He swallowed, what was he thinking, asking her to move in together? There was an undeniable attraction and obsession but...He wanted to be patient. He wanted to make her as obsessed with him and he already was with her. He eyed his camera that sat perched in the cargo slot in his console. His favorite picture needed to be developed. He was giddy for their big evening soon, all she had to do was say the word and he'd be there, ready to help her and stand by her as she painted a beautiful, bloody portrait for him to photograph.

He was nearly shaking while she described her plan. It was solid, as far as any plan would be. She was smart. This could work. All he needed is a day for her.

"So?" she asked expectedly.

"So?" He scoffed, going over her plan in his head. "I can't wait to get started."

================================================================================

I was a little surprised with him, he looked like a black lab puppy.

"Tonight, then." I said, enjoying the giddy grin that crossed his face.

"What's your ritual?" he asked, leaning over my kitchen table to be closer to me.

"It's not really a ritual, per se, but i like to take a bath before i do any killing. Thing is with my sister, she's a special trophy. I need to up my game tonight.."

I stood off the counter and made my way to the stairs, stopping for a moment to look at Ripley,

"Behave yourself, and my office is specifically off limits." I said sharply, he raised an eyebrow and smiled at me.

"I always behave, dollface. But what's so off limits about the office?" He hummed, looking at the one closed door in the big living room.

"It's my office, understand? Would you want me snooping through your stuff?" I asked, earning a shrug.

"Fair. Though i don't have a whole office, i have a hidey hole." He grinned at me like it was some dumb joke only the two of us could understand. I rolled my eyes and ascended the stairs to my bathroom.

Hidey hole? i scoffed, that was smart. but i'd be worried about the permanent hidablity of that. He didn't seem all that worried with his, but maybe its hidden really well. I let out a soft puff of breath and went to work filling my bathtub with warm water. I reached into my cabinet for my bath bombs, herbs and salts.

================================================================================

He heard the water start up and he slowly stood from the counter, making his way quietly to the closed office door. The curiosity was killing him. He jiggled the door handle and found it open, but a moment of thought hesitated him.

This is her version of my car's front seat.

He sighed, and for the first time in his life, he released the urge to look inside and stepped away from the door. He didn't want to break the little bit of trust he had worked to build. He'll get another chance on another day.

He turned and stepped quietly through the living room, the pristine white couch looked like it hadn't even been used in all the time she's owned it, but the small one-person recliner had a great amount of use, like someone practically lived in that chair. The leather was cracked and pliable, even faded a little in some spots. Ghostface narrowed his eyes to the chair, and recalled her ex.

What a fucking loser. He thought, then looked to the tv. He searched the coffee table by his ankles for the remote, plucking it from a basket that sat in the center. When he turned on the tv it was set to the golf channel.

Golf? Really? What the hell. He shook his head and opened the cable guide, suprised to find a decent number of channels and streaming services all dedicated to sports and the like. He raised an eyebrow, and shut the tv back off.

Go figure, this guy. I can't wait to kill him. He chuckled to himself, gently settling the tv remote back in it's place in the basket. He took a moment to sit on the couch as he thought about how tonight, she would put on a spectacular show for him.

He wanted to photograph every second of it.

A jolt went through his body as he came to a realization that he needed more film. He hopped up from the couch, and took to the stairs, ascending them to head to the bathroom, he didn't want to be rude and just leave. He went to knock on the bathroom door when he heard soft sniffing coming from the other side. He paused his hand as the sniffling turned into soft laughing, and ending with a sigh.

He couldn't help himself as he shifted his weight to get a better look through the cracked door. She had her hand resting on her face with her eyes closed, like she was deep in thought. Her tears had stopped, but she was just too busy thinking to notice or care. He took a step back, and then knocked.

"Yes?" She asked, with amazing composure.

"I need to run to the store and get a few things, do you need anything?" He asked, hoping she hadn't noticed him before.

"Something sweet would be nice. I always like a nice little treat after a night like this." She said, shifting enough for the water to make a gently sloshing sound. It was almost like a tease.

"Alright, love. I'll be back." He turned from the door, and began his descent down the stairs when her sweet voice from the bathroom called out again,

"Be careful, Ghostface."

It was almost like a challenge. Like he wasn't always careful. He chuckled to himself, and fought the urge to turn back around.

"Always am, darling." He said, heading down the stairs and out to his car.