MD - Chapter 275: It's doneMarch 27
The party was at its peak when the clock struck eight in the evening. The house was already completely packed, and the backyard, despite the colder air, had also been taken over by groups coming and going, laughing, talking, or simply making use of the space.
Andrew moved through the crowd with a cup in his hand.
His night was a curious mix.
On one hand, it was fun. There were good moments, laughing with his friends and meeting chill people like Andre. But at the same time, there was Jade.
She hadn't made a scene. No open argument. Nothing that would draw attention from the outside. But she was in full silent treatment mode.
That closed-off expression most people found intimidating, except Andrew. Short answers. Not looking at him much. Present, but distant.
There was also the more tedious part of the night: greeting an absurd number of neighbors. He'd already lost count of how many hands he'd shaken and how many photos he'd taken.
Though, to be fair, it wasn't something that bothered him.
Taking pictures with kids, with families, with people who were genuinely excited to see him didn't weigh on him.
The problem was the consistency. Especially at the beginning. One after another, no breaks.
Now, at least, things had calmed down. He could breathe a little.
'Where is she?' Andrew thought as he moved through the house, weaving between groups.
He hadn't seen Jade since she said she was going to the bathroom. Either she was still there, or she'd simply decided not to come back yet, making him wait, or making him go look for her.
Eventually, he stepped out into the backyard. The cold air felt good.
He spotted Steve and Cat in the middle of the lawn, improvising something that was supposed to resemble a football game with a bunch of kids. Total chaos.
Some of the kids seemed to have butterfingers, constantly dropping the ball, though, to be honest, the worst offender was Cat.
At least everyone was having fun. The ball went back and forth with no real logic, the kids running after it in a pack like it was a race, and whenever someone managed to grab it, the rest would pile on trying to take it away.
Andrew watched them for a few seconds, narrowing his eyes slightly. 'I think Steve's drunk and Cat too,' he thought.
Which didn't make much sense, since that was supposed to be impossible. Pepper had been clear about it. There was security and control over the drinks. No alcohol for minors. And Claire was constantly making rounds, watching everything with that almost obsessive attention she had for these kinds of things.
And yet, he looked back at Steve, who was trying to play quarterback.
But his throws were terrible. No timing, no accuracy. The ball came out late, or too hard, or completely off target. It kept landing several yards away from the receiver. And the worst part, he swayed slightly after throwing.
Andrew knew Steve had coordination and enough arm strength. He wasn't a quarterback, sure, he was a wide receiver, but that didn't justify this disaster.
On the other side, Cat was laughing more than the situation warranted, looking up every time the ball went into the air like it was the most entertaining thing in the world.
Andrew exhaled softly through his nose, still watching the scene.
"Lovebirds."
Andrew heard his cousin's voice before he saw her. He turned his head, and there was Haley, who had arrived at some point without him noticing. A red cup in hand, watching the scene with a slight frown.
"That sounds like envy," Andrew said, glancing at her. "Are you jealous of Steve and Cat?"
Haley looked at him calmly, taking her time. "Aren't you?"
Andrew turned his gaze forward again.
At that moment, Cat tripped over her own feet and fell. Steve reacted instantly, stepping in quickly to help her up. They both laughed like they were having the best time of their lives.
Steve tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, and they lingered there for a second, looking at each other.
They were having fun, sharing moments. Meanwhile, Andrew and Jade…
Andrew clicked his tongue. "Lovebirds."
"That's what I mean," Haley nodded, taking a sip and looking ahead again.
"You're not having much luck in the love department either, huh?" Andrew said, slightly exaggerating the last words.
Haley scoffed. "Ever since I got standards, things got a lot more complicated."
Andrew let out a soft laugh. He knew exactly what she meant.
Before, especially at the start of high school, Haley dated guys just because she thought they were cute. Everything else was secondary. It was a constant cycle of fights, breakups, getting back together, and repeat.
Now it was different.
She was still meeting guys, sure. But at the first sign they were idiots, she cut it off right there. She didn't even let things progress like before. Her standards were higher. More thought-out.
Before starting a relationship, she wanted it to at least have a future, not necessarily the love of her life, since that was hard to find, but something with potential.
"Want me to introduce you to a friend with potential?" Andrew asked, his tone clearly suggestive.
"Oh," Haley raised her eyebrows, playing up her curiosity, "and who is this candidate?"
"Howard Wolowitz."
