Star Crossed

Chapter 64: Puzzle Pieces

Mason

"A hundred warriors stared at the rock. Leaves and broken twigs fluttered around them. Then the einherjar all turned toward me. Another arrow hit me in the chest. I screamed, more in rage than in pain- do I have to keep reading?" Brandon questions, sighing slightly from on the couch behind me. I nod, knowing he's looking at me.

"It's helping me to concentrate," I counter, my attention drifting back to the half-finished sketch in front of me. Brandon groans quietly, and I hear the fabric of the couch shift.

"You've been having me read Magnus Chase almost every day this week," my boyfriend states, and I finally turn around on the floor to face him. I let out a breathy laugh when I see the book discarded beside Brandon.

"That bad, huh?" I tease, and Brandon smirks, shaking his head. He reaches out to me, pulling my arms towards him so that I have no choice but to stand up. Brandon wraps his arm around me, pulling me onto his lap.

"Now I'm fine," Brandon exclaims, and I can't help but smile at his cheekiness. I lean back into him, relaxing more and more by the second.

It's strange. As much as I didn't think that I liked physical affection, I actually do. Although, that may just be a Brandon thing. If any of my siblings try to hug me I still fight them off with the nearest sharp object. Not really, but I did elbow Carter in the ribs once for jump-hugging me.

I guess that's a newer revelation in my life, which leads me to my newest revelation. I'm not aromantic. I'm still asexual though, don't worry.

I haven't exactly come up with a new label -probably something like panromantic or biromantic. Brandon's been helping me to try and figure it out, which has actually been really nice. I've also considered demiromantic, but then I feel like it still needs some kind of sexuality with it.

"Mason?" Brandon asks, pulling me out of my thoughts. I turn my head slightly to look at him, his dark brown eyes staring back at me. "You wanna watch a movie or something? Or are you just content with sitting here?" Brandon suggests, gently tightening his arm around my waist. A faint blush crosses my cheeks, and my gaze drifts down to the decorative pillow beside Brandon.

"A movie's fine," I mumble, and Brandon chuckles underneath me. He grabs the remote from on the coffee table in front of us, selecting a random movie he's probably watched a hundred times.

I snuggle closer to Brandon, leaning my head on his shoulder. He places a soft kiss on my cheek, then turns back to the TV.

I wasn't sure how long the movie was on for, but I was basically falling asleep until I noticed something. My eyes instantly widen and I gasp inaudibly. My head flicks up to the TV, and suddenly everything makes sense. There, illuminated on the screen, is the phenomenon I like to call two very attractive people hooking up.

I shift uncomfortably against Brandon. God, please not now. Not ever. But, especially not now! I can't leave, he'll know that I know. But, if I stay then I have to stay and endure this. But, if I leave, he'll ask why and then we'll have to have a conversation about it.

"Mason... are you okay?" Brandon questions, clearly having noticed my discomfort. I gulp, having to strain my muscles not to look at him. "Can you get up? I have to... go to the bathroom." That's an obvious lie, but I let it slide -big time.

Without saying a word, I get up from Brandon's lap, sitting down on the couch beside him. The awkwardness in the air grows thicker as Brandon wordlessly leaves the room.

I let out a sigh, rubbing my hands over my face. Of course, I understand that it's out of Brandon's control, but I don't want to think about it!

It's about ten minutes before Brandon returns, a very noticeable blush on his face. He runs a hand through his hair, giving me a weird smile. Brandon takes a few steps closer to the couch, but still keeps a distance between us.