Growing Trust

Mixed Signals

As Selene and the still nameless guy walked by each other with her friend chatting up the guy from her school, she cleared her throat awkwardly before speaking. "So what's your name?"

"My name is Alex."

She smiled nervously, wrapping her arms around herself. "Cool." She heard him chuckle dryly so she looked up at him. "What is it?"

"Nothing. It's just that Alice didn't tell me about you or him coming also until I picked her up. I didn't really expect this to happen."

She frowned at his answer. "I didn't know about him until you picked me up. I only came because I thought we were doing bible study. Plus I haven't seen her in two weeks." Alex rubbed the back of his neck grinning. "Then I guess we are both third wheels tonight." Selene laughed at that. "I guess so." At that the tension in the air started to dissipate. She started to walk backwards so that she can talk to him face to face.

"So what kind of music do you like other than rap?"

"Um actually I don't like rap that much. Alice wanted to listen to it so I played it. I actually prefer rock and metal music." As he said this she looked him over with a disbelieving look. She took in his beanie, khaki skinny jeans, and shirt that looked like he bought at a preppy store in the mall. "You sure about that? I'm getting a hipster vibe from you." He laughed a bit at that. "Yes I'm sure. I like bands like Green Day and Sick Puppies. It was then she thought, He can not get any more perfect. "Are you serious? I love Green Day!" She started to get extremely excited. "What is your favorite song by them?"

"Maybe Holiday?" Absolute perfection. In her mind, her subconscious was yelling at her to calm down but she paid no attention. For the next thirty minutes, all they talked about was music. At some point they sat down by the track on a bench. Black Veil Brides started to blare from his phone off of Pandora as they had turned it on. She heard the beginning of In The End and started to get a bit excited as she began to sing it. "In the end, as my soul's laid to rest what is left of my body? Or am I just a shell?" She kept singing it for a while before stopping to just enjoy the song. As it ended, she looked over at him to see his eyes closed. "Hey are you okay?" His eyes shot open and he smiled at her. Oh sweet Jezzus. "Yeah I'm fine. Just a bit tired. So what was the first band you listened to?"

"Black Veil Brides. Someone recently told me about Papa Roach so I have been listening to that more. I love the song Last Resort." He nodded at her and opened his mouth to speak. "My first was Sick Puppies." She smiled and started to pop her back. She looked over alarmed as she heard really loud pops. She watched him clench his fist and heard the disturbingly loud pop. "How the hell do you do that?" He laughed at her face. "I don't know. I always have. It just happens." They laughed for a bit before sitting back and just talking some more. A few minutes later her friend and the guy walk up to them. Alice grins and sits beside her. "James finally asked me out!" She spoke loudly, obviously excited. Alex suddenly stood up and walked away, Selene just thinking he was leaving them alone to talk. Selene just wished her congratulations and smiled, listening to her talk. James came over to them and wrapped his arm around Alice's waist. Taking that as her cue to leave, she stood and started to walk away.

"Selene!" She looked back to see that is was Alice who said her name. Alice gestured to where Alex went, seeing him shirtless and holding his shirt in his hand. Selene was just confused as to why he was in that state while Alice was wiggling her eyebrows at her. Selene just grinned and shook her head before starting down the track to the truck. She yelled over her shoulder, "I need to go home guys! Alex can you give me a ride back?" Though she lived nearby, she didn't like to walk alone. Alex slipped his shirt on before following after her, jogging to catch up. "No problem. I can't be around those two right now." She let out a small laugh. Yeah new couples are kind of hard to be around."

"Y-Yeah that too." Seeing what he meant, she started to feel stupid. "You like her?" He rubbed the back of his neck and coughed awkwardly. "Not as much as I thought I did. I think there might be someone else for me." Still feeling defeated, she just nodded and hopped into the passenger seat. Neither of them talked as they waited on the new couple to get in the car. A few minutes later, she found herself walking into her house still upset about the whole thing. She didn't want another repeat of her past relationships. She didn't know how she felt about him or the fact he still likes her friend. She changed into pajama shorts and a tank top before lying down in her bed. After looking at complete darkness for a few minutes, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.