The Girly Watch Remade

chapter 14 The Longer Path Leads Here/Jammy Dodgers

"And I guess...I was hoping if I got to know you better, I might finally find something that makes life make sense." Peter repeated the line, a puzzled look on his face as his voice echoed in the call. Brian finished getting dressed. The blonde's hair was still damp, stray droplets of water sliding down the nape of his neck from his cold shower after the workout with Lena.

"Dude, you know you can't just drop something like that on people, right?" Peter spoke slowly. "That's the kind of deep, meaningful stuff you save for right before you tell someone you love them. Or like, when you're proposing marriage."

Brian felt his cheeks grow warm as he imagined being in that kind of overly romantic scenario with Lena. He ducked his head, avoiding thinking about it as he focused on buttoning up the crisp white shirt he had changed into. The sweltering late afternoon heat had made keeping his usual hoodie on unbearable, so he opted for the lightweight short-sleeved top and a pair of casual shorts instead.

"I was just...confused, I guess. Wasn't thinking straight, so I might have said some stupid stuff," Brian mumbled, still flustered.

Peter replied skeptically. "I mean, yeah, some of those lines definitely sounded like they were ripped right out of one of those cheesy romance flicks girls are always watching. So who knows, maybe it worked in your favor?" He paused, giving Brian a long look. "But you need to be straight with yourself about this, man. Not long ago you were saying being around Lena and Angela was weird for you. That the whole Overwatch thing seemed off. Now you're claiming you don't want to date her but she is like everything to you? Those are some mixed signals..."

Brian shook his head adamantly. "It's not like that, I swear. I really do like Lena, but just...as a person, you know? I don't want her thinking I'm only hanging around her because I'm harboring some kind of crush. We're friends."

An uncomfortable silence stretched between them as Brian grabbed his wallet and hover cycle keys from the kitchen counter, getting ready to head out. Peter commented carefully.

"What about Amelie though?" he asked slowly. "Her and Lena used to be an item, right? Now that Lena knows you and the Widowmaker know each other...you don't think she might wonder if you've got designs on trying to get with her ex?"

Brian's brows furrowed in confusion as he glanced down at his phone, arching one eyebrow skeptically. "Why would I want to 'get with' the woman who literally tried to kill me, Peter? That makes zero sense."

Peter scoffed loudly. "Oh come on, don't act like that's not every guy's dream! The sexy, dangerous, murderous girl? Haven't you heard of Remy from Grey Lagoon? Or Yuto and Love from Fullmetal Wizard and Destiny Diary? Those types are always insanely hot."

Shaking his head slowly, Brian sighed. "I think you might seriously need to get your brain scanned for worms or something, dude. I don't know where you're getting these ideas..."

"I'm serious!" Peter protested. "Just...be careful, okay? You might not be thinking about it now, but what if a few months down the line you start catching feelings? By then, you could already be so deep in the friend-zone with Lena that you don't even register as a blip on their romantic radar."

Brian acquiesced with a noncommittal shrug. "Alright, alright, I got it. I gotta go grab some groceries, so I'll call you back later."

After exchanging goodbyes, Brian ended the call and pocketed his phone. As the elevator descended towards the lobby, he glanced out at the view of the city, eyes lingering on an old, faded billboard for Coppelia visible in the distance from the parking garage.

Once outside, Brian slipped on a pair of blue and green-tinted goggles over his eyes before kickstarting his hover cycle. He sped off down the busy streets, mind wandering as the cool evening breeze whipped through his damp hair...until his phone began ringing. Tapping a button on the cycle's handlebar, he answered the call with a curious, "Hello?"