Chapter Text
A few big events have happened over the last seven months. Shane and Andrew completed a new series “The Beautiful World of Jeffree Star”. Garrett flew out Andrew’s parents so he could relax in the middle of editing. That led to Andrew and Garrett revealing their relationship. Garrett’s mom is finishing up her first round of chemotherapy next week. And of course their love and bond grew deeper and stronger.
November 23, the day after the final episode was released. Andrew had basically been living back and forth between Shane and Garrett’s house the last few months.Garrett was picking him up in the morning and he was so excited, because of late night editing and wack sleep schedules. Andrew’s anxiety had been acting up more.
As Andrew was lost in thought a sudden voice startled him. “Andrew?” he turned his head to notice a tall figure, it was Shane. His hair was pushed to the left, his eyes had very noticeable bags underneath them. Shane had his sweat pants and t-shirt on, he had a confused and concerned look in his eyes.
“Are you alright? I could hear you talking to yourself from the other room.” Shane told him. Andrew didn’t even realize he had been thinking out loud. When Shane brought this to his attention, Andrew’s eyes grew wide.
“Oh” Andrew let out a nervous laugh. “I’m fine, just tired is all.” Shane raised his eyebrow and tilted his head. He looked at Andrew for a bit then spoke. “Really? You have been quite off lately.” Shane admitted to Andrew.
“I promise, i’m fine.” Andrew told Shane, giving him a reassuring look.
Shane took a few more seconds before he walked away. Andrew waited until he knew that Shane was in the other room, he took a deep breath and sat on the bed. Andrew knew he hadn't been okay the past few weeks.
He's been inside his head a lot, it causes him to lose focus. He laid down on the bed and rolled over, he pulled out his phone. He decided to look at the comments from yesterday's video. His face lit up just reading them, he was so happy with how the video turned out.
As Andrew scrolled through his phone his eyes slowly started to close. He gave in and drifted into a nice peaceful sleep.
Andrew was startled. He was slapped in the face by a beam of sunlight peeking through a small gap in the window that was not covered by curtains. Once he got up he looked at the time, it was 9:32. A few hours before Garrett was going to arrive. So he decided to head out of the room and into the living room.
When he walked out he saw Morgan and Ryland with their suitcases. Later today Shane, Morgan, and Ryland were flying to Colorado for Thanksgiving. Morgan looked up at Andrew; she didn’t realize he was here. “Morning, Andrew” she joked looking at the bags under his eyes, and his ruffled bed hair.
Andrew sat down on the couch, placing his phone on the coffee table.
Andrew yawned as he ran his right hand through his hair, “I didn’t realise how early you guys were leaving. Should I tell Garrett to come sooner?” Andrew pulled out his phone to text Garrett. Ryland looked up “We aren't leaving until 2.” Ryland informed him “Morgan just decided to come early.”
Andrew giggled, “I never knew it was in your will power to show up early.” Andrew and Ryland laughed, they saw Morgan looking at the both of them. “Hey!” she yelled, they were soon interrupted by Shane opening a can of soda. “Andrew, you're up are you feeling okay?”
“I’m good”
Shane had the same face as last night. The look of worry for Andrew, minus the bags under his eyes. “Yeah--” Andrew’s words were interrupted by the ding of a phone. He grabbed his phone off the coffee table to see a message from Garrett. A smile brushed across his face.
Garrett- Morning gorgeous❤️
Andrew looked at that message for a while before he heard Morgan talking. “Is that Garrett, tell him he owes me a box of cheez-its.” Everyone laughed, Andrew texted him back with a heart telling him he can’t wait to see him.
“Hey I'm serious, I need cheez-its” Morgan laughed. “Fine, I'll text him.” Andrew told Morgan with a little giggle. Morgan’s smile grew wide.
Roughly 40 minutes pass when they hear a knock on the door. Ryland goes for the door, but Andrew gets to the handle first. He opens the door to reveal his tall 6’4 boyfriend, Andrew tightly wraps his arms around Garrett’s waist. Andrew had missed him so much even though they had been apart two weeks. The feeling of his body on Garrett’s made him feel a sense of home. He had not felt that feeling in a while.
