"And my hopes, they are high, I must keep them small. Though I try to resist, I still want it all." ~Fools, by Troye Sivan

CHAPTER TWELVE

"Your sister?" Vesper exclaimed. Her eyes flew open and she was met with the sight of Andray peering down at her. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"Yeah, she's outside the door," Andray replied. The pounding on the door started again. "And getting very impatient, too," he added.

"What should I do?" she asked.

"Get dressed so you could meet her." Andray cupped her face and pecked her lips.

"I haven't brushed my teeth yet!" she protested.

"Do I look like I give a fvck?" he teased and then walked to his closet and grabbed a shirt.

"But I only have my trench coat."

"I wonder why?" He tapped on his chin, mimicking someone who's deep in thought. He chuckled when he saw Vesper pouting. "Grab anything from my closet, you minx." He went out to open the front door to stop his sister from pounding on it.

Vesper stood up and closed the door as she stripped off of Andray's shirt. She continued to the bathroom and washed her face and then wiped herself with a wet washcloth before brushing her teeth. She groaned at the sight of another hickey on her skin. She grabbed her bra from the floor and put it on. She stared at her panties and decided to just grab something from Andray's closet. She never liked wearing unclean underwear anyway. She grabbed a pair of striped boxers and a white button-down shirt. She can already hear the voices of Andray and his sister outside the door. After tying her hair up in a ponytail and glancing at the mirror, she decided that she's already presentable and went out of the bedroom.

Jenna Walsh was definitely not the same pigtailed girl from the photographs in Laine's home. She's an inch taller than Vesper and has a slim build. Her straight ash-blonde hair was slicked back into a high ponytail, accentuating her sharp cheekbones. She's wearing a pair of gray leggings and a turquoise tank top underneath a white jacket. Jenna's hazel eyes surveyed Vesper from head to foot.

"Jenna, this is—" Andray began, but Jenna cut him off.

"And you are?" Jenna asked Vesper, her tone cold.

"Oh, hi, I'm Vesper." She stuck her hand out but Jenna just looked at it.

Sneering, Jenna said, "I thought you're going to say 'Sleeping with your brother'." Vesper gasped, her face heating up.

"Jenna!" Andray barked.

Vesper was shocked at the rudeness but she won't back down. "Yes, and that too. I was just getting to that part but you beat me to it." She smiled sweetly at Jenna.

Jenna's sneer fell and Vesper had to bite her lip to keep herself from grinning.

"Oh, sorry, is that too much information?" Vesper said in a mocking tone. She was confused when Jenna's face broke into a wide grin, and was shocked when Jenna lunged at her and engulfed her in a tight hug. "Ow!" she yelped in surprise.

"Oh my God, you're spunky! I like you already!" Jenna squealed into Vesper's ear.

"What the fvck?" Andray said.

Vesper successfully extracted herself from Jenna's hug and held the younger girl at an arm's length.

"Thank God my brother finally decided to get a girlfriend. I was wondering because I noticed that something is different with him when I saw him today. He seemed alive, you know? Not like the robot he has been for these past few years. Now I know it's because of you. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Jenna grabbed her by the shoulders and engulfed her in a tight hug once more.

Girlfriend. Girlfriend. Girlfriend. The part kept on replaying in Vesper's mind like a broken record.

"Jesus Christ, Jenna, you're scaring Vesper." Andray extricated Jenna away from Vesper and tugged her away from his sister.

Jenna slapped Andray's hand away from Vesper and tugged her to the kitchen. "We need to get to know each other!" she enthusiastically exclaimed. She pushed Vesper into a chair and set out the pancakes she brought. "You said your name was Vesper, right? I'm Jenna." She stuck her hand out and Vesper shook it.

"Yeah, Andray mentioned you. It's nice to finally meet you," Vesper replied, relieved that Jenna actually liked her.

Andray appeared and sat beside Vesper. "Sorry about my sister. She hit her head on the toilet bowl when she was three. Peered down the damn bowl trying to rescue her dead goldfish," he said with a smirk.

Jenna's face turned red, clearly embarrassed by her brother's little anecdote. She chucked a fork at him. "Stop embarrassing me in front of your girlfriend!"

"Uh, we're not, uhm.. We're not in a relationship," Vesper awkwardly stated.

