Hardcore

Keywords: Meant, Be, Was, It, To,

Andy had now arrived back at the horror section his heart calming down to a steadier beat, "god that was nerve racking" he thought as he picked up another book and began looking at its cover.

As Andy was right handed but couldn't use it, opening the book to take a look at the content wasn't easy. He was fumbled around trying to open the book whilst holding it in one hand, almost dropping it on several occasions. He looked up trying to compose himself, he was not prone to getting mad, but this was really getting to him. He looked out of the corner of his eye, the two girls now stood where the blonde had been waiting, looking at him, a sort of sympathetic look on their faces as he struggled with the book. Andy tried not to keep looking at them; he didn't want to seem rude by staring so he went back to his book.

He was surprised when the dark haired girl came over to him.

"Need some help?" she asked sweetly a smile crossing her beautiful face one more.

"Its ok, I"ll manage it's only for a few more days then I can use my right arm again," he said smiling back at her.

"Here let me," she said as she took the book from his hand and opened it for him before giving it back "now, wasn't that easy!"

"Thanks I just don't like people thinking they have to do things for me when they have things to do for themselves" Andy said sincerely as he looked at the book's chapter content.

"You really are too nice" the girl said quietly obviously not wanting to be heard by Andy.

"Did you say something?" Andy asked. He thought she had but didn't hear her correctly.

"Oh, I just wondered what you did to your hand? It looks bad," she asked pointing to his wrist before flicking her hair back waiting for an answer.

"I fell over in the kitchen, my own fault" he replied, shaking his head thinking how stupid he was to have done that.

"Oohh sounds nasty." It was the blonde who had come over to join the conversation. Andy felt his heartbeat begin to rise again but he tried to keep calm like Debbie had told him to.

"Not really I"ve just damaged some nerves I"ll be fine in a few days then I won't have to wear this stupid bandage anymore and I can use my right arm again." he said taking a look at his bandaged wrist and attempting to move it slightly. He looked up to see the dark haired girl staring into his eyes before quickly looking to his wrist when he looked back. This was all new to Andy, no one had ever acted like this around him before and he was amazed how calm he was. It was like he was talking to a good friend or family member not some girls he had just met.

The blonde looked at her watch.

"Oh, we've got to go we've got a class in 10 minutes" she said grabbing her friend by the shoulder and showing her the time.

"Oohh your right. Collage" she said to Andy smiling as he put the book back "Thanks for being so sweet, it's been nice meeting you…err…" she stopped. All the time they had been talking she had not once got his name or given him hers she suddenly realized.

"Andrew, well, Andy" he said smiling.

"Dawn" she replied.

"Stacy" the blonde said.

"Nice to meet you two as well, and don't keep on thanking me, it"s fine" he said. Dawn suddenly put her arms around him giving him a hug before looking into his eyes one more time. She moved out the way only to be replaced by Stacy who hugged him for a bit longer. This had never, ever, happened to Andy before. He had never even had a friendly hug from a friend never mind two hot girls he had just met. He was struggling not to get hard when Stacy let go and smiled.

Just as they turned to head for the door Dawn looked back at Andy and stopped. She quickly bent down and unfastened her rucksack; reaching inside she fished out a notebook and a pen. She scribbled something on it, folded the paper and handed it to Andy before running to catch up with Stacy outside.

Andy held the paper still folded for a while just looking at the door before his eyes slowly dropped to the paper. He flicked it open very slowly and deliberately and looked at the black ink…

"Andy

Call soon (phone number)

Dawn/Stacy"

…was all it said. Had she just given him her number and why were both their names on it? This was all too much for Andy to take in right there. "This sort of thing doesn"t happen to me," he thought as he left the bookstore and headed for the bus stop.

When Andy arrived home 40 minutes later he opened the door, still holding the paper in his hand he noticed the house was unexpectedly quiet. His mother was nowhere to be found, nor was his sister.

He went upstairs looking around the rooms but they were nowhere to be seen. Not dwelling on it he went off to his own room to put away his book and think about what had happened and what to do next.

As he opened his door he was greeted by the sight of his sister sat on his bed looking at him happily as she looked through one of his many books.

"Did you get them then?" she asked cheerfully.

"Err what?" Andy asked still trying to work out why his sister was in his room.

