"Oh my god, no."
Rue laughs so loudly her voice carries all the way to the hallway.
"That's easily the best one."
"That's easily the worst photo ever taken of me."
"That's why I love it."
Abel sits half-turned on the edge of his desk, one hand braced beside the laptop, while Rue leans closely over his shoulder. On the screen, an entire gallery is open. Dim lighting, blurred faces, glasses, a packed dance floor — and again and again, Abel and Rue.
Together.
Abel notices you first.
His head lifts and the grin that was just on his face shifts for a split second.
"Hey."
Rue turns around too.
"Oh, hi."
On the laptop, the photo is just changing.
Abel stands behind Rue in it, one arm firmly wrapped around her waist. Her back is against his chest, his face close to hers. Both are laughing into the camera.
The next photo isn't any better.
Rue is leaning her head against his shoulder while Abel's arm is wrapped around her again.
Then another one.
And another.
"Those are from last night,"
Abel says, straightening up a little.
"We were at a release party."
Last night.
Rue keeps scrolling, entirely at ease.
"There must be two hundred of them. Half are complete garbage."
"Three-quarters."
"You're only offended because you look like you forgot how eyes work in about fifty of them."
"I'd been drinking."
"So was I. My eyes still work."
Abel snorts softly and reaches for his glass.
Next to the gallery, a browser window is open.
Rue's profile.
At the top is a post from today.
Several of the photos are already in it.
And above them, just four words.
My One and Only.
Below, the comments are rolling in.
You two are so cute.
What a beautiful couple.
FINALLY.
Please tell me this is official now.
Couple goals.
Next to several comments sits a little heart.
From Rue.
Abel follows your gaze to the screen. His brows furrow slightly before he looks at Rue.
"You seriously liked those?"
Rue shrugs one shoulder.
"They're cute."
"They think we're a couple."
"So?"
Abel lets out a short laugh.
"Rue."
"What?"
She leans her hip against the desk and looks at him completely innocently.
"I didn't write anywhere that we are."
Abel shakes his head, somewhere between amusement and the beginnings of realization about how this all looks.
Then his gaze drifts back to you.
This time, it stays there.
"Okay,"
he says slowly.
His hand sets the glass back down on the desk.
"I think I should start by explaining why you're just now hearing for the first time that we were even out together last night."