Capítulo 76: Chapter 73
We found this fast food stand on the ground floor, but the line was quite big so Jordan and Monica volunteered to buy everything while we stood aside and waited. I took it as an opportunity to make the call. I just told the others that I was going to check in with my mom. Kira and Max frowned but they didn't say anything, they knew I never did anything of the sort.
The place was more crowded than I preferred. I didn't really like being around a large group of strangers, even if I didn't have to talk to them. I just felt on edge. After assuring them if only take a couple of minutes, I moved a shirt distance away and leaned against the wall, facing them because I felt safer that way. I hoped he'd pick up, it was too early for him to be asleep but I could never be sure of what exactly he was up to. And he had also said he had something urgent to do. I also realized that he almost always said that, but he never specified on what exactly it was he was going to do. It's not that I doubted him or anything, but the entire aspect of his unpredictability made it impossible for me to fully trust him.
I dialed his number, then I waited. If he didn't pick up on the first ring is just let it be. But he did. It's almost as if he had been waiting for me to call him since he picked up immediately after.
" I was actually planning on calling you, " he informed me.
" Well now you don't have to. "
" I still might, what time will you be sleeping?" I told him I wasn't sure, and that he shouldn't pass by my place because I was still with Max and Kira. The idea of me possibly sleeping over at someone else's place clearly didn't please him that much, but he let it be.
"Where are you guys, It's super noisy. "
I looked around. He was right about the noise, there were just too many people around and I was sure it would be like that despite where I went. I looked up to find Kira staring straight at me, so I slowly turned around and looked the other way.
" Don't worry about that. You'll be at school tomorrow, right?"
" Not sure, I'm still thinking about it. "
" Austin!"
" I'm joking...I'll be there. I might even concentrate this time. "
" Turning over a new leaf?" I joked, smiling to myself because I doubted he'd be capable of suddenly caring about his studies just like that. He would probably try it for a day or two before he went back to his old ways.
" I might be. I gave myself a pep talk and I now believe that sitting in class for hours and listening to boring lectures will guarantee me a nice and stable future. "
I shook my head because although he has said it sarcastically, that was something I personally believed in. Otherwise I wouldn't work as hard as I did. But I didn't have to worry about him much, he didn't have to fight for things like that. They were well off, I was sure his dad would be able to get him into a good college despite his grades.
" I'll pick you up tomorrow for school, cool?"
" No I-"
" At around seven so be ready by then. If you're not home just text me the address. "
Arriving at school with him would cause a stir no doubt. But he had already made up his mind and it would be pointless to argue with him. So I told him I'd be home.
" I gotta go.." he said afterwards. I liked how his tone suggested that it was something he didn't want to do. But I had at least talked to him and that would be able to get me through the night. Perhaps we were overdoing it, but it honestly still didn't feel like it was enough. And those phonecalls.... talking to him without being able to look at him or feel him, that was pretty difficult as well. Each time I heard his voice I wanted to study his facial expressions as he spoke, but I was forced to just use my imagination and wait for the following day when I'd be able to finally see him again.
" See you tomorrow," I told him, knowing it was only a few hours away but still feeling as if it was a lot further than that.
I pressed my head against the bright white wall and waited for him to talk. Wondering what he could be thinking about. I even glanced at the screen to make sure he was still on.
" Say hi to your friends for me,"
I sensed his dissatisfaction as he forced himself to tell me that and it made me chuckle.
" I'll consider it. "
" Bye, "
" Bye."
" Don't hung up before you say it to me, " he added afterwards. A little arrogance in his words, but I liked it. I had actually been waiting for him to tell me first, but I realized I was doing it again. Inwas leaving all the effort to him, and it wasn't as if I had never told him the words before. I was just making everything much bigger than it really was for no reason in particular.
" I love you. Don't get into trouble okay?"
" Have some faith in me. And I love you more. "
" Don't turn this into a competition, "
He laughed, then he said goodnight and hung up. I felt like I could actually enjoy the concert more after that. I knew that he was okay wherever he was. But what made me the happiest was the fact that we were okay again, there was utterly no bad blood between us. The air had been cleared and we could finally just be as free with each other as we had been back then. And I made myself believe that we would figure everything as we went. I was sure that I'd be able to untangle those doubts and uncertainties about myself if I was with him because that was the only instance where everything seemed to make sense.
" Was that Austin?"
I turned around to find Max standing there, a bag of chips in his hand and his eyes fixed on me. A very knowing look on his keen face. I looked around and spotted everyone else exactly where I had left them. Max arched a brow, then he glanced at the phone in my hand before looking at me again.
" No need to lie, I know it was, " he added.
" We're you listening in?"
He scoffed like I had offended him somehow, then he said he was just coming to confirm whether I really didn't want anything to eat since Jordan and Monica were up next on the line.
" I'm good. I had a late lunch. "
" Hmm, if you say so. Chips?" I looked at the bag he was offering, and even though I didn't want to eat anything, I grabbed a few of them and thanked him. Then we went and joined the others.
After everyone was done eating, we went over to the elevator so we could go up to the actual venue, but the crowd there was insane, it would take too long for us to get there. I suggested we just take the stairs instead and everyone agreed. There were seriously a lot of people, a number of whom were overdressed. Or maybe I just thought so because I was underdressed. I hadn't put that much effort into my look. Just the normal jeans and a t-shirt. And for once I was glad I hadn't carried a jacket because there was no way for me to feel cold with that many people around. When we got to the fourth floor, Max asked me to help him find the washrooms. I actually didn't find it weird until halfway there when I recalled that he had already used the washroom while we had been waiting for Jordan to finish getting served in line. But I still went along with it. That floor wasn't as populated as the others we had passed. There was actually a surprisingly low number of people there.
