Prelude

Andy and Robert have been really good friends for the past 3 years of high school. They both liked each other but neither gave in to their feelings. One day in their 2nd year of friendship Robert told Andy he wanted to be with her but she told him she wasn't ready for a relationship. He brought it up occasionally over the course of the next year but she still wasn't ready. Robert still didn't go in a relationship because he only wanted Andy. They were even the talk of their grade because everyone assumed they were together because of the nature of their relationship. They denied it but everyone had their assumptions regardless.

6 months after their 3rd year Anniversary as friends, Robert found someone he was really interested in and so he decided to give things a try. 2 months later he decided to tell Andy.

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Andy was having her sandwich when Robert came up and whispered "Guess what! I found a girl, her name is Chantal and she goes to..." Andy turned around with a shocked expression cutting him off with a sarcastic "Wow!" accompanied with a disgruntled face, as she shrugged her shoulders.

Being that Andy and Robert have been close friends for 3 years and going, they tell each other everything. They go out together, spend time at each other's home, take loads of pictures, and they even have the same friends. Since he wanted more and Andy didn't, he couldn't understand her behavior.

"Jeez what's with the attitude Andy? And here I thought you would be happy I found someone who I like" Robert uttered while prepping to get up and leave. He knew he should've told her earlier but he wanted to feel things out and see if he wants this. After those 2 months he was happy and he wanted to include his best friend.

Andy grabbed his arm "Robert wait! Honestly I'm happy for you, it just came as a shock to me and you know how I am, please don't make this hard."

Robert smiled and hugged Andy around her neck. "Andy, I'm not mad. Hmmm, maybe I am a little but you know I love you and I can't do without you. You gotta make it up to me though" Andy rolled her eyes, "Fine we can go to your ice cream place after school."

The two then strolled outside around the school campus talking about Chantal, because Andy needed to know about this girl who caught the eye of her Robert. 'Right he's not my Robert anymore' Andy thought.

Robert showed her pictures and Andy carried on with excitement not being able to control herself, she was genuinely overjoyed that Robert was happy. "Well well well, looks like you've hit jackpot!" and "Look at you, Mr Taken" were some of her comments.

They spent the day together laughing and talking and enjoying themselves when they weren't in class. Later in the evening, they went to get ice-cream as planned. Once they were parting ways they promised they'd FaceTime later if Robert wasn't caught up talking to Chantal.

Upon arriving home Andy wondered what was going on, why she felt the way she did? Her heart felt heavy, she was suppose to be happy but deep down she wasn't and she just wanted to lay in bed and cry. Could it be because Robert had moved on? Or is it because she feels she's losing her best friend? She went to bed pondering, her mind racking up with all the possible reasons.

After deep thought, she decided over the course of the following days that she would bury those thoughts deep down. All she has ever wanted was for Robert to be happy and he was so that meant she would be his best supporter. Days and weeks went by and Robert spoke tirelessly about Chantal, by now he had tons of pictures of her and he never ceases to showed them to Andy daily.

Things at school were hard for Andy considering Robert's friends clearly had the notion that he and Andy were together. While Andy couldn't help blushing each time the assumption came up, she repeatedly told them this was not the case and he had a girlfriend. They would look at her and laugh and made remarks like "Oh please, as if Robert would ever let you out of his grasp" and "Come on Andy, we know his heart beats for you. Have you seen how he looks at you?" While Andy was flattered, nothing could happen, that's right nothing because she pushed him away and he found someone else.

The more she heard those comments, the more furious she got, usually these words wouldn't have sting so much but now they were like razors cutting her. They reminded her of what she lost, what could've been. One day she snapped "Guys! Just chill, we're not together okay!" Which left them all speechless.

Stomping off and grumbling to herself, the place then went dark, "Robert Sullivan please not now!" Andy shouted.

"O-kay O-kay" he uttered as he uncovered her face. He spun her around and grabbed her tiny waist lifting her up. Her face lit up and Robert was satisfied "Now that's the face I want to see"

Andy quickly wipes the smile from her face and so he put her down. His hands never left her waist and both shared a longing look.

Staring him in the eyes the feeling of her unfailing love for him came over her again, and with her face now reddening she tried to hide it. "What's this? Andy, what's with the blushing huh, who's the guy you're thinking about?" Robert teased.

"Quit it Robert!" Andy punched him playfully.

"I'll find out eventually no worries." He spoke nonchalantly as he threw his arms around her shoulders and they carried on walking.

As they spoke, Robert asked Andy what she thought a girl would like a guy to do for them that makes her feel special. Knowing this was about Chantal, her countenance changed. She however, fought hard to overlook her feelings and told him what she thought, because she wanted him to be happy. This was a thought she tried to keep at the forefront of her mind despite her boiling feelings.

Happy with getting the advice he got, he embraced her. It didn't come empty handed as he dropped another bomb on Andy "So I've got a date with Chantal Saturday, and I'd love for you to meet her. She really wants to meet you as well. What do you think?"

"Well why not I'd love to meet her, see this girl who's taking away my Robert" she barely let out as her brown eyes bulged with anger and her mouth protruded.

