Runs In The Family

The Game

TRIXIE'S POV:

I sat on a bench in the forest, waiting for Hendrix. We decided to meet to have a conversation about everything that'd happened recently.

I looked down at the band Dad had given me, tracing my finger across the outline as I became impatient.

"Didn't think you'd come"

I looked up to see Hendrix walking towards me with a duffel bag in his right hand. I smiled, standing up to take the bag. I thought he'd have forgotten about my belonging from the hotel.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world" I said sarcastically as we both took a seat.

"I'm sorry" he said. I looked at him, waiting for him to elaborate before saying my part.

"I shouldn't have let Brooks take you, I shouldn't have even taken you to your club when you'd just been through something so traumatic. It was my fault and I'm sorry for putting you in danger, Trix"

I smiled at him, he was never insincere when it came to these kind of things. I liked that about him.

"Apology accepted" I said, reaching out and taking his hand in mine "I'm sorry for getting drunk at the club, I think things would've been a lot easier if I was sober throughout it"

He laughed a little, shaking his head when we both thought about that night. It was clumsy but nice.

"And thank you for saving my life" I said "if you hadn't lead Lenny to Brooks then God knows what would've been going on right now, so thank you"

"Hey, I'd do it all over again in a second" he said, placing his hand on mine. "And that Lenny guy, yeah I think he missed you the most".

I chuckled at his comment, Lenny would never admit something like that. He was awful at feelings.

"Well, I missed you" I admitted.

"You did?"

"You were all I could think about" I said quietly, staring down at our intertwined hands. Hendrix forced a smile before slowly pulling his hand away.

"What?" I asked, looking up at him.

"I don't think we can do this, Trix" he said sadly. I tilted my head at him in utter confusion.

"What? But we've been fine, haven't we?"

"Trixie, our families hate each other with a passion. Your brother probably has to kill me. At some point, I'll probably have to kill someone you love, if not you. You know that's the last thing I want to do".

"Then don't" I said "let's both just run away, go live in England, start a new life"

Hendrix stared at me for a second then laughed quietly to himself. We both knew I was being delusional but for some reason it seemed possible.

"No ones moving to England" he said, patting my knee with a small smile.

"So now what?" I asked him, avoiding his eyes.

"I guess we go our separate ways"

"But I don't want to do that" I argued, looking at him in disbelief "why are you letting us go so eas-"

"There is no us" he said, cutting me off. My head jerked back once he'd said that. I'd never felt more hurt. This is why I fucking hated falling in love.

"Okay" I said calmly "then let's just be friends"

He nodded, grinning at me. But I hadn't quite finished my sentence.

"Friends who sleep together" I said, smiling at him. His smile vanished and he stood up. I furrowed my eyebrows at him. I wasn't letting us fall apart like this. Even if he wasn't willing to fight for us, I was.

"Trixie.."

"No" I said bluntly "let's play a game"

"What?" he said, sitting back down.

"We're friends, right?" I said, he stared at me in annoyance before slowly nodding his head too.

"Good. So let's just keep going about our lives as we normally do and the first one to fall in love loses"

"I don't get it"

"What's so hard to understand?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

"You're already in love" he said. I was. But I'd never admit it to anyone, ever. I was awful at this.

"Shut the fuck up" I said "the game starts now"

I turned on my heel and walked away from him, towards the exit. I heard him stand up too but there were no footsteps.

"I'll be home alone tomorrow" he called. I smirked to myself as I kept walking. Never turning back.