" Hey, I don't think we're supposed to be here, " I told him on realizing that almost all the people there were wearing name tags. Which meant that they were members of the staff.
" Why not? I'm pretty sure it's okay. "
We got to a turn, and he led me around it until we finally found the washrooms. It was super quiet there, especially since we had just come from all that noise. It was almost every, even our footsteps could be heard if we stepped with a hit more force than necessary.
" This way, " Max said as he unlocked the door and gently pulled me in. I stood by the wall and waited for him to finish up, but he didn't move an inch either after he licked the door. He just stood there, looking at me like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure how to start.
" What?" I asked, feeling completely confused. He sighed, then he clasped his hands together ad took a step towards me.
" You know I care about you, right? I mean, we've been friends for really long. Dude, you're like a brother to me. "
" I'm officially creeped out, " I admitted. I wasn't lying either. I asked him what was going on and he crossed his arms and looked me in the eye.
" I figured you'd be more comfortable talking to me without Kira around, I know she can be a bit much sometimes. "
" What's this about?"
Deep down I was sure I already knew. And I felt freaked out all of a sudden. That calmness that I had managed to gain from talking to Austin had disappeared completely.
" You like Austin, don't you? "
I didn't say anything. I just looked away from him and demanded that my brain tell me what to do and how to react because I was clueless. A part of me wanted to just admit it and say that I did. I trusted Max. And he hadn't been lying about us being like brothers, I knew I could always rely on him for anything that I wanted and he'd be willing to help me out. But the entire situation had caught me too off guard and I had no clue how to approach the situation. It was actually easier to talk about my feelings to Austin himself than anyone else. Atleast with him I was sure he understood what I was going through because he was going through the exact same thing.
" Are we seriously still on this?" I asked him instead. His timing was awful, he could have literally waited till the following day to bring that up. And in about fifteen minutes the concert was going to start, so we had to be there before then.
" Why is it so hard for you to just admit it? For your information, I'm only asking because I feel like I have to. I already know that you two are a thing. "
" And how do you know that?"
" You went out with him last night, didn't you? And I'm sure you don't just go around telling everyone you love them. So I'm guessing it's serious?"
That meant he had been listening in on my call. I shook my head and asked him to drop it.
" So you're gonna deny it even though everyone already knows the truth?"
" Stop meddling. It's my business Max, it has absolutely nothing to do with you. "
" I'm just concerned. I'm not asking you to admit that you're gay or whatever, I'm simply telling you that Kira and I will still love you no matter what. "
" And I appreciate it. Can we go back now?"
He slowly nodded, even though I could tell he wasn't completely satisfied with how things had gone. He must have panned things out in his head but they hadn't gone out as expected. I just wanted that conversation to be over as fast as possible. He apologized and admitted that it wasn't really the time for that, but I assured him it was okay.
I knew he was just trying to be a good friend, but that was an issue which I had to figure out on my own. In the meantime I was going to just appreciate the fact that I had friends who cared that much.
His phone rang, and he told me it was Kira. She wanted to know what was taking us so long so he assured her we were on our way there, and as he was tucking his phone back into his pocket, he paused and grew attentive.
" Did you hear that?" He asked. I had no clue what he was referring to, so I just shook my head. He looked over at the stalls as if he could see whether there was anyone in them from where he was. I expected him to go and confirm but he just shook his head and unlocked the door.
" Let's go, " he told me as he held it open for me. But just as I was about to walk through it, we heard a toilet being flushed, then footsteps from behind us. I froze and turned around. I didn't care whether it was a stranger. That stranger had literally overheard our entire conversation which was based entirely in me and my personal information. Max's eyes widened, and the second the person walked out and came into clear view, I felt a hundred times more nervous and on edge.
" Holy shit!" Max muttered. I felt his hand gripping my arm, but I was too stunned to say anything.
I might have only seen him on a screen, but there was no way to mistake his identity. He stopped for a second to glance at both Max and I, and his gaze stalled when he got to me. That single moment definitely made it to my most memorable experiences.
The piercing blue eyes which I had always believed were contacts, but which looked much more real in real life, the shoulder length blonde hair which had been dyed a much lighter shade than I was used to...it was him.
I referred to him by his stage name. Reign.
And it took me a while but I was finally able to absorb tht fact that I was literally standing in front on BluePrint's lead singer. We watched as he walked over to the sink and turned on the tap, then he proceeded to wash his hands as if we weren't even there. I knew we should have just left, but Max was too star struck to move, and I also wanted to stay there for a few seconds more because it would give us something to tell the others when we went back. They were never going to believe it but at least I'd know it had happened.
" You here for the concert?" He asked, turning off the tap and standing up straight, then he ran his hand through his hair. Making some of the strands a little slick because his hand had been wet. Max vigorously nodded while I just stared at him.
" Then you guys should be up there, " he pointed to the ceiling, implying the floor above us. And I realized that there were chances of us actually getting into trouble if we were found there so I muttered an apology and quickly tried to make Max leave.
" Wait, " he suddenly said. I knew he wasn't even trying to sound commanding, that it was just how his words naturally came out, but that one word made me shudder. We stopped and slowly turned back around. Then I watched as he walked over, Max was standing in front of me, closer to him, but it was pretty obvious his eyes were fixed on mine.
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