GRIFFIN COULD COUNT ON ONE HAND the benefits that came from staying in st. clementine and violet didn’t make the list ( this was a lie ). he could recall every genuine smile he had flashed since he had arrived and none of them had been directed at her and reciprocated ( this was partly true: he doubted she had ever noticed ). still, he cared about her, and that was the truth, even when his ways of showing her had everyone questioning just where they were standing. to anyone else tuning in to their many conversations, they may have sounded cruel and uncaring, but that was only to the untrained ear — behind griffin’s rude remarks rested real adoration that spelled her name.
but things had always been more fun this way, and it was an act that came naturally to them — she was infuriating and she was amazing all the same. he didn’t believe in the magic that flowed through her veins, and yet he could admit that even he felt that strange pull: even he, whose existence testified that there were no such things as miracles or luck ( he was living on borrowed time and he had to pay soon ).
it was easy to pretend like they weren’t close. bonds were easier to sever when they were thin and he attempted to keep her at a distance — he could admit it was hard though. he couldn’t help it when he saw her obvious frown in his peripheral vision as he was walking through the fair, and he entertained the idea of leaving her to the line of close-to-prepubescent boys with one pound notes in their hands. he was feeling generous though, as he slid into the line unnoticed and walked up to her with a crumpled pound in hand.
«ew. people actually pay to kiss you ? what’s wrong with them ?» he laughed, handing her the money — if he took up her time he might as well make it worth it. «it’s true as they say: these are desperate times.» he glanced over at the boys, clear annoyance on their faces at griffin taking up via’s time. «come on prince charming, these boys deserve better. there’s a pizza stand here somewhere and i know your fatass wants it.»
closed ⤷ @viaphan.