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Sal should’ve known something was wrong when Andie had never invited him to her house.
Every time he asked, she insisted that they go to his house. His house, according to her, was better. His house was much calmer compared to hers, with her workaholic father, timid mother who was always flanked by Jason’s side, and her sweet sister Becca, who could seemingly never compare to Andie. She always insisted on going to his house and used every excuse in the book to avoid going to her house.
He should’ve confronted her earlier, but his studies had been distracting him. He was going to go to Oxford after graduation. Mr. Ward had supported him throughout the application process and had congratulated him when he had been accepted. Sal was excited – he had always dreamed of going to Oxford. He was going to be the first in his family to go to such a prestigious university. His parents had wept tears of joy when the news came, and his little brother Ravi couldn’t be any prouder.
He had been too distracted by his acceptance into Oxford that he hadn’t noticed Andie’s issues. She had always been quite a complicated person. They had gotten into arguments frequently while at school. Their most recent one was over her posting Nat da Silva’s explicit pictures online out of spite of Nat becoming popular with the boys in their grade.
Many, including himself, Naomi Ward, Jake Lawrence and Jamie Reynolds were supporting Nat through this time, which had caused a rough patch with him and Andie. They were now on a “temporary break” until the Nat situation was sorted. His friend Max Hastings thought he was being irrational about the whole ordeal.
~~~~
“Come on Sal, you know Andie doesn’t mean any harm,” Max said at lunch that day as he dug into his pasta. Max was one of the many who were laughing at Nat da Silva, and Sal was not impressed. “She’s just joking around.”
“Grow up Max. It’s not funny to leak someone’s nudes.” Sal retorted. “And besides, I know Andie is better than that. Emma Hutton even said that she’s been acting weird recently.”
“The fact it came from Emma Hutton isn’t any good Sal,” Jake Lawrence, another friend of theirs, chimes in. Unlike everyone else, Jake hadn’t bullied Nat over her nudes being leaked. Naomi and Sal even spotted him comforting Nat privately after English today. “Emma Hutton and Chloe Burch are her little minions; they even helped in catfishing poor Nat.”
Sal looks over at Andie’s usual table. It was just Emma and Chloe there, as Andie was in a meeting with Mr. Ward. “I know Jake, but something is up with her. She’s better than this; I know she’s better than this.”
“Not everyone is what they seem Sal,” Max says as he pops a grape into his mouth. “Anyways, are you guys going to the Calamity on Friday?”
“A Calamity? Who’s hosting?” Naomi asks. “I need to know in case Dad wants me to babysit Cara. She’s having Connor and Pip over.”
“Still babysitting? Isn’t Cara old enough to stay home?” Max scoffs. “Just sneak out if he makes you babysit.”
“As if Max. Dad wants me to watch her because there’s no one else to look after them. Not everyone still has their mother alive Max.”
“Whatever,” Max pops another grape into his mouth. “Say, did anyone see Jamie Reynolds comforting Nat after Drama today? He totally likes her.”
“Who cares Max? Jamie Reynolds is a nice guy. He’s always looking out for others.” Naomi responds. Jamie had always been quite nice to her, which translated to his younger brother Connor. He never sat with the group as he, in his own words, thought Max was quite rude. Naomi had never mentioned it to Max though.
Max rolls his eyes. “Whatever you say Naomi.” He then looks at Sal, who was still looking at Andie’s table. “Hey Sal, she’s not coming back for the entirety of lunch. Naomi’s Dad is going to keep her in there until the bell rings.”
Sal sighs and looks away. He needed to find her before the day ended.
~~~~
“Hey Jamie, have you seen Andie today?”
Sal had found Jamie at his locker before the final bell rang. He had always been on good terms with Jamie Reynolds; never quite close, but Jamie and him were friendly with one another. Jamie was also acquainted with Andie through Drama, but they weren’t ever quite friends.
Jamie, however, seemed upset at the mention of Andie, given how he slammed his locker.
