“Heyyyyyy, Violeta,” one of the guys, a tall freshman named Drew, slurred. He leaned forward, dropping a can of beer in her lap. “Have a drink with me?”
Violeta went rigid, carefully picking the beer off her lap and setting it down on the table. “No, thank you.”
Arjun, one of Drew’s friends, made a pouty face. “Aww… why not? It’ll be funnn! Please?”
The guys all stepped closer.
“I think the lady already gave her answer,” Gray clipped rather coldly, a warning look on his features though there was a smile on his face. He stood behind Violeta protectively, daring them to make a move. “So it’s best you take your leave.”
Laura grinned from behind him, battling her eyelashes and blowing on her red nails. “I’d agree if I were you. My friend here dislikes it when people bother people that are important to him.”
Gray let that comment slide. Just this once.
Gray again.
Violeta’s grip on her chair tightened as her eyes slid from him to his pink-haired companion. What was she talking about? Was she in on his stupid game, too?
But despite who had come to the rescue, she felt a surge of relief when the guys backed off, muttering among themselves.
Gray released a breath, his eyes going back to Violeta as her grip on her chair loosened a little. Laura grinned, raking her hair back with her fingers.
“Wow, Gray,” she purred, bumping her shoulder with his. “I swear, you look so hot when you’re being protective. You’d make a wonderful boyfriend~”
Gray shot her a smoldering glare as if he knew what she was doing. Laura merely shot a smirk his way.
Violeta forced her gaze away from the ridiculously pretty girl, staring down at her lap. “Thank you,” she told Gray in a flat but controlled tone, completely ignoring the girl’s statement.
Gray rolled his eyes at Laura, who smiled back apologetically. She didn’t look apologetic in the slightest.
“The next time someone does that to you, don’t hesitate to throw a punch,” Gray said, already stepping away. She was beginning to feel uncomfortable. “You’re nice, so people tend to take advantage of that. Have fun for the rest of the day, Violeta.” Gray turned around to walk away, but Laura stayed behind.
“He’s a bit moody right now, but trust me, he’s just a little—“
”Laura. Come on.”
Laura offered a shrug before smiling brightly at Violeta. “I like your dress,” she said sincerely. “I think you’re beautiful. Pure and simple, but really beautiful. Have a good day, Violeta~”
And the pink-haired girl ran after Gray, dodging people and punching her friend once she reached him.
Violeta didn’t really know what to say after that. She just sort of… sat there, silent, staring after thevpair with bafflement etched into her features.
“Well…” Sadie muttered, “That was interesting.”
“What was that?” Gray whirled on his friend, narrowing his eyes. “‘People important to him?’ You might just go announce to her that I’m head-over-heels for her!”
Laura just looked at him in disbelief.
“I did you a favor,” she exclaimed. “Would you have done anything else? I’m trying to help you!”
“Well, I don’t need your help,” Gray shot back, regretting his words immediately when hurt flashed across her face. “I never asked for it.”
“Yeah, why would you?” She muttered. “I forgot we’re just here in case we need release. I’m sorry, Grayson, that I tried to help you with your goddamn love life. I’m sorry that I tried to be a friend.”
“I’m sorry,” Gray shook his head. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“You know what, Gray?” Laura breathed, crossing her arms over her chest. “When you learn to accept people, then come and apologize. You like that girl, but you’re so afraid you don’t even try getting her to like you. And when there’s an actual person who wants to be your friend, you push them away.” She paused, shaking her head. “Forget it.”
So Laura turned on her heels (no pun intended) and walked away.
[TIME SKIP - Monday morning]
Violeta thumbed through her notes, occasionally scratching out or adding to the nearly printed lines of script. Occasionally, she would glance towards Gray, who hadn’t said a word all morning, but left him in peace for the most part. Finally, about fifteen minutes to the end of class, she cleared her throat awkwardly. “So… are we going to work on the project or not?”
Gray’s weekend went by miserably, and really, it was Laura that caused it. Gray knew she was right, and that bugged him off. So much. He hated how she knew exactly what he never let himself believe. It infuriated him. She should have known Gray felt comfortable around her, yet she walked away from him.
Like they were just strangers.
He was furious.
And then Violeta spoke and it was so hard to keep in the snap. Gray merely took out his laptop in response, turning it on and typing (smashing) in the password. He opened up a Google Document for them to write in their outline.
“All the notes good?” He asked rather harshly, not bothering to filter his emotions.
Violeta flinched back as his anger hit her like a slap in the face, despite the fact that it most likely wasn’t directed towards her. “What did I ever do to you?” she muttered under her breath, before giving a slow nod. “The notes are good.”
“Then let’s type them in already,” Gray said, his voice bitter, Laura’s words swimming in his mind again. “I’ll share the file with you. Tell me your email.”
Violeta blinked at him for a moment, taken aback by the bitterness laced through his tone. “[email protected],” she recited quietly, observing him closely.
Gray punched in her email before hitting send, pausing. He didn’t look at her while he did it. A familiar face twisting with pain filled his mind again and he scowled. What the hell?
“Who pissed you off?” Violeta muttered at Gray, watching as his expression contorted. “I sure hope it wasn’t me..”
Gray, upon hearing her words, sighed, rubbing his forehead.
“No, it’s not you,” he shook his head, “I’m sorry. I don’t have a proper excuse. It’s not right for me to snap at you when you aren’t even at fault.”
Violeta’s eyes widened a fraction. He was apologizing to her?
“Oh,” she answered, clearly confused. “Who’s fault is it, then?”
“Mine,” Gray muttered, sighing for the umpteenth time that hour. “I… screwed up. With Laura. I said something I shouldn’t have said to her.”
“Ah.” So this was a love issue. All of a sudden, Violeta felt pity for the poor player, who didn’t know how to keep a girl around long enough. She sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Have you tried apologizing?”
“She’s avoiding me,” Gray muttered, sighing again. “She turns the other way whenever she sees me.”
“Send her a text,” Violeta suggested, “Or, no, call her. Leave a note with her roommate.”
“And why, exactly, are you helping me?” Gray quirked an eyebrow.
Violeta gave him a funny look. “Because you’re clearly hopeless when it comes to this kind of stuff. Plus, I feel bad for Laura.” She added the last part jokingly, a faint smile tracing her lips.
Gray snorted, crossing his arms as if he was offended.
“I take offense to that,” he let a pout cover his lips, pretending as if her smile hadn’t caused his heart to jump. “But I guess you’re right. I am hopeless when it concerns friendship. Especially with Laura.”
Violeta snorted loudly, raising a dubious eyebrow. Yeah, right. “Friendship”. Sure, Gray, I definitely believe that.
“If I recall correctly, she was talking about how amazing you’d be as a boyfriend last night,” she chuckled, “So I don’t think ‘friendship’ is the right word.”
“She said that for someone else to hear,” Gray responded, leaning back against his chair. “Not for herself. We’re certainly not at a friendship level, but we’re not more than that, either.”
“Whatever you say, Gray,” I laughed, shaking my head.
Gray stared at her in surprise, her laughter ringing in his ears. It was melodic, he decided. He loved it.
“What?” He found himself breathing out before he composed himself. “You don’t think I can be just friends with a girl?”
Violeta continued to thumb through her notes, exhaling softly. “Well, do you have any female friends?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Well, that’s an unfair question,” Gray grumbled, sinking into his chair. He didn’t even have male friends, much less female. Laura flashed through his mind again. He shook her off. “No, I don’t.”
