Forced Into Insanity

Chapter 8: Upper Hand

— Katherine —

"That shit hurts, Tom." I blurt out.
"Why though? Like I don't see why this would hurt to hear." He tries to reason with me again.
"Now you're talking just like Gabe! Gosh, Tom. You know what? Maybe I don't want to talk about how I'm practically a slut!" I yell.
"I never said that, Kath. I don't think you're a-"
"Well it sure seems like it!" I'm fuming. Why is it so hard to accept that I love Gabriel? I love him, I love him so much, Tom. You don't understand because you've probably never experienced love you..you imbecile! utter fool, stupid bastard, brainless doughnut!

I laugh to myself. Brainless doughnut, that's such a Gabriel thing to say, my god.

My kitten loves throwing random comments like that and I love it.

Surprisingly, that one thought about kitten really calmed me down. Huh. Kitten, you just might have something there. Back to my idiotic brother.

Ugh, why do we even share the same last name?

"Katherine, snap out of it!" Thomas yells at me.
"Point is, Tom, I'm in love with Gabriel and I'm not ending the relationship because it bothers you. Nothing in life is without flaws, not even you or I, Thomas." He goes quiet, probably pondering what I just said. Tom is reasonable, but also a guy, and they're sensitive idiots.

Except Kitten, he's a good guy.

My good guy, my Kitten.

—~~~—

— Francesca —

Dangerous. That's what this is. What I'm doing is so dangerous, so..wonderfully addicting.

I'm glad Katherine hurt you, Oliver.

I'm glad we're in this room at this exact moment, my love. You're the only one who doesn't see it, Oliver Feurn. I take wide steps towards him. A heavy heat fills my throat, my legs, my spine, everywhere.

How do you get me to respond like this?

Oliver Feurn, my kryptonite, my wonderful weakness.

My only weakness.

The camera. The camera changed.

Thomas? But didn't you leave? Who's watching us?

Oliver pulls me into a hug. I'm dazed.

"I'm sorry, Francesca." He mumbles into my shoulder. He looks so weak, so out of it, what happened to you, love? My arms instinctively wrap around him. Heaven, you're heaven personified, Oliver.
"Call me Fran." I say playfully, hoping it at least earns a smile. He perks up.
"Call me Ollie." He replies, smiling. Ollie, I like it.
"Maybe I will, Olive." I hook his chin and force him to look at me.

The camera blinks again. I barely catch it out of the corner of my eye.

"That makes it sounds like a nickname for Olivia. I'm Oliver."
"What about black? Like black olives." He ponders this for a few seconds.
"That works." He shrugs.
"I prefer bio guy though." He says. I actually laugh.
"And why do you say that? Have the students called you that before?" I enquire rather curiously.
"You wish." I like you, Black.

He actually smirks.

"I know." He says nonchalantly. What?
"I know you like me, Fran, but it'll sure hurt if you don't start moving on." He read my mind? How could he have even known what I was thinking?