Stay A Little Longer: A Short Story

~Twelve~

Nothing pretty interesting happened for some time. Unless you count shopping for tuxes with the Lavignes and putting up with Max insisting they wear a dress and men's shoes or skirt and blazer. I told them whatever suits them, they should get it...

I still haven't seen the outfit.

But that's okay, because tomorrow, Sunday, is the day. I had a feeling you would want me to hop to it instead of going over the last week in boring detail. So much school, so much sneaking around my house, in case you wanted to know.

"Hey," my mom called me on my phone while I was at the grocery store with Andy. "Are you ever planning on coming home?"

"No, not that I think you would care anyway," I say in a bitter tone. Andy looks up at me with a concerned look, I mouth "mom" and "home" to him and point to the phone at my ear. He nods in understanding and wanders off towards the snack aisle. Then changes course and goes to the fruit stands around front.

"I was just wondering if I could expect to find you climbing through the windows anytime soon."

"No, I won't be home for quite some time."

Then, without saying anything else, I quickly hang up and join Andy by the apples.

"Do you think I should go with green or red apples?" he asks when I slide into place beside him.

"There are green apples at home, already, that you never touched." I remind him. "Maybe get some... bananas?"

"Yuck, bananas have a weird texture."

"Alright, grapes. I like grapes."

"So do I. Regular grapes or-"

"Just grab some grapes and come on, we've been here long enough."

He sighs and throws a carton of green grapes into the cart. We make our way to the check out, Andy eyeing the snacks on the racks in line like a hungry lion. I take his chin in my hand and turn his head so he's facing forward, towards the cashier and the doors.

"I can't take it anymore, I at least need a PayDay," Andy growls. He struggles against my hand, but I hold on firmly, and soon we're checking out and the tempting snacks are behind us.

"You can wait until tomorrow, can't you? Of course you can, you're Andrew Lavigne. Now let's head back home before JoJo bites our heads off," I suggest, starting towards the direction of Andy's house. Not a long walk, luckily.

"Andrew Lavigne," Andy huffs, "The kid who needs some M-and-Ms!"

I roll my eyes. He's so dramatic.

When we get home, just as I suspected, JoJo's running around like a headless chicken with a whole bunch of party supplies.

"Boys!" She announces when she spots us. "No time to idle, go outside and start stringing the lights!"

She shoves the box in my arms and rushes off before we could object. I turn to Andy and give a weak smile.

"I'll go get the ladder, meet you outside," he says, then runs off to the garage. I sigh and carry the box of streamers, confetti, and tangled, white Christmas lights outside to the side of the house.

"She acts as if it's her wedding we're preparing for," I grumble under my breath as I wait in the middle of the yard for Andy and the ladder. A few seconds later, he emerges from the garage carrying the big thing across one shoulder.

"Ooh, look who's getting stronger."

"Shut up, it's not that heavy," he smiles. I grab the ladder from him and prop it up against the side of the house.

"Be careful, you two!" Mr. Lavigne warns us from a few yards away, planting fake flowers around the perimeter of the yard to make it less... gross. "That ladder is rickety, and we don't want anyone breaking an arm before the wedding!"

"So, Andy, that means you have to blow up the balloons and string 'em," I stick my tongue out at him, and he yanks it.

"Don't think I won't push you off that ladder myself, Huang," he glares at me, and takes the few bags of blue, white, and gold balloons out of the box and goes to find a helium tank.

"It's in the garage!" Mr. Lavigne yells to Andy, knowing just what he was looking for.

The chaos continues on through noon as JoJo orders everyone to double- and triple-check on caterers, music, and the guests. Finally, Andy places a hand on her shoulder and rubs his hand over her back.

"Calm down, Jo, everything is going to be alright. It's only a wedding. And a wedding for two teenagers, at that. No one should be stressed out, especially not you," he says. We all watch as JoJo takes a deep breath and rubs her temples.

"Yeah, you're right," she agrees. "I'm gonna go lay down, I'm exhausted."

"We love you, Joanna, thanks for the hard work!"

She just half waves and shuffles into the house. Mr. and Mrs. Lavigne walk up and start to chuckle. I join the group.

"Thank you, Andy." Mrs. Lavigne smiles.

"Yeah, I thought we'd never get her to calm down. You're a wizard," I agree. He just shrugs and attempts to flip his hair out of his eyes.

"What can I say?" He says, coolly, "I have a way with the ladies."

"Oh, God." Mr. Lavigne laughs hysterically, Mrs. Lavigne and I joining in. Andy just stands there with his hands in his pockets, smiling at us.

When the laughter dies down, we all head inside to make a late lunch.

"I love you guys," Andy says in the kitchen, in the process of rinsing the green grapes.

"We love you." I smile back at him.

"No, like seriously, I really love you guys. I wish I could spend my whole life with... all of you."

"Now, Andrew..." Mrs. Lavigne starts. I can tell she doesn't want to hear him talk about his end. It won't happen, not on our watch. Not on my watch.

"Sorry, Mom," he lets it go. "Anyone want grapes?"
~~~
That night and dinner, we all laughed and told stories about hilarious incidents at weddings and parties we've been to. The Lavignes's cousin Margaurite was married in her home country of Paris, but there she threw up off the side of the Eiffel Tower because she was so nervous. Once, I was the ring bearer for my uncle's wedding and I accidentally swallowed the bride's ring. It was a fun time.

The dinner, not swallowing the ring.

As we were all going to bed, JoJo pulled me aside.

"Yeah?" I asked, and eyebrow raised.

"You make my brother happy, don't you?" She started out. That took me aback.

"Uh, y-yeah. Where is this going, exactly?"

"I want you to promise me something. Promise me that whatever happens to him, whether he... whether he stays or goes... you'll always love him. Because he loves you, and it'd just be really depressing if you moved on to the next guy you met after, um, things didn't work out."

"Joanna," I say, placing both hands on her shoulders, "I am Greyson Huang. You are speaking to Greyson Huang, soon to be Greyson Huang-Lavigne. I could never stop loving your brother. I'd have to lose my memory and my entire heart to do so. Take a chill pill, I'm not going anywhere, and neither is Andy as long as someone's there to love him."

She wipes at her face and frantically nods. "Thank you, Greyson. You're going to make a great husband."

And with that she walks into her room, shutting the door behind her. I enter Andy's room, where he's already huddled under the sheets, softly snoring. I guess the sugar withdrawal has taken its toll.

I plant a kiss on his cheek and crawl into bed next to him, spooning him like he asks me to.

"Just a few more hours," I hear him whisper as I drift off to sleep.