his star ~ b. barnes

chapter six

a/n: hello wonderful people <3 just a TW for all of you. there are mentions of an alcoholic and mentally abusive father and an o.d. death, so if you are uncomfortable with any of that, it comes near the end of this chapter if you need to skip go ahead. anyways hope everyone is having a great july!)

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i stare at my phone for a good five minutes in utter silence. ben is following me on instagram. wow, that's weird to say. can i say ben? should i say ben barnes? benjamin? i'll go with that one. seems formal.

"uh ry, you ok there? you look kind of...pale."

nora asks from the couch, her blue-light glasses slipping down the arch of her nose.

"he followed me on instagram."

she looks at me, confusion displayed over her features.

"who?"

"benjamin barnes."

her gaze returns to her own phone, ignoring what i had just said, which is not surprising, but this time i have proof.

i take a screenshot of my notifications and airdrop them to her, awaiting her reaction by tapping my foot on the floor. i hear the chime and see her face change from confusion to disbelief, her wide eyes switching from her phone to my gaze.

"OH MY GOD, RY, BEN BARNES FOLLOWS YOU ON INSTAGRAM."

"I KNOW, ISN'T IT AWESOME?"

"why is there yelling?"

george enters the room after what looks like a four hour nap.

"have you been...asleep, george?"

i ask, lowering the extreme loudness in my voice.

"whaaat? i have no idea what you are talking about." he says as he walks over to the coffee maker.

"anyways,"

nora announces.

"back to the matter at hand. so you are telling me you actually know ben barnes."

"yes."

"well that settles it! you two have to go on a date."

although mentally i am not opposed to this suggestion, i do not want to give nora the satisfaction.

"woah there lady, we have barely had any conversations yet."

"hey. i'm a psychic, remember?"

*ping*

*one notification from instagram*
hello asteria! of course i remember you. I also enjoyed our brief interactions. we should make a third one, if you want. does coffee at 8 tomorrow work?

"nora?"

"yes, my beloved?"

"i guess i am going on a date with him."