Saturday Again
Andrea didn't hesitate.
That was the problem.
Saturday night came, and she was already getting ready before anyone even asked.
Her sister leaned against the doorframe, watching her.
"You're going again?"
Andrea didn't look at her.
"Yeah."
"You were a mess yesterday."
Andrea grabbed her jacket.
"I'm fine."
Her sister frowned.
"You almost started a fight."
Andrea shrugged.
"They deserved it."
Her sister sighed.
"…Just don't lose yourself, okay?"
Andrea paused for half a second.
Then she forced a small smile.
"I won't."
But even she didn't believe that.
Luna felt even louder tonight.
Or maybe Andrea just needed it more.
The music hit harder.
The lights felt sharper.
The crowd felt tighter.
Andrea didn't wait.
She went straight to the bar.
Drink.
Then another.
Then another.
Faster than yesterday.
Like she was chasing something she almost caught.
Or running from something that wouldn't stop following her.
People recognized her now.
She noticed it immediately.
The looks.
The whispers.
The same ones from school.
But here—
They weren't quiet.
"Isn't that her?"
"Yeah, from that picture."
Andrea heard it.
Of course she did.
Her jaw tightened.
But she smiled anyway.
Fake.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
A guy approached her again.
Different from last night.
Same energy.
"Hey," he said, smiling. "You look familiar."
Andrea laughed.
"Yeah? From where?"
The guy smirked.
"School. Or maybe somewhere else."
Andrea tilted her head.
"And?"
The guy stepped closer.
"Heard things about you."
There it was.
Andrea's smile didn't drop.
But something inside her snapped.
"Yeah?" she said softly. "What did you hear?"
The guy hesitated slightly.
"…Nothing bad."
Andrea laughed.
"Liar."
The word came out sharper than she expected.
The guy frowned.
"Okay, relax—"
"No," Andrea cut him off. "You relax."
Her voice was louder now.
Too loud.
People nearby turned again.
The guy raised his hands.
"Chill, I didn't mean—"
"Then stop talking."
Andrea turned away abruptly.
Her chest was rising and falling too fast.
Her hands shaking again.
But she grabbed another drink anyway.
Across the room—
Someone was watching.
Samuel.
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
Not smiling.
Not amused.
Just watching.
He had been there for a while.
Long enough to see everything.
The drinking.
The snapping.
The way Andrea moved like she was trying to outrun something.
His jaw tightened slightly.
One of his friends nudged him.
"You know her, right?"
Samuel didn't look away from Andrea.
"Yeah."
"She's wild."
Samuel didn't respond.
Because that wasn't what he saw.
He saw something else.
Something worse.
Andrea stumbled slightly as she walked through the crowd.
Her head was spinning harder now.
Everything blurred again.
The music.
The people.
The lights.
Someone bumped into her.
Hard.
Andrea turned instantly.
"Watch where you're going!"
The girl looked annoyed.
"You walked into me."
Andrea stepped closer.
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did."
Andrea laughed.
"Are you serious right now?"
Her voice was rising again.
Too fast.
Too sharp.
The tension snapped into place.
People around them slowed.
Watching.
Waiting.
Andrea stepped even closer.
"Say it again."
The girl rolled her eyes.
"God, you're—"
"Hey."
A hand grabbed Andrea's wrist.
Firm.
Strong.
Andrea turned.
Samuel.
Her breath caught slightly.
"What?" she snapped.
Samuel looked at her.
Really looked at her.
"You're done."
Andrea pulled her hand away.
"I'm not done."
Samuel's voice dropped.
"Yes. You are."
Andrea laughed.
"Who do you think you are?"
Samuel didn't raise his voice.
But his tone didn't change.
"Someone who's stopping you before you make it worse."
Andrea stepped closer to him now.
"You don't control me."
Samuel held her gaze.
"I'm not trying to."
"Then let go."
Samuel didn't move.
Andrea's chest was tight.
Her head spinning.
Everything too loud.
"Why do you even care?" she snapped.
Samuel's jaw tightened.
"Because this isn't you."
Andrea laughed again.
"Yes it is."
Samuel shook his head.
"No."
Andrea's voice cracked slightly.
"You don't know me."
Samuel stepped closer.
"I know this isn't you."
Andrea froze.
For a second.
Just a second.
Then she pushed past him.
"Whatever."
She walked toward the exit.
Fast.
Unsteady.
The cold air hit harder this time.
Andrea leaned against the wall outside Luna, breathing heavily.
Her hands shook.
Her head spun.
Inside, the music kept going.
Like nothing had happened.
Like it never mattered.
The door opened behind her.
Samuel stepped out.
Of course he did.
Andrea didn't turn.
"Go back inside."
Samuel didn't listen.
He walked closer.
"You're not okay."
Andrea laughed weakly.
"I'm fine."
Samuel shook his head.
"You're not."
Andrea turned to him.
"Stop saying that."
Samuel held her gaze.
"Then stop proving it."
Silence.
Andrea looked away.
Her eyes burned.
Her chest hurt.
"I just… don't want to feel anything," she said quietly.
Samuel didn't interrupt.
Andrea swallowed.
"But it's not working."
Her voice cracked slightly.
Samuel stepped closer.
Not too close.
Just enough.
"Yeah," he said softly.
"I can see that."
Andrea laughed weakly.
"Great."
Samuel looked at her for a moment.
Then said quietly,
"Come on."
Andrea frowned.
"What?"
"I'm taking you home."
Andrea shook her head.
"No."
Samuel didn't argue.
He just stood there.
Waiting.
Andrea looked at him.
At the way he didn't push.
Didn't mock.
Didn't leave.
And for the first time that night—
She felt tired.
Not drunk.
Not angry.
Just… tired.
"…Fine," she muttered.
Samuel nodded once.
"Let's go."
And this time—
Andrea didn't fight it.