Dirt

25

Princeton

Knox played for forty minutes after he initially picked up the guitar. Near the end he let us throw out song suggestions. He's either nod and plays the song or he would wrinkle up his nose and shake his head. No matter what he played it sounded amazing. Like he's been the leading guitarist in a world-known band for years. And he was always there. I was a bit distant from him but it was so easy to tell the way his freckles reflected and his curls bounding. 

After forty minutes, he stopped, wipes his forehead and unplugs the guitar from the amp. I watched him walk the whole way back, some sweat still glistening on his forehead. He looked around at us all, or more specifically the lack of seating. Cedar was already laying stomach down, Rex bent over his side with the tattoo gun buzzing violently. Basil was arguing with Roger on something as they both sat on the tattoo table the girl vacated twenty minutes ago. Raine and I are sitting against the wall, both of us struggling to sit still for so long.

I tilt my head back to look at Knox towering over me. His freckles only added to the very enticing vibe he's emitting today. Knox just stares down at me, his eyes partially hooded with annoyance. Also partially hooded with giddiness.

I clear my throat, shifting in my seat, "Can I help you?" I keep my voice purely innocent, fluttering my eyelashes.

Knox frowns for a moment, maintaining strong eye contact before he groans and looks away. I smirk slightly as I obverse Knox look around the shop. He turns back to me with another frown.

"Where am I suppose to sit?"

Raine jumps out of his chair, running a hand through his hair as he gestures to the empty seat beside me, "Take mine. I need out, I'm going to get snacks."

I bolt out of my chair as well, nodding in Raine's direction, "I'm going to get a snack too."

"Rog, Basil, what do y'all want from Kum 'n Go?" Raine walks over to the arguing couple, the two beginning to list off what they'd like.

I twist on the ball of my feet, glancing at Knox, knowing he's following me with his eyes, "Want to come with?

Knox hesitates then nods with a small sigh I almost miss. I smile brightly, walking to Cedar and Rex, "We're getting snacks at Kum 'n Go, what do you both want?" 

Cedar adjusts his head, looking up at me with wide eyes, "Dude, get me some form of donuts. And a suicide."

I nod, twisting at my feet to face Rex, lifted up from over Cedar, "Rex?"

He tilts his head, "Mmh...maybe some a bottled Coke and Airheads."

I nod again, nudging Knox's shoulder with a light smile as I walk towards the front of the shop where Raine's waiting on his phone. His footsteps are silent behind me, enticing some level of fear if he's even following. Once we reach Raine, he pushes through the door.

"It's warm so we're walking."

"I walk everywhere."

"Well, then you'll be just fine going down a block. I'm a college student that needs to save gas for when I tote all your sorry asses everywhere."

I scuff, turning my head to glance at Knox silently walking next to me. He's slowly losing his inking, the milk being drained out by translucent water. He still has a profile, a good size nose, thick eyebrows, full lips I know feel amazing. But his freckles are beginning to disappear from his cheekbones, his Adam's apple bobbing with some strange emotions I don't understand.

"That was pretty fucking cool what you did back there," He glances over at me, the sun catching on his dark eyes.

Raine joins along, "Yeah. When'd you learn to play like that?"