A/N:🌹🌹🌹
{Animal}{by: Chase Holfelder}

-Fiat-:

I hear a knock at the door. I don't feel like getting up.

"It's open!"

Art cracks the door and peers in.

"I bought something for your headache." He steps inside and closes the door behind him. I sit up in bed. 

"What you bring?"

"Just some headache medicine."

I take the bag from his hand and look inside. There is a cold bottle of water and a pill packet. I rip the packet open and take the two pills and down half the water bottle.

"I'm surprised to see you." I admit. 

"You shouldn't be, we're friends."

"How's Clover?"

"She's ok, will you go see her?"

"I'll see her tomorrow at lunch."
I drink the rest of the bottle of water. "Do you know why we broke up?" I ask after my thirst is situated. 

He stares at me for a few seconds, then speaks.

"Just give it some time, you guys will probably make up soon."

"What makes you say that?"

"You always did before."

"This time isn't like before."

"It can be. If you choose for it to be."

I feel myself glare at him.
"Is that why you came?...to convince me to fight for her?" I laugh scornfully.

"You did before."

He is already irritating me. "Before, before, stop talking about before, it's not before, it's now!"  I snap.

He shakes his head, his face softens. 
"Why can't we talk to each other anymore? It's always turning into a fight."

"How can we talk nicely, if you can't even talk honestly?"

"I am being honest."

"Are you?"

He takes a frustrated breath, and runs his hands through his hair, scratching at his scalp. He does this when he is agitated.

"Do you really want my honesty Fiat?"

"I do."

"I want no part of this, I don't want to be the cause of my best friends breaking up....Actually, I won't be." 

He glares at me.

-Art-:

He is scowling at me, staring.

"What?"

He shakes his head. "You remind me of a possum. But instead of playing dead, you play dumb."

Why does everyone keep saying I'm playing dumb? I'm not. I just don't want to make things worse.

I'm starting to wonder if my efforts matter. The more I scramble to try to put the pieces back together the faster they shatter.

"I'm not," I say finally.

"Art let me ask you something... He says as he stands up and walks over to me. He stops only when his face is inches from mine.

"What's the alternative?"

"Alternative?"

"What does the world look like in your fantasies? How do you think things should be?"

My heart starts to race.

"How could I possibly answer that? I know what my life should look like but I can't speak on yours." 

I take a step back, and he approaches. I back up until my back is against the fridge. He places his hands up on either side of me, cutting off my escape route.

"Do it anyway."

I clear my throat. "You're making me uncomfortable."

I look away. He grabs me by my chin to face him.

"Answer the question."

"The world in which everyone is happy."  Is all I can muster.

"And being with Clover, do you think that makes me happy?"

"I don't know."

"Do you want to know? Because you have never asked. Do you care?"

I reach up and pull his hand away from my chin, I force myself to stand up straight and face him. 

"I don't....you are none of my business."

His eyes flicker over my face. 
"You're so damn good at lying, so good you convince yourself. It's tragic."

I roll my eyes, reach up and force his arm down. I head for the door. I checked on him my obligation is over.