Word count: 200

Silly Games

He loves me.

Cagalli shredded one sheet of paper. The machine whirred as it consumed the page, slicing the document into neat little strips.

He loves me not.

Whir. Cagalli shredded page two.

He loves me.

Whir.

He loves me not.

It got stuck. Irritated, Cagalli slapped the machine. Palm smarting, she tore at the crumpled edges, forcing them to straighten and tugging in all directions.

She heard the sound of paper ripping…and then it was working again. Cagalli sighed, and curled up in her chair.

Last sheet, and the moment of truth:

He loves me.

Eventually, that was what it had come to, and Cagalli blinked, gaping dumbly at her hand. Already, all seventeen pages were gone.

Her eyes suddenly blazed, and she kicked the stupid machine, jamming it again. He loves me, he loves me, he loves me-- the paper shredder buzzed uncomfortably in her ears, like a broken record. It echoed her thoughts.

But Cagalli just glared at the innocent object, eyes burning.

"Yeah, right," she spat. She turned around.

"What a stupid game."

Yet silly as the game was, she had no intention of ending it-- this dance of two hearts, broken promises, and fickle romance.