Shiny Demon

Before We Were Lovers, I Swear We Were Friends

Viv's smile was stretched tighter than a banjo string. "I can explain!" Her eyes betrayed her desperation as she grabbed AJ's arm and squeezed. "Just please be quiet."

"Everything alright out here?" Bill's voice bellowed around the corner. "I thought I heard–" He walked into view and stopped short, his open mouth frozen mid-sentence as he took in the sight. Viv, half buttoned and frazzled, a stricken AJ, Ciaran picking glass off the ground with his hair mussed in the back, Stevie standing next to Seb, who was calmly eating Doritos.

"Oh bloody hell," Viv muttered under her breath.

Miki bumped into Bill's rigid back. She was wearing the same outfit she'd had on before, minus a bra and jeans. "Bill!" she giggled in admonishment, but then followed Bill's gaze. "Hells bells!" she whooped.

Harry's head popped around the corner, followed shortly by Lili and Iona. Eventually everyone had arrived to see what was going on. Viv huffed and took advantage of the moment of confusion to button her top back up.

"I can explain," she said again more loudly over the scandalized chatter. "AJ just walked in on something that must have been very confusing." She released an unconvincingly airy laugh. "But I promise, it's not as bad as it seems." She turned to Seb and nodded diplomatically. "Seb and I broke up."

All eyes snapped to Seb. A violent rush of numbness took Stevie's insides hostage as she waited for his reaction.

"Yup," he said with a businesslike nod. "I already knew they were dating." His voice sounded so hollow compared to when they'd just been talking by themselves. Like he was describing the plot of a movie he didn't particularly care about.

"Dating?" Tai raised an eyebrow. "You and Ciaran are dating now?"

"Seb and I both decided we'd be better off as friends," Viv said in a calm, measured voice, ignoring Tai's question.

She gave Seb an imploring look and he responded with an unbothered flick of a nod. "Sure."

Viv pursed her lips. Seb's apathy sent a ripple of confusion through the group. These revelations were churning through Stevie's brain like glue, gumming up her thoughts and slowing her down. But she knew Seb was not the callous, unfeeling type. He was cutting his losses somehow. She wondered what feelings were shifting about underneath his aloof expression.

Miki sucked her teeth indignantly. "How did we not know you broke up?" She looked accusingly at the others. She seemed to believe that being denied this juicy gossip was a personal affront to her. "Did anyone else know about this?"

"Just Elladine and Nicky," Viv said consolingly. "And Ciaran of course." The chip bag crinkled noisily as Seb took another chip and Viv flinched. "We had to keep it quiet. I have a job offer that I could lose if I'm involved in any kind of bad press or public scandal. So please don't tell anyone outside of this group. It's really important." She looked at the others with an earnest plea. "I know this is a shock, but it really was an amicable break up and Seb knows all about Ciaran. We're fine. Right, Seb?"

Seb's brows knitted together and he nodded. "Oh, we're just grand."

"So you cheated on Seb with Ciaran?" Harry asked, amused by the whole fiasco.

"No!" Viv said with the slightest hint of a question, as if there may be a technicality or two she'd rather not discuss. "We were friends. We never even saw each other in person until after the break up. But I..." Her eyes slipped over to Ciaran, and her voice softened. "We developed feelings for each other." Ciaran gave her a smile as gentle as a baby laugh.