𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗡𝗔 ↝︎ ᵍʳᵃʰᵃᵐ ᵈᵘⁿⁿᵉ

𝙛𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙟𝙤𝙚

track two: i'll take you there

CAMILA: The thing about Graham and Blaire was that they were oblivious. I think everyone but them could see what they could become, or maybe they just didn't want to admit it to themselves.

The hovering lights danced on my skin without a care in the world. Aisles of food surrounded me as I scoured for something to make for Karen. Considering she was going to have to deal with the boys' pestering behavior, I hoped my cooking would prevent her from wanting to tear her own ears off and escape. She already got a bad first impression of them.

Of course, I wasn't alone.

"Graham, we're not getting that," I said, glancing at my list. Frowning when I realized we weren't in the right aisle, I sighed. "We're on a tight budget."

"Oh, come on!" Graham pleaded, gesturing toward the snacks. I had to admit, the sight was completely mouthwatering, but we needed to be careful about prices more than ever. He sent me an expression that made it impossible to say no. "It's been forever!"

"Fine," I muttered, not missing the way he instantly started skimming the options laid before him. "One. Choose wisely. I will be in the next aisle, okay? Don't wander off."

"I'm not a child." he contended.

"Sure you aren't," I muttered, steering my cart to obtain packets of water bottles. Just as I decided on a certain brand, a man came over and grabbed it out of my hands, helping me put it into my cart.

"Oh, thank you," I said with a smile. Although I knew I could've done it myself, I didn't want to seem rude.

"It's no problem," he said. He had piercing green eyes that looked like they could peer into my soul. His curly hair bounced with each step he took. "You're not from around here, are you?"

"Nope. How can you tell?" I asked, slightly curious. He eyed my features, but not in the way Graham did. It was almost as if he was challenging me to make a move.

"I would've remembered a face like yours," he remarked, a smirk forming on his lips.

"Does that line ever work?" I asked.

"Usually, it does," he said as he nodded, surprised a blush hadn't spread onto my cheeks. "I'm Joseph. What's your —"

"There you are, B," Graham said, sauntering up from behind him and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Come on, we gotta get going."

"But we have so many other things to get," I responded, bewildered. He tried tugging me away, but I held my ground, still needing to get more beverages.

"What does B stand for?" Joseph asked.

"Blaire," I answered.

"Well, B, I'm —" Joseph said. The way he used my nickname as if he knew me inside and out made Graham clench his jaw.

Interrupting him mid-sentence, Graham corrected, "Only I call her that." He had an innocent smile on his face while Joseph started to lose patience.

"Okay, well, Blaire..." he said, keeping his eyes on me. Struggling to keep his confident smirk from sinking, he continued, "I was wondering if you would like to hang out with me one day? See a movie?"

"I —," I began, but Graham beat me to it, answering for me.

"She's okay. Thanks for the offer though," he declared, clutching my hand and dragging me away as he shoved our cart ahead. Leaving Joseph speechless, Graham didn't take a look back, an unfamiliar glint in his eyes.

"Okay, what the hell was that?" I asked, tearing my hand from his grip. Obviously having expected my outburst, he pulled the car to a halt.

"What was what?" he asked, playing dumb. I scoffed.

"That whole stunt you pulled back there," I said, gesturing toward the aisle we were just in.

He hummed, feigning amusement. "I don't know what you're talking about, B."

"Uh-huh, really? So you wouldn't mind if I went back to talk to whatever his name was?" I suggested, already beginning to wander toward the direction we came from.

Abandoning the cart, he stood in my way. "You not remembering his name just shows you weren't interested in him in the first place," he noted, brows raised as if to dare me to prove him wrong.

"I was interested in him." I lied, eyes narrowed.

"So you didn't notice the band shirt he was wearing? A band you completely despise, by the way?" he declared. Pivoting my neck, my eyes landed on the guy. Graham was right. Printed in large letters, an exceedingly sexist band's name was displayed on his clothing. Instinctively, my nose scrunched in disgust and tore my gaze. Pride accumulated in his eyes. "Since you are so interested in him, what was his name?"

My mouth twitched to respond as I rummaged my brain files for his name. "Joe?" I said, not confident in my answer.

"Wrong." he beamed, glad his hunch was spot on.

"What was it then?" I asked, arms crossed.

"Not worth mentioning." he shrugged, grabbing my shoulders and turning my attention back to shopping.

Wanting to understand why he instantly detested the guy from the start, I said, "So, you want to explain why you acted like that with him? Jealous, were you?"

"Don't we have to get back home to make sure Karen doesn't run off," Graham replied, doing his best to switch topics. My teasing made his face turn slightly red.

Brows furrowed, I remarked, "Maybe if you hadn't been walking around the house in your underwear, maybe I wouldn't need to make a meal to keep her from sprinting for the hills."

"God, never speak of that again," Graham said with a frown, reliving the embarrassing moment in his mind.

I chuckled. "After how you just acted, I'm going to bring it up every single day."

Already dreading the jokes I would make, he sighed and muttered, "I regret coming here with you."

I retorted, "You joined me all on your own, and it's not my fault you didn't listen to me when I told you to start wearing pants around the house."

CAMILA: Graham followed Blaire around like a loyal, lost puppy. I noticed the second he brought her to practice for the first time. As he played, he sought her approval. He craved to have her full attention, smiling when she did.

INTERVIEWER: How long until they stopped being so oblivious?

CAMILA: To my knowledge, not for a very long time.