#para16

Benji closed his eyes, still trying to get used to the feeling of sleeping in a bedroom other than his own. He had gotten so used to his apartment--the feeling of Franco in his arms, the sounds of Cortana sleeping in the hallway, the presence of knowing Topher was asleep just one room over... he had grown to love it. And the longer he was away from it, desperately trying to think, the longer he realized he missed it. 

He faded off quickly and within seconds was transported back into his apartment, waking up on the couch. "...Guys?" he called lightly, slowly walking from the couch to the hallway between his room and Topher's, "...Cort? Toph? Franc? ...Anyone here?"

Topher felt as though he was experiencing every emotion at the same time with the most prominent of them being fear. There was no relief that came with laying on his bed, no waves of happiness at Cortana's presence, just shockwaves of worry that struck constantly in the form of shivering. Mercy seemed to be quite the foreign concept, so the former Serpent set off towards the living room in the hopes that a game or show might provide some sort of distraction. 

He settled in his favorite chair after he'd loaded up Gears of War 2 and couldn't help a small smile when he noticed that Cortana had followed him then decided to rest by his feet. Topher hoped that he could push past all the memories of various gaming marathons with Benji, that he could just focus on the task at hand. He'd restarted the campaign the night before then paused right before he got to the so called 'impossible' level, only because his neverending concern made him sleepy.

Benji saw Topher pass him and turned, "Toph!" he called, following him and Cortana back to the living room. "Toph, I'm home," he stated, sitting on the sofa next to Topher and his chair. 

"Hey, Cort. Toph gave you your insulin while I was gone, right? You look good." He put his hand out for Cortana to lick, but paused when she didn't seem to notice, choosing to cuddle closer to Topher's feet instead. "Uh... okay. 3 days was a long time. I get it. Kinda cold though, Cort..." 

He pulled his hand back awkwardly, then turned to the TV, not realizing his best friend wasn't acknowledging him in any way. "Wait, you're replaying 2 without me? No way, Dude. I want in. Change it to split screen." He looked around for the second controller, confused that he didn't see it anywhere. "Dude, where's the controllers? I want in," he said, finally turning to look at Topher.

Topher just tried to maintain his concentration on the game, but it didn't take long for him to screw up. "Son of a -," he trailed off as he watched Marcus get annihilated by Locust all because his mind wandered for just a moment. Cort glanced up at him as if she wanted an explanation for the outburst. "It's nothing, go back to sleep honey," the former Serpent cooed, even though it couldn't have been further from the truth. 

 He remembered the repeated playthroughs of each game as if they happened yesterday. Topher knew that he could handle himself playing any game from Gears to Mario Kart, but there was still something about teaming up with Benji that made every puzzle piece fall into place. They were an army of two, an unstoppable duo. And yet the radio silence continues, he thought to himself as he removed his phone from a sweatshirt pocket. 

 "I know you can't answer me, but let's pretend you can. Cort, what's wrong with me?" Topher paused the game in order to look down at her. She just let out a sigh that was interpreted as an 'I don't know' of sorts. "Were any of those anons on to something and Benji's not coming back? Or am I just letting paranoia get the best of me?"

"What? Toph, I'm right here." He waved his hands in front of Topher's face, "I know you're pissed I left, but the silent treatment's pretty harsh as-is. It's another thing to somehow get Cort in on it." 

He bit his lip, processing the rest of what Topher said. "...I didn't mean to freak you out. I just needed to think, and I... I didn't want you to tempt me. I know he already cheated on me, but I couldn't cheat on Franc. I love him too much." 

He swallowed. "I... I don't wanna be married to Franco. Not right now, anyway. Not while he doesn't acknowledge the sacrifices I've made for him. But I do love him. And I don't mind the long engagement as much as I thought I did. B... But I love you just as much." He sighed. "And I... looked at that 'poly' stuff. Like you said. And it's still a lot to get used to... and Franco'll probably try to kill us for suggesting it, but I think it's the right solution," he rattled off--obviously the time alone had helped him think more than he first realized. 

"...Because I love you. And I want to be with you." When Topher didn't respond, he sighed louder, throwing his hands up in defeat. "...Toph, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you why I left. I didn't want Franc to find out and try to fight you or something! Just... please forgive me. It's been 4 days and 5 hours since you told me you loved me back. I wanna get this fixed so I can think about kissing you without feeling guilty. Please."

Topher continued to play Gears and as a result, failed spectacularly plenty more times in the span of a few minutes. He eventually placed the controller on an armrest as he picked up his phone again then looked down at Cortana once again. "It's nearing midnight and here I am waiting when normal people would be asleep by now. Hell, Ben's probably asleep." 

It was one thing to lack the company of your best friend. It was another thing to lack the company of someone you loved. Perhaps that was what pushed his anxieties back to the forefront of his mind and oh, how Topher hated it. He couldn't dwell on any of these negative emotions for too long or else he risked opening the door again for the storm cloud that occupied his mind after that car crash. 

"But that's what you do for loved ones, isn't it?" The former Serpent asked himself as he tapped his phone screen back to life. A picture of himself with Benji greeted him once again, one of many reminders of brighter days and the potential for many more in the future. "You worry about them like there's no tomorrow and then when they come back, you make them promise to never make you worry like that again. But I still love him, don't think there's anyway I could stop."

With a quick glance over at the door, his gaze flicked back to the paused game and then to his phone. Guess it wouldn't hurt to try texting him. So, Topher opened up his messages in order to get to typing. "I know it's late and that I should be in bed, but I wanted you to know that I still have your back and will always have it. Regardless of whatever option you take, I will follow your lead and you to the ends of the Earth," he read aloud then pressed the arrow to send it. With that, the former Serpent picked up his controller once again and hoped for the best.

"I love you too," he whispered back. He moved his hand to take Topher's, then blinked when he picked up the controller and start to play again, their two hands intertwined from Benji point-of-view, but Topher not seeming to notice. 

"You... you can't see me, can you? Or... or feel me? Or hear me?" he realized, his voice quiet. He blinked hard and realized he couldn't remember leaving Sebastian's house to come home; he didn't remember falling asleep on the couch. At the very least, this was a dream--at the most, it was a premonition. 

He swallowed hard. "...Is this what you're doing right now? Just... worrying yourself sick and trying to distract yourself? Toph, I told you to think about yourself first for a change. I didn't think you'd just..." he trailed off, letting his head drop in disappointment. He'd gotten so angry at Franco for doing it, but here he was doing the same thing with Topher. He knew how loyal his best friend was--had he thought for even a second, he would've realized that he wasn't going to just take time for himself and await his return. He was gonna worry. And knowing Topher, worry endlessly. 

"...I've been gone 3, almost 4 days... When's the last time you slept?" He knew he couldn't hear him, but he turned to Topher anyway, hoping he could trigger the question to come to him somehow. "Topher, when's the last time you slept?" he begged.

The sixth time turned out to truly be the charm and Topher finally got past the level. He gave a quiet cheer that was soon interrupted by a yawn. "Lord, what time is it?" A quick glance told him that it was past midnight, 12:34 to be exact. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so tired and that counted every single all nighter that he pulled during his high school days. 

He needed to get some rest, caffeine and rapidly multiplying concerns just weren't cutting it as an energy source anymore. But there was the chance that Benji might come home and want to talk, plus Topher generally wanted to be awake in case something else demanded his attention. Cortana's needs were taken care of though, the same went for the grand majority of his own with sleep the glaring exception. He didn't know of any other drama that was currently taking place in 'fair' Riverdale.

With those thoughts at the forefront of his mind now, the 18 year old pushed himself up in order to retrieve one of the many blankets in his room as well as a pillow. When he returned, the blanket was draped over him while the pillow went behind his back. "If I fall asleep while playing Gears, so be it," Topher remarked to himself as he resumed the game. Sleepiness already had a decent grip on him, so there was quite the grand chance he would end up asleep in this chair. His worries just needed to shut themselves up for the night and there was no better way than playing a hint more.

Benji shook his head. "I need to come home..." he whispered to himself. Knowing that Topher was doing this--staying up in the hopes that he'd be coming home--he couldn't handle it. How could he really continue putting someone he loved through this much torture? It wasn't fair.

He bit his lip and stood up, walking over so he was between Topher and the TV. He knew he couldn't see him or feel him, but that didn't change what he wanted to do. "...I'm coming home, okay? And I'm sorry that I've put you through this hell. I'll never do it again." he whispered, giving a sad smile.

"I... I can't do this until we work things out with Franco, but... this is a dream. And I'm impatient," he explained, giving a chuckle dripping with emotional exhaustion. He leaned down and cupped Topher's face, then pulled him into a soft kiss, shutting his eyes until he eventually pulled back. "...I love you, Toph. I'll be home soon."

One by one, each worry faded to the back of his mind as he navigated Marcus through treacherous territory. The desire to sleep continued to wrap itself around Topher as the moments stretched into seconds then minutes. He'd gotten bits and pieces these past few days, but that wasn't enough, even with the aid of caffeine alongside concerned energy. 

All the scenarios that had turned his brain into a movie theater slowly shut themselves off for the night, yet they left a few thousand reassurances on the tip of his tongue for no particular reason. Perhaps for later use or maybe it was just the desire to start speaking out loud again. Regardless, Topher pulled the pillow up to where it was behind his head and allowed the warmth of his blanket to pull him just a bit closer to dreamland.

QUINN: Slender fingers tighten in blonde hair as Quinn subtly rocks on her bedroom floor, torn between clutching her phone to her chest and tossing it across the room. She simultaneously craves Rachel and all the ways that she makes Quinn feel good, while also berating herself for wanting such things.

And then there’s the fact that Rachel wants her. Wants to see her. Needs to see her.

Why?

Why?

Quinn doesn’t know. She can’t make sense of it.

All she knows is that Rachel is on her way, and for no other reason than the fact that she loves Quinn.

A deluge of emotion and images flood Quinn’s heart and mind then. Fingers grip harder, tugging on tufts of blonde hair as teeth clench.

RACHEL: The forty-five minutes it takes for the taxi to navigate from Manhattan to Bloomfield feels like an eternity, but it’s better than spending over an hour on the train. Rachel stares out the window at the scenery and traffic, silently willing the car to go faster. She’s been tense and sick to her stomach all day, barely functioning on less than an hour of fitful sleep and worry over Quinn.

She’d been planning to have her production manager call in her understudy even if Quinn hadn’t agreed to see her tonight—she’s just not fit to perform in this state—but she’s so very relieved that she doesn’t have to sit in her apartment, staring at her phone and praying for Quinn to answer one of the dozens of messages she’d sent. Even so, Rachel doesn’t really know what to expect when she gets to Quinn’s apartment, and the uncertainty of it all is eating away her. She just wants to see Quinn—to hold her and talk to her face-to-face and hopefully undo the damage that Santana caused with her careless actions.

Her leg bounces anxiously as the taxi finally makes the turn onto Quinn’s street, and even before it’s fully stopped in front of the building, Rachel is practically throwing the money at the driver in her haste to get out of the car and get to Quinn.

QUINN: Kaitlyn looks toward Quinn’s closed bedroom door for what feels like the millionth time tonight. Her roommate definitely isn’t okay, and Kaitlyn has ridden out a few, short episodes with Quinn in the past, but it always tears at her heart.

Unfortunately, Quinn doesn’t seem to recognize that she’s beginning to slip into an episode. She usually doesn’t. Kaitlyn’s trying to respect Quinn’s desire for privacy and be patient, but it’s difficult.

Blue eyes flit toward her phone on the coffee table, checking the time. Rachel should be here any minute. Kaitlyn was both surprised and relieved when Quinn had come out to tell her that Rachel was coming over tonight. She’s choosing to take that as a positive sign.

RACHEL: She races through the lobby of the building and up the staircase that will take her to Quinn’s apartment, but she hesitates in front of the door for just a moment before she knocks. Her stomach is twisting with nerves at the uncertainty of what’s waiting for her on the other side.

Rachel takes a breath, pushing her hands through her hair as she mentally prepares herself for the possibility that Quinn’s encounter with Santana might have done real damage to all the progress she’d thought they’d been making in their relationship.

And then she lifts her hand to the door and knocks, waiting nervously at the threshold until it finally opens.

QUINN: Kaitlyn jumps to her feet the second she hears the knock and makes the short trip through the living room to open the door, revealing Quinn’s girlfriend.

Rachel doesn’t look much better than Quinn does. There are bags under her eyes and anxiety practically radiates off her.

“Hi, Rachel,” Kaitlyn says softly before offering her a small, reassuring smile as she steps back to let Rachel inside the apartment.

RACHEL: There’s a moment of disappointment when the door opens to reveal Quinn’s roommate and not Quinn, but Rachel pushes it aside and forces herself to return Kaitlyn’s kind smile as she enters the apartment.

“Hello, Kaitlyn,” she murmurs politely, but her eyes are already scanning the room for Quinn, and her weak smile disappears when she doesn’t see her.

Her questioning gaze connects with Kaitlyn’s warm, blue eyes. “How...how is she?”

QUINN: “Not well,” she answers honestly with a frown, keeping her voice low. She had texted Rachel a few times during the day, giving her small assurances that hardly allowed for a real, honest conversation.

In a way, she’s glad that Quinn hasn’t come out of her room yet, because Kaitlyn wants to give Rachel a more comprehensive update and hopefully provide some bearings before she goes in to see Quinn.

“I don’t think she slept much last night,” Kaitlyn explains after she closes the door, noticing Rachel’s lips curve down with worry. “She didn’t go to work today either. I suggested that she call her doctor, but I don’t think she did. I... haven’t had to call her doctor before, but I’m thinking I might have to,” she admits.

RACHEL: She feels sick at Kaitlyn’s revelation. Somehow, Rachel had managed to convince herself that Quinn was only sinking back into the belief that she wasn’t good enough for Rachel. But—

“You think she’s having an episode?” she questions fearfully with tears pricking at her eyes.

At Kaitlyn’s sad nod, Rachel silently curses Santana again, but she can’t escape the echo of her words—that Quinn’s issues will never disappear and Rachel will be dealing with it for as long as they’re together. And it looks like Rachel is about to get her first real taste of what that will be like.

“What do I need to do? How do I help her?”

QUINN: Kaitlyn feels her own affection for Rachel grow. She’s liked her since they first met, but knowing that she really wants to help Quinn and be here for her, it means a lot in Kaitlyn’s book.

“Just being here, supporting her, is probably the best thing you can do,” she replies, trying to reassure Rachel as best she can. “Quinn might say and do things that will upset you, but just remember that it’s not really her. It’s hard, but try not to take it personally.

“Usually her medication keeps things from getting too bad, but... something about this episode feels a little different to me,” she adds with a sigh. “This happened once before, right before we moved in together, when her dad-,” Kaitlyn cuts herself off, realizing she’s revealed a little too much. Quinn most likely hasn’t shared any of that with Rachel. “Which is why I think her doctor needs to know what’s going on.”

RACHEL: Her frown deepens at Kaitlyn’s brief mention of Quinn’s father. She feels like whatever it is that Kaitlyn had stopped herself from saying is something that Rachel should know, but she understands that it probably needs to be Quinn that tells her. Despite the fact that they’ve been together for months now, there are still so many things that Quinn hasn’t shared about her life or those years they spent apart.

Rachel wishes there was some script for her to follow—some tried-and-true trick to help pull Quinn back from the edge of whatever abyss she’s spiraling into—but there isn’t, and Rachel will just have to offer her unconditional love and support and hope it’s enough.

“I think I can handle whatever Quinn might say,” Rachel murmurs sadly. She’d had a few years of practice with some of Quinn’s more hurtful words and actions back in high school after all, and she wonders if Kaitlyn has any idea about their colorful past. Not that it matters. Rachel is good at managing her own hurt feelings and keeping her chin up in the face of adversity.

“Should I try to get her to call her doctor?” she asks worriedly. “Or do you think it would be better for you to just call?”

QUINN: “I think it would be better if Quinn makes the call, because then her doctor can actually talk to her, you know? If it was a true emergency, I wouldn’t wait, but Quinn’s not so bad that she’s a danger to herself.”

Rachel’s pained whimper cuts right through Kaitlyn. She feels bad for upsetting Rachel, but she needs to know where things stand.

“You should go see her now. Her door isn’t locked, and she said you could let yourself in,” Kaitlyn says encouragingly. “And I’m not going anywhere tonight, so if you need me for anything, I’ll be right here, okay?”

RACHEL: Nodding, Rachel offers Kaitlyn another strained smile as she reflexively reaches for her hand, giving it a grateful squeeze. “Thank you, Kaitlyn. I’m so grateful that Quinn has you in her life. I promise I’ll do what I can to get her to make that call.”

Kaitlyn returns the hand squeeze and Rachel’s gratitude, telling her how glad she is that Rachel is back in Quinn’s life. Rachel is glad for that too, but there’s a worrisome whisper in her head that’s beginning to question whether or not Rachel’s presence in Quinn’s life—or rather, everything that Rachel’s presence brings with it—might be doing more harm than good.

Kaitlyn retreats to the kitchen, and Rachel travels the short path to Quinn’s bedroom. She reaches for the doorknob and takes a deep breath before she opens it, cautiously slipping inside to find Quinn sitting on the floor next to her bed and looking incredibly young and vulnerable as she chews on her lower lip.

Rachel’s heart lurches, but she plasters on a tremulous smile. “Hi, baby.”

QUINN: She looks up at the sound of Rachel’s voice and tugs at the collar of her shirt, feeling a small spike of anxiousness at her girlfriend’s sudden presence.

“Hi,” Quinn replies quietly before biting her lower lip again as her gaze roams across Rachel’s worried face.

Quinn wants to reach for her, but instead her fingers only twist tighter in the fabric of her shirt, before she lowers her gaze back toward her lap.

RACHEL: “Oh, Quinn,” Rachel whispers brokenly, wanting nothing more than to fly to Quinn’s side and gather her up in her arms and never let her go, but she finds herself frozen to the spot.

She’s seen Quinn sad and scared before, seen her uncertain and shy, and she’s seen her angry and cold, but Rachel has never seen her quite like this, and frankly, the sight of her so disheveled and fidgeting almost uncontrollably splinters off another piece of Rachel’s battered heart.

She manages to get her feet moving, taking slow measured steps until she’s at Quinn’s side, and those anxious hazel eyes drift back up to her with such sad wariness that Rachel wants to cry. She sinks down onto the floor next to Quinn, and once she’s settled, she reaches out and carefully pries Quinn’s fingers from her shirt and tangles them with her own instead.

“I’m here, baby,” she promises. “I’m with you.”

QUINN: She grasps on to Rachel’s hand, holding it tightly, unwilling to let go. Rachel’s presence is a comfort, but it’s not enough to stop the torrent of negative thoughts and feelings—the overwhelming truth that she’s not worthy of it. That she’s not worthy of anything good.

“Don’t deserve you,” Quinn finally says, shaking her head and running her free hand over her face.

RACHEL: “You do,” Rachel insists, battling her tears. She needs to be strong for Quinn. “You deserve to be happy.”

Quinn shakes her head, sifting her fingers into her own hair and tugging at it. It hurts Rachel to see it, and she shifts beside Quinn, reaching out to snag her wrist until she’s tightly gripping both of Quinn’s hands.

