The Traphouse // c.b & b.t

Always One Step Ahead

"How'd it go today?" Franny flops onto the couch next to me.

"Surprisingly well?" I smile weakly. Not in a bad way but in a 'how did it actually go this well without shit hitting the fan' way.

"Yeah?" She puts her feet up on the coffee table.

"I told Brennen I don't have feelings for him." I look at her and she smiles.

"See? I told you it wouldn't be so bad. Do you feel better?"

"I think so? I don't know." I lean my head back and close my eyes. "I think it's because I still have this weird thing with Colby. Or maybe it's because I didn't tell Brennen the whole truth?"

"Well it's not like you lied to Brennen." She says. "That's what matters. You cleared things up with him. Colbys next."

"What? What do you mean, next?" I look at her.

"What is this game you guys are playing? Is it worth it for you to feel like how you are right now?" She turns her body to face me more.

"I have no idea what the game is. It started and got out of control. But it's not like I want it to end." I reply. "I can't go down without a fight — whatever this is."

Franny smiles and shakes her head. "Sounds like you need a plan then."

I nod my head and rub my eyes. "That's hard to do when he's always one step ahead of me."

She looks at me again.

"What?" I raise my eyebrows, kind of uncomfortable at how long she's looking at me.

"Have you guys ever just.. talked?" She asks.

I look down at my lap and think.

"No actually." I reply. "That's weird."

"Is it?" She chuckles. "Maybe you should start there." She stands up and starts walking to the kitchen.

"What would we talk about?" I lean on the arm of the couch, watching her open the fridge.

"God I don't know maybe just get to know each other?" She closes the fridge revealing a bag of grapes.

I groan and lay back onto a pillow.

"I don't want to feel like I lost the game though!" I lay my arm over my eyes.

"You're like the most competitive person I know." She laughs from the kitchen. "I'll never understand it."

"Did I tell you that Colby planned the whole bar thing?" I speak up, still laying down.

"Bar thing?" She asks.

"Those guys at the bar, he planned that." I laugh slightly, impressed at how good he is.

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah I'm serious, Sam told me he heard Colby on the phone about it." I sit up and start walking to the kitchen.

"Hmm." She shakes her head after popping a grape into her mouth. "Want one?"

I look at the bag of purple grapes and shake my head. "I only like the green ones."

"Of course you do." She zips up the bag and puts it away.

"Maybe I should talk to him about the night of the bar? See if he acts weird or something?" I put my chin in my hand and watch Franny for any reaction.

"That might not be a bad idea." She says. "What are you just going to go to his house?"

"I don't know I haven't thought that far ahead!" I laugh.