Dynamics (Twoset Violin Fanfic)

Chapter Eighteen

I wonder why he had to leave, Eddy thought to himself as he took the train home. It felt like whiplash: one moment they were talking over bubble tea in a tiny rainbow-colored booth, and the next moment Brett was gone.

For the millionth time that day, he questioned if they had been on a date. It seemed like it. But Brett was nice enough that maybe he was just being friendly. Eddy smiled faintly and suddenly wished he had been looking more at Brett's face and less at the tablecloth in embarrassment. Then maybe he would have known...

"Where have you been?" Belle asked, jumping up to stand as soon as Eddy opened the door. "I called you three times, and you didn't respond."

Eddy felt a muscle in his jaw twitch at Belle's mother-hen act. Still, he took a deep breath and tried to focus on the lingering taste of chocolate bubble tea.

"I was out," he said simply. "And I think my phone was off."

"Still, I was really worried," Belle said. "You can't just stay out like that without at least telling me first."

Like you've never gone out without telling me, Eddy thought.

Belle sighed. "You've just been so distant lately."

Eddy gritted his teeth but said nothing.

"Are you even listening?" Belle demanded. "I've barely seen you these past few weeks, and when we do get to talk, you ignore me! Why does it feel like you're avoiding me?"

Eddy dropped his bag to the floor. "You know why? Because I am avoiding you." he said. "Because every time we talk you're either mocking my love life or telling me how 'irresponsible' I'm being."

Belle took a breath to speak, but he interrupted her.

"I'm not a child anymore," he continued. "I don't need your permission to go on a date."

"Aww, you went on a date?" she said. "Good for you! Was it with Brett?"

"It's none of your business!" Eddy exclaimed, suddenly furious. "This is exactly what I mean! Every time I try to tell you something, anything at all, you act like— you act like Mom!"

Belle stared at him.

"And you'll never be her! Because you're only a few years older than me and—"

"You're right," Belle said, eerily calm. "I'll never be her. Which is why I'm leaving."

"What?"

"Just for a few hours. I need to clear my head," she said. "You can stay by yourself, right? Since you're an adult."

"You know what? I'll go. I can't stay here anyway."

"Go, then."

So he left. He walked down the stairs, out of the building, not caring where he was going, just anywhere, anywhere away.

By the time he was able to think again, Eddy realized he was in the park. For a moment, this surprised him because that meant he had walked a good few kilometers away from his house. Then he remembered why he had walked so far, and anger flooded through him again.

His phone vibrated.

Incoming call from: Brett Yang

Eddy gritted his teeth, declining the call because flirting was the last thing he felt like doing, not when Belle had just—

His phone buzzed again, this time with a text tone.

Brett: please answer its urgent

And suddenly, all of Eddy's anger turned to icy, slushy fear in his stomach.

Incoming call from: Brett Yang

With shaking hands, he accepted the call.