Second attempt at posting this chapter! my dumbass laptop freaked out and closed the window...losing all my edits I'd made for this chapter!
Le sigh!
So here we go again...hope you enjoy!
Sharon was apprehensive when she stepped out of Andy's car when they came to a stop on his driveway. She wasn't sure what she had been expecting as she looked up at his house, it was just so...normal.
It was large but not obnoxiously so, probably only because of his having so many siblings, although she remembered him mentioning that not all of them lived at home anymore. There was a double driveway that led to a double garage, a worn basketball hoop attached above the door. The house stood independent of the garage to her right. The soft orange glow of the lights on inside gave a comfortable warmth that Sharon was grateful to feel right now.
She jumped slightly when Andy touched her arm. She hadn't realised how lost in her thoughts she had been, her gaze softened however when he looked at her apologetically.
"Sorry. It'll be ok Sharon I promise. It's friday night hardly anyone's home."
Sharon smiled slighty as she followed him to the side of the house, there was a tall fence that bordered the back yard and Andy reached over to open the gate that was latched from the inside. He had to jump a little to reach but it was a move that looked well rehearsed.
"We never use the front door." Andy answered in response to the questioning look she gave him.
"Why not?"
"Mom has a thing about it. Started when my eldest brother, David, joined the army." Andy closed and locked the gate behind them. "She's seen enough of the military life to know that when someone in a uniform knocks on your front door, it ain't good. So when he signed up, she decided she never wanted to hear the front door ring again."
"I can see her logic." Sharon shrugged as she followed him up the steps on the back porch. She paused in her steps when her eyes fell on a large double dog kennel that sat in the corner of the porch. Momentarily she panicked as two German Shepherd dogs poked their heads out and upon seeing a stranger got up to investigate. Andy raised one hand in their direction and on his command they both returned to their previous positions. Scary though they were they were obviously well trained.
"They're harmless. Just big softies really, I'm actually surprised my sister hasn't snuck them into her room yet. Maybe it's still early."
When they walked into the kitchen the first thing Sharon noticed was the size, it was huge. Open planned with a large wooden table lined with benches instead of chairs just past the kitchen islands. It smelled like spices and home cooking and for a moment she felt thoroughly hungry.
"Home before ten! What a loser!"
Sharon's head turned when she heard another voice in the room, over by the center island there were two younger boys that looked very alike, whether they'd noticed her presence or not she wasn't sure, they seemed to be preoccupied by a large carton of ice cream and two bowls.
"Shut up geek! Where's mom?" Andy called over to them with a roll of his eyes as he ushered Sharon to sit at the bench at the table.
"She's in the lounge with Jen watching next top model." The other boy answered his brother without looking up from his ice cream, that was now being thoroughly covered in what looked like fudge sauce.
Andy looked back to Sharon and leaned on the table, his voice softened as he spoke to her. "Don't worry about the nerd twins the house could burn down around them and they'd still be focused on that bowl! Be right back."
Sharon nodded, relaxing a little when he winked at her and left the kitchen. She should feel out of place, awkward somewhat in a home that was not her's and that she'd never set foot in before. Especially looking as awful as she did right now. Andy had been careful not to say it but she knew it was true, she was a mess. Strangely though, she felt the most at ease that she had all night.
The cut on her cheek had started to dry and when she pulled certain expressions it was pulling painfully. What a night this had turned out to be.
Sharon recognised Stella Flynn the moment she followed Andy back through the kitchen door. She looked softer than she had the last time they had met, albeit briefly. But since she wasn't yelling at her son this time it was to be expected.
Behind her was Andy's sister Jen, at 15 she was the closest in age to Andy and he'd spoken about her in passing with his friends. Sharon recognised her from school though they'd never officially met.
It was a little overwhelming, all these people that she hardly knew, with the exception of Andy of course, standing around, looking at her with a mixture of sympathy and anger in their gazes. It rendered her a little speechless, her mouth dry as she fidgeted a little on her seat. Part of her wanted to apologise for being here but the soft look in his mother's eyes told her that it would not be heard of in this house.
The air was a little tense between them all. Until Stella Flynn pulled up the small stool at the head of the table and settled close to Sharon's side. She smiled reassuringly at her before she turned to her children.
"Jennifer, bring me the medical bag from the closet and some luke warm water. Andrew, please tell your brother's to take the ice cream they think I don't know they're sneaking and go to their room. Oh and make some tea."
"Tea? Ma, seriously?"
Stella looked at Sharon and rolled her eyes in humour as she turned back to her son. "Yes. I am serious. In the absence of us all being able to enjoy a stiff drink right now, tea is the next best thing."
Sharon almost smiled at the look on Andy's face, his mumbled 'Yes ma'am' was almost funny.
"Now lets take a look at that face of your's honey."
Stella's hands were warm on her skin, soft when they gently felt the area around the thin cut on her cheek.
