Chapter 24 Audrey

My phone buzzed in my pocket just as I was finishing up the last of my homework for the evening. Frowning, 1 dug it out, expecting a text from Avis or Tim about our group project.

Instead, it was a new text from a familiar number that had me grinning like an idiot before I could stop myself.

"What are you up to tonight?"

It was from Gavin, that handsome water-turned-

classmate who had somehow managed to worm his way into my life over the last werk. Ever since we had exchanged numbers in Edwin's lecture, we had been texting back and forth regularly- first about class, then about design concepts, and eventually just chatting

Despite myself, I found myself looking forward to his stupid jokes and gentle teasing way more than I probably should have. He was cute, and sweet And maybe..

Biting my lip, I quickly tapped out a reply.

"Nothing. Just finished my homework. Why?"

A response came through almost immediately. "Wanna go see a play!"

Me: "A play? Like at the theater?"

Gavin "Yes, a play. They're doing a showing of Romeo and Juliet tonight"

Me: "I could be persuaded..."

I barely had to wait thirty seconds before he responded once again. "Sweet Pick you up at 7?"

My heart fluttered a line in my chest as I re-read the message. Was this was this considered a date We had hung out a few times over the week, grabbing coffee between classes or meeting up in the library for studying. But this felt different somehow More... Intentional

1 let out a shaky breath as I agreed to meet him, running my free hand through my hair Jumping up from my desk, I hurried out of my dorm

hall to Avis's, my pulse Jackhammering beneath

room

blonde hair frazzled-she had clearly

said, marching into the room without even waiting for an invitation. "I think... I think I have a dare

pacing back and forth across the tiled lobby of the dorms, my heels clicking loudly

had spent the better part of an hour curling my hair into soft waves, dabbing makeup onto my face, and

with a jacket over top. Avis had insisted on the top being slightly low-cut, stating that I didn't want to go overboard but that

cur, my phone buzzed to signal Gavin's arrival. I took a deep, steadying breath and shoved my

soft gray sweater. He broke into a warm grin the

circling

swinging the passenger

flushed a deep shade of red. "Thank

reaching behind his back, Gavin produced a single red rose that

I took the flower, feeling stupidly bashful. "Thank you. You know, I've been trying to incorporate more floral elements into my designs lately. I could probably dry and pres Gavin chuckled at my

to make the

nervously, feeling a bit embarrassed over quickly devolving into design talk, and tucked the rose into the strap of my

12

4:37 PM

Chapter 21

of the audience and the quiet music fading into a dull, pleas "So what made you want to go

buff.

think it's important for any artist to enrich themselves as much as

can

to dim and the first preamble music started up. "Ooh, I can't wait to see what kind of designs they use for the costum For the next

name it. Soon enough, an usher was shushing us with a scowl, prompting my face to flus "Oops," I whispered to Gavin, covering my mouth with one hand. "I guess we got a

murmured back, suddenly shifting his weight closer so our shoulders were brushing

it my imagination, or did his voice seem to drop an octave or two? I could have

mine.

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