Snow

Chapter Two

Me and Laura headed upstairs after the film had ended, and Andy agreed to take the couch despite me offering to sleep there instead. I then realised that meant he'd be alone in bed with Laura, and quickly withdrew my offer.

I slept badly that night, tossing and turning in worry for my best friend. She couldn't seem to sleep either, probably because I kept moving. "Sorry, L. I'll try to keep still." I said when she poked me. She just poked me again and I turned to face her. "What's up."

"I'm sorry about this morning. I shouldn't have done that." I instantly understood that she was talking about her puking.

I nodded with a sigh. "Seriously though, L, I need you to promise me something - and this time, you're not allowed to break it." She nodded, biting her lip. "You need to eat." Those three words clearly sparked something in her, and she flinched backwards, tears filling her eyes. "What''s wrong?" I whispered, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her to me.

"I'm so sorry, Leigh. I promised you before and we both know I broke it. I just... I can't." I shook my head quickly, running my fingers through her hair in an attempt to calm her down.

"L, honey, of course you can. I'm so sorry that I'm this far away. I should be right next to you whilst you're trying to get better. I hate myself for not being able to help you as much as I want to, but honestly? You don't need my help. You don't need anyone's help. No one's help but your own. You are the only person who can fix this, L, and I know for a fact that you can." She looked at me, her bottom lip trembling, and nodded. Taking a deep breath, she hugged me hard and lay back down without a word.

I fell asleep almost instantly after our talk.

*

The next morning, I woke to the smell of burnt toast. "Whaa-" I looked up to see who had poked me. When I realised it wasn't Laura, I flinched backwards and struggled to pull the covers to my chin. They'd gotten tangled between my legs during the night, and almost all of me was showing. And I had fallen asleep in just a baggy t-shirt from the car. "Shit!"

He laughed. "Come down and get breakfast, Laura's already eating." I nodded and stretched, gesturing for him to leave the room. When he did, I climbed out of bed and pulled on the clothes I'd been wearing the day before, figuring that I'd sort my face out after I'd eaten.

"Morning." L sang from her seat, a mouthful of black toast showing as she spoke. I scrunched my nose up at the sight and poked her forehead.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, it's gross. And so is the fact that you eat your toast completely burnt." I said, flicking her nose and grabbing some bread for the toaster. "But, good morning anyways." She laughed and I turned to wink at her, before spotting Andy stood in the doorway. He stood, shirtless, and raised an eyebrow at me, obviously expecting a blush.

My cheeks remained calm, and I stared back, one eyebrow raised, until he turned to ask Laura if she wanted anything else. With a smug smirk and a wink in his direction, I turned back to my toast. He rolled his eyes and came over to where I was stood. "Put two in for me." Was all he said, before looking down at his hand and scrunching his nose up at the butter that was on his finger. "That's really gross." I didn't reply, just put his toast in and went to sit down. As I sat, I felt him poke my nose, and a lump of something gross rubbed off on it.

My eyes widened and I stood up with a playful glare. "Are you serious?" I asked, one eyebrow raised, and wiped it off with the back of my hand. "Come here." He shook his head quickly, stepping back as I ran towards him. He turned and tried to run out of the kitchen, but I jumped and landed on his back. Rubbing my hand over his cheek, and I smiled triumphantly, jumping down from his back. His mouth was wide open as I all but skipped into the kitchen just in time to save the toast from burning. "I win." I sang, buttering the toast and cutting them in half. Putting the plates on the table, I smirked at him and took my seat. "Bon apetite."