Modern Family: New Life-Chapter 58: The Incident II

Andrew was in his room, sitting on the edge of his bed, while Leonard and Howard were busy editing the video he had recorded to upload it as soon as possible.

"So, your grandfather's ex-wife almost ruined the wedding with his new wife, but you knocked her out, and now she wants to apologize to them for everything she said?" Leonard asked, summarizing what Andrew had told Howard and him.

The atmosphere was relaxed, even though the editing was progressing at high speed, with both of them focused on the screen.

"Exactly. She wants to join the Christmas dinner and be with the whole family. Do you know how disastrous and awkward that dinner would be? They could all end up at the police station along with Gloria," Andrew said, sighing.

Howard chuckled. "Knocking out your own grandmother... This is the first time I've heard of something like that. Though, she deserved it," Howard said, looking at the monitor while Leonard edited.

"Make a cut there and add the previous transition," Howard added, pointing at the screen. Leonard quickly nodded and skillfully made the cut and adjusted the transition.

"I didn't mean to tackle her and knock her out... I was a little drunk, and that's why I acted that way," Andrew said, scratching his head, a bit embarrassed.

Howard raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised. "You? Drunk? That doesn't make any sense. Since when do you get drunk, Mr. 'No-alcohol-for-my-body'?" he asked, mimicking the tone Andrew usually used in his anti-alcohol speeches.

"Yeah, wasn't alcohol supposed to be the worst thing for a fit body? I clearly remember your lectures about how 'alcohol destroys muscle recovery and affects the nervous system's function,'" Leonard said, turning around with a slight smirk.

"I know, I know. Getting drunk wasn't my plan..." Andrew said, recalling that day with anything but a happy expression.

[Andrew's Commentary]

Andrew, sitting on his bed, looked at the camera while holding a large Darth Vader figure in his hands.

"The worst thing about betrayal is that it never comes from an enemy," Andrew said solemnly.

"That day, knowing my grandmother would be at the wedding, it was obvious something bad would happen, so I prepared to prevent it and make sure Gloria's wedding went perfectly, just as she wanted. I assembled a very capable team to keep an eye on my grandmother... but they betrayed me and got me drunk without me even realizing it," Andrew explained, sighing in frustration.

[End of Commentary]

"So your teammates and your two cousins gave you drinks with alcohol to slowly get you drunk... How did you not notice?" Leonard asked, still in disbelief. Howard was trying to hold back his laughter as he focused on editing.

"They were sneaky!" Andrew said, frowning. "It wasn't a big shot of tequila or a glass of whiskey. No, no... they did it with... with mild drinks, like cocktails that didn't taste like alcohol at all. They looked so fresh and summery... I never even suspected they had alcohol!"

"I didn't feel anything at first. Haley and Alex, those damn traitors... every time I was about to take a sip, they'd say, 'Oh, Andrew, you have to try this! It's so good and tastes like strawberry!' I had never seen them so united and working as a team. How did I not realize?!" Andrew added, clenching his fists.

"Well, at least the cake survived," Leonard commented, trying to lighten the mood.

"It would've been hilarious to witness that wedding," Howard said, laughing as he tried to imagine a drunk Andrew.

"There's a video. Steve recorded the entire wedding so he could give the video to my grandfather and get paid for it," Andrew said, recalling Steve's camera.

"We have to watch that video!" Howard exclaimed.

"No. Keep editing," Andrew immediately replied, helping Leonard and Howard with the editing.

By around six in the evening, they had finished editing and uploading the video.

'I have a few minutes before I have to go to the stadium,' Andrew thought as he checked the time.

"Thanks for the help, guys. See you later. The door's open," Andrew said as he got comfortable on his bed. He wanted to take a quick nap.

"It's nothing. Vacation starts tomorrow! We can finally work on the Flappy Bird update!" Howard said excitedly as he waved goodbye and left the room with Leonard.

Howard and Leonard headed for the exit. They didn't run into Mitchell or Cam on the way out, so they called out loudly, "Bye, Mitchell! Bye, Cam!"

"See you at the game!" Cam's voice echoed from the kitchen.

...

