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 that they could even if

actively discussed with Noah, though that was mostly about

any case, I think I should be able to hold

to give it a

should prepare

this out loud, he heard a knock on his

"Gahh!"

no longer any time to think or prepare questions

'She's here!'

********

arrived, yet neither

on Rey's bed as both of them

nerds that they were, neither interrupted the other with meaningless things like words or unwarranted

only focused on the literature

you

suffering in silence as he couldn't

but he just wasn't

page of his book, showing precisely

the evening. I already had lunch before this, and

Why couldn't he concentrate?

Rey always went back to his room while Alicia probably went to

for the Black Market and he made sure to be back within an

for a little bit before Noah left, and not long after that… Alicia

arriving when Noah was still around, and it was awkward

sure to arrive earlier, and Alicia

was like

I better say something!' Rey could no longer ignore the reason he wasn't

to do right

Nothing more… nothing less.

focusing on her book as

mind automatically forgot the fact that he hadn't heard her flip a single page in minutes

probably thought she

might hate me… it might ruin the moment… if I

Rey for thirty more minutes,

anything, Rey felt

time in nearly two hours, Rey turned to

his surprise, she was

'H-holy…!'

so startling that Rey nearly jumped out of his skin and

gaze was subtle, but it was undeniably

it, they were both staring at each other, with his words wafting

finally answered

his heart racing

would burst at any moment, and it

next?!