Caught In The Way You Got Me (Book One)

Other Plans Fell Through, And Put A Heavy Load On You

Asteria:

"Yeah, Asteria...I just... There's something I have to do..." He says nervously. I have no idea what that means and my heart is pounding out of my chest. I look desperately into his eyes, hoping he isn't about to leave. He's a dream come true...maybe even a dream I don't deserve...and I don't want to lose that.

"Asteria, I'm not very good sometimes. I have to be honest with you. I'm used to a certain mindset. And I know we've had a talk like this already, I'm sorry. But, Asteria. I'm not perfect. It will take time for me to stop being in that mind set. It'll take time for me to stop being stupid. And I'm going to make mistakes. But I...I feel weird saying it. But I mean it...I want to be your...boyfriend. I want to help you get through this. I want to be here for you. I want to take care of you...And I...that's it." He cuts himself off. I already felt that that was what he was, but this puts some sort of seal on that. And I'm able to breathe a little but. I'm afraid if the mistakes he'd talk in about. I'm afraid of what could happen. But I don't want to let him go.

"Let's go on another first date? This Friday? Will you feel okay for it? It'll be comfortable, I promise. Nothing too fancy." I nod with a smile and he smiles back, quick to kiss me again. He's a rollercoaster. I've seen this side of him more than anything. I hope this is his real side.

"Are you guys done making out? Because I sure as hell am done puking. Asteria did you fucking clean my apartment?" Davey interrupts us and we both pull away from each other slowly. Brendon smiles and is looking at me teary eyed. What's been going on?

"Um...yeah. Yeah I cleaned. As a thank you," I stutter out.

"Oh, sure. As a thank you. You were probably cringing at every turn," Davey laughs. We both join him but Brendon is still looking at me. It's not that it's awkward but I'm curious as to what's hanging in his head for him to switch from ready to leave me alone to ready to stay. Maybe I'm just being too emotional...My thoughts are interrupted by my phone ringing.

"Hello?" I answer and I feel Brendon and Davey secretly hate me for answering this call and not theirs. "Yes, this is she."

"Asteria, we would like to let you know that we reviewed your doctor's note and are expecting to see you tomorrow. We will cooperate with your conditions but in order for you to maintain your internship you must return to work." I'm suddenly anxious and pressured.

"Oh, okay. I'll be in tomorrow morning. Thank you." I hang up and look to the both of them. "I'll lose my internship if I don't go in tomorrow."

They both let out exhausted sigsh and go on about how it's one thing after another and they're exhausted. I feel guilt seeping in, knowing that a lot of their troubles are related to me. I try to assure them that it's okay and I'm excited and I'm happy to go back, reminding them that it could help with my memory, but I'm terrified. My brain is distracted while we all help with making dinner. I'm supposed to be cutting vegetables but I guess I'm not doing a very good job.

"Asteria, you know you have to actually move the knife if you want the vegetables to get chopped, right?" Davey asks and I give him an eye roll and a smile. He looks at me with concern but decides to brush it off. I'm exhausted and that really doesn't help with this whole nervousness thing. I'm jolted out of my slump when I feel something soft hit my face. I slowly turn my head and Brendon is trying his hardest to look innocent and like he didn't just fling a spoonful of mashed potatoes at me.

"Excuse you?" I saw, walking toward him with a handful of diced tomatos. 

"What?! Why are you walking toward me? What did I do?!" Brendon shouts and I reach to shove the tomatos down his shirt. He moves and it ends up being shoved down Davey's instead. 

"What the hell!" He smears barbecue sauce on my face. We're all giggling at the idiocy that's happening in the kitchen. 

"That's not that funny!" I shout at Davey.

"No but you know what would be?" He laughs as he scoops more sauce into his fingers.

"Oh my God, no."

"Put on your WAR PAINT!" Davey shouts as he smacks the sauce into both mine and Brendon's faces. 

"Man down! I can't see through my glasses!" Brendon yells as he throws himself to the kitchen floor. Davey and I look at each other with smirks painted on our faces and I grab the barbecue sauce bottle.

"We must feast upon the outsider!" Davey screams as he commands me to start squirting the sauce on him. 

"Oh my God! This is the grossest thing that's every happened to me! Help!" Brendon screams, laughing himself into tears. We're interrupted by a really loud knock on the door. We all look at each other and Davey rushes to the door. He opens it to a very angry woman holding a baby.

"Ah shit," he says when he sees her. 

"You know the rule, you wake her up, you put her back to sleep," she tells him as she shoves the baby into his arms. I quickly grab a paper towel and wet it, whiping off my face. The woman leaves angrily.

"Brendon, maybe you should shower," I giggle as I watch Davey holding the infant infront of him like he's afraid to touch it.

"Man, when she made that rule I really didn't think she meant it. This is the first time I broke it!" Davey looks at the child with disgust and it stares back at him with fear. I hear the bathroom door shut and the water turn on. Brendon took my advice. I feel slightly bad about turning him into a human rib but it was fun. He laughed so hard! I quickly realize why Brendon sped into the restroom when the baby starts crying.

"What do I do?!" Brendon yells as he looks at me. I laugh.

"First, you can stop yelling." I reach over and take the baby from him, cradling her into my arms and swaddling her just a bit tighter. "You can finish cooking. I've got her."

"Oh no..." Davey sighs as he goes back into the kitchen and watches me cautiously as I take care of the baby. She's beautiful...