“Quinn, baby, look at me,” she pleads. “Be here with me,” and she’s grateful when glistening hazel eyes reluctantly meet hers.

Not knowing what she should say, she can only tell Quinn, “I love you,” and hope it will be enough.

QUINN: “You shouldn’t,” she argues tearfully, but she can’t will herself to break free of Rachel’s hold—Quinn needs it somehow.

She needs Rachel’s touch, her comfort, her love. But there’s so much self-loathing and whispers inside her mind reinforcing every bad thought Quinn’s ever had about herself, and it tears at her.

RACHEL: A tear spills over her cheek at Quinn’s all-too-familiar response. Rachel doesn’t know what else she can do to make Quinn understand, but she’s beginning to realize that this is a conversation that they’ll probably be repeating for a very long time.

She’s so tired—so very tired and worried and lost—but she won’t give up on Quinn. She can’t. She refuses to lose her again—to lose her second chance to get it right.

“It’s too late, Quinn,” Rachel tells her solemnly. “I’m already committed to you...to us...and you know how stubborn I can be,” she reminds her with a sad smile. “You’re stuck with me, so please, baby. Please let me help you through this.”

QUINN: Quinn doesn’t say anything for a moment. She just grips tighter to Rachel’s hand as she presses her lips together, trying to reconcile her girlfriend’s words with the battle raging in her own mind.

“Okay,” she finally agrees shakily.

Rachel’s here, she wants to help, and she’s not going away. It’s a bit of a relief, but it’s still not enough to push out the wretched feelings plaguing her and the restless tension running through her body.

There’s more she thinks she should say to Rachel, but she doesn’t know how.

RACHEL: A soft sigh of relief slips past her lips at Quinn’s response. Rachel can see the conflicting emotions warring in Quinn’s eyes, and she knows they have a long way to go, but getting Quinn to stop trying to push her away is a step in the right direction.

Rachel offers her girlfriend a wobbly smile and squeezes her hands. “Good. That’s good,” she murmurs, releasing Quinn’s left hand so she can lift her own and gently brush Quinn’s hair away from her face.

“I want to be here for you,” she promises. “Maybe we could give your doctor a call too?” she suggests tentatively, thinking about what Kaitlyn had told her. “Would that help?”

QUINN: She shakes her head, hair falling back over her face.

“She can’t do anything,” Quinn manages to get out, feeling herself grow helplessly frustrated, rubbing her left hand over her thigh. “Don’t wanna talk about this with her again. And... and I already have medicine. I took it,” she promises Rachel.

RACHEL: She takes a deep, steadying breath as she studies Quinn. “I know you did, baby,” Rachel assures her, trying to decide how best to handle this situation and feeling hopelessly out of her element. “And I know you don’t want to talk about this with her, but I think you need to. She can help you work through this.”

Better than I can, Rachel thinks morosely.

She wants so badly to be enough to pull Quinn out of this, but she doesn’t even know all the details of Quinn’s past episodes or what had happened with her father or...anything really. Quinn has been trying so hard to protect her from the darker parts of her disorder that Rachel feels like she has next to no tools to help her now.

QUINN: Her brow furrows as she tries to consider Rachel’s words. She thinks Kaitlyn had said something similar.

Maybe... maybe they’re right, but Quinn doesn’t want to talk. It’s too hard right now.

“I can’t,” she replies, frustrated tears forming in hazel eyes. Quinn almost wants to ask Rachel to do it, but the idea makes her stomach twist as more negative thoughts flood her brain.

RACHEL: “Oh-okay,” Rachel breathes, fighting back frustrated tears. She has a feeling giving in to them would only make things worse for Quinn right now.

“Okay,” she repeats more firmly, shifting closer to Quinn on the floor and hoping that her nearness and her body heat might comfort her somehow.

Rachel isn’t giving up—she can’t—but she thinks maybe a tactical retreat to regroup might not be a bad idea. Kaitlyn is right outside, and Rachel can slip out and ask her to call Quinn’s doctor if she really needs to, but she’s still hoping that she might convince Quinn to do that on her own. Maybe she just has to ease into a little more slowly.

“Do you think you can talk to me for a little bit?” she asks, praying that she can steer Quinn into seeking out the help she really needs.

QUINN: Her mind is so steeped in cognitive distortions that talking about anything but is a tall task. But maybe... maybe that’s what Rachel wants her to talk about.

Quinn’s stomach churns again. She doesn’t like talking about these things. It doesn’t make her feel better.

“It’s like a—like a broken record,” she finally says a little jerkily. “My thoughts. And I don’t—why won’t it stop?”

She took her lithium today. She’s sure of it. At least, she thinks she’s sure.

RACHEL: She doesn’t know how to answer that, and it’s breaking her heart. Seeing Quinn like this is one of the most painful things that Rachel has ever had to deal with, and she’s never felt so impotent in her life.

“Oh, Quinn,” is all that comes out of her mouth as she wraps her arms around her girlfriend’s tense and twitching body.

“I don’t know,” she whispers. “I don’t know why this happened to you.” And Rachel hates that it did—hates that Quinn has to go through this.

“And I don’t know how to help you,” she admits tearfully, hating herself for it.

QUINN: She tries to relax into Rachel’s embrace, but she can’t, no matter how much she wants to.

“I’m sorry,” Quinn says for the hundredth time, because she doesn’t know what else to say and because she means it.

She’s sorry that she’s like this, sorry that Rachel’s hurting because of it. She hates herself so much for so many reasons.

RACHEL: Stifling a sob, Rachel shakes her head. “I’m sorry, too, baby. I wish I knew what to do for you right now.”

She doesn’t have any idea what’s going on inside Quinn’s mind. “But I think your doctor might,” she says, feeling Quinn grow even more tense in her arms. “She can help you, Quinn. I need her to help you,” she begs. “Can we please call her?”

QUINN: Her brow furrows again as she chews on her lower lip, trying to process Rachel’s request—the need in her voice isn’t totally lost on Quinn.

She presses the backs of her knuckles into her forehead and, despite the unease roiling in her belly, Quinn thinks that she should call Dr. Herrara—if not for herself, for Rachel.

“Okay,” she agrees before swallowing thickly.

RACHEL: Relief courses through Rachel’s entire body when Quinn agrees to make that call. She has to believe that it’s a good sign.

“Okay,” she echoes gratefully, pressing a kiss to Quinn’s cheek. “We can do this, Quinn,” she promises.

Quinn drags in an uneven breath, squeezing her eyes shut as she continues to press her fingers into her forehead—almost as if she’s trying to silence whatever thoughts are tormenting her.

With her heart aching at the sight, Rachel’s eyes dart around the room in search of Quinn’s phone. She finds it on the floor on the other side of Quinn, half-hidden by the runner on the bed, and she reluctantly releases her hold on Quinn so that she can reach across her body to grab it.

When she sits back up, it’s to find Quinn biting into her lip with her glassy gaze locked on Rachel. Rachel makes her best attempt at a supportive smile, knowing it’s probably wavering around the edges thanks to her own worry and fear.

“Here, baby,” she says, offering Quinn the phone. “I’ll be right here beside you.”

QUINN: She takes her phone from Rachel and tries to take a measure of comfort from her girlfriend’s support with little success.

Quinn’s left hand tightens around the phone as she attempts to scroll through her contacts, looking for Dr. Herrara’s cell number. Her doctor has said Quinn could call her anytime, but it’s not something she feels totally comfortable doing just yet.

Finally finding the number she’s looking for, Quinn hits the call button and presses her phone to her ear. Rachel watches her with anxious eyes, but Quinn can only stare down at her lap, once again rubbing the top of her thigh with her free hand as she gnaws on her lower lip.

After five rings, a familiar voice sounds on the other line, but Quinn soon realizes it’s her doctor’s voicemail greeting.

Closing her eyes, Quinn tries to focus on the words, even though she’s heard this recording before. Leave a message but call 911 if it’s an emergency.

“Hi, Dr. Herrara... it’s Quinn,” she says a bit stiltedly once the greeting is finished. “Quinn Fabray. I—um. I’m not feeling so well. Rachel and Kaitlyn thought I should call you. They’re both with me. Um, so, please call back.”

RACHEL: The relief that Rachel was feeling takes a nosedive when she realizes that Quinn didn’t get through to her doctor and has to leave her a message, and she twists her fingers together worriedly she watches Quinn disconnect the call. She tries to reassure herself that this is only a temporary delay in getting Quinn the help she needs. It’s after normal office hours, after all, and Quinn’s doctor could be driving home or eating dinner or on another call and will most certainly check her messages soon because she has patients like Quinn depending on her to be there when they need her, but that’s really doing nothing to make Rachel feel better.

After moistening her lips, Rachel carefully asks, “Does Dr. Herrara usually get back to you right away?”

QUINN: “Yeah,” Quinn replies unsteadily. “She’s... she’s a good doctor.”

And she is. So much better than the doctors Quinn had in New Haven and even the first one she had after moving to New Jersey.

RACHEL: “Good. That’s good,” Rachel murmurs gratefully.

She feels like she’s been on a rollercoaster for the last two days, getting flipped and turned and flung over the edge of a drop at a hundred miles per hour only to be jarred into a hard stop before hitting the station. She’s not quite on solid ground yet, but she’s close enough to feel the aftereffects of the ride slam into her, and she presses a hand to her churning stomach.

Quinn is still rubbing her palm against her thigh and clutching the phone and chewing her lip, and Rachel knows that what she’s feeling is nothing compared to whatever it is that Quinn is experiencing right now.

She’s forced to acknowledge that this episode is happening because of her—because her presence in Quinn’s life had brought Santana crashing back into it with her bitchy attitude and careless words.

Is it any wonder that Quinn hadn’t wanted Rachel to tell her friends about their relationship? But Rachel had wheedled and begged and pushed until Quinn had agreed, just like she always does when she wants something.

Tears spring to Rachel’s eyes unbidden as guilt rains down on top of her. “I’m so sorry for what Santana did,” she cries, praying that Quinn can forgive her. “I swear I’ll never let her come near you again!”

QUINN: She shakes her head. “No,” Quinn replies, tightening her grip on her phone and rubbing her thumb along the edge of its case. “Don’t—don’t be sorry. It’s... not-”

The words Quinn intended on saying die on her tongue as her phone rings and vibrates in her hand.

She briefly looks at the home screen to see that Dr. Herrara is calling her back. Quinn’s stomach flips a little, but she manages to swipe her finger across her home screen before answering with a tentative, “Hello?”

RACHEL: When Quinn answers her phone, Rachel brushes away her tears and draws in a steadying breath. Apparently Quinn’s doctor does check her messages quickly, and a small wave of relief washes over her at that.

Her own sense of guilt doesn’t diminish. She wants Quinn in her life so badly, but she never wants to make things more difficult for her. She never wants to become one of Quinn’s triggers. Quinn has told her so many times that she makes things better that Rachel had truly believed that to be the case, but now she’s not so certain.

She’s also not certain whether or not she should be here for Quinn’s conversation with her doctor, so even though she doesn’t want to leave Quinn’s side, she quietly asks, “Do you need me to go in the other room?”

QUINN: She shakes her head in response to Rachel’s question as she tries to pay attention to what Dr. Herrara’s saying.

“You said in your message that you aren’t feeling well,” her doctor says. “Can you tell me what’s going on?”

“I’m- I’m really depressed,” Quinn replies, tugging at her hair again as shame floods her. “But I can’t stop fidgeting. It’s... uncomfortable.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she says sympathetically. “Did anything happen to trigger you?”

“Last night, at work,” Quinn confirms, replaying Santana’s words over in her mind. “I had an... unexpected confrontation. I’m not—I took my medicine today,” she finishes, unable to hide her frustration.

“From the little you’ve told me, it sounds like you are probably having a mixed episode, and unfortunately, lithium doesn’t seem to have much efficacy in minimizing this type of episode.”

Quinn frowns, feeling absolutely helpless. “So what- what am I supposed to do?”

RACHEL: She can only hear Quinn’s side of the conversation, but it’s more than enough to make Rachel feel like someone is scraping her heart out with a spoon. The admission that she’s depressed and feeling uncomfortable is painful enough, but then she mentions her confrontation with Santana, and Rachel has to bite back a whimper as she wills herself not to start sobbing. She can’t risk distracting Quinn right now.

When Quinn frowns and asks her doctor what she’s supposed to do in such a hopeless voice, Rachel just wants to hold her. Instead, she reaches out to take Quinn’s hand, hoping she can at least offer some tiny bit of comfort to the woman she loves.

QUINN: She grabs hold of Rachel’s hand and chews on her lower lip as she awaits her doctor’s response.

“I’m going to call in a prescription for ziprasidone for you,” Dr. Herrara says. “It’s an atypical antipsychotic that I’ve found is most effective in treating mixed episodes, and the interaction with lithium is minimal.

“You’ll start by taking 40 milligrams tonight and another 40 tomorrow morning. Then tomorrow night, increase your dose to 60 milligrams, and if you’re tolerating that without any side effects, increase it again to 80 milligrams. Once you’re feeling better, then we’ll reduce the dosage.”

Quinn’s head practically spins with all the information coming through the phone, but there’s a tiny sliver of relief knowing that there’s something she can do.

“All this information will be on the label, don’t worry,” Dr. Herrara finishes gently.

“Okay,” Quinn replies, “Um. I can’t drive right now though.” Her car is still sitting in the parking lot at MetLife Stadium.

“Are Kaitlyn and Rachel still with you?”

“Yeah,” she affirms, looking over at her girlfriend, who is still watching her carefully.

“Could one of them get it for you?”

“I- yeah. I think so.”

RACHEL: Quinn nods at whatever her doctor is telling her before thanking her, and then she’s disconnecting the call. Rachel frowns because nothing she’d heard in Quinn’s responses seemed to indicate she was getting any kind of practical treatment.

“Wh-what did she say?” Rachel asks tentatively. “Does she want to see you? Do you have to wait until tomorrow?”

Rachel will call Quinn’s doctor herself if she’s stonewalling Quinn in her time of need!

QUINN: “She’s calling in a ‘script. I need someone—Kaitlyn—to get it,” she attempts to explain as she fidgets with her phone in her lap. “My doctor thinks I’m having a, um, a mixed episode.”

Rachel’s brow furrows as she takes in this new information.

“She said to call her back if... if I don’t feel better,” Quinn adds, hoping she won’t need to. She just wants to feel okay again, but right now it’s hard to imagine it happening even knowing “help” is on the way.

RACHEL: “Your doctor thinks this medicine will help you?” Rachel questions uncertainly. She doesn’t know exactly what a mixed episode is, but the effect it seems to be having on Quinn is devastating, and she frowns at the thought of Quinn needing to take more drugs than the lithium she’s already on.

Quinn nods jerkily, looking away, but not before Rachel sees the sheen of tears in her eyes.

Aching for Quinn and still drowning in her own guilt, Rachel lifts their joined hands and presses a kiss to the skin beneath Quinn’s knuckles. Quinn puffs out a breath, squeezing her eyes closed again as she grips on to Rachel’s hand tightly.

“Will the pharmacy call when it’s ready?” Rachel asks, uncertain how long it will take to get Quinn the relief she needs.

QUINN: It takes Quinn a moment to register Rachel’s last question, too focused on her girlfriend’s lips on her knuckles.

“They should,” she answers after a beat. “Always have before. I think... I think if Kaitlyn goes now, it will be ready when she gets there.”

Hazel eyes open then and gaze at Rachel uncertainly. “Could you... could you ask Kaitlyn to pick it up? Please?”

RACHEL: Still holding Quinn’s hand close to her own chest, Rachel attempts a comforting smile. “Of course I can do that,” she promises before dipping her head to press another kiss to Quinn’s knuckles. She can’t imagine Kaitlyn would refuse to make the trip to the pharmacy.

Rachel reaches out with her free hand to brush Quinn’s hair back from her face again before cupping her cheek. “I’ll be right back, okay?”

Quinn nods and whispers an echoing ‘okay’ before Rachel reluctantly tears herself away from her girlfriend, pushing herself up off the floor and padding to the bedroom door. She pauses with her hand on the doorknob to glance back at Quinn, offering her another reassuring smile before she quickly slips out of the room to find Kaitlyn.

QUINN: Kaitlyn’s head pops up the second she hears Quinn’s door open, her blue eyes locking on serious brown.

“Any progress?” Kaitlyn asks, hoping beyond hope that Quinn was more responsive to Rachel.

Rachel offers her a nod, but it’s obvious that there’s not much confidence behind it. Kaitlyn can only imagine how difficult this much be for Rachel. Michael has always been a source of strength and support in her life—so the idea of being in Rachel’s position is that much more painful.

RACHEL: She’s grateful to see Kaitlyn right there just like she’d promised to be. It’s not that Rachel feels like she needs Kaitlyn to step in—though she’s admittedly heartsick and struggling with her own guilt and worry—but it’s reassuring to know that Kaitlyn really does care so much about Quinn that she’s here to watch out for her.

“She called her doctor,” Rachel informs her, and immediate relief fills Kaitlyn’s eyes. Rachel worries her lip for a moment before admitting, “She said Quinn’s having...um...a mixed episode,” and Kaitlyn nods, seeming to recognize the terminology.

“She’s calling in a prescription for some kind of medication.” Rachel shakes her head in sudden frustration. “I’m sorry...I didn’t think to ask what it is,” she realizes with a frown, “but would you be able to pick it up for her tonight?”

QUINN: “Of course,” Kaitlyn replies, wanting to do whatever she can to help her roommate. But there’s a measure of relief that comes at having a label to apply to what Quinn’s going through.

“The last time this happened to Quinn, she was between doctors, and I wasn’t sure what was happening,” she confesses. She leaves out the part about Quinn drinking, thinking that it won’t do much to help Rachel. “But the doctor she has now... she’s good. I have to trust that whatever she prescribed is going to help Quinn.”

RACHEL: Twisting her hands together, Rachel studies Kaitlyn. She supposes Quinn’s roommate has had more experience with Quinn’s condition than Rachel has at this point, and Kaitlyn is the second person to assure Rachel that Quinn’s doctor is good, so she supposes that she’ll have to trust that it’s the truth. It makes her feel a little bit better—about the medication at any rate.

“It...it’s just...really hard to see her like this,” Rachel admits quietly, shaking her head before she pushes her hands through her hair. She doesn’t tell Kaitlyn that she feels like this is her fault, but she’s afraid that Kaitlyn can see it in her remorseful gaze.

“I don’t know what else to do for her.”

QUINN: Kaitlyn offers Rachel a sympathetic smile. “I know how hard this must be for you,” she says, “but don’t blame yourself for whatever’s happening to Quinn. Remember, it’s mostly biological, okay? It’s beyond your control or Quinn’s control.”

RACHEL: “The logical part of me knows you’re right,” Rachel concedes, pressing a hand to her stomach, “but it was my so-called friend that triggered this episode,” she laments with a hitch in her voice, and she lifts a hand to wipe away a stray tear.

“I feel like I should have done something more to stop Santana from confronting Quinn, and I can’t do anything to make it better for her now except hold her hand and pray that whatever this medication is will help her.”

QUINN: “That counts for something, Rachel,” Kaitlyn tries to assure her. “There are times, like now, where things aren’t so great, but Quinn will get better. How long that takes depends on a lot of things, but I can promise you one thing: your support only helps.”