“Saw her this morning and felt like punching her,” Jamie scoffs. “Disgusting that she did that to Nat. All over her being noticed by boys! We’re graduating soon; why would she do that? That’s NOT the Andie I know.”
“You and me both Jamie. Have you seen her anywhere else today?”
“I saw her at her locker, but that’s it. I’m not speaking to her until she apologises to poor Nat.”
Valid. Sal had always known that Jamie had a crush on Nat. He was always excited whenever she was around. If they ever became a couple, then Sal would support them.
“Is she still there?” Sal asked.
Jamie shrugged. “Probably, but I could care less. Have you seen Nat? I was going to walk her home.”
“I think I saw her near the office. Thanks Jamie, I really appreciate this.”
Jamie adjusts his bag straps and smiles. “No worries, Sal. Just... let Andie know that I don’t want anything to do with her until she apologises to Nat.”
“I will.”
With that, Sal heads off to Andie’s locker.
~~~~
Andie Bell had never felt so low until now.
She had luckily escaped expulsion because nobody except Mr. Ward knew about the bullying. However, she might as well have been expelled because he had informed her father instead – the one man she never wanted to tick off. She knew what he was capable of, and that scared her.
There was a reason why she didn’t let Sal, or her friends go to her house.
So here she was, collecting her books before she’d head home to face that monster she called her father. Becca was walking home with Jess Walker instead, so she was somewhat safe. That was all Andie wanted – for Becca to be safe, especially from their father.
She couldn’t know what she knew. Not now, especially since she needed to finish school. Becca had always been smarter than her; more beautiful, and that caused her to lash out at her. Becca didn’t deserve it; Becca was good; Becca was beautiful; Becca deserved a much better sister than her.
“Did you ever stop to think about Nat’s feelings in all this Andie?”
Fuck, why was Sal here? She had been narrowly avoiding him all day for a reason. She knew he was disappointed in her, and he had every right to be.
She shouldn’t have leaked Nat’s nudes, but she... she was just so angry; she felt threatened by her. Nat was beautiful; stunning to be exact. She saw how guys looked at her now, but personally, she wanted Jamie Reynolds to date her. She thought they’d make a good couple, especially seeing how Jamie spoke about her.
She was just so... upset about her father. She was upset seeing Dan da Silva at her house, chatting with her father as if he weren’t a murderer. Even worse, he didn’t know that her father was the DT killer. Her father treated Dan better than he ever did with her mother, her or Becca. He always took jabs at their appearances, but always praised Dan for doing the bare minimum.
She wondered how Dan would react if he knew about her father’s true colours.
“Andie.” Fucking hell, why was Sal still here? Couldn’t he get the memo? Emma had told her that Sal was staring at their table at lunch. He was so willing to make this work; to fix Andie’s flaws. Sal Singh was better than her; he deserved someone better, like Naomi Ward. At least her father wasn’t a killer.
Sal grabs her arm, spinning her around to face him. He was the spitting image of his parents, and his brother Ravi was seemingly going to inherit their good looks too.
“Andie,” he says again, his grip tightening on her arm. “Why have you been avoiding me?”
“Sal, go away.”
She tried pulling away, but he stopped her. Could he just leave? He deserved much better than her. Naomi Ward was better for him. She was prettier too.
“Andie, don’t do that.” Sal says. “I know something’s wrong.”
“I’m fine Sal. Just leave me alone.”
“Andie don’t lie. Why did you leak Nat’s nudes?”
“Why do you care?”
“Because Nat da Silva’s a fucking human being! You really hurt her Andie. All the kids at school were calling her a slut. Me, Naomi, Jake and Jamie were the only ones who stood by her side-”
“Then why don’t you leave me?” She shouts, slamming her locker door. She could care less if someone saw them. Her life was practically over, especially if she loses the only good thing left in her crummy life.
Sal however seemed shocked, confusing Andie. Didn’t he want to leave her? Isn’t that why he found her?
“Sal...?” Andie whimpered, tears forming in her blue eyes. “Sal-”
“I don’t want to leave you Andie,” Sal says, his own eyes filling with tears. Andie hated seeing him cry; she hated seeing him crumble when he deserved to thrive. “I love you Andie, but this is not like you. I did not fall in love with a girl who does this to another girl.”
