Return of Andrew Sanchez

After school

Anxious, Andrew went to look for Jessica at the back of the laboratory. Joel was called by the geography teacher so he couldn't go with him.

Getting to the place, yet there was no sign of anyone.

“Could this be a trap?”. He mumbled confused, but a voice whispered from the tunnel behind the building

“It's not”

Immediately, Andrew turned to the direction of the voice and saw a shadow. A feminine Shadow, he was happy, he didn't even notice he was blushing.

“Hey, it's you”. He whispered, stuffing his hands into his pocket

“I didn't expect you to come, I thought you despised me?”. She said, then Andrew got a little suspicious of the voice and went closer to get hold of the person, and just immediately, a thrilled laughter echoed in the atmosphere.

“You dumb ass, how on earth did you think you'd find Jessica here”. The person turned, while still laughing. It was Bella, she sent the letter and pretended to be Jessica.

Annoyed, Andrew shook his head and tried to walk away.

“Wait”. Bella mumbled, before Andrew made a halt.

“You tricked me”. Andrew let out displeased, but she smiled and encouraged.

“I didn't. I only wanted us to talk and that was the only way I could get you. Don't you see it? The hatred is so bizarre. My friends are beginning to mock and laugh at me. It just seems like you threw every memory we had away. Do you even remember, let alone miss the moment we shared?” Bella cried out.

~~~~FLASH BACK, SEVEN YEARS AGO~~~~

Andrew, a timid young boy, walked down the busy road with his girlfriend Bella, they held hands together, before the stormy wind turned to a heavy pour.

Drenched, Andrew and Bella ran into a kiosk. Just the two of them, alone in their little world, Andrew managed to confess his feelings for Bella.

“I have always known you loved me, I just didn't understand why you took so much time to tell me. I love you too my pumpkin” Bella had said, before giving him a warm hug, and finally rested a kiss on his cheeks.

“I'm only scared you'd forget me when you get to college”. Andrew whispered almost in tears.

“Why would I do that? I won't leave you for anyone. I'll always love you, I will always love you, until the day we are ready to make babies” She encouraged.

“Thanks for loving me. Come on, the rain has stopped, let me take you home, before your mum begins to worry”. Andrew said politely while grabbing her hands as they walked back home under the cold, innocent wind.

~~~~THE FUTURE~~~~

“Well, that was seven years ago Bella, and since you love to remember the past, you seem to have forgotten two years ago when you publicly rejected me, because the hottest guy on campus asked you out, have you? Seems the humiliation I felt after that day meant nothing to you. I always keep defending you, I keep chasing you, but what do I get in the end? You stabbed me, you humiliated me, you watched me bullied, not once not twice. You aren't even proud of me. Make it make sense”. Andrew cried out.

Immediately, Bella ran towards him and hugged him passionately.

“I'm sorry, I know I've wrong you, but I'm sorry. I was only scared of what people would say. I still love you, I do”. She mumbled.

Weakened by her emotions, Andrew clenched his hands around her.

“It still can't work out if you aren't proud of me. What's the need of hiding me from the world? What's the need of dating me when you'd secretly mock me? I don't want all of that Bella. I just want a woman that loves me and is willing to sacrifice for m…”

“And you think Jessica is the girl? You think she's more deserving of you?! Come on Andrew, Jessica is a freaking nerd! It's disrespectful to choose a nerd over me”. Bella let out heavily.

“Honestly, I think she is”. Andrew whispered while gently pulling her hands away from him.

“But she isn't even here anymore. No one knows where she is”. Bella pressed.

“Yeah, but I'm sure she'd come back”. Andrew mumbled assured..

“Come back? Do you even know how pathetic you sound? You clearly pushed her away, you humiliated her and now you think she'd come back to you?! Oh you should have known better Andrew. Jessica isn't coming back for any reason. The reason why she has been around is gone. She is trying to heal Andrew, you need to stop thinking about her”.

“The day I stop thinking about her is the day I die. Jessica will remain my first true love”. Andrew fired back.

“But I was your first love,” Bella cried out.

“The past no longer exists in my world”. Andrew mumbled while walking away, but Bella ran and grabbed his shirt

“Tell me you still love me. Tell me you are only doing this to get back at me”.

“Would you prefer I lie to you than accept your faith and move on?” He asked, but she refused to let go.

“Not when you are still lying to me. Look straight into my eyes and tell me you no longer love me”. Bella mumbled but Andrew avoided gazing at her.

“I knew it, you…”

“I no longer love you”. Andrew muttered with a snap while peering deep into her eyes.

With tears, Bella broke down, before Andrew left the place.

At the school's hallway, Joel bumped into Andrew.

“Hey, I was coming to say hello to Jess as well. Seems she left s…”

“It wasn't Jessica”. Andrew interrupted.

Shocked, Joel gazed at him and burst out laughing.

“I told you it was a trap, didn't I? It was Bella right?”. He said, then Andrew nodded slightly.

“Ish, so sorry bro. Why did she pull up such silly ac…”

“She still loves me, she told me she does. But…. I turned her down, I wasn't going to let her play games with me again”.

With a confused look, Joel stared so deep into Andrew's eyes. Enough to make him uncomfortable.

“What?! Stop gazing at me like I'm some alien”. Andrew mumbled

“Why did you lie to her?”. Joel questioned

“Lie? How? I didn't lie”. Andrew said in defense.

