Nothing Without You: An Andy x Leyley Story — Chapter 3

[Chapter 1]

[Previous Chapter]

You are Andrew.

Andrew regretted abandoning Ashley the second he left the apartment, but it wasn’t until he was already out on the sidewalk on the way to school that the loneliness and panic caused him to turn back. He had always convinced himself that her presence was merely a good distraction from his own thoughts, but the truth was, his thoughts consisted mainly of her to begin with. In fact, the only time she ever wasn’t on his mind was when he was with Julia, but even then …

Andrew’s train of thought was quickly cut short at the sound of Ashley’s panicked screaming right around the corner of their apartment complex.

“LET GO OF ME!”

Andrew felt all of the blood in his body run cold in an instant. He didn’t think he had ever sprinted so fast in his life as he turned the corner to see a grown-ass man yanking his sister by the arm and trying to force her onto his motorcycle.

The man grunted, “Quit being such a fucking tease before I kick in those pretty little teeth of yours.”

Andrew didn’t even feel himself dash towards him and sucker punch him right in the jaw until it had already happened. The guy immediately let go of Ashley and reeled back, falling over and yelling in agony as the motorcycle crushed one of his legs.

Andrew was practically frothing at the mouth with rage as he glared down at the man, “Get your filthy fucking hands off of my sister.” Ashley had already wrapped both arms around one of his and clung to him like a child with their teddy bear.

The guy desperately tried to push the motorcycle off of him, but to no avail, “Fuck you, kid! You have no idea who you’re messing with. I’ll fucking kill both of you, you little shits!”

The siblings simply stared at the man cursing them out for a few moments before Andrew muttered to Ashley, “What do you wanna do with him?”

Ashley, still clutching Andrew’s arm in a death grip, just glared at the guy for another second before shrugging, “Let’s just leave him here. He’s clearly not going anywhere, and someone’s bound to call the police or an ambulance at some point. But first …”

Ashley rummaged through her bag and pulled out the key to the apartment. She looked at Andrew with a mischievous grin, and he knew exactly what she was thinking. He gave her a nod of approval, and she immediately got to work carving a giant heart with the letters “A + L” right onto the side of the bike, all while the guy was screaming profanities helplessly.

Ashley took a step back, and they both admired her handiwork. “You’ve really outdone yourself this time,” Andrew said with a smirk, but she just turned away and started walking.

He hastily caught up with her, “Hey, I … I’m sorry for leaving without you, okay?”

She continued walking, not even bothering to look at him, “You’re a real asshole, Andrew. Why do you always hurt me like this?

Her words were like a punch to the gut, and Andrew scoffed, “I just saved your life!”

“You wouldn’t have had to if you’d stayed with me like you were supposed to!”

“You have no way of knowing that! That greasy fuck could’ve still come onto you even if I were around.”

Ashley stayed quiet at that, and Andrew sighed, “Besides, no one else would’ve even tried to help you like I just did.”

After a short pause, she let out a quiet huff, the corners of her lips curling into a small smile, “Oh yeah? Well, no one else would ever forgive you so quickly for ditching me like I will right now.”

She fell in step with him and wrapped an arm around his waist in a half-hug before pulling away but staying close. Andrew felt his face heat up against his will and looked away in an attempt
to hide it. She either didn’t notice or didn’t want to bother him over it; instead, she let out a small chuckle, “So, I’m guessing we’re not saying a word of this to Mom and Dad?”

Andrew was almost surprised by how quickly she had recovered from the harrowing events that had just transpired, but that surprise didn’t last long. She had gotten over way more serious matters just as quickly, after all.

He cleared his throat, “I won’t say anything if you won’t.”

Ashley beamed, “Okie dokie!”

Things really were just that simple with her. Most of the time, Andrew found her easygoing, lackadaisical attitude annoying as hell, but every once in a while, he couldn’t help but love it. Just like he couldn’t help himself from loving her …

“You’re quiet,” Ashley remarked as she cast him a sideways glance. “Quieter than usual. What’s wrong?”

Andrew blinked, “U-uh, nothing.”

Of course, that was complete bullshit. The events of the night prior were still fresh in his mind, and it felt like all of his neurons were rapidly scrambling to comprehend what the repercussions would be: what this meant for his relationship with Julia, and, more importantly (though he’d never admit it), what this meant for his relationship with Ashley.

“Liar,” Ashley said flatly with a grin. “Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about last night.”

He furrowed his brow, “It is really that crazy not to still be thinking about last night?”

“I’m not thinking about it,” she shrugged casually.

“Of course you’re not,” he rolled his eyes. “You don’t think period.”

She scrunched her nose, “I literally just forgave you, Andy. Don’t make me regret it.”

“Sorry …”

The two continued walking side-by-side in relative silence until Ashley finally sighed, “What exactly are you so hung up about anyway? Nobody else has even the slightest idea of what we did.” She then flashed him a teasing smirk, “Unless you’re just worried that the rumors about us are finally coming true ..?”

Andrew’s eye twitched, “Ugh, no, stop! I don’t give a fuck about the goddamn rumors, I just … I just don’t know how doing what we did is going to change things … between us.”

Ashley tilted her head to the side, “And why should it change anything? I always knew you were all mine, and last night just helped prove it.”

Andrew didn’t know whether he should’ve felt disgusted, concerned, or aroused by that comment, and that only seemed to sink his heart further. “What exactly do you mean by that?” he asked.

She scoffed, “God, Andrew, for as much as you love to overthink everything, you can be so dense sometimes. I’ve told you a million times already; I just want to be with you. Always and forever. Isn’t that what you promised me?”

Of course she just had to bring up the promise.

Andrew cracked his neck uncomfortably, “Okay, but … be with me how? Like … in what way?”

“Jesus Christ,” Ashley muttered. “What are you even trying to ask me? What do I have to do or say to get it through your thick skull? Before we fell asleep last night, you were the one to bring up ‘eloping’, and what did I say to that?”

Andrew huffed, “Well, first you laughed in my face like I was speaking another language, and then … You agreed to it.”

“Exactly,” she said, “so what is it that you can’t seem to understand?”

“I …” his voice trailed off.

What don’t I understand? Nothing. No, everything! This is fucking crazy!

Time was up. They made it to school.

“Ugh, you’re hopeless,” Ashley rolled her eyes as they walked through the doors. “Try not to drown in your own head without me, dummy.”

She broke off from him to head to her homeroom class before turning around and smiling wickedly, “And you’d better be on your best behavior from now on. Otherwise … I might just have a little lunchtime chat with Julia about what happened last night.”

With that, she skipped off down the hallway, leaving Andrew standing there as other students brushed past him.

I’m completely fucked.