“Andy?” Lizzy, tucked into a weird shape on the couch, painting her toenails, looks up at Andy. He appears to be watching a documentary on the Discovery Channel, but she knows he's really lost in thought. “Andy, hello?”
Blinking twice he looks over at her. There is one of his best friends in the world, her shining red hair in two braids falling down over the shoulders of her pajama top. The pants of the pajamas pulled up over her knees so that the hems don't mess up her polish. He smiles at how sweet and innocent she looks. “What's up?”
“Will you get my baby toes please? You know I always mess those up.” Smiling and giving him wide pleading eyes “Please please please please please?”
“Fine.” Laughing as he takes the bottle of polish from her and painting her baby toes on each foot, then checking the other toes to make sure she had covered them completely. “You did pretty well this time, you managed to not even get any polish on the couch for once.”
“Shut it you.” She giggles and then turns, putting her feet onto the arm of the couch and her back and head resting against him. “Andy?” She asks again, this time a little more tenderly.
Sighing because he knows what's coming, he wraps one arm around her. “Yeah?”
“What were you and Nate talking about today? About Joey?”
“I can't really tell you that, it's private. But something bad happened to her when she was a kid. That's why they're all so protective of her, and why they all treat her like she's still in primary school.”
“You said murderers, rapists, pedophiles.” Her voice is sad, realizing the things that must have happened to her friend.
“Yes, I did.” Turning and kissing the top of her head. “You should talk to her, when's the last time you two hung out that you weren't in class or studying anyway?”
“It's been awhile. She's been so busy, with family stuff, and with you...”
“Uh huh. You've been pretty busy yourself lately. I haven't seen you without Luke for more than a day in who knows how long.”
Blushing, she answers him quietly, “We have a lot in common right now. We're helping one another feel better, get past things, move on.”
“And how, exactly, are you doing that?”
She chews on the bottom of her lip for a moment, trying to think of what she should say. “You know, hanging out, watching movies. Stuff like that.”
“You can't bullshit a bullshitter Liz.”
“I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about.”
“Why are you on birth control?”
“How do you know that? Are you going through my things now?” She sounds indignant and she sits up in a huff, staring at him, crossing her arms over her chest.
Laughing at her he shakes his head “Calm down, I'm not going through your things. I happened to see the box from the prescription in the loo rubbish when I was taking out the bag. I knew it couldn't be anyones but yours.”
“Oh.” Relaxing against him again she closes her eyes, smiling when he once again puts his arm around her and pats her arm.
“It's alright you know. I like Luke, and I've seen a change in you. I just want you to be careful. I don't want you getting all heartbroken over this one too when it doesn't work out.”
“How do you know it won't work out? I mean, not that I want it to. We're not dating or anything, this isn't a relationship. We're just …” She pauses, her cheeks burning red.
“Ah my little Lizard, all grown up and having friends with benefits. You know that never works right? Someone always develops feelings, someone always ends up hurt. I just don't want it to be you.”
“It won't be. He won't get hurt either. It's not like that, you of all people should understand. It's just...”
“Sex? If you can't say it, you shouldn't be having it. And is this really what you want your first experiences to be? Don't all girls have this fantasy of their first time being with the man they love?”
“Well I CAN'T be with the man I loved can I? Nor can he be with the girl he loves. We're all we have, And it's fun! Since when am I not allowed to have a bit of fun.”
“Ok, ok tiger, down girl. You can have all the fun you want. But until you can tell me that you're having sex, then I get to make fun of you.” He's laughing, having fun with her, and patting the top of her head. “I do understand, really, but I really want you to be careful. You're like a sister to me Liz, and I really like Luke, but I'd hate to have to kick his ass for you.”
“Hasn't there been quite enough of your violence today? Don't get me wrong, he deserved it, but you two could have taken it outside like civilized people. Brawling in the living room, and look Joey got hit. That'll show you, and that git that hit her.”
“He was just protecting his sister, she got in the way, it's not his fault.” He sounds bitter while talking, like he wants to blame Nate, but can't. “It's not her fault either, really I should have just left before they got home like I wanted to.”
She pouts, looking up at him behind her “Well I don't like him. You may not have been a knight in shining armor in your past, but you certainly weren't that bad. And Sky's no better. Honestly, you'd think she told him that you raped her or something.”
“Now now Lizzy, Sky didn't tell him that. She just told him the truth, from her point of view. I just wish I'd been a better man in the past so that people wouldn't have these tools to hurt her with.” He looks sadly toward the tv again, sighing as she relaxes against him.
“You really do love her don't you? You even told her about Karissa, you haven't told anyone about her. I'm glad you do, you are so much happier now.” Curling against him, her eyes drifting shut. “I love you too Andy. You were always a good friend to me. Can I ask you something?” Her voice is sleepy, drifting off.
“Anything Lizard, you know that.”
“Why didn't you hit on me when we met? Am I not pretty enough to be a notch in your headboard?”
“Oh no, you lovely sweet girl, you are beautiful. I never did that with you because you're too good, too sweet to be used like that. You remind me of Kissa nearly as much as Joey does. But I have always thought you were beautiful, too beautiful to be spoiled for someone's amusement.” He kisses the top of her head and strokes her arm gently. “I only want the best for you, I only want you to be happy. Are you happy with your situation with Luke?”
“Mmmmm” she yawns “I am happy. We're having fun.”
“You didn't seem so happy when Carrie was flirting with him...”
She wakes up a bit, irritation creeping into her voice. “Well who does that? I'd already said I had a crush on him. What kind of girl doesn't respect that?”
“Maybe she thought you weren't that interested, since that's what you said” Laughing at her indignation.
She leans back into him, the exhaustion returning, “Fine then. Pretty blonde flirting with the boy I already said I had a claim on. But whatever, I know what I was doing this afternoon, and what she wasn't.” Giggling quietly before yawning again.
He nudges her, and she looks up at him. “Go to bed Lizzy, get some sleep, sounds like you need it.” He watches, laughing quietly to himself, as she sits up and shuffles into the bedroom. “Good night Lizard, sleep well.”
“Good night Andy, love you.”
No comments:
Post a Comment