Poison Ivy

Chapter Thirty-One: Cheesy.

I didn't know what I hoped for more: Andy to still be hanging around when I got home or for him to not be there at all. I had taken a detour, cutting through backstreets to get home. Instead of taking ten minutes it took me about twenty and I was still torn between wanting him to be waiting for me and wanting to walk into to my empty house. My thoughts were mixed from my time with Wesley and I was caught between wanting to laugh at how ridiculous he sounded telling me that Andy liked me and how I really wished he was telling the truth and that Andy did indeed like me.

I still didn't know how to feel when I was standing outside my door, staring at the chipped paintwork of the wood, and I still didn't know how to feel when I bent down to pull the doormat up. I kind of felt a little wary when I didn't see that the key was there and I checked my phone, feeling a little angry when I saw that I had no messages on it from Andy at all.

But then I checked the door, and when it opened I felt my stomach flutter.

And when I could smell Andy's distinct aftershave mixed with the smell of utterly strong Lily flowers as I stumbled my way through the lounge, I felt tight chested and breathless.

It wasn't until I reached the kitchen and I saw Andy caught mid stride with a fistful of rose petals and a crooked half smile making its way onto his lips that I slowly began to relax.

And then I grew suspicious.

"What are you still doing here?" I asked, hoping I didn't sound angry or like I was about to have a mental break down.

He didn't answer immediately, and he shrugged slowly, drawing out my anticipation even longer.

"I wanted to surprise you." He told me, unsurely. "Surprise." His hand came down and he released the rose petals he was holding onto the floor with the rest of them that had been laid with precision. They fluttered into a bundle and he kicked at them gently so they spread out.

I watched him cautiously and he returned my gaze with a look of excitement mixed with worry.

A slow 'Oh' formed on my lips and I nodded once, and then again and again until I was nodding repeatedly and I felt a little dizzy and stupid so I stopped. "Ok..." I trailed off and a smirk spread onto his face.

"Ok," he replied, stepping towards me in one great stride that made me remember how crazy long his legs really were and marvel at the fact that he could cross the kitchen lounge threshold just like that. His hand reached my lower arm and he gently tugged me into him, pulling me beside him before ushering me ahead of him into the kitchen.

I stared at the sight before me, my eyes blinking everything in – the rose petals, the large and colourful (thank goodness they weren't just white – flowers of death) Lilies and the candles that decorated the area.

"This is..." I trailed off, not sure of what to say.

Andy's breath danced against my hair, blowing tendrils lightly as he spoke. "Do you like it?" he asked, his voice sounding nervous.

I slowly nodded, turning to look up at him. "It looks... nice."

"You don't like it." His face fell and I shook my head frantically.

"No, I do." I told him quickly. "I just, I don't understand?"

He stepped away from me, towards the far corner of the kitchen and he held up a flat box with the word Domino's Pizza spread across it, his face hopeful. "I got us pizza."

I found myself grinning across at him, and he chuckled lightly, scratching the back of his head with his free hand. "So..." he trailed off.

"This is so cheesy, did you get them to cut it into a heart as well?" I joked and he cocked his head to the side.

"Would you like that?" he asked and I laughed a breathy, not quite there, laugh, my eyes widening. "Shit." He murmured.

"Really?" I eyed the box.

"Fuck, I'm sorry Ivy," he started babbling and I shook my head, a smile forming on my lips.

"Can I see?" I gestured to the box and he looked down at it before looking back at me, nodding.

As he walked back towards me, I turned and stared at the table for a while, rose petals scattered around the Lilies and candles that rested in the centre. I smiled at them and walked across, taking a seat. I waited for Andy to join me and he did so a minute later looking rather awkward.

I gave him a warm smile as he placed the pizza box in front of me.

"I won't laugh," I told him, giggling as I opened it and my smile got wider, my cheeks probably flaming as I looked at the heart shaped pizza. "This is so cute."

"You think so?" his voice sounded relieved and I looked up at him to see he was blushing too.

"Are you blushing, Biersack?" I asked, biting my lip.

He shook his head furiously, looking away. "No," he answered indignantly, "No, I'm not."

I laughed, kicking his foot gently under the table and he looked at me. "Biersack's blushing." I almost whispered. "I'm posting that on my twitter."

He gulped, a small smirk creeping onto his lips. "I'll retweet it." He replied, pulling the pizza box towards himself, reaching in and pulling at a poorly cut slice. He barely got any cheese or topping with it, just tomato sauce and dough, but he didn't care. He took a bite, chewing it and swallowing it before grinning across at me. "This is good pizza."

I reached across the table, my finger gently brushing the side of his lips, wiping at tomato sauce before bringing it back to my own lips, smirking. "It is." I replied, licking my finger and laughing.