Page 103 of Unrecognizable Player

He’s wearing his college hockey t-shirt and grey sweats, and when he hears me, he turns around with a sheepish, apologetic smile and asks me if I want coffee.

I can’t stand it anymore.

“Alexei, I need to talk to you.”

“Okay.”

He puts his coffee mug down and pulls a seat up at the table. I stay standing where I am.

“Stef, please sit down, come on, you’re scaring me here. I’m sorry about yesterday, my dad was out of order I-”

“No, please, don’t apologize to me.”

“Don’t make excuses for him, or me. I should have told him I was going home with you. You didn’t deserve that.”

“I did.”

“Stef-”

He stands up, like he’s gonna come around the table and comfort me.

“Stop!”

He freezes, blinking at me in confusion.

“I’ve been lying to you.”

He stares at me for a second, like he didn’t hear me right. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not who you think I am.”

He lets out a confused laugh and takes a step closer, so I take a step back.

I take a deep breath. “I’m horror boy.”

His whole face shuts down. He doesn’t say anything, so I go on.

“Or… RedRum237. I’m the person you’ve been talking to for the past year on Bookgeeks.”

His breathing gets heavier and I think he’s tensing his jaw.

“Alexei? Say something.”

“I don’t understand. Have you been fucking with me or something?”

“No! Alexei, I only found out a couple of weeks ago, I figured it out when I saw your books and your scar, when you hurt yourself and I had to keep checking on you, I’d never been in your room before-” I’m moving towards him now, pleading with him to understand, but he keeps taking tiny steps back, away from me.

“You’ve been lying to me?” He frowns.

“Yes, but Alexei, please understand-”

“Did you see the message I sent horror boy last night?”

I nod.

“I don’t understand.” He runs a hand over his face. “How couldyouandhimbe lying to me?YouStef, I don’t...” He shakes his head.

“Please, I’m sorry.”

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