As soon as they got outside the girl's apartment, Jessica was standing in front of their own apartment. Dylan saw her first and rolled his eyes, she did the same. They both knew they hated each other. He then opened the door with the key and not the password because he didn't want her to see it. When Mason saw her, he frowned and asked her what she was doing there.
She signed deeply and calmly asked, "Can we talk?"
Mason run his hand through his hair and said, "Jessica, I don't think there's anything to talk about. We already had a conversation earlier. What else is there?"
Dylan just walked into the apartment, he knew this would happen, he just didn't know how soon it'll be.
As soon as Dylan shut the door, Jessica said, "There's a lot to talk about, but first, I'm still in love with you Massie"
Ugh! this nickname? he thought. She was still calling him the nickname he hated.
"Still being in love with me is entirely up to you, I don't feel that way about you—I am trying to get over our failed relationship. Also, stop with the Massie thing, I hate that nickname."
"No! I can't stop loving you, and I cannot you don't have to get over us. Our relationship was not perfect but I would not call it failed. No relationship is perfect but as long as both parties are willing to make it work—"
"I'm gonna stop you there, Jessica, I will assume it's the alcohol that's making you this desperate because I don't know you to be this desperate. I can only—"
"I will admit to being a bit desperate. Look, I didn't know how much I couldn't stand us being broken up till I saw you holding Avery Musk. I couldn't stop thinking about how we used to be. I should be the one in your arms, not her. Mason, we were good—no, we are good together, let's go back to the way things were. Listen, I don't mind making adjustments."
While Jessica pleaded, Mason could not stop thinking about Avery. Hmm, so her name is Avery Musk. Well, Avery Musk is the only thing I heard and the only thing I will be thinking about all night, he thought.
Her scent was on his mind. Memories of her blue eyes distracted him. He thought about her voice, it was not pitchy or snotty as most girls these spoke, it was a perfect feminine range; soft, clear, calm and soothing. He'd do anything to hear that voice everyday. The way her lips moved when she spoke was fresh on his mind. He thought it was fascinating the way her eyes aligned in truth with what she said when she complimented him, he could feel some sparks and fluttery feeling in his stomach but he also felt like he could trust anything she said, even though they just met. He had never felt that way around any other girl and that's what excited him about Avery.
"Mason!" Jessica called out, jolting him out of his imagination.
"What?"
"You were not listening to anything I said, were you?"
"I think we both know the answer to that. Jessica, I really no longer want you. I'm done for real. This thing you're doing right now, this desperation, is just pathetic to be honest and I'm getting repulsed. I don't mind being friends with you but maybe whenever you come to terms with things."
She laughed dryly and said, "It's because of Avery, isn't it? Do you like her? Is she the reason we're not even going to try to work on us?" Then she paused and calmly said, "You're extending an arm of friendship to me, Mason, we have kissed and done far more things that friends don't do, what the fuck?!"
"That's all I can do for you, Jessica"
"So, you don't wanna work on us then"
"Us?" He laughed and roughened his hair with hands. "No, I'm done with this." He continued, pointing at both of them.
"Oh my God! You like her! You like Avery! Have you met her before? Did you two know each other before tonight?" She asked in disbelief. She suspected that he did because of the way he held Avery today and she also knew he liked her because he was avoiding her question.
"Goodnight Jessica, and hope this will be the last time I'll repeat this." With that he walked off into his apartment. He just turned off the lights in the living room and walked into his room.
Avery Musk. Musk. Why did that name sound so familiar? He thought. There were not many Musk's in the country but if he had to guess, with her features; hair, face, eyes, body, she bore some semblance to the Musk's that were arc enemies of his family—well his parents because he didn't have any bad blood with them and the Musk's were a forbidden name in their household because of the age-long beef between his dad and Dawne Musk. He decided that he might check her out when his head was not feeling as light as it felt. He was tired and needed to sleep but he couldn't sleep, not while he was still wearing the shirt that had her perfume all over.
He had gotten to his room and was about to sleep when Dylan knocked on his door, he looked over at it and said, "come in but leave the lights out"
"Hey Man" Dylan said as soon as he got in.
"Hey"
"How are you feeling now?"
"Still a bit light headed but it's clearing out."
Dylan wanted to ask him if he liked Avery because he liked her and had a crush on her himself, and to clear things out because he saw the way Mason and Avery stared at each other. He just wanted to clear things out but after a slight consideration, he didn't ask. Instead he said, "Yeah, one of the girls I hung with told me they served really strong stuff. I think I heard someone say they added something extra too to make people more wasted."
"Well, it sorta turned out well, I just fear the kind of hangover people will have tomorrow." He was thinking and talking about Avery.
"Yeah. And Jessica?"
"Told her off."
Dylan chuckled and said, "Interesting. She seemed a bit unusual, don't you reckon? I mean, the Jessica we know will not be at our door after you told her you were done at the restaurant."
