I looked at the bathroom mirror at the huge sweatshirt that was extremely loose around my shoulders and my waist. Sighing in annoyance, I tried folding them up, but it always rolled down.

Obviously I had to wear Andrew's clothes. I rolled my eyes. Anita's clothes were just too big for me, plus it felt weird wearing a middle aged woman's clothes. And since Andrew didn't have a sister, his clothes were the next best option.

He wasn't a huge load taller than me, so thank God the sweatshirt didn't cross my knees and land at my calves. I was still trying to roll up the sleeves when I heard a knock on the door.

"Keighlah, you done?" Andrew asked. "You've been in there for an eternity."

I opened the door fast and gave him a deadpanned look.

"Pfft," he laughed through his lips when he saw how ridiculous I looked in the oversized garments.

"Oh? You're laughing now?" I crossed my arms over my chest and raised an eyebrow at him.

He picked up a part of his sweatshirt with his fingers and dropped it, making my hands swing down like a rag doll's.

"Oops," he giggled. Giggled.

I narrowed my eyes, stretching my cheeks sideways to make an irritated face.

"Don't make that face," he pinched my cheeks, smoothing them. "It's cute, though." He winked.

I made a show of rolling my eyes in an exaggerated manner.

Anita bustled into the room.

"Okay, good," she said, smoothing the sweatshirt with her hands. "Nice and warm. And big enough. Will save you from the cold."

I smiled at her. "Yep."

"Stay for dinner, ha? It's nine already," she said. I glanced at my watch and raised my eyebrows. Wow, nine already.

I shrugged at Anita. "Alright."

We proceeded towards the dining room. I was hungry, my stomach had started rumbling a little, the mango sherbet long digested.

Gratefully, I had my dinner, thanking Anita and Ben for their hospitality.

"Okay! I'll be leaving now! It's- woops, it's ten. Ma will be worried," I announced as I rushed towards the door.

"Wait, wait!" Anita called out. "Andrew, go with her."

Andrew raised his eyebrows and I vigorously shook my head. "That won't be necessary, aunty."

"No, it's alright," Andrew intervened. "Come on, your house is just down the lane."

"Which is exactly why you don't need to drop me off at my home," I pressed, talking through my teeth.

"No, Keighlah! It's very late, Andrew will accompany you," Anita insisted. Andrew walked towards me and dropped his mouth to my ear, speaking in a low whisper. "Ma is not going to stop unless I drop you. Let me just come along, okay?"

I pursed my lips at him and sighed. I looked back at Anita and said, mustering up a smile, "okay."

"I'll be right back, ma," Andrew told his mother and we walked out of his house.

The night was silent as we walked. None of us spoke a word. I had my arms crossed over my chest and he had his hands tucked into his pockets. The intense rainfall that had started a few hours ago had stopped as suddenly as it began, leaving the smell of wet soil behind, and puddles. The leaves and branches crunched under our feet as we walked.

It felt weird walking with Andrew without having anything to talk about. We were so free with each other usually, but for some reason, I just couldn't talk with him right now, without overthinking it.

I could feel him stealing glances at me, but I didn't acknowledge it, ignoring it as much as I could as I stared straight down towards the road.

Finally, we reached my house. I stopped in front of my gate and slowly turned around to look at Andrew. He had stopped just behind me, looking down at me with a tight lipped smile.

"Alright, then," I smiled at him awkwardly.

"Yeah," he said, shifting his weight from his toes to his feet.

I looked at him through my lashes and bit my lip. He glanced at me and held my gaze. He hesitated a little before moving towards me, wrapping his arms around my body as I hugged him back.

I smiled as my hands wrapped around his neck, taking in a deep breath. I felt his hands on my back as the hug lasted a minute too long. My body was almost crushed against him, but it felt good. His warmth felt good.

I broke away from the hug, and to my surprise, he seemed reluctant to let go. He held me at an arm's distance as I removed one arm from his neck and tugged in a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

I stared into his deep, brown eyes and something shifted in them. I didn't utter a word. Suddenly, he shook his head and let go of me completely, taking a step back. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

He gave me a boyish grin and tucked his hands back into his pockets. "Good night, Keighlah." He tipped his head towards me, walking backwards.

I smiled. "Good night, Andrew." He turned around and started walking away. I stared at his retreating back for a while, appreciating the way his shoulders bounced up and down, before shaking my head and pushing the grill gate open, stepping inside.

I searched for the keys in my jeans pocket before fetching them out and opening the door. I made sure to not make any sound as I closed the door shut, as quietly as possible. Slowly, I removed my sneakers and tiptoed across the living room, when a light by the sofa suddenly lit up and I stopped dead in my track.

I turned towards the source and found my father sitting on the sofa, his hands crossed across his chest and his expression taut.

"Where were you?" He asked, his voice stern.

I let out an irritated sigh. "At Maya's, I told you I'd be there." With that, I started walking away, but he stopped me again.

"Where were you at after leaving Maya's house?"

I rolled my eyes. "At Andrew's."

His eyes travelled down my sweatshirt and I knew what question was coming next. "Who's clothes are those?"

"Andrew's."

"Who was that boy outside?"

I raised my eyebrows at him and made a face. "Andrew."

"What is going on between you two?"

"What– we're bandmates, dad, what do you mean, what is going on between us?"

"I know something is going on. What is it?"

"Nothing! What's with all these questions, my god!" I said, exasperated. I started walking away.

"Now, you stop there, young lady." Dad got up from the sofa.

"Uh!" I made an annoyed sound and turned towards him.

"You cannot walk in and out of this house whenever you feel like–"

"I am an adult, I will do what I please–"

"Not while you're under my roof, you won't!" His voice boomed across the silence of the night. "Wasting away your life singing in different places like a hippie? Huh?!"

I let out a small gasp as I became dead silent. I was shaken up by his words, but after a few seconds, I gave out a loud sarcastic laugh, tipping my head back.

"I'm so glad, that I don't live in this house anymore." I gritted out.

Dad clenched his jaw tightly, staring at me hard with a crossed expression.

"And I," I continued, "am so fucking glad that I'll be leaving tomorrow."

"Keighlah!" Dad shouted, his eyes wide, glowering at me, probably because I used a curse word in front him.

I shook my head at him in disdain. "If you showed even an ounce of love towards something that I'm succeeding in at life, towards something that makes me happy." I smiled at him sadly, "then I'd probably wouldn't hate you as much as I do right now."

He gasped.

Hate him. Yes. I had said that. The words were out of my mouth, and I couldn't take it back.

Not being able to handle standing in front of him for a second longer without breaking down, I ran to my room, slamming the door shut, and collapsed on the bed, the tears ran down my face making a wet patch on the pillow.

•••

Next chapter - next Saturday at 10pm IST.