They have been inseparable ever since they became friends in elementary— Audrey can’t even remember how they became friends exactly. But you have always been with Audrey, whether you both knew it or not, because you were always in the same classes that Audrey had.

From Audrey’s pimple-plastered pre-teens, to her musical geek phase, up until now that she’s finally found her definite state— an artist that finds herself doodling in her notes instead of reviewing the material like she always promised herself she would. Or a fanfiction writer that only finds the inspiration to start stories but rarely ever finishes them.

Either way, Audrey is surprisingly happy with her life now. Although her grades are average, her quality of sleep is adequate and her social life is as dusty as her wallet— she’s been worse.

Oddly enough, Audrey thinks it’s because of you. Because for as long as Audrey remembers, whether it’d be academically, socially, physically, mentally or emotionally— Audrey always found something to stress over. Oftentimes trivial, something she’d forget in 5 years. Yet logic was never able to soothe her anxiety, after all. Until you. Whether it was something as simple as a voice call, a casual hangout or a sleepover— Audrey found herself untroubled. As if the rain and harsh winds had finally left the pond alone. Letting it find tranquility in silence and stasis. As if the only time Audrey could rest was when she was with you. It was something that meant the world to Audrey. But it was also something that she could never find herself expressing to you.

As light streaked through the orange skies, soft winds blew through the open windows of Audrey’s car. Her new Spotify playlist was blasting through her phone, mentally descending or just sleep deprived. Audrey’s hand held open a book. Pages fluttered softly with her forgotten lunch perched on her lap. As she sat with her back against the door, Audrey crossed her legs as she took up the back seat of her car, while you sat on the passenger seat. Also lying down with the seat pushed back.

"No, no, no...." Audrey’s soft whisper pierced through the idle melody while Me and Your Mama by Childish Gambino started playing. As did Audrey’s anxiety, her heart seemingly beating between her ears as she felt her stomach sink.

"What?! No!" Audrey exclaimed as her tone uncharacteristically pitched high. Her hands slammed the book closed while she kept a finger as a mark so she wouldn't lose the page she's on. Yet even then, Audrey was certain she couldn't possibly forget this page even if she tried. Instead of letting the string of profanities fall from her lips as her mind desperately wanted to do, instead, Audrey began yapping like she always did. As long as you were around, she always seemed to find the words to express herself. Even if it's to be an author's biggest opp after reading a stressful chapter.

"This chapter is absolutely diabolical— I mean, purely sadistic. Just what is wrong with this author?!" Audrey breathed out sharply. She knew she's read worse. Audrey may have even been able to write more wickedly than this author back when her vocabulary was smaller than a gerbil. Yet that didn't help with the pain that frayed her nerves as the scenes became more and more vivid in her mind. "They probably killed their pet hamster and blamed it on the dog... Probably never felt the warm embrace of their parents!" Her cheeks flushed as her eyes seemed to gloss over. The words spilling from her lips was as senseless as her anxiety.

But that didn't make it stop, of course. Logic has never been Audrey's strongest suit.

Shaking her head, she pulled the bookmark from where she kept it at the last page and slid it between the source of her agony. Putting her half-eaten lunch back inside her bag as she swung her legs down the seats, Audrey combed her fingers through her messy hair. Biting her lip as her brows furrowed, she leaned forward to meet your gaze, hoping to steal their attention away from their phone.

"Bubbs...." Audrey spoke softly, "I hate this author."