En Route To Dinner

[thedebauchone]

Alexis all but shoves me aside to start towards the kitchen.

That is one cold bitch, I smirk to myself, but I got to respect that commitment to being so goddamn frosty. All the fucking time.

That's exactly why Marcus and I came back, you know. We were tired of people like Alexis. Those quick to judge, who thought us abnormal. People who assaulted us

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[theaurorasfate]

Aurelio's lilting voice is harsh to my ears. I turn from them and walk to the stairs, wanting to find Ethan. I have no doubt that all he has done is read in the cramped, dark room.

[themarpessa]

I’m sad to see Alexis leave, because I wanted to tell her something, but I’m sure she’d rather die than spend any more time voluntarily with a certain flippant god. Yet, the room always lights up in some playful and fatuous way when Aurelio enters. He has that command about him-so that everyone is forced to redirect his or her awareness to him, and he relishes in it.

"Aurelio, something tells me that's exactly the kind of girl you are." I remark nonchalantly. He pouts as I unfurl myself from him and make towards Ryan, who's leaning casually against the cool wall

[theorionsstar]

The gentle press of Cassie's body against my own is enough to warm whatever cold space I had developed inside over the course of the day. She makes a silly, endearing face at me and (not for the first time) I am almost overcome with the sense that she is the last good and solid thing in my life, the only thing that fits and feels safe.

"Hey," I whisper, twining my fingers with hers.

Her hand feels soft and warm in mine; I never want to let her go.

"I missed you."

[themarpessa]

"You too."

I'm shuffling my feet, absent-mindedly nudging his ankle with my toe. His hand is rough, yet consoling. Anchoring me and my thoughts. For a moment I feel pleasantly blank until Caden says something that distracts me.

[theperseus]

I glance absently at Cassie and Ryan, a tightness forming slowly in my throat, before I turn back to Aurelio.

"Well, you'd better put out for me," I say, "Since someone is determined to steal all the glory for this meal, I'm feeling significantly underappreciated."

[thedebauchone]

"The only title you two deserve is 'couple with the most fucking disgusting moments of unwanted PDA'" I scoff at Cassie.

[theperseus]

I choke on a laugh, but otherwise remain silent, suddenly aware of the awkwardness of my own stance and physicality. I feel thrown out of rhythm, and all I want now is to leave.

[theorionsstar]

"Jealous, Aurelio?" I say with a sly grin. "We might be too much competiton."

[themarpessa]

Abruptly uncomfortable with the conversation; I let go of Ryan's hand and move to the counter top and pick up our steaming meal.

"Look at how delectable this looks." I remark proudly, steering the topic in a different direction, "Caden and I just whipped it up. We're mad chefs." I wink at him.

[thedebauchone]

I roll my eyes at how that all went over her pretty little head. At how naive she can be. Not exactly the trait of a goddess in the making, that's for sure.

"It's a good thing she's cute," I mutter under my breath to Caden, "Cause she's not always that sharp."

Gotta love that girl, though. I grin.

[themarpessa]

"Fuck you bitch, I heard that." I shoot Aurelio and Caden the dirtiest of looks.

[theperseus]

"You heard it," I begin, "but the question is: did you understand it?"

I smirk tauntingly.

[themarpessa]

"Hey, if I didn't tutor you--you would have failed that course we took together. So shut your mouth" I retort through gritted teeth.

[themarpessa]

"Oh. Nothing much," I roll my eyes and smirk at her, "Just hung out in the kitchen with Caden. which was eventful, as you'd imagine."

I sigh, but I'm smiling.

[theorionsstar]

I stiffen a little at the word 'eventful', but say nothing.

Jesus, Ryan, I think to myself. You're getting fucking paranoid.

[theperseus]

"Eventful?"

I laugh a little, but it dies once I catch sight of Ryan. It's like he's glaring at me almost unconsciously or something. I frown, a sudden and inexplicable sense of wrongness rising in me, and I look away quickly.

[theaurorasfate]

Not surprised by their tactlessness, I try not to let the conversation snag in the details.

"Caden, you look like you've been out in the sun. I think you've burnt a bit."