GET OVER HER! // PEPPERMIC FIC

CURIOSITY

   Fan fidgeted with his hands as he was settled on top of the kitchen counter. After multiple hours of searching for Test Tube, the paper fan started to grow extremely concerned. Instead of his explosive and erratic nature from before, he was in a state of quietude and diligence. I could tell he was in a whirlwind of worry just thinking about where Test Tube had gone.

   Most importantly, though, I wondered where Salt was. I've run across every object in the hotel except for Salt and Test Tube, and the worry was getting me, too. Fan and I continued to sit in a disturbed silence, the dying light outside dimming the room. The objects gathered around the TV continued to laugh as the sun set, orange light tracing their faces while they finished the last round of their game. OJ creeped in from the stairs, calling out to everyone that quiet hours were starting, and he suggested everyone wrap up their activities. Whines could be heard as someone turned the console off, and objects returned to their rooms in a miserable manner.

   "She should've been back by now," Fan muttered. "I hope... I hope it wasn't something I said."

   I glanced over at him apprehensively, a fear of a crumbling Fan falling before my gaze. Instead, he sat there inhumanely frozen. His face barely even twitched. He looked up at me with an empty expression.

   "Maybe we should go to bed, too," he said, hopelessness and despair swirling in his voice.

   Just as he was about to push himself off the counter, the front door to the hotel opened, Test Tube's hand entwined with Salt's. They giggled and tripped over one another, their eyes drinking each other in. Being the nosy people we were, Fan and I hurriedly scrambled to the other side of the counter, crouching so the two ditzy women couldn't see us.

   "Oh, uhmm, did you, like, hear that?" Salt asked, her voice bubbly. I tried to peak over the counter to see her expression, but Fan immediately dragged me down and glared at me. 

   "The only thing I can hear is your gorgeous voice," Test Tube responded. Fan and I looked over to each other, an immense cringe on our faces.

   "I've never heard her be so corny," whispered Fan. I gave him a judgmental look before tuning back in on their conversation. After all, this is Test Tube we're talking about. I totally have heard her be this ridiculously lame. Though, something about it was worse knowing it's being said to Salt.

   "Mmm, noo," Salt whined. "I'm, like, seriously hearing something..."

   "Nobody even stays up past this time," Test Tube reassured her with a soft voice. "Golly, you're awfully pretty when the moonlight reflects against you."

   "Ah..."

   "You still hear something, dear?"

   "Toootes heard something. It's, like, creepy. I think I'm going to bed."

   "Of course! I'll catch you tomorrow, then?"

   "Totally, babe. Don't forget to take down the note, though. I had to avoid Pepper, like, all day. I don't even, like, have a card to write with now! I really wanted to write something for Pep, she's been so down recently."

   "I'll get it done tonight. I should've thought before pulling something so ridiculous. You deserve better than my mistakes. Pepper too, I guess."

   "Oh, do not give me that attitude about Pepper right now, girl."

   Oh?

   "I'll let her know about our relationship when I'm comfortable, but you can't act like it's her fault she doesn't know. I'm sure she'll, like, distance herself once she finds out, anyway. She's not that type of girl."

   "Of course! Of course, I-"

   "Besides, have you seen the tension between her and Mic? Her crush on me will wash over, don't even worry about it," Salt giggled. Test Tube seemed to be silenced by these words, because she said nothing as Salt hummed and traveled up the stairs, returning to our hotel room.

   Something seemed to be caught in my throat. No, it wasn't the fact that Salt and Test Tube were dating. I cared, but like Salt said, it'd probably wash over. It was what she said about me and Mic.

   Me and Mic.

   The words danced in my head. I couldn't help but wonder what could possibly be between me and Mic that makes her so confident that I'll forget this ever happened.

   Though, when images of Mic swirled through my mind, the butterflies in my stomach seemed to flap violently, making me grow lightheaded. I never knew Salt was so observant. I grew up next to her since the beginning of time, and yet she always struck me as a silly, harebrained girl. How could she possibly know all this before me? 

   Fan tapped me on the shoulder, motioning we should head out of the area. I peeked over to Test Tube, who was staring at the appreciation notes. I nodded to Fan, and followed close behind him, climbing up the stairs silently. We split our separate ways in the hallway, Fan heading to his own hotel room, and me heading to Mic's.

   I turned the knob gently and slipped myself in the room. Mic was wide awake, her eyes lifted from her phone to me.

   "I know I usually ask before I come in, but I had to hurry. Let me in your bed."

   "So demanding," Mic sighed. "Sleeping in another woman's bed isn't the friendliest thing ever, you know?"

   My stomach churned as she spoke. Ignoring her flirty words, I scrambled into the bed next to her, my body clinking against her.

   "Do you have to be this close? It makes me nervo-"

   "Be quiet," I snapped. She did as told, watching me with careful eyes as I let my focus center on the door. After a few moments of silence I turned back to a flustered Mic. I had to admit, the slight panic in her expression excited me. But like, not in a weird way... Or is that what I just keep telling myself? My hand dragged up to her face, and brushed her cheek gently.

   "I have to tell you something, but it'll have to be tomorrow. Can you wait until then?"

   "Uh... Yes. Yeah. Sure," she murmured, a shakiness in her voice. I smiled, which only caused her to fold even harder.

   I took my hand from her face, to which she gave a heavy, relieved sigh. We stared at each other for a moment before the embarrassed Mic turned over and hid her face in a pillow. I couldn't help but wonder what was rushing through her head at the moment. As I heard Test Tube sneak through the door, I buried myself in my own thoughts, repeating Salt's words from their conversation downstairs. I wondered if I'd only been tender to Mic because of what she said. As the microphone uncomfortably shifted in her bed, I slightly hoped that my intense infatuation with Salt would end like she said. For some reason, Microphone gave me a similar feeling whenever I looked at her, and I deeply wanted to explore it.