DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN WINX CLUB.
To the reviewers for Chapter 2: Thank you soooooooooo much!
~ Stella's Home - 12:15 AM ~
Stella gloomily sat in the living room trying to process everything that's happened in the past twenty four hours. The whole Jason thing rattled her to no end. She probably would've been fine if he had simply broken up with her instead. She would've been a little upset, but at least then she can consider him as a good friend. But now? She sighed.
"Where's the iron stand?" A voice spoke startling her. She jumped slightly when she saw none other than Brandon standing in front of her.
"I'm sorry but say what?" she asked, feeling a little tired.
"I need to iron my clothes, if you don't mind," he crossed his arms and stared at her pointedly. She sighed again for the umpteenth time before standing up.
"One would think that this is your house instead of mine," she muttered sourly, shooting him a small glare. "There's one in your room," she mumbled. She walked down the hallway with him following her a few paces behind. She entered his room expecting a pigsty because, well, boys are just not known forcleanliness. But she was half surprised when the room looked so different. So organized. His bags (which arrived a while ago through some transport that she couldn't care less about) were unpacked and later shoved into a corner. The desk was filled with huge books (not hers) neatly stacked to one side along with stationary. Wait. Why...were there so many bags?
"Um how long will you be staying here?" she turned around asking him. He looked down on her and shrugged, "A month." He crossed his arms and his lips upturned into a smirk again. "But since I have to live with you, I'll try my best to get out of here as soon as I can."
Her eyes widened. He was insulting her back to back. She suppressed a growl.
"He's a good lad who has a good head on his shoulders." Stella scoffed. This 'good lad' clearly had no respect for women. She counted from one to ten backwards to control her anger. Storming over to a cabinet, she took out the iron box and shoved it into his chest.
"There you go," she snapped. Brandon chuckled at her reddened face. He watched with a playful smile as he stared at her retreating figure. She was definitely interesting and maybe this visit wouldn't be as horrible as he had initially thought.
Stella, on the other hand, fumed as she stomped to her bedroom. She jumped onto her bed and screamed into her pillow. "Jerk. Ass. Idiot-"
Just then, a loud blaring music could be heard from the other room leaving Stella speechless. What was wrong with today?! Oh I don't know! Everything! This guy she's known (barely) for one hour comes acting like he owns this place. Who was he anyway? She stood up and stormed to his room. Again.
"BRANDON!" she yelled. She watched him ironing a white, crisp shirt. She felt an incoming headache and clutched her head. The result was from last night's non-stop crying and this dumb music is not helping her. She sighed when he decided not to pay attention to her.
She walked over to him and waved her hands in front of his face. "Excuse me!"
"Could you cut it out? You're blocking my view, blondie," he coolly replied.
"First of all, this blonde has a name. And second, you're too loud," Stella tried to explain as calmly as possible without bursting into flames.
"Freedom of speech and expression. The first amendment in the Constitution. Don't tell me you didn't study that in high school," he shot back without even bothering to look at her.
"Um. Just a wild thought and all, but you know that this is kind of my house, right?" Stella sarcastically asked. He looked up at her with a small smirk on his face. "Really?" He chuckled when he saw Stella look stunned for a second. He returned back to his work without sparing her a second glance.
"Well, it is! Can you please acknowledge that there's another person living here?!" Stella asked exasperated. She's not ready for this kind of vocal workout. Sighing, she clutched her head half out of annoyance and half out of headache. He stared at her for a moment before reaching over and turning down the music.
"There. Now get out," he pointed to the door. Stella glared before walking out the door. She walked over to her room and sat on the bed fuming. First of all, she's never met such an infuriating personality. And second, she never felt so insulted in all her life. "Who does he think he is?!" she muttered. Sighing, she clutched her head again and lay back on the bed.
She lay there still and took deep breaths. She tried to still her racing mind, but to no avail. She unconsciously played with her hair. She looked around her room. The walls were painted a soft yellow (one of her favorite colors) with hints of orange/red. Her bed was padded with shades of light yellow and white. She eyed the pictures around her room. Many of them were of her and her parents. Some of them included her and her best friends. However, the one on the nightstand was of her and Jason's.
