Return of Andrew Sanchez

The house party

It didn't take Joel and Andrew so much time to come up with a unique flier design, since they were already into graphic design.

“Are you sure you really want to do this? Won't your parents…”

Joel didn't even give Andrew a chance to ruin his night. Immediately, he forwarded the flier to his class group.

“Let's wait for rep…” Just while Joel was still talking, Jasper sent a laughing emoji to the group, followed by his friends, as they began to talk down on the party.

“Someone tell me this is gonna be babies pool party”. An anonymous person dropped a message as Joel glanced at Andrew with regret.

“I warned you. Even if you wanted to host the party, you would have considered your audience. Tell me, what are we gonna do now?”. Andrew let out with concern.

“Maybe it was a bad idea afterall”. He mumbled slowly.

“Umm… I don't really think so”. Andrew said with a slight smile, as he faced his phone towards Joel. People were beginning to react to his post and unlike Jasper and his friends, they were saying something positive.

“I think it will really be an amazing party if you put in huge effort. I'm only scared you'd end up exhausting all the money in your mother's credit card”.

“Not really. I've been saving up for a new PS Game, guess I'll just use the money for the party” Joel mumbled a little excited.

“Oh wow! Doesn't sound fun to me. But… your choice bro”. Andrew said a bit disappointed.

“I want to ask Stacy out, do you think that you'd be a good idea?”. Joel said shyly

With an annoying laughter, Andrew gazed perplexed at Joel. “Who the heck is that? I haven't even heard of someone that's called Stacy? Where did you meet her?”.

“Met her at Jessica's birthday party”. Joel whispered.

“Hold on, don't tell me she is one of Jessica's friends? Bro, she's gonna gaze at me like I was the one that made Jessica leave, honestly, I'm not in support of this”. Andrew let out displeased.

“Nah, she isn't one of Jessie's friends”

“Who then is she? You never left their side” Andrew pressed.

“Hmm, you need to relax bro. I met her on my way to the lavatory when I excused myself from the girls. Sorry I didn't tell you about her, but I needed to be sure she kinda feels the same way for me”. Joel explained and after a slight glance at him, Andrew gave off a warm smile.

“Well, that sounds a lot relieving. I would have killed you if she was one of Jessica's friends. I guess this is you kissing single hood a goodbye then, isn't it?”

“I don't think so, because somehow, I believe I'm still single, girls aren't to be trusted. Their patterns aren't predictable”.

“I can't help but agree with you on that”. Andrew chipped as Joel glanced at him and almost bursted out laughing.

“You are just so silly”. Andrew teased.

“I know, but I think you are still thinking about Bella. I'd advise you for free, stay away from that girl. She's going to put you in bigger trouble”.

