#halfault .

          head   tilts   at   the   comment   ,   unaffected   by   the   ice   he   got   in   return   because   this   was   ace   they   were   talking   about   .   kels   knew   there   was   no   intended   malice   with   such   a   response   .   besides   ,   he   was   the   one   poking   the   bear   without   so   much   as   a   thought   about   a   strike   back   .   the   tilt   turns   to   a   full   fall   back   into   the   cushion   again   ,   dramatic   sigh   leaving   his   lips   as   the   offer   hung   heavy   in   the   air   between   them   .   it   wasn’t   even   a   question   at   that   point   –   it   was   the   usual   ,   of   course   .     “    like   you   read   my   mind   .    ”     he   shrugs   ,   eyes   casting   towards   the   screen   absently   .     “    hey   ,   when’s   your   next   game   ?   or   are   you   already   done   for   now   ?    ”

          there   were   few   exes   kels   enjoyed   the   company   of   ,   alana   being   one   of   the   only   ones   in   that   group   .   there   was   nothing   sour   in   the   air   ,   no   hard   feelings   on   either   end   and   it   was   almost   peaceful   .   eyes   shifted   with   hers   ,   narrowing   at   the   group   in   question   before   head   tilted   a   bit   in   return   .     “    my   absolute   best   friends   ,   yes   .    ”     sarcastic   agreement   feels   like   second   nature   and   he’s   got   to   keep   himself   from   letting   out   a   burst   of   laughter   that   was   being   held   back   by   lips   pressed   together   in   the   form   of   a   smile   .     “    oh   ,   that’s   great   to   hear   .    ”     kels’   tone   aligned   perfectly   with   hers   ,   head   shaking   a   bit   as   he   moved   his   hands   to   his   pockets   .     “    what’s   been   goin’   on   with   you   anyway   ?    ”

          “    i’m   sorry   .   kitchen’s   closed   .    ”     shrug   lifts   his   shoulders   as   he   plays   along   ,   dramatic   sigh   falling   from   his   own   lips   as   eyes   found   the   bag   for   a   brief   moment   .     “    i’m   totally   kidding   ,   though   .   help   yourself   to   anything   .    ”     kels   wasn’t   much   of   a   selfish   one   ,   was   he   ?   instead   of   ushering   toby   out   ,   he   invited   the   company   .   he   alway   would   .     “    long   day   ?    ”

          “    have   i   ever   told   you   how   much   i   love   you   ?    ”     the   admission   falls   once   the   bag   is   revealed   ,   that   same   relief   from   before   now   weighing   down   on   his   shoulders   as   kels   stepped   aside   to   let   her   inside   .     “    bummer   .   my   heat’s   broken   .    ”     dry   humor   was   always   his   thing   ,   something   some   people   just   didn’t   catch   onto   .   once   the   door’s   closed   ,   his   hand   reaches   for   the   dial   to   turn   it   up   a   bit   –   unsure   if   she’s   prone   to   the   cold   now   that   she’s   not   dressed   for   it   .   still   ,   he   makes   his   way   towards   the   kitchen   and   has   to   will   himself   not   to   fall   asleep   right   then   and   there   .   zombie - like   states   were   never   foreign   to   the   male   ,   often   accompanied   with   mild   dissociation   and   disinterest   in   conversations   ,   but   he’d   power   through   it   for   talia   .     “    what   was   the   plan   if   i   didn’t   answer   ,   huh   ?   leave   it   on   my   doorstep   until   i   woke   up   again   ?    ”

“   you’re   not   ,   like   ,   stalking   me   ,   right   ?   ”   the   joke   falls   without   much   of   a   difference   to   his   usual   tone   ,   other   than   the   slight   slur   of   his   words   that’d   been   a   product   of   ungodly   festivities   he’d   plunged   head   first   into   .   dive   bar   houses   small   tables   scattered   around   ,   one   of   which   holding   a   half - empty   beer   bottle   that   belonged   to   kels   at   that   moment   .   flash   of   a   smile   shows   his   ease   into   comfort   around   her   ,   even   if   the   circumstances   weren’t   ideal   .   “   this   doesn’t   really   seem   like   your   kind   of   scene   .   ”

“   okay   ,   i’m   done   .   let’s   get   the   hell   out   of   here   .   ”   karina   didn’t   do   social   gatherings   on   a   casual   level   .   she   loved   an   award   show   ,   loved   the   red   carpet   ,   but   she   hated   having   lunch   and   attending   meetings   out   in   public   .   it   just   wasn’t   her   setting   .   “   i’m   thinking   movie   night   ,   but   that’s   totally   up   to   you   .   ”   flo’s   company   would   be   nice   for   a   change   .   besides   ,   she   had   a   few   days   to   herself   and   needed   to   reset   .