Andrew turned off the light in his room and lay back down, wrapping himself in all his blankets. It was a freezing day. As soon as he closed his eyes, he fell asleep quickly.

Time passed slowly, and Andrew continued sleeping, drifting into a deeper and deeper slumber. He had woken up very early that morning to go for a run, and the night before, he had only gotten four hours of sleep—far less than his usual strict eight hours.

"Everything ready?" Mitchell asked, watching as Cam finished setting up the camera to record the big moment: when Andrew's team won the championship, lifted the trophy, and their son received his awards from the California Interscholastic Federation.

"Yeah. Andrew already left, right?" Cam replied.

"Yeah, I assume he went with Leonard and Howard. I checked his room, and it was empty," Mitchell said, recalling the quick glance he had taken inside moments earlier.

What Mitchell didn't know was that Andrew was still there, completely hidden under the blankets and thick comforters. The room was in complete darkness, making it nearly impossible to notice his presence at first glance.

Besides, the idea of his son still being asleep at that hour was so unlikely that it didn't even cross his mind.

Cam nodded and walked over to Lily, lifting her gently. "Time to go, sweetheart. Let's go watch your big brother destroy his rivals, okay?" he said as he placed her in her car seat.

After that, they left the house and headed to the neutral stadium where the final would be played.

The clock read 6:25 PM. It was already completely dark since, during this time of year, the sun set early, before five.

Suddenly, Andrew's bedroom door swung open, letting in a figure that walked toward his bed.

"Andrew..." a voice whispered softly but urgently.

Andrew, deep in sleep, didn't wake up until the third call and only after feeling someone gently shaking him. His eyes snapped open, and he immediately realized he had fallen asleep.

His mind, foggy from sleep and the darkness around him, couldn't recognize the figure.

"Who are you!? What time is it?" Andrew asked urgently, fumbling for the bedside lamp switch on his right.

"Relax, it's me, Pippa," the voice responded in a soft, warm tone.

Pippa reached for the nightstand and turned on the lamp.

The warm light filled the room, revealing Pippa's face. Andrew relaxed instantly upon seeing his beautiful girlfriend in front of him.

"Shit, I fell asleep! What time is it?" Andrew asked, suddenly remembering he had a final to play.

"Calm down, we're still on time. The neutral stadium is about ten minutes away if we go by bike. It's six-thirty," Pippa said with a reassuring smile, helping Andrew relax.

'Phew... I'll make it in time for warm-ups,' Andrew thought, relieved.

Usually, they warmed up for about twenty minutes before the game, so if he left now on his bike, he'd arrive just in time. At most, he might miss five minutes of warm-ups.

"How are you here, and how did you get in?" Andrew asked, surprised that Pippa had saved him from oversleeping. Even his parents had left, most likely assuming he had already gone.

"It's easy to get into the house when the key is under a single rock... As for why I came, I texted and called you, but you didn't answer. I asked Leonard if you were with him, but he told me he had just left your house and saw you about to take a nap. So, I came here," Pippa explained.

"You're truly my lifesaver..." Andrew said, both amazed and grateful.

Pippa shot him an amused look, as if that conclusion should have been obvious.

"What about your parents? They let you come all the way here? Are they going straight to the game?" Andrew asked, curious.

"I was at Cara's house, and I told her I'd go home and then head to the game with my family... but I came straight here instead," Pippa admitted, not too embarrassed, though slightly worried about the lie.

"So, we really need to get to the stadium now because when my parents realize I'm not with Cara and her family, they might think something bad happened," she added, frowning slightly with concern.

"So, you lied to save me? That's unusual for you," Andrew said with a slight smile.

"Yes, Cara's parents wouldn't let me walk here alone. I even had to tell them that my mom came to pick me up and was waiting for me on the next block," Pippa replied.

"Thanks," Andrew said, giving Pippa a soft kiss on her cold lips, since she had walked all the way here.

"Hehe, it's nothing," Pippa chuckled softly as she pulled away from Andrew's lips.

Luckily, Andrew had fallen asleep in his clothes, so they quickly left the house and headed to the garage where Andrew kept his bike.

