Into deception

Stolen glances

📚

"What movie are we watching?"

He falls onto the sofa with a sigh, and I'm stuck in the middle of both of them, although I'm currently pressing myself a little too much into Max. I can't help it. After Max made the pizza, I started getting some blankets out for the both of us so we could start the movie, but the second we got comfortable, Bane dropped down beside us like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"Ummm—"

Max stares at me, and I very carefully give him a death stare.

"I..."

Clearly, Max is just as confused about this situation as I am.

"Hey, guys, are we watching a movie? Oh, hey, Bane."

Will and Ray stumble into the living room, and Ray shoots me a small smile that I return as best I can, although my mind isn't really working at the moment.

"Uh, yeah, we're watching something. You guys wanna join? I made pizza."

"Yeah, why not?"

This time, I don't mind the fact that they've crashed the little party that was meant for just me and Max because Will and Ray aren't just other people. They're familiar. They're safe. They're part of a version of my life that doesn't feel quite as complicated as the one sitting beside me.

So when they all huddle around the floor, I take the moment to heart.

Except Bane.

Bane is outside that range by a long shot.

Max starts the movie, and I zone in. I actually love the Divergent series. It sort of reminds me of the life we live right now, except, of course, when people die in that world, they don't actually die because someone behind the scenes yells "cut" and they all go home unharmed. Things like that don't happen here.

And then he moves.

He spreads his legs wide enough that his knee brushes against mine, and the urge to both cut his legs off and kill myself is very real.

~ Bane ~

I touched her knee.

It was such a small brush that I barely had any time to savour the feeling before she pulled away, but it was enough. I saw it immediately, the way her body tensed and the way she shifted herself further into Max as though creating even the smallest amount of distance between us suddenly mattered.

Her pupils widened.

Her jaw tightened.

Her chest fell a little too quickly.

I know her.

I know all of her to an extent where you could wipe my memory clean and I'd still remember everything about her. I know the smallest changes in her expression, the things she does when she's uncomfortable, the things she does when she's frightened, the things she does when she's trying to pretend she's neither.

I'm wired in a way that's just for her.

I'm utterly useless for anyone and anything that isn't her.