Sighing in sadness, she closed her eyes trying her best not to cry again. But tears came out anyway. Stella tried to best to conceal her tears, but they came out in choked sobs. She freely cried into her pillow letting out her pent-up emotions. She let out a cry of heartbroken anguish.
She let out a small gasp when she heard a knock on the door. Oh no...I totally forgot that Brandon's here! Stella sat up and quickly wiped away her tears. She took a quick glance at the mirror and cleared her face of any tear streaks.
She opened the door to reveal the handsome brunette. He wasn't even looking at her. Ugh. Typical. She stood there wondering what to do when he pushed her aside and invited himself into her room. Stella blinked when he walked over to her bed in the center of the room and sat at the edge.
"..." she stared at him wordlessly. Did he just...?
"What's wrong?" he asked while crossing his arms. Huh?
"It's none of your business," Stella stubbornly snapped.
"Actually, it kind of is. You crying like it's the end of the world is disturbing me from doing my work. So yes, it is my business. So...can we get this over with?" he asked.
"Why you...!" Stella picked up a stress ball from a little table beside her and threw it at him. He rolled his eyes and caught the ball with ease, stunning her with his slick reflexes. "How does your family tolerate you?!" she screamed. "You've only been here for one hour and I already hate you."
He chuckled, her outburst clearly not affecting him in any way. "Really? Well that makes one of us. I don't have time to think about you, let alone hate you."
Stella facepalmed. To be honest, she's never met anyone (and she's met a lot of people in her life) who made her this mad with one sentence.
Brandon smirked at the girl in front of him before turning his attention to the room. He half expected the room to be decorated in a ridiculous pink color and stuffed with teddy bears. But thankfully, since his eyes are still alive, he'll give this room his approval.
"Can you get out?"
He paid no heed and watched her room with acute interest. There were no pictures of celebrities, idols, or whatever. A person's surroundings could say a lot of things about him/her. Stella was clearly a woman who's close to her family judging by the amount of pictures. And the fact that she lives with her parents is another factor.
"Brandon!"
He turned back to her.
Stella sighed in relief when he looked at her. She opened her mouth only to be interrupted by the doorbell. She shut her eyes tightly and balled her hands into fists. "Ughh! Today. Is. NOT. MY. DAY!" she cursed as she stormed out of the bedroom. Once she left, he couldn't help but shake his head at the amusing blonde. To be perfectly honest, when he was told that he is to stay with the precious daughter and heir to Radar Industries, he truly expected nothing but a spoilt bimbo. But thankfully, she wasn't what he initially had expected. And, she's one of the very few females (if not the only) he's seen who's not all over him.
Stella, meanwhile, stood gaping in shock when a tall brunette stood in front of her fuming.
"Who the hell do you think you are dissing me like that yesterday, you bitch!"
"...Jason...?" she softly murmured, her eyes in a shocked trance. Her eyes stung with tears again for the umpteenth time today. The times she spent with him, he had made her feel no less than a queen. And now here he was again, but this time it's different. She felt her heart cringe with hurt.
"Why weren't you picking up my calls?!" he growled as he took a step forward. Stella instinctively took a step backwards truly afraid.
"Jason, you need to leave. We're not together anymore, so leave me alone!" Stella spoke through her tears.
"That's not up to you-"
"Stella, would you mind keeping it down? I need to study. Or are you that dumb enough not to realize that you're too loud?" a voice interrupted them both from behind. Brandon. Stella shut her eyes angrily. Really? That's what he's gonna say to her right now. She crossed her arms and looked at the floor feeling humiliated.
"Who the hell are you?!" Jason shouted at the unknown face behind Stella. "I live here," Brandon replied with no emotion in his voice. Jason's nostrils flared red and his fists were clenched. He turned back to the blonde.
"You bitch. You've been cheating on me this whole time with that...with that scumbag?!" Jason pointed to Brandon with a disgusted look.
Brandon turned his attention back to Stella. She looked as if she's about to cry again. So he's the reason she cried earlier?
Stella tried her best to not let her tears fall. She raised her head defiantly. "Scumbag? At least he's a man. Although I can't say the same about you," Stella hissed. "You f-ing little bitch!"