"Yeah, that seemed odd" Mason replied, he didn't want to tell Dylan it was because of Avery because he was not ready for another person wondering if he was in love with her, and asking too much questions. He knew he liked her but he didn't know more than that.
"Well, we will see it unfold, won't we?"
Mason chuckled and said, "Whatever"
"I'm beat, goodnight" Dylan replied and proceeded out of Mason's room.
"Goodnight bud." Mason called back
***
The next morning, the boys decided to use the gym in the building. It was dimly lit and all the equipments were new. They didn't think anyone had been up there yet. They started off with a little warm-up and then moved to other exercises. Mason used the treadmill while Dylan tried to use the Lat pulldown machine.
They exercised for almost 45minutes and only took three breaks. About some minutes later, two girls walked in. They smiled at the boys who just nodded at them . When they finished, they decided to hang out for some time. Dylan checked the business morning news and then one of the girls came over and asked them if they will be willing to spot them as they lift the weights tools.
"Sure." Mason responded and tapped Dylan.
They helped the girls and from briefly talking to them, they were told that there's a buffet room and they served amazing meals for all the occupants of the building.
"I didn't know that, but there's also a lot don't know about this building." Mason said
"I did." Dylan replied "Brad briefed me on that when went to give the receptionist our email addresses. I was going to tell you as we are leaving the gym." He turned to one of the girls and asked, "Have you had a chance to eat there?"
"Yeah, they have varieties. You just pick what you want—like a hotel buffet." She replied
"Interesting." Robert said. "So do you girls attend Brasswell or what?" He continued.
"Yeah, we are international students." 'One of the girls said.
"Yeah, we could tell but your accents, looks and all" Mason replied. Dylan nodded in agreement.
The boys got to find out their names were Maya and Naya, and that they were both majored in marine biology. When they were done with working out, they all went to the dinning room but they sat on different tables.
After breakfast, Mason told Dylan that he had to see a professor at school today and that they might have some classes too so he had to register some courses early before it gets filled up.. They decided to go together and when they turned to the girls—to bid them farewell, they were much more interested in whatever was on their phones than the people in the room, so they left the dining room without saying anything to them.
As soon as the elevator door opened to their floor, they saw some men in black suits and Giona. The men looked like bodyguards—with very stern expressions and they were all over the place. They looked at themselves and knew they were both thinking the same thoughts so they proceeded to ask Giona what was going on.
"Giona? What the hell is going on here?" Dylan asked
"I was told that there has been someone trying to stalk one of the girls in the apartment opposite yours—"
"Stalk? Is any of them hurt? Are they okay?" Mason asked worried for their safety, but mostly Avery's safety.
Giona shrugged and said, "That's what we are trying to find out."
"You boys live opposite the girls, have you seen or noticed anyone being sneaky?" The leader of the bodyguards asked the boys.
"No." Dylan replied.
"Are you sure?" Another bodyguard asked.
"Why would anyone stalk them?" Dylan continued raising a brow.
"Gee, I don't know, maybe because of her parent's high status and hers?" The first bodyguard replied sarcastically.
"Who are her parents?" Dylan asked
"Billionaires Dawne and Aurora Musk" Giona replied.
Mason's eyes widened. He was right. Avery was the daughter of his parent's enemy—well, his dad's rival.
"Well, that sucks but do y'all think the stalker will still be in here? This building seems too security tight for any stalker to in here in such a short time. I mean, I thought they just moved in here?"
"Well, we have been directed to ask questions." The head bodyguard said.
"And this is how you want to ask the questions? Making everyone come out of their place while you bombard them like this?" Dylan asked.
"Do you want to teach us our job?" The head bodyguard asked.
"Maybe you need a tutor and I don't mind—"
"I think what he meant to say was, it's impossible to get into the building to stalk the girls." Giona interrupted trying get get the situation under control before it escalates because she knew how Dawne and Aurora don't play about their children, and would go extra miles to ensure their safety. She knew Dylan was right but she didn't want them to focus on Dylan since emotions were high.
"No, he's asking how y'all found out a stalker was after them." Mason asked.
Since Mason seemed more calm, the bodyguard faced him and tried explaining, "The girl's father was notified from the news going around. They found out from the a video the girls made talking about it. So now we're asking all the occupants of the building if they know or have noticed anything odd."
"Has the cops been notified yet? I mean, if there's a stalker and the girls know, wouldn't talking to the cops before going on social media have been better?" Dylan asked.
"We are trained just like cops too, smart pants! Ever heard of specially trained bodyguards?" The head bodyguard said, scoffing at Dylan.
"I just mean, they should've filed a report way before now—"
"They just got here yesterday, just like you boys. Now, Dylan, let the men do their jobs in peace, okay? We are really doing this, get on with it, please." Giona interrupted
"Are they okay though—the girls." Mason asked.