"You're not," Sharon cleared her throat when her voice finally returned, hoarse at first. "you're not going to ask me what happened?"
"I don't need to know." Stella smiled, her head shook just a fraction. "You'll tell me if you want to. As long as you're alright honey that's all that matters."
"My boyfriend." Sharon stuttered, exhaling when the warm liquid from the bowl that Jenny Flynn placed beside them on the table, touched her skin. "My ex boyfriend."
"That's better." Stella looked at her pointedly as she cleaned the affected area.
"What is?"
"You called him ex."
From the corner of her eye Sharon saw Andy's sister take a seat on the opposite side of the table. She felt more than saw Andy lower himself beside her. It was somewhat comforting for her, having him at her side. This whole experience just seemed so surreal.
There was no more talk as Andy's mother worked quietly to fully check her over. She checked her vision, asked about headaches, had she passed out at all or hit her head. The cut was thin and deep, though not so deep that it required stitches. Provided it was kept clean there was little chance it would scar. After a warning that should she experience any headaches or blurred vision she should immediately visit the emergency room, Stella Flynn gave Sharon the all clear.
At some point Andy's sister had left the room, when she returned she was carrying some yoga pants, socks, a t-shirt and one of Andy's hoodies. Sharon had to admit that once she had washed up and changed she felt a million times better.
Now, as she sat on the porch swing overlooking his back yard, Sharon was finally feeling a lot more human.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Andy asked quietly, his hands toying with the coke can in his hand.
"I am." Sharon nodded slowly, tightening her arms around herself as she curled up in his hoodie. "I'm a little hazy but, it's been a crazy few hours."
"It sure has."
"Right now I kinda feel like it's not real. Like I'm not in reality, the real world is a concept of something I'll eventually have to face. I'll have to tell my parents and my friends and then after that comes the actual, ya know, facing Jack. It's that which makes my head hurt and for right now, or at least the next thirty minutes or so, I wanna talk about something else."
"What did you have in mind?"
"Anything that doesn't concern me."
"That's a pretty broad scope Sharon."
Sharon rolled her eyes as she twisted her body to face him a little more. "Alright fine, I guess I'll lead with a question. Tell me more about you, ya know your family."
"The Flynn family history."
"Well not so far back we don't have all night."
Andy laughed a little and took a deep breath. "Alright, you win. So you already met my Mom, she and my Dad have been married almost twenty-seven years. My eldest brother is David, like I said he's in the army, it's his car that I drive, making the most of it until he comes back and I have to get the bus to school."
Sharon smiled when he laughed. She could tell he wasn't used to being so open and for a moment she almost stopped him, but she wanted to know more, she wanted to know what made Andy...Andy.
"Next is my sister Audrey, she's a nurse like Mom, although she works NICU. Ya know prem babies and stuff. Audrey went to Berkley so she's been in California way longer than the rest of us. I think the reason Mom agreed to the move was because she'd be closer to Aud, especially since Audrey and her husband Christopher had twin girls just over a year ago."
"Wow so you're an uncle. Uncle Andy, that's cute."
"I am their favourite Uncle thank you very much!"
"My apologies. Do continue."
"Alright who's next? Nick is in college back east, Engineering. He wanted to join the army like David but he's had this ear thing since birth, couldn't pass the medical. Next of course is me and quite clearly I'm awesome. Jenny you met inside, she's probably the one I'm closest to, for a lot of reasons, and the idiot twins, Adam and Benjamin, they're still in middle school."
"They look identical how do you tell them apart?"
"There's some subtle differences only a practised eye can see. They drove my parents crazy for years with the switch act. Though Audrey and Jen got their own back on them, Ben at least, when they convinced him that Mom and Dad named him after our Grandfather's dog!"
"Oh my god they didn't? I mean your parents didn't really..." Sharon laughed as she watched him hide his smirk and shrug his response.
"Well Grandpa did have a beagle named Benji but who knows!"
"Can I ask you a question?" Sharon sank deeper into his hoodie as she tucked her feet up beneath herself.
"Another one?"
Sharon gave him a pointed look as he sat up a little straighter in the seat. When he raised his hands in surrender she proceeded.
"Is it all true? The rumours that you got kicked out of your old school."
Andy shifted a little as he looked out across the darkened yard, he'd been at the new school almost a whole semester and nobody had asked him outright. It didn'y bother him, he was actually quite happy for everybody to think he was some kind of bad boy. If people feared him a little then it was a bonus, it gave him a little power.
Sharon didn't fear him though, nor was she one of those girls that fawned over him. He was used to girls crushing on him but he'd been pleasently surprised to find that Sharon treated him like a friend, she trusted him and she was honest with him. He'd be lying if he said he didn't wish that there was more between them, she was a beautiful girl afterall, but he wasn't just interested for her looks. It went deeper than that and he couldn't really quantify or define it. So he didn't.
