Before I got up from my seat, I turned towards Felix and said, "hey, we're having a party at our house. You wanna come?"

His eyes darted between Andrew and mine, who was talking to somebody else, and said, looking at me, "Is he okay with that?"

I made a face. "Why would he not be okay with that? And why do I have to ask him? It's my house too. I can invite anybody I want to."

"All right," Felix chuckled. "Fine. I'll come."

"Yay," I gave him a big smile.

After sticking around for a while, and taking pictures with few other celebrities who I had idolised since my childhood, Andrew and I headed out. We said our goodbyes and slowly got into the car. As we started driving away, I turned towards Andrew.

"Bro, this night was crazy."

"I know, right," he put a hand around my shoulders and I leaned into him. "This night couldn't have gone any better."

"I wanna take a selfie." I pulled out my phone from my purse and we took a few selfies. I posted them on my Instagram, thanking all our fans in the caption. Immediately, comments started pouring in. I replied to a few then put my phone down.

"I want to get drunk," I announced. Andrew looked at me with an amused expression.

"Keighlah? Wants to get drunk? Am I dreaming?"

"Oof, you dramatic man," I slapped his forearm.

"I mean, you never drink normally, so . . ."

"Well, circumstances are not normal. We just attended the VMAs, met more celebrities than I'd known in my entire life and won two awards. Don't forget about the live performance. Honey, circumstances are very much not normal. I must celebrate."

Andrew was laughing softly and shaking his head at me. "Okay, I got your point."

"Yeah!" I did a small dance on my seat, shaking my arms in weird angles, which elicited a hearty laugh out of Andrew.

"You're crazy," he said.

When we reached our home, people were already present. We were late to our own afterparty. Angela must've let them in. She had a spare key.

We quickly got out of our car and walked into our house, holding our awards high up in the air like trophies.

"Everyone, the high and mighty have entered the house!" Angela announced and everyone started cheering.

"Thank you, thank you everyone," Andrew said loudly, holding the VMA in his hand like a mic. "I don't know if Keighlah and I have thanked you guys enough, but without you, none of this would be possible. Our team, our manager, our backup musicians, the tech guys. We love you. We both love you a lot. So this!" He held out the VMA, "is for you guys! This party belongs to you!"

Somebody handed me a champagne and I opened it with a knife, spilling it over the people like a champagne shower.

Everyone was laughing and having a gala time. The most chaotic party songs were being played. I grabbed myself a glass of champagne and started chugging it down.

"Woah, woah, slow down, tiger," Andrew tried to take the glass from my mouth but I pushed him away.

"I'm trying to get drunk!"

"You can get drunk slowly, no need to rush—"

"Just, let me do my shit."

The party had started in full swing and it was absolutely crazy. We had dimmed the lights and switched on the backlights, giving our living room a nightclub vibe.

I was having the time of my life, feeling a little tipsy. I was dancing with everybody. I beckoned for Andrew to come on the dancefloor. He blatantly shook his head.

"Oh, come on!" I shouted over the music.

"I don't dance, Keighlah, you know that," he shouted back.

"Do it once, for me! Please!"

I was pulling on his hand and he finally gave out a big huge and let me pull him onto the dance floor.

"That's like a good friend," I grinned at him.

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Let's get this over with."

The song was upbeat, and I put my arms around his neck and started jumping to the beat. He seemed lost at what to do, and he looked so cute, I pinched his cheeks.

"Do something! Don't just stand there," I said into his ears. When I pulled back, he had an amused look on his face. Then suddenly, he turned me around so that my back was to him and placed his hands on my waist. He started moving us from side to side slowly.

"Is this how they do it?" He said into my ears from behind. I half-turned my neck and looked at him with gleaming eyes.

"You're getting there!"

He beamed proudly and we danced casually to the song, sometimes jumping, sometimes moving sideways. After a while, I felt parched. I excused myself to go to the kitchen for some water.

I poured myself a glass and started drinking it as soon as I got into the kitchen. I was huffing.

Andrew stomped in. "What is that Felix dude doing here?"

I dropped the glass on the kitchen top. "He came? Great! Let me invite him in."

I was walking out when Andrew stopped me. "Did you invite him?"

"Yeah, I did," I nodded.

"Why?" He looked at me as if I had betrayed him.

I shrugged. "Why not? We just became friends today. Anyways, the more the merrier."

"You could've at least told me that you were going to invite him."

"Why? It's my house too, isn't it? I can invite whoever I want to."

"Keighlah, can't you see?" Andrew raised his voice. "He's trying to get into your pants, it's so obvious."

I looked at him with a bored expression. "Really, now? Stop being delusional, okay? We literally met today."

I walked out before he could stop me for a second time.

I saw Felix standing awkwardly next to the sofa with a glass of champagne. I waved towards him, and he visibly relaxed.

"Thanks for coming!" I chirped.

"Thanks for coming here, to me," he said. "I was feeling so awkward, I don't know anybody."

I laughed. "Well, I guess it's time for you to make some friends."

"I guess it is," he laughed along. Conversation flowed between us normally. Sometime later, Andrew piped in. He started talking normally with Felix and I was glad he didn't seem as agitated as he did back in the kitchen.

As the night grew, I became a little more drunk.

We had lots of fun, and at sometime past midnight, people started going home. I started hugging everybody goodbye.

"I'll text you," Felix said as I hugged him.

"Suuure," my drunk ass drawled out the word.

"Congratulations again, you make me so proud," Angela said and I gave her a kiss on the cheek.

After everyone had exited, I closed the door, locking it and turned around. The living room was a mess. The sofa cushions were not in place, there was spilled champagne on the floor and confetti everywhere. Andrew was standing in the middle of the living room. He beckoned me to come towards him.

"Fancy a dance, ma'am?" asked Andrew in a very bad british accent.

"Thought you'd never ask," I giggled and stepped into his arms. I thought we would jump and dance or do something crazy, but somehow, we ended up slow dancing to Super Bass.

Andrew's hands were clasped around my waist and mine were wrapped around his neck as we danced softly from side to side.

"I thought you didn't dance?" I asked, grinning up at him. He laughed softly, shaking his head.

"Only when under alcoholic influence."

"Wow," I rolled my eyes, good-naturedly.

"You know, I'd lied in the car," he said, softly.

"What?" I asked, confused.

He chuckled a little. "I'd said that the night couldn't have gone any better. I lied."

I gave him an amused expression. "Why'd you say that?"

He laughed. "I mean, we're slow dancing to Nicki Minaj. Could this possibly get any better?"

I giggled and placed my forehead against his chest, careless laughter flowing out of us.

This was good. This was great.

I drew my head back and looked at him.

"Your hair's growing big," I murmured as I brushed a hand through his hair. He cocked his head to one side.

We were close enough for me to look into his eyes and see my reflection. My hair had almost tumbled down from my bun, my eyeliner was slightly smudged. I was starting to look like a mess. But then, my focus shifted to his face. I stared at him and wondered was his nose always this sharp?

My eyes dropped to his lips. What would it be like if I kissed him right now? Will he taste like champagne? Sweet and—

I removed my hand from his hair with a start.

What are you thinking? This is Andrew, he's not for kissing.

"We should go to bed. It's late," I said.

"We should," he replied.

None of us moved.

"Why aren't you going?" I asked.

"Why aren't you?"

I moved my eyes over his face. He looked away for a split second before fixing his gaze on me. And when he looked at me again, I don't know who moved first, was it him or was it me?

Maybe it was the both of us?

But our lips caught together.

• • •

👀

Next chapter - next Wednesday at 10pm IST.