You had noticed the changes in his behaviour; how he had been working harder in the gym, how he held your hand tighter and pulled you along with him a little harder, how he turned down a pamper night with you he usually would have enjoyed relaxing with, how he'd insisted on being the big spoon on the nights you spent together. At first you thought it was strange but let it slip as you didn't want to cause a problem. But you couldn't ignore it any longer when you saw the pink and yellow string bracelet you'd bought him for his birthday - the one he loved and wore everyday, the one he kissed in a goal celebration for you - laying in the cup holder of his car for the third day in a row.
His hand was loosely linked with yours in your lap as he drove you both home. You stroked his bare wrist with your finger, preparing yourself for your upcoming question. "Hey Erl, where is your bracelet?" He hummed in question, frowning confused as he glanced at your hands before looking back at the road. "I must have forgotten it this morning, I don't like to shower with it on." He replied, focused on the road but clearly avoiding your gaze. He knew as soon as you saw his eyes you would see him lying.
"Is it something I've done?" You asked abruptly when he stopped in his driveway and Erling snapped his head at you. "What? No! I just forgot to put it back on elskling, it's okay-" "No," you interrupted him, stopping his hand from moving your hair, "it's not okay. It's just another thing you're ditching isn't it?" He frowned and shifted in his seat to face you after he took his keys out the ignition. "What's this about, baby?" He feigned innocence but he knew what it was, he just hoped you hadn't noticed his changes but you evidently had as you rapped them off to him, struggling to meet his eyes.
"It was um," Erling cleared his throat as he chose his words carefully, "it was this stupid comment my friend said when we went out the other week, that I was a 'different man, if he could even call me that', I don't know it just stuck with me," his words trailed off before he perked up a little, "he actually said you were a bad influence on me." Erling chuckled and shook his head as he tried to alleviate the tension.
It didn't work. He looked at you and his slight smile instantly dropped at your raised eyebrows. "I'm the bad influence?" You asked, shocked beyond belief at what you were hearing. Erling didn't catch the message and stuck to his guns. "Come on, it is a little… girly…" he muttered. That was enough for you - having heard all you needed to know, you grabbed the bracelet out the cup holder and threw it at him, getting out the car and slamming the door. "Where are you going, Y/N?" He shouted after you as he stood. Without looking back, you shouted over your shoulder, "Home. I'll walk if I have to. I can't look at you right now." Erling called your name again but you had your mind made up and carried on down the street with your bag on your shoulder and your hands shaking with anger.