Byron's Secret (Slenderman Romance)

Chapter 75. Fooling Around

【Byron's POV】

I sunk deep into my thoughts and heard every ticking sound of the inaccurate and forgotten clock on the wall of my room. Each tick seemed louder than the last. I lie on the bed with a sleeping Joy in my arms. I didn't think she'd fall asleep immediately after sobbing happy tears on my chest a while ago. That seemed like something only she would do. Fascinating . . .

I tried not to move as much as possible. I think she really needed some sleep. I'd like to make the moment last before reality hits.

Reality.

The reality that I'm not a normal person. The reality that I'm not supposed to get too close to her. The reality that I'm not capable nor am I supposed to form bonds with other people in this town. Things can get chaotic, Brian's past will always remind me of that.

But how am I supposed to avoid it when she just wouldn't give up? I've had the same attitude with everyone in this place for as long as I could remember. Cold, insensitive, and uncaring. It worked with everyone. I got what I want and that is to be left alone. I already told her directly to leave me alone as well. But somehow, she took it differently. To her, it is amusing that a person like me even existed. Her attention suddenly focused on me. The peaceful and unchanged environment I used to have has crumbled.

I don't speak to anyone at work unless I really have to, but she also changed that. I find myself unconsciously delving into small talks with herーsomething I never would've done. The quiet Friday nights I used to have now would occasionally involve her. The comforts of my home are now also invaded. I could never tell when she plans to visit me randomly.

Even last night, I hoped to be alone at home, but she showed up without notice, and to what? To bring the suitcase I forgot at work. Who does that? Not to mention that she was the reason why I left the college so abruptly. Her schemes with Droney has been so obvious and pathetic. I know that, I was aware, yet I still couldn't just ignore it. I wasn't willing to risk it. It bothered me that she would force herself to spend time with someone she despises unless I tell her the truth about how I feel about her, and she already knows. She just wanted me to admit it to myself and to her as if it was some kind of game.

I wonder if she planned it? If she planned to be so irritating from day one, so that I would start thinking about her and how to get her to stop until it reaches the point where she's all I ever think about? And now, I can't stop. It was as if she's a relentless thought that wouldn't disappear no matter what I do to block her out.

Truth be told, if it weren't for the alcohol last night, I would have kept up my lies and kept on acting like she didn't matter to me. It is the most logical path. But when intoxicated, there is very little room for logic. My body has also been experiencing changes lately, I don't feel as half-dead as I used to and I could feel emotions with much more intensity than before.

I don't regret what happened. It felt so freeing to be honest for once since everyday, I put on an act and live a lie. Now, I'm just afraid of what the future holds. How long could we keep this up until problems arise?

Brian popped into my mind. He wouldn't be too happy with how things are right now. I don't plan on telling him anything about her, but it's only a matter of time before he picks up on things and confronts me. Until then, I'll keep things hidden. We will all be meeting up at Tim's house later, it might be a good time to discuss things that were left off before the seminar happened. Brian still has no idea that my body is reverting back. I only hid it from him because he might think it's because of Joy and he's never really happy about her. Now that my head is clear, I realized that is something that he should know.