All that pressure got you down

Has your head spinning all around

Feel the rhythm, check the ride

Come on along and have a real good time

Like the days of stopping at the Savoy

Now we freak, oh what a joy

Just come on down, to fifty-four

Find a spot out on the floor

Ah, Freak out! Le Freak, c'est Chic

Sang by: Chic - Le Freak Lyrics | MetroLyrics

I left the Pallos' mansion with a heavy heart. I don't know what I'm thinking or what I'm doing. I'm supposed to seek for her apology, not chasing her away. Why can't I just shut my mouth when I'm with her, instead?

"Elle left us and now Victoria is leaving to London. I don't want them to leave, but I can't stop them."

Theios Demetrio's words replayed in my head.

I heard honks behind me and I realized I was driving below the minimum speed, impeding traffic along the busy road. I ignored the cursing the other drivers threw in my way as they passed by as I decided to pull along the road and park my car. I turned the ignition off and leaned my back against my seat support and closes my eyes as I grunt in frustration.

I actually came to show theios Demetrio the plan for the new hotel the PP hotel wanted to build in England. Then, he suddenly spewed out his thoughts about his daughters. How he misses Elle and now, Victoria is leaving, too.

I suddenly felt alarmed.

After that wedding is off, she changed a lot. When Elle left, the Pallos residence became too quiet and I knew she's blaming herself for what happened.

I avoided her, ready to just bury everything between us in the past, but when I heard she started dating again, I was freaking out.

I can't deny, I love her. Until now, it's still her, but I don't want to be in a relationship with her and then let her in control over us. She always wanted to control me and I hate it.

My eyes snap open when I heard my phone ringing. I straightened up and unbuckled. Pulling my coat and slid my hand into the inside pocket and pulled out my phone.

It was Cassie Ann. There's the other reason why I can't be with Victoria again. Cassie is fighting for her life. Her mom is gone and she hated her dad. She felt alone and all she thought she has was me.

I promise her mom to take care of her. And seeing her now, with no one, I felt obligated to take care of her, even though there at times, I wanted to regret why did I promised her mom, I will be by her side no matter what.

"Yes," I said softly, forcing my voice to come out happy, but my heart is in agony.

Victoria's words echoed in my head. "I already spit you out, Xandrous. I don't eat what I spit out, again!"

I absentmindedly chuckled with bitterness. I am a fool. Now she's over me. When I had a chance, I chased her away. I avoided her like a plague. That short rendezvous in the washroom, when she kissed me, I knew I still owned her heart, but now, I'm not even sure if there's a little compassion left for me.

"XANDROUS!" Cassie's frustrated tone snaps me out of my trance.

I sighed. "Yes. I'm sorry, Cassie. Come again?" I asked.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

No. Victoria is leaving and I'm freaking out!

"Yes, I'm fine," I responded flatly.

"What's up?" I snap which I didn't intend to sound snappy. It's just that these days, I hate the feelings when she's acting like my girlfriend.

She always calls me, where am I, what am I doing, or did I eat?

God, I wanted to yell at her to stop asking things and just give me a break once in a while, but she's so sensitive and I she's depressed. I can't aggravate her state anymore. She's dying for Pete's sake.

"I'm sorry if I bother you too much," her voice quiver and I knew she's about to cry.

"I'm sorry, Cassie. I didn't mean to snap at you. I was just tired, okay?" I apologize quickly. She already tried to commit suicide by slicing her wrist like twice, a few months after her mom was gone.

"I'm sorry," she cried and my heart clenched for her.

DAMN! I cursed inwardly closing my eyes with my free hand massaging my temple. I could hear her sniffing and I knew she's crying.

Damn, damn, dammit, Xandrous! I continued cursing in my head.

"Would you like me to come see you?" I asked unconsciously. I can't leave her like that, am I?

"Please," she begs in her vulnerable voice and I wanted to punch myself.

"Stop crying then, Cassie. I'm coming, alright?" I said in a very soft voice as I heaved another sigh.

"Okay," she said softly and I hang up the phone.

What in the world did I get myself into?

I always ask myself since I realized how much I love Victoria. I thought it was just pure lust or just plainly teenage crushes. She's pretty like a doll, and everyone in my class adored her, that's why I wanted to win her and I did, but no one knew about it, since we don't want our parents especially hers to meddle with our relationship and to bed her was my only plan, but everything went wrong. I fell in love with her, but I didn't realized it until she's gone.

I thought Cassie was the type of girl to get serious with, but I realized I love Victoria more than anything in the world, but now it's too late.

She left with a grudge for me after I dumped her for Cassie. Well, not really, but the picture shows the same. I ditched her and stayed at Cassie's side.

