Something Real (Andreil)

Chapter Five

"Yes Coach."

Wymack waved him away. "Now get some rest. Doctor's orders."

Andrew and Neil left Wymack's office together. They made their way to the locker room where Andrew waited for Neil to shower and change, then to the parking lot where Neil hopped into the passenger's side of Andrews car. Andrew rolled the windows down so he could smoke, and Neil lifted his face to suck in fresh air from outside. For a while, Neil watched the sun set and Andrew watched the time go by on his phone.

When practice officially ended, the foxes burst through the door and scattered in the parking lot. "I don't know how to say thank you." Neil murmured as Kevin, Nicky, and Aaron approached his car.

Andrew threw his unfinished cigarette out the window. "Then don't."

Once they got back to the dorms, Neil paused upon going to his own room. Andrew was the last to enter his dorm, so he left the door open just in case. He told himself he wouldn't care if Neil didn't accept the silent offer, but as Andrew heard the door close behind him with Neil inside, Andrew felt something shift in his chest.

They ended up watching some crappy movie that Nicky picked out, and Neil was asleep by the time the credits rolled.

Aaron, Kevin, and Nicky dragged themselves to the bedroom while Andrew considered waking up Neil so he could sleep in an actual bed. Neil was curled up on the smaller couch, a blanket pulled up to his nose and an armrest for a pillow. His hair was still a bit damp from the shower and Andrew wondered what it would be like to run his fingers between the wet strands. It was easy to think such things when it was dark, the only light coming from the glow of the television.

Andrew thought about how he did not like waking up in an unfamiliar place and he imagined Neil wouldn't either. Also, he wasn't too sure if Neil should be left alone now.

Andrew didn't care.

He gathered his phone from the crack in the couch and took one last look at Neil. His eyebrows were now scrunched together, and his breathing sounded choppier than before. Andrew sighed and slumped back onto the opposite couch. He pulled a thin blanket over his body, turned off the tv, and shut his eyes.

Just for tonight.

Andrew woke up to the sound of Nicky's laughter, an alarm he could rely on more than the one on his flip phone. Andrew sat up and stretched, his back popping in places that had grown stiff from the hard couch. Neil was still on the couch he fell asleep on last night. This time, Neil was wide awake and shaking his leg like he was uncomfortable. He glanced up from an Exy magazine that Kevin had left on the coffee table. "Finally." He muttered before dropping the magazine to the floor and making a beeline to the bathroom.

Had he been waiting for Andrew to wake up so he could pee? The thought was too peculiar for Andrew to dive into without some coffee, so he padded his way into the kitchen.

Nicky sat on a countertop, holding a mug with one hand and pouring coffee with the other. His phone was lodged between his ear and his shoulder, and he had a fond expression on his face that was only reserved for one person. Andrew plucked the mug from Nicky's hand and took a sip.

"Hey! You can't—No, I'm not talking to you, Erik." Nicky set down the coffee pot and hopped off the counter. "Could have got your own." He whispered with the phone to his chest.

Andrew shrugged and made his way back to the couch. Neil had returned and was bending over to put on his shoes. "Running?" Andrew asked.

"What?" Neil stopped mid bend, his face turning white.

Andrew raised an eyebrow. "I asked if you're going for a run."

"Oh." Neil forced an awkward laugh. He finished tying his shoelaces then stood straight to stretch out his legs "Yeah. You wanna join?"