WARREN.

[ & though expression wavers momentarily, swaying to & fro, it is maintained. just barely. there is a deep want, beating & thrashing against confines of chest, threatening to spill over & lunge at one before. fingers grip & curl, clenching. biting tiny crescents into palms. knuckles pale, & then, realization dawns upon. let up. stop that. she’s going to notice & then his facade, guise, will fall away & crumble. can’t be having that, now can he — ?? ]

[ circling around for moment, like wolf herding flock of sheep — lips pull back & smile widens. ever the while, hand comes to rest gently ‘gainst nape. scratch, run thru, & thread. warm strands are shaken, & eyes blink. innocent, that’s that look he’s going for. goofy & shy & nothing like how he is now. but, thats the fun part of it all, isn’t it — tricking those former friends, allies, into believing that he is still the good guy ; white knight. & it’s hilarious, truly. that kate hasn’t caught on, yet. that she still ( stupidly ) continues to believe that his actions & words & everything about him lend him off as this goody two - shoes. & oh, boy. it’s so. fucking. delicious. to play this game — time & time again. doesn’t want it to stop. & who said it had to ?? ]

             ❝  — I’ll buy. Starbucks sound good — ?? ❞  [ step is
           taken away, not waiting for answer. starbucks. sounds
           too good not to go to. ]

               she catches small details. he does seem odd,

                  different from his pure &&. awkward self. there’s

                  something in his eyes, she sees it. 

                  it stirs in his eyes, something evil, lurking, waiting.

                  though, along with all the other signs, she ignores

                  this, per usual. 

                  kate marsh, so naive, so innocent. 

                  so STUPID.

                             ‘  oh no !!

                                      i can buy, no no !!    ‘