when we collided [e.s.]

Fourteen

Audrey's POV

I wake up to a hard slap. Cassie is sitting on my hips with a crazed expression. "What the hell Cassie!" I scream. "Andrew dissapeared last night and I'm worried about him. We were supposed to leave for Isle of White this morning," Cassie admits, hopping off of me. I'm so sick of Cassie. I'm sick of her waking me up too early and I'm sick of her telling me to quit eating her food and I'm sick of Andrew telling me to let them relax and I'm sick of her telling me to shutup before her eardrums bleed and I'm sick of all of it. "You know what Cassie, I don't give a fuck about Andrew! And I don't give a fuck about you, okay?! I'm so fucking done being pushed around by you and everyone else!" I scream, gathering a bundle of clothes and slapping them in a tote bag. "You lie, and you sleep with Andrew every chance you get, and you make a mess, and then you just expect me to be okay with it, and I'm not!" I continue, angrily shoving my makeup bag into the tote. "And another thing. I have more shit in my life than you think and it would make it a lot better if you didn't fuck it up all the time," I say, now becoming out of breath. I shove my phone down my pajama pant pocket and put my hair up angrily in a messy bun. "Where are you going?" Cassie asks as I cram the cherry poptarts and my headphones into the bag. "Anywhere but here," I murmur, slamming the door behind me. Do I dare go to Ed's? You could literally cut the awkwardness with a knife. I feel myself start to cry and hug my arms around my waist. No. I am not going to let myself freak out again. I grab my phone and call Ed. "Hullo?" I can hear the sleep in his voice and immediately feel bad about calling him. I put my hand on my face and wipe a tear. "Can I stay with you?" I sniffle. My voice sounds like I've been crying way longer than 30 seconds. "Oh my god Audrey are you okay?" Ed asks. I hear him snap fully awake now. I flip my bag over my shoulder and take the elevator to the bottom. "I need you," I whisper. "I'm here, I promise, please just come over and see me," Ed says with worry in his voice.

A taxi takes me to Ed's flat. When I get there, Ed's standing out in front and I quickly pay the man before I start crying again. Ed and I lock eyes at the exact same time and I run to Ed and wrap my arms around his neck. I feel his arms around my waist. "What happened?" Ed asks. "Don't let go," I sniffle. As the minutes tick by, Ed gently rubs my back to calm me down. "You know, you're the only one who can calm me down like this. Not even my therapist could do it," I whisper, finally pulling away after 10 minutes of soothing words and gentle rubs. Ed leans in and I worry he's going to kiss me, but instead he kisses my forehead. "Come inside," Ed smiles at me as if I'm a three year old crying child. He puts his arm around me and leads me inside, the bitter cold no longer biting at my skin.

When we get to Ed's place it's a mess, as usual. It's okay though, I don't mind. "Here, you can lay on the couch," Ed says, pointing to the inviting brown slouchy couch. "Lay with me," I offer. Ed lays down first, and I lay to the side of him and put my head on his chest and my hand tucked under my chin. He drapes a blanket over us. I sigh in relief, this is so nice and peaceful. My eyes drift closed and Ed carefully takes my hair out of the bun and drapes it across my shoulders. I hear Ed relax as well, and I assume his eyes are closed. "I want you to know that if you want to keep things on a friendship level, you can tell me," Ed whispers. It takes a minute for my relaxed lips to form words. "Friends with benefits," I whisper with a smile. "That works," he whispers back. "Maybe we could have a first date soon," I smile. Ed kisses my forehead again, a gesture I've come to enjoy. "I would like that a lot," Ed replies. I breathe sleepily. "Don't talk anymore, just hold me," I say, sinking deeper into Ed's chest.

I wake to a cold gust of wind blowing on my bare back. I don't know why I still wear tank tops to bed. "Ed," I mumble, my lips barely moving. His lips are planted on my ear, and his entire body is relaxed beside me. He's fast asleep, how cute. I feel him kiss my ear lobe as he wakes up. Dammit, I should have let him sleep. "What's wrong?" Ed asks, barely audible. I pull his arm closer so that it's on top of me and under both my arms. "The window's open," I whisper. Ed pushes the blanket off of him and wraps it fully around me. Then he reaches over me and grabs a pen and one of his notebooks. "Writing about me again, your one and only?" I jokingly tease. "You'll see," Ed smiles. I drift off once again.

When I wake Ed is strumming his guitar again. Could this day get any better? I sit up and against a pillow. "Sorry, did I wake you?" Ed asks as he stops strumming. "No, no way keep going," I smile. "I want you to read this," Ed says, handing me his notebook. "You're, letting me read it?" I ask with genuine happiness in my voice. "This one's for you. You have to read it," Ed says, setting his guitar down. I look down at the paper:

"'Kiss Me" written by Ed

Settle down with me

Cover me up

Cuddle me in

Lie down with me

And hold me in your arms

And your heart's against my chest, your lips pressed to my neck

I'm falling for your eyes, but they don't know me yet

And with a feeling I'll forget, I'm in love now

Kiss me like you wanna be loved

You wanna be loved

You wanna be loved

This feels like falling in love

Falling in love

We're falling in love

Settle down with me

And I'll be your safety

You'll be my lady

I was made to keep your body warm

But I'm cold as the wind blows so hold me in your arms

Oh no

My heart's against your chest, your lips pressed to my neck

I'm falling for your eyes, but they don't know me yet

And with this feeling I'll forget, I'm in love now

Kiss me like you wanna be loved

You wanna be loved

You wanna be loved

This feels like falling in love

Falling in love

We're falling in love

Yeah I've been feeling everything

From hate to love

From love to lust

From lust to truth

I guess that's how I know you

So I hold you close to help you give it up

So kiss me like you wanna be loved

You wanna be loved

You wanna be loved

This feels like falling in love

Falling in love

We're falling in love

Kiss me like you wanna be loved

You wanna be loved

You wanna be loved

This feels like falling in love

Falling in love

We're falling in love.

For Audrey."

I'm in tears by the end. "Oh my god, Ed," I sniffle, smiling through my tears. "I'm such shit when it comes to sentimental," I laugh/cry, rubbing my eyes. I kiss his cheek and wrap my arms around his neck. "I'm so glad I have you," I whisper, closing my eyes.