ANDREW

CAMILLA'S P O V

TWO YEARS AGO

I was sitting at my favorite spot on the lawn under the shade of a huge tree, reading a book, when I felt someone sitting beside me.

“Hi…” he greeted. “Why are you always alone?”

I looked up and saw a tall guy. Not wanting anyone to disturb me from reading, I shrugged my shoulders and continued scanning the book with my eyes when he suddenly snatched it from my hold. “Hey!”

“I am talking to you, Miss.”

“I don’t talk to strangers, I’m sorry.” I said uninterestedly, trying to get back my book from him. “Can you please give it back to me?”

“No.”

“What do you want?” I asked irritably. Why is this guy disturbing me? And he even snatched my favorite book while I was reading. I don’t even know him.

Before nswering my questions, he smiled gorgeously at me. “I want us to be friends.”

“How about a no?” I told him and fixed the glasses that sat on my nose, crossing my arms over my chest.

“How about I give you back your book on one condition, be my friend,” he told me, and at that very moment, our almost perfect friendship started.

His name was Andrew. He loved to play basketball and football. He loved to eat and was fond of animals. He became the best friend I never thought I could have, because everyone in the school hated me for no reason. I mean, they hated me because I was ugly and a complete nerd.

In the next days and months, my life turned from lonely to happy. Andrew filled my life with joy and laughter. He made my life complete.

He would drive me to work from school, and then pick me up after my work in The Grind coffee shop as a part-time student.

All the weekends, he would come into my room through my window. We would watch our favorite movies or play some cards or chess, then eat and sleep.

But before we could do everything we had in mind, I had made sure that all the household chores were done so that Aunt Deborah wouldn’t disturb me in my room and I never forgot to lock it in case she accidentally barged inside.

“Camilla, open your window.” It was six in the morning when I heard Andrew knock on my window.

“Andrew, what are you doing here early in the morning?” I yawned and stretched my arms before opening my window.

He smiled and showed a beautiful cat in front of me. “Happy birthday, Camilla.”

My mouth gaped open and immediately grabbed the cat from him and caged her in my arms. “Oh my god, Andrew it’s beautiful!” I beamed, teary-eyed. “Thank you so much.”

We named the beautiful cat, Luna. She has two beautiful grey eyes, adorably tiny paws, and two perky ears which were very sensitive to sounds. It has a tiny body covered with smooth white fur. She’s easy to love because she’s humble and loyal. She hated Monique, so she always stayed in my room.

“Andrew, you want to go with me to the library?” I asked him one day after lunch.

We made our way to the library laughing while talking about Luna, about how she always snatched Andrew’s food, when suddenly, Mark and his gang blocked our way.

“What do you want?” Andrew asked.

“Hey lover boy, don’t meddle in this. We only want the nerd girl.” Mark said, pushing him aside.

But Andrew didn’t budge. He stayed in front of me, blocking Mark from my view. “No! You stay away from her!”

“Better leave or regret you stayed.” Matthew said, smirking. His eyes trailed from my face down to my chest, then back to my face again, pervert!

“Andrew, please leave now. Don’t worry, I can handle them.” I whispered, but then I felt someone grab my arm and drag me away from him.

“Hey! Let her go!” Andrew yelled, but Harry suddenly threw a punch at him.

“Andrew!” I shouted, looked around me, hoping someone would stop this awful fight, but no one seemed to be doing anything except for watching at them.

I couldn’t get away from Matthew’s hold, so I just watched Harry and Mark punching Andrew nonstop while I was crying.

“Stop! Please… Stop them!” I cried, getting down on my knees. I couldn’t let a person die on my watch, especially my best friend.

I took a deep breath in and out and stood up. With a final breath, I raised my hand and punched Matthew on the nose. The whole crowd gasped at what I had just done, and then I walked closer to them and pulled them away from Andrew.

And when I thought I couldn’t stop them, I heard someone blowing a whistle, and in a blink, Mark’s gang were gone. I saw Andrew lying on the ground unconscious and I shook my head crying. “Andrew!”

And that was the last time I saw Andrew before they took him to the hospital. A week had passed when I received a call from him telling me that he was leaving the country.

It was always like this... I told to myself.

I would bring misfortune upon anybody who comes close to me.