A/N: I hope you liked this story, I really didn't have a set in stone plot for it. Thank you to everyone who's read this and to those who've added it to their favourites.

"No! Not the Lawnmower!" I screamed, sitting bolt straight up in the bed.

"Andie what's wrong?" Lay pushed her covers away from her face and stared at me groggily.

"I just had the worst dream. Ever."

"Was it the overdone baked potato again?"

"No...Mom was running my tulips over with a lawnmower! She killed my flowers!"

"She didn't kill your flowers, Andie...go back to sleep." She rolled over and covered her head once more. I was already too keyed up from the dream to go back to sleep so I pulled myself out of the bed and headed to the bathroom. After changing into a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt I headed back to my bed to put on my shoes. As I was tying my sneakers I looked up at the clock. 5:45 AM...They should have some coffee out by now. I thought.

Down in the lobby the smell of roasted coffee beans was overwhelming. My belly grumbled as it always did when I smelled the super drink. I headed over to the little breakfast area and poured myself a cup. After I added my cream and sugar I picked up a cup of yogurt from the tub of ice and settled into a seat at one of the small cafe style tables. The news was on so I ate my meager breakfast while I listened to the anchor talk at length about the economy.

"It's a shame." I jumped a foot in the air as Stephen settled in the chair opposite me.

"What?"

"The whole recession over here."

"Oh."

"You feel alright?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you were drinkin' last night. I figured with it bein' yer first time and all you'd be..."

"Why does everyone think that just because I don't drink that I must've not tried it before? I used to drink...a lot, when I was in high school! There wasn't a single moment of Junior year that I can remember through sober eyes!"

"So yer-"

"Yes I was a drunk! There I said it. And now I'm sober! That was the first drop of alcohol I've touched in five years!"

"I'm sorry, An, I didn't mean ta piss ya' off."

I mentally kicked myself for being a bitch, "Sorry for going off on you."

"So what happened?"

"It's a long story."

"An, it's six in the mornin', I have time."

"Fine. I drank, they sent me to Rehab, the end!" I stood up and slammed my chair back under the table before hitting the elevator one more time.

I've always come to the gym to work out my problems. Something about the burning muscles and the way you really focus on your workout just takes the mind away from your troubles.

I was running the track above the gym, my Mp3 sending Nightwish straight up the wire and into my ears. My feet were keeping beat with "Bye Bye Beautiful" as they pounded the track. I was soon joined by Teddy and Matt who nudged me with his elbow as he went by. I looked up, not knowing who it was at first, and gave him a dirty look. He glanced over his shoulder and threw me a cheeky smile.

"Fuck off!" I yelled. He and Ted stopped dead in their tracks and gawked at me with their mouths half open like baby birds waiting for a nourishing meal. I pulled the ear buds out of my ear, rather violently if I might add, and stomped off down the stairs towards the back entrance.

"Do you have a spare?" I asked Randy as I leaned against the brick wall.

He handed me a cigarette, "I'd ask if you need a light, but I think your eyes ought to do it." He passed me a lighter. "What's wrong, Andie."

"Nothing."

"Liar." He didn't say another word. We stood there in the cold alleyway in peaceful silence.

"Sorry I'm in bitch mode today." I said after a few minutes.

"It's cool. What's eatin' at you?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"You usually don't ask for a cigarette unless you're pissed off or ready to cry."

"Oh...I'm just...thinking."

"Well, I'm not one to pry, but if you need me I'm here." He dropped the remnants of his cigarette to the ground and stomped it out. I was left alone as he stalked into the building slamming the door behind him. Taking a long draw off the cigarette I laid my head against the wall and slid down it until I was sitting on the ground. One last hit and then I let the cancer stick fall to the ground beside me and pulled my knees up to my chest. I laid my head down and started to cry as I always did when my thoughts wandered back to Cassi. No one in the world could understand just how much of me died right along with her.

"Are ya' okay?" Stephen was squatting in front of me.

I looked up at him with a puffy face, "No." I shook my head and continued to cry harder.

"What's wrong, An?"

