Push her dow—what? Gray stared after her, confusion on his features. What in the world did she mean by that?
Shaking his head, Gray turned his heel to walk away. Josh and Violeta flashed in his mind again—her pink cheeks, beautiful laughter, his flirting. He didn’t like the idea of him flirting with her.
So Grayson walked back into class, the scowl still on his features.
Violeta returned to her seat, silent. She was equal parts baffled, frustrated, and afraid—what could he mean? He was jealous of Josh? Did that mean—no, that was impossible. Was he lying again?
Gray took his seat, folding his arms, trying hard not to look at Violeta and Josh. Especially not at them. He fished out his phone and his earphones, but he played no music.
This was so childish.
Violeta glanced up when Josh poked her arm, blinking rapidly. “So..?” he promoted gently, “What did Grayson say?”
Violeta sighed. “I’m not even completely sure myself. Either way, he’s probably just… doing what he usually does. He thinks he can lie to me.”
Gray pretended he didn't notice the exchange. He forced a growl to the back of his throat, keeping his eyes on the phone.
This was going to be a long day. A terribly long one. When will the teacher get back?
“What did he say, though?” Josh persisted, raising an eyebrow. Violeta gave him an amused look. “Something about knowing me for four years. Something about jealousy. I don’t even know..”
Josh burst out laughing. “You’re so oblivious it hurts, Violeta.”
Gray glowered as Josh burst out laughing, jealousy leaking out of him like water from a dam. What were they even talking about?
No, he didn't care. Not anymore. She could flirt and kiss and date anyone she liked. It was not his business.
Even if he wanted that 'anyone' to be him.
Violeta gave him a funny look. "I know what you're thinking, Josh, and it sounds so impossible that I wasn't to laugh, too. You don't know him like I do."
"I apparently know him well enough to notice when he's staring at you like you're a present he wants to unwrap."
“How many times do I have to hit my head on a desk repeatedly to pass out?” Gray muttered to himself, sinking further into his seat. “Or die. Whichever works.”
That was much better than bearing this. He decided he had had enough of hearing their laughter, and played music, closing his eyes and leaning back.
Violeta's face exploded into a vivid shade of red.
"He does not," she spluttered, leaning over to punch Josh's arm. He merely caught her wrist, however, giving her a teasing look before threading their fingers together.
Sometimes Gray hated himself. Why couldn’t he have just kept his eyes closed? Why did he have to open them and watch as that guy link their fingers together?
Gray was just about ready to explode in jealousy. He shouldn’t have come back. He should’ve just skipped class entirely. But of course she went ahead and told him about his jealousy. Of course she did. Why else would Josh hold her hand like that, and right after Gray and Violeta came back?
He growled lightly, fisting his hands, ready to punch something. This was stupid.
Josh shot a look over Violeta's shoulder, then drew his eyes back to her face. "Look behind you."
Violeta was too preoccupied with staring at their linked fingers to follow his instructions. "You just—You—" Josh merely smiled, then indicated his head in Gray's direction. "Look behind you, and you'll see I'm right."
But she didn't, suddenly hesitant.
Gray was glaring coldly at Josh, at their linked hands and very much at the back of Violeta’s head. His eyes burned furiously. So that was their goal. That was what she wanted. Instead of saying it outright, she chose to do this.
If she wanted to play that game, so would Gray. She could kiss up to anyone she wanted. To hell with his feelings.
So Gray turned away, forcing himself to not care. This humiliation was enough.
Violeta coughed awkwardly and pulled her hand from Josh's. She didn't dare look behind her, afraid of what she might see… despite the fact that what Josh was claiming was impossible. It just wouldn't happen. It was a ludicrous, insane concept, and one that would never come to fruition.
Right?
By the time his last class was over, Gray was just about ready to go back home and collapse in his room. It did not help at all that he had to witness his crush of four years flirt with another guy, especially to humiliate him.
He shook his head and grabbed his bag just as the bell rang, and walked out into the hallway.
Only to bump into the man who stole his crush from right under his feet.
Josh stumbled backwards, pressing a hand to the wall in order to steady himself. "Sorry, sorry," he apologized, laughing at his own clumsiness, but there was something competitive beneath his friendly tone, coiled like a snake ready to strike. Gray….. This was the man who clearly liked the same girl he did.. but did he have a chance?
"You're Grayson, right?"
Gray’s eyes snapped towards his, eyes narrowing. He recognized that tone of voice anywhere. He had used that plenty of times.
“That’s me,” Gray responded, forcing a smile on his features, though his eyes remained cold. “Sorry about that. I should be paying more attention to my surroundings.”
"Oh, don't worry about it," Josh waved the apology off, shifting to the side in order to let a group of girls pass. "I'm really clumsy, that was my fault. You're friends with Violeta, right?"
Clearly he had some sort of higher motive, because anyone with eyes could see that Gray and Violeta were far from friends.
Gray quirked an eyebrow, his hands fisting in his pockets. So this was a competition to him. What for, when there was nothing to compete about?
“No,” Gray responded, chuckling. “You’re mistaken. We’re not friends.”
"Oh?" Josh mustered a perplexed expression, pushing his glasses a little farther up his nose. "I'm sorry—you just seemed a little protective of her, I guess. Sorry for the misunderstanding."
