A/N: just want 2 say thanks to my supporters and fans ily guyssss ^^ ✨✨💖 nsfw scene coming soon
03:46:57.
Lyle paused the timer, and the recording software on the computer. Corey stretched his arms out, nearly hitting Lyle in the process. Zach stretched his long spider legs out, and playfully bumped Ari with his elbow. Chris stood up and stretched, letting out a comically loud screech as he did. Zach followed suit and made an even more disturbing noise. Of course, this caused the rest of the guys to do the same, trying to one up each other. As Adam finished his ungodly sounding version, everyone stopped and looked toward Ari. It was her turn. She looked to her left, meeting a curious gaze from Tomar. Turning to her right, a somewhat threatening stare from Zach. She took a deep breath.
A very pathetic whimper was all that came out of her mouth. Not like a hot one, but more like a small alien creature trying to communicate. She was rewarded with hearty laughter, nonetheless.
Once the laughter died down, a few of the guys filed out of the room towards the kitchen. Corey went out first, starting up an argument with Lyle as he followed. Tomar got up after them, and Zach stood up from the couch.
"Need anything?" He asked Ari, who was still sitting in her spot. He stuck her lip out to think for a second, then shook her head.
"I think I'm good. Thanks!" She smiled sweetly at him. He flipped her off. She did the same. As he made his way out, he winked subtly at her. She blushed. She really wasn't expecting him to be so confident like that. Or smooth, at least. She still couldn't help but think of him as a goofy little cartoon character.
Chris and Adam were the only ones that remained. Adam was sinking into the bean bag, drink in one hand and a pizza box in the other. Chris was looking down at him, both in a quiet conversation. Ari finally stretched out herself, and popped every bone she had in the process. Adam's head snapped over to her.
"Jesus Christ was that you??" He asked in a concerned voice.
"Yeah she did that last time. It's awesome." Chris responded. She giggled a little, and popped her fingers. Adam looked terrified. Ari got up and went over to the table in the back, lifting up the pizza box lids. She grabbed a paper plate and picked two slices of pepperoni pizza. The boys had returned to their conversation when she sat back down on the couch.
After a few bites of cold pizza, their voices slowly came to a stop. After a few seconds of silence, Adam looked over to Ari.
"So how'd you guys meet?" He asked. Ari and Chris looked at each other. Ari answered first.
"I auditioned for the editor position a few years ago. I came to visit for a convention, and decided to move out here with my friend." Chris nodded as she spoke. "That's basically it. I work with the animation studio Zach has, too." Ari tossed her head towards the door to indicate Zach. Adam nodded.
"That's pretty cool. All Chris told me was you're just a cool person and also a girl." He said, pointing towards Chris. Ari laughed a little as Chris scoffed.
"I told you about her like a year ago. She edited some episodes you were on, too." Chris took a sip of his Dr Pepper, and Adam shook his head.
"I don't remember that. Whatever, you're right either way. You're pretty cool, Ari." He said sleepily. Ari smiled at him.
"Thanks Adam. You're a little silly yourself." She complimented. Adam chuckled, and tried to stand up. He fell back into the bean bag, and attempted again, but had the same result. He looked up at Chris, making a pouty face. Chris called him a slur he can't reclaim, and stood up to help him.
Adam stumbled upwards, drink and pizza box still in hand. He smiled goofily at Ari, who was silently laughing, and thanked Chris. He walked slowly across the room and towards the hallway.
"Don't fuck while we're gone." He said, as he wobbled out the door.
Ari stopped chewing her pizza when she realized it was just her and Chris left in the room. She looked over at him, still standing. His gaze finally met hers when he turned to look, also coming to the same realization. Ari averted his eyes this time.
The room suddenly felt incredibly quiet and empty. She tried to continue eating her pizza, but felt very self conscious while doing so. Chris sat back down in his chair, also seeming to be self conscious.
It had only been a few minutes since everyone left, but it felt like an hour. Ari finished the rest of her pizza while Chris messed with his phone, neither speaking. Of course, Ari was trying to think of what to say the entire time. Should she say something at all or just act like it was nothing?
Normally, this wouldn't really be that much of a concern to her. A lot of guys have tried flirting with her over the years, most unsuccessfully. Even if they think they're being subtle, they really aren't. She knew what to look for, and how to identity flirting. However, she always tried to assume first that they aren't flirting. Or at least didn't mean it to be.
Despite being flirted with a lot, Ari still found it hard to believe that someone would flirt with her to begin with.
Maybe Chris was joking. Doesn't read that way, and that's not the kind of jokes he makes. Maybe he smoked with Adam and had some high/sober thoughts, like when people drink and admit to things. He maybe said it as a statement, like regret. Maybe he's not trying to exactly flirt, but just express that at one point he was interested.
Maybe it's not that big of a deal, really. But she was still curious.
"Hey."
She looked up. Chris was looking over at her, arms resting on his legs. She held her breath.
"Sorry about... what I said." He spoke.
Ari's eyes searched his face. She wanted to tell him it was okay, but made no sound.
"I wasn't trying to like... flirt... or anything. I was a lil high cuz of Adam," he continued. "and that was like... a confession of sorts... I guess. I don't know." His expression softened from nervousness to a look of regret.
"Sorry." He shrugged defeatedly, and looked towards his feet. Ari just sat across from him, silently. She still had no clue what to say. She hadn't rehearsed a response for this scenario. She didn't want him to feel bad. She really just wanted to know what his feelings were.
"It's okay Chris." She spoke quietly. He looked back up at her.
"It wasn't like creepy or anything. I was just wondering what you meant." She tried to reassure.
"W- what I meant?" He asked, a nervous tone returning to his voice.
"Oh like... I mean I know what you meant," Ari said, moving her hands as she spoke. "At least I think I do."
Chris waited for her to continue speaking. It seemed he didn't know what to say either. Gathering her thoughts, she sat up in her seat.
"It's not a big deal. I just didn't know how to respond to that. It just surprised me." She tried to smile but could only muster up a crooked one. He nodded softly, his eyes averting hers in thought. It was quiet for a few more seconds.
"I'm happy for you and Zach. I really am. He's been crushing on you for a while. Me and Jam thought so at least."
Ari had almost forgotten that Jam talked to Chris regularly. She offered to help him with audio for the videos when Ari mentioned that he was having trouble with it, and they got along pretty quickly. She wondered just how much they talk, and what about. Apparently about her and Zach.
They were quiet again. Ari was feeling a lot of things as she sat on the couch across from Chris, who had sunk back into his chair. She did feel relief, having the hardest part of the conversation done with. Relief, but also confusion. She still wasn't sure what to make of it. She looked back up at him, preparing to speak. He looked up as well, listening intently.
The door swung open, and the colliding voices of Lyle and Corey filled the room. Tomar and Adam followed behind them, both holding cans of Dr Pepper.
Ari didn't say anything, but leaned back into the couch. Chris did the same, looking disappointed. She wasn't really sure what she was going to say, actually. The boys all took their spots again, engaged in more hypotheticals.
Adam walked towards Chris and plopped down into the bean bag.
"Chris!" He said.
"What?" Chris responded in a fake annoyed tone.
"You didn't tell me Ari and Zach are dating!"
Chris and Ari's eyes met once again. She opened her mouth to respond. They aren't exclusive or like, official or anything. They hadn't talked about labels, and Ari didn't want to put one on it. It's only been a week or two. Chris answered before she could, however.
"Yeah, they are."
