“Not that extensive. Just,” he gulped, not ready to come face-to-face with the reality of the situation. “You know what? We should pretend.”
“Brooks, I’m not in the mood to argue–”
“Please? Just humor me. They’re going to melt my brain soon. Another round of good conversation will help me get through it.”
“Alright.”
“So, why don’t you pity me and tell me your name since you’re so real?”
“You know the rules. No personal details.”
“Because you’re me?”
“No, asshole, because I don’t want to bemewhen I’m with you.”
“You stick to your guns, I’ll give you that.”
Silence expanded between them and he hated that it made him anxious. He wanted her to keep talking.
“Do you remember the first night we ‘met’ Siren?”
“How could I forget?”she scoffed.“You were a grade A asshole and I was–”she stopped. They hardly talked about that night. The night she thought she wouldn’t make it through, whether it was by her hand or Fate’s.“I was in pretty rough shape. I hit my head really hard and couldn’t see straight for days. It was even longer before the nausea went away.”
“Do you still hate me?” he blurted.
“What?”
“That night. You told me you hated me. Do you? Still hate me?”
Why did he feel like the ability to live through the week was dependent on her answer?
“No, Brooks… I don’t hate you.”
Relief flooded his system like a dam breaking. Another stretch of silence fell between them but, to his surprise, she was the one to break it first.
“Tell me what you look like.”Her voice was soft and more relaxed than it had been.
Her question made him smile and determination to hear her laugh decided his answer.
“It’s unfair that you ask me to tell you such personal information when I can’t even have your name. But, since I’m a nice guy, I’ll give them to you for free. I’m ruggedly handsome with biceps so big I can’t touch my face and golden hair so pretty it would make the sun weep. And don’t get me started on my dick. Compared to my forearm, it’s–”
“I know you’re being sarcastic, so until you’re serious I’m going to assume that you’re covered in hairy moles and that your pinky is bigger than your manhood.”
“Wow, Siren. That is downright fucking offensive.”
She huffed a laugh, but it was a tepid response.
Brooks cleared his throat. “Okay. I’ve never been measured or weighed, so I don’t know exactly how tall I am. But I do know that I’m one of the tallest in the asylum. I’m pretty trim, but I try to exercise daily so I’ve got a little muscle here and there. I’ve black hair that needs some serious attention and I’m pretty sure my eyes are some dark shade of blue. We don’t have the luxury of mirrors around here. You know, what with the safety concerns and all. I’m pretty pale because I never get to go outside during the day, so who knows what the potential for a tan is.”
They both chuckled.
“What about you?”
Her silence was loud, and he hated leading the conversation. He felt helpless and wanted to go to her and, when that desire was the strongest, he was reminded that she was just a sick part of his brain. His mood soured.
“Forget that I asked.”
“No, I want to tell you. I just–”Her sigh made his heart ache.“My life is miserable because of who I am, what I look like, and what I can do. I don’t want to be that person here. I just want to bemewith you, Brooks. Can you give me that?”
