Smile For Me (Student/Teacher)

Fin Pt II

"It- it's been so long." He spoke.

"It has." I replied quietly, the situation overwhelming me greatly.

"I apologize for Julian, he knows better than to run off like that, and to go bothering people." Andy suddenly said, turning me a little cold at his sudden switch from plain to business mode. Was Andy acting business-like... to me? Never in my life had he ever talked to me like that. Not even when we first met. Then I told myself I had to expect that from him, it's been years.

"It's alright, really." I replied quietly, not sure what to say next.

"How is he? Is he hungry? What all did he bring? I don't even know how long he's been gone, I've been out of town and the keeper didn't realize he was gone until yesterday." Towards the end of his speech he seemed a little angry at himself, and I felt the old urge to hang off of him in a hug and tell him he could never do a thing wrong in the world. Phoning Andy, I was brought back to when he was gone off to Japan, and I was alone in my room, trying to go to sleep, and he called. He went on to tell me what his day was, and talked me to sleep. I had never felt so close to that man, and it hurt to think about how he and I were... distant. I never wished for that to happen- but I guess it had to.

"He's fine, he was hungry but I fed him. Um- I'm not sure of everything he brought, but he did pack light."

He sighed on the other end, and then his tone changed, as if his business-mode was too exhausting to hold up with me. "Thank you, Diana. Thank you so much for taking care of him, I- god- I never meant for this to happen."

"It really isn't a problem. He's a sweet boy I'm glad to have met him." I said, again, quietly.

Andy was quiet on the other end, and I felt we both had no idea what to say. Finally he spoke, "Diana?" He said my name so tenderly. The affection... It still existed. The admiration in his voice, the softness, the vulnerability.

"Yes, Andy?" I was still shaking.

"Would you mind me going over there and picking him up?"

My heart raced, and I shook my head, then realized he couldn't see me, so I spoke instead, "No, not at all."

Andy Carl coming to my house after so long?

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"I'm in California right now, so I should be over there early tomorrow."

"Okay." Was all I could say.

And we were quiet again. Then he said in a soft sigh, "How've you been?" His voice was like how I last heard it, soft, caring, and... loving.

I held the phone away and took a deep breath, "I've been good." I swallowed. "What about you?"

"I've been good, busy as always, but good." We were quiet again, but then he spoke again, and my heart was melting quickly after his words. His quiet words, "Diana... could you say my name again?"

My face flushed, my body flushed, I felt warm all over. I couldn't resist bringing my hand to my face and tried to keep my breathing under control. He missed me. Lord how I missed him, too. And how I once hated myself for it, but not anymore. I could no longer try to stop it. Now and then, always, I will miss Andy. But that was okay. Charlie told me that. "Andy," I said.

He sighed, and the phone muffled. I could just picture him rubbing his forehead, covering his eyes, doing something with his hands to his face as if he'd been so tired. "It's just been so long since I've heard your sweet voice."