T e n

E m o t i o n s - N o t  m y  F o r t e

George and I were having a movie marathon on Sunday evening, having it the only day of the weekend to be free from work and the outside world. Sometimes I treasured what was left of the peace the two of just had; it would never top off the incredible trips or days we counted but it would always be worth it.

With a curse hissing from his lips, I looked in bemusement once he began flicking his wrist in pain. There was annoyance plastered all over George's face, but I remembered to always look to his eyes. I've known him for so long that even his lies were clearly obvious.

His cooking skills were not as obvious though.

Tom saw through the white lie that my best friend smoothly gone over when George invited him over for dinner a few weeks back. It was the first time they had a homely date, so in result I got kicked out of the house.

Nevertheless, Katie and I had to help him with the cooking even though neither of us were professional chefs.

George's meal was a literal burnt crisp, though once I tried it with a bite: it wasn't completely burnt or hard. "I can see why you lied to Tom," I smirked and he stuck his tongue out childishly.

"Shut up." He huffed. "At least it isn't burnt into crisp like the uni days."

And I added, "Since then we've resulted to take aways and junk food until we graduated."

"You barely even eat at all, anyways!" George hopped over with his plate, scooting over on the sofa as we prepared for a movie.

I grabbed the controller on the coffee table, turning on Netflix with my feet propped onto the side of the sofa. "I do..." I protested, but then mumbled back that it was only once in a while.

Back when it had been our uni days, George told me that I had a bad habit of not eating the proper meals during the days. Sometimes I would've skipped the three important meals and subtly ate a sandwich if I needed it.

Nevertheless, I continued my search for a Marvel movie to begin. George had in mind to start from the beginning. So for the first twenty minutes: most of the screen caps were the face of Robert Downey Jr.

I had my throw on my legs, letting the cool air linger through my arms and face. My phone was on the coffee table as well as the stack of work papers my manager had given me. Apparently one of the secretaries got fired yesterday, and they needed my approval on interviews for the placement.

Though my best friend clearly slapped the papers this morning and I hadn't touched it since.

"Can't believe it's been eight years since this movie came out." George spoke quietly, and I glanced to his side - he had his iPad on his lap on Safari.

I replied, "Civil War will be great this year."

"Maybe Tom would come watch it with me," There was clear hope in his words and I nodded - half way meeting his understanding. 

I tried most of the time to know what George would feel and his emotions towards any actions, but no matter what: he was very much a blur to understand. Unlike his brain, his heart was completely the opposite. His grin showed cockiness and sarcasm, though there was a chance that it meant more on hope and happiness.

Just as I opened my mouth, I felt my feet vibrate under me. The coffee table shook and I noticed the familiar logo on the iPad's screen. As George continued to watch intently, I got up and picked up the tablet. I decided to head over to our joint office, already filled with a pile of paper and scraps in the waste bin and post-it notes lying about on the walls or either on the desks.

The call was still on, and I immediately accepted the call once I took notice of the names. I sat and swiveled round my office chair and almost gave a widened eyes expression from the bright light emitting from the screen.

Georgia Brindley-Summers' faced up on one of the screens as well as the usual Pippa. I relaxed my cheeks for a bit, though couldn't retain the smile as I saw another figure being shown. Their head was smaller, with big curious eyes and a tuft of hair on the top of their head.

"Hello, [Y/N]!" Pippa whispered with a grin. "Hope we're not barging in; I made sure to tell Georgia that it was your day off."

I rolled my eyes. "I'll have to be quick; George and I are having a Marvel marathon at the moment."

"Oh," Georgia's eye lighten, in contrast of the dark circles under her eyes and slow forming stress lines on her forehead. "Sorry! Maybe we should talk some other time'"

I shook my head and spoke quickly, "No, no! Don't worry about it. I'm sure George will be alright for half an hour or so." The two women's faces didn't seem to bother me much, considering the amount of times I've encountered them and spend so much of my childhood with them.

What seemed to stop my head running was the baby in Georgia's arms. Georgia's baby. A girl to be exact by the colour scheme they had used. Even the baby's features seemed more feminine, but I hardly doubt what the child would choose when they get older. But that was not exactly important.

Something inside me broke a little as I saw her, and I forced it back to regain my posture - pulling myself up physically from my chair.

"She looks like mixture of you and Ralph," I breathed out. "Have...have you given her a name."

