You're Just A Daydream Away

Chapter 5: Sick Little Games

I continue to hold to the phone to my ear, not saying anything, or even breathing. This was not happening. It wasn't possible for Alex Gaskarth of all people to like me. We were like enemies. Batman and the Joker, Tom and Jerry. The Joker doesn't magically fall in love with Batman and the end of the movie! 

Without thinking, I hung up the phone and threw it on the seat next to me. I stare straight ahead at the brick wall my car is parked against. I couldn't talk to him anymore. Cutting him out of my like would make his feeling go away. What would Grieco say if he found out? Grieco and I actually have something good going, sort of, and I didn't want Alex to mess that up. 

I'm snapped out of my thinking when I hear my phone ringing. I look down at it to see Alex's name pop up on the screen. I wasn't answering it; I couldn't. I hit ignore and started my car, pulling out of the alley and onto the main road. 

As I'm driving home, I let my mind wander again. What would I tell Rey? Obviously she would see that I was upset if she got home anytime soon; there was no lying my way out of this one with her. 

A few minutes later, I pull into the garage to see Rey's car still gone. Good, she must still be on campus. I close the garage door behind me and walk into the house, slopping off my work shoes in the mudroom. I walk to the front door, opening it to see if any mail was here yet. Usually the guys sent postcards while they were on tour. Not seeing any, I close the door and lock it before walking into the kitchen. 

I open up my laptop and turn Skype on. Maybe Ashley or Clara would be on. It was almost 12:30, one of them had to be on and not in class. 

I sit down at the island, grabbing a muffin from the tray sitting in the middle of the computer. As I'm peeling off the wrapper, I hear a the little song signaling that someone was trying to Skype with me. I look up to my computer, surprised to see not a request from Ashley or Clara, but from Grieco.

I hesitate. What if he was near Alex and mentions I look upset? Alex will obviously know why, but I couldn't tell Grieco. That would complicate things between him and I and him and Alex. Things were already complicated with Alex and I. This was like some sort of love triangle that never should have happened. Why couldn't Alex and I just stay enemies like normal people?

I finally gave in, accepting Grieco's request as his face fills the screen. 

"Binky!" He says as he smiles at his computer screen. He looked like he was sitting in the back lounge of the bus alone. Thank God.

"Grieco! How's tour?" I ask, trying to keep the tone as light as I can.

Grieco shrugs. "Basically everyone has been drunk since we left Baltimore, so I can't complain." He says with a laugh. I smile into the computer screen. I loved hearing Grieco's laugh. "How is Baltimore?" He asks. 

I gave him a small smile. "Can't complain here either." I tell him, picking at my muffin.

"That didn't sound like a very convincing answer." Grieco says. He pulls his lets up onto the couch and lays down, sitting the computer next to his head.

I shrug. "It's just been lonely I guess." I saw, trying to steer him away from asking anymore questions. "Thinks will get better once you guys get back." Lie. Things would be so, so much worse when they got back. Alex would be here, and Grieco would be here.

Grieco sighs. "I guess it's kind of lonely here too. I mean, the guys are here, and we're having a great time, but some days I just wish I was back home laying in your basement watching movies." He says, folding his arms under his head.

I gave him a real smile now, and lean forward so my chin is resting on one hand. "Don't make plans for the first full day you're back then. I'm claiming you." I say with a laugh. "We can watch movies all day. I'll even stock the snack bar." I tell him, picking up the laptop and moving into the living room. I set my laptop on one part of the couch, then lay down next to it so I'm in the same position as him. "It's a date then." He replies.