✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ PAPER RINGS⋆⁺₊ ✧˚ ████████
████████ by @dearest_em . 2024  ᥫ᭡.
chapter ten , "it's not that simple"

real life ! ❀

the next few mornings were nothing but awkward. chris and tae seemed normal, with their constant bickering with no one bothering to stop them.

saorise and theo walked around holding hands, and trying to make jokes to help. nothing worked, but yet a smile was still on saorise's face.

darlene hadn't reached out to reed last night after what happened, which was for the best. it didn't do much though, as reed still kept trying to talk to briar but she pushed him away.

"do you want to watch corpse bride?" he smiled, oblivious to what she saw yesterday.

she didn't glance his way, "no,".

briar then got up and left the room, grabbing a book on the way out. reed walked back to the kitchen, sitting on a stool as el made cereal.

"what's wrong?" she asked, finding a spoon.

"briar's still not talking to me," he shrugged.

el looked at him, confused. "she really never talks to you willingly."

"i know that, but she was starting to. at least i thought so anyway. i thought i was getting some where."

el tried to think of something to help, "last night she seemed off, come to think of it."

reed looked up, adjusting the silver rings on his fingers. "what do you mean?"

"she was walking out from this hallway before i caught up with her,"

reed looked at her, finally figuring it out. "she saw me last night," he said, putting his head in his hands.

el leaned against the counter, waiting for him to continue.

"i was looking for a place to get away last night, and darlene found me and kissed me. i didn't even notice the door was open, she must have saw."

"gosh, that must have been why briar seemed so down when i saw her. i didn't want to say anything though, you know sometimes saying things makes it worse."

"yeah, but right now, if i don't say something it will make it worse."

"meaning?"

"last night, darlene asked me if i was 'interested in someone else," he starts, doing quotes with his hands. "i said no. but i just stared at her, cause i think everyone knows but me that i do. you know? every day, it's just my goal to be someone for briar that she never had."

"you can't fill every void of every bad person in her life, reed."

"i know. but i try my best to, cause i care about her."

el softly smiles, setting her bowl down onto the counter behind her. "you should go talk to her, like you said. tell her what you just told me,"

reed shakes his head. "she doesn't listen to me about that kinda stuff. she doesn't believe that someone could care that much. especially now, after she saw darlene with me."

"it's worth a shot, just do something that will make it up to her. you know her interests."

"yeah, you're right,"

a few hours later, briar walked into the living room after making sure reed was far from it. she turned to el, who now sat reading a book.

"it's nice out," el stated, looking at her, "you should go for a walk,"

briar looked at her, confused. "if you think it's nice out, shouldn't you go on one?"

she shrugged, "i just showered, besides it could clear your head."

"okay, i'll go. i'll be back in 20." briar agreed, heading for the door.  el looked at her knowingly.

briar closed the door, a click sound coming from it. she continued to walk down the drive way, and onto a path filled with plants and trees.

she kept on the path before turning right, where a river was. she hummed to herself, grabbing a few rocks on the ground, and throwing them into the water.

"hi,"  a voice said, dryly from behind her.

she turned, expecting some type of horror movie scene to go down. she instead was met with reed, standing with his arms crossed.

"what do you want?"

"to talk,"

"to talk? i don't want to talk to you reed." she scoffed, turning to walk back to the house.

"please, would you just stay a second. i know you. just stop running away from your problems for a second."

"you don't know me."

"i know you better than you think i do. i know that you play with your bracelet when your anxious and that you do want someone to notice. you say you don't, but you do."

"why do you care and know now?" she asked, turning around.

"i've always known, briar. come on,"

briar pauses, "what do you want out of it then? a prize? it's pretty obvious if i'm playing with my bracelet, it makes a lot of noise."

"i want you to listen to me."

"we'll just end up fighting, reed. you said it yourself, you don't like anyone." she paused, saying "maybe you just like darlene." under her breath.

"i don't want darlene, briar. i want you. and i want you to see that. but you don't. you just push everyone away, and i get that, ill work on it. to understated you more or whatever you want, alright?"

briar laughs, "it's not that simple."

"if i didn't want to, it would be. but i do, it'll be worth the work. just tell me what you want."

briar looks at him, coming closer to hug him. she doesn't say anything for a while. he lays his head on her shoulder. "i know you hate opening up. so i'll wait if you need it."

briar pulls away, looking at him, a slight smile on her face. "if i said i wanted you, would you call me crazy?"

"yeah, probably." he laughs. "i watch scream in my free time and call it a comfort film."

she laughs too, before looking at him for a moment. then kisses him. he smiles and pulls away as they walk back to the house.

"now can we watch corpse bride?" he jokes.

"fine, but you better not talk through it."

em's notes !

heyy

i tried my best to not make this corny. but idk. and mb if it was fast, im trying to wrap up this book.

so, there's only going to be 2 more chapters

ily all and tysm for reading

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