Poker And Chess

Ch 4: That Was Calculated, The Snuggle.

Melanie was crying.

We were at work, cleaning up and Melanie was crying.

She was my best work friend and I was hers, everyone knew it, and now she was sobbing over the bar menus.

I was concerned and I was startled. She frequently had break downs but she had been fine the whole night. This was different. More intense.

I didn't know what was happening. You did.

But I hugged her and asked her to tell me what was wrong.
She rushed and spluttered the words out inbetween sobs and harsh, shallow breaths. It was the anniversary of her best friends suicide. Yikes. I needed you. She needed you.

I've never been good at consoling, my method of comfort is hugs, physical contact and listening. I don't try to help I'm just there for you. But I couldn't let her go home alone like she was. I was scared. Scared she would do something.

You were her best friend. You knew her well. I figured you'd know what to do so I got her to text you. I texted you too. You were awake, surprisingly, it was midnight.

I told you I didn't want her alone tonight. You agreed she shouldn't be. You told her to come over. Both you and Melanie invited me with. I didn't have anywhere else I needed to be and I was worried and invested. We came. I brought weed and a bottle of booze. We fed most of it to Melanie, tried to get her to sleep.
It took a while. She chugged the bottle I brought when you made an ill timed joke about hanging out with the friend. I had to stifle my laughter.

We bonded over our care and concern for Melanie. I was right, you did know what to do. You said things to her I never would have imagined saying. You said exactly what she needed to hear. I was in awe. It was a caring side of you. It was sweet.

Melanie eventually passed out. We stayed with her a while, to make sure she was actually asleep. You opened your phone and put on some funny videos and I cuddled up to your chest. That was calculated, the snuggle.

Rook to queen B3.

Nothing happened that night though. I was playing a long game. Laying down groundwork. You went to sleep in your bed, I stayed on the mattress with Melanie.

We both woke up around 6 however. You because you were used to it and I because I couldn't sleep with Melanie snoring in my ear.

Neither of us could handle the bellowing of Melanie's snores and you suggested we go to your room for some quiet.

We put something on the TV to watch. I don't remember what it was. It wasn't important. It was background noise to drown out Melanie's dulcet tones.

I remember talking. A lot. I think I was rambling, I was so close to you, shoulder to shoulder on your twin bed. It wasn't like the Calculated Snuggle, it was easy as breathing.

I was making so many jokes and you were sighing. I decided I liked it when you sighed at my dumb jokes. You made fun of me and made a list of all the things I was.

Narcissistic
Impulsive
Petty
Dumb jokes

It's funny because we both noticed these were things you were as well.

You moved your arm around me and I was snuggled up to you again.

Or was I trapped this time?

I wanted to make you flustered but at the time I was flustered.

You listed off the things that I was once more- the things that we were - and held my eyes when you were finished. Your swampy green brown eyes.

"Ya'll better not be fucking", Melanie's groggy voice broke the eye contact and the strange alone time we had was gone.

Fuck, we were having a moment weren't we?

I went to work satisfied.
I nearly had you.
This would be easy.

Tag.

You're it.