"So.... So you talk to him? Does he talk to you? Haha. Does he even talk?"
Bree laughed for a short moment but suddenly, it disappeared.
It had to. Not after what he had done to her.
"He talks.... Just that he tells me what to do and what not to."
Tiffany stared at her blankly and said.
"I don't understand."
"Well, he's just.... bossy. Can you believe he asked me to come down here and meet him upstairs? I went up there and smashed the door for hours and he didn't even show up. No calls. No nothing."
"Oh my...." Tiffany gasped, her forehead was creased now. "That's so annoying. He actually just flopped your esteem."
"He didn't even want me to come in the first place. He was like — I'm going to take you outta town."
"Meaning he's putting his comfort first, used false expectations to divert you from seeing he's acting crazy. Then, he changed his map and asked you to come over and then he dumped you at the door."
Bree nodded, trying hard to hide the sad look behind her eyes but it wasn't easy.
She could only shrug, feeling empty. What could she even say?
"Bree, he's hot but we have to agree that he's a troublemaker too!" Tiffany said like she was going to war.
Bree was looking at her, interestedly now.
"We must keep the fear down. Bree, do not let the crush you have on him let him win. Never!"
Bree nodded fervently.
"You don't have to control your emotions and subconsciously give him reasons for doing wrong. Or else, he'd just treat you like a puppet. He should respect you back."
"Yes."
"That will let him break you apart."
It clicked.
Yes, Ashley had said something like this yesterday. Bree swallowed as she remembered.
Tiffany continued to speak.
"We must allow ourselves to be angry whenever our crushes break our hearts."
Bree nodded.
"So, do you know what to do when you see him....?"
Bree's phone interrupted.
"Sorry...." She muttered and pulled her phone out from her pocket and when she looked into the dialer, her heart jumped and she slapped a hand to her mouth and Tiffany's eyes flashed alive, alarmed.
"What's that?"
"It's my mom!"
"Oh, I live with my grandpa. Pick up." Tiffany cajoled casually.
"No! I'm at a party!"
"Oh my! I understand...." Tiffany was talking fast now. "We have to squat low between the vehicles to filter people's voices out."
She acted it and beckoned for Bree to follow suit.
They squatted.
You'll have to say you're outside and you want to get something."
Bree began to stammer, unsure.
"Or would you rather not pick at all?"
"No, she'd panic and call Alejandro or...."
Her phone was ringing again. Her heart was racing.
She picked.
"Hello, Mom."
"Hey, sweetheart. I don't know why I'm calling you right now but.... Well, are you okay?"
"Of course, mom. You?"
"I'm sleepy. It's kinda noisy down there. What's going on?"
"Actually, I'm outside with Alejandro and he went into to help me get ice cream."
"Oh...." Sara whined , passionately. "I told you Alejandro was the best person ever in the world."
Bree blinked and licked her lips frantically. She sent an agitated and unsure glance at her new friend but the girl nodded, encouragingly.
"Yes, mom."
"Okay, get back to the house fast and have a good night. Sweet dreams."
"You, too."
"Enjoy yourself, sweetheart."
"I will."
The call ended and Bree finally let out a long sigh.
Tiffany clapped, excited.
"Yay. You did it!"
She pulled her into a hug that nearly knocked the air out of her.
Tiffany resumed drinking from her cup and they were still squatting.
Until...
"Damn, Karliana's still in Alejandro's room," A mutter came too close by. "It's been hours. The door's even open now—bold move."
Instantly, Bree and Tiffany's head turned to look at each other in shock.
Then they were looking at who had just spoken.
Some girls.
Drunk and walking for their vehicle and laughing.
"I can't believe they been at it since when...."
"I wish he was fucking me instead." One girl whined and went into a full-on scene of sobbing.
Bree was silent and her new friend glanced at her.
For a moment, there was more silence.
And then, Tiffany spoke.
"Hey, Bree. Don't...."
"I'm fine."
Another string of silent broodingly commenced.
Tiffany soon broke it.
"Those are Karliana's friends. She's Alejandro's girlfriend." She shrugged and continued. "Don't be pissed. Will you drink?"
"Yes.... I'll drink."
Tiffany nodded.
"Okay, then. Let me go grab a bottle. I'm going to introduce one to you."
Bree reached out for Tiffany's cup of alcohol and downed it.
"Alejandro's a bastard!" She spat, bitterly and her eyes went watery. She quickly blinked it off.
Tiffany wasn't sure but she swallowed and hurried off.
Bree sat right there and buried her face in between her laps.
"Ah, this is a taste of Alejandro's venom, Bree."
And it hurted so much. Too much.
"Alejandro was in that room. Having sex with some bitch and didn't mind you knocking at all. He didn't even...."
"You can't be so sure that the girls are right?"
"They're friends with his girlfriend. Alejandro has a girlfriend!"
Bree couldn't tell if that was the reality she needed to know of it was just too painful that she needed to deny it instead.
She knew she wasn't meant to cry but it was hard.
"Foolish girl, why are you crying over a guy who is just controlling? You just met him. He's just your roommate's brother!"
But yet, it wasn't true. That was what her heart emphasized on.
She liked Alejandro and she wasn't deserving of this. In fact, why had those girls not just their drunken mouth and went home.
Bitches! All of them!" Bree cursed inwardly.
"Bree!"
Tiffany was back with a bottle and an extra red cup.
"Let's do a little party. We can sit up the car again though. Come on."
She then held out a hand and pulled.
"Hey, let's have our own fun." Bree said and hopped to sit on the hood of the vehicle again.
Kindly, she helped Tiffany hold the bottle and cups and watched as the girl hoisted herself onto the hood beside her.
"Yeah." Tiffany said and Bree looked down at the alcohol.
"What's the name?"
"It's sweet and it's like red wine."
"Yeah. But, like.... Do you know the name?"
"Uh— Let me check it."
Tiffany leaned closer and squinted at the name then mentioned it.
"You're gonna love it!"
"Great. Help me hold the cup."
Tiffany did.
"Am I gonna great drunk?"
"Uh.... A bit. Have you ever been drunk?"
"Haha. A lot."
Tiffany laughed, amused. Brielle continued to fill Tiffany's outheld red cup.
"That's enough. For now."
"Ok."
"I'll help you fill yours."
"Great."
They went to work and soon, the two girls were drinking.
"Wow. It's different. Like wine. But it's hot."
"Yeah."
"So, you're in your second year, right?"
"Yes. Second year."
"What do you think of my friends?"
"They're not social and everybody knows them from last year."
"Wow.... And what about the Karliana?"
"Well, she's a stripper."
"Oh my God." Bree exclaimed.
"That's what everyone says."
"That means Alejandro is sleeping with her."
"Yes."
Bree drained her cup.
"Give me more." She muttered.