Haley couldn't help but laugh. "Sounds like quite the catch. And he's also tonight's official alcohol smuggler."
Andrew arched an eyebrow at that. "So that's where the alcohol's coming from? You too?" he asked, glancing at her cup.
"Yeah," Haley nodded casually. "He creates a distraction, then move in fast to the drinks table. Grab a couple and done."
Andrew smile, shaking his head slightly.
Before he could say anything else, a shout interrupted him.
"Hey, man!" Steve called out, raising his hand from the yard. "Come play!"
Cat raised her hand too, waving enthusiastically, and the kids started cheering for him to join.
Andrew lifted his hand slightly in response. "Haley's in! I'll join later."
Without giving her time to react, he took her cup and gave her a light push on the back.
"Hey!" Haley protested, stumbling a step forward.
"Have fun," Andrew said with a half-smile, and without waiting for a reply, he turned around and headed back inside.
Andrew resumed his small mission: finding Jade. He decided to head toward the loudest area, the living room.
Right now, that space looked completely different. The lights were dim, a disco ball slowly spinning on the ceiling, scattering small flashes across the walls. The place had turned into a kind of mini nightclub.
In the center, there was karaoke going on. Andrew took a few steps forward, watching the scene. In the middle of the circle, surrounded by people clapping and cheering, was Tori Vega singing.
'So this is what the multiverse looks like?' Andrew thought, with a strange expression.
Though he had to admit it, Tori sang really well. Better than anyone there. And not just that, she knew how to move while doing it. She had presence and confidence.
It wasn't surprising she had become the center of attention since she arrived. She had even won the Just Dance tournament Phil had set up, beating him at his own game.
The song ended, and instantly the room erupted in applause, whistles, and cheers.
"Let's go!"
"Another one, another one!"
"That was amazing!"
"She's incredible, Mitch! It's like watching the birth of a future Taylor Swift!" Cam said, clapping enthusiastically.
Tori smiled, a bit out of breath but clearly happy, and raised a hand in thanks. "Thank you, thank you…" she said, laughing softly. "But I've already sung a lot, someone else should try."
She handed the mic to someone nearby and started stepping out of the center, still smiling.
That's when Andrew crossed her path.
"Hey," he said lightly, "you're stealing the spotlight at my own party."
Tori blinked, surprised to see him there all of a sudden. "What? No, I…" she pointed at herself, a bit nervous, "that wasn't my intention…"
Andrew smirked. "I'm joking."
She let out a small sigh, relaxing a little.
"Actually, it works out better for me," Andrew added. "That way I don't have to entertain everyone by myself."
Tori let out a soft laugh.
"By the way, have you seen Jade?" Andrew asked, getting straight to the point.
Tori shook her head. "No, I haven't. Still giving you the silent treatment?"
Andrew made a slight face and nodded.
Tori sighed, crossing her arms for a moment. "Deep down, very deep down, she's not a bad person," she said finally. "She's just intense."
Andrew didn't respond, but he didn't deny it either.
"Come on," Tori added. "I'll help you find her. It shouldn't take long, there's just a lot of people."
Andrew nodded, and the two of them started moving through the crowd. But they had barely taken a couple of steps when someone cut them off.
It was Howard, Robbie with the puppet, and Sinjin.
Howard, who at first had reacted with his usual mocking tone upon seeing Robbie with a puppet and Sinjin with that nervous, hunched demeanor, had now become friends with them. Way too integrated.
"We need a distraction, Tori!" Sinjin said, his tone rushed, almost desperate.
"Wow, Sinjin, relax," Tori replied, surprised. "You sound like an addict."
"We want to get drunk, woman!" Rex, the puppet, chimed in completely naturally.
Andrew looked at the puppet, then at Robbie.
Yeah.
None of this was normal.
Howard stepped forward, more focused on the goal. "We need a distraction," he said, pointing toward the living room. "Please, do another song with Pepper, that was the best window we had."
Tori immediately shook her head. "Sorry, guys. I've already sung enough, and I've done more than enough helping you earlier. Find another way."
Silence.
The three of them looked at each other and, without saying another word, disappeared as quickly as they had appeared.
Tori followed them with her gaze for a second, then sighed. "I don't get all the fuss about drinking alcohol."
"Neither do I," Andrew replied almost at the same time, taking a sip from the cup in his hand, the one he had taken from Haley.
Tori slowly turned her head toward him, narrowing her eyes. "Is that alcohol?"
