***Taylor's POV***
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3xytRhB8I
Justin Teller is watching me. Again. I look up from my book, I headed to the library to study because Jay has politics and I'm not a politics major. I have no desire to sit and drink coffee today so I found myself browsing the fiction aisle.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtTbcqjJap
I collided with him to be fair. I was walking through the stacks transfixed by the books and all of the ones I wanted to read, holding three or four in my arms looking down at them when I walked into him, literally. He was doing the same and our books fell to the floor. I glanced down at the books scattered at our feet. He picked them all up from the floor, and I thanked myself mentally for painting my toe nails.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1Z73lLhc0
His stare lingered briefly on my bare legs in my blue shirt dress as he stood back up. His cheeks flushed under his lightly olive skin. His smile warm and inviting if a little shy and embarrased. I take in his rolled up sleeves and the collection of bracelets he has on, he's got a few wire bracelets and tie up bands presumably for his longer brunette hair. A wristband from a recent gig that's he's been too.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi8TGLUQCR
I asked him where the gig was and who he saw, he admired my smile returning it with his own explaining that he had been backstage. Turns out Mr Justin Teller, tall dark and handsome, very much plays guitar can sound check all live gigs and tends to do that on the side of his English major studies. An interesting thing to find out. It was a local acoustic gig, like an open mic where you can put your name down and play. He told me that I needed to come along next time. It was just short of asking me out on a date.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLPFZHoUDK
Since our brief encounter, from his seat across the library he has been occasionally looking at me and I have been pretending that he isn't. His white shirt is unbuttoned just enough and his sleeves are roughly rolled up. He's reading and taking notes, and occasionally watching me.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYqYGNxYV1
I check my phone for Jay but he's still in lectures and hasn't messaged me. I settle back into my book, concentrating on the story and how it has been linked together.
I glance up again and his eyes meet mine, they are like chocolate. I briefly remember that he has actually seen my breasts, when we were at a party and Rach dared me to flash. I go bright red and look away. Back at the book. Anywhere but his eyes, and his olive skin.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNv9KUDcu3
I'm concentrating and this is fine. Totally. A hand rests down next to my book and my eyes travel up the arm of the person who is resting there. All the way up to those chocolate eyes.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XNAHFc7vU
"Taylor" he says quietly and I look at him.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiZjlVm4cp
"Yes" I utter.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZxT9u3N6d
"Wanna check our books out and go and grab some food" he smiles easily.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZzq4e4J5a
I check the time and my phone for Jay, he's messaged telling me that he has about an hour left so I message back that I will be with the others, not just Justin.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsBWwYVP7t
"Sure" I smile at him.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7M88OQ3njf
"I'll cook this time. Nate and Rach are at dorms I think" he smiles.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOubeP6jhK
I stand and we walk together heading to dorms.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARxJwJa0qd
"I just figure you always end up cooking for everyone. I can make spaghetti Bolognese or chilli" he smiles.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGRpE5rqfU
I chuckle he really is a sweet guy.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQcDJUaHhr
"Anything is fine by me" I smile.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6cCHb3CH6
We walk through dorms and he stops at his door heads in and returns with his guitar which he passes to me smiling.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8BZqUGyBM
"You know people by the way they play musical instruments" he laughs seeing my expression of glee. Looking at his black acoustic guitar I see that he has his capo on and it is tuned to drop D. Interesting. I follow him into the kitchen, holding his guitar. I begin to wonder what songs he has been playing and whether he sings.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u0HvwKUa9
Justin starts cooking and I join the others.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwbHXUAK1z
"Hey Tay" Rach smiles
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNydbWhNLF
Nate smiles. Rachel is resting on his knee.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4mSxvlWCm
"Are you going to serenade us" Nate asks
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwJxJKvGqA
"I hope so" Justin laughs facing his pan and stirring.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEPZRlT90d
"What would you like to hear" I ask laughing.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7QyxiSFnd
Justin turns around pushing his sleeves up. His expression is serene as he assesses me.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBUYqfFh6B
"Surprise us" he suggests.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C7psoE8yf
I have a think and start playing randomly. I always do that until I get inspiration. I'm getting a feel for his guitar. After a few bars I'm lost in the timbre of it. It has a rich warm tone. I start playing wicked game singing along quietly.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxfrVIimRP
Once I'm finished I glance up at Justin who is watching me even more intently.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkKvj6p1Zl
"That was...stunning" he smiles.