I don't want to hurt any of them so I broke up with her, and since no one knew about our relationship, I just told Cassie, I have no girlfriend and I have no plans to enter into any relationship and all I could offer to her is a friendship, and she believed me.

Victoria was crashed. She became the girl I never expect her to be thought, she was always controlling me during our relationship. A player and a bitch.

I thought I didn't care. I tried to ignore her changes. she never failed to be a good friend that I'd rather lost a girlfriend than a best friend. So when her dad and mom divorced, I was there with her. Supporting her. And then, after several years, her mom died. When I wanted to avoid her and face my happiness, that's when she needed me. Even with a grave heart and half of me felt the empathy for her. She felt alone, and now, she's really sick.

I felt I was tied now with a responsibility. A responsibility to look after her. And by means of losing Victoria.

Scowling at the busy street, I decided to turn the ignition, back to life and hit the road. I need to see Cassie now before her depression leveled up again. I don't want to see her on her bed again, lying with blood spurting out of her wrist.

As soon as I reach the Alanis' six-rooms two story house, I quickly parked the car right in front of the house and jog to the entrance door.

I pushed the doorbell button and not long, Cassie in her skimpy long sleeve flare dress, looking normal, without the signs of her depression or leukemia, giggled.

She's losing weight, though, but she still looks beautiful especially when she's smiling, just like her mom. Her tanned skin looks glowing for someone who has leukemia. I'm happy for her that despite her condition, she was actually taking care of herself. And I hope, her depression would never come back and was gone forever.

I may not have it, or even felt it, but seeing her when her depression attacks her, it was awful. She was crying a lot, so insecure, and she couldn't eat. She felt so low, and worse, she tried to end her life, twice.

"Xandrous!" she suddenly leaps on me, giggling and my hands automatically curled around her petite frame in surprised. "Thanks for coming," she pulls away and I forced a smile.

"Don't mention it," I shrugged and she tugs my hand inside happily to the kitchen like a ten years old girl.

"I made something. I would like you to try," she chirped proudly, and I just let her led me to the kitchen which I'm familiar with. My family used to get invited when her dad and mom was still okay.

"Sit here," she grinned and I obliged, pulling one chair and settled. She went to the fridge and walk back to the table with a white and blue cake carrier.

She took the lid off and revealed before me a cake. I knew it was a cake, but no idea what flavor is it. "I made a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting," smiling brightly as she stared at me still holding the cake holder lid.

I hate carrot and I can't upset her. "Hmm.. yum," I said as I stared at the white frost of the cake with the crushed nuts sprinkled over the top edge.

She beams and quickly walks to the kitchen counter and deposited the lid on the counter and took two small plates and fork, knife, and a cake knife.

I watch her as she slice the cake carefully. I'm just glad I'm still hungry. I could force myself to finish one slice, I guess.

When she placed a decent size of a slice carrot cake, I gulped as I grab my fork and knife. She was watching me with a wide smile plastered on her face. Happiness is written all over her face and I can't wipe that happiness off her face.

I smiled and slice a small piece and pop it in my mouth. I was ready to just chew it couple times and swallowed it so I wouldn't taste the carrot. I was surprised it doesn't taste carroty at all, thought it tastes bland, but I can deal with that. As long as it doesn't taste carrot, I'll be fine.

.

.

"I always wanted to be a model, but I lack in the height department," Cassie chuckled and Victoria's face flashed in my head.

"Yes. I'll find my luck there and maybe live there for good if things go my way,"

Her voice sounded determined and I felt terrified for the first time. I knew I had to do something, but I don't know where to start, and I can't leave Cassie alone.

"Don't they all look ridiculously gorgeous?" I heard Cassie muses with her eyes trained on the flat screen. I leaned on my back and stared at her then traveled back to the screen.

The girl in a cross back dress looks like from heaven, slowly walking to the direction of a stunned guy, drooling over her.

"Looks fade as years passed by," I absentmindedly replied, reading the last words in the commercial.

Armani Code, New fragrance for woman.

"You are right, but nothing could replace that feeling when people adored you," she said wistfully. I shook my head in disbelief. Girls think differently.

I didn't object nor agree with her. "Not every model likes what they are doing," I said. "I think, it's the only way they earn a living and at the same time, maintains their wardrobe and lifestyle on trend."

"And that's why I wanted that!" she giggled. I look at her and she looks at the screen dreamily with a big smile on her face. "I always dreamed one day my face is on a magazine," she muses again, and I stared at her intently. "I'm ready to die if that dream come true," she smiled and look at me.

"You are kidding, right?" I asked with a furrowed eyebrow.

"Who wanted to die, right?" she chuckled, then she looks back on the screen. "I'm not ready yet, but if that's my fate, then let it be. And besides, I want to see mom," her voice morphing sullen.

