MISCHIEF NIGHT - Lyle menendez.

4

The name "Beverly Hills, California" oozes luxury, and it's easy to see why. With its stunning beaches, upscale shops, and breathtaking views, it's a dream destination. Erik and Lyle often wondered how she managed to live here. She had grown up in Florida but moved to Beverly Hills when she was just 15.

Her mom never quite knew how to handle money. Although she'd occasionally buy groceries and pay the rent, her struggles with finances were apparent. The truth was that her mom had a drinking problem, which caused them to lose money quickly. That's why she took on a job to help make ends meet.

At 14, she met a boy named Grey, who was 17. She liked him. Sometimes she'd let him crash at her place when he got kicked out. She never pried into his life; she just figured he was like any other teenager—partying, drugs. One Friday night, as they sat together on the bleachers at their high school, he flashed a smile and asked,
"You wanna try Molly?" as he put the pill in his mouth.

You can already guess what happened.

1989 - present.

"Hey," Lyle says with a smile, looking high as he rubs his nose
"You fell asleep" he comments before sitting down
She slowly sits up holding her head feeling the pounding and dizziness from the amount of drinking that had happened last night.

"What time is it?" she says squinting through the brightness.

"9:56 am" Lyle laughs a little, "here this will make you feel better" he hands a white pill and looks down at it.

"Thanks," she murmurs, her voice barely a whisper as she raises the glass to her lips, feeling the cool water cascade down her throat. A wave of relief washes over her as she savours the hydration, closing her eyes.

"So, how was the shopping spree?" he asks with a mischievous grin, resting his chin on his hand, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

As she sets the glass down, a slight breathlessness replaces her initial relief. Her gaze drifts toward the array of shopping bags, and her heart skips a beat as she spots the unmistakable Gucci emblem glinting in the light, alongside a collection of other designer treasures. "I'm sorry, I completely blacked out last night. I'll return everything—" she stammers, feeling panic rising in her chest.

"No—you deserve it," he replies gently, his expression softening. "Besides, I gave you my credit card; I should've figured you'd indulge a bit." He looks up at her with an affectionate smile that eases her worries.

She nods slightly, lost in his gaze, her heart racing. "Why are you being so nice to me?" she asks, her brow furrowing in suspicion.

He shifts in his seat, leaning closer, his hand gently resting on top of her. "Thank you for letting my brother and me stay with you. I don't often show my vulnerable side, but... it's just that my dad had these expectations, you know? He wanted us to be the best versions of ourselves. I think that's why he was so tough on us." His voice trembles slightly as he glances down, a shadow of sadness crossing his features.

Feeling a swell of sympathy for him, she nods slowly. "I had a dad too," she says, smiling at the random answer she gave.

He lets out a soft laugh. "Really?"

"Yeah," she replies, the weight of her memory settling heavily. "He passed away though" her tone getting quiet

After a while he speaks

"Dealing with that... it's hard, you know?" Lyle continues, his tone growing more serious. "It's difficult not having someone to look up to anymore."

"He would have been proud of you," she says softly, her heart aching for the brothers

"I know" he adds.

After

She helps Erik pack to return home after the incident.

"I don't wanna go back" Erik says quietly as he folds his clothes

She looks over at him her gaze slightly softening "don't worry. It will look the same. Just think of them on a business trip okay?" She reassures him. He nods feeling a little better.

she walks out of the room with her bag and Erik's. "The cars waiting for us. Chop chop" Lyle yells while clapping catching our attention.

The drive back to the Menendez house was enveloped in a heavy silence, broken only by the soft hum of the engine. She glanced at Lyle, his expression distant as he stared out the window, lost in thought. The fading light of dusk painted the landscape in shades of orange and purple, but his focus seemed to be "You okay?" she asked gently, her voice cutting through the quiet. He turned to her, momentarily shaken from his reverie, and replied with a weary smile, "Yeah, I'm just tired."