"You're a genius!" Right when she was about to hug him, Brandon walked in the room. She ran up to Brandon and hugged him instead of hugging Raphael. "Where were you?" she asked.
"I was out for a few hours. Where did you go? Cynthia told me you were going to be gone for a day or two."
"I was also out." she replied.
Denella heard Raphael cough to remind her that he was still there.
"Oh, Brandon, this is Raphael. Raphael, Brandon." She introduced. "Brandon is my partner."
"Oh, your partner." Raphael nodded. "The one who you always used to complain about?"
"What? Brandon, I'm sorry--" Denella apologized as Brandon interrupted.
"No, no. The two of us never really got off on the right foot," Brandon explained to Raphael, "But, look at us now." He said as he put his arm round Denella.
Raphael grinned. "Yeah, look at you two. I was actually just heading out now. I have . . . something important to do. So, if you'd excuse me." He said as he rushed out.
"Brandon, I'll be right back." Denella said.
"Yeah, okay. I'm pretty busy myself. I'll see you later."
"Okay, yeah, I'll see you later." Denella rushed after Raphael. When she caught up with him, he was already outside heading to the parking lot. "Raphael, wait up! What happened back there?"
"What do you mean?" He questioned, knowing exactly what she was talking about.
"Why were you acting like that with Brandon?" she demanded. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about."
"It's nothing."
"No, I know it's something. I saw the way you reacted when I hugged him."
"No, it's just that . . . since when have you and him been that close?" I mean, you used to hate him."
"Well, people change. Once I got to know him, it was different. Come on, at first I never liked you either. You were the reason I had to get a new partner; I failed my mission because of you. But, after I got to know you much better and . . ." Denella sighed. "Why does that one hug even matter? Are you jealous?"
He reacted quickly. "No! Of course not. Why would I be jealous of him? Why do think that?" he inquired.
She hesitated. "I don't know. It's just that you seem kind of jealous."
"Well, I'm not. And Brandon seems like a nice guy, so you can go back to your partner and do whatever it is you have to do." He walked away and left Denella standing there without even a goodbye.