The Traitor (The Third Wheel's spin-off)

Chapter Twelve: Breaking Down Your Walls

What are we waiting for?

He's the one who wanted to talk, so why does he keep silent? I'm not going to be the one to go first, after all I have so many better things to do than just stay in his bedroom.

So many things to do? Yeah, like cleaning the kitchen. Sounds thrilling, Alex.

It's a bit unnerving, the way he's looking at me intently. I try my best to act casual about it, which is why for the last five minutes I've been pacing around in his bedroom, pretending to be interested in the decoration.

So far, I've already let his small lamp and a mug fall on the ground because of how badly my hands were shaking. So yeah, I would say I am doing a pretty good job at looking confident. Thank God, I managed not to break anything. It would have only added more things on the list of the reasons why he wants to brand my ass.

Wait, brand my ass? What am I even thinking about? Bad, Alex, bad.

"So, is the decoration to your liking?" he eventually asks with a bit of humor as I was about to inspect closely his drawers for the hundredth time.

His empty drawers.

"Why are you even asking?" I reply without thinking. "It's not like I'm gonna sleep here"

He raises a perfect eyebrow at that, making me flush, before quickly adding, as a way of retaliation.

"I mean, your bedroom is okay, If a little too boyish for my style. Then again I suppose it's appropriate for someone your age, who barely entered into adulthood."

A small smile graces his lips at that as he lightly shakes his head without looking at me, as if he was telling himself some sort of private joke.

"What's so funny?" I give in and ask, not liking the idea of being the recipient of his inner mokery.

"You are"

"Me? What's wrong with me?"

His eyes are lighter, now, and so is the atmosphere. I know I'm just buying myself some time, and that the truce will be over soon, as he brought me here to talk about my disrespectful behaviour. Still, it's a nice feeling, seeing him smiling at me again.

"Nothing is wrong with you, Alex" he assures me, and my name shouldn't sound so good on his lips. "You're just a funny one. Always taunting me and hiding behind your walls at the same time"

I take a step back at that, and he doesn't move forward - not yet, at least. For now, he's happy with simply watching me. I am no fool though and I know that if I try running for the door, I would never make it. The guy moves with the the poise of a panther.

"If you're just gonna speak in this enigmatic way, then I better get going. I have no use for your childish games"

I thought he would get mad again at that. I was hoping for something, anything, to distract him. The way he is looking at me, like he can read my mind, is - it's too much.

Guess it didn't work. His expression is unchanged and his eyes even softened another notch. Why is that, I wonder.

"Why are you always doing this, Alex?"

"Doing what?"

"You know what I mean. The way you adress me, like I am a child or something, when you know how wrong it is. First, it doesn't make much sense, as I am only a couple of years younger than you. Second, I am your Master, so it makes your behaviour impolite and third, what have I done to make you believe I'm so immature?"

"I don't think you're immature!" I say quickly, betraying myself in the process.

If I don't think deep down that he's immature, why am I always acting like a condescendant big brother toward him?