When Love Breaks by jack

He chuckled, "So, vacation starts the day after tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

Out of the blue, he said, "Then, 7 AM sharp, we're heading back to Vista Town."

I looked at him, puzzled. "Aren't you supposed to deal with Bryant first?"

His eyes twinkled with mischief, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Right now, you're the one asking for my help, aren't you? Shouldn't you show me some sincerity first?"

Bryant was made for the cunning business world, and so was he.

Thinking ahead, I gave him a heads-up, "I can play along, help you out with your folks. But I've been divorced. They're definitely not going to welcome me with open arms..."

Gregory didn't seem to care one bit. "That's my problem to handle."

As the elevator reached our floor, I took a deep breath, "Alright, I'm in."

Just as I said that, the doors opened. We went our separate ways, but just as I stepped out, I was surprised to see Mark standing at my rate ways doorstep.

Surprised that the Larsons still let him come around to see me.

Gregory cast a glance our way, his steps unhesitating as he unlocked his door, stepped inside, and closed it behind him, all in one fluid motion.

Outside, the silence was broken only by the howling winter wind.

With Kathy's warning in mind, I felt a bit uneasy, "Mark, what... what brings you here?"

an answeri Mark glanced at Gregory's door and, rather than answering, asked, "Why are you hanging around with him again?"

"Just ran into him downstairs." It didn't seem like a big deal to me, so I answered casually.

He seemed to relax a bit, smiling gently. "I thought I heard you agree to something with him?"

He was close with Steven, who in turn was tight with Bryant. I didn't want Bryant getting wind of this, so I opted to tell a half-truth.

*Just some personal stuff I agreed to help him with."

Hearing this, Mark's expression tightened imperceptibly, then casually he asked, "Are you settling in alright here, or do you want to move somewhere else?"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

"I'm getting used to it, yeah..."

I started to respond automatically, then caught myself, shifting gears, "Or, is my being here causing you trouble? If that's the case, I can move out right away."

I could always crash at Christine's for a few days if need be.

"Trouble?"

Mark seemed surprised by my reaction, then it dawned on him, his expression darkening, "Did someone from the Larson family talk to you?"

"Yeah," I nodded honestly, "But they didn't say anything too harsh."

As I spoke, I let my gaze drop, using the opportunity to make my stance clear, "Mark, let's just stay friends, okay? Now and in the future." Just like Kathy said, if I couldn't get Mark to back off now, it would only bring him more trouble.

Mark's voice sharpened, "Exactly what did they say to you?"

"Really, it was nothing serious."

"Is it because of him, or because of Bryant?"

When he said "him, his gaze shifted towards Gregory's door.

I couldn't understand why he seemed more suspicious of me and Gregory than of Bryant.

But at this moment, I really didn't have the energy for these kinds of entanglements I couldn't go back to Bryant, and I never even considered climbing the social ladder with Gregory.

I just wanted to peacefully run Jánedream, left to me by my parents.

I shook my head. "Neither."

"Jane... Mark's eyes were a storm of emotions as he looked at me. Can e we really only be friends?"

I looked down, "Yeah, I'm sorry."

"No worries, silly. I've always said, as long as you're happy, that's all what matters."

Suddenly, he reached out, gently patting my head, "Then, let's be friends!"

"Ouch-"As his words settled, a sudden pain, shot through my scalp, making me look up at him sharply.

A fleeting emotion crossed his face, but his eyes were as kind as ever He asked softly, "Did I hurt you? Sorry, my Cufflink must've caught in your hair."