Page 8 of Those Eyes, That Mouth

Nathan stiffened. He was smiling too much. That frozen, unchanging grin he got when he was uncomfortable. He didn't seem to know what to do. Or maybe he didn't mind. I couldn't tell.

Whatever blissed-out thing had been happening a few minutes ago was gone. Nathan was suddenly talkative in a way he never was with me. More animated, louder. Like overhearing your dad on a business call. Something forced about it. Like he didn't know how to behave around them.

If he wanted to flirt with Kelly, he didn't know how. He had no moves. He was too polite.

I wanted to save him somehow. Pull her off him, maybe. Give him space to breathe.

That leg over his…

I'd thought about doing that.

She actually could.

Something about it bothered me.

Kelly's eyes locked on Nathan's face. "So what are you going as tonight?"

"Uh, Vampire Louis. From Interview?”

"Oh my God!" Her voice went up an entire octave. “I’m going as a vampire too! That's so funny!"

Nathan caught my eye across the room. For a second his smile faltered, like he wanted to say something, but then the moment passed.

Alex snorted from her spot against the wall. "I'm going as my fully realized hotter, sexier self. Bigger hair, darker makeup." She examined her black fingernails. "Halloween’s just an excuse for people to dress slutty anyway.”

Kelly wasn't listening. She touched Nathan's arm, her face lighting up. "It's like fate or something!"

Fate? Hardly. It was one of the most common costume choices in the world. And we weren't just vampires. We were Louis and Lestat.

I turned away from the bed and focused on the record, sliding it carefully back into its sleeve.

"What band is that?" Kelly asked.

"Cocteau Twins," Nathan and I said at the same time.

"I've never heard of them."

Nathan, all innocent and earnest, said, "They're amazing. You'd really like them."

I wanted to say No, she wouldn't. She wouldn't get it. She'd probably be like, I can't understand what she's singing.

But Nathan was just… offering it to her.

I didn't say anything.

“Tape it for us,” Alex said. “Oh! That reminds me. I was talking to this guy who works at the studio where they’re mixing Grey's new solo record. He said people are gonna freak out about how different it sounds."

I'd been looking forward to this show for weeks. Now I was probably going to spend the whole night watching Kelly drape herself over Nathan.

They looked like a fucking Gap ad together. The kind of couple that would probably end up married with blond kids and a golden retriever.

He probably had no clue what Kelly was after.

"Okay,” Alex said, crawling over them. “Let's go."

Kelly reluctantly untangled herself from Nathan. Alex dragged her toward the door.

I was grabbing my tobacco and papers from the trunk.