"I like your version more than all of the covers I've heard" he says.
Nate rolls his eyes laughing.
"This guy" he says chuckling, he goes to help Justin move the food to the table and I get the impression they are more like brothers than friends. In the way their eyes meet I can tell that they know each other well, and have known each other for years. Nate claps Justin on the back smiling, I can see that Nate is the extrovert and Justin is the quiet one.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFQzhXz40i
He puts the rice on the table with a serving spoon and the chilli. Justin follows him over to sit with me. I place the guitar down gently and smile over at him, there is that intense stare again. I'm going to have to do something about that.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNDDpjiEH8
Just as I'm putting rice on my plate the door opens. We look up expectantly and I see his blonde hair first, he's carrying his skateboard under his arm. After Ross comes in, looking surprised that I am here, Matty follows in after. He notices me and looks down to his skateboard in his hands.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIepOaKU3YB
Ross comes straight over to me and wraps me in a tight hug, I have to stand up and embrace him back. It feels good to see him and he sits down next to me on my other side.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaJMCu1Y8B
I continue plating up my food and Rach stands to get me a glass of wine. Which I didn't ask for but I like her thinking all the same. I accept it gracefully and Matty sits opposite me at the table.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbg6BDFIBd
Seeing him again is always difficult. I remember him so avidly, every nuance and every expression. I know what he's going to do before he does it. How he's going to react to things. He looks up at me with his green eyes and I smile at him whilst eating my food. He returns my smile, like he always does.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkamNpV1I8s
"How's Kim ?" I ask and he watches me, his eyes travelling down from my lips to my neck and chest and then up again to my eyes.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarDj800Z54
"She's fine she's got another show that she's planning for" he laughs.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuerebiyrTu
"Oh can we walk again" Rach asks intercepting our conversation. I almost protest, seeing Kim would be a huge deal for me. A huge memory that maybe I'm not willing to visit just yet.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdG32LV0UMO
"Yeah I'll ask her" he says looking at me. Watching me. Maybe Jay is right, I do seemingly have a few guys watching me. Justin, Ross on my left and Matty smack bang in front of me.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡes6Pz8ZtvL
I continue eating and look away.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOencmuLiv
“That’s right you two walked the fashion show, I remember now” Nate says.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPKi22IEto
“Hot” he smiles at Rach and I keep my eyes down. No more making eyes with other guys. Any of them. At the fashion show I was dressed as a goddess, Matty and I were together. It was the most revealing outfit I have ever worn.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdqfsoTjLV
Ross has plated up his food and is eating next to me. He always makes me feel instantly relaxed and normal. He's uncomplicated, he looks over at me and smiles.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnSMWJCouC
"How's your tat" he asks in his normal drawl.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zJTZEVSsb
"Great I think it's almost healed" I smile at him. You cannot not smile at Ross.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIi48kCdlxY
"Ohh let me see" he says.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7fU5nKBEM
I face him and undo a few buttons to move my shirt dress out of the way. There’s no other way of doing it. I thank myself for wearing nice underwear.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9CBxj7CWU
“Nice” he says and he pulls his chair back slightly showing me his leg tattoo which is now unwrapped. It looks great, swirls of vines and tribal patterns contrasting with his tan skin. It suits him.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcwe3AwkaM
“Wanna go again?” He laughs.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgM7bVa1rSB
“Yes I’ll go with you but I’m not getting anything else… although” I smile and he turns to me expectantly and excited.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhA2RFRGyP
“I want a new piercing” I say shyly.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP63vzk9zb1
“Oh what do you want?” Rach asks
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXHqXEEIGp
“Well I want two” I say.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7Os2VgAjG
“Oh let me guess, you’ve got your belly, nose and ears” she sighs.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kFOSDDGG5
I smile looking up and seeing Matty straight away gazing at me.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95HoNx9s4n
