The news got to the media Andy was seeing someone. Some paparazzi caught us coming out of the AA meeting and plastered us on the National Inciter magazine. I was not prepared when I walked into work today. 

I walked to my desk and everyone was giving me side eyes. Or the polar opposite from some. 

"Congratulations," Ethan told me.

"Huh?" I pretended to act confused.

"On your new found fame? Haven't you seen it?" Ethan commented as he handed me the article.

Not only was I pictured holding his hand, but Violet was as well. She would either be thrilled or really irritated.  But, our names weren't even in the article. What if I had a doppelganger?

"Oh uhm well," I remarked as I read it.

"Don't sweat it. I'm sure it's not like it's described in the magazine," Ethan told me as I handed him back the article.

I shook it off and focused on the work in front of me.

I was all the buzz in the office all day. 

By the time I left the office, I felt very alone and isolated from all the looks and snickers.

I drove home sort of depressed. I wouldn't necessarily be mad at Andy or anyone. It was to be expected. 

When I got home, I went and got comfortable. For a Monday, it really kicked my ass.

I sighed before calling Andy. Not that I would be angry with him.

After the 8th ring, he answered.

"Uh hello?" he remarked.

"Hi Andy," I remarked.

"Darling, how are you?" he asked as he realized it was me.

"Well," I began.

"Well, what?" he asked confused.

"Did you see the latest National Inciter magazine?" I asked him.

He paused and didn't say anything. 

"No, I haven't. Is it bad?" he asked confused once more.

"Well I went into work today and everyone was either giving me the side eye or snickering. Then the copy guy Ethan came up to me with the magazine article. Someone took a photo of us and Violet coming out of the AA meeting. Your mystery girls," I replied.

It was silent for a second. 

"Mystery girls?" he asked.

"Yeah, they blasted us on one of the pages as your mystery girls. Don't get me wrong I'm not mad or anything. I'm just exhausted cause of how today went at work. I wanted us to be a secret a little bit longer to the public," I commented.

He sighed.

"I can't imagine how that must have felt. I mean I kind of do because of other things that have happened in my life. But, I don't want you to feel like it's your fault or feel like you can't do anything anymore," he commented.

"Andy it's not that bad. I'm just tired cause today was supposed to be good and set the mood for the week at work. And with that dumb article, it didn't exactly go the way I intended but I'll eventually adjust," I told him.

"Does Violet know?" he asked.

"I honestly don't know. I was gonna call her after I talked to you to see if she did see it. Violet's totally different though. She'll be either tickled pink that we made it into a magazine or just blow it off like it's not important," I replied.

Andy chuckled.

"Yeah I kind of gathered that from her," he replied.

"Anyhow, Imma go call Violet but I'll talk to you later?" I asked him.

"Are you gonna be home the rest of the evening?" he asked.

"Yeah probably I'm literally so tired I don't even know if I'm gonna cook dinner," I told him stifling a yawn.

"Okay well try not and think about it okay? I'll talk to you later," he told me in a loving voice.

"Okie bye Andrew," I told him before the phone clicked.

I sighed as I dialed Violet.

After 5 rings, she picked up.

"Ello," she answered in the phone.

"Hey Violet," I remarked.

"Hey what's up?" she asked.

"Well, uhm," I started off.

"You and Andy didn't break up right?" she asked panicked.

I sighed.

"No no no it's nothing like that. Violet, have you seen the latest of the National Inciter?" I asked her.

"No why?" she asked me confused.

"Well, we are Andy's mystery girls.  I found out at work from Ethan. The entire office was snickering and side-eyeing me like it was high school all over again," I replied. 

I heard Violet sigh.

"Wait first off we are Andy's mystery girls? Cool cool. Second off, are them bitches acting like that? Screw them," Violet spat off.

I laughed. This is the way Violet was in high school with the bullies. No one stood a chance against her mouth.

"Yeah yeah I mean I'm not angry at all. Just exhausted from the energy they fed toward me," I told her.

She sighed again.

"I get it but this is what we I guess both signed up for when we became friends with Andy. I know you. You don't see him as a pop star. You see him as Andrew. The man who had too much too soon and now is trying to heal," Violet replied.

I took a deep breath.

"I don't get how you became so smart but damn I'm jealous," I told her chuckling.

She laughed.

"Well meditation and sobriety have helped in my wisdom," she remarked.

"That's true. You are the best," I told her as my doorbell rang.

"Wait was that your doorbell?" Violet asked.

"Yeah stay on the line with me," I told her as I walked to the door.

I finally got a wireless home phone for my living room. It was nice.

"Who is it?" she asked as I looked through the peep hole.

"It's Andy he's got bags of food," I remarked.

"Awwwww wait did you tell him already about today?" she asked.

"Yeah, I did," I told her.

"Go enjoy yourself. Like they say, if they wanted to, they would. And he did," she told me.

"Okay bye," I told her as I hung the phone up.

I went and answered the front door.

"Dinner for two?" he commented as I opened the door.

"Andrew Roy Gibb," I remarked with a smile on my face.

"I hope you are up for some takeout," he remarked as we entered the living room.

"Andy you shouldn't have," I told him as we walked to the kitchen.

"I wanted to. I feel like today was my fault," he remarked as he took the food out of the bags.

It was Burger Chef. He even got milkshakes. My god, how could anyone ever take advantage of him? I wouldn't know how to repay him.

"Andy today wasn't your fault. It's what I signed up for and I'll learn to live with the newfound light on us," I told him as he handed me my milkshake.

"I thought this might help," he remarked after I took it from him.

I smiled at him.

"How can I ever repay you?" I asked him as he took the burgers and fries out of the bags.

He shook his head.

"You don't owe me anything," he told me as I sat down.

"I feel like," I remarked as he kissed me.

"Let's just focus on the now," he told me as he pulled away.

One thing I learned about him this far was his love language. It was through gifts and physical touch. It was his way of showing he loved someone. 

Andy put my food in front of me. I looked down at it and looked back at him.

"Thank you. You Andrew don't forget how thankful I am for this gesture," I told him as he sat down next to me.

He smiled at me.

"Let's enjoy our food before it gets cold," he told me as he grabbed his burger.

What a way to start the week, to say the least.