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Chapter 22 Shopping

Lennon's pov

I wake up to Ari screaming. I don't remember getting into bed but here I am. I get up, wincing as she screams. I walk out see her wielding a frying pan as Andy cowers behind the couch.

"Get the fuck out of my house you creep!" She yells and takes a swing at him.

"Ari stop it!" I yell, grabbing the pan and yanking it away from her. "He's a friend of mine who needed a place to crash. Now calm the fuck down."

"Jesus Christ Lenny," she lets out a long breath. "You could have left me a note or something."

"I was drunk and asleep. You should know not to expect things from me," I roll my eyes at her.

"Is it safe to come out?" Andy calls.

"Yes," I laugh as he unfolds himself from behind the couch. "Ari this is Andy. Andy this is Ari."

"Sorry about that," Ari smiles sheepishly.

"It's fine," Andy smiles back. "I would have flipped out if a random stranger was sleeping on my couch too."

"So exactly how do you two know each other?" Ari asks looking at the two of us. I never told her about me and Andy. I haven't told anyone since I left home.

"We're old friends from a while back," I respond quickly, "he stayed at my parents' hotel and we've been friends since. He's actually cast in the musical with me. As the lead."

"Coolness," Ari grins, "I'm going to bed if you guys don't mind. I'm super done with all this work. See you in a few hours."

"So your roommate seems nice," Andy laughs once Ari is gone.

"She's pretty cool," I answer, smiling.

"So, do you want to go out for breakfast or something?" He asks, "My treat."

I raise my eyebrows, "I thought you didn't have money for cab fare last night."

"Do you know how much a cab costs?" He asks, "the difference between a cab and breakfast is astounding."

"Ooh! Using our big words aren't we?" I grin at him.

"I spent too much time around you," he laughs.

"No shit," I answer.

"So is that a yes to breakfast?" He asks and I nod.

We leave the apartment and walk to a small diner a few streets away. We sit at a small booth in the back and order our food.

"So, what have you been up to since... you know," he asks.

"Not much," I answer. "Working on the theatre thing. What about you?"

"The music thing," he laughs. "A lot of touring. We're working on our fifth album right now and have released some singles and stuff."

"Oh cool," I answer.

"Have you heard any of our new stuff yet?" He asks.

I blush and look away. "Not yet."

"Really?" He raises his eyebrows.

"I have kinda been avoiding all mention of you for a year and a half," I say, laughing a little.

"Really?" He says, taken aback. Shit.

"Yeah," I answer. "That's kinda how avoiding people works."

"I didn't realize your commitment to avoiding me cost the band such a cool fan as yourself," he says, looking away.

"If I wasn't a fan, do you think I'd be doing a musical based off my favorite album?" I ask. "I never stopped being a fan. I just kinda... took a hiatus."

"A hiatus?" He raises an eyebrow.

"I figured I'd go back to the fandom once I'd..."

"Once you'd gotten over what happened?" He asks.

I look away.

"I haven't gotten over it either, if you couldn't tell," he says, putting his hand on my shoulder.

"I had no idea," I answer, rolling my eyes.

Our food is delivered and we begin to eat. Andy's knee brushes against mine, startling me. I almost drop my fork.

"Shit, sorry," he looks up at me apologetically.

"I-it's fine," I respond, a slight tremor in my voice. Why the hell am I freaking out like this?

We finish our breakfast and I insist on splitting the check. I show him around the city for a few hours. He keeps trying to buy me things, but I stop him.

"I'm not your girlfriend," I laugh as he asks a clerk if we could see a Tiffany key necklace. "Put the necklace down. Andy!" He's fastened it around my neck. I quickly cover my eyes. "If I look, I'll love it."

"Just look Lenny," he pleads. "It's beautiful."

"No," I answer. "That's why I can't look you jack ass."

"Such obscene language from such a pristine girl," Andy laughs.

"Are you making The Breakfast Club references?" I laugh.

"Yes I am, now look in the mirror," he takes my hands in his and lowers them to my sides.

I slowly peak around him, catching my reflexion in the intricate mirror. It really is beautiful. Silver-blue against my skin and sparkling in the light.

"It's beautiful."

"We'll take it," Andy murmurs to the clerk.

"Andy!" I whirl to face him. "You can't blow money on me like this. We're just cast mates. We aren't dating."

"It's a token of friendship, alright?" He laughs.

"It's not alright," I unclasp the necklace. "Here," I hand it to the clerk. "Maybe some other time."

*~*~*

Andy's pov

"Here," she hands it to the clerk. "Maybe some other time." She turns and begins walking towards the entrance of the store.

"Package it for me. I'll be back to pick it up before the end of the week." I say, looking at the clerk. "Thanks."

I follow Lenny out of the store. She's so beautiful. A little tougher on the outside than when I first met her, but she's still the most amazing girl I've ever met. I'm still crazy about her and I'm getting her that necklace, whether she agrees to it or not.