When all Spock did was stare at him wordlessly over the chess board, Jim knew bitter disappointment and heartache. So, it was true. All his feelings only belonged to him. Spock didn’t feel that way about him. And really, Jim should have known. Spock had broken up with Uhura months ago, right after their return to Yorktown after Altamid. It had seemed they would reconcile, and then they hadn’t.

Jim had hoped. But when nothing came from Spock, he decided to make his declaration. And all Spock did was stare at him open-mouthed, like a fish.

“Forget it.”