Crash Course

Chapter 5

The next two days were a blur. I avoided Liam at every opportunity, which wasn't difficult since he seemed to be avoiding me too. Luke and I barely spoke, Andrew must have struck the fear of God unto him, or maybe it was my outburst at practice. The party was tonight. My gut was telling me it was a bad idea to go, but I was spiteful, and quite honestly bored. Nate and Kristy promised me a good time, so I figured what the hell? I stood in my bathroom, getting ready, when Andrew appeared in the doorway. "I'm ready to talk when you are." He said. He looked great in his button up and chubbies. The perfect frat boy wanna be. "Maybe we can ride to the party together?" He looked almost pleading.

"Nate is picking me up." I said, the tension between us was suffocating. "But thank you."

"Bells. Please." He begged. Andrew and I had never had an argument like the one we were currently in. We always forgave each other. We never hit below the belt. I searched his eyes.

"Okay, we can talk. But I'm still riding in with Nate. I promised." Andrew moved to sit on my bed while I continued getting ready.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything about Matt. I just knew it would get to you. I know you care about him more than anything, and I don't blame you for what happened to him. It was his choice to join Dylan. I just don't want to repeat all our past mistakes." He explained. I knew it was time to suck it up and move on.

"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said you were going to end up in a jail cell. I know you don't approve of Dylan's lifestyle. I know you couldn't do what he does. I was being spiteful." I put the last curl in my hair and plopped down next to him. "I really did love Matt. I still do. Do you know what happened that night?" I asked, referring to the night that we both lost Matt.

"Only the parts I have put together over time."

"Matt came to see me. He said he was sorry that things had to end this way. I didn't understand. He said "Dylan is after you. He knows that you reached out to the FBI. He wanted to kill you. I promised I'd work for him if he didn't hurt you. He needs my connections, my family's money and support. I'm his way in." I told him anything was better than owing Dylan. I told him I could get police protection, the FBI would take him away soon. But you know how that ended. Dylan continued to dodge the law, while Matt steadily moved up in the ranks. Because of me. I created the crime lord's right hand man." I said. Andrew just stared at me.

"We both played a part. I knew who Dylan was. I knew what he was capable of. It took Meeting you to realize that it wasn't normal. We both could've saved Matt." Andrew said. We sat quietly.

"I love you Drew."

"I love you too Bell."  I stood, and pulled my outfit out of the closet.

"What do you think?" I asked, holding it up against my body and flashing Andrew a smile. He rolled his eyes.

"Maybe wear some sweats." He stood, kissed my forehead, and left the room. I turned toward my body mirror. The outfit Nate, Kristy and I had settled on was a little scandalous. It was a matching two piece set of shorts and a crop top. My ass hung out just enough to still be tasteful. I changed quickly and grabbed my stuff. I heard Nate honk his horn twice as I grabbed my house keys. Andrew stood by the garage door, digging around in a bag for his car key.

"I'll see you there?" I said to him as I began to leave.

"See you there!"

Luke's house was a mansion, to say the least. It looked like an old plantation manor. When we arrived, the party was in full swing. Cars lined the long driveway, and lights flashed from all the windows. The house was secluded, so the guests could be as loud and rowdy as they wanted. Nate helped me climb out of his Jeep, then Kristy, and we headed towards the house. "Mom? Is that you?" I heard James' voice behind me, and turned around to see him scrambling out of a car. I smiled as he looked me over, his jaw almost on the floor. "You look hot!" He said, hugging me gently. "Luke said he didn't think you were coming!" We began walking again.