Two People in a Room

Today's writing exercise comes (in essence) courtesy of Gail Carson Levine: Write a scene in which two people are upset with each other, and reconcile by the end of the scene. Use no more than ten words of dialog for each of them. Flying by the seat of my pants....

***

Libby's back went rigid when Sean came into the room. She didn't turn to look at him.

He sighed. She always did this.

He sat down on the sofa, put his feet up on the coffee table, and waited.

After a long moment of tangible tension, she turned to him and said, "You--"

"Yeah?" He crossed his arms and glared at her.

She stalked across the room, glaring at him. He wondered how long she would keep it up. He stared at the books on the table in front of him; from the corner of his eye she could simple be wandering around the room, not too hurried but ... looking at things, perhaps, or just pacing off extra energy.

A glance up showed that she was still staring at him; he averted his gaze again.

"Sean," she said at last, and there was that resigned note to her voice that crumbled his resolve. How did they always manage to give up at the same time?

He slid sideways and patted the seat next to him. She sat, just shy of touching him, their bodies lined up. Finally he met her eyes.

She gave his shoulder a light but deliberate push. "Stupid head."

"I know."

She sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder. "Don't do that again, okay?"

"Okay." He put an arm around her and gave her a squeeze.

***

Well, no idea what's going on there, but they seem to have come to some understanding....

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