RACHEL: All Rachel wants is for Quinn to get better. An echo of Santana’s words plays in her head again—that this is the rest of her life—but Rachel quickly silences it, focusing instead on what Kaitlyn is telling her.

Quinn will get better.

And Rachel will be here to support her, because loving someone means loving all of them—being there for all of the bad times as well as the good. And the good times with Quinn—they’re beautiful and happy and everything that Rachel has ever dreamed of.

“Quinn will always have my support,” Rachel vows before offering Kaitlyn a thankful smile. “And you have my eternal gratitude for everything you do for her.”

QUINN: “You don’t need to thank me,” Kaitlyn replies, but she’s equally grateful that Quinn is with someone who won’t run when things get tough. “Quinn’s my friend.”

Rachel offers her another smile.

“I should get going though,” she continues, reaching for her purse and keys on the kitchen counter. “Hopefully, Quinn’s prescription will be ready when I get there. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Rachel thanks her before slipping back into Quinn’s room, and Kaitlyn makes her way out of their apartment, hoping that whatever it is she’s picking up for Quinn will have her feeling better sooner than later.

RACHEL: She steps back into Quinn’s room with the hope that Kaitlyn will return with her medication soon, especially when she sees that Quinn is still there on the floor where Rachel left her, tapping the edge of her phone against her thigh with one hand while the other twists into her hair.

Hazel eyes dart up to Rachel’s when Quinn hears the door click closed, and Rachel answers the unspoken question in them. “Kaitlyn is on her way to the pharmacy.”

Quinn closes her eyes in relief, nodding silently, and Rachel contemplates sinking back down next to her, but—

“Um...do you...do you maybe want to move somewhere more comfortable than the floor?”

QUINN: She doubts that she’ll feel comfortable anywhere, so Quinn can only shrug in response to Rachel’s question.

“I guess,” she says, realizing it won’t really make a difference—too tense and twitchy to be comfortable even if she wants to be.

RACHEL: Leaning over, Rachel reaches for Quinn’s hand with an encouraging smile. “Come on, baby. Let me help you up,” she offers.

Quinn sighs, shuffling her legs on the floor until she gets her feet underneath her, and then she uses Rachel’s hand for support as she stands. She immediately starts to shift her weight from foot to foot, and her eyes dart around the room as she tugs on the hem of her shirt.

Rachel’s smile trembles around the edges as she takes in the signs of her girlfriend’s obvious discomfort, and in an instant, she’s wrapping her arms around Quinn.

“You’re going to be okay, Quinn,” she promises. “Kaitlyn will be back soon.”

QUINN: Quinn buries her face against Rachel’s neck and lifts her arms around Rachel’s back, fingers twisting in the fabric of her girlfriend’s shirt.

Gentle hands run up and down Quinn’s back, and even though she feels like hell right now, there’s a bit of comfort that comes from having Rachel here with her.

RACHEL: She tries to soothe Quinn as best she can. Rachel can feel the relentless twisting of Quinn’s fingers in the fabric of her shirt, but for the moment, that’s the only fidgeting Quinn seems to be doing. She contemplates the practicality of simply standing here and holding Quinn like this until Kaitlyn returns, silently conceding that it’s probably not a viable option for either of them.

With a sigh, Rachel pulls back just a little and turns her head to press a kiss to Quinn’s temple, and Quinn’s grip on her tightens.

“Why don’t we lie down on the bed while we wait,” Rachel suggests hopefully. “I can hold you, and maybe...maybe you can talk to me a little bit more.”

QUINN: “Okay,” she agrees, but it’s more to the relocating to her bed part of Rachel’s suggestion, not so much for the talking part.

Rachel lets go of Quinn then, and she immediately misses the contact. Quinn tries to remind herself that she won’t be without it long. She just needs to get on the bed.

Quinn releases her death grip on Rachel’s shirt, and her girlfriend offers her an encouraging smile. Moments later, Quinn is lying on her side with Rachel curling herself around Quinn’s back. Her hands twist into the blanket beneath her, and she closes her eyes.

RACHEL: Sliding onto the bed behind Quinn, Rachel slips her arm around Quinn’s waist and presses her body as close to her as humanly possible. Despite the heaviness of the situation, Rachel’s lips curve into a small smile at the chance to be the ‘big spoon’ again. It’s only the second time she’s been able to be in this position, and neither time has been under happy circumstances, but she suspects that Quinn wouldn’t be letting this happen otherwise. She’d certainly want to be the one spooning Rachel.

Rachel brushes Quinn’s hair aside with her free hand before moving it into a more comfortable position, and then she ghosts a soft kiss to the skin on the back of Quinn’s neck, feeling Quinn shiver a little at the contact.

“You’ll feel better soon, Quinn,” Rachel murmurs, hoping it’s a promise to be fulfilled and not just wishful thinking.

QUINN: She lets out a shaky breath. It’s hard to imagine feeling better—she knows she’s been “better” before, but she can’t remember what it felt like.

And, honestly, if it weren’t for Rachel’s warm body wrapped around Quinn’s, she’d want to disappear forever right now.

Tears sting beneath Quinn’s eyelids then as she continues to be bombarded by thoughts hammering in the idea that she’d be better off dead.

But then... then, there’s a gentle hum and a soothing hand rubbing along Quinn’s upper arm, and she momentarily gets caught up in it.

RACHEL: She strokes her hand down Quinn’s arm, humming softly in the hopes that it will help to calm her down enough to maybe get some rest. Rachel has a feeling that Quinn probably got even less sleep than she did last night.

Her thoughts drift to what Kaitlyn had said about the last time this had happened to Quinn, wondering how bad the episode had been and how long Quinn had had to suffer before getting the help she needed.

Without even realizing it, Rachel’s humming takes on a specific melody, and when she finally recognizes the tune her brain had unconsciously supplied, her stomach flips over as old memories flood her. She wonders if Quinn has realized yet.

Before Rachel can consider if revisiting this particular moment from their past might do more harm than good, her humming transforms into a quiet serenade—one that’s familiar to them both.

“You’re not alone. Together we stand. I’ll be by your side. You know I’ll take your hand...”

QUINN: It takes a moment for Quinn to recognize the song that Rachel’s singing, but when she finally does, she can’t stop the tears from falling.

It’s not that the song makes Quinn sad. It’s just—there’s so much emotion bottled up inside her, and it’s impossible to hold it in.

It’s a mix of all kinds of things, but there’s a sense of gratitude in there—gratitude for Rachel’s presence, her comfort, and her love—even if Quinn still doesn’t believe she deserves one ounce of it.

RACHEL: Quinn’s shoulders begin to shake as Rachel sings, and she wonders if she should stop. Quinn had cried the first time Rachel had sung this to her as well, but Rachel had always believed that the message she (and okay—all of their fellow glee-clubbers) had been trying to convey had made some kind of difference to Quinn. Even though Quinn hadn’t allowed Rachel personally to help her—and who can really blame her when Rachel had still been trying to steal Finn away from her at the time?—she’d at least seemed to feel more comfortable inside the sanctuary of their club and more receptive to the extensions of friendship being offered to her.

This time, Rachel intends to personally fulfill the promise in every word she’s singing, and she slides her hand down Quinn’s arm until she reaches her hand, fisted into the bedcovers beneath them. Rachel determinedly works her fingers between Quinn’s until Quinn is gripping her hand as tightly as she had been the bed.

Rachel’s voice trembles—just a little—with her own emotion as she softly sings the chorus, hoping Quinn will, “Keep holding on. ‘Cause you know we’ll make it through. We’ll make it through. Just stay strong. ‘Cause you know I’m here for you. I’m here for you,” she croons, squeezing Quinn’s hand as she moves her free hand again to comb her fingers comfortingly through Quinn’s hair. “There’s nothing you could say, nothing you could do. There’s no other way when it comes to the truth. So keep holding on. ‘Cause you know we’ll make it through.”

Rachel presses a kiss to Quinn’s shoulder, quietly speaking the very last line in resolute promise. “We’ll make it through, baby.”

QUINN: She doesn’t say anything—can’t say anything, really—when Rachel finishes singing, but Quinn holds on to Rachel’s hand, not letting go, as the tears continue to fall.

And even though it’s challenging right now, Quinn tries to trust in Rachel’s words—that they’ll make it through this. The future’s still so hard to think of without her current state obscuring it.

Instead, Quinn tries to focus on the warmth of Rachel’s body curled around her, gentle fingers sifting through her hair, and the occasional soft kiss against her shoulder.

RACHEL: Quinn is still crying, but the way she’s clinging to Rachel’s hand makes Rachel believe that she’s giving Quinn some kind of small comfort just by being here. It has to be enough for her. That’s the hardest part of all of this—well, the second hardest.

Seeing Quinn suffering is the hardest part—seeing Quinn suffering has always been so hard for Rachel, even in the days before they were friends—but knowing that there’s nothing productive that Rachel can do to make it better is right up there. They go hand-in-hand really.

Rachel won’t press Quinn to talk right now—she can’t—so she continues to hold Quinn and stroke her hair and press kisses to all the parts of Quinn that her lips can reach while they wait for Kaitlyn to return.

QUINN: She doesn’t know how long they lay together, tangled up on Quinn’s bed, but eventually her bedroom door creaks open, although she can’t bring herself to move.

“Hey, I’m back,” Kaitlyn says softly, and soon she’s coming into view, perching herself on the edge of Quinn’s bed.

Quinn glances up and sees her roommate holding a bag from CVS and a bottle of water.

RACHEL: Kaitlyn’s return with Quinn’s medication is a welcome relief, and Rachel reluctantly untangles herself from Quinn. As Rachel moves her arm, Quinn’s hand follows it back behind her hip before she eventually allows Rachel’s fingers to slip out from between hers, sniffling quietly.

“Thank you again for going to get that, Kaitlyn,” Rachel murmurs with a grateful smile as she sits up on the mattress behind Quinn.

With a gaze down at Quinn’s red, puffy eyes and tear-streaked cheeks, she prays that the medicine will work quickly.

QUINN: Letting out a shaky breath, Quinn presses her hands against the mattress and slowly pushes herself up to sit.

Kaitlyn gives her a reassuring smile as she hands Quinn the bottle of water.

“Thanks,” Quinn sniffs as she takes it, the plastic of the bottle crunching beneath her grip. Frowning, she places it in her lap and fiddles instead with the cap, slowly twisting it off and on.

Rachel’s hand soon finds its way to Quinn’s back as Kaitlyn opens the bag, pulling out a bottle of pills and examining its label. “Okay, so it looks like these are 20 milligram capsules, and you’re supposed to take two of these tonight,” Kaitlyn explains before twisting the cap off, dropping a pair of blue-and-white capsules in her hand, and handing them to Quinn.

RACHEL: Rubbing Quinn’s back reassuringly, Rachel makes a mental note to check the pill bottle and read up on the drug information as soon as they get Quinn squared away tonight. She wants to know exactly what Quinn is going to be taking, the dosage and for how long, and any potential side-effects they should be worried about.

For now, she watches Quinn stare down at the pills with a small frown before she finally lifts her hand to her mouth and pops them inside, unscrewing the cap on the water bottle and taking a sip to wash them down.

Rachel doesn’t know how long it will take for the medication to take effect, but she’s planning on staying right here with Quinn for the rest of the night and into tomorrow, and if Quinn doesn’t show any signs of getting better, Rachel will make damned certain Dr. Herrara knows about it.

QUINN: Quinn settles back down on her mattress and clutches her water bottle to her chest, not knowing if but hoping this medicine will help.

Kaitlyn places the bottle of ziprasidone on Quinn’s nightstand before turning back to look at her. “Let me know if you need anything else,” she murmurs, brushing her fingers across Quinn’s forehead, moving messy tufts of hair out of the way.

RACHEL: “We will,” Rachel assures Kaitlyn on Quinn’s behalf, reaching down to rub Quinn’s shoulder. “I’ll be right here with her,” she promises.

Kaitlyn nods and offers a smile before bidding them both goodnight, and then she slips out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Rachel strokes her fingers through Quinn’s hair again as she gazes down at her. “I realize it’s far too soon for the medication to take effect, but how are you feeling?” she asks tentatively. “Do you need me to do anything for you?”

QUINN: She licks her lips and considers Rachel’s question. Quinn doesn’t feel any different than she did right before Kaitlyn gave her the new medication, and she honestly has no idea how long it will take to kick in. She hopes soon.

But that’s not the point of the question, now is it?

“Could you... could you sing for me, again?” she asks.

RACHEL: Quinn’s request brings a small smile to Rachel’s face. “Oh, baby. Singing is something I can most certainly do,” she promises with a trace of humor in her voice, and the corner of Quinn’s mouth quirks just the tiniest bit.

Rachel slides down to once again to lie next to Quinn, brushing a kiss over her cheek before she shifts on the mattress and gathers Quinn into her arms. Dozens of potential songs fly through her mind in rapid succession, but it’s an old Pretenders song that pushes to the forefront, and Rachel decides to go with it, keeping it slower and softer than the original version.

“Oh, why you look so sad? Tears are in your eyes. Come on and come to me now. Don’t be ashamed to cry. Let me see you through ‘cause I’ve seen the dark side too. When the night falls on you, you don’t know what to do, nothing you confess could make me love you less,” she sings with quiet conviction.

Just like her reprisal of “Keep Holding On,” Rachel means every word with all of her heart.

“I’ll stand by you. I’ll stand by you. Won’t let nobody hurt you. I’ll stand by you.”

QUINN: Her body is still tense—muscles tight, jaw clenching, and fingers and toes curling.

But Rachel’s voice...

Oh, it’s such a soothing balm.

It’s not a cure.

Not a fix.

But it’s something.

It’s more than she could have ever hoped for. And more than she’s ever deserved.

RACHEL: After Rachel sings the last note, she kisses Quinn’s cheek again, running a soothing hand over her shoulder. Quinn still feels tense to her, but Rachel wants to believe she might be a little calmer. She really hopes the medication is working.

“Would you like me to keep singing?” she questions softly, willing to sing every song in her vast mental library if that’s what Quinn needs her to do.

QUINN: “Yeah,” she admits quietly. “But only... only if you want to.”

Rachel’s voice, it’s always had an effect on Quinn, and right now, it’s the thing keeping her mind from dwelling too much on the negative thoughts that have consumed her. And hopefully, the new medicine will kick in soon.

RACHEL: “Of course I want to,” Rachel promises her sweetly. She has so many songs she wants to sing for Quinn (and only Quinn)—serenades to express her love and devotion. Someday, when Quinn is feeling better again, Rachel would love to sing a few duets with her as well. She can remember how beautifully their voices had blended together during their one and only duet in high school.

“I love singing for you,” she murmurs, kissing Quinn’s shoulder. Quinn sighs and closes her eyes.

Rachel spins her mental jukebox, smiling a little as she begins to croon, “We’ll do it all. Everything. On our own. We don’t need...anything, or anyone. If I lay here. If I just lay here. Would you lie with me and just forget the world?”

QUINN: She wants that more than anything. Hearing Rachel sing those words means the world to Quinn.

And as Rachel continues to sing—continues to comfort her—Quinn feels her body start to relax ever-so-slightly. She can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel just yet, but Quinn hopes that’s where she’s headed, and she doesn’t know if it’s Rachel or the medication or both helping her do that.

RACHEL: “All that I am, all that I ever was, is here in your perfect eyes. They’re all I can see,” Rachel sings, feeling the words as though they were formed from her very soul. And when those perfect eyes flutter open and gaze at Rachel—filled with such an aching mix of sadness and longing and love—she knows that what she’s singing is true.

Rachel cups Quinn’s cheek, stroking it gently with her thumb. “I don’t know where. Confused about how as well. Just know that these things will never change for us at all.”

Even after all the years they’d spent apart and the losses that they’d endured in their lives, they’d found each other again. Things might be difficult right now, but Rachel knows that this is where she belongs. Maybe this is right where she’s always belonged, and they’d both had to take the longest, most painful road to get here.

“If I lay here. If I just lay here. Would you lie with me and just forget the world?” she finishes softly, leaning in to kiss the corner of Quinn’s mouth

“Those three words really aren’t enough,” Rachel whispers, “but I do love you, Quinn. So much.”

QUINN: Hazel eyes briefly flutter closed as the emotion behind Rachel’s every word wraps around Quinn’s heart. She then lets out a quiet breath and opens her eyes once more to gaze up at Rachel.

“I love you, too,” she replies softly, eyes shining with unshed tears. “I... thank you,” Quinn says, also not knowing how to convey how much Rachel means to her, but so grateful that she doesn’t have to go through this alone.

RACHEL: “You don’t need to thank me, baby,” Rachel chastises gently. “Loving you is the easiest thing in the world.”

And it’s true. Rachel wonders how she’d managed to not fall for Quinn years ago—well, the years before Quinn had disappeared on her—but then she remembers Finn and knows exactly how. She’ll never regret loving him, but she can admit now that her feelings for Quinn had been a little too complicated for mere friendship even in high school, and she knows that things could have easily happened very differently if Finn had never joined the glee club—or if Rachel had been forced to acknowledge her bisexuality sooner.

She supposes hindsight really is twenty-twenty, but they’re here now. Together. And—

“I couldn’t be anywhere else.”

QUINN: She doesn’t know how or why, but Quinn doesn’t have the energy to fight it anymore. She’s just glad that, despite how sideways things got, Rachel is the most stubborn and loving person Quinn has ever known.

Little by little, Quinn’s body stops fidgeting and soon a wave of tiredness comes over her, although there’s still a good dose of melancholy and tension that lingers.

“Will you stay tonight?” Quinn asks, knowing that she’ll likely sleep better with Rachel by her side.

RACHEL: “Just try and get me to leave,” Rachel challenges with a slight grin, sifting her finger through Quinn’s hair again just because she can. She never had any intention of going home tonight. In retrospect, she probably should have thrown together an overnight bag before she’d left her apartment, but she’d been kind of distracted. And exhausted. She can feel that settling back in now that it seems like Quinn is starting to relax a little.

“I’m not going anywhere tonight, Quinn,” she promises, brushing another kiss over her cheek. “Except maybe over to raid your dresser for a comfy shirt I can borrow and then into your bathroom to freshen up.”

QUINN: There’s a measure of relief that comes at her girlfriend’s promise to stay the night.

“Whatever you need,” Quinn murmurs, her gaze moving from Rachel’s eyes to her mouth, and all the places in between. It’s like praying with her eyes. And Rachel has truly been a godsend.

RACHEL: Her breath catches at the way Quinn is looking at her, and the words ‘I need you’ dance on the tip of Rachel’s tongue—but this isn’t the time for that. Quinn is still too fragile, and they’re both too exhausted for flirtation. Still, Rachel can’t resist the need to capture Quinn’s lips again, kissing her softly and hoping Quinn can feel everything Rachel feels for her in the intimate caress.

QUINN: Her eyes slide shut at the feeling of Rachel’s lips against hers, and her heart momentarily feels lighter at the love Rachel pours into the kiss.

Moments later, their mouths break apart and Quinn looks at Rachel once more. Even though there is a ways to go until Quinn will truly feel better, it’s starting to feeling like she’s turned a corner and can see the light at the end of the tunnel—and Rachel will still be there.

RACHEL: Smiling down at Quinn, Rachel brushes back a lock of blonde hair, glad to see Quinn’s eyes looking just a little bit clearer.

