For Real? ✅

Chapter 14

GREYES

It's way past midnight.

Andy laughs as he takes a puff of his cigarette. His black hair falls over his eyes, his mouth curved in a smile, his tattoos peeping through his t-shirt.

"Tell me another one", he says, looking at me expectantly.

"Leah Sanders and Adam White", I tell him, barely controlling my laughter.

"No way! The Princess with the Player?"
Andy's eyes widen, "You can't be serious."

I nod, downing my shot.
"She told me herself," I tell him.

"Wow. Does she have any idea of how many girls he's with at the same time? I guess five is his record." He says, looking serious, before cackling again.

"They got together at the party, I think, "I shrug. My teal hair falls over my eyes and I brush it away carelessly.

"The one which happened last weekend?"
He questions then his eyes widen. Andy swears, then speaks, "The one where Greg..."

"The very same," I explain.

We're silent at the thought of Greg, and I notice Andy's face fall into lines of despair.
He gulps down his shot and pours himself another one.
I inhale my cigarette and look through my window at the crescent moon.

Andy's dad and my mom are going to get married, in three months. So that makes him my would-be brother.
That doesn't change anything, we're still best friends.

"You didn't tell anyone else, did you?" He asks carefully.

"Just because I saw what had happened, doesn't mean that I'll tell the whole world about it," I reply, angry at him for even thinking so.

"Hey, I was just asking." He looks apologetic. "Greg is not only my friend, he's my shield. So I have to be the same for him." Andy says, his jaw unclenching.

"Yes, I understand. The whole world knows you as a geek, but not what you really are."
I look at him, his gaze is intense.
It always is, when he's not wearing his fake glasses.

He smiles at me. "You know why it's better that way".
I watch him as he exhales, the smoke clouding around his angular face.
He sighs, "So much to hide, so much to do before I die".

I chuckle. That's a quote by his favourite author. He loves reading books.

He is much of geek than what he admits.
Much smarter than what he lets on.
Much deserving than what he has.

I take another shot. The alcohol is messing with my head.

"How's business?" I question, wanting to change the topic.

"Good," he tells me. "I had to leave the party early, but it was worth it."

"Was it really?" I ask slowly.
Despite being his friend for like- forever, I'd never dared to ask him about this.

"No. It wasn't." Andy replies quietly. He leans forward, and his dark hair falls on his forehead. Ignoring it, he speaks.

"I'd rather do anything else than this, you know. " Andy shrugs, "But I don't have a choice." He suddenly throws his cigarette into the ashtray. I notice his frown.

"Yeah, I know what you mean." I nod, but Andy doesn't seem to hear me.

"One of these days..." He draws. Andy lights another cigarette and inhales deeply.

I leave him to contemplate and take another gulp of my shot.

I guess that the night was finally getting to me.

"How's yours?" Andy asks finally.

"Good. I've hung more hooks. Need to see which fish will get caught on", I state sardonically, as Andy bursts out laughing.

I join him, his laugh is highly infective.

I'm still laughing before I realise that he's locking his lips with mine.
I don't stop him. I don't kiss him back either.

He finally draws behind, looking at me fondly.

I open my mouth, but he cuts me off.
"I know okay. I know you think this is wrong."

Brushing his hair off his forehead, he continues, "But I loved you first before my dad did your mom. I think it should be us, instead of them." He ends.

I close my mouth, his words running around in my head.

I really do agree with him.

But this is wrong, not even something my sister Heather would do...

Does it matter whether its right or wrong? For a fact, you sell drugs as a part-time job...

Selling drugs is my business. I'm doing good to society by poisoning the bad people quickly...

You have sold it to innocent people...

Okay, but that's different. This is different. I can't be with Andy. I'm a good person, okay?

Are you really?

...

A long time passes before I could speak.

While Andy gazes through the window at the crescent moon, deep in his own thoughts as well.

"No, it's still wrong. I don't love you that way. You're going to be my brother for heaven sake."

I've finally said it. But I don't mean it.

He grins at me, "I know you, Grace, you can't get away with lying."

His deep blue eyes are intense. I find my cheeks heating up and instantly regret it.
I down another shot.

His stare was going to be the death of me.

"It's getting late. I have college tomorrow."
I tell him, with a hint of finality.

He gets up, and stretches, his t-shirt lifts to reveal the tattoos on his abdomen. I suck in a breath and look away, realising that I was staring.

He catches me, and his grin only widens.
"This conversation is not over yet. See ya Greyes."

I watch him as he leaves.

Why do I find myself wanting exactly what I can't have?