“Wrong. You TRYING to keep a Lid on your feelings is what got them all bottled up under too much pressure until they literally erupted and nearly destroyed everything.”

Belle's eyes narrowed as she swallowed that idea, decided she didn't like the taste, and promptly made that same dropped-meal-on-the-floor-cockroach face. But she didn't disagree with me. She buried her face into my chest, squeezed me a little harder, and sighed. "Fine, I'LL be more honest with you instead of trying to bury my emotions."

“Good.”

“I've already started trying, alright? Admitting my self-esteem issues over not being able to physically satisfy you like the others

Admitting how much I love you and want to be with you forever. But Sam doesn't want me to get my hopes up only to be disappointed. She looks at us and says you're happy with the way things are, or at Least the way things were before I tried to break the boycott. I felt taken for granted, but you felt Like I was always dependably there for you, and you loved me for it.”

“I did love you for it. You were my anchor. No matter what else was going on in my life, whether it was my infatuation with Neevie, my confusion over how to deal with Alice, even Sam's confusing two-tracked personality, I always believed I could count on you. I always trusted that you had my best interests at heart. And then one day all of a sudden, I realized you were just as selfish as everyone else, including me, and then that trust I had was gone." I took a deep breath and exhaled. "It wasn't fair. I was holding you to a higher standard than I could meet myself."

“What are you talking about?" Belle sat up straight.

“You are the LEAST selfish person I know!"

“I'm a walking horndog eager to stick my dick into whichever one of you will let me."

Belle rolled her eyes.

“You're a GUY; you're allowed to be a horndog. A truly selfish walking horndog would've stuck it into Holly when he had the chance, but you didn't because you love us. You're the ONLY guy in a club with six hot girls, and you're still the most selfless person in the group. How ELSE have you managed to keep all of us happy and in love with you at the same time?"

I blinked. "Because I'm self-centered enough to dislike any of you being mad at me and wanna keep getting laid so I work super-duper hard to try and not piss any of you off?"

Belle giggled. "I suppose that's one way of seeing it."

“Well how do YOU see it?"

“I see you putting the needs of all six of us ahead of your own. You prioritize Mari's need to feel safe. You prioritize Sam's need to feel independent. You prioritize Alice's need to feel sexy while still being a video game nerd. You prioritize Zofi's need to take things at her own pace. And you prioritize Neevie's need to feel adored. You may couch it in terms of trying super—-duper hard to not piss us off. I see it as you working super-duper hard to make each of us feel fulfilled. I see that you've BEEN prioritizing all of us for YEARS already, and we all love you for it."

“And what do YOU need?"

Belle pursed her lips. "What do --I- need?"

I nodded. "You didn't mention yourself.”

“Well... I suppose what I need is..." Her voice trailed off, and then blinking, she muttered a surprised, “Huh.”

I waited her out a moment, and when she didn't continue, I finally prompted, "You need what?"

She turned and gave me a funny look. "I guess what I need is to feel taken for granted."

I arched an eyebrow.

“Huh? Weren't you just complaining about being taken for granted?"

“Well when I stop and think about it, what makes me happiest, and more to the point: what makes me feel fulfilled... is being taken for granted by you. Being there for you, being your anchor... those were the best months of my Life. I knew how important I was to you. I knew how much YOU needed ME. I guess what -I- need is... to feel needed."

I looked down and stroked her hair, and then briefly kissed her forehead. "I DO need you. I need my Annabelle."