The mont Lyse stepped through the door of Jas’s apartnt, she was t with a whirlwind of anxious energy. Jas, his usually relaxed deanor replaced by a frantic pacing, rushed towards her, his eyes wide with concern. He enveloped her in a tight hug, his relief palpable.
"Lyse! Thank God you are back!" he exclaid, his voice laced with worry. "Where did you go? You scared half to death!"
Lyse sighed, her own anxieties montarily overshadowed by Jas’s concern. "I am sorry, Jas," she said, her voice soft. "I didn’t an to worry you."
Jas pulled back slightly, his eyes searching hers. "Where did you go? You left in the middle of the night, without even a note. I was worried sick!"
"I had to go get Levi," Lyse explained, her voice laced with exasperation. "He was... he was drunk, can you believe it?"
Jas’s mouth opened wide. "Levi? Is he okay?" He asked sympathetically.
Lyse rolled her eyes. "I don’t know, Jas," she said, her voice filled with weariness. "He called , or rather, the bar called , and I couldn’t just leave him there."
"You shouldn’t have gone without ," Jas said, his voice firm. "How did you handle a drunk Levi?"
"I had Joel’s help," Lyse conceded. "I wished i could leave him there, but I couldn’t just... ignore him."
"Did you co back with Joel?" Jas asked excitedly and Lyse shook her head.
"You need to give it up, I think he is straight." Lyse said:
Jas made a face, "I can’t believe Levi let you leave." He said.
Lyse sighed, her expression shifting from weariness to annoyance. "He tried it, this morning, he started going on about Brandon."
Jas raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Brandon? What about him?"
"He is insinuating that Brandon is dangerous," Lyse said, her voice laced with exasperation. "That he is trying to take advantage of ."
Jas’s eyes widened slightly. "Well, he has a point," he said, his voice thoughtful. "Brandon did kind of... do everything he did to you, and now he has conveniently moved into this building."
Lyse huffed, her frustration growing. "Jas, I’m not trying to be best friends with Brandon," she said, her voice firm. "But I’m not going to bla him for a cri he hasn’t committed yet. Levi is making it sound like Brandon is so kind of criminal mastermind."
"I’m not saying he is," Jas said, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "But you have to admit, it’s a little suspicious."
"Suspicious, yes," Lyse conceded. "But not enough to warrant Levi’s paranoia. He’s just... he’s being ridiculous."
She paused, her expression softening slightly. "I know he’s worried about ," she said. "But he needs to trust . I can take care of myself."
"I know you can," Jas said, his voice reassuring. "But Levi... he’s just being Levi. He’s always been overprotective."
Lyse sighed, her frustration returning. "He needs to let go," she said. "He needs to realize that I’m not his responsibility at this point."
Before Jas could respond, Lyse’s phone rang, the shrill tone cutting through the quiet apartnt. She glanced at the screen, her brow furrowing slightly. It was an unknown number.
"Who is it?" Jas asked.
"I don’t know." Lyse shrugged before answering the call.
***
Brooke’s heels clicked sharply against the polished floor of the apartnt building, her steps purposeful and determined. She had spent the last few hours ticulously preparing, her makeup flawless, her dress a vision of shimring elegance. Tonight, she was going to secure her date for her upcoming birthday party, and she was certain that Brandon wouldn’t be able to resist her charms.
She knocked on the door of his apartnt, her heart pounding with anticipation. The door swung open, revealing Brandon, his expression a mixture of surprise and slight annoyance. He was dressed casually, a stark contrast to her elaborate attire.
"Brooke?" he asked, his voice unfriendly. "What are you doing here?" He did not bother asking how she knew he lived there, Brooke could be a mini detective.
Brooke smiled, her most dazzling, captivating smile. "I ca to ask you a favor, Brandon," she said, her voice soft and alluring. "I’m having a birthday party, and I was hoping you’d be my date."
Brandon smile and folded his arms. "I am not sure that I will be free."
Brooke’s smile vanished, replaced by a look of disbelief. "Not free?" she echoed, her voice laced with incredulity. "You haven’t even asked when the party is, Brandon. It’s going to be the biggest event of the year."
"I am sure it will be, Brooke," Brandon said, his voice laced with a hint of impatience. "But I have a lot going on right now. I’m not sure I’ll have ti for a party."
Brooke’s frustration began to simr. She couldn’t believe he was turning her down. She had gone to so much trouble, she had put so much effort into her appearance. And he was just dismissing her, as if she were nothing.
"If Lyse had asked you, I bet you’d be there in a heartbeat," she accused, her voice laced with bitterness.
Brandon’s eyes narrowed. "Don’t bring Lyse into this, Brooke," he said, his voice hardening. "This has nothing to do with her."
"Oh, please," Brooke scoffed. "You are still obsessed with her, aren’t you? You’d do anything for her."
Brandon’s jaw tightened. "That’s none of your business, Brooke," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
"It is when you’re turning down for my birthday party," Brooke retorted, her voice rising in pitch. "You’re just going to run to Lyse if she asks, aren’t you?"
Brandon’s patience snapped. "Yes, Brooke," he said, his voice sharp and cold. "I would go if Lyse asked . Because she’s a much better person than you can ever hope to be."
Brooke’s face flushed crimson. She couldn’t believe he had said that. She couldn’t believe he had compared her to Lyse, and found her wanting.
"How dare you!" she scread, her voice filled with rage. "How dare you compare to that... that loser!"
"She’s not a loser, Brooke," Brandon said, his voice laced with disgust. "She is a talented, intelligent, and beautiful woman. Sothing you know nothing about."
Brooke’s anger reached its peak. She couldn’t control herself any longer. "I’m going to deal with her," she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "I’m going to make her pay for what she’s done to ."
Brandon’s eyes flashed with anger. He stepped closer to Brooke, his expression nacing. "You’re not going to do anything to Lyse, Brooke," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "If you so much as lay a finger on her, you’ll have to deal with."
Brooke scoffed. "You think I’m afraid of you?" she sneered. "You think you can stop ?"
"I know I can," Brandon said, his voice firm. "And I will. Lyse is under my protection, and I won’t let you hurt her."
He took a step towards Brooke, his eyes filled with a cold, unwavering determination. Brooke’s bravado faltered. She could see the anger in his eyes, the resolve in his stance. She knew he ant what he said.
"Get out of my apartnt, Brooke," Brandon said, his voice laced with steel. "And don’t co back."
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