Andrew lowered the cup slightly. "Yeah, but I took it from my cousin. And it's probably the first drink I've had in months," he said with a shrug.
Tori studied him for a moment, evaluating. "I believe you," she said finally. "From how you come across in your videos and with everything you've achieved, you don't seem like someone who drinks."
Without saying much more, they resumed their search. They took a few steps through the crowd until someone called Andrew's name.
He turned and saw his neighbor, Emily, his age, with her little brother beside her, barely lifting his gaze.
"Sorry," Emily said with a slightly nervous smile. "Could you take a picture with him? He's pretty shy. He didn't dare to ask before."
The boy looked down, hands clenched together.
Andrew couldn't help but smile. "Of course," he said, stepping closer and crouching down to his level. "Your name's Danny, right?"
The boy looked up, surprised that he knew his name. Their eyes met, and he nodded.
"Alright, let's take a picture," Andrew said in an upbeat tone, standing beside him. "Smile."
Danny hesitated for a moment, then placed his hand on Andrew's shoulder. He smiled, still shy, but clearly excited.
Emily, already with her phone ready, took the picture.
Tori narrowed her eyes slightly, thoughtful. 'No wonder people follow him so much…'
It wasn't just what he did on the field, or what he showed in his videos. It was this too.
"Thanks…" the kid murmured.
"No problem, champ," Andrew replied, giving him a light pat on the shoulder.
Emily hesitated for a second. "Can we take one more? The three of us."
Andrew nodded easily. "Sure."
Tori took the phone this time. "Ready…" she said, adjusting the frame.
Click.
"Perfect."
"Thanks, really," Emily said, visibly happy. "Come on, Danny."
The boy looked at Andrew one more time before leaving.
And right at that moment, a voice dripping with sarcasm was heard.
"What a touching moment."
Andrew and Tori turned at the same time.
There was Jade. Finally, they had found her, and for some reason, at that exact moment.
Andrew and Tori exchanged a quick, almost automatic glance. Does she have some kind of radar to show up at the perfect moment to attack?
"I just took a picture with a kid," Andrew said, stepping toward her. "And where have you been?"
Jade completely ignored the question. "A kid and his sister," she replied, crossing her arms. "Who was looking at you like she wanted to eat you."
Andrew frowned, giving her a strange look. "What? How can you tell that just by looking at her? Are you Professor Xavier?"
Tori blinked. 'Was that the one from X-Men?' she thought, trying to place the reference.
"I don't need to be bald and have psychic powers to tell when a girl is drooling over you," Jade shot back instantly. "It was obvious. And the way she used the photo as an excuse to touch you."
She made a vague gesture with her hand.
"She only touched my shoulder, that's it," Andrew said.
Tori looked away slightly, holding back a reaction. The scene felt way too familiar, too similar to the arguments between Beck and Jade. Only this time, from the outside, Jade was clearly being more jealous and paranoid.
"And you like that your neighbor touches your shoulder?" Jade asked, her tone sharp.
Andrew looked at her for a second. Without answering, he raised his cup and finished what was left of the beer in one go. He set it down on a nearby table and lifted his hands, as if closing the topic.
"Let's just drop this."
Andrew turned to leave.
"Hey, we're not done," Jade said, stepping forward to follow him.
Andrew stopped and turned back. "I am."
"I'm not."
Andrew frowned slightly. "Let me see if I understand this," he began, looking straight at her.
"Let's see if you do," Jade replied, nodding, hands on her hips.
"So because you and I are seeing each other… I can't take a picture with a girl who's a fan of mine?" Andrew continued. "Why does it bother you when it's literally just a photo with someone I'll probably never see again in my life?"
"Exactly," Jade said, as if it were obvious. "You can take pictures with kids, guys, even ugly girls."
The casual way she said it made the tension in the air tighten even more.
Andrew stared at her, not quite believing what he had just heard.
"You know what…" he started, but stopped halfway.
He shifted his approach. He had to try to make her understand.
"Tori."
"What?" Tori replied, her tone already suggesting that she was getting involved in something that was none of her business.
"If you were my girlfriend…" Andrew continued, bringing his hands together, framing it as a hypothetical.
Jade let out a short, clearly fake laugh. "Great start to a question."
Andrew held her gaze for a second, then turned back to Tori. "Would it bother you if I took a picture with a fan who could be considered attractive?"
"Why does it matter what she thinks?" Jade cut in, making a dismissive gesture with her hand.
