Chapter Twenty-Six

"Wake up," Ryo nudged you. You had dozed off again somehow as he had read to you. You didn't want to move now that your head was positioned so comfortably on his lap.

You groaned, "No wayyyyy. Your lap is the perfect pillow."

Ryo huffed and shifted. He liked how cuddly you were, but the position you were in was just... a little uncomfortable. "Aren't you tired of sleeping?"

"No," you replied honestly.

"Whatever," he groaned, throwing his head back onto the back of the couch. "You know, you're a lot brattier than everyone else thinks."

"You're so mean, Ryo. It's my turn! If you wanna do that weird system, then you're gonna have to abide by it," you whined. You couldn't really believe the words coming out of your mouth. Were you agreeing to it after all? Maybe it would be okay.

The more you seemed to go with it, the more satisfied Ryo felt. It was like you had chosen him out of all the others. You really hadn't chosen anyone—you just hadn't refused. Not really. He nudged you again, so you finally sat up. "I already read to you, it's my turn now."

"Why should you get your turn so quickly?" you frowned looking at him.

"I want my turn," he pouted. Slowly, he shifted his body towards you and ended up caging you on the couch. He was almost straddling you, his knees on either side of you and his torso hovering just a few inches above you.

"You're so needy," you sighed. Hoping to hide your blush, you leaned your head back and to the side to stare at the wall.

"You are, too. All you want to do is cuddle all the damn time," he retorted. He was staring at your now very exposed neck. He wondered if you were really okay with the agreement.

"You cuddle way more!" you pouted. "Just admit that you're needier than me."

He responded by slowly kissing from your clavicle up to your jaw, your face catching on fire. You fidgeted a little but never did so much as to push him off. You weren't uncomfortable, really, just concerned with the consequences. You decided to give in to your instincts and slip your arms around his back, your hands resting on his spine. "This is proof that I'm right," you muttered as he leaned into you completely.

"You like it, though," he responded. He really refused to lose an argument, didn't he? "And I like to feel you squirm beneath me."

You found yourself blushing at his words despite yourself. You didn't want to react this way, but you did. "Y-you're weird." He leaned back to look at your flushed face, pleased with you losing.

"You're weird too," he licked his lips. "But it's okay because you're mine."

"No I'm not," you frowned.

"You are when it's my turn," he replied with a tilt to his head. He wanted you to just be his all the time, but he could try to be patient. You couldn't really argue with his logic, either. It wasn't like you belonged to him but saying that you were committed to staying true to his agreement was... okay enough.

"I think I want to organize a dinner tonight for us all to go to," you said, changing the subject. Your hands rested on his chest. If anyone had walked in, the two of you would look very intimate.

"Why?" He scowled dramatically.

"I'm worried about the group conflicts. I feel like people are arguing all the time and I don't want that. You'll come, right?"

"A whole group dinner sounds dumb," he sighed.

"I assumed you'd think that," you nod. "But I hope everyone goes."

He leaned back in to rest in your neck, his lips tickling you occasionally, "Well, you could make it your turn, I guess."

You smiled at that, but argued anyway, "what, you wouldn't go just because we're friends?"

"You can risk me not showing up if you want, but if you use it as your turn I'll be obligated to go, that's all," he spoke simply as if he was stating some official rules. You supposed in a way hewas, but it all seemed so silly.

"Fine then, Ryo, I'm demanding that you go to this dinner. It's my turn." You laughed lightly. He stood from you and stretched, and you soon followed suit. You needed to tell everyone else what you were planning.

You made your way around the house, trying not to feel awkward around each person. You figured you'd try to find Jason last so that you two could get right to cooking. Talking to Dianna and Don felt awkward to you, but you were glad when they both agreed. Jenna seemed a little put out at the idea but ultimately agreed to come. Quince and Suki both seemed very happy to see you, and as you expected, they both accepted.

"Hi Jason," you called as you entered the library. He was reading something—you hoped he wasn't too invested. "What do you think about cooking dinner with me?"

"What did you have in mind?" he smiled as he set the book down and looked at you. "I happen to know how to choose just the right amount of noodles for two people."