"Oh," Jenna quietly said.

"So sister, what happened to informing me when you arrive?" Andray casually asked, taking a bite of his pancake.

"Surprises don't work like that, you nitwit," Jenna said, rolling her eyes. "He fell down from a tree back when he was fourteen, sorry if he's a little dumb."

Andray just shook his head, a small smile on his lips. "When did you arrive?"

"Last night. Slept at home then woke up early just to see you."

"You should have called me."

"So you could keep this gorgeous one hidden from me? Nah," Jenna said, and turned her attention to Vesper, who's quietly watching the siblings' banter. "So, Vesper, how long are you guys, uhm..." her voice trailed. "I mean, when did you guys meet?"

"A few weeks ago," Andray answered.

"Mhmm." Jenna nodded. "I'm surprised you endured the company of this poor sap." She pointed a finger at Andray.

"I guess I'm just too kind to tell him that he's poor company." Vesper cocked her head to the side and gave Andray a goofy grin.

"So you two are ganging up on me, huh?" Andray playfully narrowed his eyes.

"Totally. What kind of black magic did you use on this girl here that she hasn't seen how hideous you are?" Jenna teased Andray.

"A magic wand," Andray quipped, a smug smile appearing on his lips.

Vesper's cheeks turned pink, and Jenna boisterously laughed.

"Oh my God! I so don't want to hear this," Jenna said in between laughs.

Vesper shot a dirty look at Andray, whose face was plastered with a huge grin. "Are you in college, Jenna?" she asked, maneuvering the topic away from Andray and her.

"Yeah, I'm taking up Interior Design in a uni in San Fran. How about you?"

"I took up Journalism in UCLA."

"That's nice." Jenna turned to Andray and said, "Anyway, mom says hi and that we're to have dinner at home tonight. Vesper, you should totally come! Mom would love to meet you."

"No," Andray quickly said. "She has... well she has work to do."

"Uhm, yeah, that's right. I have work. Like lots of work. Lots of stuff to write," Vesper seconded.

"Oh, that sucks. But you should eat at our house sometime. Mom's cooking is delicious. Right, brother?"

"Yes," Andray agreed. "But not now. Vesper can't go now."

"Oh, alright." Jenna took Vesper's hand and raised it up, examining her skin. "Has my brother told you that we're part-Irish? Mom and dad are both half-Irish and half-American."

"Yes, he has told me."

"Your skin looks quite Irish to me. Are you?"

"No, I'm not. That question's not new to me though." Vesper chuckled.

"Girl, how can you be pale here in California? Ever heard of the sun? Or the beach? At least we Irish people have an excuse," Jenna teased.

Andray watched as the two girls engaged in an animated conversation, relieved that Vesper actually gets along with his family. Brenda was always polite to the point of rudeness. Her name felt bitter on his mind. He shook the thoughts about his past out of his head. He looked at Vesper and forgot everything about his bitter past. Vesper laughed at Jenna's funny story about her most embarrassing moment back in middle school. She laughed and it made him smile.

"Thanks for breakfast, Jenna, but I have to go. I have work in a few," Vesper said after finishing breakfast.

"Awww, sucks. But we totally need to hang out some time. Here, put your number in," Jenna said, and gave her phone to Vesper.

"Sure."

"I'm going to call you some time. I think you could give me sane advice. The opinions of my fellow college girls are useless most of the time." Jenna chuckled.

Vesper laughed. "Yes, I've experienced bad decisions too during college. Oh, please excuse me for a moment." She stood up and walked back to Andray's bedroom. She stripped off of his shirt and dusted off her trench coat and put it on. She put on her heels and grabbed her belongings.

When she went out the room, she saw Andray whispering something to Jenna. She saw Jenna shake her head at Andray and huff. She was curious but she decided not to press on. Jenna saw her and walked to her and Vesper said her goodbyes.

"My brother can be a real prick sometimes but he's the best guy I know. Please bear with him," Jenna whispered to Vesper's ear.

Vesper offered a small smile in return. "I'll try." She gave Jenna's hand a tight squeeze and Jenna hugged her.

"Thank you," Jenna said softly.

"No big deal," she replied before stepping out of the apartment with Andray.

