Everybody Has A Price

Mot, Mot, Mot

I avoided talking as much as possible at the picnic. When I had to talk it was in short, abrupt answers. It was midday, and I still sat with Dianite. I had maybe said a total of ten words in the entirety of the picnic. If he couldn't read my mind, he probably would have been bothering me about talking more.

"I miss Tom," I blurt out. My eyes went wide. Where did that even cone from? Did I really just say that? Dia's mouth hung open.

"Oh." His voice cracked. He looked so guilty. Why was he guilty? "I'm so sorry. I should've known." He looked like he was trying to make himself smaller. He wrapped his arms around himself.

"What are you talking about?" He was confusing me so much.

"You just want Syndi. I should have known. You were just trying to cope when you..." He was pacing back and forth now. He was still hugging himself.I didn't say anything. I didn't deny it nor confirm it. For some reason I couldn't react. I just looked at him with a blank expression. I didn't have any sort of emotional reaction to the distraught Dianite. It was like I was numb.

I bet that was killing him, too.

He couldn't read my emotions if I couldn't read them. He was still rambling about how he was an awful god and such, but I didn't care. He stopped suddenly.

"Are you even listening?" he asked. He stared at me, boldly.

"No."

"I said I will try to get Tom back. That is, if you want. Do you want Tom back?" His voice was soft. He was so sad. I paused to think for a moment. Blank.

"No." He looked defeated.

"What is wrong with you?" He dropped to the ground in front of me. "Are you feeling all right?" He scanned ny blank face.

"No." He looked shocked. It's amazing how people are so surprised when the truth is told.

"How are you feeling right now?"

"I'm feeling nothing."

"You have to tell me, Sparkly Knob," he chuckled sadly. His head was cocked to the side.

"I really don't feel anything." I stared into his eyes, emotionless. "Why is that?" I cocked my head to mirror him.

"Maybe you just miss having such strong emotions for Tom?" He looked upset by his theory.

"I'm not sad." I could see his heart breaking in his eyes.

"Maybe you just have to find something that makes you happy? Maybe then you will get out of this?" I stared at him for a moment. He smiled weakly.

I grabbed his face and connected our lips. There was enough force to push the god over. I ended up on Dianite, kissing him. I imagined being passionate. I imagined feeling that normal rush and excitement. Nothing came but I pretended it was there. I pulled away with a bright, fake smile. Did he know it was fake? He smiled back and pecked my lips again. Apparently not.

"That's better," I giggled falsely.

"That was weird. I wonder what happened."

"Yeah, that was crazy. I'm glad it's over." I smiled. Lies. So many lies. Why didn't he realize I was lying? Whatever.

My wondrous lying was interrupted by a body hitting us. Did someone really appear out of nowhere? Okay. That was new.

"I am so sorry! I was experimenting with portals and this just happened!" The voice did not come from the body that hit us. It was Gaines. "Oh dear. I have no idea who this is." The body was dragged away. "Oh dear. I apologize sirs." He looked up from the body. His face washed over with recognition. "Dianite? Mr. Sparklez?" His face grew pale. "What are you doing?" The question was directed at me. I raised an eyebrow.