Maybe I Dreamt You

Chapter II

     Two weeks later, it became more apparent that Adam wasn't just one time. It was clear to Ronan that Gansey had adopted the dusty-haired boy. And Ronan felt like shit. Adam was so much nicer and more polite. He was smarter, too. And, not the least, he was Gansey's type. Or at least that's what Ronan had gathered.
     The night before, Gansey had asked if it would be okay if he invited Adam on their weekly trip to Nino's. On the inside, Ronan had been appalled at the thought that an outsider would intrude on there weekly outings, but he said yes anyway, because Gansey was his brother, and he loved in a way not much unlike how he loved his father.

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     Thursday was their Nino's day, because that was when the spunky, blue-haired waitress was on shift. Ronan relented into riding in the Pig with Adam and Gansey. Helen, Gansey's older sister, rode shotgun, leaving Adam squished between Ronan and Noah.
Ronan couldn't help but notice Adam's calloused hands, strong and tan from his three jobs. He quickly shut down the notion that they were beautiful, but that didn't help the fact that they were, and they were distracting. He figured that he should study Adam, since Gansey obviously liked him so much. And, he thought to himself, it would give him an excuse to stare. It was for science, after all.
When they arrived at Nino's, Blue immediately came to their booth, the one in the corner by all the windows, because the entire staff knew that she, and she only, served the sharp, auburn skinned boy with the corners of a tattoo peeking out of his leather jacket.
"Hey, maggot," chuckled Ronan. Blue just sighed and pulled out her notepad to take their orders.
"Ronan, you'll have the usual, I suppose?"
"Yup. Two hearts of soulless bastards like Declan," he replied. Adam chuckled, but quickly tried to hide it. Gansey glared at him. "Oops, sorry, mom. Was I rude again?" asked Ronan. Blue rolled her eyes.
"And Gansey?"
"Just some fries, please."
"And the hottie sitting next to Gansey?" Helen blushed, as this last comment was directed towards her. And Gansey blushed because this last comment was directed towards his sister.
"Helen," she started. "And I'll have mint water." Blue rubbed her temple. This was a Gansey, alright.
"And Parrish?"
"Just water, thanks," he responded politely, in his slow, Henrietta drawl. Ronan found it impeccably soft and warm, the kind of voice that could melt a person. Science, Ronan reminded himself. Just science.

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The next day, Ronan was early to Latin. That was something only boys like Gansey and Adam were. But Gansey had insisted upon driving him, and Ronan no longer passed up a chance to spend time alone with him, even if it was only for a ten minute drive.
As he sat at the front of the class with Adam and Gansey, he decided to ask a question that had been bothering him.
"Gansey," he started. "How did you meet Adam? I mean, I know we're in Latin with him, but something had to have happened outside of class. Did you hook up?"
"Ronan! No! He fixed the Camaro. It broke down in the lot."
"Are you two just gonna keep talkin' about me like I'm not here?" asked Adam.
"Sorry," said Gansey, hanging his head. Ronan was distracted as the teacher, Barrington Whelk, walked to the front of the classroom. He was distracted by the awe-inspiring hands that were Adam Parrish's. It was only admiring art, right? It couldn't hurt anyone if they never knew.
Ronan could write poems, songs, sonnets about Adam Parrish's delicate, thin boned hands. They were strong, but strong like a bird, with strangely hollow bones, and an almost magic quality to them. They were a golden brown colour in the dusty, liquid light filled room, and how the dark hairs on his arms curled slightly, just like the beautiful dusty brown hair on his head. Adam was pretty like art, and Ronan could admire that.
When the bell rang to dismiss them from class, Ronan was awakened from his stupor. He had spent the entirety of the class staring at Adam's hands. And he managed to miss the sheet of homework that sat on his desk.
The next day after Latin, Gansey was berating him for not turning in the homework assignment.
"I'm sorry, but I was distracted by the fact that our teacher is a LITERAL MURDERER!" Adam was just smirking at the ground. That's kind of hot, thought Ronan, but immediately afterwards, science. He couldn't let this develop into anything; not even a friendship. This was the boy that was trying to steal Gansey from him.
Adam bit his lip as Gansey looked over his shoulder at him, trying to hide his smile. Gansey was alarmed to find that it made him look sharper; more like Ronan. Gansey loved Ronan, but he loved Adam too, and he didn't want either of them to change. Especially not into each other.