Along Came Andrew

Chapter 6

I went back to our room soon after, though the rest of my family decided to stay behind. I just wasn't feeling up to it, I needed to lay down and think.

I made my way back, and it didn't seem like there was anyone else in the hotel. It was almost vacant, apart from the bell boy and receptionist. Everyone must be out at the beach. I thought. Everyone but him. I couldn't stop myself from thinking about this boy that I didn't know anything about, and the worst thing that kept crossing my mind is: He's probably not thinking about you. Or was he? I just wanted to see him. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to know him. All I knew was there was a beautiful, long haired brunette, sparkly eyed, feminine boy named Andrew that had problems loving himself, and that I wanted to love him. I wanted to know his something.

I looked around the room. In my tired and slightly annoyed haze earlier, I hadn't really gotten a chance to take the place in. My first thought was that the bed sheets were as white as me, and I laughed. The carpet was that fake, soft but in a not that soft way, and it was a sort of beige cream color. The walls were the same. It was my creamy escape - escape from the beach, and from my thoughts, and from him.

I collapsed into the bed. Dameon's and mine was nearest to the window, and the only thing betwixt was a little green and brown table with two faux wooden chairs.

I stared at the ceiling for a long time...I wasn't really thinking, more so the lack thereof. I wasn't really anything. I got lost in a limbo, caught in between sleep and consciousness, and I stayed that way for at least an hour until-

Knock, knock.

A sound at the door was almost like a life preserver, pulling me back to shore, though sudden.

But who would be knocking? Dad, Dameon, and Ryder each have a room key. It was probably room service, or a maid, or something.

"Just a second," I said, walking over. I opened the door and my heart stopped.

"Uh, hey." He said, running his hands through his hair awkwardly. It was Andrew. I immediately smoothed down my bedhead. It looked like it was just as awkward for him to be there as it was for me. I would never be brave enough to go down there.

"Oh, yeah hi. What made you decide to come?"

"Well, let's just say that my dad is like an infinite dad joke, and as great as it is, I needed a break, haha."

"Oh, my dad's just a jerk. But he means well, I guess." Why did I say that?

"Where is he?" He said, sheepishly stepping into the room.

"He and my brothers are still at the beach..."

"Oh you have brothers?"

"Two. Ryder's cool, but Daemon is closer to our age. You don't want to meet him, though. He's..."

"Don't worry, I gotcha. I think I saw you with him, I just assumed he was a friend of yours, because you're so unalike."

"You're not wrong, but I wouldn't be friends with people like that.." I said laughing and sitting down on the bed. More unalike than you think, Andrew.

"I came with my sister. She's cool, I mean, sometimes she can be annoying in her own way, but most of the time she's just fun. She's one of my best friends."

"My best friend is a girl named Bella." What are you doing? Stop talking.

"Oh, that's cool, where are you from?"

"Buckhannon."

"West Virginia?"

"

Yeah, Upshur county." I blushed. He probably thinks I'm a redneck or something, just like everyone else does. I'm not like them, I'm not like Daemon, I swear.

"I'm from Wheeling." He said, and I let out the breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

"Oh, nice. That's like two hours from me."

"I know, our school had to go there for the history bowl play in tournament, my friend told me about it."

"It was weird, because we hosted it. I didn't get to go anywhere, no fair!" I laughed.

He laughed too, after making some sassy comment about traveling. I liked his smile. It was hard to see this side of him, when all I saw before was the sadness. Some people are better at hiding it than they look. Maybe this was enough to convince everyone else that he was okay, but not me. I knew better, because I had enough to hide myself. I wonder if he could read me too. If he could see the cuts, and the buildup inside of me that I'm not good enough, my dad expects too much of me. I just want him to see it, and when I hug him, he would hug back.

But all I said was, "Yeah..." And trailed off.

"Are you okay?" He said looking into my dark eyes. No, Andrew. I'm not okay.

"Yeah, why do you ask?" My throat tightens.

"I don't know you just seem a bit, off.."

I know I shouldn't, but I couldn't stop myself from saying, "I could say the same for you."