Tetris in Red

14: Tetris in the Spot

14: Tetris in the Spot

Rhys

"Aaah, you can't stack +2 above +4 cards. That's UNO's original rule and that's what we're following." Toro announces as he takes a swig of beer.

Everyone lets out a chorus of agreement as their beer cans clink above the table. Idiots.

Everyone except Peyton who scowls at the +4 card on top of the pile. "I can't believe this. Every time I only got two cards, you guys start putting +2 and +4. The hell." He starts firing middle fingers to all of us, which mind you, they all gave in return. All freaking four of them.

Yup. Idiots, they are.

"You okay?" Alec asks from beside me with a shoulder nudge.

"Yep," I say, popping the 'p'.

We've been playing for an hour now in the middle of Peyton and Cyprus' hotel room. A healthy amount of snacks and drinks are freely handed out. And as for the game? I haven't even put in more than four cards since all they do is talk, jab, and talk some more.

It's been four days since I confronted Alec in his hotel room. Every day after that, I've been forced to hang out with the guys. Holland says team bonding is good, but all I want is a quiet place to conceptualize new materials.

Not play UNO freaking cards.

I hear him chuckle, "No. You're bored."

He says it matter-of-factly, so certain, as if he knows me all his life. I shake my head, "I can manage. Nothing but four raucous guys and yay, you."

"You're not good with crowds, aren't you?"

"Nah." I snicker. "I'm a hermit. I'd rather watch bad TV than going out. I just can't keep up with more than three people talking in one conversation."

I don't know why I told him that. For the past few days, Alec and I had spent more time than I imagined. Granted, we were always with the guys. He's polite, but I think he's just keeping me close. No one knows who I am and what I can do. Even though the conversations have started flowing smoothly between me and Eunoia, I can still feel their wariness of me. Like that one time they stopped talking when I was about to enter the room, or that time when Missori subtly checked each pocket of the jacket he was about to let me borrow before handing it to me.

Honestly, I don't know what to feel about that.

"We can do something else." My head snaps toward his direction and I raise a brow. "Talk about our new upcoming album or whatever else you want to do."

I think about it. Hard. Alec and I haven't really had the chance to talk alone. With all the traveling, practice and concert stuff, he barely has the time to stop and have a conversation with me. Now they have a one-week hiatus and we are all staying in this prestigious hotel in Paris. A leg break from all the long hours on the road. We can absolutely use the talking.

"Sure. Work sounds like heaven."

He chuckles before standing up from the carpeted floor, drawing the attention of the others. I take the hand he offers as he speaks, "We'll be in the other room."

I didn't give much thought about the silence that followed as we walk to the door.

xxx

"So," I begin as we perch in my room for five minutes now.

"So." Alec sits with his left ankle placed above his right knee, his back laid against the sofa. "What do you want to do?"

Uh...

My eyes land anywhere but his. It never occurred to me that his presence can be so... huge. I spent my time hating him. Not thinking about how imposing he can be or how he can just sit and be intimidating. I can feel him from every direction. His intent gaze never lost on every inch of my skin, crawling and lingering that I ache to scratch it.

Something tells me the invitation is not only for escaping the guys.

I walk toward my room to distract myself. I need to do something. Anything that can keep my mind busy. "I can show you my works in progress," I begin as I pretend to rummage through my things, fully aware that my laptop is on the dresser. "Holland mentioned that your new album is going to be fun yet dark."

His voice is slightly muted as it echoed from the living room. "Ah, yes. We're leaning to pop with a touch of alternative rock this time. We want to try something new, at least for us. Since you know, we'd been quiet."

I shake my head as I decided to just grab my laptop. I return to the living room as it starts then place it on the table as I sit beside Alec. Awareness slashes through me as Alec leans closer, his leg touching mine. "You okay?"

I chuckle, my cheeks flushed. "Why do you always ask if I'm okay? Do I look sick or something?"

"You just look pale."

My hand went to my face. "My skin is pale. It comes with being a ginger."

He nods, "Fair enough."

"You're being nice to me," I blurt out.

The corner of his mouth tips up as he leans away. A sigh escapes his lips, "We have to work together, Tetris. I have to be nice to you."

Oh. I blink. Thrice. "You still hate me, don't you? You're very good at hiding it."

The only answer I get is the sudden tick in his jaw as his head turns toward the screen of my laptop. "I'm excited to see what you've come up so far. Holland said you are good."

My brow almost raises to my hairline as I look at him incredulously. Both from the sudden change of topic and what he said. But I can't think about Holland at this moment. I don't know why Alec's feelings toward me affect me this much. It shouldn't. I am the one wronged here. I need to keep reminding myself that. Alec laughs quietly, "He actually did. He also mentioned you designed for lots of blockbuster movies."

"Ahh." I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear and avoid his gaze. Clicking the folder Eunoia and the first material inside it, we both view the abstract concept.

The silence stretches.

My mind scrambles for anything to dissipate the growing weight that's settling on our shoulders. God, help me figure this man out. "I haven't really thought much about it yet since I haven't heard your visions." I glance at him, only to find him staring at me. His eyes are like arrows pointing straight to my soul. "What?"

"I don't hate you. You just take up a lot of space in here, it suffocates me."

Flame so rich yet so placid streams through my blood. It gets hotter and hotter as it climbs to my skull, causing a dull throb at the back of my head. But my voice never sounded so cold as I speak in those short seconds, "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to stay out of my way. Anything that's related to this, you can talk to Holland. You don't have to endure being with us."

My lips immediately seem to know the answer. "No."

"No?"

"No as in I'm not going to be out of your way. You have to endure being with me." I narrow my eyes at him. "Anything that's related to this, I'm going to talk to you. Not freaking Holland." I'm done with that Chicken man. "I'm not going to shy away from you just because you can't handle your lies staring at you in the face after all these years.

"Deal with it, MacSweeny."