Convincing her

As the two girls were eating breakfast, even though Jen still ate very little, footsteps were heard coming downstairs. Michael had come down with his backpack and looked like he was ready to leave.

"Good morning," he said to the two women who were having breakfast.

"Morning, so early?" Jen asked him as she looked at his backpack and he nodded in response. 

"I have a lot to do, so I have to go back first. I wanted to drop you off at the hotel but you said that big brother Jason was going to take you back, right?" he asked and Jen nodded in response. 

"Well then, I'll be going first. I'll see you tomorrow," Michael said and nodded at the two girls before leaving.

"He is so adorable. How he was calling everyone Mr. when he had first come was very amusing," Rachel said with a light laugh.

"Lucas had to stop him because everyone felt too awkward. He calls him Mr. Lucas, which he says is very awkward, but it's good that he stopped acting so serious in such a casual setting," Jen said as she too laughed.

"Mmmh, now they are brothers," Rachel said as she drank her juice.

"It's a better form of address, and the guys don't seem to hate it," Jen said as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Speaking of, am I the only one who noticed his crush on Alex?" Rachel asked and another smile appeared on Jen's face. She had also noticed it, but it seems Lucas had noticed it way before she did because he always said cryptic things about their relationship.

"I did too, but I doubt Alex even knows," Jen said and continued to eat. It looked like her appetite had returned.

"The ones involved normally don't know," Rachel said as she looked outside with a deep look in her eyes. 

"Well, they must figure themselves out," Jen said as she knew it was improper to interfere in things like this. He would tell her when he was ready and if there is progress then so be it. It was rude to tell Alex about it, just in case she started acting distant with him without him knowing why. All in all, it was none of their business anyway.

"Mmmh, Rachel agreed," as she put down her empty glass of juice and looked at Jen.

"If you keep eating like a bird, I'll have to move in with you to make sure you don't starve to death," Rachel said as she looked at her barely eaten breakfast.

"I can't trouble you, Brian will have my head," Jen joked and ate a mouthful of food. 

"If you know, then quickly finish your breakfast," Rachel said as she folded her hands in front of her to watch her eat. Jen sighed and started eating in earnest. She knew she shouldn't be like this, but she really had no appetite.

As she continued to eat, more people came downstairs, most of them ready to leave. James was not wearing his comfortable clothes but a white turtleneck and a pair of khaki slacks. His hair was neatly tied at his nape and a jacket hung off his shoulder. The only thing that was ruining his image was the large bottle of water he was guzzling.

Laura had gone to sit with them so that she could properly admire her boyfriend from a distance and also check on Jen. She was just happy that her friend did not have puffy, red-rimmed eyes. It means she did not cry herself to sleep.

"We have to leave early today, I have a flight later in the evening and I haven't packed at all. My boss had to drag me out of bed today," Laura said as she carelessly swept her long curly hair away from her face.

"Mmmh, I'm also waiting for Jason to come down so I can go home too. I have an assignment I want to work on," Jen said and leaned against her friend.

"I'll get you a present when I return," Laura promised as she stroked Jen's head.

"You too," she added when she saw Rachel look at her with narrowed eyes.

"Fine, I'll bring it to all of you. I won't play favourites," she said when she saw Alex's and Nancy's expectant eyes.

"I'll see you all next time," Laura said as she got up from the table. She had noticed that James was ready to leave, so she didn't want to waste time.

"I'll see you. Call me in case of anything," James said to the girls before directing his last statement at Jen. Jen nodded with a smile and watched the couple go.

"How is he wearing that coat in this weather?" Nancy wondered out loud and everyone laughed.

"He doesn't stay out, he is always in an air-conditioned area so he doesn't have difficulties," Leanna commented. 

"He has probably conditioned himself as well. You get used to it after some time. He always looks so immaculate even when dressed casually," Rachel said, and Jen remembered her boyfriend who would look so different and when he was at home. She sighed as a shallow smile appeared on his face. 

Just like this, people started leaving in pairs. When Jason came down, he was already holding his car keys with a mischievous smile on his face.

"Let's go, ladies," he said to the two sisters as he waved his car keys.

"What has you so excited?" Jen asked as she checked for her necessities and walked out of the large house.

"I'm going out on a date. God knows when I'll have this chance again since I'll be worked to the bone by James in the coming year," Jason said as he unlocked the car. Jen let Alex sit in front with Jason and she sat in the back. She wanted to zone out when she wants to, so it was better if Alex accompanied him instead.

"Dating? Won't your fans be disappointed?" Alex asked him and Jason chuckled as he started the car.

"Will you be disappointed?" Jason asked Jen as he looked at her through the rear-view mirror. Jen shook her head with a smile. Why would she be? It's his personal life, right? As long as he kept doing what he enjoyed, it was alright.

"Do I know her?" Alex asked curiously. 

"I doubt it, she is currently modelling. A bit younger than you," he answered with a shallow smile. 

"Oh, she's in the industry as well?" Alex asked, even more curious.

"Mmmh," Jason responded. 

The two of them continued to chat like this for a while and hadn't even noticed Jen's silence until they were close to the hotel. When Alex turned back to check on her, she saw that she had fallen asleep at some point and she sighed in relief.

Once they arrived, Jason stopped at the entrance and even helped out with Alex's things, which he handed over to the staff before the two sisters got out of the car.

Jen was still dazed from sleep as she stepped out of the car and looked at the entrance to the hotel.

"I'll see you when you see me. Sisters-in-law, Alex, let me know anytime you need anything, okay?" he said with a smile on his face. Jen has heard these words many times today, and her heart had become warmed up by them.

"I will," Jen said as she smiled back at him.

"I will too," Alex answered as she hugged her sister's arm.

"Well, I'm going to prepare for my date, have fun you two," Jason said and only left after the girls had gone into the hotel.

"Are you still sleepy?" Alex asked her when they were in the elevator that led to Jen's place.

"Mmmh," Jen agreed. She felt sleepy, so she was planning on taking a nap before attending to her assignments.

"I'll come to see you later in the evening. You don't have to pick me up. I have the key card," she said, and showed Jen the card that she had been given by the hotel staff at the front desk. Jen had thought she was only getting the card to her own room, but that did not seem to be the case.

"Mmmh, just come whenever," Jen said as she watched the elevator doors slide open. 

"Later then," Alex said and walked out of the elevator. The elevator doors closed and Jen went home. After opening the front door and walking inside, her chest started feeling heavy. When she stepped into the living room, her tears started falling.

There was a picture hung on the wall that was not there before. It was the one she took with Lucas at the party that he had organized. 

Seeing his smiling expression in the photo made her smile, even though the tears did not stop. She was in a very complicated mood.