The sunlight slipped gently through the window, casting a warm hue over the small kitchen. Hazel stood at the counter, focused on the ripe mangoes she had just blended. She carefully poured the thick, golden juice into two glasses, her movements calm and steady.
She was dressed in a soft sky-blue cardigan over a crisp white high-neck top, paired with loose black trousers. Her hair fell naturally around her shoulders, and there was a subtle glow on her face from the warmth of the kitchen light.
As she placed the second glass beside the first, the doorbell rang.
Startled just slightly, she muttered under her breath, brushing her hands on a napkin. "Who's that now…"
Without much thought, she walked across the room and opened the door,still holding the glass of mango juice in one hand, and the moment she saw who it was, her eyes slightly widened—but not with surprise, more like sheer disbelief.
the moment drake eyes met hers, he froze.
Hazel blinked. "What... are these losers doing here?"
Lucas gasped. "Oh—oh! It was you!" he stammered dramatically, then slapped a hand to his pocket. "Uh... hello? Yes, Mom? Yes? I'm coming!" he shouted to his 'phone' before making a quick U-turn into their room like he'd just seen a ghost.
Ben, with a frozen smile, gently placed the fruit basket at Hazel's feet like an offering to a queen, then turned around and walked straight out the hallway without a word.
Zayn gave her the world's most awkward smile, teeth and all, and whispered, "Nice to see you again," before Caleb grabbed his arm.
Caleb chuckled nervously. "Oh, uh, wrong room! Sorry about that." He dragged Zayn back into their room and slammed the door shut, completely forgetting someone was still outside.
Hazel just stood there, blinking in confusion. "What is wrong with them?"
She turned slowly to look at Drake, who hadn't moved an inch. His eyes were still locked on her like he'd just spotted a UFO in human form.
Hazel raised her eyebrow and tilted her head slightly. "You have anything to say?"
Drake blinked, finally snapped out of his trance. He was about to open his mouth when his gaze shifted inside the apartment... and there he saw it.
Levi.
Sitting comfortably on her couch like a reformed angel.
Levi looked up at Drake, eyes wide and innocent like a baby caught stealing cookies. Drake stared at him, then at Hazel, then wordlessly turned and stormed into their room, slamming the door behind him.
Inside, the rest of the gang were gathered, pretending nothing happened.
"When did Levi get there?" Drake asked, eyes narrowed.
Zayn shrugged. "I didn't see him this morning. I thought he left early."
Ben added, "yeah me too, who thinks that he's trying to seduce her?".
Lucas popped up. "We have to get him."
Drake, voice steady, muttered, "Relax. He'll come back. He always does."
As if summoned by the drama gods, the door creaked open. Levi walked in with an awkward smile and closed the door gently behind him.
Caleb pointed. "Aha! There you go—our lover boy."
Levi blinked. "What?"
Before he could take another step, Lucas grabbed him by the collar and they all surrounded him like a pack of angry siblings. A flurry of harmless punches rained on him.
"STOP! Are you guys mad?!" Levi cried, flailing.
Drake: "Mad? We're mad? You're the one sitting in there like some royal guest. How the hell did you end up there?!"
Everyone nodded furiously, waiting for an answer.
Levi finally straightened his shirt and sighed. "Okay listen—when you guys left, I woke up and went downstairs. When I came back, I saw the door across was open. A girl was trying to balance a stack of books. Then I saw her face... it was Hazel. So I asked if she needed help. At first, she refused—obviously. She still remembers what we did to her."
They all exchanged guilty glances.
"But I talked to her nicely. Like, genuinely. And eventually she let me help. That's it! She was making juice... for both of us, okay? And then... boom. You all showed up."
Silence.
Lucas: "...traitor."
Caleb: "He betrayed the brotherhood."
Ben: "He's gone soft."
Zayn: "He's in love."
Drake narrowed his eyes at Levi. "Did you see Ethan?"
Levi nodded casually. "Yeah, I saw him."
Caleb turned to Drake, raising an eyebrow. "You have anything?"
Drake shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. "No. Just asking."
Lucas, not letting the tension drop, leaned forward with a grin."Hey, did you make her your friend or something?"
Levi scratched the back of his neck. "I… don't know. Maybe."
Ben raised his eyebrows. "Maybe? Huh?"
Drake scoffed under his breath. "Tss."
Zayn leaned in, a smirk playing on his lips. "Liar. Did you flirt with her?"
Levi threw his hands up. "No, no, no! I was just helping her."
Zayn, ignoring his defense, tilted his head dreamily. "Anyway, she was looking so pretty today, right?" he said with a shy little smile.
Ben chuckled. "Come on, man. She's always pretty."
Everyone glanced at Drake.
Drake didn't say a word. Just stared ahead like he didn't hear anything. Stone cold silence.
Lucas suddenly clapped his hands. "Okay, enough! From now on—no one talks to her. Stay away. Especially you." He pointed dramatically at Levi.
Levi sighed, raising his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright! I get it!"
Then Caleb poked Lucas. "You too," he added, pointing at him.
Lucas blinked. "Of course. Including me. Okay?"
Everyone looked around at each other, then nodded slowly in agreement like they just signed a top-secret peace treaty.
The brotherhood was back.