“Try to get some rest, Quinn,” she murmurs. “I’m going to run to the bathroom. I’ll just be a few minutes, okay?”

At Quinn’s slight nod, Rachel slips off the bed and pads over to Quinn’s dresser, pulling open the drawer that she knows Quinn keeps some of her older t-shirts and sleepwear in. She hesitates for a moment as she peruses the selection, ultimately reaching for a soft green and white t-shirt bearing the Jets logo and a pair of plaid boxers.

She sends a quick glance back over her shoulder at Quinn to find her watching Rachel through sleepy eyes before Rachel steps out of the bedroom. Kaitlyn is still hanging out in the living room with the television on at low volume, and her head pops up when Rachel appears. “How is she?”

“She seems a little better,” Rachel tells her hopefully. “She isn’t fidgeting as much.”

Kaitlyn smiles in relief. “That’s good to hear.”

Rachel nods. “I’m staying with her tonight. I’m just going to use your bathroom to change.” She holds up the clothes that she’s commandeered.

Kaitlyn thanks her again, telling her she’s probably going to turn in soon as well, and Rachel slips into the bathroom. After heeding nature’s call, she changes into the borrowed clothes, pausing to lift the collar of the shirt to her nose to inhale the scent of fabric softener mixed with Quinn that still lingers on the material. It soothes her more than she can express.

Evan: finished packing five minutes before the cab arrive. As usual he had waited till last minute to organize his things but in his defense it was a short trip and duffel bag should not take more than an hour to pack. But being Evan he had taken a while to choose what outfits to take even though his closet is mostly the same and then there was fitting in the presents he got for the Wylie family and then choosing one book for the flight. He was finally done though and that's all that matters. So now he was downstairs making sure everything was in order and that he had his passport and both his and Andrea's tickets in hand and finally made sure that Andrea was right next to him. "Good, everything's settled then." he nodded, closing the door behind them and making sure it's locked. London at six in the morning is actually quite nice now that he looks, he's never awake at this hour unless it's very important. It's a little chilly for a summer morning and Evan, who usually feels dead in the morning, is feeling pretty energetic. "Right, lets go!" he walked down the steps and the cab driver opened the trunk so they could put their things in and then Evan opened the door for Andrea, "After you."

Andrea was a morning person, but this particular morning she felt sleepy and groggy and like death. Evan seemed to have enough energy for the both of them, and so she just sat on the couch half asleep as he finished up packing, waiting for him to finally be ready. Once he was she followed him out the door, duffle bag over her shoulder as she rubbed her eyes and followed him down the steps. She threw her bag into the trunk, giving Evan a tired thank you as he opened the door and let her in first. She climbed in, yawning widely and hoping she'll be able to fall asleep on the flight home. "Why are you so awake?" she complained.

Evan: scooted in next to her in the backseat, wiggling around and trying to find his seatbelt. It smelled like coffee inside the cab, probably coming from the driver's thermos cup and he made mental note to buy a large cup of coffee when they get to the airport, maybe a blueberry muffin to go with it. "What?" he asked, looking over at Andrea who looked like the smack definition of tired. "We're going to California, of course I'm awake! You know, I haven't been there since I was sixteen so about four years ago." Of course he didn't go to San Francisco or wherever Andrea lives he went to L.A as any other cliche. "Aren't you excited to go home?"

Andrea slouched in her seat, resting her head on Evan's shoulder and blinking her eyes tiredly. "I guess. I just want to sleep." she felt like all she'd been doing lately was sleeping; maybe she was stressed or something, maybe that's why she never felt fully awake anymore. "The jet lag is going to kick my ass." she muttered, her eyes sliding shut because she couldn't seem to help it anymore. She was excited to see her brother and sister because she'd been really home sick for them, but honestly as far as everyone else went she was just excited to get out.

Evan: patted her head gently. He was always excited when it meant going places that wasn't downtown London or up north to the countryside. He quite liked traveling and it made him feel a bit guilty for bailing out on his parents to go visit his grandmother and grandfather over in Greece but times are different and he can could always go towards the end of break. "You'll get over jet lag though, it's alright." He pulled out his phone to check their flight schedule, they don't really leave until seven-forty-five and it's almost six-thirty so they have plenty of time to get there. "You can sleep all you want on the plane but first you need breakfast." he hummed, "How do you feel about airport muffins?"

Andrea sighed quietly, forcing her eyes open but not picking her head up from Evan's shoulder. She hoped she'd get over the jetlag, or else it's going to be a really rough next couple of days. She rubbed at her eyes, shrugging her shoulders. "They're expensive." everything at airports was always expensive, not that it really stopped Andrea; if she was hungry she was hungry and needed food. That didn't mean that her wallet didn't absolutely hate her, though.

Evan: snorted, "They are but they're actually pretty good, unless that's just me." Evan hasn't been to the airport in quite a while though so maybe things have changed and the muffins are terrible, wont stop him though because his original plan was to eat cereal this morning but that never happened. Ten minutes later London City Airport came into view and Evan was once again feeling rather excited. He loves flying. "We're here." he hummed, already unbuckling his seat belt waiting for the driver to pull up onto the side.

Andrea scrunched her nose up; she never got anything other than McDonald's from airports because everything else was skyrocket in price. Once they were at the airport she forced herself to sit upright, grabbing her bag from the trunk of the car and slinging it over her shoulder as she waited for Evan. She pushed her hair out of her face; at least it would be nice and warm in California, compared to here where it always had at least a little bit of a chill. She walked into the airport and checked her back in, making sure everything she needed was in the front pocket of her sweatshirt before handing it over to the woman checking them in, and once both of their bags were checked in she walked to the security check; at least it wasn't too long because it was early on a week day, she was able to go right through to the actual check, and she just had to take the stuff out of her pockets after showing the guy at the front her boarding pass and passport so she could go through the metal detector. Once she was through she slipped back into her sandals, rubbing at her eyes and looking at the signs for their gate.

Evan: thanked and paid the cab driver before getting out and grabbing his things to follow Andrea to the front doors. Getting to where they needed was a little bit of hassle but he did everything Andrea did until he finally got his things back and he was checked from head to toe. He dropped his bag by his feet while he put on his jacket and then picked it up while looking around. First, he wants to find their place before he goes on the hunt for something to eat. "Right there." he motioned for them to go left, reaching out for Andrea's hand because well, just because. He led them all the way to their waiting room which actually wasn't as empty as he expected it to be. "We have like a little less than an hour before our flight. What do you want to eat?"

Andrea hummed quietly, grabbing Evan's hand and following after him because she still didn't really know where she was going. She threw her duffle onto one of the waiting chairs, plopping into the one next to it and shrugging her shoulders as Evan asked her what she wanted to eat. "Anything. I'm starving." she groaned, and okay - she wasn't ​starving​ but she was hungry. She was never awake this long without having something to eat and her stomach was complaining about it.

Evan: raised an eyebrow, "​Anything​? If you're sure." He set his own duffle bag down next to his seat and checked the time one last time. "Okay, I'll go get us a coffee or something, stay here yeah?" he asked already walking backwards to turn around. It didn't take him long to grab them some food, he settled for two cups of coffee, two muffins and he stopped at the McDonald's for breakfast sandwiches and ​hash-browns​. He walked back carrying a cup holder in one hand and both the McDonalds and muffin bag in another. "I brought gifts." he said, plopping next to Andrea and handing her the bags so she can help herself.

Andrea hummed, slouching down in her seat and dozing off even though she was there to watch their stuff. She was half-asleep by the time Evan came back, and she blinked her eyes open blearily as she sat up, chewing at her lip as he passed her the food. "Yaaaaaaay." she reached in to grab some food, perking up almost immediately now that she could smell food and taking a bite out of one of the hashbrowns. "Thank you." she said with her mouth full, taking her coffee from him.

Evan: took a sip from his coffee, settling into his seat and grabbed his own hashbrown first before it cools down."You're welcome." he replied, smiling over his cup. He looked out the large windows where the airplanes were, drumming his fingers on his lap in anticipation because they're ​going somewhere​. He honestly doesn't know why he's so excited, probably because it means getting out of London even if it's only for three days but a change of scenery is very much needed.

Andrea was too busy eating to say anything. Admittedly, it was hard for her not to steal some of Evan's food, but she resisted the urge anyways, hands gripping at her cup of coffee and sipping away at it to staunch the urge. One day Andrea would get over this weird relationship with food she had but she didn't think that day was today. She glanced over towards their gate as a plane pulled up, staying rooted in her seat because it was probably going to take everyone a while to get off and then get more people on.

Evan: finished everything except his coffee because it turned cold. He put all his trash in a bag and decided he'll throw it away when it's time to stand up. He figured if he's going to go into airplane mode soon for about ten hours that he should might as well text his mother now that he's off. She hadn't been to keen of the idea that Evan, almost impulsively, bought tickets to California with someone she hasn't even met yet. Evan had given her the whole run-down of who Andrea was and "no mum, she's not my girlfriend" and she finally told him to text her before he boarded. And their plane was here so perfect timing. "Are you ready?" he asked, turning to Andrea after pressing send.

Andrea hummed and nodded, groaning as she pushed herself up to her feet and stretching her arms up and over her head. "I plan on sleeping and sleeping and sleeping." except not really, because she'd probably only close her eyes the whole time in an attempt and never actually be able to do so. She got in line to get on board, finishing off her coffee and leaning to throw it away in the bin just as she was handing her boarding pass and passport to the woman.

Evan: laughed, "Alright then, good thing I brought a book." Sleeping on planes is terrible, he can't do it, he'll end up with a terrible neck pain and he'd feel all stiff afterwards. He probably wont read either and end up playing piano tiles on his phone or whatever game he has that doesn't require WiFi. He threw away his trash after Andrea, shrugging his bag unto his shoulder and gave the woman his own passport and boarding pass and finally they're going into the tunnel. "We're going to see The Growlers, I'm excited." advised Evan the closer they got to the plane's doors.

Andrea snorted, looking up at him and rolling her eyes slightly. But she couldn't help but find his excitement endearing. "I know, Ev." she laughed, reaching up to poke as his cheek. It took a bit to get to their seat, and she plopped in setting her back at her feet and slouching in immediately.

Evan: didn't reply to that instead he beamed and kept from saying anything more. Once inside he placed his bag next to Andrea's and sat down, settling into his seat and pulling his phone out to read his mother's reply which was a mere 'k' which caused him to snort and lean over to show Andrea, "Mother of the year." He plopped back and put his phone in his pocket. "Just realized the timezones are gonna fuck us over, shit." Because he had been counting in his head ten hours which would be around five in the afternoon but probably not in California.

Andrea hummed and leaned over to look at Evan's phone, a small smile tugging at her lips. "At least she replied?" she shrugged. She hadn't even texted her mom or dad, because they were probably asleep. She wasn't even entirely sure if they were going to be there when they got in, but oh well. "Yeah, that's why I said the jetlag was going to kill me earlier, dummy." she took a comfortable position in her seat, flipping the armrest up so she could lean over and lean on Evan, yawning widely.

Evan: smiled, nodding because yeah, at least she replied. She's probably getting breakfast ready at this hour as to why she only replied with a single letter or yelling at his dad to wake up, or both. "Oh well excuse me, rude." he pouted, sitting up a bit straighter to make himself and Andrea more comfortable. "Are you gonna sleep now? Because if you are at least let me get my book and earphones." He probably should get to those before she goes limp on him and he's stuck playing games for s while only because he doesn't want to wake her up.

Andrea hummed, smiling at his pout and leaning to press a kiss to Evan's cheek. "Hm. No, but I might fall asleep on accident..." she leaned off of him so that he could grab whatever he needed so she wouldn't disturb his flight. She sighed, running a hand through her hair and scrolling through her phone as the flight attendants went over the safety procedures, not paying attention because she'd heard them tons of times.

Evan: huffed, he'd have no one to talk to if she fell asleep but Evan isn't going to stop her. He pulled out his boom which was actually a paperback copy of The Prisoner of Azkaban, he's been in a Harry Potter mood lately and started reading the series all over again. He also pulled out his earphones and placed them around his neck, he'll only play music if she falls asleep. "Alright, I'm good." he hummed, he was all set and ready to be Andrea's pillow and get up in the air.

Andrea waited for him to get settled then placed her head on his shoulder, getting comfortable again and looking down at the book he chose to read for the flight; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The Harry Potter series was the only series of books Andrea had ever gotten through, and so when he flipped it open she read over his shoulder, turning her phone to airplane mode once the plane started to cab. This was going to be a long-ass flight.

Evan: probably fell asleep twice throughout the flight. Once because all that energy he had seemed to dim down and make him tired because Evan really isn't a morning person but he jerked awake when someone laughed way to loud in the back. The second time he had made sure he had his earphones on but the pain in his neck woke him up that time so for the rest of the ride he was awake. He had watched a movie on the small screen in front of them though it didn't really catch his attention, then he had taken probably thirty pictures of Andrea sleeping because she looked funny and he was definitely using one as her contact pic. He had read the entire book which was no surprise because he tends to finish those quickly. He played every game on his phone and had conversations with Andrea. Finally the pilot had advised them that they were landing and Evan couldn't have been more grateful. But now he's ​exhausted​ from sitting through those ten hours. "Andrea, carry me." he sighed, rubbing his tired eyes and shifting the strap of his duffle bag on his shoulder while they walked out of the tunnel.

Andrea slept for a majority of the flight, but thankfully Evan didn't move too much and even when he did she leaned against the window so his arm could have a break and so that she could give the side she was leaning on a break. But when she wasn't awake she was reading over Evan's shoulder or talking to him, or watching the movie playing on the screen of her seat while half-asleep. Then finally, the flight was over and Andrea was following Evan through the tunnel to the terminal. "I don't think I'm strong enough to carry you you big baby." Andrea was feeling like she wanted to be carried too, honestly. She looked at the time and sighed; both of her parents were at work but they'd dropped her truck off in the parking lot. She led the way out of the airport, turning her phone on and waiting for the text her mom sent her about where her car was parked and motioning for Evan to follow her into the parking garage, digging through her duffle back to find her keys and humming when she found them. On the second floor she found her truck, and she went running towards it and attached herself to it like it was a person. "Ugh, I missed my truck." she whined, staying put there for a moment before unlocking the doors and climbing in, throwing her bag into the back. "I'm starving. Wanna get something to eat?"

Evan: chuckled softly, shaking his head, "You can do anything if you just ​believe​, Wylie." He looked around while Andrea led the way; they were officially in California. About five-thousand-three-hund​red-eighteen miles separated them from London and he was ecstatic, tired, but ecstatic. For a moment when they were walking past people he thought he lost Andrea but she was only a few paces in front of him because he was looking out the large windows. Once they were outside he took in a deep breath of fresh air and sighed. He was a bit confused as to why they were heading to the parking lot, he thought they were going to call a cab or something but now that they were there he realized they a car waiting for them, more specifically a truck. "Didn't take you for a truck person, Wylie." a smile tugged the corner of his lip at the sight. He walked around to the passenger seat and really he would much rather walk around a bit instead of sitting down again to stretch his legs but food sounds like heaven. "​Yes​, plane food is the worst," he placed his bag in the back too and then buckled up, "show me your Californian ways."

Andrea snorted quietly, backing out of the parking space as she searched for a radio station that wasn't playing disco, which her mom had apparently turned on when she drove to drop it off before work. "I am most definitely a truck person." she nodded, rolling the windows down and driving with her knee as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail. "I don't know what you want. Wait! In N' Out sounds so good." she glanced at him, not entirely sure he even knew what it was. She made a mental note to take him to Sonic also, since she was really craving something from there and they might as well while they're here. She put her hands back on the steering roll as she drove out of the airport terminal and onto the street to get on the freeway.

Evan: shifted around in his seat and then looked at Andrea and he could see it, a truck did suit her. He turned his gaze back out his window, excited to get out of the airport and finally look around, he's definitely going to have Andrea take him on a tour. "In and out? What?" he furrowed his eyebrows, he hasn't heard of that place but if Andrea says it's good then it must be so he shrugged and nodded. Besides he could eat just about anything right now and he patted his stomach as though telling it it's going to get food soon. "Sometimes I forget you guys drive on the wrong side of the road." he commented, looking at the cars passing by them, or is them that drive on the wrong side? No, most definitely the Americans.

Andrea stuck her tongue out as she looked over her shoulder to change lanes. "It's a burger joint." she stated, turning on the AC and waiting for it to actually get cool before rolling the windows up. Her eyebrows pulled together, and oh yeah. They drive on different sides of the road, and the drivers side was on the opposite side, too. That must seem really weird. "The wrong side? Rude. It's just different." she laughed, turning her blinker on to get onto the off-ramp and humming as she got off the exit. "Would you rather drive-thru or go inside?"

Evan: "Ohhh." A burger joint, sounds wonderful to him. A side of fries and a large drink and he's good to go. He pulled out his phone and switched off airplane mode, remembering that he should probably advise his mother that he arrived. "Nah, definitely the wrong side." he snorted even though she was right probably. He thought about her question, part of him wanted to get out and walk about and sit in this joint and eat but the other part of him wants to get to Andrea's house and eat on the way and maybe take a nap with Andrea after he meets her family that is if they're even there. "Um, drive-thru?"

Andrea pouted, but didn't bother to argue anymore about it because it was dumb, honestly. "So rude..." she muttered, turning into the shopping center where In 'N Out is nestled and pulling up. Once she'd gotten their food and handed Evan his box of food she made the way to her house, humming along to the radio and turning almost reckless into the empty driveway once they got there. She jumped out of the car, grabbing her food and her duffle bag and kicking her car door shut. Once she opened the door she gasped as her two dogs jumped up on her legs. The American Eskimo, Cake, immediately started growling at Evan, but the Maltipoo, Darla, seemed to take a liking to him. "Oh you stop that. Hi babies. Hi babies." she dropped her stuff immediately to pick up Cake, frowning down at him. "You stop you little alpha dog you." she shut the door behind Evan, keeping Cake in her arms. "This is Evan, he's nice, see. Darla likes him." she made sure the white puffball calmed down before setting him down and letting him sniff at Evan's feet. "These are my babies, Darla and Cake. Cake doesn't like boys because he likes to act like he's in charge. But he's a big baby." she picked up her stuff and sighed, walking down the short hallway to her bedroom and kicking the door open. "No one's in yet so just make yourself at home." she called to him, throwing her bag onto her bed and letting her hair down as she glanced around before exiting the room so she could eat her food finally.

Evan: had wanted the biggest cheese burger and biggest order of fries In 'N Out could offer and the smell of food woke him up a bit because finally some real food. He might have snuck a fry or five on the way to Andrea's house and they're probably the best thing Evan's had in a while. Of course that's probably the hunger talking. Now that they arrived was a perfect opportunity for Evan to stretch and roll his shoulders back and grab his things before following Andrea up to her house. The fact that her family was going to meet her parents made him nervous and he doesn't know why, he likes to think he's good around parents. He jumped a little when she opened the door, not expecting dogs to come running at her. "Shit." he mumbled, pushing a hand through his hair but smiled a little because he loves dogs though one of them is growling at him which caused him to pout a bit. "So he's basically the Alpha dog." it caused him to chuckle a little, he thought that was pretty cute. "They're not?" though he should have figured they weren't home, the drive way had been empty and this only caused him to be a little more nervous than he already was. He watched Andrea go somewhere within the house and he knelt down to scratch Darla behind her ear, beaming she actually seemed to like him. Evan stood back up and moved to the living room, opening his duffle bag to check if the gifts he brought were in top shape, he pulled then out and set them on the coffee table; chocolates for her parents and sour candy from his favorite sweet shop in London for her siblings. They came in very nice packaging he thinks.

