41.

Arlon's pov

“You? Apologizing? Man, what does this person have that I don’t? If you want to get laid you can just pick me. Choose me. Have me as your-“
“It is for Elai.” The room falls silent when I tell him how it is, the sizzling meat making it quite awkward. I could’ve expected he’d fall dead silent; if someone hates Elai, it is him. I can feel my cheeks heat up and I’m very lucky the lights are low here. I know what is going to happen next; Connie is going to laugh at me and tell all his friends about it. Man.. I can’t wait to be bullied by the twins the next couple of weeks. Great!
“That tiny guy? This is a joke, right? How can I not be the better option here?” Connie pouts at me, and I am kind of glad he does. I was frightened he might had gotten angry at me for trying my best to keep Elai satisfied. I guess he understands somewhere deep down. I pull back my flames and carry the meat onto a tiny, blue plate. I’d almost eat it myself if it didn’t have a purpose. I’m hungry, too. “I’m not hooking up with him, Connie. I just.. you know I need him here. He’s the prince, for fucks sake.” I sigh out as I grab a bowl, one big enough to carry a heavy, full salad. I hope he likes things like this. I hope he likes it when someone cooks for him.
“What did you do to owe an apology? He has a ginormous fucking attitude from what I’ve seen.. I bet you barely did any-“
“I insulted him.” I’m pretty serious about all of this, my hands mixing the ingredients as my eyes look up at Connie. He snickers, head shaking.
“See? Big attitude. Who gets mad about an insult? You insult me every day and I never-“
“I don’t insult you every day!” I gasp and throw a bit of paste at my friend’s face.
“Throwing food at me is quite much the same, Lo!”
“Don’t call me that!”
“Well don’t throw food at me, then!”
“You better run before I-“ We have always been quick at talking back to one another, but before I can finish my sentence, both our heads shoot up. I duck without thinking the moment the door bursts open. I recognize the sound of those boots. Val. She will kill me if she finds me here. Connie hops off of the counter and puts a smile onto his face.
“Val! It’s so good to see you! That suit looks terrific-“
“Don’t think you can fool me, boys..” I hear her small movements, and I bet that she’s leaning her hands against her waist right now. She always does that when she catches us. She used to do that when I was a little kid, too. Then, I saw it as something scary. Now I can just laugh about it; I know she’s not truly angry at me, nor at Connie. I can see Connie’s cheeks turning red, and I decide to stay down just to put him in a suffocating position. I have to place my hand against my mouth to stop myself from laughing; Connie gets so awkward in situations like this. It’s funny and entertaining to watch.
‘I’m sorry, what? I don’t-“ Connie looks down at me as I press my hand against my mouth harder. I shake my head at him; he’s on his own in this one.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Connie’s smile is uncomfortably fake and I wish I could scold him right now. He’s only good at lying when he’s in danger. Idiot.
“you are both way too loud to be joking around right now.” Val sighs out as I hear her feet walking towards the kitchen counter. Towards me.
“Oh! Oh you meant that! Arlon came to see me because I lost- a.. bet..” The more he says, the worse he gets. He’s trembling and stuttering. It’s quite hilarious. I’m enjoying myself.
Val doesn’t mind, as I had already thought; she’s starting to chuckle. “Sure you did. I don’t remember Connie Hanlon being a good cook? Last time you tried to help me you burned your hand and-“
“Alright miss. I get it. we get it.” Connie gestures for me to stand back up, but I’m having too much fun watching Connie struggle to keep himself in check. I only jump up when I hear Val’s boots walking further and further away from me. I put my hands behind my back and smile as I watch her open the door.
“Well.. have fun, you two.” She turns around with a smile on her face and I quickly receive a nod. I nod back at her before she leaves us in silence. Connie leans his hands on the counter and lets out a big, relieved sigh. “I thought we were goners.” He breathes out. I hold back a laugh as I smack my hand against Connie’s ass.
‘You had your cheeks clenched for the gods! Looked like you were gonna shit your pa-ah!” I take a step back as I feel Connie’s hand smack against the top of my head.
“You just left me to fight on my own like that!” He wants to try to hit me again, his artificial hand reaching out to grab my hair. I’m quick at dodging, luckily, a loud chuckle leaving my mouth.