"I guess, technically they're true. I was expelled. the rumours are a tad exagerated though."
"What happened? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. It's not as if I'm in a position to judge you right now."
"It's not really a blockbuster story."
"I'd still really like to know."
He exhaled slowly before he cleared his throat and sat up a little straighter. "It started about a year ago, it was kind of a rough time, I guess for all of us, for reasons that aren't really my story to tell and I got into a bad crowd. I was acting out I guess or whatever. Eventually I did pull myself together it just took a while to get my head straight. Getting away from my so called friends was harder though. Then one day at school, this guy, Billy, brought some drugs into school. Nothing hardcore just some dope. Someone tipped off the principal and there was a locker search. So there we were all lined up and the principal and the cops were down the hall starting a search. All the lockers were open and Billy slipped the dope into Zak Mathers' locker. Now Zak was a good kid, honour student, his family wasn't too steady for money and the kid was set for a full ride to Columbia. If he got caught with drugs, it would all be over for him in a second. His locker was next to mine so when nobody was looking I took the bag and stuffed it in my pocket. I got caught with it and was suspended and then finally formally expelled."
"How could they throw you out when all you did was help that kid?"
"I never told them. I didn't say anything to anyone I didn't roll on Billy and I certainly never involved Zak Mathers."
"You took the fall."
Andy nodded slowly, he wasn't looking at her again and she searched to find his gaze.
"I guess the cops had an idea that they weren't mine, since they let me off with a caution. Surprising really since I had numerous warnings for anti social behaviour on my file. Officer Nichols both scared the crap out of me and made me straighten up. I guess I owe to him aswell as everyone else to make sure I don't mess up again."
Sharon looked at him for a long moment. It finally felt as if she knew him, really knew him. She'd had her suspicions that he wasn't as badass as he'd let people think but now she knew. Tonight had confirmed that he wasn't just a guy, loafing around school, throwing around the attitude, he was kind, and he cared. He was someone that would do the right thing, someone she could count on and trust to be there for her as a friend. She'd never really had friends that were guys before so it was new but, it was nice.
"Is that why you moved to LA? Because you got kicked out of school?"
"Yes and no." Andy shrugged, turning to face her as he nervously scratched the back of his head. "My Dad lost his job back east. He's a mechanic, a really good one, I've seen him rebuild cars out of nothing but scrap. Anyway the work just died up back in Jersey, lots of shops being taken over by multi chain firms and my Dad, he likes freedom in his work ya know, artistic license. Anyway he has an ex army buddy that owns his own body shop out here and he asked Dad to go in with him, expand his business. Audrey got Mom a job offer from Cedars and one family meeting later we were packing the old house up!"
"You're Dad was in the army too?"
"My Dad, my uncle, my grandfather. It's a bit of a family tradition."
"I see."
"Mom and Dad agreed we needed a fresh start out here. Me with my dumb life choices and Jen with...well Jen just needed to forget the past year so...here I am."
Sharon smiled and looked at him for a long moment, "Here you are indeed. Playing my knight in shining armour."
"You'd get by without me Sharon."
"Not tonight I wouldn't."
Andy looked at her softly, without even thinking he reached out and wrapped his hand in hers. When she squeezed back he exhaled slowly.
When Sharon opened her mouth to speak she jumped at the sound of the gate opening at the side of the yard. An older man stepped through and even though it was dark she could see the resemblance to Andy.
"Hey Pop!"
"Son!"
Thomas, 'Tommy' Flynn walked slowly up the porch steps and came to rest beside the porch swing where his son sat, with a girl no less.
"Pop this is my friend Sharon."
"Good to meet ya. Should I ask?" Mr Flynn raised his hand to his own face and circled his cheek area before pointing at Sharon.
"Probably not Sir." Sharon smiled and looked briefly to Andy who cleared his throat.
"Long story Dad."
"Say no more! I'm going to go inside and explain to your mother that the new couch she has her eye on probably isn't going to happen."
Andy laughed and watched as his father retreated before he looked back at Sharon, who had a curious look on her face. "Poker isn't his game. He can't lie for shit!"
Sharon laughed before she sighed deeply and released his hand pushing herself to the edge of the seat. "I guess I should be getting home. Have to face my parents eventually."
"I'll get my keys." Andy brushed her arm when he stood, leaving her briefly to retrieve his car keys and her discarded dress and shoes from inside the house.
Sharon breathed deeply for a moment, her attention moving to the two dogs that lay at her feet, one of them, introduced to her earlier as Thor, lifted his head to rest against her leg. She laughed quietly, so much for intimidating guard dogs, she thought as she gently stroked his head. It had been an interesting night and although she knew that the harder moments were still to come, she was so grateful to Andy for being so wonderful tonight. Just for being there.
Epic long chapter...hope you're all still awake at the end of it! Hopefully, work permitting, the next chapter should be up by Thursday night. Hit that review button and let me know your thoughts!
