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the monster in the changeroom
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. ✧ ・゜. +・o ✧
The pool had finally closed, and as a stark contrast to the colours and laughter that had filled the area when the party had arrived, it was now dark. Empty. Quiet. Which, Alina thought, getting into position, was quite appropriate for what they were about to do.
Billy was in the showers, and Mike and El were finishing setting up the sauna, which they'd had to wait to do until everyone had cleared out of it. Max, Gabe, and Will were all talking quietly in the workout room, trusting the hiss of the shower to override their voices. And Alina and Lucas were sitting beside each other, unspeaking, trying to decide what to say. Trying to banish the awkwardness that had lay upon them, thick as a blanket, because it had been a few days since they'd seen each other. And because they were scared.
Their relationship had always been awkward, though, with clumsy first kisses and ineloquently spoken dance invitations. By now, Alina had learned the best way to combat this was to fill the silence, so, picking at her nails, she finally looked up to him, remembering what El had apparently seen at their sleepover. She wasn't mad at him anymore. Being angry was a privilege she didn't have right now, and besides, she hadn't been all that innocent, either. Well, she hadn't been a part of the spying on the boys. But she still was guilty.
"Are you nervous?" she asked, her voice quieter than usual. Lucas startled a little. He obviously had expected the silence to hang over them until it was time for the plan to be set into motion. "For this? For everything?"
He swallowed, tipping his chin so he could meet her gaze. His hands went for his wrist rocket instinctively, just to make sure it was still there. And then he said, "Of course I am. It's funny. This is the third time we've done this shit, and I'm still as scared as I was when we were twelve."
"Me too," Alina admitted, and then she leaned her head on his shoulder. It was comforting to both of them, a friendly gesture in this time of unfriendliness. "I think it's normal to be scared, though. Even after getting used to all of this."