Andrea came back out into the living room, picking up Cake again because he seemed to be pouting and avoiding Evan at all costs. She carried him over, setting him on the couch next to her and reaching for her food. "No. My parents are at work, my mom probably took Mads and Kevin with her since no one would be here." she reached for the remote, turning the TV on as she got curled up with her food in her lap. "What do you want to do today?" she asked.

Evan: took a seat next to Andrea and Cake, for a moment forgetting that the dog doesn't like him while he reached for his own food, happy they're finally going to eat. "Oh, alright." he nodded, pulling his burger out and taking a bite and a burger has never tasted so great as it does now. "Um, I don't know, whatever you want to do." he shrugged, because they were in Andrea's hometown, she probably knew things they could do.

Andrea hummed as she chewed at her fries; the concert wasn't until the next day, so they still had a lot of time to kill before then. "Let me see if anything is going on tonight." she grabbed her cell phone and scrolled through her contacts. "I'm probably going to fall asleep after I finish eating." she stated absent-mindedly as she texted someone. Or well, a few someone's. After a couple moments her phone started blowing up and she rolled her eyes slightly, pushing herself to her feet as she pressed her phone to her ear. "Hello?" she nearly tripped when Cake jumped down to follow after her as she walked to the kitchen. "Yeah for a couple days. My friend and I are going to a concert tomorrow but-. That's tomorrow." even though she had food in the living room she was still rooting around in the fridge. "Jackie's? Is it BYOB?" she pulled out a pudding cup and dug into it. "Okay we'll be there. Oh, do you have anything I could buy off you?" she pursed her lips, looking over at Evan. "Do you do anything but smoke?" she asked him, nudging Cake with her foot.

Evan: was about four bites left before he finished his burger and nodded along to what Andrea said. He swallowed and then said, "Let me fall asleep with you, reckon I could sleep for an entire day." He continued eating his fries while Andrea worked out what they were going to do tonight. A sort of courtroom show was currently on and as Evan payed attention he noticed how ruthless this judge was, she was quite terrifying. "Hm?" he tore his gaze from the screen to the direction of where Andrea was calling him from. "Oh." he thought about it for a moment, the only thing he's does is smoke but he did have E at some parties back in Oxford. He finally settled for, "I'll do whatever." A little fun never killed nobody.

Andrea nodded and turned back around to lean against the counter. "Just save me a dime bag and if you feel like bringing anything else we'll think about it. Yeah, thanks. It's 10 right? Alright, see you later. Bye." she walked back to the couch to plot next to Evan, kicking her feet up and grabbing her French fries so she could finish them. "Party later?" she sighed when Cake stared up at her, patting the couch next to her so he'd hop up and raising her food when he set his chin on her legs to stare at Evan.

Evan: finished his burger, throwing the wrapper back in the box and took a large sip from his drink. He had returned to watching the court show; apparently it was a theft case and something about child support. He thinks it's interesting. "Party sounds great." he agreed, looking back at her and then down at the dog on her legs who seems to be staring at him. Evan sighed and turned back to the TV, it was going on commercial break and her the judges name is Judy. "She's ruthless. I like her." he commented, talking about the show.

Andrea finished off her fries, yawning and setting her head on Evan's shoulder, which caused immediate growling from Cake. "Stop." she tapped his nose and he stopped, sort of. Darla jumped onto the couch then, plopping herself in Evan's lap as if it would neutralized the territory. "Judge Judy?" she snorted, looking up at him. "Yeah. That's why she's famous, I think."

Evan: looked down at Cake, mouthing a '​why​?'. He's never felt more disliked in his life. Evan smiled when Darla plopped herself on his lap, patting her head. "Hm, should become a judge and have my own show." he snorted, he wondered if these cases were even real or if it was all show business. He was about to ask but just as he opened his mouth a small yawn came out and mumbled instead an, "I'm sleepy."

Andrea snorted quietly, rolling her eyes slightly. "Mm. Then you'd have to go back to law school." she glanced up at him when he yawned, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Want to take a nap? They always start barking when someone pulls into the driveway." she sat up and pushed herself to her feet, telling Cake to go lay down and waiting until he'd gone to sit on his bed in the corner before motioning for Evan to follow her back to her room. She didn't bother to turn the light on upon entering, since they were about to sleep. "We don't have a guest room but we can just pretend you're using the blow-up mattress." she moved her duffel bag off the bed and sighed when Darla jumped onto the bed. She gathered the small dog into her arms and plopped onto the mattress, yawning and holding Darla to her chest.

Evan: wrinkled his nose, disliking the idea, "Nevermind that then." Though he isn't going to lie, Law school wasn't as bad as he makes it sound sometimes. He had learned a lot those two years, all he needed was two more to take the bar exam and he'd be good to go, well not exactly but enough to work at his dad's law firm and he had met some rather great people there. Some. "Yes please." he nodded when Andrea suggested a nap, standing up when Darla hopped off him and following Andrea to her room. He looked around, looking at the pictures on her wall and the fairy lights. It's cozy. "Your parents wont check?" he asked, speaking about the blow-up mattress but shrugging because it's not like they're going to do anything. He dropped his bag and joined Andrea in bed, plopping next to her and Darla, "What time do your parents come home?"

Andrea snorted, scrunching her nose up and shaking her head. "No, they don't really care." she thinks they're just glad that she's not bringing some girl home. Ever since... ​that​ whole debacle her dad had been suspicious of every single girl friend she'd ever had. But she'd really rather not talk about it. "My mom doesn't get back until 5 and my dad gets back around 7." she muttered, letting go of Darla when she started squirming so she could curl up against Evan. "Not fair..." she pouted, but shut her eyes anyways.

Evan: shrugged, if they didn't care then alright. His own parents were the same, they trusted Evan but then again he had only ever really brought Tabitha to his house and anyone else well, they didn't come and sleep over as often as her and besides they were together. Course that was more reason to keep them separated but his mother doesn't believe in that. "Oh, okay." he mumbled and grinned when Darla came over to him, he scratched her ears and hummed, "don't get jealous, Wylie." It was a bit of tight fit but he closed his eyes soon after Andrea.

Andrea "Too late." she giggled quietly, shutting her eyes and humming as she curled up. She didn't even dream and she felt kind of weird when she woke up to the dogs barking because it felt like she hadn't slept at all. Then she'd made dinner because she didn't trust her mom at the stove and she'd made spaghetti and garlic bread because her and Evan were going to need lots of carbs if they wanted to go hard. Her dad walked through the door in the middle of her making dinner and her siblings bugging Evan to play Mario Kart on the Wii with them. And it seemed like Evan fit right in, because of course her siblings liked anyone that gave them candy, her mom was just glad that Andrea had friends, and her dad was just glad she'd brought a boy home with her. It was an overall easy and bearable experience, even when her mom started trying to tell Evan about all of her embarrassing childhood stories, which... were a lot of them.

Evan: had fallen asleep about ten minutes after Andrea, trying to get comfortable and what not. He had woken with Darla wiggling out of his grasp because apparently he was cuddling the dog and he felt a little drowsy and still tired but not enough to fall back asleep and besides, he had Andrea's family to meet. He thinks it's going pretty well, he quite likes her siblings and her mother is quite nice and he made sure to be his proper polite English boy that he is and what his mother raised him to be. He had been lowkey scared to meet her dad because well, it's ​her dad​ and he's some boy she met in college but it wasn't bad at all. Firm handshake and all he answered questions easily and laughed when her mom started telling him embarrassing stories about her, he's gonna make sure to remember these and tease her about them later. He played Mario Kart with Kevin and Mads and got his ass beat multiple times. So far so good.

Andrea remained quiet as she passed everyone plates of food, just listening to her mom talk to Evan and watching her dad coddle Kevin because he was obviously the favorite since he was the only boy of the family. "We're going out later." she stated easily once she was done with her second serving of her food. Her dad made a disgruntled noise, but her mom agreed easily; "Do you have a DD?" Andrea shrugged. "Jackie's isn't too far away. Worst comes to worst we'll walk back or crash at hers." Her dad didn't comment, just continued to eat his food and watch Kevin talk about whatever it was four year olds talk about. "Okay. Well stay safe, Andy. Keep an eye on her for me?" Helen gave Evan a thin smile, and Andrea rolled her eyes slightly. Evan didn't need to know Andrea's habit of disappearing for days at a time after going out, because she wasn't about to disappear on him when they had their concert tomorrow. And mostly because Evan was coming with her.

[shIT i lost some replies okay but p much evan just agrees to look after andrea and andrea goes to get changed]

Evan: pushed himself to his feet when Andrea came back out of her room. He had previously stood to put his plate where it belongs and returned to talk to Maddie or more like answer more questions and this time ask his own: favorite color, game, movie, Disney character. It went back and forth until Andrea came back out. He said bye to Maddie and Kevin and her parents seemed busy so he just remained quiet. He had wondered whether he should have changed shirts but looked down at himself and was okay. Black jeans, white shirt, his black jacket, basically ninety percent black clothing. "Right. Where are we going?" he asked once they were outside.

Andrea unlocked her truck, climbing into the drivers side and hauling herself in. "My friend Jackie's. And we're meeting my friend there because he's got a dime bag with my name on it. And maybe other stuff. I don't know if you're into that." she turned on her headlights and backed out of the driveway, turning the radio up a little. "It's technically 'bring your own beer' but I lost my fake ID forever ago, so." she shrugged. It's not like it mattered; somehow there was always an endless supply of alcohol at these things, and she didn't really know how but she wasn't going to complain.

Evan: climbed into his own seat, shutting the door behind him and reached for his seat belt. "Alright. Define other stuff." he hummed, settling into his seat and pulling his phone out to make sure he has enough battery just in case. It was at seventy-seven percent and figured that was enough, it's not like he's going to use it anyway. "That's something I'm never going to understand, why the hell do you have to wait till twenty-one?" it was rhetorical, he knew a little bit about American politics and "morals" but still. He was buying his own booze at sixteen if he had his cousin with him. "Do you think I could buy some if they knew I was British?" he snorted, probably not though.

Andrea chewed at her lip, shrugging her shoulders. "He usually brings a lot of Molly. Scotty brings other more like, hardcore things sometimes but he almost got caught once so he usually saves it for after-parties." she stated easily, glancing in her rear-view mirror. "Don't know if you'd be into coke and stuff like that. Try everything once is my motto, but I also give really shit advice, so." she clicked her tongue once, turning onto a side-street and driving up the hill to the lone house at the top, parking a little ways down the hill so her truck wouldn't be scrunched up with the rest of the cars. She parked and hopped out of the car, flipping her hair over her shoulders and running her fingers through it; the party was already in swing - the house vibrating with music and the lights dim. She could hear people that were probably in the pool in the backyard - shit, she forgot Jackie had a pool. Oh well. "Ready?" she asked, already walking up the driveway regardless.

Evan: hummed, also shrugging, "Alright. Might as well try a little bit of everything because why the hell not?" It wasn't going to kill him to go with the harder stuff for one night. That was it, one night and Evan probably wouldn't know where to get more stuff like coke back home. Or actually, he personally wouldn't know but he's sure his dealer could refer him to someone who does. It doesn't matter anyway, he knows he can control himself. He can handle his weed and liquor, who's to say he can't handle anything else? He hopped out of the car upon arrival, closing the door behind him and made his way next to Andrea to look up at the house and how long has it been since he's gone to a house party? Anyways, it should be fun. "Yep." he said, shoving his hands in his pockets to follow her in.

Andrea hummed, raising her eyebrows at him. "As long as I don't have to carry you home." although, if she did she totally would. Or get someone to carry him home for her, at least. She gave a thin smile to the people lurking in the front yard, going straight to the front door and pushing it open, holding it for Evan before stepping further inside. "Andy!" she looked around for the source of the voice, but then ​everyone​ was saying her name and she just stood there a little flabbergasted for a minute before; "Aye!" A couple people came over to give her a hug, but otherwise the rest just whooped and went back to partying, and she directed everyone who came up to her to Evan, introducing him. "Have you seen Scotty and DJ?" she asked a girl who had come up to her with purple hair, and the girl nodded and pointed to the back door. "Thanks." she grabbed Evan's hand and pulled him through the crowd in the living room, ignoring the game of flip-cup going on in the kitchen and stepping outside to where everyone was either swimming or smoking. "DJ!" she let go of Evan's hand to run up to a male with a blunt between his fingers and a snapback on his head. He choked on the smoke before passing the blunt so he could meet Andrea halfway, enveloping her in a hug. The first couple sentences of their interaction were them both trying to talk over each other, and then Andrea was motioning to Evan. "DJ, this is Evan. Evan, this is DJ. That's Scotty over there. Gemma, Benji, Leslie, and Mo." she pointed to everyone in the circle as she named them off - Evan probably wouldn't even remember everyone's names, but at least she told them to him once.

Evan: didn't know what he was expecting once they stepped in through the doors but it probably wasn't a mass of people greeting Andrea. Then again, it wasn't completely unexpected either considering these are people she knows and probably hasn't seen a while do to school overseas. He did well to take a step back and look around and the different people and overall different setting. Then he was getting introduced to people followed up by getting dragged outside and everything was in full swing. He's definitely going to stay away from the pool, he doesn't fancy a late night dip right now what with people throwing others in. "Hm?" he looked down at Andrea and then up at the DJ guy, greeting him with a nod and then turning to everyone else that Andrea named only he doesn't know if he's going to actually remember all these names but did his best to greet everyone and hopes he doesn’t forget names. He kinda wants a drink now seeing all these cups and maybe a smoke and he could have started off with a cigarette but he doesn't have neither his pack or lighter on him and it's itching at him. He's going to have Andrea drive him to a gas station or something because three days without one is going to drive him into a frenzy.

Andrea pulled a ten dollar bill out of her top, passing it over to DJ and humming happily as he passed her a dime bag. "Thank you." she cringed as he ruffled her hair, and she reached up cautiously to try and fix it. "You're the worst." she groaned as he laughed at her. But he kept looking at Evan and - it could've just been a curiosity thing but ​it didn't seem like it​. "I'm going inside, you jerk. See you later." again she grabbed Evan's hand, tugging him inside and maneuvering around the people playing flip-cup on the breakfast table to get to the drinks. She popped open the cooler, pulling out a Mango-rita and cracking it open. "What do you wanna do?" she questioned around the rim of her can, rolling her eyes at the over-flowing trash and opening one of the cabinets, tugging out a trashbag as she sipped away at her drink.

Evan: should have given Andrea at least half for the dime bag but the only thing in his wallet was a couple of pound notes and his cards, both useless. He looked back up because he felt someone looking at him and it wasn't Andrea because she was talking but it was DJ. First he thought it was simple 'who are you' type of look but it really wasn't. It caused a small smirk to tug the corner of his lips and he subtly gave him a once-over and he is pretty attractive and maybe he should strike up a conversation but then Andrea was once again tugging him away which okay. He leaned against the counter and shrugged, he didn't know what he wanted to do. Okay not true, he wants a drink but nothing is really catching his eye or interest. "How about a smoke?" he suggested, they can do anything else from there.

Andrea sighed. "Fuck, I left my pipe at home. Sorry, come on." she stepped back around the table to go outside again, kicking Scotty in the leg and asking if he had a pipe on him. He pointed to the backpack sitting on one of the lawn chairs before passing the blunt to Andrea. She blinked and took a drag of it before passing it on and going to grab the pipe from his backpack. She made herself busy with packing it, rooting around for the lighter before lighting it up and stepping back into the circle on the right of Evan. She took a deep drag before passing it over to Evan - maybe drinking and smoking at the exact same time wasn't the smartest idea but she's done worse.

Evan: snorted. "I left mine overseas." he replied, the little Mario mushroom one that Chloe gave him was tucked away behind The Odyssey where he stashes most of his things now. He sighed at the thought of the raven haired girl while he followed Andrea back outside, he did his best to push her out of his mind, having no idea why he's beginning to think a lot about her anyway. He stopped next to Andrea's friends while she fixed up the pipe for them. He listened in on the conversation for a bit until Andrea passed him the pipe which he gladly took with a, "Thanks, Wylie." he pried the lighter from her fingers to light himself up, flicking it twice and took a long drag. He blew out the smoke upwards after holding it in a bit and passed it back to Andrea.

Andrea quickly took the pipe back so she wouldn't have to light it back up, taking another drag from it. "So, Evan. You know Andy from school, yeah?" DJ was the first to break the content yet mildly awkward silence of the group. Then Scotty joined in. "You know, we used to call her Aphrodisiac Andy, on account of-" DJ elbowed him in the side. Andrea pretended to ignore them, taking another pull from the pipe. "On account of nothing. Don't mind him. What's your major?" DJ averted the conversation back to Evan.

Evan: glanced over at DJ and nodded, "Yeah, forgot how it happened but it was at school." He honestly can't really remember the first conversation he had with Andrea, they probably exchanged majors and what not but then again he's always felt he's know Andrea longer than that. "Uh, what?" he chuckled, looking over at Andrea who wasn't looking at him because ​aphrodisiac​? What? "Classics." he answered almost instantly, it's such a common question that every time he hears the word 'major' as a question his own is at the tip of his tongue, "What about you then?"

Andrea shrugged her shoulders, choosing not to respond because she ​refused​ to talk about her false promiscuity right now when she just wanted to have a good time. "No idea what that is, but it sounds impressive." Benji joined the conversation; DJ seemed mildly annoyed by this. "Business, and minoring in international affairs." he responded, crossing the circle to settle between Andrea and Evan. Andrea whined but otherwise didn't protest, passing the pipe to DJ, who passed the pipe to Evan. "I don't know what classics is either, explain it to me?" his body was directed at Evan, completely shielding short little Andrea and she huffed in irritation, chugging the rest of her drink and going over to where Mo was putting together another blunt.

Evan: chuckled, shaking his head a little, "It's not really as impressive as it sounds." For starters, no one really cared about Classics anymore, the size of the classes are extremely low - which is a good thing - but also rather misleading as though the class is useless or something which it really isn't. "Aiming to be a proper business man then?" he raised his eyebrows when DJ cut in between him and Andrea, smiling a little, he didn't mind this at all. He took the pipe from DJ, fiddling with it, "Well it's basically the study of ancient civilizations, more specifically Greece and Rome." He brought the pipe up to his lips for a drag and continued, "it's just a lot of reading and analyzing and translating text. Which come to think of it, is exactly like law school only the payroll is different."

Andrea stared at them, but DJ was blatantly ignoring her and she's pretty sure Evan was too; how rude of them. "Yes. My goal in life is to own a paper company like Dunder Mifflin and have a secretary like Pam." and DJ ​would​ be referencing The Office. "That sounds really interesting, though. Do you have to be a major to take those classes or can you just take 'em because they're interesting?" he asked, and Andrea wondered if he was genuinely interested or if he was just saying it because he thought Evan was cute. She took the blunt, turning to listen to the conversation Benji and Leslie were having because ​apparently​ DJ and Evan were fine without her.

