Reconciliation

Pulling up to the house gives me a mix of nerves and excitement. Andi's gotta be waiting for us, but we don't know how she's going to be. Mum doesn't seem in a hurry to tell us, I think she's using it to punish us for getting arrested... I suppose we're getting off lightly in that sense, not that it feels like it. I notice the equipment from our performance is gone, I assume the football girls took it back.

Echo and I head to the door immediately, not even noticing Mum splitting off to go next door. I swing the front door open and rush in, checking the living room to see nothing, proceeding through to the kitchen, Echo close on my heels. I barge into the room, only to be met with a flying tackle... No... Not a tackle... A hug.

"I'm so sorry." Andi bawls, her tears flowing so hard they even cover my cheek, and presumably Echo's as she's drawn in too. "I shouldn't have pushed you away, and you got in trouble, and it's all my fault, and I'm so sorry." She babbles into our shoulders. I wrap my arm around her, and Echo does the same.

"It's not your fault. Don't be stupid." Echo retorts, her own voice wavering. "We'd go through every pig on this planet for you, a couple of hours in a cell is nothing."

I bring my other arm around Echo as she lets out a few tears of her own. "Woah, I didn't agree to that. Two or three cops? Sure, but all of them? I'd get bored eventually." I counter, pulling a chuckle from my girlfriends. Eventually, we pull apart, Echo supporting Andi while I grab the crutches she discarded when she threw herself at us.

"Hey! Handsy!" Andi smirks, wiping away tears, as Echo's hand lands on a sensitive area while trying to keep her up. "I missed you too." She adds, pecking Echo's lips with her own.

We finally get Andi sat down at the table and join her on either side. Each of her hands in one of ours. "How are you feeling?" I ask. "We wanted to reach out to you, but... I know it doesn't fix anything." I admit. Truthfully, nothing's changed, but Andi's not alone anymore, so the least we can do is listen.

Andi lets out a deep breath before responding. "It's... Empty. Like, I don't feel sad or angry, I don't feel anything about it. How could I? It wouldn't do anything. No one made the decision, no one's to blame. It's just... The thing I've loved my whole life, gone in an instant." She explains, unable to look me or Echo in the eye. "I appreciate the girls coming over earlier, but the truth is... I'm not one of them anymore. They don't need to –

"That's bullshit!" Echo exclaims, drawing Andi's eyes. "Those girls turned up at the world's worst gig for even the slightest chance to catch a glimpse of you. They fucking adore you. Whether you're playing or not, they're your team... I was a little jealous, to tell the truth." She added with a huff, looking away in embarrassment.

Andi snorts at our girlfriend's act. "Well, I will miss the shower orgies most..." She jokes, causing Echo's eyes to snap to hers at the idea. "But you're right, they're still my girls... I'll talk to the coach and see if I can help in any way." She continues, thinking aloud.

"Yeah, yeah, great. I just thought, does this mean you've seen Rosie in the shower?" Echo asks, her attention completely gone. I roll my eyes but still spot Andi giving a conspiratorial nod. "Damn... I should've gotten into sports." Echo adds wistfully.

"Should I go? Like, you two can replace me with my sister?" I ask sarcastically.

"Oh, she was our first choice, but when she turned us down, we settled for sleeping with you." Andi jokes... I hope.

I scoff at them ganging up on me. "I'm starting to feel a little unappreciated here. I may have to restrict dick privileges until I feel more appreciated.

"He's got a point." Echo states seriously, suddenly realising the severity of such a scenario. "Wait, unless Rosie has a dick?" She asks hopefully.

"She does not." Andi reveals. "And, personally, I wouldn't trade our Rufus for anyone in the world." She continues, pressing a kiss to the back of my hand. Okay, Andi's dick privileges are reinstated. Echo's on probation.

Echo seems to consider this before countering. "Sienna, though?" To which Andi seems to hesitate, but then grits her teeth and shakes her head. It's just now occurring to me that I may be the ugly one in our family... But I also have the biggest dick. Gotta look for the positives.

*

The bar is packed that evening. Seems like everyone we know has turned up for Andi's return. Even Ms Heart's here, sans fiancé... Sorry, Ex-Fiance. Seems like they had more problems than Maia being so deep in the closet her home was turned into a branch of Ikea.

The party's in full swing, at a glance I see Rosie and Sora flirting in the corner, bet they think it's less obvious than it is. Poppy and Ty are swaying on the dance floor, sickly sweet as ever. Sienna is sitting with Marie, Trish, and Rouge playing a drinking game, it's pretty obvious who's losing, my cousin is out of her depth. My parents snuck up to Sienna's flat when they thought no one was watching, naturally, everyone noticed. Jenny has the night off from watching Ms Birch, and she seems enthralled by conversation with... Max? Huh... Guess Andi's dad has some game of his own.

"Don't you think, Ru?" Andi asks me, snapping me out of my stupor. My blank gaze is enough to inform her that I wasn't paying attention. She sighs and tries again. "I was just saying... It would make sense when we graduate... I mean, there's no reason for us to be so spread out. It would make sense for us to live in the same area... Like, the same place... The same house, I guess." She rambles.

"She's asking us to move in with her." Echo translates with a devilish smile. "I think it's a dangerous idea, if I wake up every morning with that sweet arse of hers in arm's reach, I may never leave." She continues before taking a swig from her drink.

I look from her to Andi, who seems nervous... Does she think we'd say no? "Andi, you're being silly, there is no way in which we would ever even consider... Saying no to such a proposal." I finish with a delayed pause when I think I've stretched her nerves enough. "It sounds like an amazing idea." I conclude, receiving a passionate kiss for my answer, even if it was torturous.

"Well, I can't refuse now, can I? Not now that I've seen what the reward is for saying yes." Echo decides, Andi graces her with a kiss of her own. Echo seems to come to her own decision, downing the rest of her drink and turning to both of us. "I... You know I... Shit's been so crazy lately, I haven't had a chance... Fuck it. I love you. I'm in love with you. Both of you. I really... Really... Love the shit outta you." She declares.

I can't leave her standing there like that. "I love you too." I assure her, pulling her into a hug. Andi limps closer and joins in with us.

"And I never stopped loving you." Andi reminds her, rubbing Echo's back. "Falling for Rufus too was... Unexpected, but now I can't imagine not loving either of you." She confesses, kissing each of us in turn again.

With the music playing, all of my loved ones around me, and my girls in my arms, I come to a conclusion. Maybe life's never as simple as we think it is, maybe it's the people we meet who add the wonder and magical complexity. Maybe it's not about how easy you find things, but how much effort you put in for others that makes life worth living. It's probably impossible to know, but I do know one thing for certain.

I'm exactly where I'm meant to be right now.