Episode 63: The Bachelor Party (Controlled Chaos)

I shouldn’t be here.

That’s my first thought.

My second:

Neither should he.

Beckett stands near the edge of the room.

Of course he does.

Same outfit.

Same presence.

People are avoiding him.

…Useful.

The atmosphere is louder than the wedding.

Looser.

More… idiotic.

“…This was a mistake,” he mutters as I approach.

“Obviously,” I reply.

I stand beside him.

Close enough to anchor.

He exhales slightly.

There it is.

“…You didn’t have to come,” he says.

“…Neither did you.”

“…Family insisted.”

“…Mine as well.”

Silence.

Comfortable.

Someone nearby starts bragging.

Loud. Incoherent.

Beckett tilts his head slightly.

“…He’s going to embarrass himself.”

“…Give it a moment,” I say.

He does.

Spectacularly.

We both watch.

“…Predictable,” he says.

“…Consistently,” I reply.

He relaxes slightly.

Interesting.

He’s anchoring me as well.

The noise doesn’t reach as sharply.

The irritation dulls.

Because he’s there.

Mira and Lina appear again.

Of course they do.

“Oh look,” Lina says.

“Still glued together,” Mira adds.

“We’re not—” I begin.

“You are,” they say in unison.

Beckett says nothing.

“…He matches you,” Lina continues.

“Quiet. Intense. Slightly terrifying,” Mira adds.

“…He’s not terrifying,” I say flatly.

They both look at me.

“…You’re defending him,” Lina says slowly.

“…I’m correcting you.”

They grin.

Insufferable.

Later, the noise escalates again.

I feel it—

That familiar irritation.

Beckett speaks quietly beside me.

“…We can leave.”

I glance at him.

“…You want to?” I ask.

“…Yes.”

“…Good.”

We leave without explanation.

No one stops us.

No one questions it.

Outside—

Silence.

Relief.

“…Better,” I say.

“…Yes.”

We stand there for a moment.

Balanced.

Equal in distance.

Equal in need for quiet.

“…You handled that well,” I say.

“…So did you.”

Pause.

“…We make it relaxing,” I add.

“…Yes,” he says.

And again—

That word lingers.

We.

Not yet defined.

But already…

There.