The knock on the bathroom door was loud enough to cut through the silence.
Once.
Twice.
Andrea froze.
Her head was still spinning from the alcohol, but the sound snapped something in her mind back into focus.
Samuel looked at the door.
Then back at her.
Neither of them spoke for a second.
Another knock.
"Andrea?"
Matthew's voice.
Andrea's heart jumped into her throat.
Samuel exhaled slowly and ran a hand through his hair.
"Well," he muttered quietly. "That's… unfortunate timing."
Andrea pressed her hands against the sink, trying to steady herself.
"Don't open it," she whispered.
Samuel raised an eyebrow.
"It's your bathroom."
Another knock.
"Are you in there?" Matthew asked through the door.
Tom's voice followed.
"Andrea? You okay?"
Andrea felt heat rush to her face.
This was a nightmare.
Samuel glanced at the door again, then back at her.
"You want me to answer?" he asked quietly.
Andrea shook her head quickly.
"No."
The silence outside lasted a moment.
Then Matthew tried the handle.
Locked.
Inside the hallway, Matthew stared at the door.
His jaw tightened slightly.
Tom crossed his arms beside him.
"They're definitely in there," Tom said quietly.
Matthew didn't answer.
He knocked again.
"Andrea," he said, more firmly now.
Inside the bathroom, Andrea groaned softly and covered her face with her hands.
"This is so bad."
Samuel leaned against the wall, watching her.
"You want them to think we're just talking?"
Andrea gave him a look.
"They're not idiots."
Samuel shrugged.
"Fair point."
Outside the door, Tom shifted uncomfortably.
"Maybe we should just—"
The bathroom door suddenly opened.
Andrea stood there.
Her hair messy.
Her cheeks flushed.
Her eyes slightly unfocused from alcohol.
Behind her, Samuel leaned casually against the sink.
Matthew's eyes immediately moved between them.
The tension in the hallway was instant.
Andrea forced a weak smile.
"Hi."
Matthew's voice was quiet.
"What are you doing?"
Andrea blinked slowly.
"In the bathroom?"
Tom rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"We were just checking if you were okay."
Andrea nodded quickly.
"Yep. Totally okay."
Samuel stepped forward slightly behind her.
"She was just dizzy," he said calmly. "Too much alcohol."
Matthew's gaze shifted to him.
Cold.
Samuel noticed.
And smirked slightly.
Andrea sighed.
"Guys… it's really not that dramatic."
Matthew looked back at her.
"You disappeared."
"I went to the bathroom," she said.
Matthew's eyes lingered on her face for a moment longer.
Like he was trying to read something deeper.
Then he stepped back slightly.
"Okay."
Andrea walked past them slowly into the hallway.
The house music grew louder again as she moved toward the living room.
Samuel followed.
Tom stayed where he was for a moment.
Then he glanced at Matthew.
"You good?"
Matthew nodded.
"Yeah."
But his voice didn't sound convinced.
Tom looked toward the living room where Andrea had disappeared.
Then back at Matthew.
"Something weird is going on tonight."
Matthew stared at the bathroom door for a second longer.
Then he muttered quietly,
"Yeah."
Across the room, Andrea had already grabbed another drink.
Her sister was dancing wildly with some of Samuel's friends.
The party kept going like nothing had happened.
But Andrea could feel it.
Matthew's eyes.
Watching her again.
And across the room—
Samuel leaned against the wall, sipping his drink.
He caught her gaze.
Then he winked.
Andrea's stomach flipped.
And suddenly the party felt even more dangerous than before.