Stella's eyes widened when he raised his hand. A tear escaping, she instinctively covered her face expecting a painful blow to her face any second. But it never came. Instead, she felt a rush of air move past her. She opened her eyes when she heard a moan of pain and a surprised grunt.
Jason was pressed to the wall by none other than her new arrogant roommate. Stella covered her mouth when she saw none other than Brandontwist Jason's arm behind his back. His other hand pressed his face tightly against the wall.
"Man, let go!" Jason whined. "Alright, cool! I'm sorry!" Brandon twisted his arm even tighter, making Jason howl in pain.
"Try that again and I'll throw your sorry ass in jail without any convictions. Understood?" Brandon asked calmly.
"Y-y-yes!"
"I didn't quite hear that. Do you understand?" Brandon smirked as he twisted his arm even further.
"Y-yes!" Jason breathed painfully.
Stella decided to interfere. She rushed to the men and gripped Brandon's arm from behind. "Please. Let him go," she softly said while looking up at him. He looked down at her and then back at the wimp. A second later, Brandon let him with a hard shove. Jason fell to the floor and cradled his arm. Brandon crossed his arms and looked down at the brunette sharply. Jason looked at Brandon fearfully. He quickly picked himself up and bolted out the door in no time.
Brandon walked to the door and locked it. He turned back to Stella who simply stared at the floor. He scowled at her. "You could've gotten seriously hurt if I wasn't here. Are you that stupid that you have to make him mad?!"
Stella sniffled. She stayed silent as she heard this new stranger berate her. To be honest, he was right in his own snobbish kind of way. "...Maybe I am," she cried. She quickly wiped away her tears but more threatened to come. Brandon sighed as he watched her cry. Girls are such drama queens. Before he could say anything, he watched her walk out of the room quickly. A few seconds later, he heard the door to her room slam.
Stella sat on her bed with her knees brought up to her chest and cried. Her body shook violently as she silently cried. She wasn't even allowed to cry in peace or else that new jerk will probably fry her brain with new insults. She glanced up with a gasp when the door opened. Apparently she forgot to lock it. She watched Brandon stand in her doorway as he silently stared at her.
"What do you want now? Am I disturbing you?!" she hissed angrily. He raised his hands in surrender.
"No. I came to tell you that it's past lunch time. I'm hungry and I'm sure you must be too."
"SERIOUSLY?! That's what you're going to say to me right now?!"
He shrugged. "I don't know you very well to offer you any comfort. So, why bother trying?"
Her eyes flared with newfound anger. He was only making her feel worse than she already felt. He placed his hands in his pockets and calmly walked to her bed.
"Get up," he ordered.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. At least show me where the ingredients are. I'm not eating outside everyday."
Stella blinked. How come every sentence he uttered threw her off so badly? Can't he even try to comfort her? Not that she expected him to but seriously! If she were in his shoes, she'd either try to console him or at least stay out of the way. But here he was asking where the ingredients are. Honestly?
"Oh come on. Stop crying already. He's not all that great, you know," he scoffed as he grabbed her arm and dragged out of the bed. Stella let out a yelp as he dragged her out of the room. She was practically flying with the rate he was walking.
~ Stella's Home - Kitchen - 1:10 PM ~
Brandon let go of her arm as he moved forward and started raiding all of the cabinets. Stella crossed her arms as she stared at him. "Why bother asking if you were gonna hijack my house anyway?!" she muttered.
"Eureka! Do you like pasta?" he asked while turning around. He wiggled a few of the packets in her face, leaving her to scowl. She loved pasta, but she was too angry to even answer him right now.
He stared at her for a second. "Go and wash your face. I'm not cooking with you looking like a night troll in front of me." Stella gasped and sharply faced him again. "Did you just call me a troll?!" she angrily asked. He nodded. "Yup. Off you go now." He turned around and strolled to where the stove was. Stella stared at him clearly stumped. With a frustrated sigh, she uttered a stream of curses while waltzing to the nearest bathroom. She, however, missed Brandon's amused smile being directed at her.
~ Stella's Home - Bedroom - Bathroom - 1:14 PM ~
Stella sighed at her face in the mirror. Her hair was a mess. Her face looked tired and exhausted beyond measure. She felt a little sweaty. One word to sum up her appearance: disaster.
