She pursed her Lips and narrowed her eyes, debating whether or not to believe me.

I gave her a serious look. "Neevie and I never spent hours just holding each other having conversations Like this. Quite frankly, we just fuck each other's brains out and then go our separate ways. This thing she has with her parents not letting her out on weekends or evenings... whatever it is... really prevents us from having the kind of intimate relationship we both thought we'd get to have. I haven't even taken her out on a date since Santa Cruz."

“But that will change. I know the two of you will figure out how to get more time together. I mean, at SOME point you have to stop fucking each other's brains out and sit down to just have a conversation.”

“Yeah, eventually, I suppose." I chuckled.

“But the point is that regardless of what title you want to apply to our relationship, you have to believe I'm still closer to you. And doesn't that count for something?"

Belle set her forehead against mine and sighed again.

“Yeah...”

I rubbed the back of her neck and pecked her nose.

“Okay, I was about to start coming up with solutions to make you feel better and get us more time together, but if you want support, I'm going to do muddle through figuring that out. I'm on your side, B. Alice had always been my video game buddy and best friend, but at this point in our lives you know how close we've become. You're the one person I can't live without. If the BTC imploded tomorrow and I had to choose just one of the girls to stay with for the rest of my Life and lose all the others, you know I'm choosing you."

Belle pulled her head back. "Not your girlfriend?"

"I love Neevie, and I love the relationship that we have. Apart from the lack of quality time together, she's everything I ever dreamed of and more. But it's still new and I'm not sure if we're built for the long run yet. Maybe we'll get to that next Level beyond infatuation and physical compatibility... Maybe not. But you're here right now and I know you'll be there for me forever. I meant it before and I mean it now: if it came down to it, I'd choose you over the entire BTC. Isn't that what you basically wanted to know when you asked if I'd break up with her for you?"

My pixie blushed, averted her eyes, and looked guilty. But she still nodded ‘yes’.

“Now granted, I don't actually WANT to break up with her, but if I had to, I would. I love you, Annabelle.”

“And I love you too, Matty." She kissed me quickly again.

“But as reassuring as your support is, I still can't help but feel like I'm missing out not being your girlfriend. Heck, even Zofi gets to be your girlfriend more than I am."

“Zofi's not really my girlfriend and you know it."

“She definitely gets a kick out of calling you ‘boyfriend’ all the time, though. And don't think I've forgotten your big date tomorrow

When do -I- get to have a big date with you?"

“Is that what you really want? You were the one who said we couldn't get together because I can't be your one and only. If we got together now, we'd have to break up so you could grow up and explore the world or something, right?"

“Well what if I WANT you to be my one and only now? Lots of people marry their high school sweethearts, or otherwise live perfectly normal, happy lives with only one lover."

I smirked. "Well, you've basically hooked up with every other girl in the BTC now, so that's at least six lovers."

“I mean MALE lovers. And I haven't actually messed around with Alice yet."

I popped my eyebrows salaciously. "Yet..."

Belle giggled and kissed me again. But she held my head and set her forehead against mine and sighed. "I'm torn."

“I can tell.”