PROJECT ANDERSON

CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT: ANDIE

We had an hour or so left until we got to our destination, and sadly we had fell into an uncomfortable silence again.

For me, silence was never comfortable, because that's when the dark thoughts came.

"Andie, are you planning on catching something when we get there?" Jesse asked finally breaking me out of my thoughts.

"What makes you think that?" I asked with the briefest smirk.

"It's the only thing that would explain the supplies you needed." He answered with a bright smile. "Does that mean that I finally figured it out?"

"Partly, you still have to figure out what I want to catch."

"Well I doubt you would need chains and locks for an animal, so it must be something bigger."

"Actually anything will do."

"Now I'm confused again."

"That's the point Jess...I don't want you to figure it out." I retorted with a small laugh.

"I figured you would be happy that I figured it out."

"No, because I know that you will try and talk me out of doing it." I said with a sigh. "And frankly I would like to feel safe for a least one night before I risk our lives."

"So you're planning on keeping the secret until we are about to do it, aren't you?" He asked worried.

"You know me so well." I let out a small laugh. "And unlike the other times I tried this, you aren't going to be able to use your body to get it out of me."

"And how do you figure that?"

"Because I have changed."

"Not by much Andie...I still know how to get to you."

"That's what you think." I smirked. "But I have ways of keeping you away."

"And how do you plan on getting rid of the pain?"

"We'll see what happens when we get there, maybe the pain won't come back."

"Sounds like wishful thinking to me."

"Well one can only hope." I shrugged as I watched the scenery outside my window. "You're going to have to turn right soon."

"I'm going to need more than that." Jesse said as he searched for the turn off.

"In between two cherry trees is a dirt road that leads to the bunkers...you can't miss it."

"Why cherry trees? Wouldn't you want it to be more hidden?"

"The trees just mark the path, not where they are down that path." I answered with a small smile. "My parents planted them there, so my brother and I could always find them."

"How many times have you been there since they died?"

"Twice, once to collect some papers and the other was to just make sure it was still there...James took over most of the care of our family's properties." I sighed. "He said it was because he was older, but I think he just didn't want me to be haunted by what happened anymore, and he wanted to protect me."

"Did he ever think that that was doing you more harm than good, considering you still aren't over it?"

"I have my ways of coping with it and he knew that...he might not have agreed with them, but he didn't dare try and stop me."

"But you stopped drinking after the tub incident, right?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"That means that you were sober when Dorian kissed you."