𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧, 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧.

13 | decisions

"Hey, what's going on? You're back in Florida, for how long?" Leyna asks over the phone.

Briarr strolls into the living room, flopping onto the sofa "A lot to explain, let's just say Nick got bored," she says through teeth "And I honestly don't know."

Leyna gasps "You're telling me his 'emergency' was fake?"

"Yep, just to get me over here," Briarr sighs.

"Why? Is that douche roommate of his not enough fun for him?" She chuckles.

Briarr grins "Douche roommate is a faceless youtuber, who refuses to go out incase of being seen."

"I thought the three of you went out the last time you were there?" She wonders, confused.

"Yeah we did! But Clay forced Nick to literally put his hat half way down his face!" Briarr laughs.

Leyna snickered "Are you kidding?"

"No, the waitress gave him a funny look," she replies, holding back a laugh.

"Oh my god I bet he was embarrassed," she starts "Anyway we really need to talk about the apartment."

Briarr sits up straight "Why, is something wrong?"

"No, we just really need to get the details 'n' shit done, but we can't do that if you're not in Houston," Leyna explains.

Briarr groans "It's fine, I'll figure my stuff out and you can figure yours out, okay?" She rubs her temples with stress "Just give me some time to get back home."

"Okay that's fine, I have to go," Leyna says, quickly shutting the conversation down.

"Okay bye, speak soon."

Briarr sighs again, rubbing her face harshly.

"Who was that?" Nick asks from the doorway.

Briarr looks at her hands, not turning to Nick "It was just Ley, on about the apartment again."

Nick strolls over, hands in his pockets and lets out a small 'ah' in understanding. "Still going through with that then?"

Briarr blinks at him, her face puzzled "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

He shrugs at her, sitting down on an armchair "I dunno, I just- thought maybe you wouldn't."

She squints at him, stuck in thought, before quickly standing up. "Whatever, I'm gonna look for flights home," she snaps slightly, walking out the door.

Clay was still sat at the counter, his elbow resting on it while he held his phone in his other hand. He quickly looks up at the sound of her voice.

"You're going home already?" He asks, voice small.

Briarr stops at the stairs, turning back around to face him "Yeah, I need to."

Clay sighs, quickly glancing at the doorway incase Nick were to appear. He gets up and nods at the stairs, indicating for her to go up.

She walks up, Clay behind her and he follows her into the guest room, shutting the door behind him.

"We still need to talk... About yesterday and this morning," he says quietly.

"What is there to talk about?" Briarr questions, shrugging.

Clay scoffs "Are you kidding?"

Briarr hesitates "I don't know what you want me to say," she stutters.

Clay moves to sit beside her on the bed, he furrows his brows before facing her "How do you feel about me?" He asks "Do you still hate me?"

Briarr chuckles lightly "I never hated you."

"Yes you did," Clay replies quickly, raising his brows at her.

She swiftly looks down at her feet "Okay, yes I did..." She admits.

He smiles, looking away. "But still, tell me what you think of me."

She looks back up at him and frowns, hesitant to answer.

"I don't know, Clay..." She whispers softly.

He looks away, shaking his head. "I was gonna tell you that I wanted you to stay in Florida longer," he looks at her again "But I don't think you want to stay."

Briarr looks him in the eyes, trying to find something to say.

Clay laughs slightly "I knew it."

"I want to stay," Briarr blurts "...But I can't."

He bites his lip "It's fine I get it." He looks away again.

She sighs and they sit in an awkward silence, until she moves her hand on top of his "I do like you Clay, I'm just confused and-"

Briarr is cut off by the sound of the door opening and she retracts her hand immediately, the both of them looking to the now opened door.

It was Nick, he looked at them with furrowed brows of confusion "What are you both doing in here?"

Briarr panics, having no excuse and it was clear on her face.

Clay speaks up "She stole my watch," he says, standing up and dangling it Nick's face, before walking out of the room.

Nick raised his brows "You stole his watch!?" He hissed in disbelief.

"No! I didn't I swear!" Briarr squeaks. She looks behind Nick to see Clay smirking at her, then he walks off.

She clenches her jaw, angry that he threw her under the bus. She didn't even know where that watch had come from, but then she looks at her side table.

'That was my fucking watch!' She says in her head.

"Why did you have his watch?" Nick questions.

"I- was checking the time, I thought it was yours," she shrugs, quickly changing the subject "Anyway I need to look for a flight, so bye! Leave!"

"Fine," he says simply, leaving.

Briarr falls back on the bed, groaning. She shut her eyes and covers her face with her hands.

A quiet 'meow' sounds from the door and Briarr sits up again. "Hi Patches," she says softly, smiling.

The cat sits and the door, staring at Briarr.

"What do I do Patches?" She asks "Should I stay a little longer?"

Patches obviously doesn't reply and she just sticks her tongue out slightly.

Briarr giggles lightly "I should go home, hm?"

'Meow'.

Briarr's brows raise in surprise, "I was told you're a quiet cat."

'Meow'.

Briarr giggles again "I guess I'm your favourite." She sighs and hops off of the bed, scooping Patches up, scratching her chin "Your dad sucks," she whispers.

Patches licks Briarr's hand, making her smile. She moves her hand away to pet her head.

"It is very tempting to not stay here longer for him, though." Briarr whispers again.

a/n
im sorry its a short chapter and im also sorry i didnt get it out a few days ago like i had planned but I WAS V DISTRACTED by the qnf meetup!!! and also the florida meetup, aswell as my own stuff

ill try to be more consistent with chapters

ALSO happy mcc day!!