Pippa nodded, "Her name's Addie."

"Short for Adelaide," Georgia carried on, whilst I looked at her and glance back at the curious child who often tapped onto the screen. "Ralph and I kept her birth a bit silent for the moment, but the press will come to realize as to why I took a vacation off the team."

That reminded me of the little story Pippa, Lola and Georgia told me during my breaks during university. Before the four of us had our lives change.

I had visited the little tourist village of Bourton-On-The-Water on free Sunday. George was too hungover whilst I was able to cope the drowsiness and harsh migraine attacks. I only drank a bit of vodka as well as beer in one of the parties George dragged me to. It was a memorable day, since most of the memories rested inside the cafe of 'The Little Talisman' - all just three years ago.

"Is Lola editing the recent video?" I asked them, breaking my trance by myself. 'I needed to stop doing that often around people...' I informed myself, breaking into a smile to reassure them that I was hearing them perfectly well.

Pippa raised an eyebrow, "Yes..." She shook her head, grinning. "Anyways, I only knew about it since my mum texted both Lewis and me about it." There was a pregnant pause, and I could tell Pippa's unsure face fall into any less comfort.

Same goes to Georgia, who gazed down rather than the screen. Awkward tension. I knew how it felt. And I believe they were trying to show that they now knew what it felt to be in my shoes. So much of the empathy had seeped through into the silence that I coughed to catch their attention back onto the conversation with stern look afterwards.

I told them, "I do not need empathy, but allow yourself to do it in order to comfort your own needs." The anger was there. I admitted it, but the burning fury was there - and somehow it was harder to stop it. Has it always been there?

"I know..." Pippa sighed and scratched her head. "I know that your relationship with your mum...Nevermind. Let's just say that we're all in the same page, correct?"

I saw Georgia nod, "They didn't want to text Pippa, but Ralph was stilled pissed about them daring to disown her, so he told them to call Lewis and Pippa. Meaning all of the Brindley family know. My parents don't know yet."

"You want to surprise them," My lips curled to faint smile. "I can see from you face that you know they'll love them. They were approved that you broke off from the polo team."

Georgia's eyes began to tear up, and I watched them. Mother and daughter as well as the new Aunt in the family. In my head, I was eager to hear it from Lewis next week. The two of us hadn't met up this Saturday since we were off next week to MCM Comic Con. Him being an uncle considering he was eldest to the other two. The big child man in the family.

I smirked in amusement and I informed the two that I'll mention it to Lewis once I see him. My brunnette best friend groaned whilst Georgia chuckled. "Anything else? It's obvious that you're eager to tell me something?" I was the one now to raise eyebrows and both of them seemed to be holding some caution.

How bad was the information they were going to tell me?

"Actually...Ralph and I were thinking." Georgia began. "How would you like to be, [YN], Addie's godmother?"

If I had a beverage, which I hadn't: my whole desk and tablet would have been covered of my own saliva and drinks.

"I..." I stuttered. "Georgia, me? You know me, for god's sake."

Georgia grinned wider, "Oh come on, [Y/N]. You're perfect for this."

"You trust me?" I repeated.

"Yes I trust you." The truth was naked in her voice and I felt that I had to swallow the lump in my throat.

'It has been a while that someone could trust me on something...or someone.' I thought. 'They don't know what I've done...all the people that trusted me. Or tried to..'  

My mind fought. On one way, I was honoured from my best friend. But with her husband...I didn't wanted to get involve. Not again.

"Come on, [Y/N]-"

"Okay," I finally spoke once more, though my hands became numb. Yeah, I could take care of a child easily. 'I was in retirement, after all.'

____

"Sam, I thought you worked here!" I loudly cried out once I entered the streaming room, spotting the man hunched under the desk with a tool box beside him.

Then I heard a yelp alongside a curse, hearing the painful bump on the head as Sam got up from his kneeling position. Neither flinching nor wincing, I stood there: handing him the cloth and he gladly took it. Of course I wasn't here as his personal assistant. Apparently from Hannah, the technician had wanted me since lunch to have a chat.

He then then thanked me, flashing a glare before a smile. "No need to shout, [Y/N]. And yes...no buts or what ifs."

I pouted. "Steve's gone on the weekend trip, hasn't he?"

"Well everyone is away tomorrow, so I can see why." Sam shrugged, rummaging around the box. I then turned around and gave him the pliers he had dropped. "Thank you...again." He mumbled under his breath.