Evan: laughed, setting the pipe down next to him, maybe he should just pass it on to Andrea but he didn't think. "Are you gonna hire Jim and Dwight too?" he hummed, shrugging off his jacket to set it down also. "Major or minor, it's one or the other, at least at Austens it is." he doesn't know whether it's offered as just regular class but figures no because of the course work. He rubbed the back of his neck, he should probably go talk to Andrea but she's speaking with the others and he's quite comfortable here really, even if he has nothing much to say.

Andrea decided doing her own thing was best, but after a couple minutes she stood. "I'm gonna go play flip cup." she rested her hand on Evan's shoulder as she passed by him, but didn't bother him otherwise. "Makes sense, makes sense. Did you get a drink? Do you drink? Doesn't everyone in Britain drink?" DJ wrapped an arm around Evan's shoulders, guiding him away from the group so they could get a drink inside. "I bet every single girl here would be on their knees for you if they heard your accent." he commented, tugging the refrigerator open and grabbing a beer from inside, his arm slipping from Evan's shoulders. "What's your drink of choice?" he popped open the can and took a sip, motioning vaguely to the selection of alcohol inside.

Evan: glanced at Andrea when she passed by him, giving her a smile as an "okay" and he'd be one to follow after her but by then DJ had his arm wrapped around his shoulders guiding him inside. "No, yes, and probably not." he answered and then almost choked on nothing because of girl comment the other male made. Almost. Instead he hummed, lightly saying, "Just girls?" Not that he was implying anything, just letting it out there, a thought. He looked inside the fridge, reaching in for a beer too, "One of these is just fine." He opened the can and took his own sip, leaning against the counter and after a moment he asked, "Reckon we should go wherever Andrea is?"

DJ shook his head easily. "Nah, not just the girls." he raised his eyebrows at Evan playfully, glancing over to where Andrea was busy chugging a beer in her game of flip-cup. "She gets really competitive. So unless you want her to growl at you, no." he leaned back on the counter, eyeing Evan curiously over the tip of his can of beer. He tapped his fingers against the edge. The only thing they really had in common was Andrea, and he didn't really want to bring her up when he was trying to flirt.

Evan: "Hm, nice to know." he replied, grinning a little. He took another sip of his beer and followed DJ's gaze, blue eyes settling on Andrea who looked pretty into her game. "Guess not then." he agreed, he'd rather not get tangled with Andrea right now if she'll chew his head off. It was just him and DJ then and he looked back at him only to see that he was already looking at him. "So does DJ stand for anything or?" he asked, he was quite curious about it. He was quite curious about a lot of things, one of them being what he meant about not just girls and the other what it would be like to kiss him. And Evan hasn't kissed a pretty boy ​in ages​, it's all been girls and frankly, girls are driving him a little mad right now.

DJ "Dungeon Master Jocosa." he stated with a completely straight face, but then he smiled. "No, it's Devin. Junior. My dad is Devin." he looked down at his can of beer, fingers still tapping against the sides to the beat of the music playing. "I don't remember my parents ever actually calling me Devin. They might as well have just named me DJ, honestly." he laughed, rolling his eyes slightly. He tugged his snapback off his head to run his fingers through his hair before setting it back on backwards again.

Evan: raised an eyebrow, beer halfway up to his lips and laughed because that was definitely not his name. "Devin Junior." he repeated, he's kind of a junior too only difference is that his parents are downright posh and decided to call him Evan Michalis Demetriou ​the Second​. It's completely embarrassing and he'd rather not have anyone know. "It's a nice name, fits you." he shrugged, finally drinking more of his beer. He set his can down and pulled his lip ring back between his teeth, he looked about the kitchen and back at DJ, "So, Dungeon Master Jocosa, what else do you do at parties apart from making small talk in the kitchen?"

DJ flushed slightly, shrugging his shoulders and scratching at the back of his neck. "Thanks." he finished off his beer, setting it aside once it was empty and debating on grabbing another one - no, he was already feeling pretty lightheaded and cross-faded. "Oh god, that was a bad joke, don't repeat it." he laughed, running a hand over his face. "Oh, you know. Own beer pong, smoke a thing or two, kiss a guy or girl now and then..." he glanced up at Evan innocently, even though the ​last ​thing on his mind was doing something ​innocent​ to the blonde in front of him.

Evan: just nodded in return, a smile appearing on his face when DJ looked flushed. He's cute. "Hey, you said not me." he snickered, honestly that would probably be his contact name if Evan ever got his number. But this is probably the only time he's ever going to see him and they don't even know each other's last names. "All sounds pretty fun," he pushed himself off the counter and at the mention of kissing his gaze simmered down to DJ's lips for a brief moment before looking back up again. He licked his own lips and said, "Planning on kissing anyone tonight?"

DJ sighed in exasperation. "I know I said it. It doesn't mean it wasn't bad." he laughed, looking down at his feet in embarrassment. He swallowed thickly when Evan pushed himself from the counter, and ​oh man​. When's the last time he put on chapstick? The beer didn't do anything to cure his cotton-mouth from smoking. It's too late now - he's kissed people in a worse state than this. "Yeah, he's got these gorgeous eyes and this British accent..." and he's sure he meant to say something more clever, but all he can think about is kissing Evan so he closed the space between them, hesitant at first but then getting more confident.

Evan: "It was terrible, completely awful." he teased, a playful smile on his face. He stepped a little bit closer to him, and it's gonna happen. Definitely going to happen and Evan didn't come to this party expecting to kiss someone much less one of Andrea's good friends but he's so ​fucking attractive​ and he wouldn't mind if this went a little farther than just a kiss. But baby steps. "Oh shut up." he mumbled, a small laugh wanting to come out but replaced by a light blush which he'll blame the beer for. And ​finally​. Evan kissed him back, slowly at first, going at DJ's pace and his lips felt different, firm yet soft and he tasted of alcohol and smoke and he deepened the kiss.

DJ hummed into Evan's lips, a small smile tugging at his lips. This was ​way​ too public for where his brain was going, and he pulled away when the sounds of cheers and groans assaulted his ears from the flip-cup game going at the table. He grabbed Evan's wrist, walking backwards as he tugged him out of the kitchen and through the living room to the stairs. "Hope you don't mind if we make this more private?" he leaned in to talk into Evan's ear, since the music was louder here and he probably wouldn't have been able to hear otherwise, but also because he was trying to be sexy. Meanwhile at the flip-cup table, Andrea couldn't focus on her victory because ​was Evan seriously kissing DJ?​ She excused herself from the table but didn't go after them, just grabbed herself another drink even though she was wobbling already because she didn't know what to do with this information yet. So Evan was ​not​ straight. That's fine. She just didn't know. And she's kind of... jealous. Maybe ​really​ jealous that he's comfortable enough to just make-out with a guy he just met here at a party and - "Andrea?" she shut her eyes, running a hand through her hair before turning to face the source of the voice - Hayden. "What?"

Evan: , without hesitation, let DJ lead him out of the kitchen all the way to the staircase. It didn't take a genius to know where this was going and maybe he should think about it because what if Andrea looks for him? But he ​isn't​ thinking and Evan is buzzing. He shook his head, smiling easily, "Wouldn't be following you if I did." The rest went by fast; they found an empty room after two tries and once inside he doesn't know who pushed who against the door because at one point it was DJ's back to the door and the other it was him. The kiss had slowly and then rapidly progressed to something messy that both were stumbling to reach the bed; Evan on top, kissing him hard and nipped at his lips. He had felt hands trailing up his thin white shirt and alright that's happening and he was gonna pull back to go to his neck when -- "Hey, DJ, do you have some more --oh." ​Shit​. Both boys turned their heads to the door where DJ's friend, uh, Scotty he thinks, was standing at the door looking very much too amused for Evan's liking. He pulled his body up, tugging down the shirt and sat on the edge of the bed. "Ever heard of knocking?" Evan looked over at DJ who had an arm over his face before pushing himself up to glare lightly at his friend. "Right, sorry, saw you walk in here didn't think you were -- yanno, doing things." he looked like he was going to burst out laughing any second and Evan couldn't help but to snort, saying, "Door's closed for a reason, mate." They probably should have locked it if they were going to get anywhere. "Anyways, we ran out of dope in the bathroom, do you have any more on you or?" Scotty was doing some sort of hand motion and DJ sighed, nodding and sat up too. DJ had given him an apologetic look and then asked Evan if he was okay with...this. Which Evan had replied that it was because why wouldn't he be? So they both walked out of the room, leaving it vacant for some other people who hopefully remember to lock the door. He followed him to grab his stash of what he thought would be weed but it wasn't. It was coke and he doesn't know why he thought people would be doing weed in the bathroom out of all places and well it made sense. "Have you ever tried it before?" asked DJ, glancing over at him at him while he set up four lines on the counter when they went back into the bathroom, Scotty was in there with another guy and girl. "No, I haven't." he replied and he was actually a bit curious at what it felt like and DJ could probably see that on his face because, "do you want to try it?" Evan had then licked his lips, he's sure his sixteen year old self made a vow to never do coke but his twenty year old self thinks there's no harm in trying it so after a pause he nodded. "Yeah, alright I'll have a go." DJ grinned and motioned Evan to come closer, the other three paid no mind to them as the green-eyed boy instructed him on what to do. Five minutes later, Evan had leaned over the counter, a piece of rolled up paper in his fingers while he aligned it with a line doing exactly what DJ told him and moved it upwards, plugging one nostril and snorting through the other and it ​stung​ but he kept going anyway.

Andrea "I didn't know you would be here." Hayden stated, and Andrea turned away from him, trying to ignore him and go outside to go back to her friends but the blonde just decided that it'd be a good idea to follow her. "Look, can I talk to you?" he sighed, and Andrea turned around on her heel. "It seems like you are anyways." she walked back to the smallish duo that now only made up of Benji and Leslie, and they both looked at each other with wide eyes. "Come on, don't be like that, Andy." he reached out to her and she immediately smacked his hand away. "I'll be however I want to be. Can you leave me alone?" Hayden just stared at her for a moment, and Andrea stared back, then Benji and Leslie stood up to grab Andrea and take her back inside. It hadn't looked like it, but Andrea was shaking, and she couldn't stop until they were lost in the throng of people crowded on the dance floor. "It's okay! Let's just dance! Just forget about it!" Benji rested his hands on her cheeks, looking into her eyes to make sure she was okay, and she just nodded and started bopping along to the music. Leslie whispered something into Benji's ear, and he nodded before she left through the crowd to disappear upstairs. Benji grabbed Andrea's hands, making her move to the music and after a bit she laughed weakly and started dancing on her own. Right; just forget about it - she didn't owe Hayden anything.

Evan: that one small line of coke had turned into three. The coke usually takes in about ten minutes or less to kick in and it's more of an energy boost if anything, at least that's what Scotty said as he took his own line. Of course probably not for Evan since this is the first time and it was go big or go home wasn't it? He's overseas, in California, a thousand miles from home. It should be more of a trip for him and three's the charm. His nose was only slightly stinging now, it had felt cold before almost as though it was burning but it simmered down thankfully. "Here, put some on your gums." DJ offered him the baggie to put his finger in and he did, powdering up his finger before putting it in his mouth. He didn't know what it was for but DJ seems to know what he's doing. "Ready to go back down?" he asked and Evan nodded, yeah he seems about ready, already feeling warm and a bit jumpy, as though he could do just about anything right now. So they headed back downstairs and the first thing Evan did was look for Andrea, he doesn't know if DJ is following him or not but he just wants to find his friend and maybe do a line with her too, if she wants. Finally spotting her in the dancing crowd he beamed, calling her out and oh, his mouth feels numb and it made him giggle a little because it feels really funny, not being able to feel his mouth.

Andrea had been dancing with Benji for maybe ten minutes or more when the curly-haired boy handed her a pill. "Molly?" she asked curiously, tossing it back dry before he could even answer, but she was glad he nodded anyways. She wondered what time it was, but didn't bother to check, bobbing along to the music and dancing with anyone that came up to her. It hadn't quite kicked in yet by the time she heard Evan call out to her, and she stopped to look around for him, meeting him halfway and - "Whoa. You look high as fuck right now." she giggled, reaching up to fix a stray hair on his head and observing the way his pupils dilated so that the blue ring around them was dwarfed. "Do you need some water?" she asked.

Evan: shook his head, he ​should​ drink water to get rid of the foul taste in his mouth but he wasn't thirsty. "What have you been doing?" he asked, swaying a little to the music, he could feel the rush really start kicking in and he didn't know what to do with this new found energy. It was as though the jetlag he had felt earlier and his tiresome self had completely vanished. He'll probably crash like hell tomorrow but frankly he didn't give a fuck right now. He was with Andrea at some party, he made out with a really good looking guy which -- "Where'd DJ go?" he looked around before looking back down at Andrea, "take a line with me?"

Andrea raised an eyebrow, making a mental note to get Evan some water in a bit even if he didn't want any. If she even remembered later. "Flip-cup. This." she shrugged, swaying with him to the music. She could feel the ecstasy then; or well, the most obvious affect of it at least, glancing around the room for DJ. "Over there talking to Leslie." she pointed to where they were talking by the staircase, but it looked like a rather serious conversation. She shook her head. "Nah. I already took some E." she shut her eyes; and well she did, but she didn't think Evan needed any more coke. He already looked like he was going to trip out.

Evan: nodded along, "Sounds fun." He looked over his shoulder to where Andrea pointed, running a hand through his hair and shrugged, maybe later then, he looked pretty busy. "Did you?" he asked, he wondered whether he should ask Andrea for some. Would she give it to him? Is it a good idea to take E after he took coke? That could cause a major problem, perhaps. Evan doesn't know. Asking wouldn't hurt right? "Do you think it's a good idea to take some E after three lines?" he asked casually, definitely not thinking of the side effects but more of the ​actual​ effect it would have on him ​right now​.

Andrea hummed, turning around to dance against him. She gave a startled laugh. "No, it's definitely not a good idea." she stated, pulling her hair over her shoulders. Everything felt so good - she could feel the vibrations of the bass in her bones and her hair sliding across the back of her neck was tickling her. "Three lines? You're going to feel wonderful in the morning." she knew she was going to feel like shit too, with how much alcohol she's been drinking and how little water she's been consuming.

Evan: sighed, he figured it wasn't. He'd probably scold himself for even thinking about the next day, if he even remembered that is. "Please don't remind me." groaned Evan, not wanting to think about the next day. He's defiantly going to have a pounding headache, maybe throw up depending how the coke effects him afterwards. "Hm, I want to eat something spicy." he said, not really thinking about it. His mouth was still a bit numb, but not so bad as before.

Andrea snorted quietly, still moving to the music. She didn't protest as someone pulled her aside to dance with her, and she turned her back to him to grind into him. She doesn't remember his name but she recognizes him from one of her science classes - chemistry? She was still looking at Evan as she danced. "Wanna ask Leslie if her and Benji can go get you something? I don't think she's on anything." she was a little breathless on account of the guy's hands slipping under the fabric of her shirt.

Evan: shook his head, waving her off, completely ignoring the fact that she's dancing with someone, "Nah, I'm good." He looked around again, he thinks he could use some water and Andrea seems pretty preoccupied and he knows where the kitchen is, he might as well go find a water bottle or two. "I'll be back." he informed, already pushing past people to head to the kitchen in search of water. After that, well they'll do whatever after.

Andrea hummed. "If you're sure." she turned towards the guy she was dancing with when Evan walked away, and then the next thing she knew she was being sandwiched. She just continued to dance, because the friction felt good and so did their hands on her, not really paying much mind to either of them with her eyes shut. But then she wasn't sandwiched anymore and she turned curiously to see Hayden being shoved away from her by Benji and DJ. She kept bobbing to the music, but much less enthusiastically because the whole scene was making her anxious. And then she was being tugged away by Scotty and- "Where's Evan? We're leaving." Andrea sputtered slightly and shrugged, and Scotty sighed before guiding her to where Leslie and Mo were waiting by the front door. "I'll go find him. Stay with them." then he left, and Andrea had no choice but to follow her two friends outside. She must've seemed a little shaken, because Leslie started playing with her hair and Andrea hummed a little, resting her head on her friends' shoulder and leaning on her. "Better?" she asked quietly, and Andrea nodded.

Evan: had a little trouble finding cold water because for starters the whole fridge was packed with beers and sodas and he had been looking around for a room temperature one and it took him at least five minutes to find a bottle. It had been all the way in the back of the fridge and maybe someone hid it there but there really weren't many people in the kitchen and no one was stopping him so he shrugged to himself and uncapped it to take a long sip. Course he then got distracted because two girls came up to him to talk and flirt because that was so incredibly obvious with touching his arm and giving him ​that look​. He indulged them for a while until he spotted Scotty walk in and go directly towards him. "Gotta go." he said, motioning for Evan to follow and oh, alright. He said his byes to the girls who looked pretty annoyed and he couldn't help but grinned as he followed Scotty to the living room and he thought he meant 'gotta go' as chill with the group but they went all the way outside and Andrea had her head on her friend's shoulder looking a little...off. "What happened?" was the first thing he asked, raising quizzical brow.

Andrea hummed as she waited for Scotty to come back with Evan, and once they were both there Leslie unlocked her Jeep so they could all climb in. Mo took shotgun, leaving Scotty, Andrea, and Evan to sit in the back. Leslie was about to answer Evan's question, but Andrea cut her off before she could even start. "Just people causing trouble. Are DJ and Benji meeting us?" she asked, trying to change the subject because she didn't want to talk about Hayden. Scotty sighed and nodded. "Yeah. Turn some music on, Les." without further preamble Leslie turned the radio up, and Andrea was swaying in her seat, humming along and running her fingers up and down Evan's arm. The "trap house" wasn't too far from Jackie's, but it most certainly wasn't as posh or even remotely as neat. They all piled out of the car, and Andrea skipped inside after Scotty. "Bong? Let's play spin the bottle!" she gasped, having already seemed to have forgotten why they'd left the party. The house was a mess, with empty beer bottles on the coffee table and a bong and weed sitting out on the dining room table. There were empty boxes from alcohol packages everywhere, but everyone seemed to be right at home regardless.

Evan: was fortunate enough not to get the middle seat as he climbed into the car after Andrea. He had leaned in to listen to whatever it was Leslie was going to say happened but then Andrea basically interrupted the conversation which, alright, he raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything. He could always ask later but he knows he isn't, he'll have Andrea tell him when she wants. He didn't know where they were going but he didn't mind, instead he drummed his fingers on his knee, leaning a little into Andrea's touch, it felt nice. "Spin the bottle." he repeated, they were already here and Evan only three paces behind her. House was in a right state, reminded him of his friend's apartment back in Oxford-shire, the only difference was that the beer bottles were cheap bottles of wine from the closest shop in town. It made him a tad nostalgic but he quickly shook that away, following after Andrea.

