Holiday dangers

Chapter 11. Andrew

Chapter 11. Andrew

He was a total mess all day after the party at Thompson's family home. That unplanned kiss with Kate was constantly on his mind. He couldn't sleep all night, and he was so lost in thoughts at work that several colleagues asked him what had happened to him.

He couldn't stop thinking about her. How her lips felt soft against his own and how she fitted right into his arms like she always belonged there. He regretted letting her go after the kiss. He should have told her how he felt or at least tried to explain that the kiss wasn't a mistake. That he wanted it too, more than anything. That every inch of his body craved to repeat it.

But for her, it was probably only a momentary lust enchanted with all the wine she drank that night. The truth is, she only saw him as a friend, or worse, as a friend of her brother. And soon she will return to her big city, and he will be without her again.

Maybe it would be better if the two of them didn't see each other again. Maybe he should avoid her until she leaves. He had just gotten used to life without her, and now she appeared again and even kissed him like a bolt from the blue, without any announcement. This was all too much for his heart to bear.

And why would she kiss him if she saw him only as a friend? That kiss wasn't a simple peck on the cheek. It is a full-blown, passionate, lovers' kiss. He just couldn't wrap his mind around it. It didn't seem to him that she had become a person who would hook up with just anyone. His Kate wasn't like that when she was younger. She had a hard time letting her guard down around people.

His train of thoughts was interrupted when he bumped into his boss in the corridor. He was prepared to listen to another series of lectures about how he should be more careful at work. But his boss surprised him. He actually sounded worried.

"What is it with you today, Andrew? You are usually totally present. Did something happen?" His boss asked, concerned about him.

And again, the same question. Was it really that obvious that something was bothering him? But he couldn't tell them that he was just thinking about a girl, so he lied. "No, i am okay. Just exhausted, I guess." He answered, trying to act sheepishly.

"Than go home for today. You can't be creative if your mind is not there. Tomorrow is Christmas anyway. You can have a day off, go and relax a bit. You know that mental health matters too, so don't overwork yourself." His boss said, patting him on the shoulder.

"Thank you boss." He thanked him and went to his desk to pack his things.

Their department was seriously lucky to have the best boss ever. Other departments weren't as lucky as they were. So he took his jacket and headphones from his desk and headed for the elevator.

On the way out, Andrew bumped into David, who stopped him.

"Where are you going?" David asked.

"Boss let me have a day off. The diagnosis is overwork." Andrew answered, with a sly smile.

"Ha ha." David fake laughed. "Overwork my ars. It is my sister that hangs in your head, is it?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," Andrew said, feigning innocence.

"You haven't been this absent-minded since the last time you tried to ask Kate to go with you to the prom. I know both of you well, and you wouldn't be this lost in thoughts if nothing had happened. So, spill it, what happened?" David persuaded.

"Nothing happened, David." He hated lying to his best friend, but he figured that Kate wouldn't want anyone to know about their kiss, so he kept his mouth shut. "I just got to finally see her after so many years, and it is affecting me more than I thought it would." This part was the truth. He did feel distressed because of her return. It evoked some old memories and feelings.

"Andrew, you know that her life is no longer here. She will leave again after the holidays. She is my sister and I love her, but you are my best friend and I don't want to see you hurt again." David said, suddenly serious.

"I know. Don't worry." Andrew tried to reassure his best friend, but he wasn't sure if he really knew that himself.

David signed. "Either you go and tell her how you feel and be content with the answer, or you let go and forget about her. Don't make me regret inviting you yesterday."

"I will think about it, I promise. So don't worry." Andrew said, waving goodbye to his friend. But he remembered that he had forgotten to tell him something, so he stopped and turned to David. "And she Is not engaged!" He shouted like a little boy.

Happiness in his best friend's voice made David happy too. His friend was usually composed and mature but he would tourn all silly when Kate was in question. "I know!" He shouted too, winking at his friend. He knew that the thought of Kate being engaged to someone else would prompt Andrew to make a move. David cared for both his sister and his friend, and he wished them all the best, even if that meant that they would spend more time together, and without him, in the future.

Andrew chuckled, thinking about how silly his friend could be sometimes. But he felt much better talking to David. Maybe he should go for a ride and then he will decide what to do. Will he tell Kate how he feels about her, or will he let these feelings go away for good? He wasn't sure yet.

Exiting the office, he ran into Shirley. The one person who he didn't want to see today. Annoying brunette coworker who was constantly throwing herself at him, so much that it became distasteful. He tried to avoid her but he failed.

"Andrew!" She chirped sweetly. "Are you going somewhere already?!"

"Home." He answered as shortly as he could, not wanting to be entirely rude, but wanting to get away from her as soon as possible.

But she blocked his way. "Home?" Are you sick Andrew? Do you need something? Or someone to take care of you?" She bombarded him with questions.

"I am fine, but I really need to go Shirley." He answered briefly, wanting to slip past her.

"Okeey Andrew." She said, sounding disappointed. "But if you need anything at all, I will always be there." She added with hope, emphasizing the word 'anything' by seductively touching his arm.

He tore his arm away from her touch, not comfortable with it. Sometimes he felt sorry for her, but her preoccupation with him must end. "Thank you, Shirley, but I don't think I will need anything. Goodbye." He said, passing by and leaving without looking at her again.

She was not the first to want something with him, but she was definitely the most persistent. No matter how much he refused her or was cold towards her, she did not give up. And he felt sorry about her perverted fixation on him. She was a beautiful and hardworking girl and probably would have been happier with someone else. At first, he was nice to her even though he let her know that he wanted nothing to do with her, but her behavior from then on became unbearable. She would harass him at every corner. He had no peace at all because of her. And she was talking all over the company about how they were dating and how he was going to marry her, even though it wasn't even close to the truth. One time he was even close to reporting her, but she cried and promised to fix her behavior, and then he gave up on the complaint.

He felt like laughing at the irony. He didn't want a girl who was chasing him so desperately, and he himself was chasing a girl who probably didn't want him. A quick ride through the mountains will clear up his head.

He lived nearby, so he got to his apartment quickly. He only went in to get the keys to his beloved motorcycle and immediately left. That motorbike was all he had left of his late older brother. The two of them were very close when James was still alive.

Their parents often traveled for work and were sometimes gone for several weeks at a time. As James was six years older, he took over the care of little Andrew. But despite the age difference, he was never patronizing towards his younger brother. The two of them were friends in addition to being brothers. As for Andrew, James was as indestructible as a rock, and someone he could always count on.

But he had died nearly eight years before, and his death was still painful for Andrew. That event completely changed the calm and quiet boy he used to be. Now he was not the Andrew that Kate knew from earlier, and he wasn't even sure if she would accept him as he is now.

All of a sudden, he felt old rage bubbling inside. He needed to wind out some stress. So he jumped on his motorcycle and went straight to the highway that led to the mountain range.

The wind blowing in his hair cooled his thoughts a little. He wore a helmet only while driving around the city. As soon as he got on the mountain road, he preferred the direct contact of nature on his skin. It's not something the former geek Andrew would have done, or recommended that anyone do so. But this new, wild one loved freedom more. Maybe he should stay away from Kate after all. He didn't want to bring trouble into her life.

But he couldn't forget about that kiss and her sad face before she kissed him. The thought of her former boyfriend cheating on her angered him terribly. And he pressed the gas all the way, driven by his anger. He let the bike lead him over the deserted roads. He didn't care about the ice or the snow that slowly started to fall, he only rode straight on the highway. He went on and didn't stop until he made up his mind.