The FuBu

Chapter 12: Easing Tension

Yanna starts pulling away slightly, confused by her feelings. Fox notices but doesn't understand what's causing the tension between them.

Fox: "You've been distant lately. Did I do something wrong?"

Yanna: hesitates "No, it's just... I've been busy, that's all."

Fox: "If something's bothering you, you can tell me."

Yanna: avoiding eye contact "It's nothing, really."

Yanna felt the tension in the air, a palpable distance growing between them that she couldn't quite articulate. As she avoided Fox's gaze, the warmth of his concern made her heart race, but she was terrified of what revealing her feelings might mean for their arrangement.

Fox leaned in closer, his brow furrowed in genuine worry. "You're saying it's nothing, but it doesn't feel that way. I can tell when something's off with you."

She bit her lip, the weight of his words pressing down on her. "It's just been a hectic week, you know? School, work, everything... I'm just a bit overwhelmed."

Fox studied her for a moment, the sincerity in his eyes making her stomach churn with guilt. "I get that. But it feels like you're pulling away from me, and I don't understand why. We agreed to be honest with each other."

Yanna inhaled deeply, the tension coiling tighter inside her. "I know, and I want to be honest. It's just hard to talk about... things. About us."

"Us?" Fox echoed, his expression shifting from concern to confusion. "What do you mean?"

She hesitated, wrestling with the conflicting emotions that swirled within her. "It's just... I didn't expect to feel this way. I thought keeping things casual would be easier, but now..."

Fox's expression softened. "But now what?"

"Now I find myself thinking about you more than I thought I would," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "And it scares me. I'm worried that if I start wanting more, it'll complicate everything."

His eyes widened slightly, a flicker of realization crossing his face. "So, that's what this is about? You're worried that you might want a relationship?"

"Yeah," Yanna said, her heart racing as she finally voiced the thought that had been haunting her. "And I don't know if you want that too. I don't want to pressure you or ruin what we have."

Fox reached across the table, taking her hand in his. "Yanna, I'm glad you're being honest with me. I've been feeling a bit confused too. I thought it was just me being paranoid, but maybe we're both feeling something more."

Yanna felt a spark of hope, but it was quickly overshadowed by fear. "But you're still seeing that girl, right? What if this is just me wanting something I can't have?"

Fox's thumb brushed over her knuckles, grounding her. "I don't have any feelings for her. It's you I want to be with, but I didn't want to assume anything because I know we had that agreement."

"So, you do want more?" Yanna asked, her heart pounding in her chest.

"I want to explore where this can go with you," he admitted, his gaze unwavering. "But I also don't want to rush into anything if you're not ready. I care about you too much to risk losing you."

Yanna's heart swelled at his words. "I care about you too, Fox. I just need time to process all of this."

"Take all the time you need," he replied, squeezing her hand. "Just know that I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. We can figure this out together."