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Lizzie was thirteen when the Codys had invited her over for a movie night. She always jumped at the opportunity to stay at the Cody house; it was better than being at home or sleeping on the beach.
So she found herself in the sunken living room, watching a movie with Craig and Deran. She had no clue what the movie was, and she honestly didn't even care; she was happy to not be at home. They had gotten pizza as they sat and watched.
As the sun was dropping, the rain appeared. Lizzie had never been more thankful that she wasn't sleeping on the beach. She sat on the large couch, her legs crossed as she tried to stay very still. Deran's head was in her lap as she ran her hand through his hair, as he had fallen asleep. Craig had spread across the other side of the couch, snoring loudly.
Lizzie jumped as the thunder started, the house shaking. She didn't know how Deran and Craig didn't wake up. But here she was surrounded by kids as her body shook. She bit her lip, trying to focus on the movie, but every time she started to doze off, another roll of thunder and lightning would hit, and she'd jolt awake again.
The third time it happened, she couldn't help the small squeak that escaped her. She heard footsteps approaching, and she froze. The heavy footsteps reached the top of the steps, and she almost cried in relief as Andrew stood there. He looked at her with a serious expression that she could only label as a frown through the TV light.
"S-sorry, Andrew," she whispered softly towards the seventeen year old boy. Another roll hit outside, and she couldn't help the flinch her body did instinctively.
"Bed," he said, coming down the steps, giving her a look that said under no circumstances was there to be arguing. He moved to Craig first, shaking his shoulder roughly. "Get up, go to bed."
Craig awoke with a groan, rubbing his eyes before he nodded and dragged himself towards his room. Andrew moved next, slipping his arms under Deran and lifting him up off Lizzie's lap.
"Can I stay here tonight?" she asked gently, looking up at him. She always felt like she had to ask, no matter how many times Smurf said she was free to come and go. It felt wrong to stay without permission, and she knew Andrew in particular hated a change of routine.
Andrew paused, looking down at her for a moment before he nodded, turning around and carrying Deran down the hall. She kept the TV on, a nice glow before she grabbed the blanket that they had pulled out for movie night; she wrapped it around herself and curled onto the couch. The storm outside was raging, hitting the window and doors. Every time thunder and lightning crashed, she couldn't help but jump.
She was too old to be like this. She wasn't a kid anymore. But here she was with a TV on for a nightlight and jumping at a stupid storm. She could feel her heart beating fast, and her breathing was getting shallow. She just needed to sleep, and nothing was wrong.
Until another crash hit so close it felt like it was in the backyard; the house shook with the force as the TV cut out, pitching her into total darkness. She couldn't help the scream that escaped her. Her body reacted fast, working on its own as she kicked the blanket off. She was running now, her bare feet hitting the floor as she moved fast through the house. Darting up towards the front of the house, finding Andrew's bedroom door.
He must have heard her; she didn't know how, but before she could do anything, the door was opening, and he was standing there, auburn curls crazy as he stood in the doorway. She paused like she wasn't sure what to do.
"Lizzie?" Andrew asked; he didn't sound like he had been asleep, but he looked at her now with confusion.
"Andrew!" She didn't wait for an answer. She moved forward quickly. She needed to be in his arms, where it felt safe. She reached him, colliding into his solid frame, her arms wrapped around him, holding onto him tightly as she buried herself into his shirt. She felt as his arms wrapped around her, holding her to him. One hand hesitantly went to her hair, soothingly stroking it, the other on her back. "I can't stay alone," she almost sobbed. She hated admitting she was scared. "Can I sleep in your room?"
"Lizzie," his voice was a whisper, as if he was going to say no. But fear shook her, and she squeezed him tighter.
"Please!" The storm hit again, making her jump and cry, her hands clawing at him.
"Fine," he whispered, patting her head gently, signaling for her to let go of him. He turned around as she did and moved to the side to let her into the room.
He led her in, standing away from the bed as he watched her. She looked at the bed, perfectly made up, as if he had never been under the covers.
"Is it ok if I go under the covers?" she asked, turning to look at him, confused. She watched as he fiddled with his fingers. But he nodded his head, looking back at her like he was slightly terrified.
Lizzie nodded, trying to keep as far away from the doors as possible. She pulled the covers aside and crawled in. She watched as Andrew moved around the bed like he was scared. Finally, he lay down on top of the covers, but his body was almost on top of her by the size of the bed. He lay stiff as a board and gave her as much space as he could manage.
Another hit of the storm and Lizzie jumped; tears were starting to form in her eyes. She wasn't some stupid kid; she wasn't. But the tears began to fall. She tried to be quiet, but her body shook.
"Stop crying, Lizzie." his voice was rough, but that made it feel worse. She didn't mean to cry and disturb him. Her whole body shook again as she tried to be as quiet as possible.
"S-sorry," she whispered.
She closed her eyes, trying to shut everything out. Maybe if she couldn't see anything, she could trick her body into thinking everything was ok.
But she felt Andrew moving beside her. Suddenly, a hand touched her arm gently. He was guiding her to roll onto her side away from him. Lizzie couldn't help feeling worse; she was so disruptive that he didn't even want to look at her.
He got her onto her side before he was moving himself, that arm sliding around her waist, curling around her.
"I'm here," he whispered, barely audible, as if he wasn't sure what to say. Her body eased as comfort set in. His other arm went up above them so he could run his hand over her hair, soothingly. Finally, her body relaxed, and her eyes closed.
"D-don't leave, ok?" she whispered. She couldn't help the small whimper as the next round of thunder and lightning shook the house. She continued to try to keep her eyes closed, letting the sensation of his arm around her and his hand on her hair comfort her.
"I've got you, Lizzie. You're safe," he whispered gently to her before she drifted to sleep.