“Come on, big guy! Let’s see if you can really fight me!” It’s been too long since I’ve felt this content. I feel at ease, especially now that Connie’s with me. For a moment, I can be me, I can have fun and forget about all the responsibilities that rest on my shoulders. I don’t think about Eryx, either. I’m good right now.
“Don’t go crying to my sister, then!” I am fast enough to avoid Connie as he plunges towards me. I get the chance to jump onto his back and roughly rub my knuckles on the top of the warrior’s head.
“Ah! Stop it!” Connie grabs my wrists and forces me off of his back, my slightly older friend making a run for it. I don’t follow him, my feet quickly running the other way to block him from escaping through the second door. “There is no escaping the king of-“ I feel the door hit me in the face. It’s a quick and sudden pain, and I grab my nose with a groan.
Connie can barely keep himself up his feet as a loud laugh escapes his mouth. Elai is standing in the door opening, face covered in annoyance. I almost forgot I was making something for him, to make him.. accept my apology.
“Seems like the sun is on my side today.” He must feel good being able to say that now. He raises his eyebrows at my whining self, hand still holding onto my nose as if it’s about to fall off. Connie stops laughing when he notices the look on Elai’s face. The boy has a certain aura around him, and it almost feels like the both of us are getting scolded by our teacher.
“Don’t mind me. I’m just checking if there’s anything good to eat here-“
“No! Don’t! I mean- it’s- I’m busy making something right now, so it is inconvenient timing. It doesn’t like- human.. contact..” What the fuck am I saying?
“Funny of you to think I’d listen to an asshole lie you.” Elai is good at acting, because I know he remembers our little moment from earlier just as well as I do. He rolls his eyes at me and walks past Connie, who can’t help but snicker a little. He doesn’t now Elai purposely turned me on earlier. He doesn’t know this whole fight-thing we have going on isn’t real. It is all a game, and all Connie can do is watch.
“Hey! Don’t go there!” I hurry after the teen and throw a quick glare at my best friend, who is looking like he’s about to burst into laughter once more.
I reach for Elai’s shoulder, the prince luckily not being able to fully use his ability yet. He can easily smack my hand away, though, the slight tingly feeling in my hand making me chuckle. He’s been practicing it. “I taught you th-“
“Is anyone going to eat that?” Why is he so good at this? Elai reaches the kitchen counter I was working at, the piece of meat already cooled off. I sigh; plan failed.
I can hear Connie giggle but decide to ignore it. I’ve got some explaining to do, now. “Uh well.. now that you’ve already seen it- I was.. making it for you..” I scratch the back of my head, the awkward look on my face giving Elai a reason to chuckle a little. For a moment, I think he’s going to lose his composure. But the prince easily shrugs and shakes it off of him. He’s much better than me. He hides the amusement it brings him and turns it back into annoyance. I wonder if he’d do well on a stage.
“I wanted to say that-“ I look back at Connie as if I want approval for him. But Connie is too stunned to speak or move; he’s witnessing something I’ve barely done before. I roll my eyes at my best friend before looking back at Elai, who is impatiently waiting for me to finish my sentence.
“Well- you know. that I’m.. sorry? For calling you.. a.. little bitch..” I find it difficult to say because fuck it’s hard not to start laughing. Connie can’t hold it back either, stomach probably hurting from holding it in.
“Was that it?” Elai raises his eyebrows and picks up the plate.
“Well it’s not finished yet-“
“So that’s it.” Elai interrupts me and walks to the first door with nothing but the meat on his plate. The door shuts behind him without saying another word, another silence filling the room. It takes Connie a few seconds, but he eventually finds back his strength to laugh.
“A little bitch?! He gets mad about being called a little bitch?! You weren’t even wrong!”
I let out a disappointed sigh; I was actually excited to make this dish. Now all there is left is a salad and some unbaked bread. The meat was crucial and I don’t want to waste another hour to make a new one.
“I know. did you see how he looked at me? Little bitch is an understatement..” I mumble the last words before picking out small pieces of the flowers I had used.
“Yeah, which makes it surprising you even want to fucking apologize!” Ah. We’re back at that. He joins me, both of us now eating small pieces of the petals.
“Might as well drop it!” I’m done fooling Connie. I don’t have to drop anything, but I pretend I do anyways. I don’t want him to be asking about it; I’m not that good at lying.
“Might as well..” I whisper it once more as my mind wanders off to Elai. Maybe the things I feel for him are more than simple desires. Maybe I am ready to let go.