Since I had no other choice, I placed down my bag and prepared to getting onto my knees to help Sam fix the wiring on the cables. They were a little jumbled and some of the cords could have been placed in better places. With the two of our heads, we created simpler and efficient wiring system so it would be easier to take it off and replace any of them without causing a bit of copper to snap.

We were still under the table whilst the door creaked open.

"Sam?" It was Turp's voice.

"Shit!" Sam winced whilst I spoke, "Ow," at the same time.

Both of our heads turned, but we didn't notice again of the desk height. Since our CEO wanted Sam: he was the first one to scuttle out and stand up. being next, I jumped up to my feet with a quick breath - nodding at Turps in acknowledgment.

Turps smirked, "Helping out under there, [Y/N]?"

"Sam's a bit rusty," I shrugged and I heard a choke out of air from Sam. "But we've managed and cleaned up. Now it's functioning."

Turps burst out laughing and questioned me if I was talking about the wiring system or Sam's dick. The said man's cheeks turned beetroot red, and I gazed to my left to see Sam glower back. "It's not like that, Turps."

"And I was clearly talking about the system," I rolled my eyes and Turps seemed to look smug. And in my observation, he was clearly trying to make use of my innuendo to make Sam uncomfortable. 'He's ego is showing' I grinned, ignoring my mind as it seemed to imply that it was becoming too maniacally to show my curled lips and teeth.

Once Turp's eyes graced over to mine, I pierced very closely at his. I could easily read him, but I've been suppressing it ever since I moved into Yogtowers. They have only experienced the small deductions I can easily spot. I'm not going to gain a loss of friends just because of their simple flaws.

By then, he caught what I was doing - probably knew it from the rest of the office - and he backed off and apologized to Sam. When Sam left, I told Turps before he left as well that I didn't dislike him at all. "I only disliked what you said, it's...not right to say that: it makes people angry." I explained, not entirely forming it correctly as usual.

"Well they weren't kidding," I flashed an odd look once I heard him chuckle. "Anyways, we're always a bit more flexible on our insults...and I shouldn't have pissed you off either."

I nodded, "And I apologise...with whatever I just did."

Turps blinked and I just stood there: a little confused before he could leave without another word. Though, he did invited me on the stream - which I shook my head. I would have rather stay in here than having to see Turps squirm and be quiet all of a sudden. Both of us were a little annoyed: we both mutually agreed - but to his character and my confusion: it'll brush off.

Lewis was the first one on the monitor when I opened the channel live for their Hearth Stone and podcast session. They were just reading out majority of their news and the upcoming videos they were recording. Adjusting as I went, I had my other hand writing more ideas for content that Lola had asked me to plan. This then lead to thinking about Pippa and her fits of laughter after Georgia asked me to be a godmother.

A responsibility felt nerve-racking, especially when it was a child. My skin shivered in goosebumps before I thought of the next person that was very related to any parenthood or guardianship.

I texted Turps via the twitch chat: 'Hey guys, can you let Turps know if he has any advice of being a godparent?' Soon as I sent it, the whole chat gone berserk, which was expected. I haven't used the Twitch chat yet apart from actually streaming and not monitoring. Most of the older fans didn't know me, and demanded where Steve or Sam was.

Luckily Turps cleared it all up as he said, "Oh. The chat wants to know who is [Y/N] again. Well tell you what, I'll give some advice if you can come and sit with me and Lewis for a few minutes. Then we could introduce her to you."

"I feel as if you didn't give her a choice." Lewis smirked right towards the camera, my face unimpressed by the mockery and the glass of beer he held on his free hand. I pouted and messaged back on the chat that I was a bit busy - actually making sure they aren't going to get banned from Twitch.

Turps then added, "Please? Lewis will give you double pay...but then again he'll probably pay you with his own body."

I blinked, a little amused at Lewis blushing ferociously in embarrassment. They weren't exactly concentrating at playing what seemed to be their third game, so I obliged and got up. There was barely any noise or sound coming from down the corridor, so I ambled down to the streaming room. The two were still gazing at the camera as I entered the room.

Until Lewis placed down his glass, Turps noticed my presence and his eye darted towards mine. He pushed another chair between the two of them and I gladly sat down.

"Look everyone, clearly not a robot...or so she says." Turps spoke. "You okay with the height?"

