To be with you

Chapter 6

Swapping the textbooks in my bag, out for the ones I'll need for the afternoon, I promptly shut my locker and jump when I see Miller standing there. He's leaning comfortably against the row of lockers, and pushes himself off when he sees I've noticed him. I raise my eyebrows at him in question. I didn't even know he knew where my locker was.

"You okay?" He asks casually and throws his arm over my shoulders. Rolling my eyes I abruptly shove his arm off, but continue to walk beside him. 

"Yes, why?" I ask him cautiously and glance at him out the corner of my eye. Today is the first day I've seen him wear a t shirt that's not grey. He's wearing black jeans and a navy shirt and a black beanie on his dark hair, similar to the white one I'm currently wearing. 

He looks at me with a hopeful smile. "Well I was kinda wondering if you'd come and watch my band tonight?" He asks me, and I catch a faint blush tinting his cheeks. He brings his hand to his hair, but then remembers he's wearing a beanie and stuffs his hands into his pockets. I'm not sure what to say...I didn't even know he was in a band.

"What kind of music do you play?" I ask him curious but partly because I'm trying to figure out if I'll like the kind of music he plays. He shrugs and shifts his rucksack from his left shoulder to his right.

"We mostly do covers, a bit of everything really" he says. "But we do have a few of our own songs. I guess you called call us Indie." I nod in reply.

I'd love to go and see Miller play, and I'm sure Carter would love to come to, but I wonder why he's asking me. During the past week he's made plenty of friends, mostly with people like Daisy and her group. If he's asked them along to, I only dread to think of the awkwardness and tension that would arise, and I wouldn't want to ruin his night with my anxiety and self consciousness. He's probably only asking so he doesn't look rude. He knows by now that I'm not exactly the type to go to gigs and stay for the after party.

I feel guilty as I look up at him, my facial expression revealing my intentions of declining his offer. His smile falters and disappointment clouds his eyes for a moment. 

"I'm sorry Miller, but I dont do well in crowds, and I have a ton of homework as well" I say giving him the terribly lame excuse. I look anywhere but his eyes which are fixed on me and frowning. He shuffles to a stop and turns towards me.

"Are you sure you cant come? I'd really like for you to be there. You'd get to meet my mates from my old school, I think you'd all get along really well" he says, trying to persuade me. But I've already made my mind up. I scrunch my nose up and stare at the floor, peeking up at him through my eyelashes.

"C'mon Miller, you know I'm not into that type of thing. I'd only be an embarrassment" I say halfheartedly. 

"I'm sorry" I apologize quickly, but his eyes have turned cold and he nods at me quickly before walking off. I stare at him shock, standing still as I watch his retreating back, until he turns the corner towards the cafeteria. I understand that I've let him down, but I didn't expect that reaction from him. I think this distance is better for our friendship. I hope that he'll soon realize this. 

I sigh and pull out my phone from my pocket, scrolling through Facebook, as I walk the same way Miller just has. I notice he has just uploaded a status inviting everyone to his show. I notice that he's tagged Daisy and all of her friends in it as well.

I guess I was right after all, and I no longer feel so bad.

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"Eden we have to go!" Carter exclaims raising her hands in a dramatic gesture. She shakes her head at me, her curls bouncing on her shoulders and narrows her eyes.

"You do realize that being friends with you, means no social life right. It's your fault" she says seriously, but I can tell she's half teasing. 

"I never said you couldn't go!" I shoot, glaring back at her. I take a bite of pizza and flick my tongue out to catch the sauce that's settled on the corner of my mouth. I shrug at her apologetically. 

"I just don't want to"

She sighs and rolls her eyes. Abruptly slamming her hands on the table, earning a few annoyed looks our way. For someone so shy around other people, she sure does like drawing attention to herself. "I'm not going to let my best friend pass up the chance to go see the boy who so obviously likes her, play in his band" she says determinedly, crossing her arms.

Marcus looks up from his comic for a second " I'm with carter on this one" he mutters and goes back to reading. 

Carter looks up at me triumphantly. "See. Two against One. You're coming" she says finally. 

I feel as though I've lost this fight. I turn to look behind me, scanning the room for someone. I finally spot who I'm looking for, my eyes glued to him as I watch him throw his head back in laughter at something. My stomach flutters, but this time it's because I realize that if I don't make an effort to be his friend now, there's no reason for him to stay in my life, especially seeing how well he fits in with the majority of the school population. Carter watches me staring at him grinning, knowing I've changed my mind already. 

I'm certain I want to keep him in my life for as long as possible... which means I'm going to have to go to this party. I roll my eyes once more and giggle when I see Carter force Marcus to drop his comic for a moment to high five her.