The silence is a little awkward, but it's also very calm.

The two pairs are sitting comfortable, Avery having moved her chair to lean against Roman's legs, her head against his abdomen.

"What's your name?" Avery asks the girl beside Scott.

He shoots her a slight look, and Avery shrugs.

"I'm assuming I'm going to see her again, so I don't see a problem with being friendly. It's you I have the issue with, not her," Avery yawns, looking bored at having to explain herself.

"Kali," she almost whispers back.

"Like the goddess of destruction?" Avery asks with a hint of humour in her voice.

Roman nudges her, shooting her a stern look.

"Yes, you're familiar?" The girl asks quietly, her voice slightly accented.

"I know a little bit of every culture and language, it's a beautiful name," Avery nods, feeling uneasy.

"So you two.. screwed?" Kali manages to get out, and Scott and Avery exchange a regretful look.

"Yes," both nod and Kali simply nods back, before going back to being silent.

"It was a long time ago, and I promise we have no interest in each other now! How could we, have you seen yourself!?" Avery gushes, clapping her hands together excitedly.

Oh my goddess, would you relax, Sonya grumbles, she's actually going to think you're insane.

"Besides," Avery continues, "I have someone else in my life now."

Roman freezes up a little at this sentence, wondering if she's talking about herself of him. Her confidence can actually be intimidating at times, but that's his own issue, not hers.

Well done, you dumb blonde bitch, Sonya hisses, practically able to sense Roman withdraw from the energy in the room.

Avery closes her eyes and inhales deeply.

"Thank you," Kali mumbles back, a ghost of a smile on her face.

"We're going to go now. Petty, Kali, it was nice to speak to you," Roman nods, standing up, and bringing Avery up out of her chair with him.

Avery quirks a brow, wondering where this almost controlling - or dominating? - side of him has come from.

He slides his hand into hers, and they walk out of the office and back into the hall, where some Alphas are still lingering.

Avery smiles and nods and says hello to Alpha Tim, and Mike, Meredith's mate. She doesn't see Meredith, but she spots a flash of blue hair vanishing out the door and can hear her friend's laugh, so she smiles at the knowledge the two found each other.

Roman quietly collects their things, holding her clutch for her, which she raises a brow at, but doesn't question it as he retakes her hand, and the two quietly walk towards the dining hall.

"Grab two plates. I don't mind what of," he whispers into her ear, "and come meet me upstairs. We need to talk."

At those words, Avery could have sworn her heart drops out of her asshole.

She nods wordlessly, quickly walking into the dining hall, and picking up two plates of food.

There's water in the room, and their maid will no doubt insist on getting them whatever they want.

She numbly walks up the stairs, utterly oblivious to everything around her.

"Avery? Avery? Hello, anyone home?" Meredith jokes, Lilith beside her, both looking concerned at the sight of Avery's ghostly face.

"He wants to talk," she groans, her face crumbling slightly, and her eyes watering a little.

"Oh, you like this one," Meredith mumbles, awkwardly clapping her friend on the shoulder.

Lilith gives her a weak smile and a thumbs up, as Avery keeps on her trek.

She arrives outside the door and knocks before walking in.

She's greeted by the sight of Roman laying on the bed with his glasses on, and his tie undone, his curly hair ruffled in all directions.

God, he is such a beautiful man, Sonya sighs, it's a pity he's gonna throw us away now.

Don't be so negative, Avery scolds, trying to keep her thoughts away from her wolf.

She clears her throat, and he looks up at her, looking over the frames of his glasses.

"I got one steak and one pasta dish, I wasn't sure what you were in the mood for," Avery stutters, and Roman shrugs.

"We can split them if that works for you? I'm not in any particular mood, so you can choose if you want a certain one," he responds, running a hand through his hair.

I wish we were doing that, Sonya says dreamily, and Avery puts up a block between her and her wolf.

"Sharing works for me," Avery nods nervously, her anxiousness radiating off her in waves, and filling the room with tension.

"Well? Why are you just standing there? You can sit down, you know, it's your bed too," Roman rolls his eyes, propping the pillows on her side up for her.

He has the water bottles in between where they would be, so she hesitantly sits down, swinging her legs up onto the bed as elegantly as she can - she doesn't want to flash him her panties, but she also doesn't want to drop the plates.

She notices he found cutlery, which relieves her because she really didn't want to eat a steak with her fingers.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" She manages to get out, handing him the plate of steak and vegetables while avoiding eye contact.

Avery faces her pasta, her head bowed as her fork rotates in the pile of carbs in front of her.

"You said last night that..." He takes a deep breath before continuing, and Avery wants to throttle him - he doesn't need to breathe for so long, he's just being dramatic now.

"That you might like me," he finishes, his tone a little shaky, showing his nervousness.

Avery relaxes her shoulders a little; that, she can deal with - she had no idea what she had said, and she firmly makes a mental vow not to get that drunk around him again.

"Yes," Avery confirms, quirking a brow as she looks in his direction, her cheeks slightly pink.

She lays eyes on him and notes his cheeks are flaming red, and this time it's his turn to have his head bowed.

He's staring at his steak like it's the most fascinating thing he's ever seen, and his wolf is screaming at him to respond.

"Cool," he coughs awkwardly, looking like he'd rather be dead than having this conversation.

"Cool? That's it? Roman, I said I liked you - as in, I have a crush, as my teenage self would call it - and you have nothing to respond with? Jesus Christ, I don't want to be dramatic, but that was a tad bit underwhelming," she groans, exasperated.

Talk now, or I'm shifting and fixing this issue myself, Booker warns him, and Roman grits his teeth, before putting his plate on the bedside table.

Roman moves the water bottles in a flash, and before Avery realises what's happening, Roman has taken her plate and put it on the ground, hovering over her.

"Oh," she squeaks, surprised at the sudden turn of events.

She can feel his junk pressing against her, so Sonya stirs and laughs inwardly.

Well, at least we know we have an effect on him, she cackles.

"I have nothing to say, but I can show you what I would say," he whispers, and Avery nods quickly, her mouth slightly open in shock.

He puts a hand behind her head and lowers his forehead to hers.

"Are you sure?" He breathes, and she stares at him.

"Consent is sexy, but my legs are wrapped around your hips, and my hands are in your hair, so shut up and kiss me," she hisses, before she makes the move herself, and pulls his head down to her.

"Oh," he mutters against her lips, and she rolls her eyes at him before she closes her them.

They kiss slowly, their lips moving in sync.

They bump teeth once or twice and need laughter breaks, but the encounter is mostly smooth sailing.

Avery flips them over, and she straddles him.

It's Roman's turn to look startled, and he looks completely out of his depth.

"Not used to not being in control, Alpha?" She smirks, gently sucking his neck.

A little noise escapes his lips, and Avery has to force herself not to laugh.

She sits up, resting her hands on his chest, and moving around a little to settle herself absentmindedly while she thinks.

"Avery," he gasps, his hands shooting to her hips to stop her moving.

"Oh, shit, sorry," she laughs, "I forgot that was a thing that happened."

Roman shoots her an unamused look, and she bats her lashes at him, laying down on his chest.

"So, I suppose this means you like me?" She smiles, looking at the wall.

"I thought you were smart, I didn't know I had to spell it out for you," he smirks, before pulling her face down to his.