“Simon, what are you doing all wet? Don’t tell me you went out in the rain...”

“Had a job,” he said through chattering teeth. He had no idea why he went straight to Kaylee’s bunk instead of his room, but the routine was become habit.

Kaylee pulled him down into her bunk and began to take his shirt off. “I don’t see why you had to go on that job. Just ‘cause River has a cold...Now you’ll have one too...”

“I’ll be fine Kaylee...”

And the motions began. His hands worked down Kaylee’s back. Her tongue in his mouth. Her hands threaded through his hair. Clothes slowly coming off. Back onto the bed...

This shouldn’t have been happening. They broke up six months before. Over some guy named James. And another named Marcus. He wasn’t sure. Simon couldn’t even remember anymore. They had fought in the engine room and it ended with Simon having to get stitches after a wrench to the head. He remembered River shaking her head at him as she did the procedure.

Two weeks of silence. They wouldn’t even look at each other at dinner time. Just thick, angry air.

Simon had gone into Kaylee’s bunk one night, hoping to apologize to Kaylee. But another argument had flared up. Simon couldn’t even remember what was said. He just remembered a fierce kiss and pushing her against the wall.

Nearly two hours later, Kaylee had pulled herself out of bed and began to redress herself. Simon had sat up and asked, “So, what now? Do we tell the crew we’re together again?”

Kaylee looked back over at him as she slipped her shirt back on. “Tell them what?”

And in an instant, the love they used to make had devolved into meaningless sex. And no one on the ship had any idea. On the surface, they began to talk again, but everyone figured there was nothing left. Simon was sure River knew, but she never lead on.

As her moans got louder, Simon covered her mouth with his. Once he was her only, and now he was just another checkmark on her bedpost.

He hated going through the motions. Just playing a part in some sick play. Tasting other boys on her lips. He didn’t care for this change in what they had.

But this ploy was the only way he could stay close to the only girl he loved...