Ocean Beauty

𓆝Eighteen 𓆝

Hours later, Andy was startled awake by the sudden burst through Ryes bedroom door. In came his siblings, who Andy had ultimately forgotten had visited, his mother, and a not so happy Hue trailing behind them. "I told you they wouldn't be awake" he said snappily, staring at Andys shocked form and Rye who surprisingly hadn't even fluttered an eye at the off sync and loud rendition of 'happy birthday' they'd bursted in singing.

His mother scoffed, "oh shut up, you'd never know if he was or wasn't awake if you'd didn't at least check." Hue clicked his tongue, "no, i would know because I'm the one that's been with him his whole life unlike someone who decided they wanted to abandon him for finally being himself." The silence that came after was suffocating.

Andy sat staring at the ex couple as they stared heatedly at each other, letting their eyes finish the argument while the three brothers stood around awkwardly holding birthday pancakes and balloons. Robbie sighed and stepped over to the adults, placing a hand onto each of their shoulders "can we not do this today, please? It's Rye's birthday and besides his boyfriend doesn't look comfortable right now."

After Robbie had mumbled out his last words, everyone's attention had panned to Andy who still sat silently on the bed, Ryes arm still wrapped tightly around his waist. Rye's mother stared him down while Hue looked at him with an empathetic gaze. Robbie gave himself an apologetic smile, "sorry about startling, we wanted to surprise Rye but as you can see that went south" he finishes with an embarrassed chuckle.

Andy shakes it off , giving them all a smile even to Rye's mother, "that's okay, I'll wake him." Andy leaned down a bit, brushing his fingers through his soft brown locks. He stirred a little but didn't wake up. He simply snuggled into the feeling for Andy's hand in his hair and tightened the hold on his waist. A blush made its way to his face as he felt everyone's stare on him, Rye's mothers being the most intense.

Ever sense he'd realized his feelings for Rye, acting this way in front of people, made him feel weird. He tried again, this time shaking his shoulder and asking him quietly to wake up. Rye groaned, rolling over so that his head was now in his lap and both of his arms wrapped around his waist. Andys face heated up while Robbie and the twins snickered at the situation and their brothers stubbornness to wake up.

"This is ridiculous, the whipped cream is melting!" Ryes mother says, staring the pancakes in distaste. Hue rolled his eyes, "i told you not to put the toppings on until after he'd woken up but no, you decide you know everything" Hue snapped back, taking the pancakes and sitting them on the bedside table. Robbie sighed once again as an argument actually broke out. That had finally did it.

Rye's eyes fluttered open slowly. He blinked a few times coming, slightly leaning his head up and looking right at Andy. He smiled up at him sleepily, "good morning" he said in his raspy morning voice. Andy smiled back at him, starting to answer when Ryes mother interrupted saying happy birthday once more. He rolled over, seeing his family and a plate of pancakes with melted cream on them sitting on his bedside table.

"Uh, thanks guys" he said awkwardly, scratching the neck of his head as he fully sat up in his bed. The twins hurriedly grabbed the pancakes, pushing them into his lap and making theirselves comfortable on each side of him. "They're your favorite, sammie made the two chocolate ones and I made the two banana ones!" Shaun stated proudly, holding his head a little higher. Sammie nodding his head in agreement looking just as proud.

"Thank you so much monkeys" Rye said genuinely, kissing each of them on the temple, giving them each one they'd made and digging into the others. "And I helped make sure no mess was made and no pancake was burnt" Robbie added, saluting like a soldier. "Thank you soldier" Rye responded, saluting him as well. Andy sat back and watched the interactions with a smile but also a pang of jealousy. He wanted so bad to have this relationship with his little sister but he couldn't do that, he couldn't even go home.

'At least I have Brook' he thought, grinning at the thought of his blond step brother. Their conversation came to mind, he began to think if and when he'd be able to tell Rye his secret? "Alright guys, everyone get out and allow them to get dressed" Hue said, wanting an excuse to push his ex wife out of the door. He smirked, placing a hand on Robbies back and softly pushing him out as well.

"Let's go monkeys!" He said, grabbing each twin under an arm and speed walking out. Their giggles being heard the whole time. Rye smiled at the door, feeling the happiness of his family being back together. "Your family's very cute, your moms scary though" Andy voiced, scrunching up his nose as he mentioned his mother.

Rye nodded, now fully looking at him, "yeah she's like that but maybe she'll try to be better. Anyway, let's get dressed, we have a ton of stuff to do today" he said excitedly, pecking his lips and grabbing his hand. Leaving him a blushing mess as he pulled him toward the bathroom.

Keeping up with Rye was a struggle that day. Although having lived in the town his whole life, Rye kept finding things he wanted to do. First they stopped at the library, which was a short trip thanks to Hue's obvious flirting with Kendra and his mother's jealousy. Then, they went to the ice cream cart where Eddie gave Rye the "birthday special" which was a free triple stacked cone of any three flavors he chose.

Which turned out to be a scoop of vanilla, chocolate and one with a swirl of both flavors  for him and Andy. He blushes had the others watched them share it. Why did they have to stare so intensely? They then had dinner at a restaurant that was thankfully not a seafood. Coincidentally, Brook and his parents were there eating dinner. They decided to get a big table so that everyone could sit together.

Throughout the dinner, him and Brook shared a few glances. Each meaning if he'd told Rye or not, to which he'd answer with his own look that meant he didn't. Then the both of them would look over to Rye and smile as he'd looked at them both questionably. Andy didn't want him to think wrongly of the situation but there was nothing he could do, he wasn't ready. The night ended with a trip to the movies. Of course, Rye picked a mermaid movie.

His mother was annoyed, having delt with his mermaid phase since he was a child, but she sucked it up since it was his birthday. What she would not agree with was sitting next to Hue in the theater. "Not gonna happen" she said, looking at the seat in in disgust. "I'm not ecstatic about it either" Hue mumbled rolling his eyes. Rye sighed, "guys, the movie is about to start now please act like civil human beings and sit down."

It was quite annoying how his parents couldn't at least pretend to get along. He knows why he acts this way towards her, having spent every night in his room holding him tight as he cried about how his mother didn't love him. He still couldn't forgive her fully but he at least knew when to act civil with her.

"Fine" she says huffily, plopping down in the seat beside him and leaning over as far as she could away from him. So not even the possibility of them accidentally touching would happen. Rye rolled his eyes, sinking back into his seat. He spotted Andy's hand on the arm rest next to his and laced their hands together. They looked at each other with the same goofy grin before turning to the slowly starting movie.

The three guys stumbled  into the home after returning from the movie. Hue let out a loud yawn, stretching before turning to them with a bright but tired smile. "Happy birthday son" he said, parting him on the shoulder "I bought you a mini chocolate cake, eat it if you want but I'm going to bed, goodnight" he said, going up the stairs without even receiving an answer. They watched him fleet until they heard the closing of his bedroom door.

"Cake time!" Rye cheered, grabbing his hand and pulling him to the kitchen. They each grabbed a fork, digging in and occasionally feeding each other bites. Eventually they made it to Ryes bedroom and cuddled up to their normal positions. Andy's hand carded through Ryes locks as Ryes eyes drooped lower and lower until they'd completely shut. At the sound of his light snores, Andy smiled and placed a soft kiss onto his cheek. "Happy birthday Rye" he whispered, snuggling into him and dozing off.