he’s   lost   ,   but   that’s   not   really   a   surprise   anymore   .   head   moves   slowly   ,   shifts   every   so   often   to   glance   behind   himself   as   he   wanders   through   a   hallway   he   really   shouldn’t   have   been   down   .   if   this   was   what   got   him   away   from   mindless   chatter   with   people   he   didn’t   even   know   ,   then   so   be   it   .   kels   would   take   that   chance   .   a   door   opens   and   it   nearly   smacks   him   in   the   face   ,   causes   a   halt   in   his   step   before   he   lets   out   a   scoff   .   “   jesus   .   sorry   .   this   place   could   ,   uh   …   benefit   from   putting   a   couple   maps   up   ,   y’know   .   it’s   like   a   fuckin’   maze   .   ”

“   that’s   a   terrible   idea   .   ”   karina   comments   nonchalantly   ,   head   tilting   a   bit   before   she   lifts   her   gaze   to   glance   at   them   briefly   .   “   literally   the   worst   one   i’ve   ever   heard   .   please   tell   me   you   have   a   backup   plan   .   ”   not   that   she   could   come   up   with   anything   better   ,   of   course   ,   but   her   two   cents   had   to   be   thrown   somewhere   instead   of   rotting   away   in   her   back   pocket   .

“   right   ,   okay   .   i   get   it   now   .   ”   it   only   took   him   …   how   long   ?   an   uber   drive   and   five   minutes   of   staring   at   google   maps   in   order   to   find   the   right   address   before   kels   realizes   now   that   he’s   made   a   grave   mistake   in   blindly   following   carter   for   the   millionth   time   .   “     god   ,   i   hate   you   ,   man   . i could have been home , sleeping peacefully in my bed by now .   ”

“   my   fucking   god   .   ”   irritation   falls   beneath   her   breath   ,   body   in   recovery   from   the   flinch   that   came   as   a   reaction   to   the   sudden   alarm   blaring   .   she   lifts   a   hand   ,   pressing   middle   and   index   fingers   against   the   bridge   of   her   nose   in   order   to   find   some   peace   of   mind   .   “   is   that   loud   enough   for   you   ?   talk   about   an   instant   headache   .   ”

yes   ,   he   ran   all   the   way   there   .   no   ,   he   didn’t   plan   to   when   he   left   his   own   place   .   it’d   been   times   like   these   that   kels   would   have   preferred   to   run   completely   away   –   find   somewhere   no   one   could   find   him   ,   a   place   he   wouldn’t   be   bothered   .   fortunately   ,   trav’s   place   was   the   next   best   thing   .   once   the   door’s   opened   ,   there’s   immediate   regret   ,   but   kels   pushes   it   away   and   it’s   obvious   he’s   out   of   breath   .   “   hey   ,   trav   .   ”   shoulders   fall   ,   hands   moving   to   wring   together   out   of   habit   before   he’s   glancing   at   his   watch   .   half   past   midnight   ,   nice   .   “   are   you   busy   ?   ”

“   oh   my   gosh   !   it’s   so   good   to   see   you   .   ”   play   nice   ,   she   reminds   herself   .   while   out   and   about   ,   karina   needed   to   keep   tabs   on   who   might   have   been   watching   .   of   course   ,   she   could   pull   off   the   fakest   of   sweet   smiles   when   necessary   ,   but   running   into   toby’s   ex   wasn’t   exactly   what   she   had   in   store   for   the   day   .   “   how   have   you   been   ,   al   ?   ”

“   you   look   like   you’re   having   the   time   of   your   life   .   ”   sarcasm   drips   ,   but   it’s   accompanied   by   a   smile   in   an   attempt   at   making   the   situation   seem   better   than   it   was   .   drink   in   his   hand   is   lifted   towards   them   as   an   offer   before   kels   narrowed   his   eyes   a   bit   .   “   we   can   leave   ,   if   you   want   .   we   don’t   have   to   stay   here   .   ”

“   i   totally   didn’t   hear   a   word   you   said   .   ”   admission   comes   after   their   pause   ,   realization   of   her   turn   to   talk   only   just   now   registering   as   karina   preoccupied   herself   with   a   string   pulled   from   the   edge   of   the   couch’s   pillow   .   could   she   really   help   it   that   she   was   distracted   ?   give   her   a   break   !   “   what   were   we   talking   about   ?   ”

he’s   not   listening   ,   obvious   attempt   at   getting   lost   moving   to   the   forefront   of   their   interaction   as   kels   glances   between   doors   on   either   side   of   the   hallway   .   “   would   you   chill   out   ?   we’re   not   going   back   to   that   party   .   it   sucked   anyway   .   ”   classical   music   and   wine   that   looked   expensive   but   tasted   cheap   had   never   really   been   his   scene   in   the   first   place   .   “   this   place   is   fuckin’   huge   ,   though   .   ”

“   i   know   you   didn’t   drag   me   all   the   way   out   here   for   shitty   coffee   and   a   boring   game   of   catch - up.   ”   it   was   no   shock   to   anybody   that   karina   was   a   homebody   ,   but   at   least   she   was   pretty   blunt   in   her   approach   .   “   tell   me   the   details   !   the   juicy   gossip   .   c’mon   ,   i’m   usually   going   to   bed   at   9am   ,   not   out   and   about   .   ”