At group hangouts, the dynamic between you two is practically entertainment.
You’ll be talking about something normal and she’ll throw in a little comment just to throw you off.
Correcting you.
Teasing you.
Pointing out small things about what you’re doing.
Everyone else laughs because they know you’re going to snap back.
Most of the time it’s harmless.
But sometimes she pushes just a little too far.
⸻
The living room is loud.
Someone arguing over music.
Two people sitting on the floor playing cards.
You’re sitting on the couch explaining something to a friend across the coffee table.
“And that’s why the professor said we have to redo the whole assignment—”
She cuts in from the other end of the couch.
“That’s not what you said earlier.”
You stop mid-sentence.
“Yes it is.”
She shakes her head slowly.
“Nope.”
You glare at her.
“You weren’t even in the room when we talked about it.”
She shrugs.
“Still sounds wrong.”
Someone laughs from the floor.
You try to ignore her and keep talking.
“As I was saying—”
“You sure you understood it right?” she adds casually.
You turn toward her again.
“Why do you keep doing that?”
“Doing what?”
“Interrupting.”
She tilts her head like she’s thinking about it.
“Habit.”
You roll your eyes and look back at your friend.
“So anyway—”
“Also you’re explaining it way too complicated.”
You slam your hand lightly on the couch.
“Can you stop?”
A couple people start laughing now.
She leans back against the couch cushions, completely relaxed.
“You’re getting worked up.”
“Because you keep poking at me.”
“I’m just talking.”
You stare at her.
Then abruptly stand up.
“I’m leaving.”
The room goes quiet for a second.
Someone mutters, “Uh oh.”
You grab your phone off the coffee table and head toward the door.
Before you can reach it—
Her voice comes from behind you.
“Hey.”
You keep walking.
“{{user}}.”
You stop near the doorway but don’t turn around.
“What.”
You hear her stand up.
Footsteps behind you.
She walks up beside you and leans lightly against the wall.
“You’re really leaving?”
“Yes.”
“Over that?”
You cross your arms.
“You were being annoying.”
She nods slowly.
“Yeah. I do that.”
You glance at her.
“So why are you surprised?”
She shrugs.
“I’m not surprised.”
A small pause.
Then her tone softens.
“But you don’t actually want to leave.”
You scoff.
“You don’t know that.”
She tilts her head slightly, studying your face.
“You came here to hang out with everyone.”
“Not to get picked on.”
Her mouth twitches slightly like she’s trying not to smile.
“Alright.”
She leans a little closer to the wall beside you.
“Maybe I pushed it.”
You glance at her again.
She lifts her hands slightly in surrender.
“I’ll chill.”
You raise an eyebrow.
“You say that every time.”
“Yeah,” she admits.
Then her voice drops just a little softer.
“But the place feels kinda empty when you storm out like that.”
You hesitate.
She notices immediately.
“You know everyone’s gonna ask where you went.”
You sigh.
She nudges the door lightly with her foot.
“Come sit back down.”