Michelle looked up to see Brandon standing behind her, his right hand on her shoulder. With a scowl, she shoved it off. "What do you want?" Michelle asked coldly.
"So, the Nine, huh? Can't it be the Ten?" he asked.
"Uh- no." Michelle answered with a sharp cutoff.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want prideful, self-centered, and stupid people in my group."
"What the hell-?"
"You know what, Brandon? I am sick and tired of you. Just stay the hell away from me, okay?"
"But Michelle-"
"What are you waiting for, a silver-lined invitation? Make like a library and book it."
Brandon raised his hand to slap Michelle, and she cringed away and let out a small yelp. He lowered his hand, but never reached her face. She looked up to see Matt holding Brandon's arm away from her. "You EVER hurt my cousin like that, I will personally find you and tear you to shreads." Matt growled. Everyone at the table, including Ryan, was shocked. "Now, get away from her, Brandon." Matt said, twisting Brandon's arm and shoving him out of the hall. Ryan immediately set the drinks down and came to Michelle's side. Wiley and Ryan looked at Michelle, waiting for her to relax. Instead of relaxing, everyone saw her shoulders hitch once... twice... three times. She was crying.
"I promise you Michelle-" Wiley said, but Ryan finished, "We won't let Brandon go anywhere near you." Michelle looked up to see the Nine all nodding and smiling in agreement of the promise. Drying her eyes, she whispered, "Thanks everyone. That is just the thing I need right now." She hugged everyone.
A few moments later, Michelle pulled Ryan and Wiley aside. "I just wanted to thank you guys personally. For helping out, and-"
"That is not a problem, Michelle." Wiley replied.
"We are always willing to help." Ryan said.
Michelle smiled, then handed each of them a gold key. "Don't lose this. You may need it in the future." Michelle smiled sheepishly at them, then walked back into the hall. They followed, unsure of what to do with these gifts. They seemed to be normal, but who knew for certain what Michelle was planning.
"So, the Nine, huh? Can't it be the Ten?" he asked.
"Uh- no." Michelle answered with a sharp cutoff.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want prideful, self-centered, and stupid people in my group."
"What the hell-?"
"You know what, Brandon? I am sick and tired of you. Just stay the hell away from me, okay?"
"But Michelle-"
"What are you waiting for, a silver-lined invitation? Make like a library and book it."
Brandon raised his hand to slap Michelle, and she cringed away and let out a small yelp. He lowered his hand, but never reached her face. She looked up to see Matt holding Brandon's arm away from her. "You EVER hurt my cousin like that, I will personally find you and tear you to shreads." Matt growled. Everyone at the table, including Ryan, was shocked. "Now, get away from her, Brandon." Matt said, twisting Brandon's arm and shoving him out of the hall. Ryan immediately set the drinks down and came to Michelle's side. Wiley and Ryan looked at Michelle, waiting for her to relax. Instead of relaxing, everyone saw her shoulders hitch once... twice... three times. She was crying.
"I promise you Michelle-" Wiley said, but Ryan finished, "We won't let Brandon go anywhere near you." Michelle looked up to see the Nine all nodding and smiling in agreement of the promise. Drying her eyes, she whispered, "Thanks everyone. That is just the thing I need right now." She hugged everyone.
A few moments later, Michelle pulled Ryan and Wiley aside. "I just wanted to thank you guys personally. For helping out, and-"
"That is not a problem, Michelle." Wiley replied.
"We are always willing to help." Ryan said.
Michelle smiled, then handed each of them a gold key. "Don't lose this. You may need it in the future." Michelle smiled sheepishly at them, then walked back into the hall. They followed, unsure of what to do with these gifts. They seemed to be normal, but who knew for certain what Michelle was planning.
