Chapter 3 Hearts In Turmoil

• "Drunk doesn't count," she hastens to warn him.
• "Vic, I'm serious. I know we're friends. But we've been friends for ten years, and I don't want to stay just a friend! What happened that day made it clear to me. Don't deny that you feel as nervous as I do when we're alone... the desire to... We waited too long to move forward, don't be scared."
• "Enough, enough, I don't want any 'romantic' speech from a 90's movie."
• Victoria stops him before he says something he might regret. She was still dealing with that feeling; she wasn't ready to clarify anything.
• "Maybe Lola will want to go to Europe; she's been trying to make up with you," she said after a pause.
• "You're not making anything clear, you're just avoiding her. You're avoiding. Jax, maybe you should give her another chance," she suggested understandingly.
• "Victoria!" Jackson interrupted with an authoritative tone.
• "What?"
• "She and I have been broken up for a long time. You know, you're all that matters to me now!" The corners of his mouth pressed upwards at the thought of Victoria's face.
• "Stop this nonsense," she warns, on the verge of losing patience. "Come up with a resignation!"
• Jackson sighed helplessly and followed her words. He knew that continuing this "topic" now would only push Victoria further away. "This morning I received a message from Andy Keller, do you remember him?"
• "Of course!" Victoria affirmed energetically, grateful for the change of subject.
• "He just returned to the city. It's been... 6 years since I last heard from him. Andy got tired of LA and came back here to live with his stepfather."
• Victoria murmured thoughtfully, probably reminiscing about the last time she had seen Andy; the group of them had been great friends until Andy's sudden departure. She hadn't thought about him in years. It had been years since she had thought about him.
• "Anyway, I'm going to stop by to say hi. Do you want to come? Andy seemed very interested in contacting you."
• "But I'm leaving tomorrow... I don't really want to see anyone."
• "Come on, Vic! With your trip plus mine, I'm not going to see you for over a month. I'll go crazy if I can't meet you before then to say goodbye in person!"
• "Tomorrow?" she suggested. Victoria knew that if she refused again, within half an hour Jackson would be knocking on her door.
• "Perfect. Now take a shower and go to bed. Get a good night's sleep, okay?" This time Jax's tone was sweet and full of tenderness. He knew the girl got nervous when he spoke to her in such a "personal" way.
• "Thank you... good night, Jax."
• Thoughtful, Victoria sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the doors of her closet. At what point did they reach that point of no return? What happened to Andy, the man who used to be one of her best friends? Why is he back and eager to reach out after 6 years of being out of touch?
• ---
• The exciting day of the trip had finally arrived, and everyone in Hank's house except Victoria was full of enthusiasm.
• Hank was anxious to talk to his daughter. He hated being in tense situations with her, the calmest of his children, who despite her temperament, never complained. So he decided to go to Victoria's room and knock on her door.
• "Daughter, are you awake? I would like to talk to you for a moment," he said against the door after the first knock.
• Hank opened the door to the room and found it completely empty. The bed was made, the suitcase ready by the door, but Victoria was nowhere to be found. Taking his cell phone out of his pocket, he dialed her number, but she sent it straight to voicemail. He tried again, and nothing. Worried, he returned to the living room ready to tell his wife what was happening when a message alert lit up the screen of the cell phone he was still holding in his hand. It was from Victoria.
• Victoria [12:10]: I'm with Jax. I'll be back in a bit.
• Hank [12:11]: Don't take too long, I would like to talk to you before they come to pick us up. I love you.
• Softening her anger about the trip, Victoria found herself smiling at the screen of her cell phone. She has never been able to stay mad at her dad for more than a couple of hours.
• The car ride was not very long, and the tension between Victoria and Jackson hung in the air. Maybe the fact that she was about to meet Andy also made her a little nervous and uncomfortable. They hadn't seen each other in so long she didn't know what to say or do.
