𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 // 𝗖.𝗙

𝖯 𝖫 𝖤 𝖠 𝖲 𝖤

SYLVIA GLANCED at Conrad as she sat beside him on their worn couch, a half-read book resting on her lap. His eyes were glued to the television, but his gaze seemed distant, unfocused.

An emotionless mask had settled over his features, a look that had been deepening like a shadow in the past few weeks.

"Hey, pretty boy." Sylvia murmurs, closing her book with a soft thud. She shuffled closer, her shoulder brushing against his.

Conrad's head snapped toward her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He casually draped an arm over the back of the couch, a gesture that felt more obligatory than affectionate in this moment.

"You okay? You seem... off."

"Just fine." Conrad replied, the words sounding hollow, like a rehearsed line.

It was the same answer he'd been giving her for weeks, a shield against her concern. Sylvia knew it was a lie, a carefully constructed facade.

She also knew that if she pressed him, pried for the truth, he would only retreat further, burying himself deeper in his silence.

The thought stung, making her feel like the most inadequate girlfriend in the world.

"You sure?" Sylvia urged gently, her voice barely a whisper.

"I wouldn't lie to you." Conrad said, his gaze drifting back to the television.

But the lie hung in the air between them, thick and suffocating.

Sylvia drew her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as she nodded slowly. "Um, Steven invited us to their prom. He told me to beg you to come."

"He did?" Conrad responded, his tone flat, almost indifferent.

A mirthless chuckle escaped his lips.

"Yup." Sylvia said, trying to inject some lightness into the conversation. She reached out and took his hand in hers, her fingers interlacing with his.

His hand felt cold, lifeless.

"So, do you want to go? I think it'd be a fun night. We could dance, see our friends..."

"I don't know..." Conrad leaned his head back against the couch, sighing heavily.

The sound was laced with weariness, as if the very idea of going out was an unbearable burden.

"Come on, handsome. It'd be fun." Sylvia coaxed, gently playing with his fingers, trying to spark some warmth, some connection.

Conrad shook his head, his eyes flicking to her briefly before darting away. "Let's just stay in. I don't want to go out. It's better with just us, you know? Quiet, peaceful..."

"It's been just us two for weeks, Conrad. Maybe this could be a chance for us to step out of our bubble for a bit." Sylvia countered, her voice laced with a hint of desperation. "See some new faces, have some laughs..."

"I don't want to step out of our bubble." Conrad snapped, his voice rising, the sudden outburst jarring. "I don't want to do anything with anyone! I just want to be left alone and not worry about anyone else's feelings! I need a break."

The words hung in the air, sharp and cruel. Sylvia recoiled as if she'd been struck.

"What?" She whispered, her eyes wide with shock and hurt. She dropped his hand as if it had suddenly turned to ice, slowly moving away from him. "Did you just say that? I—."