Shalimar stretched with the elegant grace of a jungle cat as she entered the living room the next morning. To a casual onlooker it would appear she'd slept wonderfully but the tired yawn that followed revealed the truth to the psionic across the room whose eyes remained fixated on the blonde beauty as she approached. She knew with all the feelings the feral was drowning in last night she'd probably been up for most if not all of it. Regardless of its truth, Shalimar strode into the room with a bright smile on her face looking like a million bucks fooling the entire team. Almost the entire team.
"Morning, guys," she greeted and stood beside the couch with her hands folded in front of her chest as if to close herself off. She glanced to Emma sitting in the chair who was reading her body language. It was obvious to the feral Emma wasn't the least bit fooled by her clever put ons. She peeled her eyes away from the psionic's and tried to pretend nothing was going on.
"Morning, Shalimar," Adam said with a smile as he looked up at her from the couch.
"Hey, girlfriend," Brennan's voice said from behind as his hands soon landed on her shoulders. Shalimar couldn't help but notice the extra emphasis he'd put on the word "girlfriend" and before she could respond he placed a kiss on her cheek. Normally she wouldn't have thought twice about it but for some reason she didn't want that type of confrontation right now. She looked to Emma again, realizing the reason and wondering if Emma did too, the psionic's eyes moving away before Shalimar could judge what she saw there.
"So," Brennan began, his voice practically in Shalimar's ear forcing her to turn her attention back to him. "You gonna be my girlfriend?"
"What?" she asked, shocked at the question.
"For the ball today," he reminded, removing his hands from her shoulders.
"Oh, um…" she hesitated, noticing out of the corner of her eye how Emma looked up at the question, almost more interested in the answer than Brennan. Almost. "Yeah," she finally answered. "If that's the plan."
"Jesse and Emma will masquerade as a couple as will you and Brennan," Adam explained. "And I want you guys to remember that you're supposed to be a couple. Don't forget to act like it."
Shalimar hoped the rest of the team didn't hear the gulp in her throat she was sure was so loud she almost didn't head the end of Adam's sentence over it. She turned to Brennan to notice the wide grin on his face and forced a smile knowing today would most likely be the most awkward and uncomfortable day of her life. Not that she didn't like Brennan. She adored him most of the time but with her recent feelings she didn't feel right playing a couple with him. Especially in front of Emma.
"Why don't you all go get ready and we'll head out?" Adam asked.
Shalimar was so grateful for the excuse to leave she didn't realize she'd practically brushed Brennan off her as she turned to head back to her room.
"Hey, Shal, wait up," he called and headed down the hall after her. "Something wrong?" he asked when he'd reached her side.
"No. Why?"
"You seemed kinda distant back there."
"Sorry I just got some things on my mind."
"Wanna talk about it?"
"No I want everyone to stop asking me if I wanna talk about it."
"Alright," he agreed in a sigh knowing better than to press her buttons. "I'll see ya soon."
She offered a smile before closing the door to her room, instantly cupping her head in hands as she wondered what she was going to do to get through the day.