Gray's POV:
I had a feeling she would ask me that. Of course she would. She just found me bruised–there was no way she wasn't going to ask.
"Er, just someone I share a history with," I answered, trying to avoid answering her question. "Is it okay for you to bring a guy to your dorm, though?
I leaned back against one elevator wall, regarding him with doubt practically written across my features. I didn’t press him, though, since it was evident he didn’t want me to.
“Why wouldn’t it be? I mean, my roommate does it all the time, so..”
Gray's POV:
"Ah, I answered, relieved she wasn't going to demand answers out of me. I was even glad she didn't mention the one thing I didn't want her to ask. "Isn't this a girl's dormitory, though?"
“Well……….. technically, yes. But no one really cares, like, at all. So you’ll be fine.”
I shrugged just as the elevator doors slid open, gesturing down the hall. “My room’s this way.”
Gray's POV:
I followed Violeta to her room silently, careful not to put too much pressure on myself in case the bruises start to hurt again. At this point, I could barely feel the bruise on my cheek, but then again, I couldn't even feel that section of my face, either. God, that man punched really hard when he was furious.
"Well, as long as you don't get into trouble for helping me out…"
“I won’t,” I assured him over my shoulder, entering my room before pausing in the doorway. Lillian was perched on her bed, staring at us… or, more specifically, Gray.
Swearing internally, I gave her a helpless gesture, and she immediately stood. “Uh… yeah. I was just going out. I’ll leave you two be….” She slipped past me and Gray, but not before shooting me a significant look.
Gray's POV:
I watched as Violeta's friend gave us a look before scurrying out of the room, an unknown expression on her face. I hoped she wouldn't get the wrong idea–not about Violeta. If she had heard about me, I doubt she would have left.
"Right…" I said, not knowing what else to say. I didn't dare look around–it wasn't my place to snoop. Especially if there was something either of them didn't want me to see.
There was a painting on my easel that I’d forgotten to clean up of a man leaned against a wall while golden light ran up through his fingers. I pretended not to notice it, instead opening a cabinet and pulling out a small First Aid kit.
Gray’s POV:
My eyes watched Violeta as she tried to find something, my thoughts drifting elsewhere.
It was baffling how that girl was still single. Not only was she beautiful, but she was kind and loyal and sweet, more than anyone he knew. True, she hated me at first but… she had a valid reason for doing so.
Suddenly, the thought of her being with someone else filled me with irritation. Why was it hard to imagine her being happy with a man? Why was I so upset with that thought? She wasn’t mine to begin with, and I wasn’t looking for love. It was just a crush, and it would disappear.
Before I could ponder more, Violeta came back with the First Aid kit. I sighed. This was going to hurt, wasn’t it?
“Sit,” I instructed softly, gesturing to my bed. Settling on top of the covers as I’d told him to, I pulled out a small container of Arnica gel.
(Poor Gray…)
Gray’s POV:
I hesitantly sat on her bed, obeying without objections. Not that I would get anywhere with those, anyway.
She settled on the covers, too, and pulled out an Arnica gel. I let her do whatever she needed to do.
(Eh, he’ll get over it. XD)
(Hehe, Violeta will gladly help with that)
I dipped two fingers in the cool gel, raising my head to look at my ‘patient’ before realization dawned on my face.
Oh….
Using this would require me touching his face..
(I’m sure. XD)
Gray’s POV:
She hesitated. Finally she realized. I chuckled, shaking my head.
“I can do it,” I said to her gently. “You’ve helped out enough, anyway.”
(Lol)
It took a moment or two for my limbs to unfreeze.
“Oh— I don’t mind or anything, I was just afraid that you did,” I said quickly, biting the inside of my cheek. “I can do it if you’re okay with that….?”
Gray’s POV:
My expression softened unconsciously.
“I don’t mind,” I replied quietly, looking at her in the eyes. “As long as you don’t.”
My heart practically melted when he finally met my eyes, when his expression softened more than I’d ever seen it do before.
Crap.
I was such an idiot.
Such an unbelievable idiot.
I have a schoolgirl crush on Gray. Of all people.
Swallowing, I focused my gaze on the largest bruise and reached forward to carefully steady his cheek with my hand in answer to his statement. My fingers, slick with Arnica, rubbed over the purplish spot, tingling wherever they made contact with his skin.
(YAS!)
Gray’s POV:
I couldn’t look anywhere other than her face as she worked on gelling my bruises. It was really reckless of her to do this. Bring a guy to her dorm, offer to patch him up, and be this close to him even.
Every time her fingers touched my skin, I felt it tingle. I wanted to do nothing more than to kiss her right then, but I held myself back. I couldn’t make a mistake—not ever. She knew who she was dealing with, so she wouldn’t even dream about liking someone like me.
The hand on my cheek… I desperately wanted to cover it with my own, intertwine our fingers together to see if they really fit, if they were a perfect match.
I swallowed thickly, erasing the thoughts from my head.
Can’t do this. Stop. She’s only offering help to repay the favor, nothing more and nothing less.
(Asdfghjkl)
I’d long since forgotten how to breathe by now.
My knee was touching Gray’s.
My fingers were practically massaging his cheek.
And God, the way he was looking at me…… It was stupid of me to hope this much, about Gray of all people.
But then he swallowed, and my eyes followed the bobbing of his Adam’s apple…. Heat and colour flooded my face.
I didn’t notice that my palm was completely flat against his cheek until I dragged my gaze back up to his features.
What was wrong with me?
Gray’s POV:
My mouth felt dry all of a sudden. Her cheeks were flushed and she was in a daze, looking over at me with such an innocent expression on her face. It was almost enough to break my resolve, but I held myself. It wasn’t good a idea. It was a terrible one.
It was silly to assume she was like this because of me. She wasn’t probably flustered at being this close to a guy. She was probably confused because of my behavior.
“Stop,” I started in a dangerous whisper, my voice cracking slightly due to the way I was mentally restraining myself. “Before I do something we’ll both end up regretting.”
(I’M DYING.)
(SAME)
His words hit me like a harsh slap in the face. I willed myself to move away, begged my arms to withdraw, but I was frozen in place, staring up at him with huge, dark eyes. My heart was thundering so loud, I was sure he could here it even from where he sat, and there was absolutely nothing I could do to save the both of us from this situation.
“I—— Gray— I won’t regret it.” The words tumbled from my lips before I could fully register them. But they were true. I knew it, plain as day, that they were true.
Gray’s POV:
The second her words reached my ears, my mind went absolutely blank. My heart began hammering wildly in my chest, my arms aching to hold her close. I knew I should do something to put an end to this, but my body wouldn’t cooperate.
However, there was one thought that kept me from initiating what I was desperate to do so.
I reached out and gently cupped her cheek in mine, my thumb softly rubbing circles on the soft skin. Instead of her lips—pink, begging me to claim them, I pressed mine against her forehead, letting my lips linger there for a second.
“I’m sorry…” he whispered under his breath. “You’re choosing the wrong person, Vy…”
(My heart cannot take this!!!)