The morning moved slowly.
Too slowly.
Tom managed to make coffee somehow, though the kitchen looked like a battlefield after the party. Andrea sat on the couch holding a mug with both hands, letting the warmth wake her up little by little.
Her sister was now sitting on the floor, holding her head like it might fall off.
"I'm never drinking again," she groaned.
Samuel laughed from the armchair.
"You said that last night."
"I mean it this time."
"No you don't."
Tom chuckled quietly while Matthew leaned against the counter, drinking his coffee in silence.
The room was calmer now.
But Andrea could still feel it.
The tension.
Especially between Samuel and Matthew.
Samuel looked relaxed as always, but Matthew kept watching him whenever he spoke.
Andrea noticed.
So did Tom.
Tom leaned slightly toward Andrea.
"Did something happen last night?" he whispered.
Andrea blinked.
"What?"
Tom nodded toward the hallway.
"When you disappeared."
Andrea felt heat creep up her neck.
"Nothing."
Tom raised an eyebrow.
"Samuel disappeared at the same time."
Andrea took a sip of coffee quickly.
"Coincidence."
Tom didn't look convinced.
Across the room, Samuel noticed them whispering.
He leaned forward on his knees.
"Talking about me?"
Andrea sighed.
"Everything isn't about you."
Samuel smirked.
"Usually it is."
Matthew set his empty mug down on the counter.
The sound was sharper than it needed to be.
Samuel glanced at him.
"You're very tense today, Neyman."
Matthew crossed his arms.
"You like creating problems."
Samuel shrugged.
"I like honesty."
Andrea rolled her eyes.
"Please stop."
Samuel leaned back again.
"Relax, Paisley."
Andrea shot him a look.
"You're the opposite of relaxing."
Tom tried to change the subject.
"So… good party though."
Andrea looked around the messy living room.
"It looks like a crime scene."
Her sister groaned again from the floor.
"Can someone kill me."
Samuel chuckled.
"You're the one who organized it."
Matthew walked toward the door and picked up his jacket.
"I should go."
Andrea looked up.
So soon?
Matthew paused for a second.
His eyes met hers briefly.
"Thanks for letting us stay."
Andrea nodded.
"Yeah."
Samuel stood up too.
"Well if the responsible one is leaving…"
Tom grabbed his own jacket.
"Guess that's the signal."
The boys moved toward the door.
Andrea stayed on the couch, watching them.
Tom turned back first.
"Happy birthday again."
Andrea smiled slightly.
"Thanks."
Tom stepped outside.
Samuel followed.
But before he left, he looked back at Andrea.
For a moment his usual sarcastic expression was gone.
Then he smirked again.
"Try not to fight anyone today."
Andrea scoffed.
"No promises."
Samuel chuckled and stepped outside.
Matthew was the last one at the door.
He hesitated.
Andrea noticed.
He looked at her again.
Like he wanted to say something.
But instead he just nodded once.
Then he left.
The door closed.
The house fell quiet again.
Andrea leaned back into the couch slowly.
Her sister groaned from the floor.
"Next year… smaller party."
Andrea stared at the ceiling.
Her birthday had been chaotic.
Messy.
Confusing.
But one thought kept repeating in her head.
Last night had changed something.
She just didn't know what yet.