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.
Violeta did her best to smile as the girls all formed a circle, dragging her along as they bounced and swayed to the upbeat music. But her heart wsa hammering in her chest, palms sweating as panic flooded her system. What was she doing, wearing a dress like this in public? She was practically begging to have insults hurled at her. Slut, fatass, whale. The words ricocheted around the inside of her skull like bullets.
But suddenly, a hand was settling on her shoulder. Violeta pulled her eyes from the floor, only to watch Lillian wrap her up in a slightly stiff hug. "Stop overthinking things," she whispered, right against the anxious girl's ear. "Relax. You look gorgeous, alright? First person who dares to call you anything will get a fist in the face." And, strangely, the unusually soft words her redheaded roommate spoke calmed her down. "Have some fun tonight…"
Violeta broke away from the hug, traces of a genuine smile crinkling the corners of her eyes. Thank you, she mouthed, and, following everyone else's example, began to bounce to the beat of the loud music around them.
“Shit,” Gray cursed, trying to look away but failing miserably. He was sure he looked like an idiot, gawking like a high school kid in love. “This is bad. This is really, really bad.”
Laura burst out laughing, leaning against the wall as she did so, wrapping one arm around her slender waist.
“Oh my God, you should see your face!” She shook her hear, trying to stifle her laughter but failing, “I never thought I would see Grayson Jules so speechless like that. Oh God, this is priceless.”
Gray pinched her arm without looking at her. “Shut up, you witch. Can you blame me?” He breathed. “She’s out here trying to kill me. I literally decided to give up on her this week and look at her.”
Laura pinched his cheek with cruel affection.
“Fate doesn’t want you to give up on her,” she crooned before her eyes went to Violeta. She grinned mischievously. “Aw, look at the pretty girl. She’s dancing~”
“I can’t breathe,” Gray suddenly declared. “Shit.”
The song changed, a hardcore bass leaking into a much more romantic melody—Teenage Dream.
"Oh my god!" Rae practically screamed, fanning herself as she jumped up and down in excitement. "This song is iconic. Okay, okay, c'mon ladies, we've got to look good for all the guys." Rolling their eyes, the group followed her example, laughing as they swayed from side to side. Violeta was shaking her head while she danced, battling self-conscious thoughts back, and for once—she was succeeding. The hateful whispers in her head faded away to nothing, leaving her to enjoy herself.
“Laura, I think I’m going to die,” Gray whispered, and Laura had to lean in close to hear. She snickered, nudging his shoulder with hers. “No, I’m serious! Did she have to come looking so attractive? And her dancing.”
“Go dance with her,” Laura said instead, trying to push him to the dance floor. Her companion shot her a startled look, one which made her snort in amusement. “Go, before someone else does! You’ll lose your chance.”
“Definitely not,” he shook his head. “Are you crazy?”
Laura smiled brightly.
“I am,” she agreed, setting her cup away and grabbing his hand. “Dance with me, then. If you’re going to scare away my desserts, then you might as well be the one to show me a good time!” She grabbed his hand and, to Gray’s horror, decided the best place to dance would be near his crush. His companion hated him, didn’t she?
"You make me—" The girls were all singing now, giggling like mad as they linked hands. "Feel like I'm living a teenage dream—" All of a sudden, Rae let out a low whistle. "Speaking of 'teenage dream'," she muttered cheekily in Violeta's ear, "Grayson Jules looks hot tonight."
Amused, Violeta glanced over her shoulder…. and her eyes clashed with his.
Why was her heart racing all of a sudden?
“Laura, what are you doing?” Gray hissed as she pulled him to the dance floor, fluttering her eyelashes.
“Dancing,” she responded, winking at him. “What else? Look, your beloved is looking at you!”
Gray immediately looked only to find dark eyes staring at him already. He felt like his soul had left his body. Looking at her while she was unaware was one thing, but actually looking at her in the eyes was another. He felt electricity shoot through him and Gray knew he was a goner. He turned towards Laura, just about ready to tell her to drag him out before he melted into a puddle, but the sly woman slipped away, a man’s arm around her waist as he whispered in her ear. She smiled, turned back to look at him and, winked.
She had just abandoned him. On purpose. He’ll get her for this.
Gray looked like a lost puppy, standing there while a very familiar pink-haired girl slipped away. And all of a sudden, his eyes were on her, burning holes in her bare shoulders. Violeta's breathing quickened. Chest tightening, she ducked her head, dizzied and confused.
"Uh oh…" Lillian's voice suddenly echoed through her other ear. "For the love of god, stop giving pretty boy those eyes." Violeta's head snapped up, her cheeks burning. She swatted her roommates shoulder, but her eyes drifted immediately back to Gray.
"Oh, for the love of god," one of her other friends, a blonde girl named Sadie, snorted. "Go and dance with him, already." And before she could protest, they were calling him over.
"Hey, pretty boy!"
“Hey, pretty boy!” Gray blinked, his eyes falling over to a blonde girl. He failed to remember her name, but he still quirked an eyebrow and slowly walked towards the group, careful not to look at Violeta let his mask crumbled.
“Did you need something?” He questioned, tilting his head to the side, a fox smile on his features.
Unfazed by the same smile that had prompted so many girls to open their arms and lift their shirts, Sadie laughed, skipping around him in order to place him conveniently beside Violeta, who had her eyes fixed firmly to the ground. "Dance with us!" the blonde prompted, shaking out her hair.
Gray chuckled, his eyes falling on Violeta after failing to hold himself back.
“I don’t really dance,” his eyes crinkled as he smiled, the expression warm and sincere. “So sorry, ladies.”
All four of Violeta's friends gave him a pointed look when they noticed where his eyes fell. Rae even went so far as to subtly kick him in the shin. Violeta, seeing this, leaned in close to her best friend's ear. "What are you doing?" she hissed, wrapping her fingers around the other girl's arm. "Rae, you're completely misinterpreting this—"
But Rae cut her off, arching an eyebrow at Gray. "And why not?"
Gray narrowed his eyes at the girl. Fantastic. Utterly fantastic.
When I get my hands on you, Laura, you will regret leaving me alone.
But he merely offered a shrug in return, pretending as if he hadn’t felt the kick.
“I’m not much of a dancer,” he responded offhandedly. “Much less at parties. Too exhausting. I prefer the other kind of dance.”
Lillian snorted loudly, tossing her mane of red hair. "Of course you do." She shot a significant look in Violeta's direction, but before either of her friends could embarrass her further, she was taking hold of Irene's wrist and pulling her away. "I'm going to go dance with Irene!" she called, desperate to get away, but her friend pulled her in the opposite direction, suggesting they grab a drink instead. Of course, their path back lead them past Gray…. and Violeta stumbled, causing the entire side of her body to brush his front.
Gray immediately caught her the second she stumbled, eyes widening a fraction. A jolt went through him when her body brushed against his. In that moment, he completely forgot the scene between her and Josh.
“Whoa there,” he murmured, looking over at her worriedly. “Are you okay?”
Violeta's eyes widened the moment strong arms encircled her. She froze, her heart slamming against her ribcage, but Gray's question jolted her back to reality.
"Y-Yeah–" she stammered, tearing herself away and taking a few steps backward. "Yeah—I'm just going to go–get a drink—