"I think I'll just take a shower," she murmured. She quickly took off her clothes and stepped into the tub.
Forty five minutes later...
~ Stella's Home - Kitchen - 2:00 PM ~
Stella stepped into the kitchen. Her eyes pleasantly widened at the delicious aroma. Brandon looked up to see Stella walking towards him. Her hair was damp as if she just showered and she changed into a light yellow floral dress. "You seem to have taken my advice a little too seriously, don't you think?" he smirked.
"Buzz off," she snapped as she came to stand next to him. She peered over his shoulder. "Um what is that?" she pointed to a strange looking dish on the pan. There was pasta inside it but there was something else with it.
"You'll find out later," he murmured as he stirred. She sighed at his response and moved to the cabinets. "We really have to go grocery shopping," Stella mused as she eyed the slowly emptying cabinets.
"We?!" he asked incredulously.
She faced with a roll of her eyes. "Uh yeah. You're staying here with no rent. The least you can do is at least pay for some of the food."
He rolled his eyes and turned to the stove. He soon turned it off. "Set the table, blondie," he ordered. "Did you forget my name or something?! Stop calling me blondie!" Stella huffed. "Why? Aren't you one?" he retorted without looking at her.
"You must really hate me or something," she muttered while going to 'set the table' like he rudely asked or yet, rather, demanded her to do so. He came into the dining room a minute later carrying two trays of huge containers.
"What the...?" Stella gaped as he set down the farfalle pasta. Along with that, he set down a plate of brownies, chicken tenders, and breadsticks. "Did you make all this? ...In a span of less than one hour?" she asked incredulously. He sat down from across her and plainly shook his head. "I ordered the chicken tenders and breadsticks," he answered.
"Oh..." Stella trailed off nervously. If all of this is just for himself, it would be embarrassing if she dug in. The food in front of her was a lot, but...boys did eat a lot. He stared at her fidgeting. "This is for both of us, Stella," he said making her look at him. She blushed and murmured a quick 'thank you'.
"A one time thing, if you will," he smirked making her sigh again. "Do you have to ruin the moment?" she asked exasperatedly.
"Why, of course. I can't have you thinking that we're friends or anything," he smirked.
"Believe me, I have no intention of that," she scowled. Just how dare he?!
He chuckled and took a bite of the pasta. "So...what did you see in him anyway? His looks or his popularity?"
"Excuse you! I'm not that shallow!" Stella defended herself.
"Maybe not. But you sure seemed cozy enough to allow him to hit you," he said pointedly. Stella looked away from his dark brown eyes, clearly hurt. "He was never like that..." she said softly while picking her food. He watched her sadly sigh. "So why the sudden change?" he pressed on. Stella sighed. She didn't really want to relive the whole memory. But she also wanted to tell someone whom she's close to but definitely not a stranger.
"He...um...he wanted something more...from me...and I refused," she sadly admitted anyway.
His eyes slightly widened. He observed the look on her face. It was a look of sadness and humiliation. "He's not worth it, Stella," he said making her glance up in shock. He chuckled. "I don't exactly hate you, you know." A second later, a smile broke out on her face. "Thank you," she softly said. He ushered her to continue eating. With a small smile, she placed a bite of pasta into her mouth.
"Yet," he finished with a devilish smirk. Her fork slammed down on her plate. Stella's face flushed with anger again. Honestly, he was soooo infuriating! Can't he tell that maybe she's upset right now? And maybe hearing "I don't hate you yet" is not exactly someone with a broken heart wants to hear at the moment.
"You're the biggest jerk I've ever met!" she howled defiantly.
He rolled his eyes. "And you're the biggest crybaby I've ever met," he retorted rudely.
"I am not a crybaby, thank you very much!" Stella shouted.
"Uh huh," he nodded his head disbelievingly while eating and ignoring her as usual.
Stella felt the urge to bang her head against the table. While Jason made her cry to no end, this man in front of her drove her nuts. Talk about a strong contrast of emotions.
She silently prayed that this month pass by soon. Or else, she'd probably admit herself into an asylum for an emotional bipolar disorder.
As always, I'd greatly appreciate what you guys think. :)
