Fire Always Burns - By Krista Lakes Page 0,32

slowly. My neck hurt from sleeping in a weird position on the couch. I rubbed it as I walked to the kitchen, following the smell of toast and coffee.

"Creamer is in the fridge. Want some eggs?" Audrey asked as she handed me a hot mug. I took a big sip, the bitter liquid filling my mouth. I nodded again and Audrey cracked two more eggs into a pan. I leaned back against the sink, watching her bustle around the kitchen. It reminded me of when I was little and I would spend the night. Audrey would make a special breakfast the next day and my dad would come over and we would all eat together. I had pretended that we were a family then, that Audrey was my mom and Andrew my brother and we were all going to live happily ever after. I missed that childhood optimism.

"I heard you had a falling out with Luke," she peered at me over her coffee cup. I sighed and nodded. News travels fast in a small town. Britney and Eli had already sent Andrew and me text messages letting us know exactly what they thought. I didn't mean to hurt any of them. I wished I could have at least told them myself. Audrey's lips pinched to the side as she thought for a moment before speaking. "But I also heard that you and Andrew are now an item."

I stared into my cup, trying to find answers in the dark liquid. She blew gently on her coffee and took a sip before continuing.

"I always thought you and Andrew would end up together. I'm honestly surprised it took this long. Don't you worry though, Luke will come around. Britney and Eli too. You've all been thick as thieves for as long as I can remember. Everything will work out, I have no doubt."

"Luke's never been this angry with me before. I didn't mean to hurt him, I really didn't." I looked up at her, Audrey's eyes full of understanding. "If you see him, will you tell him I'm sorry?"

"I'll tell him. But if he is anything like his father it won't matter. He will have to forgive you in his own time," she said focusing her attention on the eggs. I felt my shoulders droop as I realized she was right. This wasn't something that was going to be easily fixed. Luke felt like we betrayed him by breaking a promise. It didn't matter what kind of promise, just that we had broken it. My world felt suddenly very fragile.

"You ever do something you wish you hadn't?" I asked playing with the handle on my mug.

"We all have something we regret doing. It doesn't make us bad people. We're just human. We make mistakes. Living with those mistakes makes us who we are. Luke will forgive you in time, Holly. Promise," she said with a smile. She watched me for a moment, then added, "You didn't mean just this thing with Luke, did you?"

I shook my head from side to side. I didn't intend on her seeing through me that easily. Andrew's mother was the last person who should know my secrets.

"Do you want to tell me?" She asked quietly, setting her plate down. I shook my head. "I won't pry then. I know about the promise you all made not to date one another. You made it in high school and you all have changed so much since then. Perhaps it is time for the promise to grow up too. I know you are certainly different than when you left. If you ever do want to talk though, you know where I am," she said with a smile.

She glanced down at her watch and made a face. "I've got to get to work. Will you let Andrew know I'll be home late? I'll see you later," she said putting her cup in the sink. She grabbed her purse and tiptoed out the front door, waving to me from the driveway.

I stood in the weak morning sunshine of the window, sipping my coffee for a long time after she left. If I stood very still, I could pretend that I was just a ray of light; just a beam of energy that didn't have fights, worries, or mistakes. I could pretend life was simple.

"When did you wake up?" Andrew whispered into my ear, wrapping his arms around my waist. I hadn't heard him get up, but he felt good behind me.

"A while ago.