"I was thinking we could cook for everyone actually if that's okay," you shook your head. "I think a group dinner would help everyone...bond, or like, maybe not bicker so much. Maybe if we all spent more time together, we won't be so frustrated with each other."

"Oh," Jason paused. He seemed surprised at the suggestion. I didn't think she'd want to interact with them after all the things I'd told her... "I'd be happy to cook with you! Maybe since it's all of us, lasagna or a casserole would be a good idea?"

"Lasagna sounds super good!" you cheered. Jason didn't like that you wanted to organize this, but you were so cute that he almost didn't mind. He stood and you both walked to the kitchen to begin cooking.

"How long does it take to make?" you asked as you pulled out the ingredients he asked for.

"Like, an hour and a half, give or take. The cook time is forty-five minutes, so how long it really takes just kind of depends on how quickly we can whip it up.

"While it cooks, we can make a salad?" you suggested, and he agreed. The two of you worked diligently to make something good for your group. You set the table and served juice in all the glasses—you wanted it to be perfect!

"It looks good," Jason said with a smile and a hand on your back as you both looked at the table.

"Is the lasagna almost done? People should be filling in soon."

"It has to cool for a bit, but I think it's almost ready," he reassured you. "Sit next to me?"

"Of course!" you agreed. You were really happy to have this meal planned. It felt satisfying.

As time passed, each seat was filled. Everyone seemed a little tense and uncomfortable, but you hoped that it would even out over the course of the meal. Suki seemed excited to see you at least, but Jason and Ryo already sat beside you.

"Guess I'll just have to show up early next time," she whined as she sat across from you.

"Guess so," you grinned back. "But now I can see your face! If you were next to me, I wouldn't see you as well."

"That's true!" she laughed as she stuck a fork in her food. "Hey, this is super good! Thanks for cooking you guys!"

"It was mostly Jason," you dismissed as you ate.

"It's still very good," Dianna spoke. She seemed to be completely observant and hold little emotion in her voice—almost like she was a judge on a competitive cooking show or something.

"You helped a lot," Jason nudged your shoulder. "You're a better cook thank you give yourself credit for, (y/n)."

"Thank you," you finally accepted. Everyone ate, but the table was still uncomfortably quiet after that. Ryo made eye contact with you from time to time. He seemed almost smug as if to say, "I could have told you this was a bad idea," but you ignored it. Suki was the only one who talked much, and she talked exclusively to you. You were glad someone was talking, but you were sad that this wasn't the huge bonding experience you had envisioned.

"Don't you think you've chattered enough, Suki?" Jason asked coldly as he placed his fork on his empty plate. He placed a tense hand on your shoulder, causing you to jump slightly in your seat. You were going to defend her, but she responded first.

"It's not like anyone else it is talking, I don't see why you have to be so pissy," She retorted after a bite of food.

"You've been talking to (y/n) the whole time, no one's had the chance to talk. (y/n) set up this whole thing so that we could all talk together, but you've just been talking to her," he seemed to get angrier with every word.

"This is a stupid thing to get mad about, if other people wanted to talk, they could have. No one did," she shrugged. This is stupid, you thought sadly. This is... the opposite of what I wanted.

"I wanted to warn you," Jason sighed and said quietly enough for only you to really hear. He turned back to Suki, "Unlike you, everyone else is polite enough to not just interrupt other people. No one was going to speak while you were talking the whole time."

"What's your damage, seriously?" Suki squinted angrily at Jason. You kept your blank and exhausted stare on your plate. How long was this dumb shit going to continue?

"I admit that I agree with Jason," Dianna spoke up. "You should be more conscientious of your presence in a group."

"Whatever," Suki groaned. "You're all being stupid."

"Maybe you should all argue less. I think if you all care about (y/n) as much as you claim to, you'll stop upsetting her so much," Quince spoke with a frown. He had anticipated this kind of outcome, but he didn't want to shut you down when you suggested it. Hopefully, this would help you see why no one else here deserved you like he did. They were all so immature.

Strangely enough, that was what nearly everyone else at the table thought as well.