• Upon arriving at the imposing three-story building in striking black color, with large neon letters forming the name of the place, "Nightmare Club," the place was chaotic. Many people were talking at the same time, and workers were unloading a large truck full of new furniture, coming in and out through the large double doors that served as the main entrance. Jackson was about to approach the man who seemed to be in charge when he heard a familiar voice coming from inside the building, instructing them where to put the furniture.
• "Andy!"
• Jackson raised his voice, getting his attention.
• Andy turned in his direction, letting out a big smile.
• "You're here!"
• He called cheerfully, approaching with open arms. Without hesitating or waiting for permission, he hugged Victoria tightly, so naturally that she blushed. Victoria couldn't react in time and could only remain frozen in the arms of her old friend, who concluded the greeting by planting a loud kiss on her cheek. Feeling uncomfortable and nervous with so much attention, she barely had a chance to step back so Andy could greet Jackson, who silently watched them, holding back the urge to put at least 10 meters between them.
• "Jax!" Andy continued with the greetings. "You look even more handsome than in school. You've been working out, buddy."
• He smiled in Jackson's direction just before giving him a strong hug and several pats on the back.
• "Come on, you left before I finished growing."
• "That's true, but I'm so happy to see you guys again. You have no idea how much I missed you. Of course, I miss Vic more than I miss you, Jax."
• He gave her a flirtatious wink while still smiling. That was him. Cheerful and seductive, but with no ulterior motives.
• "Don't worry, it would be weird if you missed me more than Vic," Jax said, holding back the urge to mark his territory.
• "Well, don't just stand there. Let's go inside. I told Ray that you would come, and he's waiting to greet you."
• Ignoring the look Jackson gave him when he put his arm around Victoria's shoulders, Andy led them inside the club. Next to the bar was his stepfather, who owned the club.
• "Ray! Look who's here."
• "What a pleasure to see this trio together again!" Ray exclaimed with joy, as jovial as Jackson and Victoria remembered him. "I can't believe how old you three are! Vic... wow, little Victoria, you're a young lady now!"
• She smiled playfully and gave Ray a big hug. Andy's stepfather always treated her with a lot of affection, like a daughter.
• "What do you say to a tour?" Ray offered.
• "Sure," Jackson immediately accepted.
• "I have to go… thank you," Victoria apologized.
• "So soon?" Andy sighed, disappointed.
• "She has to travel, Andy. So let's not delay her any longer. I'll take you, Vic," Jackson said decisively.
• "No, Jackson, go check out Ray's club. I'll take a taxi outside. Don't forget about the plane tickets..." Victoria stopped suddenly and turned to Andy. "Andy... Do you have any plans for the summer vacation?"
• "I literally just got off the plane back home. No, I don't have any plans."
• "How about going to a music festival in Germany with Sue and Dexter and then touring Europe?"
• "I... Aren't you going?" Andy stared at her intently with those unmistakable blue eyes of an abandoned puppy.
• "I'll be traveling with my family. I need someone to take my plane ticket. Say yes, please."
• "Are you okay with this, Jax?" Victoria asked, turning to Jackson.
• "I think you're the perfect person to take Vic's place," Jackson said to Andy, but did not take his eyes off Victoria.
• "Then I guess I accept. It will be great to spend time with you," Andy smiled.
• Victoria sighed in relief. "Perfect, give Jackson your details to change the ticket. I'm leaving now."
• "I'll drive you," Andy offered before Jackson could.
• Meanwhile, Jackson was led deeper into the club by Ray. "Come on, kid."
• Wrapping his arm around her shoulders again, Andy led Victoria to the noisy entrance. He knew she was tense, strange, even nervous. And he was perfectly aware that it was because of him.
• Hiding a half-smile, Andy took Victoria’s hand and led her to his car.
• "I... I can take a taxi myself. I don't want to bother you," Victoria said suddenly.
• "Bother me? But I'm happy to see you."
• "Oh yeah?" Victoria raised an intrigued eyebrow. Was he?
• "Vic..." Andy took her face in his hands. "You're acting strange, and I want to believe it's because of the surprise."