Saving Andrew

Chapter 3

Chapter 3
Against all odds

                                          The next morning, my mom woke me up telling me that a man was asking for me. I got up scared checking my phone and I found 30 missed calls from Andrew. He was there, outside and my mom insisted to know who he was but I didn't answer. I had overslept forgetting our date and he went home to see if everything was ok between us. I told him that everything was fine and I needed some minutes to get ready. He would wait outside so I did all in my power to be ready, breaking my record, but with my mom asking me questions non-stop, it took me nearly 20 more minutes, and by the time I got outside, he was gone. I promised my mom to answer her questions and ran after Andrew looking for him. He was at the corner waiting his turn to cross the street.

"Andrew!" I yelled but he didn't turn. "Andrew!" I yelled again, and finally, he turned around.

"What?" he asked sharply, his eyes filled with anger and hurt.

"I'm so sorry, I overslept and my mom was asking me questions, I couldn't get out earlier," I explained, my voice shaking with emotion.

He scoffed.

"Sure, that's a likely story. You stood me up, Maya. You didn't even bother to call or text," he said, his voice rising. "What do you want?" He asked.

"I'm sorry, I should have communicated with you, but please, Andrew, let me explain," I begged, reaching out to touch his arm. He shrugged my hand away.

"I don't want to hear it. Clearly, you don't respect me or my time. We're done," he said coldly, turning to roll his chair away.

I came back home crying my heart out and locked myself in my room because I did not want to deal with anyone. I had a mix of emotions running through my body, and any kind of communication could trigger my anger. My mom tried to get her answers gas lighting the situation, so I yelled at her too, asking her to leave me alone. Of course, my aunt Vivian made her way inside the room and slapped me, telling me to apologize to my mom but instead, I took my bag, pushed her away, and left the house slamming the door. They yelled at me in Spanish but I didn't look back. 

 I took a bus to the bar; I needed space from everyone and since I had no other place to go... Joe was in there. Fortunately! He saw my sad face and invited me in after hugging me. I sat at the bar while he served me a double shot of tequila.

"Isn't too early for this, Joe?" I asked, and he shrugged.

"It is five o'clock somewhere, darling," he answered winking at me. "Trouble at home? The boyfriend? Let it all out, Maya, I'm a good listener," he continued and I burst into tears.

I told him what happened with Andrew and at home after drinking that shot. He told me to be patient with Andrew and to move out of the house. He was right about home. Too many people in there, and as an adult, I had to take responsibility. He offered to give me an advance on my salary and said that his late brother had a studio not far from the bar that he could lend me while I solved my problem. I jumped out of my chair to go hug him and thank him for the help but I was still sad about Andrew. I called him, but he didn't answer. I went to his house but there was no one there or maybe he pretended not to be at home. His dog was inside barking. How could he leave his dog alone at home? I waited there on his porch. I wanted to speak with him, I needed him! And I was not going to get a no for an answer.

10 pm... 11 pm... My phone was blown with my mom's calls until the battery died. Midnight... 1 am... I was falling asleep when I heard laughs coming from the street, and Hunter started barking. Andrew came back home with another woman on his lap, playing with his hair, and kissing his cheek. My heart dropped. He stopped when he saw me there and told the woman to get off him. I couldn't breathe.