Robert too caught up in his love bubble didn't catch how uncomfortable the suggestion made Andy feel. He just smiled, gave her a hug as he anticipated this very special day. His best friend and his girlfriend meeting and who knows becoming friends.

Saturday came and all three met, introductions were made and Andy spoke to Chantal. It was weird for Andy to see someone so smitten about Robert. Chantal turned out to be a really sweet genuine person, which meant Andy found no faults. Considering she was trying so hard to not like her, her sweet personality just made things worst. By the end of the day Andy decided to give her a chance and so they exchanged numbers.

Chantal and Robert left for a while to spend time together so Andy left the both of them and headed home.

The girls kept in contact, they spoke almost everyday and the more they spoke they became closer but underneath all this Andy's feelings grew stronger and she knew she wanted Robert. She knew everything about Robert and now someone new was discovering him, and she was also helping that someone.

She was being tormented day after day, but being the type of person Andy is, she would put on a show and shove down her feelings. At night she would lay and think what a predicament she got herself in. She would occasionally feel left out because Robert spent all his time with Chantal. Yes she saw him at school but it wasn't the same. She was reduced to him coming over when Chantal wasn't available or him sending messages apologizing for not answering her call.

Andy had enough and so she decided she'd just let him call her when he wants and just be a good listener if he comes to talk. She'd go back to being the loner she was. She didn't need anybody.

Their entire dynamic shifted and Andy went back in her shell. Teenage romance was quite something to deal with.

Six months went by and Chantal and Robert were still together and Chantal was getting most of the attention, his conversations at school and sometimes over the phone with Andy were limited.

He felt sad that he and Andy weren't close as before and he didn't want to rub his relationship in her face so he tried to do little damage. Andy could tell he was protecting her but she still needed his company. The weekends were off limits for Andy now too since that's when he and Chantal would meet.

Robert's relationship with Chantal was going strong so when everything changed so quickly in a week it was heart wrenching.

One day Chantal's dad found out about her relationship, which he forbid. He was adamant on Robert not speaking to his daughter. He had a long conversation with Robert and despite Robert's efforts to continually reassure him his intentions are pure and he won't hurt her, he never budged. Chantal pleaded too but her dad wouldn't let her. He even made a threat to file a restraining order against Robert while taking drastic steps to ensure his daughter didn't communicate with him.

Two teens now left with a broken heart. Both unable to find a way to be together.

Andy learnt of the situation and tried her best to be there but now was caught in the middle. She was the mediator between Robert and Chantal, delivering messages etc. It even was a case where she had to be giving advice to them, both wanting to know what was the best thing to do. Andy battled with her decision because she knew she wanted Robert which complicated things but she couldn't stand seeing Robert sad over Chantal. It was clear he cared about her a lot. After days, she then came to the decision that it was best Chantal complies with her dad to avoid further complications. Family is important and Andy believed in that.

After having to deal with Robert's broken heart for weeks, Andy finally got him in a good place. He still missed Chantal and she missed him but they knew they couldn't be together.

Months passed and by and at this point Andy and Robert we're even more inseparable than before. They picked up back on their routines and spent a lot of time together. Andy was happy again and she did cherish even the smallest of moments with Robert.

Chantal has found a way to reach out to Robert and kept asking how he was, and if he had found someone to move on with. He told her no several times because he really couldn't take anymore heart ache. He didn't make any moves to a new relationship, he just wanted to be free from drama and enjoy the friendship he had with Andy.

One day Andy and Robert were hanging out at his house. They decided they'd watch the Notebook together. It was an emotional roller coaster for Andy and a bit for Robert as his heart still ached. When the movie ended Andy was crying so much that Robert took her face in his palms and used his fingers to wipe her tears. He stared deep into her brown eyes and brushed his finger on her lips. His forehead came closer to hers as he held her close. In that moment he realized how much he loved her and not just as friends.

Andy could feel her heart racing and electricity corded through her veins. Wild thoughts flooded her mind and there was a burning fire within her. She was being tempted and she was fighting hard to stay calm. She, however, couldn't resist her urges as she brought herself unto his lap with her arms now thrown around his neck. She looked at him and whispered "Robert"

He knew her, she was conflicted but she was definitely feeling things from her reaction. "Andy, tell me what do you want?"

"I don't know if we should" she said still trying to fight the internal war inside her mind and body.

"It's okay. Everything will be okay" With just that little reassurance her lips came crashing on his. She felt herself loosen up and she allowed herself to feel free and she was now on cloud nine. After they shared that intimate kiss, she told him how she truly felt, Robert was dumbfounded and couldn't understand why she would hide her feelings. Here he was trying to avoid conflicting feelings.

After a while once they sorted our things they began dating. Chantal still kept in contact every now and then with Robert and her convo was always asking him about about if he has moved on. He told Andy and she told him not to tell her about them. Andy wanted to do it herself plus she needed some time.

2 days later and she was back at it and Robert was getting frustrated and so without event consulting Andy he sent Chantal a picture they had taken the week before at a school event. The picture captured two people very in love and evidence enough that they were together.

Chantal then texted Andy "Wow! Looks like you got him after-all!" Andy knew exactly what was up and tears filled her eyes knowing she just lost a friend.