Andrea tugged her phone out of her bra, looking at the time before tossing it on the couch. She grabbed the empty bottles of beer - but left one - to throw them in the trash and grabbed the bong from the table and looking into it. Leslie and Mo turned on the small TV in the living room as Andrea repacked the bowl on the bong and filled with ice and a little water. "You really want to play spin-the-bottle?" Scotty groaned, plopping onto the floor despite the fact that he was groaning. "We don't have to. I just wanna do something." she pouted at him, and she continued to until he sighed and set the bottle on it's side, spinning it. "Yaaay!" Scotty was just leaning over to kiss Leslie - who it'd landed on - when DJ and Benji walked in. "Oh, god. Did you give Andy E again?" DJ had no other reaction than to plop himself into the little circle now forming around the coffee table. Andrea sat down then too, bong in her lap, and she grabbed the lighter from DJ's pocket and light it up, taking a drag before passing it to the left.

Evan: took a seat on the floor next to Andrea, pulling his knees up to his chest so he could rest his elbows on them. He hasn't played spin-the-bottle since secondary school he thinks. Rules are probably still the same, spin it and kiss the person it lands on, easy enough. He laughed a little when Scotty groaned but still sat down with them. Evan leaned back against the couch, watching Andrea's and Scotty's exchange and then pulled his own phone out to check for any messages to which he had two; one from his cousin who asked him why he didn't take him with him to Cali and lastly his mother. Way below them was Chloe's name and for a moment he wondered whether he should text her something, anything, she's probably up right now. But then DJ and the other guy, uh, Benji walked in and he decided to lock his phone and pocket it, he'll text her tomorrow. For now he's going to play this game and wonder what person fate has in store for him to kiss.

Andrea watched the TV as she waited for it to be her turn - she didn't like playing spin-the-bottle to make things awkward or because she was a pervert and liked to watch people or anything. She just liked playing it because it was easy and - as long as you didn't have some kind of anxiety - it was kind of relaxing, especially when she was high. When it was finally her turn she chewed at her lip and spun the bottle, rolling her eyes slightly when it landed on DJ because ​been there done that​. "Oh, don't be that way, Andy. I know you like me." he laughed at the disgruntled look on her face, and she leaned in to give him a brief kiss to his lips, pulling away and licking her lips. "Ugh, is that your LSD chapstick? What are you trying to do?" she wiped it off with her hand, kicking him as he laughed and reached over to the bottle and take his turn. The bong was placed back on the coffee table so she just grabbed it again so she could take another hit.

Evan: thought it was pretty funny how they're basically a small circle playing a game that involves kissing each other. Not that he minds so much, he just thinks it's funny how they're all probably going to end up kissing each other in like an hour or so. He chuckled at the look Andrea got when she had to kiss DJ and then it was DJ's turn who landed on Leslie and then it was her turn which landed on him. With a shrug and small laugh he leaned over to quickly kiss the girl he's only exchanged a word or two with the entire night. It was his turn now and he spun the bottle, settling back to wait and see who it lands on only it ended up facing him, well not ​him​ but to the person on his left; Andrea. "Wylie." he said, an amused smile appearing on his face, suddenly remembering the last time the two of them exchanged a kiss in his old dorm.

Andrea hummed and snapped out of her thoughts, setting the bong aside and not protesting when DJ reached for it and grabbed the lighter from her as well. She looked at Evan, then down at the bottle, and whelp. It's not like it's never happened before. "​Demetriou​." she teased lightheartedly, planting a hand on his thigh so she could push herself up to connect their lips together. And she's going to blame her reluctance to pull away on the drugs, because she doesn't think she likes Evan like ​that​ but kissing him sure is nice.

Evan: shook his head slightly, grinning and pushed his hair back before tilting his head to the side to be able to properly kiss her. It wasn't quick like the others which was fine by him, it's ​Andrea​ and he isn't going to deny the fact that she's a very good kisser even if she's high as hell right now. Then again, he's also high so it works out. He thinks he should pull back now, definitely and he did, well tried, few inches away from each other and he kinda laughed because, "Don't think they want a free show."

Andrea pouted when Evan pulled away, chasing after him slightly before scrunching her nose up. "They don't care." and honestly, it really didn't seem like they did. The game just continued on without them - with Benji kissing Leslie and Andrea can't help but think ​thank god​ because she knows Benji's been waiting for that for forever. Returning her gaze back to Evan she kissed him again, this time deepening it and her fingers digging into Evan's thigh.

Evan: raised his eyebrows but didn't make a move to pull away from how close Andrea was. And it's true, everyone else seemed preoccupied kissing or just doing whatever it is they're doing and now him and Andrea are in this little bubble of just the two of them. So when she kissed him again, he let her and after a brief moment he kissed her back, this time his hand reached up to cup her cheek and keep her in place.

Andrea's hand went over to grip Evan's on her cheek slightly, and she was about five seconds from climbing into his lap when she heard someone clear their throat. She pulled away to look at Scotty, feeling mildly annoyed. "Get a room, Andy." she couldn't tell if he was being serious or not, but regardless she stood to her feet, muttering a "fine" and pulling Evan with her, tugging him down the short hallway to the half-guest room and half- game room. There was a futon in the center of the room, with a big TV and multiple game consoles surrounding the base. Andrea didn't mind it, just shut the door behind them before turning to kiss Evan.... ​again​.

Evan: had no idea where this was coming from but he wasn't in his right state of mind to think about it or even care really. He just continued to kiss her, fingers spreading down her jaw to the side of her neck. When he heard the cough and the comment that came after it he couldn't help but to blush just slightly, he figured that was the end of that until Andrea was tugging at his arm and he found himself standing up to follow her down the hall. He took one glance around the room before blue-eyed girl was kissing him once again. This time though, instead of cupping her cheek both hands went to grab her waist to pull her just a little bit closer to him.

Andrea hummed quietly at the feeling of his hands on her waist; it was kind of fuzzy because she kept smoking but the ecstasy was still in her system. She pressed herself closer to him, hands going up so she could card her fingers through his hair. This is fine. She's completely fine with just this. But then she was practically grinding into him, a weak whimper escaping from her lips.

Evan: didn't know where this was going. Making out with Andrea when they're high off weed is one thing. They both know what they're doing but making out when one of them took ecstasy and the other coke and a couple hits either back there or here of pot is a ​whole​ other thing. Now her hands were in his hair, his own were gripping her waist and that small little whimper caused him to pull back just a little to mutter a, "​Shit​."and then kiss her again, this time pushing her back against the door.

Andrea panted quietly when he pulled away from her, and she thought he was about to stop things because well... despite the fact that she didn't want to stop she still knew it was pretty impractical. She didn't expect him to push her against the door and she gasped into his mouth, hands going down to his shoulders briefly to grip on as she kissed him back. It was probably sloppy but it was hard for her to concentrate when everywhere he was in contact with her was making her nerves light up. She ground her hips into his again, moaning quietly and fumbling to find the doorknob so she could lock it.

Evan: was the tiniest bit pleased when he heard Andrea gasp. He thinks they should stop, for only a moment because they were ​Evan and Andrea​ and they don't make out against closed doors. Or any doors at all. They don't kiss in general but his fingers are slipping up her blouse and his other hand is trailing down her thigh. Andrea grinding their hips together doesn't help matters as it causes him to groan against her mouth before biting down on her lower lip.

Andrea arched into Evan's touch, panting for breath as he bit at her bottom lip. She shrugged her shawl off her shoulders because Evan in her space was making her really warm, letting it drop to the floor as she pushed against his chest, trying to get him back to the mattress.

Evan: let Andrea lead him back to the mattress, making sure not to stumble over whatever mess was on the floor. The back of his knees hit the bed instantly. He sat on the edge of it, hand that was once rubbing her thigh had found it's place back on her waist.

Andrea followed after him, shuffling in her heels until Evan was sat on the bed. She climbed into his lap, slowly grinding her hips into his and her hands cupping his face. "Did you know you have the widest set of shoulders I've ever seen in my entire life." she rambled as she trailed kisses down his neck. "Like, honestly. They don't match with your skinny legs but you look so good anyways." she giggled into his skin.

Evan: 's hands slid down from Andrea's waist, making their way over her thighs while he tilted his head a bit to the side. His fingers had slipped under her skirt and -- what. "What?" he laughed under his breath because she's going on about his shoulders and oh, okay now his legs too. "Uh, thanks." he said but then, "wait, no, that's ​rude​. Why don't we talk about how ​you're​ so bloody ticklish, hm?" And with that last bit he held on to her waist again to pick her right up to flip them over and lay her down on the bed, smirking mischievously while he climbed over her. "Like here." he mumbled, one hand going slowly up her shirt, fingers trailing teasingly over her skin. Eyes glanced up at her face and he kinda really wants to kiss her again, so he did.

Andrea rested her forehead against Evan's collar, giggling quietly and then bursting out laughing as he called her rude but she'd just ​complimented him​, even if it was a little backhanded. She squealed as he grabbed her and flipped her onto her back, chewing back giggles unsuccessfully as his fingertips teased at her skin. "Like everywhere?" she snorted, eyes on his as he looked at her. Then he was kissing her again and she kissed him back, hands sliding up under his shirt and why is it so hot in here?

Evan: hummed into the kiss; kissing Andrea was a lot different than kissing, every other person he's ever kissed because for starters there was no meaning behind it, no awkward feelings or intent that it means anything else besides two friends making out. Funny how it works, he figures it's because they're so comfortable with each other that they have hands slipping up each other's clothes, grinding hips against each other, and trailing kisses down each other's necks. Just like Evan found himself doing right now, not remembering when he pulled back to kiss her jaw and down the side of her neck, nipping lightly at the skin there.

Andrea moaned as Evan's lips trailed down her neck, her back arching up off the mattress as she gasped quietly. "​Fuck.​" she breathed, hands tugging at Evan's shirt. She didn't know why, because Evan taking his shirt off would do nothing to ease how warm she felt, but still.

Evan: bit down on Andrea's skin hard before sucking a bruise there while his hands traveled farther up her blouse. Fingertips barely touching the sides of her bra. He pulled back from the second hickey he was starting, breathing a bit heavily when she tugged at his shirt --did she want him to take it off? Evan bit his lip before pulling back farther and fuck it, his excuse is that it's summer and it's warm in the room with no air conditioner or fan. He peeled off his shirt, throwing it to the side and hitched Andrea's blouse up, murmuring a, "Your turn."

Andrea whimpered as Evan bit down on her skin, fingers clawing at his side as he touched her bra. Wow, she really wants it to come off. She watched him as he pulled back to tug his shirt up and over his head, biting at her bottom lip as he hiked her shirt up. She reached down to tug it up and over her head without saying anything, thankful for the excuse to take it off. Evan had seen her in less, but definitely not in this context, and it was making nervous butterflies careen in her stomach as she looked up at him.

Evan: had taken a moment to take in Andrea and admire her, how her small whimpers are sending a chill down his spine and how pretty-fucking-great she looks like this before proceeding to lean back over, spreading her legs with his knee so he could settle between them while he leaned in to kiss her again, this time licking her bottom lip, asking for entrance while his hands went up and down her sides, two fingers slipping under her bra.

Andrea watched Evan watch her, chest rising and falling with every breath as her eyes searched his face. She let him pry her legs open, returning the kiss and easily opening her mouth to him, one hand cupping his face and the other going up into his hair. His hands on her was making her feel weak in the knees (good thing she's not on her feet), and her breath hitched as his fingers slipped under the fabric of her bra.

Evan: licked expertly into Andrea's mouth, tasting nothing but smoke and beer and this faint sweetness to it. He moaned into the kiss when he felt her hand in his hair and pulled back only to trail open mouthed kisses down the base of her neck until he reached her collarbone and decided that another hickey would look very good there and that's what he did; while nipping at her skin one of his hands went back to rub her thigh, going up her skirt in a slow and teasing manner.

Andrea moaned into Evan's lips, whining quietly when he moved away to trail kisses down her neck and leave another hickey on her. She briefly wondered why everyone loved doing that so much but soon all her mind could think about was Evan's hand on her thigh. "You're such a tease." she breathed, hands going down to fumble with his jeans, popping the button open and reaching in to palm him through his underwear and give him an incentive to move things along.

Evan: made sure this hickey was big enough that he was satisfied with it. Evan has a thing for doing that, for leaving marks all over; the neck, collar bones, down the stomach, hips, thighs... which are where his hands are now. Feeling Andrea up and chuckling under his breath when she called him out on being a tease only it was cut off when her hands were on him and a low groan erupted in his throat. "Fuck-" he breathed out and with that he pulled back to tug her skirt down her legs and off her before going back in to kiss her, rushed and a bit sloppy while his hand went down her stomach, stopping just above the hem of her panties and proceeded to press to fingers against her.

Andrea chewed back a smirk as his laughing was cut short, humming in surprise as he pulled back abruptly to tug her skirt down her legs. She realized then that she still had her heeled boots on, and she kissed him back absently as she squirmed to toe them off her feet, sighing in satisfaction once they were off and joining the mess on the floor. She moved her hips up into his touch, hardly even kissing him back anymore and kind of just breathing into his mouth because she couldn't seem to get enough air into her lungs.

Evan: hand went lower, rubbing Andrea over her panties while they breathed into each other's mouths. It was hot in the room from how close they were and Evan couldn't help but to bite her lower lip, dragging his teeth along it and moving his face downwards, over her breasts and bit the exposed flesh there, leaving yet another hickey of the many he plans on leaving tonight. From there he kept going downwards, lips ghosting over her skin until he finally reached her panties, barely inches away as he breathed hotly over them. He glanced up at her, a little smile playing on his lips, "yeah?"

Andrea whimpered as Evan rubbed her through her underwear, moaning as his teeth dragged over her bottom lip. The hand that was rooted in his hair stayed there as he trailed his lips down, grip tight as he left more merciless marks on her, chewing at her bottom lip and swallowing thickly as he breathed over her. She looked down at him, nodding eagerly as he looked up at her for confirmation. She was just a little speechless, which was really something because she ​always​ has something to say.

Evan: hummed once Andrea gave him the go and he pulled back to grab the hem of her panties, removing them from her and throwing it back to the heap on the floor. Soon after that he was once again looming over her, spreading her legs a little wider apart so he fit between them; one of his hands wrapped themselves, his lips were kissing her lower abdomen, going lower and lower and pretending he was going to go ahead and start but his lips trailed to her inner right thigh, biting and sucking and licking over the bruise; she called him out on being a tease and that's exactly what he's going to be.

Andrea lifted her hips as Evan tugged at the hem of her underwear, chewing at her bottom lip and complying as he opened her legs farther. She squirmed as his lips trailed down her stomach, hands releasing his hair as he kissed her inner thighs. But then he didn't move from there and Andrea groaned in annoyance, nudging him with her knee. "​Evan.​" she whined, frown present on her face.

Evan: smirked at Andrea's annoyance, he couldn't help it. He wants to drive her to the edge before he actually does something about it. But of course there's only ​so much​ he could do so he decided that he'd stop with the teasing, for now. He lowered his face right over, eyes flickering up to Andrea before finally pressing his tongue against her, licking from her entrance up in one slow swipe. Both hands were now gripping her thighs to keep her in place.

Andrea pouted at him because the little shit was so ​smug​ about driving her crazy. Her expectations lowered then, chewing at her nails and looking down at him anxiously as he hovered over her, not anticipating him doing anything about it when he finally made contact with his tongue on her. It drew out a long moan from her lips, her mouth dropping open in a gasp as tingles were sent up her spine. Honestly he didn't even need to keep a grip on her legs to keep her still because her legs felt like jell-O.

Evan: grinned when he heard Andrea moan and then kept going, pressing his tongue against her, trying to get more moans and little noises out of her. This is probably the last thing Evan had expected to do on their trip and he doesn't know how it's going to be afterwards but it isn't stopping him from writing out the alphabet against her with his tongue. He wasn't rushing, he was going to take it at a slow and easy pace for the time being.

Andrea gripped at the sheets, gasping for breath as she relaxed her head back to stare up at the ceiling in hopes that it'd make breathing easier. Her legs were pretty lifeless but her torso was pretty out of control, and after probably squirming around so much that her hair probably looked twice as disheveled as it did recently she huffed and tugged her arms from her bra straps. She reached under her to unfasten it; she had the distinct impulse to throw it at his face and before she could even think that he might ​stop​ if she does that her arm tossed it at him anyways. She burst into breathless giggles, collapsing back onto the mattress. ​God​, she needed to stop laughing before she fainted because she could hardly breathe already.

Evan: was incredibly pleased with the gasps coming out of Andrea and with how much she was moving, it told he was doing something right. He was about to go deeper, maybe use his fingers and really put on a show for her when something hit him in face. "What the--" he pulled back, her bra hanging a little bit on his head almost falling off and laughed, grabbing it to lift it up as he looked back up at her, raising an eyebrow "really?" He threw it aside and crawled back up until he was hovering over her, "Is that the thanks I get, Wylie?"

Andrea chewed at her lip, trying to failing miserably at fighting back giggles. She watched him as he climbed back over her, hands going up to his face to stroke his cheekbones with her thumbs. "Yes. It's my thank you present for paying for my plane ticket, and for being really good with your tongue. You can keep it-" her giggles got so loud she couldn't talk for a bit. "You can keep it as a souvenir. Just don't tell your mom." she swiped one of her thumbs over his lips, fidgeting with his lip ring for a moment.

Evan: let out a breathy laugh, head hanging low for a second before glancing back up at her. "And where should I put it? Over the fireplace? Perhaps as a center piece on the coffee table, could really complete the room." and he notices that in this moment, in between laughs with Andrea that he realizes how ​normal​ this feels, how they could possibly go one minute from being intimate to giggling over something so ridiculous as her bra. He thinks, in any other scenario, any other place or time he could maybe fall in love with her but here, right now, is not an option. It could be for many reasons; time, place, people, emotions. Part of him is still very much in love with Tabitha, the other part of him is very much consumed by raven hair and deep ocean blue eyes and the last part of him is ​very much​ high right now and his thoughts are jumbled everywhere. Back to this moment he heard the last bit about his mom which caused him to groan, this time dropping his face in the crook of her neck, "You had to bring up my mother didn't you?"

Andrea grinned, nodding her head. "Yeah. Over the fireplace sounds perfect." she laughed, immediately thinking about what she would do if she walked into Evan's apartment and her bra was over the fireplace. And how weird and stupid and kind of hilarious that would be. "I mean it's not going to fit in a scrapbook." she snorted, and then ​right​ she probably shouldn't have mentioned his mom. "Sorry, sorry." she slipped a hand into his hair. "Who should I talk about? Kiera Knightly? Mila Kunis? Natalie Portman?" she almost brought up DJ but was thankfully able to stop herself; she didn't want to have that conversation right now. She nudged him with her knee, flipping them over so she could climb on top of him. She pressed a brief kiss to his lips, trailing them downwards as her hands tugged his jeans and underwear from his hips in one go. "How about all three at the same time?" ​Plus DJ. No stop it Andrea.​

Evan: snorted, maybe he ​should​ steal one of Andrea's bras and hang up somewhere for when she comes over next time, just for laughs and giggles. "Unless it's a big scrapbook." he nodded but then scrunched up his nose, that's a bit too weird but then again so is hanging it somewhere in his flat. "Keira Knightley doesn't sound so bad." he grinned, course he's had a crush on the actress since, well he can't really remember. "All good choices, Wylie, you have good taste in women." he replied with a chuckle. He leaned up a little into the brief kiss, humming as her lips went lower. He bit back a small groan when she pulled down his jeans and boxers down. "Lets not get my hopes up." he laughed weakly, shaking his head a little.

