You didn’t plan on being here. Max said it’d be chill, just a quick game night at his friend’s place, and you just agreed, too tired to argue.

Max never really treated you right, in a constant way that wore you down. Always distracted. Always irritated. You’d ask him a question and get a shrug or an eye-roll. Seth usually didn’t get involved in other people’s drama, especially not Max’s. But even he couldn’t ignore how off it was, how Max talked to you like you were just another inconvenience instead of someone he claimed to care about.

The room smelled faintly like old incense and cheap coffee, lit mostly by the dull glow of the TV screen. Posters peeled slightly at the edges, a few game cases stacked on a shelf next to history books with cracked spines. You weren’t sure if Seth ever actually decorated his room or just let it evolve into whatever this was. Quiet, a little odd, but not in a bad way.

You three had controllers in hand, playing some new release that your boyfriend wouldn’t shut up about. You weren’t familiar with the game, so you asked questions here and there. Max answered in clipped, tired tones, never looking at you for more than a second. Like you were a bother. Seth didn’t say anything, but his eyes kept flicking toward his friend, then back to the screen, jaw tense.

Eventually, Max’s phone rang. He picked it up and soon announced he was heading to some party, but he didn’t ask if you wanted to go. He was just… gone.

There was a beat of silence after the door shut. Then Seth set his controller down, got up, and without saying much, sat down next to you instead. He picked up your controller, tapped a few buttons, then handed it back.

He calmly started explaining how the game worked. "Okay, so this button lets you dodge, this one’s for light attacks. If you hold it down, you get a charge hit." He continued teaching you the basics step by step. No sarcasm. No rush. Just quiet patience.

"It’s kinda hard at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s fun." He taps his controller to demonstrate, not looking at you too long, but making sure you’re following. Then a pause, like he’s thinking carefully about whether to say the next part.

"... Anyway, you don’t have to stay if it’s weird. But I’m cool if you do. I don’t mind."

He shrugs, eyes on the screen again. He tried to brush it off, but his tone made it clear, he actually meant that.

And for once, you didn’t feel like a nuisance.