Chapter 3

ANDREA

Waking up to the sound of loud music playing from the living room, I got up groggily and realized that the party had already started.

I glanced around the familiar room, let out a sigh, and rose to my feet when I heard the shower running in the bathroom.

He’s probably taking a bath. I should leave before he finishes. Still...I hesitated, I've missed him so much.

Alexander Cromwell, Alexis’s elder brother, the boy i once had an intense crush on as a teenager and even now, still my first love.

Our families had been friends since our grandfathers’ high school days, then our fathers’ and now ours.

We used to be called the ‘Four A’s' when we were younger, since all our names started with an A, even though none of us were actually twins.

Alexander was my brother’s best friend, they’d been close since they were babies, practically like brothers themselves.

My friendship with Alexis came as naturally as breathing, we were probably destined to be friends even before we were born.

She always joked that we were twins from different mothers.

The day Amelia and her mother became part of our family, Alexis cried nonstop, convinced that someone was about to steal me away from her. It was like watching a baby cry after getting her favorite toy taken away.

Alexis knew I had the biggest crush on her brother and she was actually rooting for me. But deep down, I knew nothing was going to happen.

He would always say that i'm like a sister to him, just like Alexis...he treated me like a child.

Hearing the shower stop, I came back to my senses and sprinted towards the door, forgetting my hoodie on the bed.

Wait! When did i take my hoodie off?

Left with no time to think about it, I opened the door and rushed out, panting like I just ran a marathon.

Boom boom!!!

The sound of music was so loud that it felt like my ears were bleeding. Checking my phone, it was almost past eight.

It's been more than an hour since the party started and Lexis didn't wake me up?

Going down the stairs, my eyes roamed around the living room expecting to see Lexis but she was nowhere to be found and neither was Lia.

Sighing because I've been abandoned in a party filled with people I didn't know, I walked towards where the big bowl of punch was and filled a cup to the brim.

Nodding my head to the song that was playing, I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned with a smile on my face, thinking it was Lexis or Lia.

“Hi! Are you Andrea?” a handsome guy I’d never seen before asked, his lips curving into a wide smile.

“Uhm… yes?” I answered, my tone uncertain, my eyes silently asking who he was.

“I’m Melvin...Melvin James. We went to the same high school and university. I know you probably don’t remember me, but we had some classes together!” he shouted over the loud music, his voice nearly lost in the noise.

“Oh… uhm, hi?” I replied awkwardly.

“I’ve been watching you since you came downstairs, you look stunning in that dress” he said with a smile, his eyes sweeping over me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.

“Th..thank you” I replied with a nervous smile, my gaze darting around the room in search of Alexis.

I’m going to kill her when I find her.

“Are you looking for someone?” he asked, his smile never wavering.

“Yeah… I’m looking for my friend, Alexis” I answered, praying for the conversation to end while sipping my drink.

“Oh, I know where she is” he said suddenly. “I can take you to her, but only if you drink this first.” He handed me his glass, his eyes fixed on me, watching closely as though daring me to refuse.

I knew better than to accept a drink from someone at a party, but impatience got the better of me. Desperate to find Alexis, I tipped the glass back and downed it in one go, then I dropped the glass on the table close to me.

"Ohh wow!!" He exclaimed. "Well... let's go then" he said, offering his hand for me to take but I refused flatly.

Leading me through the crowd of people, I was already feeling tipsy.

What do they put in drinks these days?

Guiding me towards the stairs, he said "come on" then he continued moving up the stairs.

Following him quietly, he stopped in front of Alexis room. "She's in here."

"Okay, thanks for showing me" I thanked him briefly.

I could hear voices inside the room but I could make out who was talking. Placing my hand on the door knob I tried to push but my hand was too weak.

I felt a wave of dizziness as i stumbled backwards only to be caught by strong arms.

"Easy there princess!" Melvin said with a hint of laugh in his voice. "Took the drugs long enough to kick in" he muttered under his breath.

"Come on" he urged, dragging me to familiar room, the one I left minutes ago but this time...it was empty.

Placing me gently on the bed, he stroked my cheeks roughly. "Wish I could have a taste of you myself" he said to himself before walking out and leaving me alone in the silent room.

What did he put in the drink? I feel weirdly weak.

Clack!!

I heard the door open again, "Melvin?" I called out softly, my throat dry and hoarse.

"Who's Melvin?" A cold, angry voice asked.

"Alex? Is that you?" I asked, trying my best to stand up and see who just walked into the room.

"I asked you a question, sunshine. Who's Melvin?" He asked again, this time...the voice was closer, almost like a whisper in my ear.

Blinking away the dizziness, I focused my gaze on his face and I could see he was clearly drunk and very... angry?

Why was he angry?

"Alex?" I called out again, my left hand moving towards his face but he caught it in a tight grip.

"Answer me!" He growled lowly, his eyes growing dark as he stared at me.

"He...he was the one who brought me here" I answered quietly, wincing in pain as his grip on my hand became tighter.

"Did he touch you?" He asked again.

"No, he just left" I confessed.

"Good" he said, "cause I'm the only one allowed to touch you."