"This bike doesn't have a back seat..." Pippa said as Andrew took out his 29-inch bike with large wheels.

"You'll need to get on the front tube," Andrew said, pointing to the top tube of the bike frame.

"Do I really have to get on there?" Pippa asked, eyeing the top tube of the bike doubtfully. The spot Andrew indicated didn't seem very comfortable, but she understood there was no other option.

"Yeah, it'll be fine, plus it's not a long ride," Andrew replied with a smile, trying to make her feel more secure. "And trust me, you won't fall. Just need to hold on to me a little, okay?"

"Well, if you say so..." Pippa said, hesitating for a moment.

"But first, the helmet—safety first," Andrew said, carefully placing the helmet on Pippa's head.

"And your safety?" Pippa asked, noticing that Andrew wasn't wearing a helmet.

"I only have one helmet..." Andrew replied as he got on the bike.

"Alright, now get on carefully, I'll help you," Andrew said, stretching out his hand for Pippa to grab, giving her more stability.

Still a bit unsure, Pippa climbed onto the tube with Andrew's help. At first, balancing felt awkward, but she soon felt a bit more stable. "Are you ready?" Andrew asked.

"Yeah, just pedal," Pippa replied, trying to sound confident and not wanting to appear cowardly.

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Andrew nodded and started pedaling. They had barely gone a few meters when Pippa, overcome with insecurity, wrapped her arms around Andrew tightly, instinctively holding on to his torso.

Andrew didn't complain about her holding on so tightly; he kept pedaling, and Pippa, realizing she was safe, calmed down. However, her heart started racing as she realized her face was resting against Andrew's torso.

For the first time, she noticed his muscular chest, realizing how strong he truly was. It was the first time she was so close to his physique, and she couldn't help but be surprised at how well-defined it was. His muscles, though soft to the touch, seemed incredibly firm.

'What are you thinking, Pippa!' she thought, trying to push those thoughts away while feeling her cheeks heat up.

Andrew pedaled at a moderate pace, being very careful. If he had been alone, his speed would have been much faster, almost dangerously so, but with Pippa, he couldn't do that. Her safety was more important than the game, and being a few minutes late to warm-up wasn't a big issue if it meant her safety.

During the ride, Andrew began to tell her about the arrival of his grandmother, DeDe, and provided some context for the incident, since otherwise, Pippa wouldn't understand anything.

Pippa calmed down listening to Andrew's interesting family drama, laughing a lot when she found out that he had gotten drunk and knocked out his grandmother, who had been insulting her ex-husband and his new wife.

'I don't want to get to the stadium...' Pippa thought, as she recovered from the laughter.

"Hey, those bastards betrayed me and got me drunk. I got back at them by making them train three times harder," Andrew said in a more relaxed tone, not getting defensive like he had with Leonard and Howard.

"It's good that you got your revenge," Pippa said with a slight smile. "Did you say that Steve recorded the whole wedding, including you drunk?" she asked.

"Yeah..." Andrew replied after a few seconds, not feeling too good about it.

"Can I see the video? I want to watch it, seeing you in that state... it must be so funny," Pippa asked.

Andrew stopped at a corner and looked down where Pippa's head was, though part of the helmet made it hard to see her. He managed to notice the pleading expression on her face.

"God, Pippa..." Andrew murmured, sighing and smiling slightly. "Alright, I'll let you see it," he agreed easily, unlike when Howard asked and he instantly refused.

"Promised" Pippa said with a mischievous smile.

Finally, they arrived at the neutral stadium, which had a capacity of 5,000 spectators. The place was almost full. One half was packed with the blue and white colors of Palisades School. The other half was full of orange gear with white details, representing Huntington Park High School.

Andrew, who had thought it would be hard to get onto the field since he wasn't with his team and they might stop him thinking he was a random, was surprised to see that a man from his school's sports committee was waiting for him. When the man saw him, a huge smile formed on his face, as if it were the happiest moment of his life.

"Andrew, you finally made it! We were all worried about you! Come on, come on, you need to change and get to the field!" said the man enthusiastically, not giving Andrew a chance to speak and immediately began leading him to the locker rooms.

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