"If I'm being real with you guys, I don't see why this is all centered around her," Don's voice was heard for the first time that night. You appreciated his point, but it embarrassed you. You wanted to sink into your chair and never come back. The things Jason had told you about Don rang in your head.

The group ignored him. Most everyone at the table was snapping at each other as if this was a terrible family reunion and not a people-who-are-dead-hangout-dinner. Jenna watched it all with an intense look in her eyes as if this was a crime scene rather than a dinner-table argument. "I don't know why she invited you weirdos anyway!" Suki snapped. Her comment was obviously pointed at Jason and Ryo for stealing the seats closest to you.

Jason stood from his chair suddenly and walked towards the room's exist. "(y/n), let's go," he stared at you.

"What?" you asked, your brows furrowed.

"I said let's go, now come on," he snapped. His teeth seemed sharper when he was upset, somehow, as if he was more dangerous. You couldn't think of a time he had acted angrily with you before. You shivered.

"A-alright," you cursed at yourself internally your stuttering as you stood from your chair, knees wobbling all the while. He took a hold of your upper arm and began to pull you away, but then was stopped in his tracks. Quince had stood from his seat to stand in front of Jason, a gentle smile on his face.

"I don't think you should be around her while you're this angry," Quince spoke.

"She's the only person that can make me less angry," Jason growled in return. You hoped Jason wouldn't somehow make Quince angry too—you didn't want to imagine what that'd be like.

"Yeah, well, you're scaring the shit out of her," Quince frowned.

Jason looked back to where you stood. His brows were furrowed, and he looked annoyed, but his eyes undeniably softened a bit when he saw you quivering with wide eyes.

"I didn't—I would never," he spoke in fragmented sentences. "I wasn't intending to scare you. I'm sorry." He dropped your arm and turned to glare at Quince.

"If I find out anyone in this room lays a finger on her, I know who I'm holding responsible," Jason narrowed his eyes.

"There's nothing to be worried about, Jason" Quince tilted his head with another coy grin. Jason felt mocked as he stormed out of the room.

The room was still as you drank it all in. You looked to the floor as you spoke, "I feel like he could benefit from venting his anger out to someone."

"I think it would be better for him to sort out his own feelings," came Dianna's unexpected reply. "Maybe you should spend time with me instead?"

"I don't know, I might need some time alone," you said softly. You knew that if Quince had been the one to offer you would have accepted, but you just didn't want to deal with anyone else.

You were surprised to realize that Jason wasn't the only one that had run off when Quince saved you from the mess you were almost in. Suki, Ryo, and Jenna were all absent. You frowned. Dianna was upset with your refusal. She wanted to complain about you refusing her request for time again, but she figured it was inappropriate after the recent events. She scowled to herself before excusing herself from the table. Don followed suit.

"This didn't turn out as I had hoped at all," you said quietly. It was just you and Quince now. You were glad it was him, but you were sad for the circumstance.

"I know it didn't. I'm sorry they're all like this," Quince comforted you as he took a step closer. You were glad he was getting closer—which seemed weird. You were so hyped up for this dinner that you were crushed at its failure. And yet, to have Quince comfort you made your heart beat faster.

"It'll be okay," you sighed out. "I shouldn't have expected them to all be buddy-buddy just because I put Lasagna in front of them."

"They could have at least tried," Quince frowned. He didn't like that you felt like you were at fault. He lifted an arm to your hair, petting softly. "Did you still need that alone time?"

"...Would it be okay if I stayed with you instead?" you asked cautiously. You knew you were blatantly admitted to some level of hypocrisy since you refused to spend time with Dianna. Quince was different, though. You hoped he knew that.

You waited for his answer but kept your eyes away from him. You didn't want to see how he would react, because if he refused you, you didn't want to see his expression. He was kind to you. Even so, you worried about his limits and his frustrations. You didn't think that he was disappointed, angry, or frustrated with you, but if he was... well, you didn't want to know.

He let the hand that caressed your hair tilt your chin up to make your gaze meet his. You were relieved to see a warm smile on his face as he spoke, "Of course you can."

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