we're oceans away

“How?” He shook his head. “Even I don’t remember what I tell you.”

He couldn’t help but smile when she recognized the song. “Yeah.. I wasn’t sure if you’d remember it or not. But I’m glad you do.”

“Your mom is a woman of taste.” He nodded, impressed. His scrolled through the list of songs on his phone, his thumb hovering over Everlong. “You’ve heard this one before but it’s always a classic.” 

He picked some Nirvana for the first song, nothing crazy. “It’s not too bad, right? Your ears aren’t bleedin’ yet?”

Andie laughed slightly. “You’re kiddin, right?” she shook her head. “My mom used to play this in the car. You gotta try harder than that.”

“Forcing you to listen to my favorite music sounds like a pretty fun form of torture for me.”

“Oh man, I better prepare myself then,” she teased. “Alright, hit me with your best/worst playlist.”

“That sounds like a challenge to prove you wrong, but I wouldn’t torture you like that.”  

“Not like that, huh? What other ways would you torment me then? Now, I’m curious.”

“Now you’re giving me way too much credit. The best is a stretch. A better way to put it would be.. okay. Maybe? That might even be a little too generous.”

Andie shook her head. “Sorry, it’s too late. I’ve always thought you were pretty great, and you just keep proving me right. You just gotta accept it.”

“It’s the least I can do. There’s no point in being childish, yeah? I’m trying to work on it.”

“You seriously don’t know what that means to me. You’re kind of the best, you know that?”

“Look, I’m sorry.. I’m not trying to be a dick here, but I really don’t think the two of us could ever be friends. What if.. I can be cordial to him, polite even. Would that make it any better?”

“It’s fine... I get it.” Andie smiled slightly before nodding. “That’d actually be great! --Thank you, Dylan. I really appreciate it. You know that, right?”

“Not everyone needs to get along, Andie. Besides your boyfriend and I have absolutely nothing in common.”

“---You’re right. Yeah, I guess I was asking too much. I---Uh... I guess I’ll just be going then.”

“That’s great, Andie. I’m glad Joel nursed you back to health.” He said with a little more bite than he intended.