“You did, and now you are regretting it. But, I'm sure you know your way around everything. Come on, let's get going, I don't want to be late for dinner”. Joel said, gently tapping him on his shoulder.

************

On their way home, they weren't patient with the bus, so they decided to trek home. On their way, they were cornered by some masked gang members with bikes.

“What's this?” Andrew let out frightened as their leader parked in front of him.

“Scared?”. He said, as he removed his helmet.

“Jasper?!”. Andrew whispered confused.

“Surprised?”. He said, but Andrew glanced at him, then stared at Joel in total confusion.

“What do you want?” Andrew mumbled, less scared, but Jasper laughed so hard that his friends joined him as well.

“Can you really give me what I want? Are you that rich?”. Jasper mocked, but his smiling face suddenly disappeared.

He grabbed Andrew by the collar, so tight, almost choking him.

“I have never warned you on this before, but I promise this will be the last time. Stay away from Bella, go look for your creepy girlfriend, because if I see you or Bella anywhere around you, you'll be in great danger” Jasper threatened.

Just as Andrew tried to defend himself, one of Jasper's friends echoed from behind “They were even together a few minutes ago, guess where?”. He uttered, as Jasper turned to face him, then slowly muttered “Where?”

“Behind the Laboratory, they were…”

“I thought it was Jessica. Bella pranked me, I promise nothing is going on between us” Andrew interrupted with defense.

“I didn't ask you, who doesn't know you have been trying to get Bella's attention even after she publicly rejected you”. Jasper cut in, then slowly went closer to Andrew and handed him a little toy knife.

“This may look innocent, but trust me, I'll slash your throat with it”. He mumbled, before turning towards Joel.

“Yo, you're already shivering when I haven't laid my hands on you” He teased then leaned towards Joel's ear.

“Yours won't be spared either. Because you are his supporter”. He finalized, before signalling his friends, and left.

“Oh wow! Finally we've gotten into the main trouble. How the heck do you get to stay away from Bella when she's clearly obsessed with you lately”. Joel let out frustrated.

“Who said she is obsessed? She probably sent them. I'm sure this is her own way of humiliating me in return”. Andrew let out.

“But are you seriously backing out from Bella?”. Joel questioned and without hesitation, Andrew nodded frantically.

“Hey, you aren't even sure. I see you still love her”. Joel continued, while placing his hands on Andrew's shoulder.

“I miss Jessica. At least she would have been here to distract me from Bella”

“You miss her because you've made her a subordinate, you are using her as a shield to your pain”. Joel mumbled, leaving Andrew a little speechless.

“Is that what you really think?”. Andrew whispered after some time, but Joel refused to say a word, he only grabbed his hands and they went home.

Getting to Joel's house, his parents left a note. They had all travelled and asked him to go stay with Andrew, it was a matter that needed to be treated as urgent.

“Woash! This isn't the first time they are leaving me behind”. Joel whispered.

“Well, guess it's just the two of us, because my parents travelled as well”. Andrew mumbled with a narrowed brow.

“I actually do think it's fun. Why don't we enjoy life a little? You know, like throwing a party…”

“Tell me you are kidding right now”. Andrew interrupted, but Joel increased his tone and even energy.

“Well, I'm not. I'm actually being very serious. You take a look at it, we are the only people that haven't hosted a party, even Jessica did one before she travelled. I just want to have that adult feeling, y'know”. Joel pressed.

“I don't know what you mean by adult feelings, but trust me, I'm not going to be a part of this, and whatever you are planning won't be hosted in my house. Okay?”

With a disgusted breath, Joel only kept looking at Andrew, like he was some enemy and after a while he muttered “Fine”. Then rolled his eyes and angrily sat on one of the sofas.

“But you are going to help me with organising it, won't you?”. Joel continued as Andrew turned to glance at him with disgust.

“You aren't gonna help me right?”. Joel let out disheartened.

“I never said so. Just worried it would have been better if we utilised the time to learn some…y'know, maybe prepare for the competition even”. Andrew suggested, but Joel angrily brushed off the idea.

“It's okay if you don't want to, and a day party would definitely not ruin my academic career. I don't know about you, but I'm outta here, I need to find me an event planner”. Joel said angrily as he stood up from the chair, but was suddenly stopped by Andrew.

“Okay. Umm… I think—i'm… I'm gonna help you o—u—t”. Andrew stammered. Without hesitation, Joel ran up and gave him a warm hug.

“I knew you'd change your mind. Trust me, it's not going to be as you think. It's gonna be a friendly party and who knows, it might bring us some respect in school”. He said with a smile, then went ahead and hugged Andrew again. “Thanks for always having my back”.

“You are welcome, but… are you gonna invite Jasper and Bella to the party?”. Andrew questioned, then, Joel smirked while nodding his head continuously.

“What now?”. Andrew let out confused

“Well, I never thought about that, but now that you have mentioned, I think that's a good idea. Especially, seeing the three of you together in an open competition for Bella”. Joel said with a devious smile.

“What nonsense are you talking about? What the heck are you planning Joel?”. Andrew said, confused.

“Don't worry bro, sooner or later, you will find out. Come on, let's go to my room and create the flier design”. Joel let out, as he grabbed the credit card on the table and headed straight to his room.