I raised an eyebrow, slowly ascending up on my chair. "Thank you, for mocking my bloody height,"

"Well you're not as short as Kim or Nina-Serena," He tried to make me feel better, though it seemed the chat had agreed that Turps was being his savage self. "Or as tall as Smith or Ross, and whatever."

I turned to Lewis, who I looked on his screen to watch how he was doing well. It wasn't bad - but I could never say as I was just as shit as anyone else in Hearth Stone. "Hello everybody," I waved to the screen. "I'm the stand in, and no: Lewis doesn't have to pay by using his body."

Lewis held back a laugh, though I saw some sort of tired smile. "So you need godparent advice?" Lewis repeated and I nodded. "I haven't even seen her yet."

"You know the audience don't know what the hell you guys are talking about?" Turps grinned and the I shrugged.

I spoke, "God parenting is not my speciality, so don't get us started with parenting. Turps, since you have a wife and a child: can you give us some good tips to being a good godparent."

"This is so weird..." Turps chuckled. "...hearing it from you, [Y/N]. But I'd say: be there for them for as much as you can, and just try feel as if you're part of their lives."

I swung my legs as I spun around my chair, responding back to Turps' advice. "So don't fuck it up?" I asked. 

Instead of Turps reacting, I heard a laugh from next to me. Lewis was spluttering, probably after holding on his laughter behind the grin he showed. Jokingly, I punched his bicep in annoyance. Lewis gasped and held his arm with his other one and I smiled in the camera as if I had victoriously defeated him. The said man pouted, yearning then to flex his arms at the chat.

"Oh, look at these arms. Pretty neat aren't they?" Lewis spoke. I was a little bemused at this and I rolled my eyes once more.

I spoke, "If only you stop fawning over other men, then you'd be rather pretty too."

"Jealous much?" Lewis smirked. By then, I was mostly concerned as his faltering hold on his cockiness. There was some regret I could spot, though I couldn't understand as to why.

Rubbing my eyes, I yawn and the whole Twitch chat showed my reaction as being not interested. Lewis noticed it and he burst out laughing whilst Turps read the messages out. Outside, I felt almost relaxed at the banter between us. Though as the chat began to blurt out suggestions of Lewis and myself, my mind began to fail at holding back the embarrassment.

"One of the donations says: '[Y/N]: are you single and if you are: do you think LewLew is compatible and manly enough to win your heart?'" Turps read out loud, but by the time he finished it, my head felt a faint pang. It was like being hit on the head.

Luckily none of the two had spotted it as I held my body back and I flickered my eyes at the lights. What they didn't notice was my hands on my lap, curled immensely due to the pain. It was the nickname...where did I hear that from? I wondered. Just as it flew off in my head, my heart almost stopped once the question sunk in.

"Uh," I thought out loud. "That's rather personal, but I am single. Plus Lewis is an amazing dingus. Unfortunately he can't win my heart out. I'm not good enough for him." Cheekily, I also added: "Plus he's too stiff for Smithy anyway. Can't get in the way of a beautiful romance."

"Fuck, that's quite true." Turps nodded in agreement. "Lewis does have a general infatuation towards the A of Hat Films."

Lewis smirked, and then returned to playing. Sitting a little bit further from him, it didn't stop me to observe his posture. He was happy at my complement, but there was a slight movement of his mouth. What was he hiding that involves my opinion?

In silence, I continued to help them out in the stream. There was barely any interaction and I considered it to be better. My lips were pursed and my head was a little better from the unknown headache I had. But until the end of the night, I was just eager to know why Lewis was being quiet. We soon turned off the stream, preparing to close the office for the night.

What I did not realize by the time I left after the two: was that as Lewis left, he was on his phone - calling someone before hopping onto his bike. It was a new contact; and it was definitely not his personal trainer.

____

A/N: That took me forever to write! I'm sorry it's such a filler chapter, but I needed to so I could progress on their relationship. And yeah, I apologize if I portrayed Turps a bit off in this chapter, that part I didn't really like: but I thought it would be good to show what's it like for a character to not be cautious of people's emotions and not understanding yet the banter around Yogtowers.

Also what's up with LewLew?I know it'll be cliche but I assure you: I will try not to make it too dramatic. Anyways, I don't think Chapter 11 will be out quite soon as school has started again.

Hope you enjoyed reading :)

-SierraOwls