Love Bug

Back in the present, inside Jay’s bedroom…

Halliwell, Paige - Affection Score: (??) [Previously: 62)

Lust Score: (??) [Previous High: 71]

‘Fuck.’ You can’t help but think upon seeing her score. ‘What the fuck now?’ You ask yourself.

“What is it?” Stella asks, making it obvious that you have a non-existent poker face.

“Paige has confused feelings about me.” You tell them.

You don’t need the clearest of vision to notice that everyone’s face turns into worry upon hearing the news… except one.

“You know something about this?” You ask Becca.

“I believe her confusion stems from her growing suspicion of your powers.” Becca answers without hesitation.

You can’t help but agree with Becca's logic, but you also can't help but notice she had that bullet loaded and ready. At least now you know why she asked you to check on Paige’s scores.

“Can you please just tell me what you know, Becca?” You ask her.

“I’m keeping a certain card to myself until I’m finished with my explanation.” Becca admits, and you immediately feel conflicted upon hearing it. On one hand, it gives you peace of mind knowing she has every intention of revealing what she knows to you. On the other hand, you can only assume that she’s not telling you about it yet because you’ll react… strongly.

“Explain it then.” You say, trying to keep your tone as neutral as you can.

“What’s the most recommended trait you purchase for Paige?” Becca asks you.

You do as Becca asks and check the most recommended traits for Paige. On top of the list is something brand new to you. And if it’s something you haven’t seen before, it also means that Becca shouldn’t know about it. And yet…

“Why do I have a feeling you already know what trait it is?” You ask Becca.

“I must admit that I am not a hundred percent certain of which trait it is, and that this is as much a test as it is an explanation, but is the trait by any chance called ‘Silver Tongue’?” Becca asks you.

Silver Tongue (100 Friendship Points): You become naturally persuasive, and those around you enjoy hearing you speak.

You read the trait aloud, and the audible gasps from the others as you confirm Becca was correct made you pause before continuing with reading the trait description.

“How did you know that!?” Viv asks in shock, like Becca performed her own kind of magic trick.

Becca, meanwhile, has her head down; but you can tell that she’s smiling even if you can’t really see it. She said that what she was doing was a test just as much as it was an explanation, and she knew that you’d react strongly if she didn’t explain it first and just told you what she did.

She was right of course.

You would have reacted strongly if she told you outright…

… but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t react strongly even if she finished her explanation.

“You met with Lainey.” You call Becca out, trying to control the anger and frustration that boils within you any time your sister is mentioned.

“Dad…” Stella says out of concern. She knows not to say anything and to drop the subject when it comes to your sister, so her just calling out to you is more of a reminder that she’s the only one here who does know that.

“I did.” Becca admits.

“Why?” You ask through gritted teeth.

“Because even without her being here, she has just demonstrated she has a certain level of expertise. Expertise that would be beneficial to all of us and our situation.” Becca answers.

“What expertise? How does my sister’s parlor trick actually help us?” You ask Becca.

“It’s no parlor trick, Jay. Knowing her history with the app, I asked if her ex-husband has ever had someone being suspicious of his abilities. Just from that innocently curious question, she gave me exactly what is currently happening with Paige. From what her score might be, to what the app will recommend, and even the Advanced Trait the app will recommend to you afterwards if you did buy ‘Silver Tongue’. She didn’t just know out of coincidence or deduction. She knows out of experience.” Becca tells you.

“Experience that she garnered by being around someone who had the app for years. An exponential amount of time in comparison to yours. I would like you to at least peer through the curtain of disdain you have for your sister and at least see that there is value in her knowledge.” Becca argues.

…

You take a breath, and remind yourself that Becca’s well intentioned. You’d like to believe that after what the two of you talked about last night, she didn’t reach out to Lainey out of selfishness or desperation. You also can’t blame her for taking your animosity with your sister lightly, as you haven’t fully explained your feelings towards Lainey with them. She only knows you’ll have a strong reaction, but not exactly why.

You finally exhale a deep breath, before looking towards Becca determinedly.

“Tell me everything.”

[Minisode #12]: Long distance empathy

(The following is written in 3rd person POV)

Earlier that morning, at Lainey’s home…

“I apologize for the hour, Mrs. Montemayor.” Becca greets Lainey through video-call using Gigi’s phone.

“Craig.” Lainey corrects her.

“My apologies. I was unaware you returned to your maiden name.” Becca lies.

“Yeah, well… less syllables.” Lainey replies, clearly not in the mood to reveal the real reason behind her choice.

“I see.” Becca says, before briefly pausing. That brief pause was more than what Lainey’s patience could stand.

“What do you want?” Lainey asks impatiently.

“I want your cooperation.” Becca replies, masking the command as more of an offer with her tone.

“And I want nothing to do with you.” Lainey replies coldly.

“A bit late for that, I’m afraid.” Becca responds. “I’m positive father wouldn’t be pleased that his spy got herself caught.” Becca adds, no longer masking the implied threat this time. Unfortunately for Becca, Lainey’s reaction isn’t what she expected at all.

“HA!” Lainey exclaims before laughing boisterously over the phone. “A bit late for that, I’m afraid.” Lainey mockingly returns Becca’s words earlier.

“Excuse me?” Becca asks.

“God! You two deserve each other.” Lainey shouts in frustration. “Just fucking talk to each other!” Lainey calls Becca out, thinking Becca’s still playing her father’s silly little game.