"I'm still wearing your boxers," Vesper cheekily whispered to Andray when she leaned in to him, brushing her lips on his jaw. Andray released a low growl. He cupped Vesper's face and mashed his lips against hers, claiming her mouth in a fierce kiss. Her lips parted instantly, letting his tongue slide into her mouth. His tongue wandered in her mouth and he sucked on hers, causing her to release a soft moan. He immediately pulled back and looked at her with wild eyes, his chest heaving up and down as he breathed heavily.

"You should go home, Vesper," Andray said, and walked away without a backward glance.

Vesper was left with her mouth wide open in shock. "What?"

What on earth is wrong with him? One minute he's kissing the living daylights out of me and then the next he's looking at me like I slaughtered the last living unicorn on earth. She went inside her car and slammed the door hard, fuming.

~*~*~*~*~

"Sweetheart? Why are you not eating?" Jill asked.

"Do you not like the food?" Patrick added.

"Don't be silly Dad. I never disliked mom's food," Vesper replied, forcing some cheer into her voice, and compelled herself to swallow a forkful of the grilled tuna in front of her. She slowly made her way through her meal, telling her parents that she's just savouring the food when in truth, her appetite has been at an all-time-low since her brusque farewell with Andray.

God, why was it that he's still invading her thoughts even if he's been moodier than a girl with PMS. He's supposed to be a casual bed buddy, wasn't he? So why was she sulking and picking on her food like an angst-filled teen because he casually dismissed her? She should be engaging in a lively conversation with her family, but instead she let her jumbled thoughts get the best of her.

Their last meeting has been nagging her ever since. She was wondering what kind of switch has turned on—or off—in Andray's head when he suddenly turned frigid after kissing the living daylights out of her. He hasn't called her or texted her since then and that irked her. But what irked her more was the fact that she's going batsh!t crazy over the fact that's she's craving for his touch or just to hear his voice.

She offered to wash the dishes and went home after sluggishly chatting with her parents. She brushed off their concerns and told them that her damp mood was just because of the stressful work week.

~*~*~*~*~

It was a lazy night for Vesper. After eating her Chinese take-out and stowing the leftovers in her refrigerator, she took a shower and changed into a simple nightgown.

Her attempt at finishing a new movie was interrupted by the sudden knock on her door. Grumbling, she paused the movie and went to open the door.

She didn't even have the time to react because Andray's mouth was immediately upon hers, his fingers delving into the softness of her hair.

"Mmm," she moaned into his mouth, tightly clutching the fabric of his checked flannel shirt. He kicked the door close, locking it, and then pushed her up against the wall, his mouth still fastened on hers as their tongues sparred with each other. His hands left her hair and he hastily pulled her nightgown off.

"Andray wh—" Her little protest was cut off when Andray pulled her flush against him and hungrily claimed her mouth again. He pushed her to the wall again, and she could hear the picture frames rattling. Good thing that the walls were made with thick concrete or else her neighbours would be knocking on the door right now with all the noise they were making. Inside her mind, the battle between getting turned on and being shocked at their animalistic actions was not a fair one because the former was winning. She could only moan as Andray bit on her bottom lip and palmed both her breasts.

He kissed his way down her body, and hastily pulled Vesper's underwear down her legs. She let out a surprised squeal when Andray pushed her legs apart, causing her to slightly wobble. He held her thighs apart and without a warning, latched his mouth to her entrance. All notions of talking and confronting him about his rude dismissal of her and his bipolar attitude went out of the window as he licked his way up her slit.

"Andray, oh God," Vesper gasped, hands flailing to find something to hold on to. You should be mad at him, dammit! her mind scolded.

Oh shut it. You're just mad because I'm getting head, another part of her mind replied.

And head she was getting. Andray released one thigh and stuck two fingers inside her, spreading her apart as his tongue delved inside the heat of her tight channel, the bridge of his nose hitting the distended nub that was begging for attention. Her knees buckled and she almost slid to the floor when he enclosed his mouth on her cl!t and suckled. Andray was quick to hold her hips, supporting her. She held on to his shoulders for leverage.

"Please, please," she chanted. Please make me come. Please tell me what's going on in your mind. Please tell me you want me not only for the sex. Please feel something for me, too.

