mccallmemaybe | ic contact; asgard

[ Scott's staring dully into space until Allison opening the door startles him into standing, surprising Greenberg who clings to Scott's chest as he suddenly straightens up. ]

Hey, that looks heavy. Let me carry it. [ Ever the gentleman, Scott pops Greenberg on top of the laundry basket and takes it from her before she can protest. She could probably carry the basket herself but Scott doesn't want to say goodbye yet, even if Allison can't look at him.

He closes the door to his room and silently starts walking Allison to her room. It's probably the most awkward walk of his life. ]

[ There's a moment's hesitation on Allison's end, surprise at how Scott just jumped up and took the basket like that, so he's a few steps ahead of her before she moves to catch up. Guilt weighs even heavier in her stomach as she glances towards Scott, a frown knitting her brow. ]

You don't have to do that, you know. [ Not that it really matters since they're pretty close to her room already. So, as she glances away again, Allison wraps her arms loosely around her middle. ] But thanks.

[ Scott wonders what Allison is referring to exactly - being nice to her? Because that's something that will never change. ] I know, but I want to.

[ He puts down the laundry basket with Greenberg on top outside Allison's door. ] I, uh... guess this is goodbye, then. [ Not really, he'll see her in a few days for his turn to look after Greenberg.

There was a kiss last time they talked about breaking up. Scott wonders if it could happen. He steps towards her, reaches up to cup her cheek and brush away a fallen tear with his thumb. ] It's gonna be okay.

[ She's not sure if it's because she just went through this before she got back or if it's because of them living together, but it's harder this time. Especially when his hand cups her cheek like that and all Allison wants to do is lean into it despite knowing that she should pull away. So instead of doing either, she just closes her eyes and stays put, trying to keep the touch from swaying her into staying with him. More than anything (except her mom still being alive and none of this even happening), Allison wants to be with him still. She doesn't want to breaking up with him again, but she knows she needs it.

She sniffles and, despite knowing she shouldn't, reaches up to set a hand on his wrist. It's a light touch, her fingers barely touching him, but it helps. A little. ] I'm so sorry, Scott. [ The words are quiet, broken, and they hurt more to say than she expected. Still, she opens her eyes again, looking up at him through the tears. ]

I'm sorry too. [ And while she may think he has nothing to apologize for, it's for what he's about to do. And what does Scott do? Give in to that gravitational pull towards her, the same pull which almost caused a kiss between them on more than one ocassion back home.

It happens fast, too fast for Scott to talk himself out of it. For him, it's been months since he kissed her. It might be months until she's ready to let him get this close again. It might be never. The kiss ends as quickly as he steals it from her, a brief push of his lips against hers and then he's yanking himself back forcefully with an almost guilty expression. Maybe kissing her would only make the break up worst for her, that's why he looks so guilty, for not holding back. ]

Sorry, I shouldn't have-- I should go. [ Before his face loses its mask of being "okay", which is already starting to slip. He promptly turns and starts walking back to his room. ]

[ To say she's surprised would be putting it mildly but had Scott not pulled away as quickly as he did, Allison probably would've ended up kissing him back. It might've even led to something more, though that would've been far worse at the end of the day.

But he pulls away, leaving Allison standing there in shock, her hand still hovering near where his wrist had been when he starts to walk away. Her brow furrows as she watches him leave, her broken heart hammering away in her chest, and tries to will herself to do something other than stand there. But the one thing she wants to do the most - to call after him or run after him - she can't do, so Allison stays put for a few more moments before the tears become too much. And then, before the sobs have a chance to escape, she spins around and grabs Greenberg as she opens the door.

The laundry basket gets more or less kicked inside, forgotten as she makes her way to the bed. She doesn't even manage to sit down before the tears get the better of her and she gives in, letting herself cry until she either has no more tears left or ends up crying herself to sleep. ]

[ Scott forces himself to keep walking and doesn't look back until he's outside his own door.

If this were a movie, he'd look back, catch Allison's eye and walk straight back over to her to kiss her long enough for her to kiss him back. If this were a movie, she'd drag him inside her room and he'd stay the night. If this were a movie with a happy ending, the following morning she'd tell him that breaking up with him was a mistake and she'd move her stuff back in.

But this isn't a movie, it's reality and it's harsh, and by the time Scott looks back, Allison is gone, the door clicking into place behind her. There's nothing Scott can do but enter his room, slump across his bed and try not to think about how Allison might be crying nearby with no one to hold her. ]

ic contact; asgard

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action; I'll tag allison in the party log for awkward shenanigans