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Don't own Rihanna's Song Stay, I just kinda borrowed it fot this chapter!
Chapter 8- Stay Away
The world was still spinning when she opened her eyes. Her hand reached out above her head and rested on the headboard just for a moment to stop the spinning.
Then the sickening pain slammed into her head as she let out a groan and jammed her eyes closed.
She was so never drinking again!
Andy dragged herself out of bed and stammered into the shower before racing out the door. If Traci hadn't called her, she would be so late.
She made it to the barn with little time to spare before parade, so she stormed through the building and headed straight for the locker room.
When she opened the door to her locker, a small smile graced her lips. There on the top shelf was the best hangover cure- cranberry juice.
Sam slumped against the wall at the back of the room, his attention trying to focus on Frank as he spoke, but his eyes kept grazing over the back of Andy's head.
She was definitely feeling the effects of last night.
She was slouching in her chair, her hand holding her head up under her chin. Her hair was in a messy bun telling him that she had just made it on time to parade.
He left a cranberry juice in her locker hoping the day wouldn't be too tough on her, he knew the feeling of having a hangover combined with a slow day.
Frank dismissed them, Andy swiveled in her chair to find Sam and thank him for the juice, but he was already gone.
He had a damned bad habit of doing that.
Sam felt his phone jump around in his pocket as he stepped out into the fresh air.
Reaching for it he couldn't help but smile at the simple two words that danced over the screen after her name flashed and he opened the text icon.
'Thank you'.
Even now, he didn't have the inclination to wipe her name and number from his phone memory. It stayed there, attached to the speed dial.
Even if he erased it, he knew it off by heart, so it wouldn't erase her.
Or them.
Or their history.
Andy hit send before she changed her mind, it was so much simpler to do this; than to face him and say the words. Especially not knowing what she'd face if she stood in front of him.
"Two weeks!". Traci yelled it out as Andy closed her locker door.
"Yeah, what's wrong with two weeks?".
"Andy, please tell Gail that she can not get married in two weeks, she's only been engaged for twenty-four hours".
Andy giggled, Gail was really trying to make sure that Nick didn't run away again.
"The next available date is eight months from now. I can't wait eight months to do this". Gail sighed as she slumped back and leaned against the lockers.
"Seriously?".
Gail nodded looking a little sad.
"I've always wanted to get married at Le Morgan, and I can't do that a year from now. It's now or never".
"Okay, but how are you going to do it in two weeks?".
"I ...um... Called my mom this morning".
Traci rolled her eyes and Andy let out a giggle. Gail was actually going to go through with this. She would be forced to if Superintendent Peck was planning her big day.
"Oooookay". Traci said, Gail finally finding her smile.
"Yeah, I should probably go tell Nick". She said biting her lip as she pushed off the lockers.
Andy left the locker room happy to put the day behind her.
Andy had been on desk, probably because everyone had seen her last night, and saw her hangover this morning from a mile away.
But she was glad she had been kept off the streets, today she would have caused complete chaos or totally screwed up if she was let loose.
As Sam watched Andy leave the barn, he felt like history was repeating itself way too many times.
It was all either one of them did- walk away.
The next two weeks sped by, arrangement for Gail's wedding taking up every second of free time any of them had.
Traci and Andy were bridesmaids, and Nick had joked about stealing Andy to be his 'best-girl' seeing as she was female. Gail thought the idea was cute but refused to let him have her, so he would be having one of his friends from his platoon in Afghanistan and his brother instead.
Invitations were handed out, and RSVP's received, all that was left was to have the actual wedding.
Gail went with a shimmering navy blue and silver, so Andy wore a long blue dress, and Traci a silver one.
Vows were said, and photos taken, the service being kept short because some of the uniforms were due on duty soon.
During the ceremony Andy could feel every set of eyes in the church move over her, she didn't need to turn around to see everyone watching her and waiting for her to trip over her dresses hem.
Lucky for her, it never happened.
The reception hall of Le Morgan was perfect. Every last detail breathtaking and donned to perfection.
Andy and Traci sipped champagne while waiting for the speeches to finish.
Gail's dad was up first, followed by her brother Steve.
Traci was asked to give one too, but never told Andy, so when she was called up, Andy nearly choked on the sip she had just taken.
Traci reached the small podium set up just to the left of the bridal table and managed a weak smile as she stammered out a soft "Hi" accompanied with a small wave.
"I'm Traci Nash, some of you may know me as Detective Nash from Fifteen, but today I'm just Traci, Gail's friend.
I met Gail at the academy, and from there on out, we've never looked back.
Over the last few years, we've gone through some pretty tough times, but if there is someone you can depend on, Gail is definitely at the top of the list". Traci seemed to glance from Gail, to Andy to Sam when she said that.
"She always seems so demanding and so scccaaaarrry right Nick? But deep down, she's just like anyone else in this room, warm, incredible, and one hell of a runner when she's chasing some moron down the street".
That seemed to draw quite a few laughs from the crowd.
"So today, I wish Nick the best of luck, because you're gonna need it, and I wish Gail a long and happy life for getting it right".
Traci lifted her champagne up as she proposed a toast, but her gaze seemed to stick to Sam, who was drowning in staring at Andy.
"You could have told me". Andy whispered as Traci took her seat next to her.
"And spoil the surprise?".
Dinner was served and soon soft music turned a little louder as the lights were dimmed.
The DJ announced that Nick and Gail were going to open the dance floor as they stepped out into the sparkling lights amidst a hum of 'ooh's' and 'aah's'.
They swept across the floor, the slow strains of music filing the room.
When the second song started a few more bodies filed onto the floor, couples taking the time to enjoy the music.
Luke appeared out of nowhere, his hand wrapping around Andy's as he intended on tugging her to her feet.
