"Wasting time?" Dick repeated, placing his hands into his pockets and tearing his gaze away towards the familiar structure of the Neptune Grand towering a few blocks over. "All I have is wasted time."
The world owed him nothing, and neither did she.
She could not shoulder this burden for him but the sound of his voice pulverised her sense of self-preservation.
Mac shouldn't have been surprised that the words tore through her. Dick Casablancas had always been gifted with an assault rifle for a mouth. The pained expression on his face made it impossible to move. What exactly was the protocol here?
Dick's approach with people had always been brutal, it was sink or swim. He was as ferocious and unforgiving as the seas he loved, dressed up like Everyone's guaranteed good time.
She didn't have to drown for his appeasement.
He pinned her with those eyes. Just waiting. She crossed her arms and stared at his annoyingly gorgeous face. She saw something she hadn't expected to see. A person. His hair was envy-inducing as ever. There was nothing to be gained from continuing this conversation, though it was inevitable all that pent-up frustration would come barrelling out.
The cure to his loneliness was just an app swipe away but the itch in her chest wanted.
Just wanted.
What she was seeing wasn't an anchor weighing down his free spirit in those stormy blue eyes, it was the gaping hole in his redesign, the slash in the sails he'd used to coast carefree through his previous life.
A man caught between two worlds. His heart mourning for the life he left behind, and a reality that sank into his soul like claws.
Mac wanted to wrap her hands around his neck. Though not to hug him, because the man was a master manipulator.
Should she be doling out some tough love?
Pulling him aside and putting a stiff martini in his hand?
And for the love of God… Why wasn't he wearing a shirt?!
It only takes a moment to change a life, and the decisions that can alter yours completely, don't even have to be choices which you made. No one exists in a vacuum and because no life is without consequence, the impact of someone else's implosion can send us cascading in a thousand directions, leaving us with no other options but to try and pick up the resulting pieces and move forward.
Cassidy's had shattered them both. And she was not over it.
"He n-" he hesitated before finishing quietly. "He never told me about Goodman."
Mac would have rather he wrap a hand around her throat than hear words that cut sharper than knives. His blue eyes searched hers, checking for something. Movement by the door caught her attention, Wallace stood there, seemingly unsure if he should make his presence known, or if he should intervene. She shook her head and his lips tightened into a thin line. His dark eyes were impossible to read but it was clear her friend seem reluctant to leave the two of them out here alone, but Mac didn't want to see this fragile side of "Satan's Errand Boy" chased back under the fake cover of a devasting smile.
Piz on the other hand seemed not to share his roommates ability to read a situation and strolled outside offering Dick one of the Battle of Bands free t-shirts Trish had been promoting of local artists. "I think this one might be your size. Oh and I got a few for you and Parker."
"You spoke to her again didn't you?" Wallace rolled his eyes throwing his head back and his roommate bit his lip sheepishly. Mac assumed they must be referring to Piz's radio shack supervisor as he handed over the shirts.
"Thanks." Mac said, a soft pint tint to her cheeks as she stuffed them into her bag and attempted to keep her focus away from the chiselled muscles on display as Dick quietly removed his orange Hawaiian shirt and pulled the green Dazzle Bro's t-shirt over his head.
"Hey Casanova! The Pizza Gods are calling!" Brendon announced like a drunken Viking, followed by two of his frat brothers staggering outside.
"Giuseppe's! Let's go dude." a third man who's name Wallace couldn't remember said arms raised above his head.
"Pizza is the proof that money can indeed buy you happiness!" Anders snorted and slung an arm around Piz's shoulder. "You coming Pig?"
"Piz" he corrected.
"No need to SHHHH, Pizza is not a secret.. it's the greatest gift since cheese!" Anders declared punching Wallace on the arm and as if on cue Mac's stomach growled loudly.
"Lactose intolerant." Piz sighed, tucking his hands into his pockets.
"I'll fill you." Dick said, his blue eyes on Mac as he swiped his blonde hair from his face.
"You want a Pizza Dat Ass?!" the third quipped loudly causing Anders to snort with laughter.
"You should probably eat something." Brendon agreed then turned his attention to Wallace. "And you, should go see that sassy senorita you've been flirting with all night!"
"Flirting?" Piz asked confused.
"Amira's giving me some math answers in exchange for some help in her dorm room." Wallace said quietly as his phone chimed again.
A: Wanna help rearrange some furniture?