Dancing

[Racetrack]

Race sighed. This was almost worse than just throwing down. "So you're telling me you know something about Sapphy that she don't know about herself, and it'll prove that it's a bad idea for me to start seeing her, in the highly unlikely event that she asks me to?"

[Copper]

"Exactly. I know my sister better than anyone -- sometimes even herself. She likes you -- and no, not just as a friend. She doesn't realize she's protecting herself. She's a little optimistic at heart and wants to trust people again. Now that I'm back, she's gonna have the strength to ask ya that question... Again, you're gonna say no. Something Shaye don't realize is when she gives her heart away -- whether that be a boy or new friend, she gives it fully. And it makes her weak. It's her pattern."

[Racetrack]

Race was looking at Copper as coolly as ever, so he was clearly unconvinced. "Everyone's weak when they give their heart away. They're giving someone else a chance to hurt them. That doesn't mean you get to chase her around making sure she never takes that chance. I'm not going to hurt her."

[Copper]

"Not that kinda weak, ya idiot," Copper rolled his eyes. "Weak up here," he pointed to his head, tapping his temple. "When her heart is distracted, her head takes over. It gets harder for her to fight thoughts back. You'll make her weak and she'll try to drown herself in the bathtub or jump off the roof or carve into her veins again just to make those fucking thoughts of hers stop."

[Racetrack]

Race had no idea whether Copper's impression was right or not. The idea that it might be flooded him with a kind of horror that he wasn't about to show in front of this guy. But there was definitely one part of this that didn't add up.

"If that's what you believe," he said, "then tell it to Shaye, and tell her not to ask me."

[Copper]

"She ain't gonna listen to me. I'm the younger brother and I don't know shit. All I know, is she and I are cut from the same cloth. Except I'm stronger by not letting my thoughts lead to trying to kill myself. If I kill myself, Shaye would quickly follow after me. So I stick around for her and smoke my problems away instead."

He stood up.

"So again. You're gonna say no."

[Racetrack]

He stood up too, and looked him in the eye. "If she asks, I'm gonna tell her everything you said. I'm gonna ask her what she thinks, if she's sure. And if I still say no, she's gonna know exactly why I'm saying it, not some bullshit excuse about how I'm not in love with her. Which she wouldn't believe for a moment anyway, 'cause she's known I'm in love with her for months."

((Gah, and on that dramatic note, I gotta get to sleep--have to catch a train before 8 a.m. But WE SHALL CONTINUE! <3))

[Copper]

"You tell her yes, then whatever happens to her is your fault," Copper said, trying to hold is rage in. Though it was failing... His ears were turning a telling pink color.

[Racetrack]

((...yeah, and of course you know I'm going to post one last time. But then I'm going to bed. For reals! *willpower face*))

"If anything ever happens to Sapphy, whether it's my fault or not, you can hunt me down and beat me to death--I probably won't even notice."

[Copper]

"Oh, don't worry," Copper smiled suddenly. "I would do it with or without you saying so."

[Racetrack]

((...because I'm bursting with willpower.))

"Well then." Race gave him an ironic salute. "Good talk."

[Copper]

"Yeah, fuck you too buddy."

((AND THEN AFTER THIS THEY BECAME FAST FRIENDS.))

[Racetrack]

((Hahaha, I can't wait for that day. Actually, I'm just super proud they didn't come to blows. I can't believe Race has been through all this drama and never clocked anyone once.)) ((Also, good night for actual real, and have an awesome weekend! )

[Copper]

((You too! I'll be messaging your inbox ideas all weekend hahaha.))