"Yeah, where are they?" Dylan asked too.
"In their apartment." Giona responded.
The looked around and almost everyone was talking about the stalker and how weird it was. Everyone seem to be giving a statement about where and when they saw the girls, most people did not know the girls moved in, but they sympathized with their situation. Jessica and Sheryl told the bodyguards that the girls went to a party and they seemed okay at the time.
"They partied with the other kids and it was an exclusive party." Jessica started.
"Yeah, they got invited and even at the party, they seemed fine." Sheryl added.
"The boys living opposite their apartment came for the same party and even though one of the girls, Avery, was heavily drunk and barely able to walk, she looked okay." Jessica continued.
"Heavily drunk? Barely able to walk? What did she drink? Do you know if the drinks were laced?" The bodyguard asked.
"We don't know. But whatever she drank got her very drunk and I think she drank past her limit." Jessica replied.
"Or, her drink must've been spiked at the party. Can I get the name of the host of the party? I need intel on all the kids that attended the party." The bodyguard said as he wrote on his notepad.
"Of course, he is a friend of the boys." Jessica said.
"The same boys living opposite the girls?"
"Yeah" Sheryl responded.
"Interesting. Go on please." He said to Jessica.
"So the boys brought them home and stayed with them for a while, I think. Oh, I forgot to add, Avery held on to one of the boys—practically hugging him all night and she couldn't let go. They even came home together, and when I say she was literally latching on to him, I'm not joking. So, I think, if there's a stalker or anything of that nature, they might have told them."
"Okay, thank you for your statement. We will come back to you if we still need more information on this."
"Sure. I'll do my best to cooperate."
The statement made the bodyguards shift their attention back to the boys and they returned to interrogate them further. Giona tried to pacify the situation by asking the bodyguards to concentrate on protecting the girls instead of trying to interrogate the boys without a lawyer, but it fell on deaf ears.
"In your statement, you didn't include that you partied with the girls yesterday." The bodyguard asked Mason and Dylan.
"Oh, for fucks sake! We didn't party with them." Dylan said frustrated at the questioning.
"Sir, I would like you to watch your language. The bodyguard said to Dylan.
"Why? Do you have a problem with me saying fuck? Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuckitty fucking fuck! Does that bother you now?" Dylan was trying to infuriate the bodyguard.
Mason nudged him and said, "Dylan, stop. They're just trying to do their job. It's a matter of safety." Turning to the bodyguard, he calmly said, "Listen, we were at the party but we didn't party with them."
"So, how come you rode home with one of the girls latching on to you." The bodyguard continued.
"Latching?" Dylan asked.
"Look, she was just drunk and scared." Mason told the bodyguard.
"Drunk and scared. Interesting. I thought you didn't party with them. What exactly did she drink?" He asked writing down on his small notepad.
"It was a glass of shot at first, I don't know what was in the drink but the next two glasses of drinks she had were cocktails."
"What was in the shot?"
"I don't know. I just asked the bartender to fix me something strong and she asked for whatever I was drinking."
"The bartender. Is he a familiar face? Like a friend of yours or something. Also, did you get drunk on this mysterious drink too?"
"I don't know the bartender. About me getting drunk, I mean, I was lightheaded but I knew what was going on around me."
"Interesting. Did she?" He wrote down on his notepad.
"I'm not sure, I told you, she had two more glasses of drinks."
"You're not sure. Whose party was it?"
"Someone I know."
"I heard he's a friend of yours. How come you're identifying him as someone you know."
"You could say we're friends, I know him, I mean, I used to tutor him." Mason explained.
"Okay. We would need more information on this kid."
"He's a student, just like us and no, he's not your stalker. He's just a freaking kid. He would never hurt anyone." Dylan replied.
"You sound like you know him so well. I need to continue with this investigation and I need your cooperation." The bodyguard told Dylan.
"We have told you everything we know, now move, we've got things to do. If you have more questions, ask the school for information on the kid. Or ask the girls more questions." Dylan replied with finality.
Mason tapped Dylan and told him to relax, then turning to the bodyguards, he said, "We would cooperate and help in whatever way that we can but our lawyers would be involved. We don't know how dangerous this might play out. Stalkers are dangerous and we need to protect ourselves too."
They were excused and as they walked to their apartment, Jessica and Sheryl looked at them. Mason knew they were the ones that brought the suspicion on them and he was upset but he ignored both girls and just walked past them. He looked over at Dylan and saw him giving them the death stare. Jessica smirked at them, it was her payback, but Sheryl looked away.
When they got to their apartment, there were two bodyguards in front of the girls apartment and Mason wondered if Avery was really safe. He would've gone into the apartment but with the security in front of their door, that was not a wise decision so they just walked into their own apartment.