Chapter 7 We're done

ANDY’S POINT OF VIEW

The private lounge was quiet in the way only restricted places could be.Not empty just controlled.The kind of quiet that came from knowing not everyone was allowed in.

Soft leather creaked under Carl’s weight as he shifted lazily on one of the couches, his attention buried deep in his phone.

Diego was sprawled across the opposite end, one arm thrown behind his head, eyes half-lidded like the world had never given him a reason to care too much.The air conditioner hummed steadily above us, blending into the background like white noise,Cold, Consistent and Predictable.

Everything here was predictable,I leaned back into the couch, my gaze drifting toward the ceiling for a brief second before dropping back down to nothing in particular.My phone rested loosely in my hand, screen lit, notifications piling up messages, mentions, missed calls.

I didn’t open any of them,It all felt the same.Same people,Same conversations. Same expectations,Boring.A quiet exhale left me as I tilted my head slightly, staring at the glass table in front of us. My reflection stared back faintly from its surface....calm, composed, uninterested.And yet something about today refused to settle.It lingered and it is that conversation,My jaw tightened slightly.

A tutor???,The word alone felt out of place like something that didn’t belong anywhere near me.I dragged a hand slowly through my hair, leaning forward just enough to rest my elbows on my knees. The irritation hadn’t faded since I left the house. If anything, it had settled deeper, quieter… heavier.Not loud anger,Worse.

The kind that stayed,Carl let out a short laugh beside me, something on his phone clearly entertaining enough to break through the stillness.

“Bro,” he started, not even looking up yet,

“you’ve been quiet for too long.”I didn’t respond immediately.Not because I didn’t hear him but Because I didn’t feel like answering.Diego shifted slightly, his eyes flicking toward me with mild curiosity.

“That’s true,” he added, voice slower, more observant.

“You look like you’re in another zone.”That alone earned a faint scoff from Carl.

“Yeah, and that’s already suspicious.”I leaned back again, finally glancing at them, my expression unchanged.

“Relax guys” I said, my tone flat.

“It’s nothing.”But even as I said it, I knew that wasn’t entirely true.Carl lowered his phone now, studying me more carefully.

“Nah,” he said, sitting up a bit.

“It’s something.”There was a pause,Not uncomfortable Just expectant.I let out a quiet breath through my nose, debating whether it was even worth saying,It wasn’t.But the silence had already stretched long enough.

“I’m getting a tutor.”The words landed flat between us.For a second, neither of them reacted.Then.....

“What?”Carl blinked, sitting up fully now while Diego’s brows lifted slightly, interest sharpening instantly.

“A tutor?” Carl repeated, like the word itself didn’t make sense attached to me.I leaned my head back slightly, eyes drifting away again.

“Yeah, Dad said that Mrs Carter told him that I failed the test yesterday and Mrs Carter suggested I get a tutor to help me ”Another pause,Then Carl laughed.Not loudly,Just enough to make it clear he thought this was a joke.

“You’re serious?”I didn’t answer,Didn’t need to and Diego straightened a bit now, his expression shifting into something more thoughtful.

“Wait,” he said slowly,

“as in… actual tutoring?”I turned my gaze back to him, unimpressed.

“What do you think?”Carl let out another laugh, shaking his head.

“That’s insane.”I didn’t disagree,Because it was.My fingers tapped lightly against the armrest, a small, restless motion I didn’t bother stopping.

“He said it’s a top student,” I added after a moment, voice quieter now, more distant.The words didn’t sit right in my mouth,Top student.The implication was obvious.....I needed help.The thought alone made something tighten in my chest notinsecurity, not exactly… just irritation,A quiet kind of resistance.Carl leaned forward slightly, intrigued now.

“Who?”I gave a small, careless shrug.

“Didn’t ask.”That earned me a look.

“You didn’t ask?” Diego repeated.

“No.”Carl stared at me for a second like I’d just said something completely ridiculous.

“How do you not ask that?”I shrugged again, less interested in the question than they were.

“Didn’t matter.”But that wasn’t entirely true either,Because now that it had been mentioned.....A small flicker of curiosity pressed at the back of my mind.Unwanted.

Unnecessary,But there.

“Your dad said anything else?” Diego asked.I paused for a second.Then.......

“Scholarship student.”That changed the air slightly,Not dramatically.....Just enough.Carl leaned back again, a slow grin forming.

“Ohhh,” he dragged out. I didn’t react.

But my gaze dropped slightly, my thoughts shifting again.Scholarship student,That narrowed it down......A certain type.

Quiet. Focused. Probably buried in books half the time.Not interesting,Still…

“From our class?” Diego asked.

“Or another one?” Diego added.I shook my head faintly.

