
".... the deadliest conflict in human history. Finally, the Germans surrendered on May 1945...." Maverick was explaining with Bree at the sitting room of her apartment.
Bree was sitted on the floor and she was immersed in attention. Her palms were on her chin and her elbows rested firmly on the table. Her eyes had sobered as she felt the emotions racking from the whole conflicts in the story.
".... Adolf Hitler killed himself. In same year, the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This was in August. Germany was divided and Japan had to rebuild. Trials happened. And then.... there were myths everywhere."
"Wow. Tell me." Bree urged.
"The babies of Hiroshima...."
"Bree." It was a mention that got Bree whipping her head to look behind her. She turned fully and her heart skipped.
It was Alejandro.
She was confused and didn't know what to say.
"H-Huh?"
"You can't go to the party. I'll take you out of town."
Bree's forehead quirked and she glanced at Maverick.
"Uhm...." Bree swallowed. ".... Why?"
"You're not coming. It's an alcohol party."
Bree was speechless. She didn't know what to think even and she watched Alejandro go back outside.
She then turned back to look at Maverick. Maybe he would have an answer but he could only shrug and Ashley came out of the kitchen.
"We can come in and eat."
"Alejandro burst in here just now and left."
"Yeah. He told me he was going out to get something."
"What's he meaning by not inviting Bree to the party?"
Ashley looked confused.
"I don't understand."
"He said he was going to take her out of town and.... so, she shouldn't go to the party."
"Why would he say that? That's crap. He should at least be polite with something like that."
Maverick shrugged again.
★★★
★★★
".... the deadliest conflict in human history. Finally, the Germans surrendered on May 1945...." Maverick was explaining with Bree at the sitting room of her apartment.
Bree was seated on the floor and she was completely absorbed. Her palms cupped her chin and her elbows rested firmly on the table. Her eyes had sobered as she felt the emotions racking her heart from the whole conflicts in the story.
".... Adolf Hitler killed himself. That same year, the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This was in August. Germany was divided and Japan had to rebuild. Trials happened. And then.... there were myths everywhere."
"Wow. Tell me." Bree urged.
"The babies of Hiroshima...."
"Bree."
It was a mention that got Bree whipping her head to look behind her. She turned fully and her heart skipped.
It was Alejandro.
She froze, confused and didn't know what to say.
"H-Huh?"
"You can't go to the party. I'll take you out of town."
Bree's forehead quirked and she glanced at Maverick, startled. Same was for Maverick too.
"Uhm...." Bree swallowed. ".... Why?" "You're not coming. It's an alcohol party."
Bree was speechless. Alejandro's tone was firm. Too firm and it made Bree feel like his decision wasn't meant to be questioned and was very important and had to be obeyed.
She didn't know what to think or even feel and she watched Alejandro go back outside without saying anything more. She then turned back to look at Maverick. Maybe he would have an explanation but he could only shrug as Ashley came out of the kitchen.
"We can come in and eat."
"Alejandro burst in here just now and left." Maverick said.
"Yeah." Ashley replied, smiling at him.
"He told me he was going out to get something."
"What's he meaning by not inviting Bree to the party?"
Ashley looked confused.
"I don't understand."
"He said he was going to take her out of town and.... so, she shouldn't go to the party."
"Why would he say that? That's makes no sense. He should at least be polite with something like that."
Maverick shrugged again.
"Bree, don't mind him. We'll go to the party together. He can't do nothing."
★★★
★★★
It was Friday evening and tomorrow was going to be the party. Bree was buried in dread.
The sun had dipped below the horizon.
Bree stood beside her bed in her apartment room, holding the party's booklet again. Reading.
"Students' get-together."
Bree's face was flushed and clearly, she looked lost and inquisitive. Alejandro didn't want her at the party because there was going to be alcohol and then the school had made it official.
Everyone was excited to attend.
Everyone but.... her. Because Alejandro wasn't going to let her.
She really wanted to talk to Ashley. Her dependable and sweet roommate. This was killing her with curiosity. But what was she going to say?
