyley yells his name to take off a flimsy sheet of tin metal.

... "What? I can't do that!" "It's okay! I won't tell anyone!!" .... Andy releases one of the biggest sighs you've heard, "as in I literally can't do it, dumbass! Not without some tools at least..." "Huh? Even though it's this flimsy?" ...... "....Yes."

"I-I like smart guys over beefy ones!!" Everyone stares at Nina, Ashley being the only one to know what to say; "who asked??"

You pick up a hammer you saw when you found your rock, giving it to the tall boy, assuming he can carry it easier than Leyley and he proves you right, swiftly taking out the nails keeping the sheet pinned to the wall. You stay outside as the siblings enter first, feeling uneasy about the whole situation.