Tiffany looked lost for what to do, unsure whether to scream or cry.
But Bree? She looked relentless. She tried to snatch herself off his grip but it remained firm.
And before you know it, Bree was doing the unthinkable by swiftly letting herself off the schoolbag and grabbing Tiffany who yelped.
They ran. Fast like they rehearsed it.
Very fast.
Their feet was slapping hard against the pavement and Tiffany was panting in disbelief.
Alejandro stood there, Bree's schoolbag hanging loosely in one hand.
And finally, he had completely lost it.
★★★
★★★
Alejandro got into the house with a burst, Bree's schoolbag hanging limply in one hand.
The air shifted instantly.
The other guys looked up at him in curiosity and concern.
Maverick froze mid-scroll on his WorkTab and Rolando paused his game.
They noticed the bag first.
Then the rage.
It seemed like Alejandro had murdered someone and was about to come for them.
He flung the schoolbag off with a harsh flip and it went flying into a wall and down to the ground.
"Yo...." Maverick started cautiously. "What happened?"
Alejandro still stood there, trying to quell the violent anger that got him shaking. His fists clenched.
"Call Ashley." He growled lowly.
The guys glanced at each other confused and looked back at Alejandro who went to sit.
"Where's Bree?" Rolando asked.
His jaw ticked and he was beginning to look like a time bomb.
"She ran."
Four eyebrows instantly rose in surprise.
"Ran.... from you?" Rolando asked cautiously.
Alejandro didn't respond. He just stood there. Trying to breathe.
"Damn. First time a girl really dipped on him, huh?"
And then he lost it again.
"I swear I'll kill her. I'm gonna kill her."
"Take it easy, man. I'm gonna call Ashley right now."
Alejandro was silent again. Eyes beginning to color with rage.
He was burning.
He was cursing.
He was losing control.
And that was enough for them to know that this wasn't just about a crazy new girl anymore.
This was about control.
About what Alejandro would always go through whenever things didn't go his way. When someone finally says 'No'.
★★★
★★★
Bree and Tiffany had run like their lives depended on it. Now they were breathless, seated in an open-air restaurant, laughing off the adrenaline.
Tiffany slurped her ice tea and gave Bree a wide-eyed grin.
"I'm so stupid! I mean, whatever you said, he deserved it. But I wasn't thinking that at first. You really did a great job!"
Bree looked proud of herself and pushed her hair behind her ears, blushing.
"I swear, Tiff. It's scary though. I haven't told you about how he.... maltreated me yesterday after I woke up from my drunken slumber."
Tiffany looked appalled and concerned.
"Oh my God...." The words came out softly. "Why....? How dare him? What did he really.... do or say?"
"He was really annoying me. He was talking about me mingling with you and getting drunk. He was pissed that I hadn't gone to sleep. He was just angry about everything and talked like I was some stupid kid who doesn't have a say on what she can do or not. He told me that.... he hates me."
Bree and Tiffany went silent.
One second. Two second. Three.
And Tiffany began to giggle.
Bree looked confused.
"What?"
"Haha. Alejandro is very crazy. He is a.... fool in the body of a psychopath!"
Tiffany sighed and resumed.
"Bree, that guy might actually like you."
Bree's forehead creased and her heart tipped over.
"What....?"
"One, you didn't ask him if he loved you or hated you but he said that. He is in some kinda denial."
"No...."
"In fact, Bree. Let's not talk about it now. It's far beyond what we can talk about."
Bree looked captivated but she was quick to pull herself out of it and not seem too keen on talking about feelings or no feelings.
She sipped her ice tea and bit into her chicken.
But those words still stuck to her brain.
"It's far beyond what we can talk about."
Wow.
There was an awkward silence.
Tiffany broke it.
"Hey. Don't let Alejandro get in your head too much. That's where his power lies."
Bree nodded.
"Defy him if you must. He's the one who needs to get used to you."
Bree nodded again.
Tiffany suddenly looked hesitant.
"Will you like to be my friend....?" Tiffany was trying to ask, cheeks pinkening, but Bree was replying immediately.
"Of course, yes. We're friends."
"Haha." Tiffany laughed and grabbed her glass. "Cheers to an undying friendship!"
Bree reciprocated.
"Cheers."
They laughed and both glasses came together in a soft clink.
Same time, they took a sip, giggling softly.
"So, let's talk about that guy earlier. He was touching my hair. So you think we know him?" Bree said.
Tiffany sighed and poked her straw at a chunk of ice.
"We sat on his vehicle yesterday. He's the campus' playboy. Football Captain. Alejandro's number one nemesis. His name is Tobe. Full info is that he's a big deal around here."
"Wow."
The girls continued to talk and ramble on.
★★★
★★★
The sky was starting to dim. Streetlights were humming around.
Bree and Tiffany were walking down the city streets, talking.
"I still don't know if he threw my schoolbag there on the ground or if he helped me take it away." Bree murmured, concerned.
"Maybe you should call someone at the house and ask."
Bree grinned at her friend.
"I'm gonna call your crush. Rolando!"
Tiffany gasped.
"No. I was just...."
Bree laughed at her friend who looked nervous.
"Come on, Tiff. Calm down. I'm not gonna embarrass you."
Tiffany smiled and slapped her hands to her face.
"I'm embarrassed already."
They giggled.
Bree's phone buzzed from her pocket.
She snatched it out. Ashley.
"Hello, Ashley.... Sure.... Yes.... In a minute.... Yeah. Haha. Bye."
The call ended. She slid the phone back in place and looked at Tiffany.
"Welp. I think it's time to hurry my ass over and grab my bag and face the psychopath crush."
"Sure! Goodluck. Remember, no fears. And I had a great day."
"Sure, and no, I should be more thankful. God bless you for all the love."
"Haha. Don't mention it."
★★★
★★★
Bree hurried up the porch, her heart already racing faster than she could. She found her way into the sitting room.
Maverick and Rolando were hunched over the game console, fingers flying, caught in a heated football match and Ashley was waiting for her by the far wall.
"Hey, girl." Ashley said, smiling and hurrying over. "How was the whole school thing?"
"Great. Uhm.... Where's he? And my schoolbag?"
He walked of the kitchen, silent.
Bree held her breath in apprehension.