[center][h2][color=LightSteelBlue]Andy[/color][/h2][/center]

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[indent]Andy hummed softly to the radio as she drove down familiar roads. She didn’t need to pay too much attention to where she was going. After five years of knowing Vanessa, Andy could have driven blindfolded to her best friend’s home without a problem. Except this time when she arrived her usual parking spot was already taken.

She blew a puff of air out of her mouth and watched her bangs rise and fall in front of her forehead. As much as she liked big parties, she just wasn’t in the mood tonight. She had a big track meet tomorrow. Not only was it the state competition, but officials from her dream college would be in attendance. If she did well, she could potentially get a full ride and at the very least a scholarship. She wouldn’t be able to afford the school without it. Tomorrow she needed to be focused and prepared. Which meant no alcohol, no smokes, and to be home before eleven. Her eyes glanced at the clock on her baby blue 1980 Ford Sierra. It was eight. She’d have three hours to celebrate with Vanessa, chat with some of the others, and then make her way home. It was enough time. She also had plans to swim with Vanessa tomorrow anyways.

Andy parked her Sierra behind a car she hadn’t seen in this driveway for a while. A red Mazda Miata; Dexter’s favorite possession. She smiled wistfully as she realized she’d never seen both the Miata and Cabriolet in the same driveway before. Back when all three of them were inseparable, it was just their three bikes standing side by side. Maybe tonight would be a bit like the old days. Before her closest friends fought and avoided each other. The three could laugh together again, if the liquor smoothed things over. It was wishful thinking, but Andy always had hope that things would get better between them.

It was this hope that made Andy pick up the two small gifts in the seat next to her and carry them towards the front door. She didn’t knock. In fact, she thought of this place as a second home. Walking through the threshold felt more comfortable than walking through her own, anyways. It was just as inviting as walking through Dexter’s doorway, too. She stepped inside onto the polished hardwood and almost shouted “[i]Honey, I’m home![/i]” as she usually joked. Instead, Andy took a moment to adjust the length of her tight denim skirt and make sure that she’d buttoned her lavender cardigan high enough to show just the right amount of cleavage. She was just about to remove her converse when she noticed the sloshing drinks around her and decided against it. It was never a good idea to be barefoot at a party.

[color=#b6d7a8] “Andrea Marie Walsh!”[/color]

At the sound of her full name, Andy’s head snapped up. Vanessa was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, her hands on her hips. Andy grinned.

[color=#b6d7a8] “You’re late.”[/color] Vanessa’s voice feigned irritation. Her chin even stuck out to make the act more dramatic. She was already drunk.

[color=LightSteelBlue] “Why, Vanessa. I believe I’m only [i]fashionably[/i] late.”[/color] Andy retaliated before she held up one of the gifts in both hands with a wide smile. [color=LightSteelBlue] “Anyways, I’ve brought you something to make up for it.”[/color]

Vanessa’s eyes lit up with excitement, but she hid the emotion as she walked over to her. [color=#b6d7a8]”Andy, you didn’t have to-”[/color] Andy cut her off.

[color=LightSteelBlue] “Oh stop. Of course I’m going to get you a gift on your birthday.”[/color]

Vanessa smiled sheepishly. Andy knew she didn’t need any gifts. Her family had enough to get her anything she wanted. Yet she tore open the gift like it was Christmas morning. Andy watched her with an eager, yet smug grin as the present was finally revealed.

[color=#b6d7a8] “Andy, you bought me the necklace?”[/color] Vanessa exclaimed happily. She pulled the necklace out of the box and held it up in the air. It was the same necklace that they’d seen in the window of a store a while back.

Andy beamed. [color=LightSteelBlue] “I may have gone back to the store to buy it when you were getting our movie tickets.”[/color]

Vanessa beamed back at her friend and quickly moved in for a hug. The two embraced, giving each other a light squeeze like they usually did. Although this time Andy felt different. Vanessa’s squeeze was a little too tight. A little too long. Andy’s brows furrowed for a second. Was there something wrong, or was it the alcohol? When they finally parted, Andy only saw Vanessa’s bright smile. She was still wary of it, but she wasn’t going to press it. Not on Vanessa’s birthday night. 

[color=#b6d7a8] “Thank you, Andy. I’ll never take it off.”[/color]

Andy smirked. [color=LightSteelBlue] “You better not.”[/color] She teased as she watched her friend place the gift around her neck. Her smirk faded, before she glanced into the living room to their right. [color=LightSteelBlue] “How is it, seeing Dex tonight? I don’t see him anywhere.”[/color]

Vanessa’s smile faltered, before she shrugged her shoulders and plastered the smile back on her face. Andy had a feeling that she already knew the answer. [color=#b6d7a8] “It’s alright.”[/color] Vanessa’s eyes scoured the adjacent room too. [color=#b6d7a8] “Actually, I haven’t seen him since he arrived.”[/color]

Andy pursed her lips, but nodded instead of saying anything more. [color=LightSteelBlue] “I’ll probably bump into him somewhere.”[/color]

Vanessa smiled knowingly, and Andy picked up on the look in her peripherals. She smiled and her cheeks flushed a peachy pink. She looked Vanessa in the eyes. [color=LightSteelBlue] “Alright, birthday girl. Go enjoy your party. I’m gonna grab a cup of juice and try to give Victor his gift without getting pressured to smoke with him.”[/color]

The two girls laughed and embraced once more before heading in different directions. Andy made her way into the kitchen only to be immediately surrounded by some other track team members. She only had to say no to a drink once and they laid off of her. Andy sipped on her juice while the others took their shots together, and they stood around the island chatting about tomorrow’s meet until Andy grew sick of the second hand smoke and slippery floor.

[color=LightSteelBlue] “Alright, guys. I’ll see you all tomorrow! I still need to give Victor his present.”[/color] She said against their disappointed boos, and merely laughed as she walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. She walked in just in time to see Vanessa enter as well from the back porch. Her eyes followed her until she saw Vanessa whisper something into Autumn’s ear, and she frowned. Autumn was sitting where she always sat. An unsociable lump on the couch awaiting Vanessa’s attention. As if she was bored of the company without Vanessa’s presence. Andy quickly turned towards the doors to the patio before she could watch Vanessa pull Autumn towards the stairs. Something about the way they moved to a quiet room every time had caught Andy’s attention long ago. There was always some small reason, but Andy had a feeling there was a secret intention behind them. Had Vanessa ever spoken of it to her, though? No. Andy didn’t bring it up. She understood there were parts of her best friend that wasn’t shared with her. It was just the way things were. Like how Andy never talked about her long drives or weekend flights with Dexter. Andy and Vanessa never pressured each other, which was why they enjoyed each other’s company so much.

The fresh air was a blessing as Andy stepped out into the night. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her lungs craved the oxygen. Tonight would have been a great night for a run. The crisp air would have done her well. She might have run all night, if she didn’t have an obligation to make tomorrow.

When her eyes finally opened to gaze at the pristine lawn of the Bordeaux family, she heard some quiet movement to her left and turned. There he was. Dexter Quinto. He didn’t look happy. Was it Dexter that Vanessa had come to talk to before she ran to Autumn? She held her hand up beside her and waved to catch his attention. The beaded bracelet on her wrist shifting back and forth would make enough noise to draw his attention.

[color=LightSteelBlue] “Dexter Quinto, have you been out here all evening?”[/color] She asked, almost demanding the answer, as she made her way towards him.
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