Anyone with eyes could tell what the other man wanted. It was obvious, but Gray pretended he didn’t care. The smile didn’t drop from his face.
“For good reasons,” he responded smoothly. “Don’t let me come in between your relationship. It doesn’t make a difference to me.”
Josh let a flustered laugh escape his mouth. "Oh, there's no relationship." Yet. "We've only talked a few times. Actually, I was hoping you could give me some advice?"
“Wrong person to ask,” Gray replied, locking eyes with his. What game was he playing? “I suggest her friends.”
"Sorry if this sounds rude, but you've got quite the flirtatious reputation." Josh raised both eyebrows tilting his head to one side. "It seems to me that you're exactly the right person to ask."
Gray let a smirk grace his lips, successfully acting as if he didn’t care.
“I know how to seduce a woman enough to have an enjoyable evening together,” he said, chuckling. “Not get them to date me. So wrong person ask.”
"Fair point." Josh studied the other man closely, searching for a trace of hunger or jealousy… but there was none. Had he imagined everything in class, a mere half hour ago? "Sorry for bothering you, then. Have a nice day, Grayson."
The second he walked away, Gray let his uncaring mask drop. His eyes were flaming with fury, but he refused to turn around. He refused to give anything away.
He didn’t have to, thankfully.
“Gray. There you are~” Laura appeared by his side, hooking her arm through his. “I was looking for you everywhere. What were you doing?”
Gray nearly rolled his eyes at her when he saw the look in her eyes. Cold, calculating, as if she knew what she was doing. Gray realized she did, in fact, know. She was doing this on purpose.
“Oh, nothing,” he responded smoothly, a flirty smile on his features. “Just waiting for a certain pink-haired girl to join me.”
Josh left the building with a triumphant smile on his features. The success left him exhilarated—now that Grayson wasn't a threat, he had a better chance of getting a positive response if he asked Violeta out to dinner. He was not a particularly sly or cunning young man, usually soft and quite the joker. But, even after speaking with her a few times, he could tell this girl was special. And he didn't want to lose his chance.
[TIME SKIP - that weekend]
The sheer volume of music blasting from Alexander Powell, a fourth-year college student's apartment was deafening. Violeta laughed as she and a small group of girls approached his front door, all of them grinning and covering their ears.
"How are the neighbours not complaining?" Rae shouted over a heavy bass line as a senior student opened the door for them. The student merely grinned, jerking a thumb over his shoulder. "The neighbours are all here, partying."
The five girls drifted through the thick crowd—it was as if every single student had decided to show up—buzzing with excitement. Even Irene, who usually went out of her way to avoid social situations, was smiling, though slightly self-conscious in her light blue skirt and blouse. Lillian, who was decked out in her usual leather jacket and ripped jeans, gave Violeta, who was hugging her midsection, a surprisingly comforting look.
"You look great, Vy." she shouted over the noise, causing Violeta to smile bashfully, rubbing at the nape of her neck. In truth, the amount of skin she was showing pushed her far out of her comfort zone. Wearing this dress had seemed like a good idea back at her dorm room, but now…. No eating tonight, she told herself firmly, dodging a pack of already-drunk boys in her year. You probably look fat enough already.
Her thighs were painfully unconcealed by the skirt of the dress, and though the outfit itself was pretty, she felt like an imposter wearing it. Every time someone looked her way, she would tighten her arms around her stomach, hoping to hide the unfortunate bulge. WHy did I ever decide to wear this?
(the dress: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/863354191044922711/ except with longer skirt and higher neckline)
Gray didn’t know what he was doing at the party. Sure, he liked partying. He liked having fun once in a while, losing himself to social life, fooling around with fellow peers. He just didn’t like the deafening sound of music. The building seemed to be vibrating due to the loud music, which made the experience a little fun.
Laura was at his side, leaning against the wall, sipping on her punch. She wore a red dress, the shoulders asymmetrical, exposing her neck, a bit of her back as well as one shoulder. To top the dress off, she wore golden heels, dark red lipstick on her lips, hair styled in a loose bun.
Gray, on the other hand, settled for a white shirt, dark blue denim jacket and black jeans. He had no drink in his hands, but was talking to Laura with a cool expression on his features.
“Well, I’m here to have fun,” Laura purred, battling her eyelashes, the hairs nearly touching her sun-kissed skin. “But see, you’re here with me right now, which means no guy will be asking me to dance.”
Gray quirked an eyebrow in amusement.
“Are you saying I’m too good looking that people are too scared to ask you?” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Maybe I’ll—“
He froze, eyes catching Violeta amongst the crowd. His heart failed to work, his eyes unblinking. Violeta, wearing a pretty pink dress, showing off her smooth skin. If Gray had a drink in his hands, he would have choked. Damn did that woman look breathtakingly gorgeous. Damn whoever decided to give that woman that specific dress.
Laura, who furrowed her eyebrows at his lack of response, looking at his line of vision. She smirked teasingly, her finger on his chin as she slowly shut his mouth.
“You’re making a home for the flies,” she purred. “Do control your raging hormones, my dear Gray.”
He did not respond. Gray had no idea how to anymore. Violeta took that away when she chose to enter looking like that.
