The One: Collateral Damage (The One Series-Book9) (ORIGINAL DRAFT)

Chapter2: Plots Exposed

Chapter2-Plots Exposed

September 30th, 2011

 At the same time, Brandon was in the waiting room, busy on iPhone. Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice at the reception desk. He looked up, and saw a young woman. She looked disheveled.

 As he walked up closer to her, he called out, "Melissa?"

 She turned, and it was Melissa! She approached Brandon. She was apparently frightened. He asked her, "What are you doing here?"

 Melissa explained as she pleaded, "Brandon, you have to help me! Ethan is trying to kill me. Literally!"

 "Wait a minute, he's trying to kill you?"

 "Yes! He shot at me! You can see the holes in my jacket. Please, you have to save me. I get you're mad at me for paying you to turn Andrew gay, but please put aside what I did, and help me."

 Brandon didn't know what to say. He knew Ethan was a psycho, but he didn't expect him to be a killer. As for Melissa, she may have plotted with Ethan, and she may have bribed Brandon to seduce Andrew, but he could see she was serious.

 Just as he was about to respond, he saw the 7th Anthem members entering the waiting room. They were surprised to see Melissa, but Alyson was fuming.

 She asked harshly, "What the fuck is this bitch doing here?"

 Brandon glared at her, and explained, "Melissa is running for her life. Ethan is trying to kill her."

 Melissa chimed in, "Please, believe me! You don't have to forgive me. Just help me!"

 Alyson's demeanor changed from cold to slightly concerned. She's not surprised that Ethan would do something like this.

 Alyson asked, "So, why is Ethan trying to kill you?"

 Melissa replied, "I wanted to break up with him, but he wouldn't let me."

 "Why? He didn't give you enough plots to try to destroy 7th Anthem?"

 "That's just it! I told him that if we plotted more, your band would just get more famous. We unintentionally helped you become an international sensation. Hell, you got a clothing line with H&M!"

 "Wait, you and Ethan actually helped us become the world's premier pop group? What did you two actually do to get us to where we are now?"

 With that, Melissa hesitated. She didn't want to tell Alyson the truth. But Brandon wasn't as nervous. He blurted this out: "Melissa paid me to seduce Andrew and turn him gay."

 That shocked the members, but Andrew and Alyson were furious. They couldn't believe what they just heard. All those months of being apart and heartache was crafted by Melissa and Ethan.

 Andrew said to Brandon angrily, "So, all the time we were together, the gigs and the sex you gave me, were paid for? All those times you said that you love me were lies? You were just paid to use me?"

 Brandon said, "It's not like that, Andrew. Yes, Melissa paid me to make you my boyfriend. I didn't want to do that. I knew you belonged to Alyson. Besides, I didn't even like you. You were, and still are, arrogant and stubborn.

 "But the more I got to know you, the more I realized what great person you are. You were not like the other guys. You were kind, caring, and sensitive. So I started to feel guilty. I gave the cheque back to Melissa, as I have fallen in love with you.

 "I did my best to love you, but it's like you weren't there. Then saw you kissing Alyson. I eventually realized that you'll never love me back. You love Alyson, not me. You were bi, but you leaned more towards girls, and Alyson. But everything I said, did, and felt for you was real. I meant every word I said, every deed I did for you. The only reason you felt our relationship was shallow was because you still had feelings for Alyson. You would never let her go. That's all I have to say. It's your choice to believe me or not."