Tensions Within

Two months had passed since the incident in Lacy's room, and Jason had been pretending that everything was normal. He had put on a brave face, making jokes and laughing with his friends as if nothing had happened. But the truth was, he was still scared, still uneasy around Banks. The memory of his boss's words lingered in his mind, a constant reminder of the power dynamic between them. As they all sat outside for their live stream, Jason's anxiety spiked. Banks was sitting next to him, his arms wrapped around the back of the outdoor sofa, a seemingly innocent gesture. But Jason couldn't shake off the feeling of discomfort. Silky, on the other hand, was glaring at Banks, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. The stream was going well, with everyone chatting and joking around. Max and Rage, who had recently joined the group, were a bit confused about the tension between Banks and the others, but they tried to fit in, making light of the situation. Jason and Ron were making jokes about Banks' tattoos, specifically the fire design around a diamond on his throat. "You have a fire throat," Jason and Ron chimed in unison, making everyone laugh. Banks smirked, his eyes glinting with a flirty undertone. "Yeah, well, you have a cute little Asian throat," he said, his voice low and suggestive. The room fell silent, and Jason's face froze. He looked uncomfortable, his eyes darting around the group. Silky's expression turned from suspicion to outrage. He stood up, his eyes blazing with anger, and walked over to Jason. "Let's go," Silky said, grabbing Jason's wrist and pulling him up. Jason didn't question Silky; he was actually thankful for the intervention. Silky led him to his car, opening the passenger door for Jason to get in. As Silky started the engine and drove off, Jason let out a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, back at the house, chaos erupted. Lacy quickly turned off the stream, not wanting to deal with the potential fallout. Ron, Adapt, Max, and Rage were all visibly upset, their faces etched with concern. "What's going on with you, Banks?" Max asked, his voice firm but controlled. "You've been acting strange lately, and it's not just about Jason." Banks shrugged, his expression unrepentant. "I'm just trying to have a little fun. You guys are always so uptight." Adapt frowned, his brow furrowed in concern. "It's not about being uptight, it's about respect. You're the CEO and boss, but that doesn't give you the right to make people uncomfortable." Rage chimed in, his voice low and even. "Yeah, and it's not just about Jason. We've all noticed that you've been acting...different. Making jokes that are a bit too edgy, pushing boundaries that you know are going to make people uncomfortable." Banks snorted, his face reddening. "You guys are just jealous because I'm the one in charge. I'm the one who makes the decisions around here." Ron shook his head, his voice firm. "No, Banks, it's not about that. It's about how you treat us, how you talk to us. You're our boss, but you're also our friend. Or at least, you're supposed to be." The argument continued, with no resolution in sight. As the night wore on, the tension between the group members grew thicker, the air thick with unspoken words and unresolved conflicts. As Silky drove Jason home, the silence between them was palpable. Jason finally broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. "Thanks, Silky. I owe you one." Silky glanced at him, his eyes softening. "You don't owe me anything, Jason. We're friends. That's what friends do." Jason nodded, feeling a lump form in his throat. He knew that he could always count on Silky, that he had his back. And as they drove through the night, Jason couldn't help but wonder what the future held for the group, for their relationships with each other, and for his own well-being. The drive seemed to take an eternity, but eventually, Silky pulled up to Jason's house. As Jason got out of the car, he turned to Silky, his eyes locked on his friend's. "I'm sorry, Silky. I'm sorry that I'm putting you guys through this." Silky's expression softened, and he placed a hand on Jason's shoulder. "You're not putting us through anything, Jason. We're in this together. We'll get through it, as a team." As Jason nodded, a sense of gratitude washed over him. He knew that he was lucky to have friends like Silky, who would stand by him no matter what. And as he watched Silky drive away, Jason couldn't help but feel a sense of hope, a sense that everything would be okay in the end. But as he walked into his house, Jason couldn't shake off the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated. The tension between the group members was palpable, and he knew that it was only a matter of time before things came to a head. And as he lay in bed that night, Jason couldn't help but wonder what the future held for the group, and for his own place within it.