The rest of Brooke's afternoon was spent getting the last few items out of some boxes, organizing things, and getting some work done. Around 9 o'clock she decided to call it a night. She changed into her pajamas, ordered Chinese takeout, and fired up her Netflix account on the tv.

Shortly after, her call box rang and she let the delivery guy up. When he came up to the door she gave him a tip and on his way out she saw Chris holding hands with an unknown girl walking out of the stairwell. "Hey, Brooke!" He waved at her and by the looks of the two of them they had had a few drinks.

"Hey, Chris." She responded and waved back.

"How's your day been?"

"Uh, pretty good." She hesitated. "Fairly low-key but nice."

"Neat. Well I'll talk to you later." He said. The girl he was with tugged at his shirt pulling him towards the door of his apartment. "I've gotta go. Bye."

Brooke gave an uncomfortable smile and closed her door. His lady friend clearly had a plan for what she wanted to do with her evening and he wasn't objecting.

*****

After an hour or so a few shouts came from the hall and startled Brooke. She had fallen asleep while watching a movie and looked at the time. It was almost 11:30 so she decided to head to bed. She tried to put the prior disturbance out of her head and try and sleep, but the shouts continued. 

"What is going on out there?" She asked out loud and made her way to the door. Looking through the peep-hole of her door she saw Chris and his lady friend standing in the door way of his apartment. She was clearly upset about something and he was trying, to no avail, to explain himself. 

"God, you're crazy! You've got this outrageously optimistic view and it's not real." 

"Katie, come on. Please just think about it." Chris pleaded and reached for her shoulder.

Katie pulled away and shouldered her bag. "Goodbye, Chris. I hope you realize why this wasn't going to work." She walked down the hallway towards the stairwell and out of Brooke's field of vision through the peep-hole.

Chris stood in the doorway a while longer with his head in his hands leaning against the door frame. "Fuck." He turned back into his apartment and shut the door behind him.

That escalated quickly, Brooke thought. She decided to leave a little distance between them for now, but in the morning she would go over and see if he was okay.

*****

Brooke woke up the next morning to her phone ringing loudly. She groaned before reaching over to answer it. "Hello?" She answered groggily.

An extremely chipper voice rang through the phone. "Hey kid! It's Cass." Cass was one of Brooke's closest friends from college but they hadn't met up for quite some time.

"Oh my god! Hey. I haven't talked to you in an age." She respond and sat up in her bed. "How are you?"

"I'm great my dear. I heard you moved to Boston. Are the rumors true?"

"They most certainly are." She responded and made her way out of her bedroom.

"Well you are in luck because I am in Boston this week for some work and I landed last night."

"Holy shit, that's amazing. We need to hand out."

"That's exactly what I was thinking. How does brunch in an hour sound?"

"Perfect! I can send you the address for this place that has amazing breakfast food. I'll make a reservation for us."

"Great. I'll see you in a few my dear." They said goodbye and hung up the phone.

*****

As Brooke left her apartment Chris walked out of his too. "Hey there neighbor." She said.

"Hey, Brooke. Where are you going all gussied up?" He asked as they walked down the hall together.

"I'm meeting a friend of mine for brunch today. She's in town this week and we haven't seen each other in a while so it'll be pretty fun. Yourself?"

"Oh, I'm just grabbing my mail." He chuckled. 

"This place has really great breakfast food if you want me to bring you something back. I can't promise the french toast is as good as my own, but I'm sure it'll be fine."

"That would be great. Have fun while your out."

"Thanks." Just as they got out of the stairwell she turned to him before leaving. "I heard the exchange between you and your friend last night." She paused. "I don't want to intrude but if you wanna talk about any time feel free to let me know."

He sighed. "I was hoping you hadn't heard. But thanks for the concern. I'll see you later."

"Alright, bye." He waved goodbye as she left the building to go grab her car.

*****

Cass

Hey, hun. I'm waiting outside the restaurant. Can't wait to see you!

Sent 10:15 am

Brooke

Great! I just pulled into the lot. Be there soon!

Sent 10:17 am

As brooke walked up to the restaurant she saw Cass waiting outside. "Cass!" She shouted and waved. Cass looked up from her phone and grinned as she walked towards Brooke. "I'm so glad to see you!"

"Me too, Brooke! Now let's get inside and eat some brunch my dear." She wrapped her arm around Brooke's shoulders and guided her inside the restaurant. 

"So what's been going on with you since you moved?" Cass asked when they sat down at their table.

"Oh nothing really. Work has been good and I'm really glad I made the move out here."

"That's great darlin'. I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks." Brooke smiled. "How about you? What been going on in the life of Cass?"

"Well I'm still at the same job, but I love it and I'm in for a promotion soon so that's great. And John and I are getting pretty serious."

"Wait John? John from the apartment across from us senior year? The John that puked in the hallway on halloween?" Brooke exclaimed. "You guys are still dating?"

She nodded. "I think we might be getting married soon."

"Married. Holy shit, Cass. That's amazing."

"I know it's insane." She laughed. "How about you. Any boys in your life?"

"You sound like my mom when you say it like that."  Brooke laughed. Cass gave her a mock stern look before she answered. "Not really actually."

"I know that look." Cass told her and leaned back in her chair.

"What look?"

"The look you're giving me right now." She said and pointed at Brooke. "It's the look you always have when you're lying about liking someone."

"Oh come on. That's not true." Brooke protested.

"Yes it is and you know it. Now tell me who is this cutie that my darling Brooke fancies."

The two stared each other down for a bit before Brooke finally gave in. "He's my neighbor."

"Oh. Do you have any pictures of him?" 

"No I don't have any pictures of him. I don't go around taking pictures of the people in my building."

"Well what's his name? He has to have some form of social media." She said and pulled out her phone.

"Why don't we eat first and stalk later." Brooke chuckled.

"Alright, but you have to let me know."

"I will. I promise."

*****

After the two had finished their meals Brooke gave Cass Chris' name before they said goodbye. Brooke wasn't usually one for the whole social media stalking, and given that Chris was her neighbor she didn't really see the need to. But Cass on the other hand was all about stalking people through social media. She thought it was the best way to find out about people. Brooke always thought she'd make a great spy.

When she got back to her building she knocked on Chris' door first with the french toast she had promised in hand.

"Hey there." Chris said as he opened the door. Brooke noticed his eyes were slightly red and she assumed it was from crying, but she quickly shook the thought from her head.

"Hey. I have the french toast I promised." She held the take out box in front of her waiting for him to take it from her.

"Thanks. I really appreciate it." He said and took the box from her.

"It's really not a problem." She said. "I guess I'll see you later then." 

"See you later."

She gave him a small wave before crossing the hall to her apartment. She really hoped he'd feel better soon. She knew first hand how bitter a bad breakup can leave you assuming that's what he was going through.