“I believe I can say the same thing about you and your brother.” Becca fires back.

“Hmph.” Lainey says, not wanting to admit Becca might have scored one on her there. “I want nothing to do with my brother, and I’m sure the feeling’s mutual. Which is vastly different from what you and your father want from each other.” Lainey adds.

“I believe my wish to have father leave me alone is very similar to your—” Becca tries to point out, before Lainey cuts her off.

“Oh~, spare me! That’s bullshit and you know it.” Lainey interrupts. “You and your daddy issues won’t stop until he shows you the respect you think you’ve earned, and that grumpy old man needs you to feed his ego so that he can delude himself into thinking he still matters.” Lainey calls Becca out.

…

“Too on the nose, princess?” Lainey pokes Becca.

“Not at all, actually. I was just deliberating which misinformed assumption I should correct first.” Becca replies coolly.

“Puh-lease.” Lainey says dismissively. “You’re wasting my time as it is. You don’t need to double down by being delusional too.” Lainey continues to poke Becca, who seems to collect herself upon hearing Lainey’s aggressive dismissiveness.

“Then I’ll try and refrain from being delusional.” Becca says, switching her tone to something more cordial.

“Finally.” Lainey says sarcastically, not falling for Becca’s tone.

“I’m a mess.” Becca admits to Lainey, and it’s clear from her expression that she wasn’t expecting that.

“I can’t think straight, I’m riddled with self-doubt, and I’m beginning to think I don’t just have ‘imposter syndrome’—I might be an actual imposter.” Becca adds.

“But the people I care about are being threatened just because I failed to recognize how stereotypically power hungry—and broken—my family is. Now I can’t be any of the things I just mentioned because I have to take responsibility for involving them into my family’s mess. I can’t be a mess while dealing with one.” Becca vents, her breaths bordering hyperventilation by the time she’s done.

“Where’d that come from?” Lainey says, genuinely surprised.

“I…” Becca tries to explain, but collects herself first. “I apologize for my earlier approach.” Becca says, realizing why Lainey was so taken aback by her vulnerability.

“Old habits.” She weakly excuses, and a smirk of recognition appears on Lainey’s lips.

“And admittedly, I’m still learning to be less of my father’s daughter… and more like your brother’s girlfriend.” Becca adds, and Lainey's expression clearly softens upon hearing this from Becca.

…

Lainey finally takes the time to stare at the face on the screen in front of her. She doesn’t see the typical Hoffman facade. Dressed up, prim and proper, exuding confidence with every micro-gesture that is second nature to them. She sees the exhaustion in Becca’s baggy eyes, an exhaustion that not even professional make-up artists can hide.

Lainey finally remembers that Becca is just as much a victim of her father’s pride and ego as she is a result of it. Most important to Lainey’s empathy though, is that for the first time since her husband passed, a Hoffman was being honest with her.

“I’d like to say I’d help you with Avi,” Lainey finally says. Becca’s expression had a tinge of hope before realizing what Lainey actually said. “But I just told him to fuck off before I went to bed.” Lainey reveals, and instead of stressing out, Becca actually chuckles.

“I wish I was there to see his face.” Becca jokes.

“You would’ve loved it. His eyes were bulging. He was shouting at me to get out of the room and everything.” Lainey recounts, and both her and Becca share a laugh.

“But if that’s the case, we’re going to have to plan for my mother’s reaction.” Becca informs Lainey, and Lainey’s chuckle pauses out of confusion.

“Wait…” Lainey says in reaction.

“What’s this about your mother now?”

Back at the present…

“From there, I told Elaine of my mother’s more pressing threats. Threats to not just us, but the implied threats on her as well for being my father’s confidante somewhat. Eventually, she and I came to an agreement.” Becca continues to recount. “An agreement that hinges on your approval, of course.” Becca adds, and all you can do is nod.

“But before we said our goodbyes, since the topic of using the powers of the app was broached, I eventually got to ask her of her experiences with it. Leading to the question I had that related to Paige, and to her warning me of what may possibly come from it.” Becca says ominously, getting everyone’s attention.

“The app’s report on Paige’s scores isn’t similar to the kind of confusion you have seen before with my father… and Tanya, I believe?” Becca reports, with Tanya giving you a teasing look that you can only interpret as ‘now look at us’.

“There are other kinds of confusion?” Maddy asks, picking up on the subtle implication in Becca’s news.

“Tanya’s and father’s confusion stemmed from how they felt about the app’s user.” Becca begins to explain. “Paige's, on the other hand, stems from her doubt that her emotions about the app user are even to be trusted at all. Mainly because she suspects they’re being supernaturally influenced.” Becca explains the distinction.

“Sorry, I may have missed something. But how is that different?” Stella asks.

“Think about it. Unlike the kind of confusion that Tanya experienced, one that was borne from the unique circumstances of Jay’s and Cassie’s relationship at the time being a possible hindrance to her relationship with Jay; or the confusion my father experienced about wanting to like Jay, but also his involvement with both his daughters—both stem from unique personal circumstances. The doubt Paige is feeling is less so.” Becca argues.

“Anyone whose feelings for Jay aren’t strong enough can start feeling those doubts too. A seed of doubt just needs to be planted and it can grow.” Becca points out.

“You’re saying…” Cassie utters, before Maddy verbalizes the logical conclusion.

“It’s infectious.”