I Never Planned On You

43- You Walk With Me

( fun drinking game: everytime there is an "I", take a shot. warning: you'll be dead in 35 seconds.)

2 days later, 11:14 pm

I quickly throw my hair up into a ponytail and slip into a sweatshirt and sweatpants. I sit cross legged on my hotel bed and sift through the channels on the tv before landing on House Hunters. I watch as the couples say how wonderful the patio will be for entertaining, and listen to them complain about the wall colors.

My phone rings just as I start to doze off. I press the off button, ignoring the call. Moments later, the phone rings again. I pick up and see that Evan has been calling me. I answer the call and hold my phone up to my ear.

"Andrea?! Why didn't you answer?!" He says, frantically, with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"I was about to fall asleep." I explain, rubbing my eyes.

"Andie, this is important." Evan says in a serious tone, making me sit straight up.

"What's wrong?" I ask, worry lacing in with my words.

"There-" He starts, then breaks out into sobs.

"Evan? What's wrong? Just tell me what's wrong!" I say, my fear growing every second.

"There was a fire, Andie." He barely makes out.

"Oh my gosh, are you okay?" I ask, my heart stopping.

"I'm fine, I wasn't home. But, Andie the house is gone. Mom and Dad," he whimpers, "Mom and Dad were home, Andie." He sobs into the phone.

Immediately tears brim my eyes, "Are they, are they dead?" Evan doesn't say anything in reply, confirming my worst fears. I start bawling uncontrollably, shaking like crazy.

"What are we going to do?!" Evan cries.

"I don't know!" I sob. We're only eighteen, what are we supposed to do? We cry together for a few more minutes, but stop once we realize how we need to handle this, "Where are you staying tonight?" I sniffle.

"Teresa offered that I could stay at their house for the time being." Evan replies, "Are you going to come home?"

"What's the point?" I ask, my voice cracking. "Listen, I'll call you in the morning, I just, I need some time to think about this."

"Okay, I love you. Be safe." Evan says, sounding like he needs a hug.

"I love you, too." I say, needing a hug. The moment I hang up the phone, I burst into tears again. It feels like the world is turning, but I can't move with it. Like my head is pounding and my body will crumble to the floor.

I put my shoes on and run out the door, down the stairs, and out a door that says, 'EMERGENCY EXIT'. I step out into the rain and just stand there for a moment, letting the water run down my body. I start running, I don't know where to, but I just run.

I find myself in front of Ben and Josh's apartment. My fist reaches up and knocks on the door, leaving water droplets on it. The door opens to reveal a tired looking Josh.

"Josh." I whimper, letting myself fall into his arms, staining his shirt with rain and tears.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Josh worriedly asks.

I don't respond, just cry even harder.

"Do you want me to get Ben?" Josh asks. I just nod into his chest. Josh squeezed my shoulders and turned to Ben's room. I lean my head against the wall and slide down to the floor, pressing my face into my hands.

"Why are you crying?" I hear Ben's voice say against my wet hair is he engulfs me in a hug.

"Babe...What happened?" Ben asks, rubbing his hand up and down my back.

"My parents." Is all I can manage to say before the sobs come on again.

Ben's POV:

"What do you think happened?" Josh asks, taking a sip of his coffee.

"I don't know." I say, running a hand through my hair. "Maybe they're getting a divorce?"

"Maybe." Josh says, "Whatever it was, it hit Andie hard."

"I know, I just hope she's gonna be okay." I say as the shower turns off.

"Are there any clean towels in the bathroom?" I ask quietly. Josh nods. We drink our coffee in silence until the bathroom door opens and Andie walks out wearing the only t-shirt and athletic shorts that I could find. Josh and I both stand up from the bar stools.

"They're dead." She says, simply. My breath catches in my throat. "There was a fire at my house. Everything is gone... Including my parents." Her voice cracks, but no tears come out. Almost as if she's already used up the only ones she had.

Andie's POV:

"I better not hear anything I don't want to hear." Josh warns, kissing my forehead as he tucks me and Ben into bed.

"Josh!" Ben says, trying to reach up and slap him.

"What?! I don't know what you crazy kids do!" Josh says, "I'll be out of your hair now. Sleep tight, children." He flips the light off and closes the door.

Then, a warm white glow appears from the corner of Ben's room. I peer up, look at it, and smile.

"Do you have a nightlight?" I laugh.

"Whaaat? No! Why, uh, why would you ask that?" I see Ben blush in the dark.

"Maybe because I can see it?" I say, pointing to the nightlight plugged into the wall.

"Huh? I've never seen that in my life! I guess it must be Josh's! He has always been scared of the dark." He whispers the last part in my ear.

"You're such a liar." I smile, wrapping my arms against his warm torso. I trace my finger along the small arrow located on the side of Ben's ribs.

"Are you okay?" Ben asks, playing with my hair.

"No. I'm nowhere near being okay." I respond, wanting to cry, but no tears come out.

Ben sighs, "I called the tour when you were helping Josh make the bed. I told them you were gonna need a little while off."

"Thank you." I breathed out. Performing is honestly the last thing I want to do right now. I just want to hang out with Josh and Ben for the rest of eternity.