Andrew let go and gave him a peck on the lips. “Someone is happy to see me.” Garrett said with a laugh soon following. “Garrett!” a voice from the other room yelled. “Did you get my cheez-its?” Morgan said.
Garrett handed her the red box of delicious cheesy squares. Morgan thanked him and headed off to the kitchen. You could hear her tear off the top of the box. “I have to grab my stuff from upstairs, I'll be right back.” Andrew headed upstairs and Garrett walked over to the kitchen. Shane suddenly appeared out of nowhere. “Garrett, good you're here.”
Garrett turned to look at Shane, “I need to talk to you.” Shane said. “Okay” Garrett laughed a little nervous. “It’s about Andrew, follow me.” Garrett stood up straight and followed Shane.
They followed Shane into his beauty room, he closed the door and looked to Garrett. “Shane whats wrong?” Garrett’s worry started to grow. “His anxiety is growing faster and faster.” Shane informed him, “what do you mean by that?” Garrett asked.
“Well he's been in his head a lot. He can't depict what his brain is making up versus what is happening around him.”
“And how do you know that Shane.” Garrett became upset at what he was assuming of Andrew. “Because I lived like that for years, I know the look in his eyes. The desperate look for reality. I don’t know how to describe it other than a desperate cry for help. You’ll know it when you see it.” Shane put a hand on Garrett's shoulder. “Just talk to him, and maybe get him some help. Trust me it will work.” Shane said before walking out of the beauty room.
Garrett took a second to bask in Shanes words. He walked out of the room and saw everyone gathered in the kitchen. He walked over to Andrew’s direction, Andrew could tell something was off.
After a bit they hopped in the car and headed home. Andrew couldn't keep it to himself any longer he had to ask. “You didn’t look go in there are you okay?” Andrew asked Garrett as they approached the stoplight. “I’m fine, why do you ask?” Garrett told him.
“You just seemed a bit off that's all.” Andrew implied. The two slowly pulled up to their house, “if anybody is off it’s you!” Garrett replied, with a yell not releasing wheat he had said. “What does that mean?” Andrew’s mouth curled into a frown. As soon as Garrett realized what he had said, he reached for the door handle.
Andrew’s side of the car had an automatic door lock, so as soon as he caught on to Garrett he smashed that button. “Hey!” Garrett yelled. Garrett looked into Andrew’s eyes and saw that desperate look that Shane tried to warn him about, the cry for help. Garrett saw a flood of tears racing into Andrew’s eyes. He grabbed him and pulled that red head into a tight and comforting hug. Garrett didn’t let go until Andrew did, “let's talk inside”.
They got out of the car Andrew pulled his keys out of his pocket, opening the door before Garrett could get to it. Tear drops still cemented to his red checks. They walked in and closed the door, Andrew sat on the couch and Garrett followed. “I know I have been strange,” Andrew said with fresh tears forming. “But I can’t figure out why.”
Garrett grabbed his hand, “describe to me how you feel, Andrew.” Andrew took a deep breath.
“It’s kind of like being shoved naked into the path of oncoming traffic you're not sure you'll survive the day, but now your dignity is now up for grabs. Even though you could have died everyone around you is now judging you.” Garrett looked at Andrew in shock. He didn’t know what to say or how to feel.
“I’m sorry Garrett for putting you through this.” Andrew stood up, hand still connected to his other half. “Don’t ever apologize for something you can’t control.” Garrett said with a low but loud voice. Andrew nodded his head in agreement and sat back down.
“I think you need someone to help you.” Garrett told him, to his surprise Andrew agreed. “Will you come with me?” he asked looking into Garrett’s blue calming eyes. “I’ll go where you go,” Garrett told him.
That answer made Andrew’s face light up. Garrett shifted his body and laid back on the couch . Andrew laid on top of him, they turned on the tv soon enough they were back to their normal selves. Laughing and eating pizza rolls.
“Thank you”
“For what, Andrew?”
“For loving me the way that you do.”
Garrett smiled and kissed Andrew on the forehead. “I love you.” he whispered.