Tori hesitated for a brief moment. "Not at all," she said finally. "It's just a photo. Kids, girls, guys, I honestly wouldn't care. Unless I saw you flirting or encouraging something."
"Get out, Tori," Jade said instantly.
"Gladly," Tori replied right away, turning to leave.
"Wait," Andrew stopped her.
Tori muttered something under her breath but stepped back into place. 'I should've helped Robbie and the guys get alcohol,' she thought, questioning her life choices.
Andrew was about to continue, but Jade raised a hand, already knowing they weren't going anywhere with this.
"You know what?"
"Go ahead," Andrew replied, now with less patience.
"No, no," Tori cut in quickly. "Maybe don't say it."
She already knew where her friend was going with this, those radical decisions.
But Jade didn't listen.
"What we had," she said, pointing to herself and then to Andrew, "is history."
She paused briefly, locking eyes with him. "It's done."
"So you're breaking up with me?" Andrew asked, somewhat surprised, but not entirely.
Tori already knew. Jade could be that extreme.
"Yes," Jade answered without hesitation. "Does it surprise you to be on this side of it?"
The subtext was clear. Someone like Andrew wasn't used to being the one getting dumped.
"Well, technically we weren't even official yet, so it doesn't really count as me getting dumped," Andrew replied.
"Whatever," Jade cut him off. "Whatever little we had, it's over."
And just like that, she turned and walked away.
"Oh, God…" Tori murmured, bringing a hand to her forehead.
How could things escalate so fast?
A few seconds passed, and Tori looked up. Andrew was standing there in silence, staring in the direction Jade had gone.
"Are you okay?" she asked carefully.
Andrew exhaled slowly. "Yeah, I guess. Almost two months wasted."
"Two months wasted?" Tori repeated.
"Two months getting to know each other, just thrown in the trash," Andrew explained. "But whatever. Probably better this way."
He could go after her. Try to fix it. He knew it would probably work. That cycle of fighting and making up was typical for someone like Jade.
But he wasn't like that. If they were already at this point without even making the relationship official, then everything that came next would only be worse, more arguments, more tension, and a lot more wear and tear.
And he'd be the one constantly trying to save it.
That wasn't something he wanted, especially not now. Not when he was about to start his college career. A new environment, demanding, full of pressure, games, travel, and constant attention.
He had to bring UCLA back from the ashes, everyone expected that from him. He needed stability. Someone who added to his life, not someone who turned every normal situation into a problem.
Tori watched him in silence and understood. Andrew wasn't going to be like Beck.
He wasn't going to fall into that endless cycle of fighting, distance, and reconciliation. He wasn't going to let that become the normal dynamic of his relationship.
And she was a little surprised when she heard him say those two months had been wasted. It sounded serious. Like he had actually been investing in something he hoped would work. That, for someone his age, wasn't that common. Especially not for a guy.
Tori looked away slightly. 'He really is different,' she thought.
Somehow, that caught her attention. More than she expected.
At that moment, through the noise of the party, a loud thud was heard, something hitting a table.
"Are you kids at it again!?" Pepper shouted. "What did I tell you about not playing with the ball inside the house!?"
Andrew and Tori turned their heads at the same time.
There were the culprits: Luke and Josh, Pippa's stepbrother.
Two little devils, though not so little anymore, who had just slammed a football into a table, scattering what little was left on it. Luckily, nothing had broken.
The table had already been half empty, which prevented a bigger disaster.
Both of them ran toward it to grab the ball.
"Kids, give me that ball!" Pepper exclaimed, marching toward them in his perfectly put-together host outfit, completely outraged.
Behind him, Ronaldo hurried after him. "Pepper, calm down, it's not good for your blood pressure."
"Luke!" Claire's voice was heard as she approached.
Tori tilted her head slightly, watching the scene. "A new distraction, huh?"
"Looks like it," Andrew nodded.
His gaze shifted slightly, and there they were: Howard, Robbie, Sinjin, Andre, Archie, Kevin, and Reggie.
All strategically positioned.
"These guys are seriously using kids to pull off their alcohol plan," Andrew muttered.
"They're hopeless," Tori replied.
With the drinks table momentarily unattended, they moved in quickly.
Beers disappearing, cups being filled, hands going in and out like they had practiced this operation more than once.
"Josh!? Again?" another voice called out.
Andrew turned his head.
Pippa.
Walking toward her stepbrother with a mix of resignation and authority in her tone.
For a second, Andrew stood still, watching her.
