An Extra’s POV

After Noah left, Rey made sure his room looked as presentable as it possibly could for his guest.

The first time Alicia came with those books, Rey had been caught off guard.

His room hadn't been in any major mess, but it wasn't in the best shape either.

Rey remembered he had a pair of his underwear on his bed, and till this day he prayed Alicia didn't notice what it was.

'I managed to cover it with my bedsheets, but I think she already saw it…'

Rey knew he would die of embarrassment if he dwelled on it, so he convinced himself that Alicia didn't know what a guy's underwear was supposed to look like.

It wasn't very believable, but telling it to himself repeatedly seemed to do the trick.

"Alright… I think we're all set!" Rey beamed in satisfaction.

His bed was well-laid, and everything was in perfect order.

You would think he was about to get laid or something.

'No dirty thought, Rey! This is, as always, a reading session!'

Rey didn't particularly mind that Alicia and him never really spoke in the time that they spent together, but recently he was getting increasingly curious.

'I want to know more about her…'

But he also didn't want to ruin the vibe that they already had.

'I don't want her to think I'm trying to hit on her or anything…'

Rey already knew he couldn't compare himself to the caliber of guys that Alicia had dated in the past.

Sure, he had toned up a bit more, and he was in much better shape than before.

But still…

'Even though I can better understand why Billy is so into her… I already gave up on that a long time ago.'

Right now, Rey was content with just being Alicia's friend.

But friends knew a lot about each other, didn't they?

'Maybe I'll ask her some stuff about herself today…'

Just regular stuff, to break the ice.

Rey knew he wasn't the best at conversations, but he had recently gotten a lot of chances to practice his communication skills.

often spoke to the Monsters, though not many cared to listen to him—not

discussed with Noah, though that was mostly

I think I should

just had to give it a

I should prepare a list

decided this out loud, he heard a knock on his

"Gahh!"

any time to think or prepare questions for

'She's here!'

********

had passed since Alicia arrived,

were scattered on Rey's bed as

that they were, neither interrupted the

on the literature in front

Why aren't you saying

was suffering in silence as he couldn't concentrate on what

but he just wasn't able to get into the

turned a page of his book, showing precisely his

lunch before this, and she probably has already… so what's the

Why couldn't he concentrate?

PM, Rey always went back to

he made sure to be back

would talk for a little bit before Noah left, and not

arriving when Noah was still around, and

arrive earlier, and Alicia came a few minutes later than

like

no longer ignore the reason

right now was talk

Nothing more… nothing less.

focusing on her book

he hadn't heard her

probably thought she was

might hate me… it might ruin the moment…

shackled Rey for thirty more minutes,

Rey

hours, Rey turned

was

'H-holy…!'

out

was subtle, but it was

were both staring at each other,

finally

his heart racing

like it would burst at any moment, and it caused his brain to

should I say next?! What