“Then why don’t you leave? Naomi seems better for you-”
“Because she’s not you.”
Andie could’ve sworn she heard that wrong.
“What?”
His hand clutches onto hers, squeezing it softly.
“She’s. Not. You.”
Andie’s breathing hitches. Why would Sal want her after this? She had leaked Nat’s nudes for no reason other than being jealous, and yet Sal still wanted her. She didn’t deserve Sal Singh; he was too good for this world, and so many people would take advantage of that.
“Sal-”
“Andie, I know you more than you think. I know that something’s going on in your life that’s causing you to act like this.”
“Sal-”
“Just let me in; don’t shut me out anymore.” He grabs her other hand, pulling her into his embrace. “Just tell me what’s wrong, and we can fix it together.”
Right then, Andie bursts into tears. Sal takes her into his car and lets her cry. He offers her tissues and waits until she’s ready. He texts Ravi to wait inside the school’s library until he was certain that Andie was okay.
Andie then tells him everything. She tells him about the abuse she was experiencing at home by her father; how she feared for her mother and Becca; how she was selling Rohypnol at Calamities so she could make enough money to escape; how Max Hastings, HIS BEST FRIEND, had raped Nat da Silva and many more at the parties; how she was seeing Mr. Ward so he could help her get into Oxford.
She told him all that and then dropped the biggest bombshell: her father was the DT killer. She told him how she saw him with Julia Hunter right before she died; how he kissed her cheek before taking her to Green Scene Warehouse. She told him about how she was speaking to Harriet Hunter out of guilt of not saving Julia. She could’ve saved Julia yet had been too afraid to do so.
When she was done, Sal sat there in shock, unable to speak. He felt like someone had ripped his heart out and stomped on it. In these few minutes, he had learnt that Jason Bell was the DT killer, that his “best friend” Max Hastings was a rapist, and Andie was selling drugs and seeing Naomi’s father so that she could get into Oxford with him; so that she could escape from her father.
“And that’s why I never let you visit my house,” Andie says, sniffling. She had used up all the tissues he carried. “I didn’t want you to see the mess of my life. My father could’ve hurt you or Emma and Chloe.”
“And he’s not going to hurt anyone again.”
Andie’s eyes widened. “What?”
Sal’s hands gripped the steering wheel. “Text Ravi to come to the car. We’re going to my house.”
“We?”
“You’re spending the night Andie. Call Becca too, I’m sure my parents will be fine with her being there too.”
“What? But Sal, I have it under control!”
“Under control? Andie, you shouldn’t be selling drugs and sleeping with Mr. Ward so you could come to Oxford with me! If you just told me... I would’ve listened. I love you Andie; I just want the best for you.”
“I didn’t want my dad to hurt you, Sal; you’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
His hand rests on her lap while his other hand starts the car. “And you’re the best thing that’s happened to me Andie. I’ll always love you, even if it hurts.”
He leans in and kisses her. Andie had never felt so secure right then, being in Sal’s car and kissing him. She felt like a normal teenager; like the one that her classmates thought she was. They didn’t know that she was not the perfect popular girl that she pretended to be. She was Andie Bell, and Andie Bell was a complete mess.
As they parted from the kiss, a knocking sounded at the driver’s side window. It was Ravi Singh – Sal's younger brother, and he just seemed confused.
“Um... Sal?” Ravi said as he opened the backseat door, sliding into the backseat. “Is there something I should know?”
“Uh...” Sal looks at Andie and then shakes his head. “I’ll tell you later... like MUCH later.”
With that, Sal drives away from Kilton Grammar.
~~~~
Eleven Years Later
“Can’t believe your brother is finally visiting us,” Andie says as she drinks her coffee. Sal was focused on the newspaper he was reading but was still listening to her. “And with Pip! Those two are a match-made in heaven.”
“Tell me about it honey.” He sets down his newspaper. “Do we have anymore teabags? Couldn't find any when I was trying to make tea this morning.”
