Phonophobia

|21|

"I feel like they're staring at me." I mumbled into my soup bowl.

Payne chuckled beside me and placed his hand on my thigh under the table.

"They are, but Greg is pretty much glaring." 

When he said that I instantly looked up from my dinner and glanced over the long dinner table. Many of them immediately looked away and focused on their meals. My eyes met with Greg's and he didn't even bother to look away despite the fact that he had been caught staring, instead he held my gaze until I looked away. 

"I think he hates me." I mumbled shrinking back into my chair.

"He doesn't, he just feels. . . confronted." Payne said trailing his hand higher to the inner part of my thigh.

"Stop it." I whined pressing my legs together. He just laughed and kissed my temple.

From the other side of the table, Vera was blushing deeply beside Theo as he whispered into her ears. She pushed him away playfully and placed her hand on her flat stomach, he placed his hands on hers affectionately.

"Are those two together or something?" I asked out of curiosity.

Payne looked over at them and pursed his lips.

"She could do much better." He mumbled stuffing a meatball inside his mouth.

"Theo seems good. I think he's a good guy." I voiced my thoughts out.

Payne almost choked on the meat. I handed him a glass of water and he gulped it down quickly.

"Jesus Christ, Baybi, don't say nice stuff about my brother. You might kill me." Payne said with a short cough, wiping the sides of his eyes with a napkin.

"He's your brother? Wow, I noticed that you guys look alike but – wow!" I exclaimed in fascination.

"Yeah, it's actually Theodore in full. Theodore Benjamin Lonsdale. You can just call him Theo."

"Wow," I repeated just staring at the two of them. "If it weren't for your resemblance, nobody would've thought you guys were brothers. The two of you don't seem. . .close." 

"Yeah we – um," He cleared his throat and seized a cracker from his plate. "He's just –– different from me. I don't want to talk about it." He said breaking the cracker into tiny pieces.

"Ok," I said simply. "But it doesn't always have to be that way." I added softly, placing my hand on his own that was on my thigh.

He smiled down at me thankfully and placed a kiss on my temple.

A low screech of a chair was heard. I looked at where the sound came from and saw Greg leaving his seat. He looked frustrated.

Payne also drew back his chair making me frown.

"Where are you going?"

"Erm, I have to make a call. I'll be right back, just go to the room when you're done ok?" He said and I nodded.

I watched as he disappeared down the corridor that Greg followed and a sigh left my lips.

"You okay there muffin chops?" Alex asked as he emerged from the kitchen with a refilled bowl of soup.

"Yeah, I'm good. Didn't you refill that thing twice already?" I asked referring to the soup bowl in his hands.

"Yes I did, it just tastes even better everytime. Alfredo is trying to get me all stuffed and chubby." He sighed dramatically placing his free hand on my shoulder.