“You didn't hear me mention Bella, did you?”. Andrew's voice suddenly turned cold, as Joel smiled at him and walked away from the living room.

~~~~~THE PARTY NIGHT~~~~~~

Joel didn't expect to pull such a crowd for his party. He glanced from his room's balcony as he watched every single person enjoy the moment. Andrew has refused to step out of his room, he was avoiding the crowd.

Even though Joel wasn't avoiding the crowd, he wasn't yet pleased with the party, since Stacy was yet to arrive.

“Jasper showed up”. Andrew whispered surprised as he joined him at the balcony.

“I had this strong feeling he was going to show up. But, I'm even more certain he came for trouble or to see how dry the party would go”.

With a giggle, Andrew's face suddenly reddened with admiration.

“Why the heck are you blushing?”. Joel let out confused, while staring confused at him.

“Who in God's name is that beauty? I haven't seen her around school before”. Andrew whispered, while pointing towards a lady that had just walked into the room.

“Bro, that's my Stacyyyyy”. Joel let out super excited. Almost jumping on Andrew. “I'll see you later bro, I need to go be around my girl before this naughty niggas snatch her from me. See you bro, love ya”. Joel said excitedly, before running out of the room.

Within minutes, he was already downstairs with her. Andrew admired them from up, but suddenly got bored and went inside.

He needed his time alone, but the music blasting in the living room couldn't let him concentrate.

Just when he was about to sleep, a knock came at the door and even before he could react, the person had already walked in. Baffled, he saw Bella standing, gazing even more shocked at him.

“Umm… so sorry, I—I wanted to use the rest room, I was actually looking for Joel for direction”. She said calmly and without saying a word, Andrew pointed towards the rest room and she quickly ran inside.

Minutes later, she was out. Relieved, she breathed in and thanked him. “Is it okay if I stay here for a few minutes? My head is really banging, I just want to rest for a while”. She said, Andrew raised his brow in confusion, staring at her like nothing she was saying made sense.

But, he still adjusted for her on the bed anyways.

“Thank you”. She said warmly, while laying gently on the bed. The atmosphere changed, a little uncomfortable for the both of them, as they kept stealing glances at each other.

“I came because I wanted to see you”. Bella broke the silence while turning to face Andrew. “I was disappointed when I didn't see you. I actually stepped away from the crowd because I thought I had lost you, I wasn't pressed, I just needed a space where I could cry”. She paused, then gave off a warm smile as a little tear trickled down her chin.

“You should have seen how excited I was when I saw you” She paused, then reached out for Andrew's hands. “If you don't talk to me, you are going to break me, but… guess I'd just cope, I think I can do that— I think I can do that”. She repeated with a little smile, before removing her hands from Andrews.

“Are you dating Jasper?”. Andrew finally spoke.

“Jasper?”. Bella let out shocked, and she sat up from the bed. With her brows narrowed with confusion, she shook her head and mumbled “Heck No”.

“He asked me to stay away from you. I think he likes you, perhaps you should give him a chance. I don't want to be in trouble, that's why I am telling you this, so you can peacefully walk away, before things get really tough for both of us”.

Irritated, Bella glared at Andrew, then managed to give off a warm smile. “Still selfish, isn't it?”. She mumbled harshly, almost in tears.

“You don't bloody care about my own feelings. You really do think I am in love with another, yet I was worried sick for you don't you?”. She cried out.

“Never knew you hated me this much. Guess he did you a favour then. You are certainly going to avoid me. Coward!”. She thundered angrily and just when she was about to step out, she passed out and luckily, Andrew was quick to grab her.

Minutes later, she woke up, with her hands heavily placed on her head. “What happened? Where am I?”. She questioned, but instead of responding, Andrew went close to her and wrapped his hands around her.

“You need not worry, just rest a little while, you'll be fine”. Andrew mumbled.

“Thank you”. Bella mumbled while wrapping her hands around him and just immediately, Joel walked in with Stacy. But seeing them in the room, he quickly apologized and left.

“Are you truly going to stay away from me all because Jasper said so?” Bella whispered, peering deep into Andrew's eyes.

“Yeah” Andrew replied without hesitation

“You really do not care how I feel anymore, do you?”. She muttered, but Andrew remained mute.

“I still love you”. She continued, but Andrew ignored her.

“Let's start fresh, let's make it official. I promise, I'll not hide you from the crowd, I'm ready to admit that I'm deeply in…”

“Hey, it's okay. It's late. It's too late to do that, I already promised Jasper I'd stay away from you”.

“But I don't love Jasper”.

“I'm sorry but you need to learn to love him”. Andrew breathed out, then crawled out of the bed.

“And now you want to leave because of me?! Is that how much my presence irritates you?

Gosh, don't leave, I'd leave instead”. Bella let out disappointedly as tears fell from her eyes. She was reaching for the door, when Andrew suddenly ran and grabbed her hands.

“Don't leave” He mumbled, staring deep at her, and in a warm tone, he added “Please”

With a tiring, relieved breath, Bella thanked him and went back and laid quietly on the bed.

None wanted to speak again, Andrew kept stealing glances at her from the couch, while she just laid on the bed while backing Andrew.

Just in the middle of the silence, her stomach rumbled, ashamed, she tried to concentrate, but Andrew already caught a gaze with her.

“What would you like to eat?”. He questioned, but she refused to speak. Just hiding her embarrassed face from him.

“I'll go fix you something. Please, don't go anywhere. I'll be right back”. Andrew mumbled, before leaving the room.

Minutes later, Andrew returned with a freshly brewed tea, he also toasted some bread for Bella.

“Here, I'm sure this would help”. He said warmly, while passing the tea to her.

“Thanks, I appreciate”. She said, before grabbing the tea from him.

Soon, the room became silent again, just casual stares from the two of them. “The tea was nice, you did it just as your mum would have done it. Tell me, how is she? It's been long since I saw and heard from her”.

“She's good, how's yours?”. Andrew said politely.

“Pretty good, she keeps asking me about you”. Bella chipped but her words only brought stillness to the room, not until Andrew's phone began to ring.

“Who is that?”. Bella whispered curiously, after Andrew refused to pick up the call.

“Jasper”. He mumbled, then continued “I'm sure he is calling because of you. I think it's time for you to leave”.

“I can't leave now. I'm sorry, but if I leave now, that'll only make him suspicious of me, I mean, he will eventually believe we are together”. Bella pleaded.

Calmly, Andrew took a deep breath and with a slow glance, he turned to look at her.

“Are you really serious about us?”. He whispered a little shocked, then nodded and mumbled “Yes”

“I mean, every damn thing I say. I miss us, I miss you Andrew. I just—I just— you are the only one that loved me sincerely. Please… give me this last chance” she cried.

Almost in tears, Andrew went over and gave her a warm hug. “I missed you too, I missed us. I just hope you won't hurt me again?” he said, staring deep into her eyes.

“I promise, I'll never”. Bella cried out, while struggling with her breath

“I love you, I love you Andrew Sanchez”. She said, as tears rolled down her eyes.

“I—I love you too Bells”. Andrew whispered, placing a kiss on her forehead.

“But, what happens to Jasper?”. Bella questioned.

“Jasper should be a piece of cake. I'm only worried about you accepting us publicly. Won't you be worried about what everyone would say?”. Andrew returned and just when Bella wanted to speak up, Joel bounced in.

“I'm really sorry to interrupt, but we are in a big mess bro and you need to help me”. Joel let out panicked

“What's the problem?”. Andrew asked.