Pleasant Greetings

Being strong is a relative concept, really. Ants are supposed to be super strong, but they still get crushed under people's feet, without even being noticed. You can be a bodybuilder capable of pulling buses with your bare hands, but it means nothing when an asteroid hits the Earth.

I think this as people I've never spoken to praise me for staying strong. I've got it easy, it's the adults who have the tough time. "Remember the first time I met Dani? I screamed my head off at her." Mama chuckles, her arms wrapped around Mum, who leans on her shoulder. "Even after that, she basically took me in."

Mum smiles at the reminiscing stories. Poppy's recovered too, deep in conversation with Jenny about stuff at the shelter. I imagined it being more awkward with Mum, but everyone seems to be putting aside their differences for today. Except Ashley, who vanished again after the service, can't say I care.

The wake is taking place in the bar beneath Sienna's place, apparently my parents still know the owners from when they lived in that flat. It means the **** is flowing, and Mum seems super comfortable here, win-win really. Rouge, Trish, Marie, and Rosie are taking care of mingling with the guests, meaning I'm out of jobs to do. Nothing to occupy me.

Blurred vision. Room spinning. No, come on. Not now. What even caused this one? Shallow breaths. Look for the front door, wide open, not far. Stand, walk, walk, walk. Not far. Air. Cold out here. Lean against the wall. Breathe. Slow. Breathe. Deep. Calm. Relax. Hand on my back.

"Rufus, you okay?" I hear echo in my head. I look up, Sienna. "You look like Hell, come on, you can lay down upstairs." She puts my arm around her and supports me as she carries me back through the bar to the back. She speaks to someone, I think it's Mama, she kisses my forehead, before helping to carry me upstairs.

*

I wake up in a strange bed, not mine, that's for sure. Must be Sienna's, it's been a while since I passed out from one of the attacks, I guess the emotion of the funeral hit me all at once. I open my eyes and begin to sit up.

"Hey, slowly." A soothing voice tells me, handing me some water. "You just get no luck with these things, huh?" My vision returns to focus, and I see Andi smiling kindly at me.

I take a sip of water before placing it on the bedside table. "Aha. You've fallen for my trap, I've lured you to the bedroom." I joke. "How long was I out."

"Not long enough to come up with original jokes, apparently." She answers. Shit, that's right, I used that one when I hurt my ribs. "Only about half an hour. Elise said you'd be okay after a while, but you'd never forgive us if we called an ambulance."

Good call. "She's right, it's a known issue, an ambulance would just draw attention to it, and not the fun kind of attention." I grin. "Look at you, calling Mama by her name." I add. Mama must like her if she left me in her care. Either that or she's decided to wing-woman me. Both are possible.

"She insisted, to be fair, Mrs Monroe could get confusing now they're both here." Andi chuckles. True, that was always an issue at parent's evening. "I'm glad Scarlet's here now, might stop you going off the rails."

Aah, a criminal joke, it's been a whole two hours since I heard one of those. "Don't lie, you're just glad Mama went to look after her, and left you alone with me." I laugh.

Andi looks down slightly, before climbing onto the bed. "Yeah…" She murmurs. "Maybe that's it... So I can finally do this."

I almost feel like I'm dreaming again when her lips touch mine, they're so soft and smooth. She's so delicate, like she's worried about making me uncomfortable. Her hand strokes my cheek, sending shivers down my spine. It feels like we're joined for hours, until we finally break apart.

I look into her sparkling eyes, they appear filled with happiness. "Sorry if that was bad, that was my first kiss with a boy..." Andi admits. "It's just... I've wanted to do that all day."

I don't know how to react. On one hand, I'm cheering, Andi's gorgeous, and I know I like her... But on the other hand... What if she's not the one that's been causing that feeling? Would that be unfair? What if it's Echo? Fuck, what if Echo still loves Andi, and I'm the asshole coming between them?

"Just today?" I ask. Yeah, be smarmy, that'll help the situation. I suppose that is my default state.

Luckily for me, Andi snorts at my question. "Okay, longer than today." She replies. "And... I've wanted to do more, for a while now." She continues, stroking my cheek again.

"I have too, but it's less okay for me to admit it, just makes me sound pervy." I retort. Fucking, damn it, can I say anything that isn't sarcasm? Is this... Really happening? Are me and Andi actually going to-

"But I can't, not yet." Andi sighs. Someone get me off this fucking rollercoaster, neither my heart nor my dick can handle it. "I'm... Not the only one that likes you. It wouldn't be fair... So, I'll wait until you make a decision." She explains, kissing me on the cheek again, before exiting the room, leaving me dumbstruck.

Not the only one? Echo too? Wait, at the party, Andi said she still had feelings for Echo. Echo's been in love with her for years too, that's why she pushed her away. And now... They both like me? And I have to choose? Fuck, this is stupid, I don't want to choose!

Wait.

That's it.

That's the feeling.

I get it when I'm with both of them.

I don't want to choose.

I like both of them.

Oh, fuck. I like both of them.