A Second Chance • A.F. {#wattys2018}

Chapter 17

Andy

We walked out of the cinema screen room and headed back towards the car. We had done a bit of shopping, had some food and went to see a film but now we were all shattered and we just needed sleep.

We got on the escalator and I felt a text come through.

Rye🐝
She's so broken dude. She literally has no energy and it's obvious, her face is starting to mark but she said she'll probably forgive you. But we made it to Manchester safely and I'll probably stay here for a few days to let you cool down and then I'll be back and we can hopefully figure this shit out. You're my brother Andy. I don't want to hate you but you've never once hit me.

I sighed and walked off the escalator, catching up with the rest of the boys, I'd reply to Rye's text later although he did have a point.

The drive back home was average and quiet mainly because we were all tired out from the cinema and food.

We got back to the flat and everyone just flopped onto their beds, Jack put his earphones in and faced the wall, Mikey got into Ryes bed and started editing and Brook laid in Mikeys bed.

I was laid in my bed and I didn't know what to do, Blair was in America with Harvey still and wasn't due back for another month, maybe longer.

I decided to get out of my bed, I put a jumper on, put some trainers on and headed for the door.

"I'm off to maccies lads" I heard a few okays as I left the flat. I pulled my hood up and stuffed my hands in the front pocket of the jumper.

The night air was chilly but I didn't mind, it took my mind away from the millions of thoughts that were swirling through my head.

I made it into McDonalds and I ordered a tea and sat in one of the booths near the window. I spun my phone around on the table and kept deciding on whether or not I should call Melody. I was about to pick the phone up and call her when someone sat opposite me.

I lifted my head to see the girl that lives in the flat above us, she has a short bob that is dyed red, brown eyes, quite short. She's around 26, really nice, slim and always talking to us when she sees us.

"Andy you okay? I spoke to Mikey earlier to see what all of the disturbance was about" I felt awful, I knew she was referring to the fight.

"Liz I'm so sorry, Rye and I had a fight but it won't happen again" my words were just tumbling out of my mouth.

"No Hun it's fine, but I thought you and Rye were really close" she questioned, so I just spilled the whole story to her. About Melody, the fight, how she left, everything.

"Oh Andy, call her. She may angry at you but trust me deep down all she'll want to hear is your voice, I promise it will make her day and if she doesn't want to talk then don't push her away or force her to talk, just give her time and support her. Don't shut her out again because it will only hurt her" I looked at her and smiled.

"Thanks Liz"

"Anytime Andy love" and with that she smiled at me, grabbed her food and headed towards the door.

I picked up the phone and clicked on Mels number, I held the phone to my ear and the ringing noise made me feel slightly sick and I felt worse when I heard who was on the other end.

A: Hello? Melody ?

R: Andy... its Rye.

A: I can tell. Where's Melody and why are you answering her phone ?

R: she's asleep and I didn't want her phone waking her up

A: so I'm guessing you two are a thing now ?

My voice was laced with anger. I can't believe Rye would do this to me.

R: will you calm down Andy. You did text and say I could do whatever to comfort her. All we were doing was taking and cuddling. Nothing harmful Andy and you need to learn to trust me or our friendship will be over.

A: how can I trust you Rye when you're laid spooning the girl that means the world to me ?!

R: Andy I'll get her to call you in the morning so you two can talk because I'm not gonna ruin our friendship over this. You're lucky I'm forgiving you for hitting me. But I'm warning you now fovvs. If you make her the slightest bit upset when you call her, I will never forgive you.

With that the call ended and I sat there in silence and shock at what just happened. I decided to take a walk back to the flat and forget everything until I called Melody tomorrow, at least then we might be able to fix things properly.

Rye

R: Andy I'll get her to call you in the morning so you two can talk because I'm not gonna ruin our friendship over this. You're lucky I'm forgiving you for hitting me. But I'm warning you now fovvs. If you make her the slightest bit upset when you call her, I will never forgive you.

I didn't even give Andy the chance to reply because I had hung the phone up and I laid there not knowing what to do now.

I turned to look at Melody, she looked so peaceful laid there, all her troubles had left her and she finally looked happy.

Her cheek was still red and had a hint of purple in it from where Andy had accidentally hit her and my heart hurt.

She stirred in her sleep and I stroked her hair as she drifted off and I was about to lay down and go back to sleep until I felt something hit me, and again and then I heard screams and that's when I shot up.

I looked around the room and saw Melody thrashing around the bed, her arms and legs were out of control and the screams were coming from her mouth.

I grabbed her wrists and tried to gently wake her "NO ANDY GET OFF OF ME" tears were streaming down her face and I didn't know what to do.

"Hey Melody shhh it's me, it's Rye, please wake up babe" she continued thrashing for about 5 minutes, but it felt like hours, until her eyes finally bolted open and she breathed heavily due to amount of movement.

She also looked around the room and then at my hands around her wrist, she didn't say anything and she just fell into my chest and I wrapped my arms around her as she sobbed.

"It's okay, you're safe, I'm not going to let anything happen to you Mel" and as I said that a few tears fell from my own eyes because one of my best friends had broken this girl that I suddenly cared huge amounts for.

We laid back down and she rested her hair on my chest as she laid close by to me, she seemed afraid to leave me and also afraid to sleep.

"Does that happen often?" I asked as I ran my fingers up and down her arm.

"Every night, Elijah knows how to deal with it and is used to it but I'm sorry for not warning you" I held back the tears that threatened to fall, it was a good job it was dark.

"Don't be sorry, it's not your fault, I'm always gonna be here to protect you okay? I promise you, I will never leave you" I felt her nod as she nuzzled her head.

"Cmon let's try and at least get a little bit of sleep" I said and within 10 minutes of us laid there, we had both drifted off into a harmless sleep.