Almost two years, that wasn't nothing. Memories that didn't fade easily. Good moments. No constant tension. Yeah, they had broken up because of jealousy, but it wasn't like Jade's.
It was more understandable. More human. And, being honest with himself, if he had been the way he was now back then… they'd probably still be together.
Pippa had changed too. She had apologized. She had acknowledged her mistakes. She had grown.
Andrew lowered his gaze slightly, processing that fleeting thought.
Fortunately, in that moment, his aunt pulled him out of it.
"Andrew, everything okay?" Claire asked, after scolding Luke.
Andrew snapped back and nodded. "Yeah."
"And Jade?" Claire added, narrowing her eyes. "I saw her leave, and she didn't look very happy."
Andrew made a small internal grimace. He didn't feel like explaining that everything was over. Not right now.
"Jade and I had a fight," Tori cut in naturally.
Claire turned her head toward her. "Really?"
"Yeah," Tori nodded. "We're very intense friends and very different."
She said it with complete seriousness and quickly changed the subject, not giving Claire room to dig deeper.
"You're the one from Andrew's pregnancy prank video, right?"
Claire nodded, though with a particular expression. That video had made her surprisingly recognizable, millions of views, comments, even people recognizing her on the street.
It didn't bother her. She had been the one to give Andrew the green light to upload it.
"It was hilarious," Tori added, laughing as she remembered it. "One of the best pranks I've seen on YouTube."
Claire let out a small smile, shaking her head slightly. "Yeah, well, let's just say it wasn't my most dignified moment."
"But it was totally worth it," Tori replied. "It literally set a trend. After that video, a bunch of similar pranks started popping up."
Andrew watched the interaction in silence, inwardly grateful for the change of topic. They had just saved him from a conversation he didn't want to have right now.
"Tori!"
Phil's voice burst in with energy.
He appeared almost out of nowhere, with that mix of enthusiasm and slightly childish intensity that defined him, pointing at her as if he had just found his ultimate rival.
"I want my rematch in Just Dance!"
Tori blinked, surprised, then laughed. "Rematch?"
"Yes, but not as revenge," Phil clarified quickly, raising a finger. "As healthy competitive fun. I didn't expect someone to beat me on my own turf."
'I thought your turf was magic,' Andrew thought, saying nothing.
"Phil, I don't think Tori wants to—" Claire tried.
But Phil cut her off. "This is important, honey. There are things at stake here."
Tori laughed again. "Alright, I accept."
"Yes!" Phil celebrated, already turning toward the living room. "People, clear some space! Record this on your phones, this is going to be epic!"
Tori shook her head, amused, and followed him.
Andrew stayed there for a second, watching the scene, how Tori, in just a few hours, had had more positive interactions with his family than Jade in nearly two months.
"Whatever," he muttered to himself, and just as he was about to head out to the patio, he heard a shout.
"Andrew! Let's dance!"
The voice burst from the living room.
Sal. Very drunk.
She stumbled out, moving provocatively, repeating "let's dance" with a provocatively sexy energy that made it clear she had already crossed several lines for the night.
Andrew reacted instantly. "No, thanks."
Without slowing down, he turned on his heel and quickened his pace toward the patio, escaping before the situation could catch up to him.
Luckily, he wasn't the only one who reacted.
Cam and Mitchell appeared almost at the same time, intercepting Sal before she could keep moving forward.
"Sal! ¡I already told you to leave my son alone!!" Cam exclaimed, while Mitchell was already trying to redirect her.
Andrew didn't even look back. He kept walking.
The party went on.
By the time the clock was nearing two in the morning, most people had already left. The house was much quieter now.
Andrew was out on the patio, bundled up, sitting in one of the folding chairs. With Steve, Reggie, Archie, Kevin, Leonard, Howard, and Haley.
"That sucks, man," Archie said, giving him a pat on the shoulder after Andrew told them about Jade.
"Well, at least you got the experience of dating a goth," Reggie added, trying to cheer him up.
"Too bad," Howard chimed in. "Her friends were cool. And Tori is gorgeous."
Leonard adjusted his glasses. "Love is complicated, huh?"
Everyone nodded, except Kevin, who had a girlfriend and had been in a relationship for over two years.
"Why are you nodding?" Archie asked, turning to Steve. "You clearly had a good time with Cat."
Steve shook his head. "I don't think it's going to last with her."
The group looked at him with judgmental eyes.