"Go". Traci nudged her, things with Luke were much better now, Andy had forgiven him, but she would never let him get that close again.
Andy sighed as she got to her feet and allowed Luke to drag her out onto the dance floor.
Halfway through the song, Nick cut in, spinning Andy around as Luke held his hand out for Gail.
"You're not smiling". Nick whispered as they started floating around the floor.
Andy flashed a bright smile, a genuine smile. One that said she was truly happy for Nick and Gail.
"You know he's been watching you the whole time right?".
"Enough with that Nick. It's so not going to happen". Nick twirled Andy around and let go of her hand just as the song changed.
And there stood Sam.
She was so not happy right now.
Sam held out his hand, his way of asking Andy to dance.
But she shook her head from side to side, and she wanted to walk away, but her feet seemed glued to where she was standing.
So Sam bent down and took her hand in his, leading her into the mass of bodies that crowded the floor.
Soft piano notes filled the air before Andy heard Rihanna's voice.
All along it was a fever
A cold sweat hot-headed believer
I threw my hands in the air and said, "Show me something,"
He said, "If you dare come a little closer."
Round and around and around and around we go
Oh now tell me now tell me now tell me now you know
Not really sure how to feel about it.
Sam had no clue what he was doing, but he just couldn't resist.
Given the opportunity to be this close to her, when she looked breathtaking, was so tempting that he gave in before he even realized what he was doing. He had been standing at the edge of the dance floor watching Andy and Collins dance, not oblivious to the fact that Collins was watching him watching them.
Andy was tense and withdrawn, she couldn't even look up at him as they began moving around the floor with slow steps.
Andy huffed out a breath and resisted the urge to roll her eyes at their first actual dance being to a slow song titled 'Stay'.
The implications in that word was what led them to where they were now, because he had asked her to stay when she asked him too.
Sam pulled Andy even closer when she let out the heavy breath, he really didn't want her to hate him for this moment.
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you.
It takes me all the way.
I want you to stay
It's not much of a life you're living
It's not just something you take – it's given
Round and around and around and around we go
Oh now tell me now tell me now tell me now you know
Not really sure how to feel about it.
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you.
It takes me all the way.
I want you to stay.
Lost in her scent Sam's mind drifted to memories of her being this close before. From the time he had pushed her away, he had felt the longing to hold her this close.
Pulling away slightly Sam looked down at Andy, his movement making her look up through her lashes.
She was so close, Sam could just...
Ooh the reason I hold on
Ooh cause I need this hole gone
Funny you're the broken one but I'm the only one who needed saving
Cause when you never see the light it's hard to know which one of us is caving
Not really sure how to feel about it.
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you.
It takes me all the way.
I want you to stay, stay.
I want you to stay, oh.
The second his thoughts crusaded through his mind, his face inched a fraction closer, every intention of letting his lips find hers.
She saw it coming, so she stepped back abruptly, a whimper escaping her lips as she tugged her hand free of his as he held it to his shoulder.
Her eyes were wide as she clenched her teeth over her bottom lip before shaking her head and slipping away to be lost in the crowd.
As soon as she moved away Sam regretting being a stupid jerk all over again.
He saw the confusion and hurt run over her face as her bottom lip began to tremble before she locked it between her teeth to stop the ensuing tears from falling because he had seen those well in her eyes too, they had shimmered in the multi colored lights that flickered across the room.
Sam dodged the bodies blocking his route after Andy, as he gave chase. He managed to find her head bobbing up and down as she sped towards the back of the hall and out the door.
She had taken the first exit that she could find, and that just happened to lead out onto the balcony that spanned the entire right side of the building. Seeing as they were upstairs, Sam knew that if she went out there, she couldn't go anywhere but back inside.
He found her leaning with her elbows on the edge of the stone wall that made up the railing that ran around the edge of the balcony.
She was looking out over the edge, whatever had capture her attention held on to it, just like she had him captivated.
Sam stopped a few feet away, but she seemed oblivious to his presence, or she didn't want to recognize the fact that he had chased after her.
"I'm sorry". He said when he was close enough, Andy visibly tensing at the sound of his voice.
"Andy..."
"Don't okay". Andy said as she faced him.
"I shouldn't have...". But I couldn't help myself? Yeah that would sound so super awesome.
"You're right Sam. You can't make me that girl". Andy hissed out as she moved past him.
His hand on her arm stopped her, the warmth igniting a rush of heat up her skin.
She looked between his hand and his face, willing him to take possession of his hand back.
"I wouldn't do that".
"Sam, you nearly kissed me, how isn't that making me that girl?".
Oh right, that made sense. She didn't know that he wasn't seeing Marlo anymore.
"We're not... I'm not. Marlo ...".
Why was it so hard to say the words to Andy?
Why couldn't he just say I'm not seeing Marlo anymore? He had said the words to other people, but he just couldn't face telling Andy.
"It doesn't matter anymore Sam". Andy pulled her arm free of Sam's soft grasp before walking back in the direction she had just come from.
Sam kept his distance for the rest of the night.
Andy kept him in her line of vision for the rest of the night. She kept looking over her shoulder, following his every movement.
He should have guessed that since Marlo was here, and he was here, and they were seated together, that it would be seen as they were here 'together' when they actually weren't.
The days that followed were spent much the same as the rest of the night of the wedding.
In avoidance.
If Sam was in a room and Andy came in, one of them left.
The only reason that Sam was giving her space was because he could see that his simple intrusion of temptation was breaking her, she was having a hard time keeping it together.
So he backed off.
It was hard, to stay away, but it was harder to hurt her anymore.
*****okay, so let me know what you think in another one of those awesome thoughts you leave by using the little box underneath here - .͡▹
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Jelly Bean Jenna©
