Status Updates From Spiral — Espiral do Amor

"It's not just that. It's like no matter what I do, no matter how much I try, 'll always be scraping by. I'm a goddamn mess."
"You're my mess."

My neck aches from our awkward position, but I can't find it in me to move or care when she looks at me like she's mapping an entire constellation with her eyes.

"I've never said you were difficult, Sage. You're definitely not easy, but I like that about you."

"Then why can't you look at me. It's like you can't stand the sight of me."

"At the risk of saying too much, I don't want to look at you too long because I like it too much."

"It's never going to be just a kiss for me. Once I do this, Sage, I won't be able to stop."

"You shouldn't look at me like that, you know," Sage says.
"Like what?"
"Like I'm yours to look at."
"What if I want to?"
She pauses. "Then you can do a lot more than just look, West-brook."

"You don't seem like the dancing type."
"I'm not. But you are," I say, pressing a kiss in her hair that I don't think she feels.

You know you're hot, Elias. People beg you on a daily basis to take your shirt off."
"Is that what you want to hear, Sage? How hot I think you look in this dress and how much better it would look sliding off your body?"
"Who knew after breaking you out of your shell you'd become such a flirt?"
"I guess it just takes the right woman to come along."
"And I'm the right woman?"
"The perfect one."

"You look beautiful. Unreal."
"Oh," she squeaks. "In that case you look pretty unreal too."

"Don't be scared, Elias. I don't bite," she teases.
I step into her orbit and lean forward to nip her earlobe. "I do."

"Your extra glue and crystals."
I's the pack left at home, "Why did you bring them?

"You told me that one time they came off before you even got onstage and how upset you were. I didn't want that happening again."

"An eleven. You were amaz-ing. I googled all the moves, and you hit every single point."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because you second-guess yourself and think you're doing terribly onstage when you're not. Just in case you forgot, I wanted to be the one to remind you."

"What happened to the no-flowers rule?"
"I didn't like it."
I scoff. "That's not fair. What about the rules I don't like?"
"Why?" He takes a step closer. "You think you'll need a good luck kiss?"
"Wouldn't be the end of the world." The silence breeds anticipation in my thumping heart.
"Might be,"

"When are you going to learn that I'm incapable of saying no to you?"

"Now, go out with your team and celebrate the win. Paparazzi be damned!"
"What if they spin a story? I don't want anyone to question whether I'm faithful to you."
"Let them. I'll be more than happy to remind everyone that you're in a happy committed relationship with the love of your life."
"Love of my life, eh?"
There's a pause. "Give or take."

She leans forward, and bluff or not, the only thing I know for sure in that moment is I'm truly fucked. Sage takes my thumb in her mouth and seals her lips around it. She hums when her hot tongue touches the syrup and licks it clean before she takes me deeper.