Our Safeguard

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

~Jerome~

       I could feel Brandon staring at me intensely as I ate the food in front of me. Eventually, I sighed heavily. "Can I help you?"

       Brandon leaned on the counter. "I'm just wondering if you're okay."

       "Why? Because I'm eating slowly?"

       "No," Brandon said. "Well, now I'm going to question you about that later but that's not why I was asking. You've been moping ever since you got here. Not that I mind. If you can, you should break into tears so I can tell my boss you're having an emotional meltdown and I need to help."

       "I'm not doing that," I muttered.

       "Okay. But can you tell me what's going on?"

       "Nothing. It's stupid."

       "Try me."

       I hesitated, taking another small bite. I didn't know if I wanted to tell Brandon what was on my mind. He didn't exactly judge me last time I told him, but he was probably going to tell me I was overreacting. Even I thought I was overreacting. I just didn't know how to convince myself to stop thinking about it.

       In the end, I decided not to say anything. There was no point. Like I said, it was stupid.

       Brandon figured my silence meant I wasn't going to tell him, but he didn't seem to want to give up either. He looked at the other end of the counter, seeing that someone was waiting to get their coffee refilled. "I have to go help a customer. By the time I get back, you better be ready to tell me what's going on in that pretty little head of yours."

       I glared at Brandon as he walked off to go help the customer. I still wasn't going to say anything when he got back and he couldn't make me.

       Once Brandon got back to me, he leaned on the counter again. "So...?"

       "So I'm trying to eat my lunch," I said. "I'm going to complain to your manager if you don't leave me alone."

       "Do it," Brandon said. "My manager knows you considering all the times you've showed up here drunk, whining that you needed to see me. I'm surprised she hasn't banned you from here yet."

       "I haven't gotten drunk in a long time."

       "That doesn't change the fact that something's clearly on your mind. Come on, Jerome. I can't help you if you don't tell me."

       I still didn't answer. 

       "Okay, then I'll have to guess what's on your mind," Brandon said. "And you're not that good at hiding your emotions from me, so don't try bother lying if I guess it."

       I sighed. "Brandon, I really don't want to talk about it. It's stupid."

       "Whatever it is, it's not stupid." He was silent for a few moments. "Is this about that Joel guy?"

       Once again, I didn't answer. I didn't want to say that it was, but he would probably be able to tell if I was lying if I said it wasn't.

       Either way, Brandon was able to figure it out. "So it is?"

       "It doesn't matter."

       "You know, I'm starting to get why you hate him so much," Brandon said. "I don't trust him."

       I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked at my best friend. "I thought you told me not to worry about it. What changed your mind?"

       "When we were working on the studio and he was the pizza delivery man," Brandon said. "His reaction when he saw you. It was obvious that he hates you, but I don't think you've done or said anything to him. At least, I hope you haven't."