“I want my nipples pierced” I say and let my words hang there in the air.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPxq4xmsGK
“Wow” Ross says gaping at me.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacrNUo8R3h
He recovers slightly. He smiles down at me laughing a little.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurNNUhOqTi
“We could do that” he says clearing his throat.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXvAUaY1Tz
“I just want little ones nothing crazy, just a bit of added sparkle” I say and Rach smiles at me.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77rhAKo2rK
“I think you should, that would look great. You’re symmetrical” she laughs sighing.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8pBnTu4k4
“Not all girls are that lucky go for it” she says and she never ceases to amaze me with what comes out of her mouth.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxVlfUzJoP
“Next week?” I say to Ross impulsively and excited.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcQIyS6hq7
“Yep. Let’s also see what’s on” he says and absentmindedly strokes my arm with his hand.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvO6I0ISe5r
“It can be my treat this time” he smiles. For a second I think he’s going to kiss me, and I marginally pull back. I can’t resist the proposition of going to see a play.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWixjyZ2usK
“Hey Justin wanna join us for the play, no tattoos or piercings required” I laugh.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQsdW9RcgK
Most guys would be annoyed at me for inviting another guy. Not Ross. He strokes my arm with his fingertips.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gkCpJ6wzW
“Of course” he smiles. Not sure how Jay is going to feel about this one.
Ross gets his phone out and searches up the theatre. For the rest of the evening we browse the different productions, getting completely sidetracked each time and talking about the original book.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEC5fHQHVes
I go to join Ross on the sofa looking at his tablet and we narrow it down to our two favourites. Justin just seems happy to be included commenting that he’d be happy seeing either of them. I sip my wine, feeling more than tipsy, I tuck my bare legs up on the sofa to get comfy. Matty is still watching me from the table and I’m blocking him out. His eyes make me feel nostalgic and he knows that. He looks at me like I’m still very much his, his to love and to take home.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV2xQwvzF9
“I think I want to see the women in black” I concur.
Ross strokes my leg smiling. He clicks on it and begins booking it for us.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkEsABJ08E
“Anyone else fancy it?” I ask looking at Rach.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDOGAU5Sw4
“Yeah I’m in” Matty says and I smile at him.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRz6meISWmy
“God no, although I might join you in getting a new piercing” Rach says.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nkIktz0Kc
I grab my phone from the table feeling slightly tipsy. I walk back over to Ross and Matty joins us. Keeping me steady, not sure why the wine has had this accelerated affect on me. His hand discreetly going to my waist to keep me upright. I remember his hands instantly, how they would hold me and stroke me. I lounge back in my seat with another glass wine.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNK2M4kk7KX
“Here I’ll pay you my money now” I say getting up my banking app.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKi0i8WUGk
“Hey no I said it’s my treat you bought the tickets last time remember” Ross says his hand back on me.
“You two however owe me” he laughs at Matty who’s already getting his phone out. He’s sitting next to me, and I peek at his phone screen.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCEeWm5eWX
He pays Ross and then goes to his Home Screen. His wallpaper is a picture I remember and I almost cry straight away. It’s from when we first visited the music shop and where he bought me my eternity ring. We had just had lunch and he told me he wanted to be together officially and that he loved me. I look up from his phone and his eyes are on me.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RcPvHJ8cE
“Can I see” I say and he hands me his phone. I look at myself and remember who we were together. I took this picture on his phone. His arms are around me and he’s facing me and not the camera. His lips kissing my cheek and I’m smiling at the camera. I remember the feeling of sheer ecstasy at being with him finally and it is captured in my eyes.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkD2lkeOpNn
“I remember this moment” I say looking at him. Ross is talking to Justin about the play and they’re having a debate. His hand is still rested on my thigh and I reposition myself to move him. Knowing that letting him do that gives him the wrong idea. I cross my legs and pull my skirt down slightly.
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh65ZBvz0o
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nomheSl6Y