"The books. Mum said you had gone to get some," she said as she got a glance at the white piece of paper in his hand.

"One of them" Andy said with a smile as he tried to take it from his pocket, not realizing he still had the note in his hand.

"Oohh and what"s that?" Debbie asked her little brother as she pointed to the note in his hand, which he quickly tried to hide.

"Nothing. Where's mum?" he tried to change the subject quickly but he was too late.

"She had to go out for a few hours. So…?" she asked giving him one of her 'I know you too well so just tell me' looks which he knew meant he couldn"t cover over or change the subject.

"Ok, here. God" he said as he handed over the piece of paper knowing he couldn't win even if he tried. He might as well just give it to her now.

"Andy call soon ... Dawn "slash" Stacy. Who are they then little brother?" she asked causing him to blush and look down away from her. "Hey, it's ok, it's your life, and I was just wondering who they were! There"s no need to be embarrassed," she continued as she stood and walked over to him putting an arm around him and sitting down on the bed with him.

Andy looked up into her big blue eyes full of the genuine feeling that had reassured him on many occasions before, and found himself telling her the whole story.

Debbie listened intently to her brother as he told her about Dawn and Stacy, how they looked, how they acted towards him, how he met them, everything they had said. Debbie smiled at her little brother as he told her enthusiastically about them, she could see he liked them and they obviously liked him.

"So when are you going to call them then?" Debbie asked eagerly looking at the number.

"I don't really know if I am" Andy said to his shocked sister.

"WHAT? You"re not sure?" Debbie stared in shock at what she had just heard him say.

"Well I think she only gave me that because she felt sorry for me it"s probably not even hers" Andy said walking to put his new book on one of his many shelves.

"Andy you have to call, look you have to get over this shyness and low self-esteem and this is just how to do it" Debbie said handing him the note insistently.

Andy took the note and looked at it "well I"m still not sure" he said unconvinced.

"Andy you always asked me for advice well I"m going to give you some now. I"m a woman ok, I know what women like and how they show it and from what you said these two obviously liked you, now you may not realize it but what they were doing was flirting. The reason you don't see it is because you just don't know what signals to look for but trust me, they are interested in you, so you just have to get up some courage and give the number a call. I'll stay in the room with you if you want when you call" Debbie said reassuringly giving his shoulder a tap.

"Would you, just so I don't get so nervous?" Andy asked his big sister.

"Sure" she said smiling "so when are you going to call?"

"Tonight when mum goes out about 7 o'clock," he said. Debbie nodded before giving him a hug and walked out of his room closing the door behind her. She walked downstairs, smiling, thinking of how nice it was that Andy had finally come out of his shell, even if it took a bit of a push.

It was 7:00 PM. Andy's mum had gone out to his Auntie's. It was just Andy and Debbie in the house now.

Andy was sat in his room looking at the note given to him by Dawn. Did she really like him? Did Stacy? Or was it all just a show? He looked at the clock as Debbie opened his door. She poked her head around and looking at him the light from the desk his eyes seem to glow. Smiling she asked "Ready?"

Andy nodded and got up to go to the phone that was in the living room.

He hesitated as he picked up the receiver and held it to his ear and, resting it on his shoulder, he one at a time pushed the numbers as Debbie stood behind him for support.

Andy said every number as he pressed it, then waited as it rang, his heart beating like the first time he saw them. Then there was a voice at the other end.

"Hello?" it said pleasantly.

"Hi this is Andy".

"Andy! Oh great! So you decided to call then!" the voice said happily. It was Stacy.

"Yer I did, I wasn't sure if this number was yours though, I have to say"

"Andy, when me or Dawn give our phone number it's always real," she said with a little laugh at Andy's comments.

"So…"

"So what?" Stacy said and another giggle followed.

"Err, why did you pick up? It was a mobile number and Dawn gave it to me?"

"Well, we share a house and don't have a land line just a mobile between us, so we both pick up" Stacy informed him. Andy could hear a voice in the background.

"Is that Dawn I can hear?"
"Yer she's right here wait, I"ll put her on..." The line went quiet for a minute as it was handed over and Andy looked up to Debbie who smiled and nodded as she listened to the conversation unfolding, she could here the voices from the phone quite clearly.

Keywords: Meant, Be, Was, It, To,

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