Andy in the Morning

By Atonia & Beej

Andy came alive in pieces, a hand fell off the bed, a foot moved, he bent his knees and turned his head. He should never have turned his head, the whole room was spinning, no it was the bed and he clutched it trying to stop the motion. He knew it, he was going to be sick and he slowly sat up trying his best to not move his head and moved toward the bathroom, but it wasn’t there. He felt along the wall for the door, the whole bloody room was backwards, what the?

“HELP…Lucy” he had both hands over his mouth, oh he should never have opened it.

Jeff was in the kitchen putting the kettle on for a cuppa. He was wearing a fluffy towel around his waist as he's just left the shower. He almost dropped the mugs he was lifting down from the cupboard when he heard Andy call for help. Rushing to the guest room he threw open the door, afraid of what he might find.

He couldn't help but smile at the sight before him. Andy was leaning against the wall, head in hands, looking like he was going to fall any minute.

"G'Day, Andy...sleep well?" he enquired, leading the soon to be bridegroom back to the bed and helping him sit before rushing to the bathroom for a wet sponge.

Andy’s eyes were mere slits, opening them any wider caused pain, that was Jeff’s voice what was Jeff doing here where was Lucy? He sat very still on the side of the bed, he needed to go to the bathroom and tried to look around the room for the door. He had no idea where he was!
 

Jeff came back in with the sponge and placed it at the back of Andy's neck, hoping that would help him. Looking at him, he realized that he had no idea where on earth he was. "Andy, you're at my place, mate. Didn't want Luce to see you in the state you were in last night. I gave her a call to let her know I was watching out for ya. Stevo is popping round there to get your wedding suit. Now...let me escort you to the bathroom, you'll never get there on your own, mate." Helping Andy to his feet, Jeff grinned and took him to the bathroom. After being told he could take it from there, he left Andy to his own devices and nipped back to his room to get dressed.
 

Andy threw up until there was nothing left and put his head in the sink and turned the cold water on. He looked up in the mirror at himself, today he was getting married. Back under the faucet. Thanking God for Jeff he stumbled toward the shower and turned it on. He managed to get under the shower but when he dropped the soap he sat down with it and bathed in the floor of the shower. Somehow he’d managed to get out and wrapped up in a towel. He looked in the mirror at his bloodshot eyes and day’s growth of beard. No way was he going to try and shave, his hands were shaking too badly. He wandered out of the bathroom holding the towel around him and disoriented in Jeff’s house ended up in the lounge.
 

“Oi Jeff, got any coffee?”
 

"Strong, black and extra sweet, Andy," Jeff called from the kitchen. "Don't s'pose you can keep any brekkie down right now, but you might manage some toast before we head out for church."
 

Jeff handed Andy the mug and sat opposite him, having a really good look at him for the first time that morning. "Strewth, mate. You look like a donkey's arse. Hate to think what you would have ended up like if we hadn't rescued you. Stevo will be here soon, I'll get him to give you the best shave of your life. Gotta look good for our Lucy."

Andy’s mouth felt like somebody had stuffed old socks inside but after a few sips of coffee he began to come around a little, “Ta Jeff…wedding how much time…when?
 

"Plenty of time, mate. Hang on, I think I hear a car."
 

Stevo came bounding through the door with two suit bags draped over his arm. "Mornin' handsome groom and even more handsome 'father of the bride'," he said, kissing Andy and Jeff on the cheek. "Let's get you spruced up and ready, young man."
 

Handing the suits to Jeff, he pulled Andy towards the bathroom, winking at Jeff as he took his straight-edge razor from his back pocket. It didn't take him long to make Andy's face as smooth as the day he was born, and he took him back in the guest bedroom where Jeff was ready to get him dressed for the biggest day of his life.
 

 It was all a blur he was being shaved, combed folded into clothes, he gave up trying to fight it. He was clearly unable to do for himself. He’d managed a piece of toast and two cups of coffee, he was fully alert and hardly recognized himself when Jeff turned him to a mirror. His little half grin thanked Jeff for what he’d accomplished.
 

“You’ve worked a miracle Jeff, thanks mate and you too Stevo.”
 

"No worries, Andy, that's what friends are for. Besides, in a couple of hours we're going to be family." Jeff hugged Andy, taking care not to crease him up too much, and they all headed out towards the car and the start of the next chapter in Andy's life with Lucy.