Entangled

She has seen Hobie's apartment or even his room before. So she couldn't pinpoint why she was so nervous about being in his room alone with him. As friends. For practice. She tried her best not to think about how close he was when he leaned into her. His fingers moved hers in the right places, looking up at him when he wasn't looking.

Arabella couldn't help but wear a lovesick expression on her face, one that alerted a friend of hers that she wasn't listening to a single word they were saying.

"Uh, hello? Earth to Ari?" Spider-Byte snapped her fingers before Arabela's eyes, making her shake out of thought.

"Yeah? Sorry, was thinking,"

Spider-Byte twisted her mouth with a raised brow, "Uh huh. This ain't got nothing to do with your little anarchist boyfriend?"

"Ah? What no- were not…." She paused, genuinely thinking if that's what happened.
"No…Yes." Spider-Byte nodded slowly and smirked, setting down her tablet and leaning into her palm.

"What? What happened? You guys have been dancing around each other since you arrived. Make any moves yet?" 

Ari pressed her hands into her face, "Well, maybe. Just a little. …if a guitar practicing session turns into a makeout session, it's…a move, right?" 

Spider-Byte practically nearly screamed into Arabella's ear.
"Oh, my fucks! Are you serious? Who kissed first!" She was a little more enthusiastic than Arabela thought she would be. She hoped this would happen, which would be news to her ears.

"Technically, I did? He suggested it, and I kinda let logic fly out the window,"

"Ooh! I must tell everyone; they all owe me and Pavitr money."

Arabella heaved, "Wait! Don't do that, and why are you betting on me? What was the bet for? I don't even know if it's something so…I don't think it counts?" She didn't want to go too fast into things; she didn't even know what they were supposed to call themselves.

"I said that you would make the first move, but everyone said it would be the other way around,"

"Well, he technically did; I just made the connection,"

"Nah, still counts. "

"And who is everyone?" She scrunched her nose. It was nice to know that people were rooting for her, though it was a new feeling.

“Just…me…Jess, Peter B, Gwen, Miles, Pav, and Miguel would do anything other than try and bet, but Lyla told said Hobie would,"

Ari just stared at her with a flat look, "You guys are ridiculous…how much did you get?"

"20s from each of them," She couldn't be mad at her for hustling, so she gave her a fist bump and left, seeing as Miguel called her to deal with an anomaly.

Arabella hissed after coming back from her earth. She was utterly exhausted after fending off her police state with two different anomalies alongside Miguel and Jessica.

She knew it would be much better for more people than Miguel and Jess to come, but she didn't feel comfortable with her friends entering her world. 

"I'll have the report in for you, Miguel, soon; just need to…chill out," she groaned, watching as he waved his hand in dismissal and let her off. 

She made it to the cafe, seeing her friends sitting together. She got herself a burger and waved her hands over to them. 

"Hey, guys! I'm exhausted, terribly so," She griped while sitting beside Gwen.
"Yeah? You just got from your earth, right?" Gwen asked, biting into her burger.

"Yeah… it's not fun being the number one most wanted. Or being an enemy of the state. Well, only not fun when they're trying to kill me, but fun because of the concept, you know?"

"Oh my, you need some rest then. How do you stay low to make sure no one catches you?" Pavitr asked, giving a soft pat to her hand.

Arabella shrugged at the question, not really answering it and looking around. She decided not to say anything, unsure if Spider-Byte had gotten to them yet about her and Hobie's situation. She didn't want to answer questions she wasn't sure how to answer herself, but as she manifested it on her own, Hobie slid down quickly right in front of her. He stayed on his web, hanging upside down in front of her.

"Oh! Hey, where were you?" Arabella's face lit up, placing her hands on the table.
"Just got back from helpin' Spider UK. Heard what happened,"

She shrugged in response, "Same old stuff, surveillance bots, anomaly, destroying tycoon stations," 

"Wicked, ey, pull down the mask, will you?" He tilted his head up—down? Just enough to where she could pull down his mask. She knew exactly what he was doing but was fine playing along.

"Go on then, lay it on me,"

She rolled her eyes, pecking his lips gently before pulling back; a collective excitement erupted from the end of the table. She almost completely forgot that they were there but was happy they seemed to approve.

He dropped beside her on the seat and draped his arm over her shoulders. Snatching a fry from her plate.
"You guys are cute! What do you guys call each other?" Gwen leaned over and planted her elbows on the table.

"Mmm, not liking labels…but partner sounds okay…right?" Arabella bit the inside of her lip, watching as he swallowed.

"Ace," He shrugged, giving her a knowing look.

She enjoyed the rest of her time talking to everyone, feeling the warmth of his arm as a constant on her body. It felt comforting to reach up and play with his fingers casually. 

She also found herself being more comfortable with the group overall.

Everyone except her and Hobie had to leave a little earlier than they thought, leaving them alone.
"Hm, and I thought you didn't believe in consistency?"

"Maybe not, but we can be inconsistent together; what about it?" 

"I think we can do that."