He's staring at you again.

That's the eighth time this week.

Ever since G started visiting your house on almost a daily basis to see Nicki, you'll catch the skeleton randomly staring at you sometimes when he thinks you're not looking.

It's not a malevolent stare or even a lustful one. It's just...curious. Like he's trying to peer into your soul. It didn't bother you at first since you thought he was simply checking you out, and that his interest would eventually wear thin. But it's bordering on a week now and his creepiness hasn't decreased - if anything, it's gotten worse!

The monster is currently sprawled across your sofa, the TV playing loudly in the background. He's waiting for Nicki to finish her makeup so they can go out to a club together. It's at times like these when Nicki isn't around that he tends to stare. Maybe today should be the day you call him out for it.

You're typing quietly away on your work laptop at the kitchen table, watching the skeleton from the corner of your eye. He seems more dazed than usual today.

With a sigh, he finally turns his attention away from you and digs a hand into the leather of his jacket. He pulls out a packet of cigarettes and pops one between his teeth.

Your brain doesn't even have time to register what your body has set into motion as you suddenly find yourself leaping from your chair and straight at the monster.

"Hey!" You bark loudly, smacking the cigarette box from G's hand so fast and unexpectedly that he jumps about a foot in the air, coughing out the cigarette.

"What?!" Is his panicked reply, sitting up quickly and looking to you with alarm.

"I told you no smoking in the house!"

"I wasn't!"

"I just fucking saw you put a fag in your mouth!"

"Doesn't mean I was gonna light it!" He defends himself, a little disgruntled by your blatant over-reaction. "Chill, Sweet'eart. You're so prickly sometimes." He says, leaning to scoop up the little box from the floor.

You glower at him, "I am not prickly!"

"Heh, yeah, you are." He grins.

Your ears turn pink with indignation, fists clenching at your sides. "You are such an asshole." You exclaim.

"Takes one to know one," is his quick reply, a shit-eating grin on his face.

You open your mouth. Close it. Then release a huff of annoyance and turn on your heel, picking up your laptop to continue working upstairs, where this cocky skeleton can't aggravate you any more than he already has.

At the door, you stop and send him the sternest straight face you can muster. "Just- no smoking in here. Got it?" And you continue out the door.

Halfway up the stairs, Nicki passes you, on her way down with a thick face of makeup.

"Y/n?" She asks in confusion upon seeing your angry face.

"I'm fine!" You snap, not even glancing her way as you march to your door and slam it behind you...only to realise you've left your laptop charger downstairs.

"Shit..." you grumble. You really need your charger if you're going to get any work done tonight. Heat pricks your ears at the thought of going back downstairs and G's grinning features as he sees you do so. You can just imagine him saying something like, "back so soon?" or "I knew you couldn't stay away."

Maybe you'll just sneak down now, grab the damn thing and run back upstairs. They should be leaving in a few minutes anyway.

Your attempts to creep down the stairs are appalling, as you trip halfway and stumble against the bannister, which only adds to your growing embarrassment.

At the kitchen door, you stop and take a breath, preparing your brain to ignore whatever cocky remark the skeleton might throw your way. Your hand hovers over the handle, but what you hear next has you freeze.

"She whacked the packet right outta my hand like it was on fire or somethin'!" G exclaims loudly, retelling the events to an intrigued Nicki. "It was a total overreaction. I wasn't even plannin' on smokin' in here."

"Yeah, she's yelled at me a few times for it as well..." the blonde agrees with a thoughtful look, "she really hates smokers with a passion—I've seen her threaten me with eviction one time because a guy I brought back tried smoking in here. I've never seen her so angry before. It was terrifying and amazing at the same time."

"Huh, there a reason that?"

Nicki just shrugs and hooks a hand under his arm. "Who cares? C'mon, let's go out already. I'm all dolled up for a good night out."

G grins and stands up, pulling her close. "Heh, hell yeah y' are."

Your hand slides from the handle as you turn and walk away. A heavy weight sits in your heart. It follows you all the way upstairs where you curl up in bed and try to sleep, no longer motivated to work. Even now, you can smell the burning.