Chapter 23: Let's Tell Them
ANDY'S POV
"Earth to Andy! ANDY!" I felt a slap on my cheek, knocking me out of my trance.
"OW! WHAT THE F***" I yelled, cradeling my cheek.
"You were zoned out man! You need to focus!" Jake yelled.
"Sorry, sorry." I said, shaking my head a bit.
"Andy, something's bothering you, what's up?" Jinxx asked, sitting down next to me.
"I-It's nothing. I'm fine."
"Andy, you're obviously not going to be able to focus until you tell someone about whatever you're thinking about!" Ashley exclaimed.
"Seriously, I'm fine. I won't zone out anymore, let's just get this record done."
"Andy." CC said.
"It's just, too much s*** is going on. I'm just constantly thinking about Brandon, all the problems he's been having. His surgery, Camryn, I'm just worried about him."
"Andy, we know that's not what's bothering you." Jake said. They were right, I was worried about Harley. Her d*** headaches arn't going away and she's just miserable everyday. I don't know if I can stand to watch her go through this for another ten years. I also don't want to lose her, I mean, she's the love of my life. If I lose Harley, then what do I have? My kids are grown up, living their own lives. My band is off taking care of their wives, my parent's are gone. I have nothing, no one.
"Andy, please tell us. You haven't been yourself lately." Jinxx pleaded.
"I-I'll tell you guys later. I'm just not ready to talk about this, not yet. Please." I asked, looking between the four of them. "I'll focus, I promise, please just drop it." I pleaded, my voice cracking a bit.
"Alright guys, let's get back to work." Jake said.
***
"Hey Andy." Harley smiled, hugging and kissing me as I walked in the door. "How did it go today?"
"I don't know how much longer I can keep this from the guys."
"W-What?"
"About you. I know you don't want to tell them, especially Jinxx, but I almost cracked today. They caught me spacing off again and were badgering me to tell them. I tried to lie, make an excuse about Brandon, but they saw through my lie. I was able to get them to drop it but one day, they're going to crack me Harley. I'm just going to break and I'll have to tell them. They're worried about me, and I'm worried about you Harley."
"Get them together, the wives too, and we'll tell them."
"R-Really?"
"Yeah, I think it's time we let them know what's going on."
"W-When?"
"Whenever you want to." She said, running her fingers through my hair.
"Can we get it over with now?"
"Sure, go ahead and call them up. We can all sit out in the backyard, I'll make some food."
"No Harley, I'll do it." I said, reached up and grabbing her wrist.
"Andy, I'm not dead yet. I can still do things, I'm not sick. These headaches arn't going to prevent me from being the same person I've always been. Thanks for your concern Andy, but I'm fine, really." I sighed and let go of her, allowing her to walk into the kitchen. I got out my phone and decided to call Jinxx first.
"Hello?"
"Hey Jinxx."
"Hey Andy, what's up?"
"Can you and Sammi come over here? We need to talk to you guys."
"Alright, see you in a bit." He said and hung up. I called the rest of the guys before making sure there were ten chairs outside. I sat outside and lit a cigarette, taking a drag, looking around the backyard. I smoke less since I'm older but I still smoke when I'm stressed. I kept lighting one after another, not able to stop.
"Andy." Harley said, shaking me.
"W-What?" I asked, turning to look at her.
"Everyone's here." I looked around and saw that my band and their wives were sitting outside with me.
"O-Oh." I said, putting out the cigarette.
"What's up you guys?" Sammi asked. We both sighed, looking at each other for who was going to say it.
"Lately, I've been getting these weird headaches. They're really bad too, they hurt a lot. Somedays, I can't even get out of bed. Anyway, I went to the doctor and it turns out I have a brain AVM."
"W-What's that?" Jinxx asked, concerned.
"It's a blood vessel in between my skull and spine. I'll be dead in ten years." Jinxx stood up and walked into the house, slamming the door behind him.
"I'll go get him." Sammi said, standing up.
"It's fine Sammi, I got it." I said, standing up and going into the house. I saw Jinxx sitting at the kitchen table, his head down.
"Jinxx."
"Why Andy, why."
"I don't know Jinxx." I said quietly, sitting next to him.
"It's not fair, she doesn't deserve this. She's already been through so much. Her mom dying, her dad beating her, me leaving, almost losing her son and her life to a drunk driver, her son commiting suicide, you almost dying, her dad dying. It's not fair." He sobbed.
"Jinxx, she's strong, she'll make it through this. Besides, ten years is far away. Sydney will be what, seventeen? That's a long time Jinxx. I'm keeping an eye on her, don't worry."
"I'm so sorry Andy, we shouldn't have tried to pry it out of you earlier today."
"It's fine. Harley just didn't want to tell anyone just yet."
"I understand." I heard someone walked in and turned to see Harley.
"Andy, can I talk to Jinxx, alone?"
"Yeah." I said, getting up and walking back inside.
HARLEY'S POV
Once Andy left the room, I didn't say anything, I just wrapped him in my arms. He turned and hugged me tightly, sobbing into my shoulder.
"You don't deserve this Harley."
"I know, but it's just something I have to deal with."
"Do they know what might of caused it?"
"They think it has to do with my dad beating me."
"God D*****! THAT SON OF A B****!" Jinxx yelled, pounding his fist on the table.
"Jinxx, calm down."
"This is all my fault Harley."
"W-What do you mean?"
"If I hadn't of left you, moved away."
"Jinxx, please don't blame this on you." He didn't answer me. I grabbed his face and made him look me in the eyes. "Look me in the eyes and say that you won't blame yourself, you won't beat yourself up over this."
"B-But it is my fault."
"No it's not Jinxx! You couldn't of saved me anyway Jinxx! The best you could do is get me out of there when I needed you and you did."
"I-I just felt like there was more I could've done."
"There was nothing more you could've done Jinxx. Please, just promise me, when I'm gone, you won't put your life on hold, you won't blame yourself and you won't mourn over me for too long. I'll be up with my mom and dad, I'll be happy Jinxx."
"W-Will I at least get to say goodbye?"
"I-I don't know Jinxx, I try not to think that far, not yet."
"H-How's it going to go down...you know."
"Well, the blood vessel will pop and I'll have bleeding in my brain. That will cause a seizure and Andy will take me to the hospital. After that, I'll probably have a few days max."
"Harley, I don't want to lose you." He said, hugging me.
"I don't want to leave either Jinxx, but it's a part of life."
"I'm going to miss you so much."
"I'll miss you too Jinxx, but let's not think about that. I'm not dead yet, let's live in the present, not the future." He nodded. "Also, one more thing, can you make sure Andy stays safe after... you know. I'm scared of how he's going to take it."
"I will."
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Awwww
Listening to Jingle Bell Rock~ Rascal Flatts
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