Chapter 12: champagne won't fix it

„Hey, Ander, Ander", I waved my hand in front of his face, „What happened to your hand?"

„I left the party with Guzman. I was drunk and broke it in the pool", he lied.

„We both know that's a lie", I sighed.

„Omar told you?"

„He's my friend, of course, he does."

„I was high and wasted, it happens."

„It does. But it happens a lot now", I said a bit reproachfully.

„Emilia", Lu stopped in front of me, „Are you still mad at me?"

„Not really, I know how you can be."

„Good because my dad told me that your dad found a new mom for you and I'm your best friend so I know how you feel. We're going to the party together. I think both of us need some time to forget about male idiots, right?"

„You're right, Lu."

But before I got ready for the party, I went to my dad's home to get money for Nano. Call it stealing but in my eyes it was helping my brother. He was in danger and my dad wouldn't have to worry about a few thousand Euros less on his bank account. But all that I've found in his safe were about four thousand Euros. Nano looked at me with a mixture of anger and relief when I gave him the money. He told me not to help but what should I do then? Let him be killed by some gang members? Definitely not.

I arrived at the party of Carla's mom with Marina. She was like the only normal person I could talk to right now. Lu, well she was just being Lu. A jealous, mean, ignorant, rich girl. Carla only had eyes for Christian and Polo was with them, of course. Guzman was trying to be like a security guard trying to keep Polo away from Christian. I mean.. Did they really have no other problems than that?

When Samu walked downstairs, Marina and I walked over to help him.

„Marina, we told you that you're not allowed to invite a friend", Laura followed us.

„What if he's more than a friend?", she replied seriously, „If he's my friend?"

Wait, didn't she like Nano? That confused me.

„Whatever", I muttered to the security guard, „My dad is Nicolas Santiago and this is my brother so he's invited."

Finally, they let him in so Samu could follow Marina.

„Hey, where are you going?", Guzman stopped them but teared Samu's suit, „The price tag is still on it."

„I'll go after him", Marina told me when Samu left to go outside.

„You're such an ass, Guzman", I hissed at him and walked over to the bar, not without pushing his shoulder with mine.

„Papá", I was surprised to see him here, especially with his new girlfriend as his escort, „Sofia."

„Emilia, it's good to see you", she smiled just as put on as all the other women who had to please their man.

„Yeah, wish I could say the same", I muttered annoyed between two sips.

„Emilia!", my dad looked at me angrily but he couldn't shout at me with all the other people around us, „Someone had broken into my house and stolen money. Do you know something about it? Then that's the right moment to speak."

„What? Do you by any chance think it was me?", I let out a frustrated laugh, „Congrats, that's a new highlight in your parenting."

„I only asked if you knew something about it. I didn't say anything about you."

„Yeah but you look at me like you think it was me."

„Well, the police didn't find an evidence of forced entry and you were the last person to ask me for money and you've got a key to my house."

„Sorry, Sherlock", I rolled my eyes sarcastically, „No, it wasn't your daughter who you love so deeply. But maybe it was your girlfriend? I've got no idea, alright? We were okay without you and your money so I don't need to steal from you. Just enjoy the party, papá."

„What was that between you and your dad?", Ander came to give me a glass of champagne and a kiss on my left cheek.

„He accused me of stealing money out of his safe."

„And who's the woman next to him?"

„His new girlfriend."

„You didn't say anything about a-", Ander started innocently but I was angry about dad, Guzman, Lu, Carla, Ander himself and let it out on him.

„Because you never listen!", I hissed at him and pulled him with me to a spot where the music wasn't as loud and no one was around before we could become louder.

„So I never listen to you?", Ander yelled at me, „I never listen to you? You can't be serious. I would put the world your feet and all I get back is an annoyed girlfriend!"

„Ah", I laughed shaking my head, „You think Guzman is right, huh? That you really just do what I say? Guess what? You don't! Or else you wouldn't pick up a fight with some guys you don't know because you're desperate for drugs while I'm at home with Polo comforting each other!"

„Polo, huh?"

„Ander", I sighed mentally slapping myself for telling him that way, for even kissing Polo, „I.. I'm sorry. I didn't want to treat you so bad and shouldn't have kissed Polo and.. I don't know. I'm just sorry for everything."

„Yeah, me too."

After Ander had ran away, letting me stand alone where we've been, I went back to the others.

„Champagne?", Lu offered me friendly.

„Could need some, yes."

„What happened? Trouble in paradise?"

„I guess. Hey, Lu, I'm sorry for being a bad friend. I should have talked to you about Guzman."

„It's fine. He's going to crawl back anyways. Just as Ander, don't worry about that."

„Well, I'm not so sure about that. Polo and I kissed", I confessed to her although I knew she would be mad at me, too.

But surprisingly, her reaction was different. She hugged me with a smile, „Just a stupid kiss. That's nothing that you won't fix."