“No idea.”Carl let out a small hum, clearly entertained now.

“This should be interesting.”I didn’t share the sentiment.In fact, the more they talked about it, the more the whole thing irritated me.I leaned forward again, resting my forearms on my knees, gaze dropping to the floor this time.

“Hope it’s not a girl,” I muttered.The words slipped out without much thought.Carl immediately caught onto it.

“Why?” he asked, amused,I scoffed lightly.

“They’re annoying.”That earned a quiet laugh from Diego.

“Not all of them.”I glanced at him briefly.

“Most.”Carl smirked.

“Or you just don’t know how to deal with them.”I didn’t bother responding to that,Because I did,That was the problem,They always ended up the same.Too much.Too attached.Too… present.

My jaw tightened slightly as a thought crossed my mind.

“She’s a girl, though.”The words came slower this time,More certain.Carl tilted his head.

“How do you know?”

“My dad mentioned it.”That was enough.Diego let out a low whistle.

“Damn.”Carl grinned again.

“Well… good luck with that.”I didn’t return the smile.Because something about it already felt like it was going to be more trouble than it was worth.And I hated trouble that wasn’t my choice. Just then Carl gasped and we both turned to him immediately.

"What?"

"I think I might know who your tutor is"He said and I raised my eyebrows immediately.

"I just thought about it and We only have one scholarship in the whole school"He said with a grin.

"Who"Diego and I chorused but just then the door opened.The shift in the room was immediate,Not loud.Just… noticeable.

I didn’t need to look to know who it was.

The sound of her steps was enough.Quick,Direct and A little too sharp.

Vanessa.

I leaned back slowly, my expression settling into something colder, more distant, as she walked in.Her presence filled the space differently,Less controlled,More… charged.By the time she stopped in front of us, the tension had already settled.Her eyes were on me,Not questioning.....Demanding.

“Andy.”My name landed heavier than usual.I didn’t respond immediately,Didn’t move.

Just let the silence stretch for a second longer than necessary.Then.....

“What?”Her brows pulled together slightly.

“I’ve been calling you.”There it was,I let out a quiet breath, reaching for my phone and glancing at the screen for the first time.

Missed calls.Several,I locked it again without reacting.

“I saw.”Her expression tightened.

“And?”I looked up at her now, meeting her gaze directly.

“And what?”The irritation was subtle.

But there.

“I called you multiple times,” she said, her voice rising just slightly.

“You didn’t pick up.”A pause.Then.....

“Why?”The question lingered,Expecting something,An explanation.....A reason.

I tilted my head just a little, studying her for a second.Then I spoke.

"Do I need a reason to call my boyfriend??"She asked with a deep frown.

“You didn’t need to call me that many times.”My tone stayed even,Controlled.That seemed to hit something.Her expression shifted....frustration creeping in faster now.

“I was worried.”I didn’t react.

“You disappeared after school.”Still nothing.

“And you told your bodyguard not to let me in.”That part made me exhale quietly,Not surprised she’d bring it up.

“Yeah and I'm guessing they're Ready to loose their jobs” I said simply,Her eyes widened slightly.

“Yeah?”I leaned forward slowly, resting my elbows on my knees again, my gaze steady on hers.

“Yes.”A pause.Then.....

“You don’t need to be everywhere I am.”That landed,Harder than anything else.Her lips parted slightly, like she wasn’t expecting that.

“I’m your girlfriend,” she said,The words carried weight.....Expectation,Possession.I let a small silence settle before responding.

“Exactly.”Her brows pulled together.

“What does that mean?”I held her gaze.

Calm. Unmoved.

“It means you’re doing too much.”The air shifted.Noticeably now.Her expression changed completely shock first… then something sharper.

“What?”

“I said,” I repeated, slower this time,

“you’re doing too much.”Her chest rose slightly, her breathing uneven now.

“I was just calling you......”

“Seventeen times.”I cut in.Not loudly.Just enough.She froze for a second.

“That’s not normal.”Silence,A heavy one.

“I was worried,” she said again, quieter now.

I straightened slightly, my gaze not leaving hers.

“You don’t need to be.”Another pause.Then, softer...but colder.

“And you don’t raise your voice at me.”

That stopped her completely.Her lips parted again, but no words came out this time.

“Not for something like this,” I added.

The room felt different now.Tighter.Like the air itself had shifted.Carl and Diego stayed quiet......smart enough not to interrupt.

I watched her carefully.

The way her expression flickered.

Confusion.Hurt.Anger.All at once.

But I didn’t react to any of it.Because I’d already made up my mind.

“This isn’t working.”The words came out clean,Final.No hesitation and her face went still.

“What…?”I didn’t look away.

“We’re done.”