Her phone blinged and lit up on the bed.
Yet, she couldn't will her brain to make a move. She looked from the booklet to her phone and back and finally managed to grab it.
It was Alejandro.
A clear and cold message.
"You come to the party and meet me upstairs."
What?
Okay, he wanted her there now but still, it was another dimension. Why the sudden change of plans? Why was he telling her all this?
Her lips parted.
No greeting, yes. That was just how he was. But still, he obviously owed her an explanation and not one authoritative command.
First: don't come.
Now: come — upstairs.
What the hell was he switching and commanding for?
★★★
★★★
The sky outside had melted into a hazy, orange-pink, casting a warm glow across room.
Bree and Ashley sat watching a movie and Bree kept glancing at her with a great need to spill.
Bree sat cross-legged on the sofa, holding the party booklet in one hand and her phone in the other. Her lips were slightly parted. Her brain? Jammed with questions and so much uncertainty.
Soon, she gave it a try and called her companion.
"Ashley."
Ashley looked at her, smilingly.
"Yeah?"
"I wanna tell you something."
Ashley turned the TV off.
"Hey, Bree. I'm all ears. What do you want to share with me?"
Bree took a breath and cleared her throat.
"It's Alejandro."
Silence.
"Yeah." Ashley supported softly. "Remember he said he'll take me to town?" "Yes. I remember."
"Well, he.... He changed his mind. He, uh, said I should come but I should go upstairs." There was some silence and Ashley said.
"Go upstairs? Just like that?"
Ashley's brows pulled together.
"Yes. Just a text."
Ashley blinked once. Twice. Then leaned back and scoffed.
"Girl.... Who made him your life handler? That's manipulative as hell."
Bree opened her mouth but she knew she would defend him so she shut it back.
Ashley pressed on, her voice blunt but not unkind.
"So, he first bans you like you're a toddler. Then, last minute, he flips it and drops some vague royal summons like 'Obey me right now'. What does he think he is?"
Bree laughed but the pit in her chest wouldn't leave her alone.
"It's just...." She began. "He sounds so serious. Urgent.... And you know how he is — always moody and intense."
"Yes, Alejandro is a drama queen. And you're a person. A lady who can choose for herself."
"I-I don't wanna piss him off."
"Bree...." Ashley said, looking serious now. "I'm going to say this with all the love I've got. That guy has issues. And I get it —he's hot, mysterious, intense...."
Bree blushed, guiltily.
".... but he could pull you in and push you out at the same time. And if you let him, he'll keep doing it until you don't even know yourself anymore. You'd be exhausted."
Bree was thinking of what Ashley had just said but somehow, she didn't fully understand it.
Still, she wouldn't let it go. It had to have a meaning one way or the other.
Bree swallowed.
"This whole dictatorship thing he's bringing on. He shouldn't act like you owe him obedience. No guy should be policing you. He can explain to you instead of give some silly commands."
Bree was nodding and biting her lip now. It was all spilling into her head and she was realizing the whole thing now. How had this things not crossed her mind.
She had been so blind by who Alejandro was. Strange.
Ashley was still speaking.
"Alejandro is my brother. I love him. But he's playing power games here. And worse, with you. Today, it's 'don't come to Arizona' . And tomorrow, it could be 'don't look at that sky'. Do you want to leave like that?"
Bree shook her head fervently.
"No. Not me."
"If you wanna go to the party, go. If you don't, tell me. But don't let his chaos be the compass for your life."
Bree looked down at her hands and slowly a smile began to creep into her eyes. "Jesus. I'm so stupid."
Ashley giggled and patted her cheek. "You're not. Alejandro just wants to control. Control looks like care until you start losing yourself."
There was a long pause. Bree finally whispered.
"Maybe I'll just go. For me."
Excited, Ashley clapped, grinning.
"That's my girl. Just don't go looking for him. If he wants to talk, he can climb up the stairs. See him past all that cold and intense guy. What do you think?"
Bree smiled and then she gave another fervent nod.
"Thank you, Ashley. God bless you! For real!"
"Yeah.... Sure."