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She had narrowly avoided the incoming hit as she was running through the house and towards her room. She slammed the door and slid the lock in place. Andrew had installed it when her parents were out; thankfully, they hadn't noticed until now.
Until now.
Her body shook when the banging and yelling started on the door. The door itself shook on the hinges. She moved quickly to the closet and dug into it to find the emergency bag she kept there. She managed to dig inside it and pull out the burner phone Andrew had given her. She typed SOS quickly before she grabbed a hoodie and put it on, shoved the phone in her pocket, and put the bag over her shoulder. Finally, she slipped on her runners.
She moved to the window and popped it open just enough to get through. She wiggled herself onto the roof and shut the window behind her as she moved to climb down just like she had done too many times before. Too many years of this shit had taught her well, but by fifteen she was fast at this now, and she could do it easily.
She got down to the ground and avoided the windows as she ran down the street. Eventually she reached the beach, and she couldn't help the relief that escaped her. She got to the sand and pulled off her shoes and socks, shoving them into her bag before she wiggled her toes in the hot sand. Feeling grounded.
She sat down in the sand, and she brought her knees up so she could rest her head on them. She felt her tears fall as she watched the ocean tides. The sun was starting to go down, and she figured this would be fine for the night, like so many nights before.
She wasn't sure how long she was there for before she felt the presence behind her. As lovely as Andrew was, he always had a presence about him with a stare so intense that it always made her feel like someone was watching. She felt the hand on her head as he ran in through her hair, soothing it before he sat down beside her.
He sat down just far enough away that she still had space. But she didn't want space. She wanted to be closer to him. She moved and inched closer, trying to move slowly so he could pull away if he wanted. Slowly she lowered her head to rest on his shoulder.
They sat like that for a long time as both of them watched the waves as it continued to get darker.
"I hate it here, Andrew," she whispered after some time. She snuggled in further to him, and his head leaned against hers almost hesitantly. "I don't want to be here anymore."
There was a pit in her stomach like saying the words out loud felt taboo. She felt like she was saying words she shouldn't say. But Andrew didn't move and didn't recoil from her. He kept his cheek pressed against her head.
But Andrew didn't say anything as they continued to sit there in silence watching the water.
"Lizzie?" he asked after some time, but she was barely listening now. Her eyes were heavy and exhausted. She felt his hand come up and continued to run his hand through her hair soothingly. His other hand came to take hers, entwining them together.
"Mhm?" she asked as she squeezed his hand.
"What would you do?" he asked quietly. "Where would you go?"
"I dunno," she snuggled into his side and absorbed the comforting warmth of his body. "Maybe go somewhere where it's like, no one else is, or it's a small town?" She gave a small laugh at the ridiculousness of the idea. "Where it's peaceful and green."
"I'd like that," he whispered back as he lifted his head, looking at her. "I'd miss surfing though."
Lizzie couldn't help the small laugh. "I think we could find a way to compromise. We could find a place we could have both, I'm sure."
"Then yeah," he said as his hand continued to move, feeling the ends of her hair, tangling it in his fingers. "I think we could do that."
They continued to sit and watch the waves as neither of them spoke, for fear it would break the bubble they had created between them. Lizzie felt herself slowly starting to drift to sleep as she wrapped herself in his warmth. Not before she felt a kiss on the top of her head so light she thought she imagined it.
"Common, I brought the car; you can stay at Smurfs," he whispered into her ear.
"I don't want to cause any problems," she dragged her heavy eyes open as Andrew was already moving away from her. She felt as suddenly his arm was going under her knees and the other around her back as he lifted her. "Andrew!" she squealed from the sudden movement.
"No problems," he said as if it was a simple fact as he carried her to the truck. She couldn't help but laugh as they got to the car and she moved to help him open the car door. He placed her gently into the car and moved to buckle her in. He moved back to grab her shoes and her bag before throwing them in the back seat. She watched as he closed the door behind her and headed to the driver's side.
The car ride was loud as Andrew turned the music on to its regular, extremely loud volume. It didn't take long before they were pulling into the driveway. Lizzie didn't wait for Andrew as she got the seatbelt off, leaned behind to grab her things, and got out of the car. She led the way into the house, Andrew following behind her quietly.
They went to his room, but he didn't close the door as she dropped her bag by the closet, getting ready to climb into bed. But she froze as Andrew stood there, his hands fiddling with each other as he looked at her, unsure.
"Aren't you going to sleep?" she asked as she pulled her hoodie off, folded it, and placed it on her bag. Andrew hated when she threw clothes on the floor.
"I'll leave you here; I'm not tired."
Lizzie paused. "If you want, but-" Her heart beat faster as she looked at him. She climbed into the bed. "I thought you would stay with me."
Andrew looked at her, then, as if he was shocked she would even suggest it. He nodded as he moved to the other side of the bed and climbed on top of the covers. Lizzie shook her head, giving a warm smile. He acted as if she didn't come over here at least once a week, having this exact conversation every time.
She got comfortable as he made sure to leave as much distance between them as possible. She turned over to face him. "Andrew?" she asked quietly. She waited for him to look at her. This was also routine. "Can I move closer?"
She could see him as he nodded. He let her move closer so her head was on his chest, his arm snaking around her shoulders, his fingers back into the ends of her hair like he was soothing himself. It wasn't long before she found herself drifting to sleep in his arms.