9

 Bree forced it out in a hurry, her voice unsteady. She was blazing.

"I.... I don't want to sit beside him! He doesn't like me!"

 Instantly, Ashley's face switched to that of dismay as she immediately got on her feet and passed Alejandro a suspicious look.

"Oh my...."

 But Alejandro interrupted.

"No...."

 Ashley paused and stared at her brother, but he was looking at the shrunken Bree, then added.

"She'll learn."

 But surprisingly, Bree defended herself in a tiny voice. She swallowed.

"No.... I don't want to learn.... anything."

"You'll have to." Alejandro insisted sharply, but Maverick cut him off in defense.

"Come on, man." He said and turned to look at Bree. "Bree, come on."

 Ashley hurried over to help.

 Alejandro went back to the food before him like nothing had happened. He ate on and only spared one glance at Bree when she finally sat where Ashley had sat. He watched Ashley with her tray of food walk over to sit beside him, and he sighed.

 Rolando also helped with Bree's tray, and soon everything was back to normal.

 Bree tried to sit up and look okay once again. And she tried her best.

But...

 She couldn't stop looking at Alejandro secretly. Why was he so good-looking yet so cold? So different from the rest. Sometimes he'd look up expressionlessly at the others, listening, and then go back to gobbling his porridge hungrily.

"How are you feeling now, Bree?" Maverick asked with laughter in his eyes, and Bree bobbed her head before nodding, somehow enthusiastically.

"Yes, I am. Thanks."

 And surprising everyone, including Bree, and even though the others tried to hide it, it showed for a second, Rolando patted Bree on the back kindly, and she couldn't help but turn and smile graciously.

"Bree and I are so happy we came down and said hi today." Ashley said, happily. Bree nodded.

"And damn, I like what I see." Rolando said.

 Immediately, Alejandro stopped eating his muffin and looked at Rolando.

 Maverick saw him but quickly went back to the situation at hand. Oh, he wouldn't give anything away. But, wow, why had Alejandro gone that stiff? The guy was pretty good at hiding his reactions. Always calculating what to say or do, but this one had come reflexively and had been shut down fast.

 Alejandro grabbed his juice and took a gulp.

 Clearly, Maverick could see he was trying to act normal.

 Bree was blushing now because Roland was teasing and making comments.

"For real, you beat my expectations, Bree." Roland added, and this time, Alejandro's chewing slowed as he looked at his empty plate. Listening.…

 Clear as seen, he was trying hard not to say a word and let anything out. He couldn't give that JEALOUSY REACTION feeling to them. He needed to calm down.

But Maverick was noticing.

"Rolando. Stop...." Bree semi-stammered, shyly. "You're making me blush."

"Rolando, step back!" Alejandro finally snapped and held Rolando's eyes.

 His jaw was set, but he was trying to look not angry, which he kind of struggled with. But, oh, he seemed like he could kill someone soon.

 Rolando smiled and bit a pizza.

"Yo, man. I'm beginning to believe the news. You really fighting like she's your baby."

 They still held eyes, sitting opposite each other.

 Alejandro didn't say anything. The two only tensed up, and everyone could see Ashley muttering Alejandro's name strictly.

"Cut it off, fucker. Say something dirty." Rolando cajoled, and that finally pushed Alejandro to lose his cool. He growled warningly and gripped his spoon tightly.

"Shut the fuck up, Rolando. None of those words."

"Haha." Rolando said, waving him off. "You said it already."

 Bree had sat there, tense and not knowing what to do.

 Clearly, the others were thinking frantically and pretty hard on how best to calm the two men down as they stared themselves down, but it was pretty hard. Bree herself wasn't sure what to say or how to even react.

"Uhm, Alejandro. Row. You both should calm down."

"No, Ashley." Rowland said calmly. "You tell your brother how good he is at cussing too. Motherfucking hypocrite!"

"Shut the fuck up! Don't talk to me!" Alejandro exploded, and Bree jolted in fear, stepping out of the tension. And Ashley looked at him in dismay.

"Alejandro, stop it. Calm down. We shouldn't fight in front of Bree." Ashley cried frantically, trying to get the stiffening and overly annoyed guy to think.

"Keep it down, man...." Maverick was beginning to say....

"You tell him...." Alejandro yelled now, pulling his glass of juice now, gripping tightly. ".... that I want him to shut the hell down, or I'll smash his throat with this shit...."

 Bree was greatly scared now, and oh, she was shrinking and ashening in fear where she sat. Bree looked at everyone, her heart beating harder and harder.

 What was she going to do now? Alejandro looked so true to his words and seemed ready to smash. But, interestingly and eerily, Rolando looked more calm and held Alejandro's leveled gaze head-on. He was not afraid or fidgeting one way or the other.

 His silence and composure was enough to make Bree hold her breath.

 Maverick stepped in and held Rolando up. He quietly led the guy out of the room and continued patting his back as a way to calm him down.

"Come here, man." Maverick continued to say as they walked outside.

 Ashley had since hurried over to Bree and held her gently.

"Come here."

"No.... I'll be fine."

"Oh no, come on. Let's give him space."

 Ashley helped her move out from behind the table and held her to the living room.

"Hey, Bree. Relax, please."

"Oh, no. I'm okay."

"Oh, come on...." Ashley laughed and held her hands. ".... Bree, I'll confess that was really a hot situation. I'm so, so sorry. I...."

"No, Ashley. It wasn't your fault that I was scared. I was just afraid he'd throw the cup at him. I mean, with the way he was gripping it."

"Jesus.... I.... I wasn't thinking it'd get that far. I'm so... embarrassed."

 Bree giggled.

"I think I'm okay now."

"Okay?"

"Yes."

"Come sit."

 They walked to sit on a nearby couch.

"I really shouldn't have invited him." Ashley said with a wistful smile, but Bree was quick to put in.

"Ashley, he has the right to be there, too."

"Yeah.... But...."

"I totally get it actually, Ash. But...."

 Bree's countenance reduced to that of slight sadness and wonder. And she asked.

".... why is he so cold? It's so terrifying. Was he really going to throw that stuff at Rolando?"

"Oh no, not really. He's just more of.... a talk-and-no-do guy. No fears."

"Why is he defensive? He knows that I know what cuss words are. He just wanted to pick a fight."

 Ashley laughed lightly.

"I just don't know how to put it. I don't think you know how really serious he's being about watching over you for your mom."

"Uhm.... He was cussing, too."

 Ashley shrugged and shook her head.

"I really, really do not know what to say. He's strange, and he's not always happy.... Really, it's not usually that bad. The two guys had some issues, and they're trying to get used to that. But to be real, it's not really like they don't like each other."