Smile - CrankGameplays

5. Await

Sometimes Ethan would have to take a step back. Just to... think. Take a step back from whatever bullshit presented itself during the day or just to reflect. He loved reflecting, reflecting on what was there and what happened. Reflecting on what possibly could happen, it didn't matter because it took his mind off the present.

He trudged over to his class, the large lecture hall waiting for him to take his seat in the auditorium styled building. Ethan combed through the dyed bits of his hair as he shuffled towards an empty space, plopping down in the cushion and pulling out his desk.

He rummaged through his crammed backpack and slid out a few blank pieces of paper along with a withered down mechanical pencil. He smashed the release a couple times with his thumb until some lead started to appear.

"Babe, listen." A deep voice said behind him, his tone reaching new heights of concern. "Will you let me finish?"

Ethan tried to ignore the conversation as he whipped out his phone, scrolling through his Twitter timeline.

"Why won't you listen to me?" the voice got a little louder, loud enough for student's heads to turn. "Seriously? Are you really going to be like that?"

He desperately tried to focus on the screen in front of him but he was invested in what was happening behind him, he decided to twist his neck just a little bit and in a quick second, he was able to match the voice with a face.

Behind him was Reese's supposed boyfriend, the extremely tall man with the dark colored eyes. His phone was pressed up against his ear as he continued to bicker with the recipient.

Ethan hoped he hadn't seen him, but how could anyone miss the obvious faded blue locks?

"Reese, baby, please." His voice got about three octaves lower, "I'll come by after my class is done, okay? I'll take you out for an early lunch." He let out a sigh of relief and a smile formed on his face. "I love you too."

Everyone seemed to avert their attention away from the crisis that was the bantering couple over the phone, resuming back to whatever it was they were doing. Ethan was bothered by who he was, whoever he was for that matter. Reese opened up to the three boys on Saturday about her issues with him and now Ethan experienced how manipulative he sounded. The girl was too sincere to have to put up with someone who appeared so condescending.

Ethan attempted to ignore him but every time he began to dial in on the lecture, his mind would wander to how pathetic her boyfriend was. And with that, his mind would casually drift to Reese and how beautiful and kind she indefinitely was. How she immediately cared for him with no questions asked and how she carried herself. The smile... that very smile that got him hooked and with each little curve of the lip, she was reeling him. Unbeknownst to her games perhaps, but as long as he knew what he was getting himself into, nothing mattered.

The lecture had finished a good twenty minutes early and Ethan couldn't be any more ecstatic. As soon as the professor dismissed the class, he nearly sprinted out of the hall. 

The overcast day put a damper on many of the college kids moods but it didn't stop Ethan from leaving with a small grin.

"Ethan!"

The blue boy picked up his head and that small grin turned into a large beam, "Reese, what are you doing here?"

Reese, once again, looked so god damn gorgeous. Her hair was pulled together in a tight high ponytail, a black raincoat tucked over her shoulders with a scarf caressing her exposed neck. A pair of black tights and some forest green galoshes that cupped her feet.