It started as a Game

Closer...

Declan became very close to Anthony over the next few weeks. They texted each other constantly and went to the pub on the weekends together. They talked about everything and anything. Apart from Rebecca. And they always found themselves staying out long and time flying by whilst talking. Declan hadn't experienced that in a long time and he just felt very comfortable around the dark-haired man.

At work, things got even more tense between Declan and Rebecca Winterbottom. Declan knew that. He felt it. And he knew it was because he had befriended Anthony and it somehow gave him a good feeling. Rebecca of course knew that they met up every week, but she still treated Declan like he didn't deserve to be there.

Declan noticed the little skits becoming harsher and the work she gave him becoming almost too much to handle. She showed him just how much she hated him. And now that she even had another reason, she upped her game. But Declan played his own little game. And he was willing to bear Rebecca's little potshots because he knew that they were the reason he had befriended Anthony in the first place.

He still told Rebecca Winterbottom to greet her husband from him every evening when he left work and he could literally see how he made her blood boil with it. He felt pretty much superior to her now and although she gave him a lot more work to do he was happy about that.

He was also happy that she was still too proud to mention something and he chuckled to himself about that. Declan had never felt so much power over anyone else in his life. And although this was much more than a game to him by now he quite enjoyed it. He normally wasn't even the kind of guy who wanted to have power over anyone else. But this was quite to his liking. He didn't know why but he thought it was because of all those months of teasing and slagging from her side. Now he had his payback. Now he had her where he wanted her.

Every day he could see how stressed she was and he hoped some of that was down to him. But he also had another feeling about that which was pity. Not with Rebecca Winterbottom. Of course not. But with Ant. Ant had to bear with her after work and on some days when Rebecca left in an even grumpier mood than she had arrived, Declan texted Anthony, just to cheer him up. Most of the times it was something about football or something funny he had seen on TV.

He knew Anthony had a hard time at home. They hadn't talked about his wife again since their first encounter. Declan figured it was because Anthony was embarrassed. And Declan could totally understand. He would also be embarrassed if he was linked to that woman. And not only linked to her, but married to her.

Declan enjoyed their little encounters at the local pub. They got along so well, it was ridiculous. He loved it when Anthony laughed. His laugh always got him and Declan caught himself smiling whenever he thought of it.

This had all started as a game and he still liked playing it somehow but at the same time he felt himself being more and more attracted to this man. And he didn't really know how to feel about it. Because he liked this man. But he hated this woman. And this man happened to be married to this woman.

It was Thursday and Declan had taken the next day off to finally be able to drive up to Newcastle. He missed his family terribly. But because of his absence the next day, Rebecca had of course given him a lot of extra work to do. He cursed inside when he just wasn't able to finish it in time, meaning he had to stay longer. He saw Rebecca smiling at him from across the room and it wasn't this kind and pitiful smile, it was evil and fake.

He had agreed with Anthony to have a pint later on because they wouldn't be able to see each other on the weekend. But he knew he needed at least another hour to finish his work and he still had to pack his things and it stressed him out quite a bit.

Despite being engulfed in his work, Declan saw Rebecca Winterbottom checking her phone and freezing on the spot. Great. Anthony had probably told her that he would spend the evening with him. Declan figured that because Rebecca was eyeballing him. Soon enough his own phone buzzed.

Looking forward to tonight. Same time same place? A

Declan checked his watch and moaned. Said same time was only an hour away and he was sure he wouldn't be able to get there in time. So he started to type in his answer and because he was so concentrated he didn't notice his boss walking up behind him.

"Mr. Donnelly" Rebecca said in a firm tone. "How about you concentrate on your work for a change?"

Declan spun around and accidentally let his phone drop. "Bollocks" he muttered under his breath. Fortunately, it didn't break and was only lying on the floor, bright screen facing up. Declan saw that Rebecca Winterbottom stared at his phone and he smirked inside. Because his conversation with Anthony was still visible, his answer half-typed.

Won't make it in time, sorry. I'll try to...

Declan studied Rebecca's facial features thoroughly. They went from astonished to angry and Declan braced himself for another outburst. But when she turned her head properly to him, she knelt down, picked up the phone and smiled in an awkwardly kind manner at him before reaching her hand out for Declan to take his phone.

Just when Declan wanted to grab it, she started talking.

"Mr. Donnelly" she said overly friendly and took a deep breath. There was this strange smile on her face Declan couldn't quite decipher. It still didn't disappear when she continued to speak. "Now that you and my husband have somehow become friends, I thought we maybe should try and... err... quit this little squabble?"

Oh, so new strategy. Keeping Declan on a good side to not driving him into Anthony's arms. Declan had to chuckle at that. Okay. So Rebecca Winterbottom wanted to play. Should he play along? Well, he had no other choice really. And he liked playing, so he reached out his hand and smiled back at her before taking his phone back.

"Sure" was all he said and he turned around to go back to work, leaving her standing there.

If she wanted to play along, she was in for one hell of a ride.