Andrea rolled her eyes briefly, but honestly he was right; while she wasn't exactly ​big chested​ she wasn't small either. She didn't reply to his comment about women, because yes she knew she did but as much as she wanted to come out of the closet she felt horribly vulnerable just thinking about it. "All we need to get into the picture is Kiera Knightley, yeah?" she leaned back to tug his shoes off and then his jeans and boxers all the way off. She stroked his length with her right hand, rooting around his pocket for his wallet with the other. "Condom?" she breathed, tossing the wallet up to him because isn't that where guys usually kept it? They shouldn't. Whatever, worst comes to worst Andrea will take a plan B. Or just get Evan off some other way. She stroked his length teasingly, dragging her fingernails down his stomach and leaning back over him to attach her lips to his neck.

Evan: really should try to stop laughing. He can't help it though, they're talking about Keira Knightley as though picturing her will help him get off. However, his fourteen year old self had absolutely no problem with that or with David Beckham for that matter. ​Anyways​, that's not something he wants to think about because Andrea's touching him which caused him to moan because ​shit​. "Uh yeah, think so." he breathed out, catching his wallet before it hit him in the face too. And really, he wasn't even planning on packing a condom in there because who was he going to sleep with in California? But he packed one anyways because one never knows right? He had absolutely no idea he'd be using it with Andrea. "Fuck..." he mumbled as Andrea kept going, moving his head a tad to the side for better access as he pulled the condom out, "Got it."

Andrea hummed against his skin, plucking the condom from his hand and sitting up, releasing her grip on him. "Should I rip it open with my teeth?" she asked incredulously, smile tugging at her lips. Then she snorted. "Watch me be the person to rip it." she laughed, opening it with her fingers and carefully rolling the condom onto him. She leaned over him again to kiss him, stroking him and flipping her hair over her shoulder before carefully sinking onto him, quiet gasp escaping from her lips as she started to move against him.

Evan: "Do whatever the hell you want." muttered Evan, returning Andrea' smile. "Don't jinx it you twat." he laughed under his breath, dropping his head back against the pillow and hopes she doesn't actually rip it because Andrea isn’t exactly the most graceful, ​no offense​ if she read his mind or something. He kissed her back eagerly, hands going up to her sides and sliding them down to hold her hips and -- "​Fuck​." he breathed out, fingers digging instantly into her skin.

Andrea felt a small smirk tug at her lips, even though honestly he'd had her in the same state not that long ago. "Don't call me a twat and maybe I won't jinx it." she whispered into his lips, groaning quietly as his fingers dug into her skin. But then she didn't have anything to say.

Evan: shook his head, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again to look at her, "I'll call you a twat because I can." And honestly he doesn't even recall why he called her a twat to begin with but he couldn't care at this precise moment anyway.

Andrea pouted at him half-heartedly before pressing kisses down his neck, one of her hands braced on his shoulder and the other braced on the mattress. The pace was slow and nice, but she was basically driving herself crazy so she sped it up, tongue teasing over his skin as she nipped and sucked at his neck.

Evan: 's chest was heaving, one of his hands remained gripping Andrea's waist while the other found itself tangled in her hair. It was hard to hold back moans when her mouth wasn't on his, the last thing he wants is to wake someone up if they were passed out (which Andrea's friends probably were, everyone was on something so they could honestly care less). The pace was good, sure, Andrea was working him up just fine but maybe if he just rocked his hips up to meet her rhythm... A string of curse words spilled from his red bitten lips, eyes shutting close because ​fuck​.

Andrea shivered as Evan's hand tangled in her hair, the hair that wasn't in his grip falling into her face. Her nails dug into his shoulder at the sound of his moans, and once she'd left what she considered a nice-sized mark on his collarbone she moved back up to his lips to kiss him again, swallowing the curses spilling from his mouth and releasing her own moan between them.

Evan: kissed her back, hand untangling itself from her hair and coming down to cup her cheek. It was sloppy and breathless, the room was warm and his skin was flushed and sweaty but it felt incredibly good. He could feel everything right now; Andrea's skin on his, her breath near his face, small strands of her hair falling over him, his pulse. He thinks it's probably the rush effects from what he had earlier causing his nerves to get all worked up and having Andrea's name slip past his slips in breathy moans.

Andrea couldn't think straight - her mind a jumbled mess as Evan moaned her name into her mouth and drawing out her own moans. She still didn't feel like she could breath properly so she slowed the pace again, breaking away from his lips to catch her breath - keeping the movement of her hips slow but deliberate as she panted heavily, resting her weight against him as she pushed her hair back from her face fruitlessly.

Evan: noticed how coloured Andrea's cheeks and lips were when she pulled back, he took about a moment to admire her inbetween pants and low moans. Eyes gazed down to his handiwork on her neck, her chest, and as further below as he was capable of seeing. His hands were moving everywhere, trailing down her back, her sides, waist. He can't stop touching and he so desperately wants to pull her back down for a kiss but he also wants to flip them over to leave more marks on her neck, trailing them down over her chest and down her stomach as far as he could go without breaking pace. "Fuck it." he mumbled under his breath, he did just that, he found her waist and flipped them over so she was below him and he wrapped her legs around his waist, giving her a quick "Hi." before latching his mouth to base of her neck.

Andrea squeaked as Evan flipped them over so she was on her back, tensing up slightly in surprise but immediately relaxing once she was back on the mattress. She let him maneuver her legs so they were around his waist, breathing out a "hi" in return before moaning as his lips attached to her neck again. "Fuck." she gasped, gripping his shoulders.

Evan: 's lips trailed down her neck, marking up her up in places he hasn't yet. Most of it was open mouthed kisses going down, his breathing hot and heavy as he rocked against her and then he sped up the pace a little more, dropping his head as he bit back a moan.

Andrea moaned as Evan continued to mark up her skin. At this rate she feels like she's not going to have a spot on her neck that isn't bruised, but it feels good and the blonde breathing against her skin sent tingles down her spine. Her nails dragged lines of pink down his back as he sped up the pace, one of her hands going back to brace herself against the wall so she wouldn't run into it as she panted for breath.

Evan: whimpered when he felt Andrea's nails drag down his back, it stung but Evan hardly noticed being completely overwhelmed by other sensations. He was breathing hard now, back muscles straining a bit as he kept going, barely holding himself up with with both hands on the mattress. He cursed under his breath because he was definitely close and instead of slowing down the pace, he fucked into her faster, making it his goal to make her come first.

Andrea moaned, her free hand going up into Evan's hair and gripping on. One of her legs dropped from his hips, gasps escaping from her lips as he sped up. It didn't take much longer for her to reach her climax, and she came with a dry sob, hand going from his hair to his back, arching up off the bed as her muscles tensed in reaction.

Evan: 's fingers gripped the sheets tightly,breathing down Andrea's neck during his final movements. It wasn't until Andrea came that he bit his lip hard, coming two thrusts after her and dropping his head between his shoulders with a breathy, "​Fuck​." Chest heaving, his hold loosening a little on the sheets. After a few small moments he finally pulled back slowly because he couldn't hold himself up any longer, taking off the condom and tying it quickly before throwing it in the waste bin next to the bed and finally plopping on his back, trying to catch his breathing and staring at the ceiling, bringing a hand up to his hair to push it back.

Andrea panted for breath, squirming as he continued until he came too. She let her body relax into the mattress, leg slipping from his waist as he moved away from her and running a hand through her hair. She just stared at the ceiling, quiet next to him as her mind raced a mile a minute - hopped up on dopamine and ecstasy. "I know I'm like, super high right now." she snorted quietly, voice raspy from smoking and not drinking enough water. "But I love you. A lot." she turned her head to glance at his profile, eyes scanning over him for a moment. "I mean I'd say it sober, but-. Don't really care about the perfect time to say it right now." she looked back up at the ceiling, chewing at her fingernails.

Evan: could probably use a cigarette right now to calm down this high which is ironic considering he's trying to normalize his breathing. He licked his lips, continuing to look up at the ceiling, making shapes out of the texture. Evan turned his head to the side, raising his eyebrows because he very much knows she's high as fuck right now and he was about to go on and say something like 'no shit, Sherlock' when he was cut off before even saying anything. Out of all the things he expected her to say that was most certainly not one of them. She means it in a platonic way, right? That was something most didn't say after sex unless you were with said person but... but it didn't phase Evan at all after those five seconds because he loves her too, very much a lot. Has he even ever told her before he does? How much he appreciates her? How lucky he is to have her as his best friend? Evan suddenly realized he hasn't said anything back and he cleared his throat , "...I love you too, Wylie and fuck being sober or not, mean it either way."

Andrea felt a smile tug at her lips, and she heaved a heavy sigh before turning onto her stomach, resting her cheek on her hands and looking at him. "Yeah, I know..." she reached over to tap the tip of his nose, chewing at her lip. She didn't think anyone that didn't love her would constantly put up with her mess of a self, or buy her a plane ticket home. "So you and DJ..." she trailed off, pausing as she looked for words. "Did you think you'd get lucky when you came here? Twice in one night, even." she propped herself up on her elbows to continue chewing at her nails.

Evan: "Good, you better." he mumbled and that was that. He hopes Andrea really knows how much he loves her, he doesn't think there's a thing he wouldn't do for her. He raised his eyebrows when she mentioned DJ, "Me and DJ what?" And oh. He almost completely forgot about his little make out session with him earlier today and how it probably would have been more if they didn't get interrupted before anything actually started. It made him laugh a little and he shook his head, "Didn't think I was going to be getting lucky in the first place and it wasn't twice, didn't get a quarter through the first time."

Andrea gave him a weak smile, eyes glancing over his face before looking down at the mattress. "DJ's a nice guy. Not too bad in the sack, either..." she laughed quietly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "Well. It seems like he likes you. He'll probably try again." she nudged him with her shoulder, then; "I didn't know that you're bi. Or I mean, not straight, at least." she tried to make it sound casual, but probably failed.

Evan: started thinking about this random choice of conversation -- well, it's not exactly random but he doesn't know how Andrea knows that him and DJ were probably going to go at it. Unless she saw them kiss, after all she was merely one room over. "I can tell." he snorted, shaking his head slightly. Evan hummed, he kinda likes him too and so he said, "Reckon I wouldn't stop him." He tilted his head to the side, an amused smile tugging the corner of his lip, "It's not like I go promoting it, Wylie. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just not my cup of tea." and then, "Thought I told you though."

Andrea swallowed thickly, rubbing at her eyes. She didn't know why she brought DJ up; it wasn't really like it was actually any of her business. Evan didn't have to tell her anything he didn't want to. "Hm..." she didn't look at him, opening her mouth as if to say something but then shutting it again.

Evan: sighed, he thinks there's definitely only a handful of people that know he's bi. Evan's never really had a problem with figuring himself out and of course he did get extremely anxious when he was going to tell his parents but to his surprise, they were incredibly supportive. Including his dad which was something he hadn't really expected. Then there was Tabitha who was probably the first to know really and from there on a couple of friends here and there, friends at Oxford definitely knew when he started dating this guy for a couple months. He's always been very mellow about it. "You alright?" he asked, noticing she stopped talking after he confirmed it.

Andrea fidgeted, nodding her head hastily. "Yeah. I'm fine." but she still wasn't looking at him. She felt jealous, that he seemed comfortable. And really, she knew more people than Evan that weren't straight, but none that she was this close to, and while she'd been jealous it certainly wasn't to this degree. She wished she felt comfortable enough with herself to be able to admit it - and she wished that her dad had accepted her instead of insisting that she wasn't and demanding for her to stop. "I-..." she stopped herself, picking at the lint on the sheets.

Evan: bit his lip. She didn't sound fine and Evan doesn't know whether it's this piece of information or not. He's pretending it isn't, he hopes it isn't. But something seems to be bothering her and he knows they don't go in depth about their feelings but this is his friend here and he ​needs​ to know if something's the matter. "Andrea," he started and he rarely even says her first name which is something, "honestly, what's bothering you?"

Andrea glanced up when Evan said her name, her eyebrows pulling together because he'd only ever called her by her first name one or two times the entire time she's known him. She must be doing an awful job of hiding how she's feeling. "Nothing. It's not-." is she coming off as biphobic right now? She hopes she isn't. "I'm not like phobic or anything. But-." she sighed, pressing her palms to her eyes and taking a deep breath. "My dad is. He just-... doesn't like it. People like us, I guess." she muttered, pushing her hair back before folding her arms and resting her cheek on them again.

Evan: sighed, a little relived really hearing those words because okay good, he definitely does not see her as bi-phobic or phobic anything. And he was about to tell her how glad he is to hear that when she brought up her dad. This time he furrowed his eyebrows and...​people like us​. Did Andrea just come out to him? "Oh." he paused, wow, "shit." He didn't actually know what to say, he's never been in this sort of position before, he has no idea what to say about her dad or to her that can be any sort of consolation. "Well, he can't really stop how you feel." he mumbled, trying to find the proper words.

Andrea shrugged her shoulders, giving a wet laugh and sitting up to wipe under her eyes as she started crying. At least she wasn't bawling - like she usually did. "Well, no. But he can keep me from seeing Maddie and Kevin." she sniffed, blinking back more tears. "There was this girl, and like-. She's why I came out to my parents, and my dad kept telling me I was confused and it's a phase and it's not natural, blah blah blah. And I kept telling him that it wasn't, that I'd like girls before but just never really had anything with them. And he kept yelling at me and asking what happened with Hayden and is that why you broke it off with Hayden and Hayden this and Hayden that. As if Hayden could've done shit about it." she groaned, turning over and sitting up, "I'm stealing this." and pulling his white t-shirt up and over her head.

Evan: listened intently and unfortunately, that was a thing that could happen. He doesn't have siblings but he knows if he was deprived of ever seeing someone because of who he is it would fuck him up. He doesn't know anything about being shut down for who he is, maybe people have said things maybe it's coming to him but he for sure knows it's not going to be from his ​own parent​. He doesn't know how Andrea could have ever dealt with that. "Hayden?" he question, the name sounding familiar, he thinks one of Andrea's friends mentioned him earlier. He too sat up but only to reach for his boxers, he didn't say anything about his shirt, already used to her taking his clothes, "is he the one from earlier?"

Andrea hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. He was there." she slipped into her underwear and then laid back down, resting her hands on her stomach. "But, we didn't break up because I'm bi or anything. He broke up with me because - well, I don't even know. He just got bored of hitting me I guess." it was out of her mouth before she could think about it, and then she was flushing in embarrassment because she really didn't mean to disclose that information. "I-... I mean-..." she took in a deep breath, shifting nervously.

Evan: didn't have a good feeling about this guy and he hasn't even seen him in the flesh. It's just the way Andrea talked about him and the vibe his name gave him that Evan automatically disliked him. Breaking up with someone because of who or what they liked was a bit ridiculous in his book and "Excuse me, ​what​?" He practically choked on nothing because ​what​? Did he hear correctly? He hopes he's hearing impaired because that cannot be what Andrea said. But of course her stumbling over her words confirmed what she said is in fact true making his thoughts go into a frenzy. "How long?" he asked, finally speaking.

Andrea hesitated, glancing sideways at Evan before turning into her side. "I don't even know. For a while. A couple months, maybe." she muttered, not looking Evan in the eye. "But-. I should've walked away. He never meant it when he said sorry. I should've learned after like, the second time." she ran a hand through her hair, shutting her eyes because she didn't want to look at him.

Evan: is stunned. Months. ​Months​. Andrea was a victim of domestic violence for months. He knows walking away isn't easy, he's been to lectures dealing with several different cases about domestic violence. She can't blame herself for not knowing when to walk away. It's hard but ​Christ​ he wishes she left the moment it first happened. And wait. Wait, wait, wait. If Hayden was at the party earlier that means she never filed a police report -which it depends when this happened but that's approximately four years to literally life in jail. Should be way more in his opinion. "Hey," he mumbled, "it's not your fault, you didn't know at first whether he meant it or not." And just thinking of him and what he did to Andrea is making his blood boil, "but, did you - did you not file a police report?"

Andrea shook her head, screwing her eyes shut. "No, I just-. I don't know. Didn't want anyone to know. The only people who know are DJ and Scotty and them because-. I kind of blurted it out while high." she scooted herself closer to him, resting her forehead against his chest. "I don't want to talk about it anymore." she muttered.

Evan: ran a hand through his hair. Still processing this information in. He wonders if it's possible to still report someone for abuse even if it's been a while. He reckons maybe, but that would be tough with lack of evidence. Jesus, he hurts for Andrea and for anyone that came before or after her. Sighing he nodded, they won't talk about it anymore, at least for right now because he needs to know whether she had help or talked to someone because she can't possibly work something like this on her own. But it's late and he'll let it slide this time. He brought an arm around to tug her closer to him, hugging her tightly. Why would anyone want to hurt her is beyond him.

Andrea slipped an arm around his waist when he pulled her closer, somehow able to feel wired and exhausted at the same time. She wasn't sure if she wanted to know what Evan thought of the whole thing, she hoped that no one else would bring it up, or anything else pertaining to it. She felt like she'd done enough talking for a lifetime. "Thanks... for listening." she sighed.

Evan: 's hand went up to her hair, running his fingers through it softly. "Anytime, Wylie." he said, shifting around a bit so they're in more comfortable position. He'll always listen when Andrea needs him to, sure sometimes he doesn't know what to say or is terrible at giving advice but he listens. He already has before. Suddenly he's feeling really tired, the rush finally catching up to him and his eyes were getting a little droopy, "are you sleepy because I'm sleepy."

Andrea hummed quietly, tracing little patterns on Evan's back and sighing heavily. And she's not really tired - the ecstasy not out of her system yet. She should drink some water, maybe going pee will flush it out. "No. But you should get some sleep." she leaned away from him slightly, pressing a brief kiss to his lips and stroking his cheek. "I'll fall asleep eventually." or at least she hopes so, because if not she's going to feel completely wrecked in the morning.

Evan: wrinkled his nose because he doesn't want to fall asleep if Andrea is still awake. He just wants a cuddle and sleep because he knows that he'll feel like shit in the morning and wants to sleep as much as possible before heading to Andrea's house and then the concert. "I'll stay up with you." he mumbled, sighing a little when she touched his cheek. Though he doesn't know if he can, sleep is stinging his eyes, making them feel droopy but he wants Andrea next to him and he doesn't know why he needs to be curled up with her probably because he thinks nothing bad can happen to either of them when they're next to each other. Or maybe that's just lack of sleep and the wearing off coke talking but still.

Andrea hummed and shook her head. "It's okay." she nuzzled into his neck, the hand on his cheek slipping into his hair and gently massaging his scalp. "We need to be rested up for the concert." she muttered, sliding a leg between his to get more comfortable and shifting around slightly. "We'll be okay..." she sighed. And she didn't know why she was promising him that, because she couldn't really, but she liked to think they would be.

Evan: sighed and nodded. He doesn't know why Andrea isn't tired, his bones still ache from jet lag and maybe it's because she took something completely different from him and he also didn't smoke much tonight either so there's that. "It's not till a couple hours." he mumbled, his arm wrapped around her waist loosely. She was warm and so was the room but he didn't pull away because it felt nice being cuddled up next to her. "Okay." he replied, eyes fluttering shut. He doesn't know what that means but he likes the sound of it.