Groaning, Andray stood up and frantically shed all of his clothes. Vesper was stuck to the wall and didn't dare move, afraid that she might melt into a puddle of wanton desire. He grabbed her hips, raised her leg, wrapped it around his waist, and thrust into her hard and fast, tearing a loud gasp from Vesper's mouth. She could imagine what an obscene picture they're making right now, with her back pressed to the wall, one leg wrapped around his waist, and him pounding mercilessly into her, hands wrapped around her hair as he kissed and sucked at her neck. She cried his name out again and again as he slammed into her, hard and unforgiving—it was rough and carnal. This is fvcking, we're just fvcking, she thought—not like the slow, sweet sex they shared that night on his piano. But the thought didn't stop the wails coming out of her mouth as she started to tremble around him. Clenching her muscles around his manhood, bright spots danced behind her eyelids as she climaxed hard, her body going slack. But Andray wasn't done yet, after pausing for a moment to let Vesper come down from the high, he thrust into her again to chase his own release.

"Vesper," he grunted as he spilled himself inside her. He dug his fingers into her waist as he held himself through the aftershocks of his own release. Still buried deep inside her, he pressed himself closer to her until there was no space between them and buried his face into the crook of her neck, nibbling on the already purpling mark on her skin. Vesper's hand gently stroked his damp hair as she composed her thoughts. She held him and they stayed in the same position for a few minutes, uncaring if her breasts were uncomfortably pressed against his chest and if her back was against the cold, concrete wall. Oh, how she wished they could just stay like this forever, wrapped tightly around each other's warmth. Andray started tracing circles on the side of her breast and she felt him harden again.

"Andray, we need to talk," she said, inhaling sharply when he abruptly pulled out.

"No we don't," he replied, effortlessly hauling her up in his arms and carrying her to the bedroom. He deposited her down the bed and turned her flat on her stomach as he spread her legs apart and raised her hips up, positioning himself before her entrance.

"Come on, Andray, there's someth—" her sentence was cut off and was replaced by a moan as he drove inside her deeply.

"Shhh babe, let's just fvck," Andray said, pulling out and then thrusting back in. Vesper buried her face in the pillow to hide the blatant emotions displayed on her face. Tears pooled at her eyes, seeming to be a mixture of pure pleasure and a bit of anguish for she's nothing but a fvck to him.

He continued his delicious assault and they climaxed simultaneously, each of them too engulfed by the crippling pleasure to even utter an audible sound, only gasps and moans.

Spent, Andray collapsed on top of Vesper for a moment and then slowly pulled out. He rolled to one side of the bed and spooned her from behind.

"You ok?" he asked, kissing her shoulders.

"Mmm-hmm," she replied, wiping the moist away from her cheeks. She wanted to laugh at her stupidity, feeling bitter after getting fvcked by her fvckbuddy because she was expecting him to make love to her or whatever mushy sh!t people who have actual feelings for each other do. Pathetic.

When she felt Andray's breathing even out and heard his soft snores, she turned around and faced him. She placed a soft kiss on his jaw. "What are you doing to me?" she whispered softly. She placed her head on his chest and burrowed her head under his chin, his familiar scent blanketing her, the rhythmic beating of his heart lulling her to sleep.

Vesper was woken up when she felt the air from her lungs being sucked out. The heat and softness of Andray's mouth on hers registered after being momentarily winded. Her hands flew to his face and cupped his cheeks, pushing his head back to gasp for air and then pulling it back down to her. She didn't care that she hasn't brushed her teeth yet because he seemed that he didn't give a damn, too—his tongue was inside her mouth while she was unconscious, for Pete's sake, there's no time for modesty here. Responding with equal fervor, she moaned in response when he let out a groan. Andray abruptly pulled back.

"Have to go, babe. Have a nice day," he said, and placed a quick peck on her lips. She saw that he was already fully dressed. He stood up and strode out the door.

Confused, all she did was blink. Then, she heard the sound of a door closing. It took her a millisecond before processing what just happened.

"Andray!" she yelled, hopping off the bed. She stormed out of the bedroom, yelling his name repeatedly. She spotted her nightgown on the living room floor and furiously shrugged it on. Andray was nowhere to be seen. "Come back here! We haven't talked yet!" She yanked her front door open, and looked left and right. Her voice echoed throughout the empty hallway outside her apartment, uncaring if her neighbours can hear her. Still barefoot, she strode to the elevator and