𝓶𝔂 𝓶𝓸𝓭𝓮𝓵 𝓔𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓖𝓻𝓪𝔂𝓼𝓸𝓷 [ ＳＬＯＷ ＵＰＤＡＴＥＳ ]

10

The moment elise had stepped foot into the lounge the next morning, the friendly morning buzz had died down, whispers traveled around the room as her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, she began to walk to her designated area. her hand hovered over the handle as she took a deep breath in and pushed the door open, the attention of the three men immediately turned to her as she plastered a fake smile, shrugged her coat off and hung it on the cloak that stood stock still beside her.

"Good morning." she smiled, although they couldn't see it, her back facing the three confused men with her sudden outburst of emotion. "coffee?" she asked looking over her shoulder and turning back when she got no response. "okay," she murmured and turned back to her hot coffee.

"elise are you feeling okay today?" grayson asked as he leaned on the island while eyeing her down, she shrugged and raised the mug to her lips. "yeah, why would you think otherwise?" she answered taking a sip of her coffee and sitting on the couch across from ethan, her eyes meeting bryant's instead of his.

"so, we have an upcoming calvin klein fashion week," he began as he scrolled through the pictures on his camera. "and they need you three for fitting in twenty minuets," he announced, his eyes still glued on the camera clutched in his hands.

"sweet, I'm going to head there right now." she announced, lips still plastered in a smile.

"you sure you're okay elise?" Grayson asked again, still not buying her facade. rising from her seat, coffee cup still sitting against her palm she tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled wider. Grayson shifted in his seat little. 

Ethan noticed.

"honestly, gray I'm fine, I promise." she replied, already heading towards the door before stopping once more and turning to bryant. "are you sure there isn't anything else?" he nodded, his mind still focused on the task at hand.

"alrighty." she chirped before opening the door and stepping outside.

Silence filled the air the moment she stepped out of the door, the air felt heavy again like she took a gust of wind with her, bryant seemed to notice the heavy feeling and stood up not a second later when he saw that Ethan was intensely staring Grayson down who was innocently smiling down at his phone.

"well, I'm going to go to the office and send these pictures to the editing department." he announced, not even waiting for a goodbye he walked towards the door and slammed it shut.

Grayson's head snapped up. Ethan was still staring. 

"what?" he nervously chuckled, his heart slowly sinking when he realized what that look meant. "what now, E?" he lazily slurred, slouching and gently pressing his fingers against his forehead.

"Don't think about her, don't look at her don't even touch her." Ethan growled after a long period of silence. Grayson huffed, rolling his eyes, "I don't know what you're talking about, dude." he lied, pressing his palms together, something he always does when he lies.

"don't act stupid, Grayson because I see right through it. I saw the way you were looking at her yesterday." he barked, shooting up from the chair and pointing a finger straight at his brother.

"So you were stalking us?" 

"It doesn't matter anymore, Gray. I've told you once and I'm not going to tell you again." Ethan replied, heading for the door, twisting the knob and looking back at his brother who sat in the same position unfazed by the scolding.

Ethan's eyes softened, his tight hold released from the knob, but the flame of anger re-ignited itself like a switch and his hold became tighter.

"don't make this like last time, gray."