"It's...can we go somewhere else?"

"Where do ya' wanna' go, Lass?"

"Anywhere." He pulled me to standing and held my hand as we walked down the street. After a few turns he pulled me up the steps to an old house. He turned the handle and lead me into a beautiful home. A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I followed him through the house. The way it looked reminded me so much of Cassi and Bruce's place. At the top of the stairs we entered a large room with a bed, a TV, and a weight bench. It looked like my nephew's room. Stephen shut the door and directed me to the blue blanketed bed. He sat down next to me and stared at me sadly.

"What's wrong, An?" I shook my head. "Please, An, just tell me what's got ya' down. I don't like it when yer upset."

"Where are we?"

"My parent's house. Now, could ya' talk to me."

"I...I...I-" I started crying again and leaned against his chest. He wrapped his ams around me and ran his fingers through my black hair while he whispered endearments and soothed me.

"Tell me, An, it'll make ya' feel better, I promise."

I leaned back and looked up into his gorgeous blue eyes. "Promise?" I sounded like a child.

"Yes." His eyes were so warm, caring, and kind.

I nodded my head, my way of steeling courage. "When I was 16, I lived with my sister, Cassiope...Cassi... I'd been living with her since I was like 11 or 12. Mom hated it, but I wouldn't let Sis move without me, even though we were living on the other end of the country. I skipped school one day. It was like the second week of school, but it was Friday and my 16th birthday was the next day, so Sis was cool with it. I was riding with her to pick up my niece and nephew from school. It had been raining a lot and there was a lot of water on the road. Cassi swerved to miss a bunny and the next thing I know we're hydroplanning. After that I only remember waking up upside down. Cassi wasn't next to me so I panicked. I pulled myself out of the car. There were EMTs and other people standing in a circle...they hadn't noticed that I was in the car. I pushed through them only to find Cass on the wet asphalt covered in...in...blood. I laid down next to her and I remember her being so cold. I screamed and then I cried and then someone pulled me off of her. They covered her up and sent me home with my brother-in-law. I started drinking that night...I was drunk at the funeral...I was drunk on the plane ride back to Mom's...I was drunk at school."

"I'm sorry, An..."

"I drank because it was...it is...my fault that Cass is in that white box." I dropped back into his arms. "It got so bad that I was going through a pack and a half of cigarettes and a fifth of vodka every night..."

"How'd you-"

"Stop? I decided that I wanted to be with Cass. I took a whole bottle of Mom's sleeping meds and drank myself into a coma. I woke up in a hospital, Dad cussed me out, and Mom sent me to rehab." I continued to sob, now even harder than before, and pushed myself closer to him. He cradled me and laid down with me, pulling the blankets up around us. He worked his hand under the loose sweater I was wearing and rubbed my back. He brushed over the tender scar on my right shou'lder blade.

"Did ya' get that-"

"From the wreck..." My voice was now a somber whisper, "I've got one on my knee, too...and my hands." I showed him the mass of scars covering my hands and whimpered.

"An, it's alright. I know it hurts and yer still sore but Cassi wouldn't want ya' crying like this."

"How would you know?" I yelled pounding my fist feudally against his chest. He pulled me closer and ran his fingers through my hair until I calmed down. He placed a kiss on my forehead and I lifted my face to gaze into his eyes. I got the dreamy feeling again as we moved towards each other. Our lips locked in a soft, delicate kiss. He pulled away from me.

"An, yer the sweetest thing that I've ever had the good fortune to see."

"Shut up and kiss me." I pulled him into a hungry kiss only for him to pull away from me one more time.

"Tell me, An, how a girl like ya' can go from bein' shy one minute ta ferocious the next."

"I...I...I don't know." I blushed deeply. "I just...I'm fallin' for you, Steve, and I've lost too many chances being shy. I'm tired of not having what I need and I need you."

"I've finally found the real you, An."

"It's Andromeda." He chuckled and pulled me into a deep passionate kiss that stole my breath away.

This isn't the last you'll hear from Andie... Thanks for reading (and reviewing...what? I like reviews..hint, hint) Ciao.