Adam&Audrey

Rule #17: Chasing The Sun

Rule #17: Chasing The Sun

“Uh… I suppose I did deserve that,” I said, looking down at my dress shoes which were now splattered in yellow gunk.

Audrey slapped her hands over her mouth. “Crap! Adam, I didn’t mean to – it was just the alcohol-”

I mustered up a laugh, waving her concern off. “It’s okay. I didn’t like the shoes, anyways. Too tight. You, ah, have given me a reason to throw them out.”

Her mortified expression didn’t waver, and I sighed, opening the door for her. “Relax. Get in, I’ll take care of this,” I said, helping her in. Before she could continue protesting, I closed the door.

Thank god I could close my nose off mentally for as long as I wanted as long as my mouth stayed open. Opening the front door, I leaned under the seat the extract the plastic bags dad often kept. Removing my shoes and socks, I dropped them inside the bag with a sigh. Sorry environment.

The vomit hadn’t splattered anywhere else but the road. I put the bag in the trunk of the car before making my way back to the front making sure to walk around from the other side to avoid the leftover vomit. Getting in barefoot, I put my feet on the cool metal of the brake and accelerator, slightly shivering from the sudden cold shock.

Looking in the rear-view mirror, I saw that Audrey had already passed out. Her neck was tilted at an awkward angle, drool escaping from her mouth down her cheek and into her hair. The sight made me smile tiredly, and I leaned back, taking off my jacket off and putting it over her.

We reached my house in a few minutes. I had forgotten how close the chapel and cemetery were to my childhood home. The familiar red brick two-storey home was just the way I remembered. I lifted Audrey up in my arms, being careful not to hit her head on the car roof.

The house had changed a lot in the six months I had been gone. The living room and dining room had switched, but everything still had Mum’s home art decorated and portrayed everywhere. Even the cushion covers she had made on her and Dad’s anniversary last summer were still on. I took Audrey upstairs to my room, which was the only thing that was still unchanged. I know Mum was the reason behind the clearly cleaned but still unchanged room.

Laying down Audrey on the bed, I covered her with a newly-washed blanket and wiped her face with a wet tissue. The green hue was gone thankfully, but I still put a bucket beside her bed just in case. Now I knew personally what a hangover looked like from the outside.

As I began leaving, Audrey’s bracelet caught with the sleeve of my woolen shirt. Gritting my teeth, I leaned over painstakingly close to her and tugged my arm lightly. It didn’t loosen. Bringing my other hand into the game to help, I tried to yank away the bracelet without waking her up.

With one final tug, it came loose. Finally. But when I stood up straight to leave again, I was stopped again, this time by a stronger force. “Now what-”

“Adam.” Audrey whispered my name in her sleep like a soft caress, blowing me away and at the same time bringing me closer to her.  I crouched beside the bed, smoothing away her hair and laying a feather-light kiss on her forehead. As if sensing I was there with her, she arched her back, trying to get closer to the palm of my hand, a small, wistful smile on her face.

I found myself leaning in to kiss her in her sleep before I sat back on my haunches, mentally scolding myself. Dude, what the hell. This isn’t some Disney movie; Audrey’s not Sleeping Beauty. Stop thinking of kissing her, you perv.

But I couldn’t. And it was driving me nuts.

Taking out my phone to distract myself, I found myself hovering over the ‘call’ button beside Rickie’s name. Nah, he was busy with the funeral arrangements. After R comes S, I thought. Sending a quick chat to Sam, I explained what I was thinking.