Title: Play
Author: kenzimone
Summary: We're all players, from the day we're born 'til the day we die.
Disclaimer: I don't own IAHB or any of the characters in this fic. Boy would things be different if I did...
Notes: Drabble. T/V, J/V, T/C.
Play
You told me you loved me.
And then you sat there, fingers tightly intertwined with mine, eyes gazing up at me waiting for my response. Holding your breath.
Love is a game. We're all just players, playing this stupid game day in and day out from the day we are born 'til the day we die. And now, it seemed, was my time to take the leap into the middle of the game.
So, I told you that I loved you back.
So, I lied.
I felt guilty at first. Because I knew you didn't believe in love being a game. You believed it was actually something special, some kind of blessing bestowed unto us. You always were so naïve.
In a way I was right in saying what I did. Maybe it's just my twisted mind, but I really think I was right. I knew that if I didn't tell you what you wanted to hear, you'd leave. You'd go to him. I don't like to share, you know that.
I can only imagine the look you would give me had I mentioned the two of you to your face. You didn't see it. I did. Frankly, it was impossible not to. And I didn't like it. Maybe that's where I went wrong, showing my dislike. Because somehow you noticed.
And it didn't surprise me the least when I saw you two together. In the mall. The mall. You're cheating on your boyfriend, and you take your new toy to the mall. For everyone to see. Maybe that was your point, huh? To display him. To open my eyes. Well, my eyes were open a long time before you made your move.
He seemed happy. Hell, you seemed happy. The more I watched you, the less I liked it, because it became so blatantly obvious that he didn't know that we weren't through. Far from it. He was just a play thing, even though I do suspect that there were some, albeit minute, feelings involved. It was all your doing, though. He had no part in this, not before you introduced him to the rules of the game. Not before you made him a piece on our board game. Your very own little pawn.
And to think I used to believe you didn't think love was a game. At the moment, it's rather laughable. And that is why I'm sitting here with your best friend, watching her eyes light up as I lean closer, smiling at her.
Love's just a game, so let's play, shall we, Val?