122. Sold

Back at the gymnasium, Mandy watched Andrew carefully, noticing his distant look. "You’re thinking about her again, aren’t you?" she asked, her tone slightly accusing.

Andrew snapped out of his thoughts, looking at Mandy. "No, I’m thinking about us," he lied, trying to reassure her.

Mandy wasn’t convinced, but she decided to let it go for now. "Alright, but just remember, Andrew, I don’t want any competition."

Andrew nodded, his mind still conflicted. He couldn’t admit to Mandy that Katie had somehow gotten under his skin. It would ruin everything.

As the school day ended, Katie returned home, her mood somber. She went straight to her room, needing to escape from everything. She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of her feelings.

After a while Lillian called out to her to come down for dinner, Katie groaned and made her way downstairs, she sat at the dining table, absently pushing her food around her plate. Her mind was a whirlpool of confusion and an