Hang Up [Unedited]

xxxiv 1/2

21 August, 2014. 3:35pm.

Again, Andrew stands up from the bench. This time he prepares himself for the collision. Right on queue, he watches as she comes bounding toward him and into his arms again. Just like before, she wraps her legs around his waist and he holds her tight. If this happened every time they met, he'd be perfectly okay with it. It's been almost a month since then last time they sayw each other and he felt guilty for that.

Slowly Andrew lowers her to the ground until her feet touch it. Even still when he set her on the ground, Jewel didn't let go of him. How could she let go, the last time they had seen each other was nearly a month ago. For two weeks she hadn't been able to speak to him. Jewel felt horrible about the whole thing, she felt that it was her fault.

"I'm sorry," are the first words that leave their mouths when they pull apart. Both laugh at this and then Jewel speaks first.

"I'm sorry Drew. I should have just dropped the subject when you told me to," she confesses.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have got upset about it. You wanted to help and I wouldn't let you," he discloses.

He pulls her back in for a hug, and she gladly accepts it. They stay like this, sinking in that they're actually with each other. After what seems like a lifetime, Andrew lets go of Jewel and then twirls her around. He loved the leggings she is wearing, they just fit her so perfectly. Not to mention the jean jacket she wore as well. Stunning, that's how Jewel looked to him, absolutely stunning. When she's flat on her feet again, Andrew put his arm over her shoulder and they began walking.

After Andrew had put his arm around her shoulder, Jewel forgot how to breathe for a second. She walks along side him as they make their way around the park. All she can think about is the fact that his arm was around her, it's like she's in high school all over again. They've hugged and held hands already for gods sake and she's getting excited about his arm around her. When she looks up at him and he smiles down at her and he continues to talk. Only then does she realize she hasn't paid attention to one word he was saying. Get your shit together Jewel, she thought.

"...so I had to pull her out. We didn't have butter for about a week," Andrew finishes whatever story he was telling. Jewel laughs even though she has no idea what he's talking about, but the ending was pretty funny. Why didn't she pay attention, was she really that excited about his arm around her?

"I'm going to be honest, I have no idea what you just said," she laughs.

"Figured that much, it was nothing important anyway," he smiles.

"No it was or you wouldn't have told me. I'm sorry." And she was. He felt comfortable enough to tell her something and she didn't listen. Guilt begins to overcome her and she stops walking. This makes Andrew stop as well and he looks at her quizzically.

"What's wrong?"

"Why were you in the hospital so long," she asks him.

The smile on his face falters a bit but he regains it. Again he puts his arm around her and tries to get her to walk again. She doesn't even budge.

"It doesn't matter now," he answers her.

"Drew, it does matter," she protests.

"Listen let's just go play basketball and I promise to tell you afterwards."

At first she is hesitant in accepting the offer but finally gives into him. Jewel smiles a bit then nods, and Andrew takes her hand in his. He pulls her along the small paved trail to the basketball courts and there's a group of guys already playing on one court. They run through their game to the other side and to the next court over. Andrew lets go of Jewel's hand and jogs over to a small duffel bag. Pulling out a ball, he passes it to her and she actually catches it.