Dreams Can Come True

41. Andreas

The last apartment of the day was situated in a quiet street, surrounded by trees shedding their leaves in autumn colors, and although the other options had certainly not been bad, nothing could compare to the feeling we had at the second apartment. As we were wrapping up at the last apartment, I couldn't help but think back to the warmth and comfort we had felt in that cozy duplex with its wooden tones and rural atmosphere.
Despite my overwhelming feelings for the second apartment, I had to admit that I had been rather annoyed by Julie's flirting with Bill. I couldn't ignore how she constantly looked at Bill, with a smile that seemed a bit too wide and a gaze that lingered a bit too long. Her subtle but unmistakable attempts to attract his attention were hard to overlook. I tried to remain professional, but inside, I felt a pang of jealousy.
After some small talk, Julie announced that the day was coming to an end. I saw her take out a card from her wallet and give it to Bill. "If you ever need me, don't hesitate to call," she said with a smile that made me frown even more. At that moment, I could have shot her to the moon, but I kept my reaction to myself. Bill accepted the card and put it in his pocket, a gesture that somehow irritated me.
I tried to hide my irritation and thanked Julie for her time. As we left the apartment, I turned to her and assured her that I was still interested in the second apartment. "I'll send you an email with further details and questions," I promised her.
After saying goodbye, Bill and I walked outside, welcoming the fresh air after the stifling atmosphere indoors. I looked at him, the frustration still evident in my eyes, but he didn't seem to notice much. We got into the car and drove back home, with the second apartment still on my mind, and Julie's card burning in Bill's pocket.

When we finally arrived home after a long day of apartment viewings, Andreas was still fast asleep, sprawled out on the couch, emitting a light snoring sound from his mouth. However, Tom was nowhere to be found, which clearly irritated Bill to some extent. His eyes almost rolled automatically when he noticed the empty spot on the seat next to Andreas. It was late in the afternoon by now, and it was hard to imagine that Tom would still be in bed. The sun was slowly setting, casting a warm orange glow into the living room.
Bill tried to wake Andreas up by loudly exclaiming, "Good evening, Andreas!" as he walked over to the couch. It was clear that his voice elicited the desired response, as Andreas suddenly sat up, rubbing his sleepy eyes as he tried to understand where he was. Meanwhile, I smiled kindly at him, wondering what they had been up to the previous night.
"Rough night?" I asked with a slight chuckle, seeing him run his hand through his tousled hair. He nodded tiredly, as if he hadn't slept for days. "Can I get some water?" he asked with a hoarse voice, as if he hadn't spoken in a while.
"Of course, I'll get you some water," replied Bill, heading towards the kitchen to fetch a glass of water. While he was away, I sat down next to Andreas. His tired face told a story of a long night or perhaps a wild adventure. I wondered where Tom was and if he would have the same tired expression.
Bill returned with a glass of water for Andreas, and Andreas took it gratefully, his hands trembling slightly as he held the glass. "Where's Tom, actually?" Bill asked as he sat down next to us. Andreas frowned and shrugged, a sign that he didn't know either.
Bill muttered something about checking Tom's bedroom and disappeared from the living room. Meanwhile, I sat next to Andreas, who was trying to fight his fatigue with a few sips of water. His eyes blinked slowly as he tried to focus on his surroundings.

Andreas sighed as he set his glass of water down and opened his tired eyes. "I'll really miss you guys when you go back on tour," he said with a hint of nostalgia in his voice.
I looked at him understandingly, knowing it must be hard for him to say goodbye to the band members he considered family. "I understand, Andreas," I replied sincerely. "It won't be the same without you either."
"Yeah," sighed Andreas, "I really have the best time when they're here in Berlin. It's just different when they're not around." His voice sounded almost a little sad, as if he were already anticipating the emptiness that would arise when his friends left again. In a few months, we would be away from home for at least a year, and I felt a pang of sympathy for him.
Then it suddenly occurred to me that I didn't know much about Andreas, apart from the fact that he was a good friend of the band members. "Do you have anything to keep you occupied when we're on tour?" I asked him curiously, looking him straight in the eyes.
Andreas nodded slowly. "Yes, I'm a student," he replied. "I have a lot of studying to do and classes to attend, but when you guys are in town, I think it's important to spend time with you."
I asked him about his studies, curious about what kept him busy besides the time he spent with us. "I'm studying business management," explained Andreas, and I nodded in understanding. It fit perfectly with the image I had formed of him - serious, determined, and full of good ideas.
As Andreas spoke, my thoughts drifted to my own desires to go to college. I remembered once having the same dream in my own world, but not having the financial means to make it happen.