"You know chemotherapy can help. Why don't you try?" I was trying my luck again. I know she hated it. She stubbornly declined it and said she will just wait for death to come to get her.

"Thanks, Xandrous, but I don't want anything to do with chemotherapy. If I will die, then I'm happy. Mom is waiting for me."

I look at the screen, trying to process her words. I know she lost her hope when her mom died.

I hated to hear it. I changed the topic. We talked more about her plans and then I left when she went to bed, around nine at night.

.

.

"What ill wind brought you here, Xandrous?" Vino frowned and I scowled at him. After learning about Vicky and him dating, I simply cast him out of my friend's list and he's aware of it.

"Am I not allowed here?" I scowled and he just chuckled. Even though it was a big deal to me because I can't honestly accept the truth that she's not mine, I bitterly avoided him. Their relationship didn't last and I was the very first one who was overjoyed.

Vino grinned deviously. "You are always welcome here, Xandrous. I never cast a friend out of my life?" he snarkily declared.

"Shut up! Just give me a rum, top shelf!" I snorted and I don't care if I'm acting like a fool. I needed alcohol tonight. I needed to just shut down my brain just for tonight. I don't want to think about her, about her leaving tomorrow, and how my heart now aching for her.

"Jiggs," Vino called one of his bartenders.

"Serve him some rum. I have some important guests to attend," Vino was holding a tray of a Tequila bottle, three cocktail drinks, and a bowl full of ice cubes, shooter glass, and a bowl with lime wedges.

The young bartender nodded his head after Vino pats his shoulder lightly and said something, then left. My eyes followed him as he exited the bar and pushed his way through the crowd. I saw his back talking to a group in a VIP lounge which is not far from where I am, and my eyes almost popped out when I saw Vino talking to Victoria, leaning forward almost kissing her.

"Sir," I heard the bartender and I turned around and saw him placing my glass of rum in front of me. I grab the glass, then involuntarily leap out of the stool bar and paved my way through the loud crowds heading to their table.

My heart is pumping furiously against my ribcage.

So, they were still close.

I thought he hated her after dumping him and playing with his heart. He's no different from us, but when he started dating Victoria, he changed actually. We all witnessed that.

I chugged my rum as I made my way to them. Vicky was laughing in whatever Vino was saying. He then took the spot beside Vicky. My scowl deepened and felt like it was glued.

Her eyes widened when she saw me standing beside her. "Alexandrous Mailov?" I look at the guy sitting opposite them, forgetting who really he was, his voice squeaks like a girl and gushing. He was the guy I saw at the restaurant with her.

I almost laughed when I realized how jealous I was seeing her talking with him.

"Yes," I smiled sweetly.

"Oh My GOD, Oh my GOD," he squeals and I chuckled in amusement.

"CYRUS!" I heard Vicky hissed. Her other friend tugs the guy named Cyrus by his hand and he sat back, still smiling giddily.

"Alexandrous Mailov, Vicky's friend," I introduced and extends my free hand. Cyrus stood enthusiastically and took my hand.

"Cyrus Dougherty," he smiled invitingly and I smiled, holding the urge to pulled my hands away quickly.

"AHEM," a loud fake cough made by the black haired sitting beside him.

Cyrus chuckled like a girl and sat beside the girl. She stood up and reach out for my outstretched hand as she said her name. "Cyra Amory, Cyrus cousin and Vicky's friend," she sheepishly smiled and I shake her hand.

The ginger red haired stood up, "I'm Glennete Capri. Call me Glenn," she grinned cheekily. We shook hands and she sat again beside Vino.

"And, I'm Celvino Bra-" I scowled at Celvino as he playfully introduced himself to me.

"I know who you are, shut up!" I snorted and the group laughed except Vicky who was scowling at me.

"Move," I told Vino and he shakes his head from side to side, disapproving.

"Sit beside Cyrus, Xandrous." Vino scowled at me and I almost punched his face.

I reluctantly sat beside Cyrus when they all moved and gave me a space between Cyrus and Cyra.

Vino grinned triumphantly and I scowled at him all the more, chugging the rest of the content of my rum.

I watched the girls drank their cocktails and then Vino unscrewing the cap of the Tequila. Vicky never looks at my direction and I felt all the more hurting. I wanted to talk to her or just cuddle with her. I missed cuddling her. I missed her, a lot. I missed her smile, her sweet voice when she pouts when she's fuming, or whenever she's frustrated. I missed everything about her.

I watch her laughing so carefree with Vino. I wish I was in his shoes. I wish our gap is not that wide. I ruined everything.

......................................

A/N: Here you go for the second chapter. Hope you all like it. Please do continue to support Xandrous and Vicky's story.