"Hey, don't look at me like that!" Steve defended himself. "I just don't feel the spark with her, that's all."
"The spark? What the hell is that?" Reggie said, taking a sip from his bottle.
"You know… the spark," Steve tried to explain, not being specific at all.
"I'm not following, man," Archie said. "Love at first sight?"
Steve hesitated for a second, searching for the right words. "According to my dad, when you meet someone, you just know they're the one. It doesn't have to be love at first sight. It can be instantly or a little later. But you know. Like something just… clicks."
"Did your dad find it?" Haley asked.
"Yeah, of course," Steve replied. "The love of his life."
Andrew frowned. "Wait a second… aren't your parents fighting lately to the point of divorce?"
Steve had told his friends about it, it wasn't like he was hiding it.
"Yeah, but not with my mom. He found that spark with another woman," Steve continued, with a strange expression. "But since he was married, he didn't stay with her."
There was a long silence that lasted several seconds.
Until Leonard cleared his throat and broke it. "Moral of the story: when you meet the love of your life, make sure you have the guts to say, 'No thanks. I'm married.'"
Everyone laughed.
"How depressing," Haley said with a smirk.
"Okay, changing the subject! To something less depressing. I've got news," Kevin said suddenly, standing up.
"Shot!" Archie said, curious.
Everyone looked at him, waiting.
Kevin took a small breath. "I've chosen my college. The Aztecs. San Diego State. Full scholarship."
For a second, there was silence, and then everyone stood up almost at the same time, clapping and congratulating him.
Kevin smiled and accepted the congratulations from his friends. He had been a solid three-star. Two years at Palisades with Andrew, and then two years at Loyola, where he earned the starting spot. He was a safe Division I recruit, but not one of the big Power Five names.
More like the upper tier of the Mountain West.
In college football, within the top division, the FBS, there are two major groups of conferences.
On one side, the Power Five: SEC, Pac-12, Big Ten… the most high-profile, with the most talent and exposure.
And on the other, the Group of Five. That's where the Mountain West comes in, where San Diego State plays.
There, Kevin wouldn't just be another name. He'd be a real priority.
A place where he could compete for the conference, and, most importantly, where he had a much better chance of playing early.
Plus, San Diego wasn't far from home.
He could have gone to a lower-tier Power Five program, one that doesn't compete for titles. But even there, the battle for a starting spot would have been tougher.
As for UCLA, in another context, just a few months ago, it could have been a real option. But not anymore.
Recruiting had exploded with Andrew's arrival.
For many analysts, UCLA had easily jumped into the top 10 recruiting classes this year thanks to him, very different from previous years, when the Bruins were lucky to crack the top 20.
Kevin knew it. If he went to UCLA, he'd probably redshirt his freshman year and then be a backup for a couple more.
Too much waiting, and not just for him.
Reggie and Archie, as running backs, had it even worse. RB was a brutally competitive position. Less margin, more rotation, and more talent coming in every year.
With UCLA turning into a recruiting machine, fighting for playing time there would be nearly impossible at the start.
That's why they had also already made their decisions. And, like Kevin, they had chosen a path where they could actually play.
The only one who didn't hesitate for a second was Steve. But his case was different.
First, because of his position.
A quarterback and a wide receiver don't just coexist, they elevate each other. And in their case, it wasn't theory. It was proven. They had years of playing together.
Second, because of his level.
Steve wasn't a three-star looking for his place. He was a high four-star, flirting with five, who had led Notre Dame's offense that last year, taking them all the way to the sectional final.
He wasn't just a good prospect. He was one of the best in his class, one of the few at that level.
A national-level talent who, in most programs, would come in ready to be a contributor early.
Still, UCLA this year wasn't most programs. The competition was going to be brutal.
But Steve arrived much more established, his level and his chemistry with Andrew giving him a key edge over any other wide receiver, even the seniors.
And so, between conversations, laughs, and decisions that were beginning to shape each of their futures, the party finally came to an end.
...
A/N: Hi everyone, thanks to all of you for your opinions on Jade in the last episode.
As you could see, I was thinking pretty much the same as most of you.
At first, I honestly planned for the relationship to last a bit longer, but at some point I asked myself: why drag it out unnecessarily?
So I decided to end it in this chapter. Developing Jade further would have been complicated, and Andrew would have had to put a lot of himself into the relationship for it to work. With everything that's coming his way, realistically, it would have been very difficult for him to sustain something like that.
Thanks for reading!