fallin' out of love (stemxstud)

21

Valentine

"How did you know where I was?" Anaela asked, sitting on top of her desk as she fumbled with her hands.

I frowned, "Your mother called."

"Of course she did," she murmured. "What did you get into now?" she asked a bit louder.

I gestured over at Teece besides me, quiet with her eyes stationed on the floor. "Ask her."

"Teece?" Anaela said tentatively.

"I was ready to end you by no means necessary not too long ago and now here I am asking you to help me," Teece said, her voice filled with emotion as she met Anaela's gaze. "To help us." Teece fell to both of her knees, clasping her hands together with an exhausted expression. "If it weren't for me a lot of things would be different right now. I get it, I might as well have sentenced us all to death for selfish reasons...but please find some mercy in you, Anaela."

"I don't think I could find it," Anaela shook her head slowly, studying Teece on the floor.

I pressed my lips together, watching their interaction.

"Even if I wanted to," she finished, revealing a packaged needle. "At first, I was gonna go with a gun," she stated slowly, "but I think this is just as lethal." She hopped off her desk. "This...is mercy."

Teece gulped, still in the same position as Anaela walked over to her. Teece glanced at me, but said nothing. Did she think I would save her after everything she had done?

Would I? I wondered.

Obviously I don't want her dead...I helped her.

That has to say something.

"Valentine," Anaela locked eyes with me. "You'll do the honors."

"Orrr what?" I took a step towards the two of them, folding my arms.

"Or you'll be the one to die," Anaela told me softly.

"Anaela, this isn't you. You never wanted to become-

"You don't know me...or what I have become, Tino," she declared, clutching the needle in her hand. "Now do it or...Teece will inject you."

"I won't," Teece said firmly, staring up at Anaela as Anaela stared into my eyes.

"This is all your choice, Tino," Anaela said, audibly holding back a sob as her eyes started to grow glossy.

"All this because I don't want you," I stated, looking at either as I said that. "What's so special about me, huh? I'm a fuck up."

"You're not," they both said firmly.

"I find it hard to see the two of you as good judgment of whether I'm an actual fuck up or not," I laughed. I held out my hand, "Give it here."

"Aht aht. You might stab me with it," Anaela wagged her finger, "We're gonna do it together. As a team."

"Teece," my eyes fell down on her.

"It's either I die or you do. I'd rather it be me."

Something blossomed in me hearing that.

Was that obsession...or was that love?

I guess I'd never know.

"I'm sorry Teece. I'm sorry I never fulfilled my promise. We were gonna do great things. And...I'm sorry I couldn't love you in the way you wanted me to," I added. I looked over at Anaela, "I'm sorry I couldn't love you in that way either."