AJ's POV
Langdon hasn't noticed my presence, yet.
"There's no point in waiting behind the door." Or, maybe he did and he was just giving me a mini test which I failed.
I walk in slowly. Gallant had barely told me about his interview, despite me basically begging for more information. The secretiveness was probably meant to spare me, but it only made me more nervous.
"I'm sorry," I begin awkwardly before sitting down.
"For what?" This would have been nonthreatening if it wasn't for the way he said it.
"Waiting at the doorway, and passing out yesterday." I can't help feeling like a child apologizing to a classmate they pushed at recess because a teacher is making them.
Michael watches me cautiously. "You can't be responsible for being ill." He cleaes his throat once. "Now, who would you pick for the sanctuary?
I freeze, who would I take? Isn't the whole point that it's up to him. "I don't think that I am qualified to d—"
"Doesn't matter, I just want to know who you would take." He cuts me off. "I'll make it a bit easier, pick three."
I let myself think about it for a minute. "Well...not Coco." I'm only partially joking. "Emily and Timothy, they deserve whatever type of happily ever after they can get."
"Why do you think that?"
I look at him, confused on how he even needs a distinction."What do you mean 'why I think that'? They're in the type of love that's more than infatuation, and they can't be together. It's got to be another type of heartbreak. I can't even imagine being so close to someone I love and not being able to do anything about it."
Langdon is watching me carefully. For a minute, I think he's going to move on, but then he surprises me. "I don't have to imagine it."
I don't really know if I trust Langdon, or if I want to. But I do know that I'm curious, so without thinking I ask. "Are you in love with someone here, or are you talking about something in the past?"
My questions seem to remind Langdon of how the dynamic is supposed to be. Him the powerful man that holds my fate in his hands.
"You forget yourself." Is what he says, but he's looking at me like he's amused. "You need to pick one more person."
I think about the people I've met here, some really are awful. "I think maybe Gallant."
This seems to bother him. He sits up a bit straighter. "He can't think of you that way, you're missing a major part in what attracts him biologically."
The way he says that and the implication make me burst into giggles. "Sorry." I continue to fail at holding in my laugh. "Are you referring to the fact that he's the gayest person I've ever met? Because if so, you're missing a lot of other reasons why we'd never work that way." I continue to laugh. "The gay thing isn't even on the first page of reasons why that'd never happen. That'd be like dating that one cousin that you love but know will inevitably end up living in your spare room, and still refuses to baby sit."
My answer seems to appease him. "Can I make a deal with you? I ask a question you answer, then you can ask me one." I don't even have to think about it. I have to answer his questions anyway. "However, if you except, the questions I ask might be more personal."
