Grey smiled. “I’d love to grab some food with you, Ethan.”
Chapter 7
More Mistakes
We sat at a little brunch spot at the edge of campus. The place was typically busy when I visited, but that was on weekends. It was a slow weekday, and everyone was too worried about class to sit for food.
Grey and I hadn’t said much as we’d walked across campus, choosing to let the silence hang between us, only interrupted by fans of Dreamscape who managed to find Grey even in the most packed crowds of students. I could tell Grey wondered what had led me to ask him to grab food with me—especially since I’d made it clear yesterday that I had been avoiding him for the past few weeks. But he kept any questions to himself. Probably, I thought while watching a group of girls take pictures with him, so we could get to a place where we were less likely to be interrupted.
I’d been so sure of my decision to ask Grey to meet with me that I hadn’t let myself get caught up in what I would actually say to him, figuring the words would magically spring into my mind when the time came. But looking at him with the table and our menus separating us, I drew a blank as I began to lose my nerve.
We sat in silence as I tried to piece together my fractured scraps of thoughts. It wasn’t until the waitress had brought ourfood that I started talking—not because I knew how I would maneuver into the conversation I wanted to have but because I was tired of avoiding speaking all together.
“What were you and Professor Young talking about?” I asked.
If the bluntness of my question bothered him, he didn’t show it. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I tend to attract attention wherever I go,” Grey said. “I told him that I wanted to sit in the back of the room and ask that he not call my name when doing roll.”
He grimaced, and I felt a sudden pang of sympathy for him.
“Yeah, it’s crazy how people throw themselves at you,” I said. “I wish it weren’t so bad.”
“It didn’t used to be,” Grey said wistfully. “Carina was enough to make girls lose interest at first, but that hasn’t worked for a while. Comes with the territory of the band getting more popular, I suppose.”
The mention of Carina’s name was enough to make my stomach twist into an increasingly familiar knot—one that screamed of jealousy. I’d never been jealous of another person, not really. My life had been comfortable, so I’d never wanted what someone else had, and I had never been overly attached in romantic endeavors, so I’d never felt jealousy when an ex ended up with someone else.
The feeling was new to me, and I wasn’t sure where it was aimed.Am I jealous of Carina specifically for having Grey? Or am I jealous that someone else, anyone else, has been taking up his time?
“Still it’s not right that people don’t see you as human,” I said.
“You do.”
Grey’s reply was so simple, so nonchalant, that it shouldn’t have given me the reaction it did. The knots in my stomachturned to fluttering, and a smile crossed my face in spite of my best efforts to fight it down.
“Is that why you followed me on Instagram?” I teased.
If I’d expected Grey to be flustered, I was disappointed. “No, that’s just because you’re cute.” He winked at me.
I gaped at him. “Don’t make fun of me.”
“I’m not,” Grey said. “Why would you think a compliment is me making fun of you?”
“Why would you think I’m cute?” I demanded.
“I’m confused. Do youwantme to find you ugly?” Grey raised an eyebrow and propped his chin on his hand. “Because that’s not going to happen.”
My ears burned with embarrassment. I was still working on a cute, witty response when Grey placed a couple of twenties on the table.
“You done eating?”
I nodded.
“Good, come with me.” Grey held out his hand. “I want to show you something.”
With that, all thoughts of me steering the direction of our conversation went out the window. I gave up control, took his hand, and followed him from the restaurant.
“Arewe allowed to be in here?” My voice echoed around us, bouncing off the walls to fill the empty concert hall. I fought the urge to look over my shoulder as if some authority figure would suddenly appear behind us and punish me for trespassing.
“Normally no. Unless you’re with a faculty member or rehearsing.” Grey flipped a couple of switches, and the stage lights came on. “But the music professors like me, and sinceDreamscape isalwayspracticing, they gave me a key.” He held up said key and jingled it, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