“Don’t think we do, but I’ll nip to the shops later today.”
“Really? It’s okay Andie, I can since you’re busy.”
“It’s fine Sal, I can-”
“Nope, I’ll do it. You have too much on your plate with finalising your play script and all.”
Andie had been writing a play based on her experience with living with the DT killer. After reporting him to the police, they arrested him. She felt sick after finding out that the purple hairbrush he gifted her had apparently belonged to one of his victims. Becca had vomited when she found out her earrings had also belonged to another victim. Her father ended up dying under mysterious circumstances before his trial. To this day, nobody knew how he exactly died.
Becca was doing well. Becca had confessed that Max Hastings had also raped her at a Calamity when Sal had confronted him at school. Naomi and Jake had to pull them apart when it started getting physical.
Max ended up dying anyways after being arrested for a different crime in prison. Some prisoners had found out about the rapes and attacked him. She could care less though – she hoped he was burning in hell.
Back to Becca, she had recently gotten engaged to Stanley Forbes. Stanley seemed like a nice guy; mysterious, but he seemed to cherish Becca. Andie was happy for them, especially since Becca was so afraid to date after what Max had done to her. Andie had mended her relationship with Becca after their father’s arrest. Not quite close, but they were getting there - “baby steps”, as Sal would say.
Naomi was doing okay too. Her father was fired from Kilton Grammar after it was found out about their relationship. Naomi and Cara took it pretty bad at first, but they were doing okay now. Naomi was living in Australia with her husband and worked as a florist. Cara was engaged to Steph Rivers and was still living in Little Kilton. Cara now managed the cafe she worked at after the owner had passed a year ago.
Jake Lawrence was doing good too. They had lost contact with him after graduation, but from what they’d seen on his social media, he was doing well for himself. He had moved away from Little Kilton and had started his own family. No idea for his current occupation, but he seemed happy. Sal had noted to catch up with him one day, just like Andie had with Emma and Chloe.
Andie ended up apologising to Nat da Silva. Nat had never fully accepted her apology, but Andie was okay with that. What she had done was inexcusable; she didn’t blame Nat for not accepting her apology. Nat was now engaged to Jamie Reynolds and no longer lived in Little Kilton. Andie did keep in contact with Jamie though, who was willing to keep her as an acquaintance. She did speak to him at Connor and Zach’s engagement party last year, and it wasn’t awkward in the slightest.
As for her and Sal, life was going well. Sal ended up graduating from Oxford and was working as a professor at Cambridge. They were set to be married next year with their families and friends in attendance. He even proposed to her using his mother’s ring. They were renting a house not too far from Little Kilton, but they had no plans to visit anytime soon. Andie was working as a librarian and was currently finalising her play based on her life, particularly centred around living with the DT killer.
“How’s your play coming along anyways?” Sal asked. “Is it almost ready?”
“I’m nearly done with the first draft. I’ll send it off to an editor and see what’ll need to be improved.”
“You’re a one in a million Andie,” Sal says as he leans in closer to her. “I love you; you know?”
Andie blushes, pushing back a strand of her blonde hair. “And I love you too Sal. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Sal chuckles and kisses her. He had been by her side since the day they crossed paths, and she was so glad that they had. Eleven years ago, she never thought she’d be living this life, but dreams truly do come true.
“When is Ravi arriving? I did hear that he’s dating Pippa Fitz-Amobi. Don’t they make such a cute couple?”
“I know, since we did push them to be together.”
“Can you blame us? They obviously had feelings for one another! We were just giving them the push they needed.”
“And look at them now, practically a picture-perfect couple.”
The doorbell rings suddenly. Speak of the devil, it seemed like Ravi and Pip were here.
“Must be them now,” Sal gets up from his seat and presses a quick kiss on Andie’s forehead. “I’ll get it.”
Andie watches him go and embrace Ravi and Pip before she does the same. Her life wasn’t perfect, but she was fine with it. She finally felt safe and faraway from the monster that once held all control over her.