Page 21 of The Game

I’ve eaten over half of my dinner when he leans back and sighs. Suddenly aware that I’m probably imposing and annoying him, I begin to make myself useful and tidy up.

“So…is there a metro stop nearby?” I question, not meeting his eyes. His long fingers curl around my wrist, his skin warm against mine, and I pause, glancing up at him. His eyes are a mix of emotions, so many I cannot decipher which is most pressing right now.

“I’ll take you back to your dorm. If you want to stay longer, you’re more than welcome to.”

His offer strikes my veins, and the teal of his eyes melts and lures me further in. But I shake my head, feeling rude, like a freeloader.

“No, I don’t want to be rude,” I mutter softly. He smiles as he releases me.

“You’re not being rude, Alice. You decide and let me know what you want to do.”

I nod, shrinking back into his plush couch as he stands and clears our food, putting leftovers in his fridge. With a full belly, I cannot help but to yawn, exhausted even with all the uninterrupted sleep I was able to get today. It’s then I remember why I am here in the first place.

“You…what were you gonna show me?” I question nervously. For some reason, our time together has been so easy, so nice. I don’t want to potentially ruin it with my prying.

He rinses his hands and dries them, his brows knotting before he looks over at me from the kitchen. Gripping the counter, his arms are stretched wide, and his eyes stare right through me. After a moment of letting the awkwardness steep, he makes a motion with his head to his room, and my stomach flutters before he speaks.

“Dick-wad found out a while ago I’m pretty good with coding and shit. Ever since then, he’s used me to hack and track. Never tracked one of the girls before, but he was…rather persuasive, when it came to you.”

Buzzing with this news, I don’t know whether to be livid or perhaps relieved, for at least it’s Teddy stalking me and not some fucker like Daniel.

“Oh.” It’s the only thing I can think to say in this moment, and his frown deepens. “So…so you watch…watch me?”

His face blanches as he straightens up.

“What? Jesus, fuck no, not like that. I just track your phone, make sure you’re a good little puppet going to work and school.”

I cross my arms against the sudden chill in the room, the questions I need answered on the tip of my tongue, but my mouth feels glued shut.

“Yes, Alice, I know all about them, and…and I think you should know I’ve never judged you for that.”

My stomach flutters, and my eyes water.

“You…You know?”

He nods sagely.

“They’re uhh…” He rubs the back of his neck, suddenly nervous, before his eyes flash to mine. “They’re infamous, I suppose. I don’t quite understand how you three came to be romantic, but Dick hates them and wants to keep you. To punish you and to hurt them.”

Chewing my lip, I drop my eyes to my hands and examine the lines criss-crossing my knuckles. I knew all of this already. I just didn’t know that Teddy knew, that he’s been my silent babysitter for a while now.

“I miss them,” I say to my trembling hands as tears pool and slip over my cheeks. There’s no reason to even wipe them away, because I know more will follow. “My entire life, I was always scared. Like a bunny, like you said. And then…with them, I didn’t have to be scared anymore.”

My voice is just above a hoarse whisper, my throat aching. But a soft smile still forms through the sorrow I feel etched onto my face.

“They…taught me to not be afraid, because they were with me, and because…darkness isn’t so scary when you learn how to find comfort in it.”

“I think I know what you mean,” he whispers. I glance at him and sniff, and he stares back so deeply into my eyes that my blood feels like lava. I shrug.

“I’ll do anything to protect them. Even if it means giving them up, I’ll do it again and again, just to know they’re safe.”

His jaw shifts as he nods somberly. After a beat, he nods again, staring now at the wall to his left as he finds his response.

“Well then, little bunny, we’ve gotta figure out a way to get you back to them, don’t we?”

My chest seizes, my mind unable to comprehend the words he’s saying to me, and I spurt out a response before I can stop myself.

“S-seriously?”

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