The silence outside the house felt heavier after Samuel said it.
"The girl who hates me… likes him."
Andrea wished the ground would just open and swallow her.
Matthew was looking at her now.
Really looking.
Not confused like before.
Not distant.
Just… searching.
Andrea felt her heartbeat everywhere — in her chest, in her throat, even in her ears.
Samuel leaned casually against the doorframe like he had just dropped a small joke, not something that made the entire moment unbearable.
Andrea glared at him.
"You really can't keep your mouth shut, can you?"
Samuel smirked.
"You never asked nicely."
Matthew's voice cut in.
"Samuel."
It was calm.
But there was a warning under it.
Samuel raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Leave it."
Samuel looked between them again.
Then he shrugged.
"Relax, Neyman. I'm not exposing a national secret."
Andrea stepped back.
"I'm going inside."
She didn't wait for either of them to respond.
The music hit her immediately as she opened the door.
Loud.
Warm.
Chaotic.
People were laughing, dancing, talking over each other.
The complete opposite of the tension outside.
Andrea walked straight toward the kitchen and grabbed a drink.
Her hands were shaking slightly.
Why does everything always turn into a disaster?
Her sister appeared beside her.
"Hey birthday girl!" she said excitedly. "Are you having fun?"
Andrea forced a small smile.
"Yeah."
Her sister squinted at her.
"That's not your 'yeah I'm having fun' face."
Andrea sighed.
"It's just a lot of people."
"Well… that's kind of the point of a party," her sister laughed.
Andrea nodded weakly.
Across the room she saw Tom again.
He was sitting on the couch talking with two friends.
When he noticed Andrea looking, he gave her a small wave.
Andrea walked over.
"Hey," Tom said.
"Hey."
Tom looked around the room.
"Your house is officially louder than school now."
Andrea smiled slightly.
"That's terrifying."
Tom chuckled.
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment.
Then Tom asked quietly,
"Did something happen outside?"
Andrea looked at him.
"You saw that?"
Tom shrugged.
"Samuel doesn't usually follow people outside unless something interesting is happening."
Andrea sighed.
"Just… drama."
Tom nodded like he understood.
"Samuel likes drama."
"Tell me about it."
Across the room the door opened again.
Matthew walked back inside.
Samuel followed a few seconds later.
Andrea noticed something strange.
Matthew looked tense.
Samuel looked entertained.
Great.
Samuel caught Andrea's eye from across the room.
Then he did something subtle.
He winked.
Andrea rolled her eyes immediately.
Idiot.
But Matthew saw the exchange.
His expression tightened.
A few minutes later, music changed to something slower.
People started dancing in pairs.
Andrea stayed on the couch with Tom, watching the chaos.
Tom suddenly stood up.
"My girlfriend is calling," he said, checking his phone.
Andrea nodded.
"Go."
Tom smiled politely and stepped outside to answer.
Andrea was alone now.
She stared at the floor for a moment.
Then she heard a voice behind her.
"You look like you regret this party."
Samuel.
Of course.
Andrea didn't even turn around.
"Go away."
Samuel sat down next to her anyway.
"You know," he said casually, "most people would enjoy having this many people show up for them."
Andrea finally looked at him.
"Most people don't feel like a zoo animal at their own party."
Samuel laughed quietly.
"That's fair."
For a moment they just watched the room.
Then Samuel said something unexpected.
"You really like him."
Andrea groaned.
"Can you stop talking about Matthew for five minutes?"
Samuel tilted his head.
"So you admit it."
Andrea stood up.
"I admit that you're annoying."
She started walking toward the kitchen again.
Samuel followed slowly.
"Why him?" he asked again.
Andrea stopped walking.
She turned around.
"Why do you care so much?"
Samuel looked genuinely thoughtful for a second.
Then he shrugged.
"I don't know."
Andrea stared at him suspiciously.
"You're weird."
Samuel grinned.
"You noticed."
Before Andrea could respond—
Matthew appeared in front of them.
His expression was serious now.
"Samuel," he said.
Samuel sighed dramatically.
"What now?"
Matthew looked directly at him.
"Stop bothering her."
Samuel raised both hands.
"I'm not bothering her."
Andrea crossed her arms.
"You kind of are."
Samuel looked offended.
"Wow."
Matthew stepped closer.
"Just leave it alone."
Samuel studied Matthew's face carefully.
Then he smiled slowly.
"Oh."
Matthew frowned.
"Oh what?"
Samuel leaned slightly closer to him.
"You care."
Matthew's jaw tightened.
Andrea felt the tension spike instantly.
Samuel looked between them one more time.
Then he laughed softly and stepped back.
"Relax," he said. "I'm done."
He grabbed another drink from the counter and disappeared back into the crowd.
Matthew and Andrea were left standing there.
Alone again.
Matthew looked at her.
"You okay?"
Andrea stared at him.
The same question.
Again.
She exhaled slowly.
"Do people ever ask you different questions?"
Matthew almost smiled.
Almost.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Andrea shook her head.
"This party is insane."
Matthew glanced around the room.
"Yeah."
A small silence settled between them.
Then Matthew said quietly,
"You deserve it though."
Andrea blinked.
"What?"
"A party," he said. "People showing up for you."
Andrea looked down.
"You only came because my sister asked."
Matthew didn't deny it.
But he didn't agree either.
Instead he said,
"Still counts."
Andrea looked up at him again.
And for a moment—
Just a moment—
The noise of the party faded around them.
But across the room…
Samuel was watching.
And his eyes were sharper than ever.