VIRAL | JSCHLATT (stopped)

Two

  "That..was..awesome!!"

  "You're too kind, Cooper." I know it was.

  I take the guitar strap off my shoulder and place it one the stand right outside the backstage opening, just in sync with the appearance of six more boys. I could see every little facial expression they were pulling while standing in the back of the audience during the show. I felt very appreciated for the awed looks. Do I take all this for granted?

  "I mean, he's not wrong." Carson comments. "Just check everyone's Instagram stories."

  "So basically we better get our signatures and VIP passes to your concerts now." Ted cracks a joke and we laugh. Noah's been distracted a while, much like Schlatt.

  "But anyway, that was dope as hell. I think there may be a few more cookies left over on that table, so I think I need to go steal. See you!" Ted rattles off and soon lunges his big-legged self in the direction of the snacks. A few more follow, not before giving me a sweet smile as a 'Catch you later', and soon I'm left with only Charlie and Schlatt.

  "I mean.. Those cookies do look nice.." Charlie smirks and quickly hops off.

  I'm stood in front of Schlatt.

  His hand travels to his neck as his eyes gaze around the room. I simper, knowing that my intense stare will hopefully get a conversation out of him. Though he stutters, he manages.

  "So, how does it work? All that..guitar stuff?"

  I let out a small laugh and look down at my toes with my hands joined in front. At this point I'm leaning onto the wall and he's in close proximity in front of me.

  "Well, look. You place your hand like this," I position my hand across the second and third fret after picking up my guitar, "you do some stuff with your fingers," I place mine at the necessary strings, "and violá! A sound!" I strum. G is played.

  He grins and raises his brows. "Seems complicated." He's hinting.

  "It's really not," I won't pursue his signs. "But if you want to know more, you always have my number." No he doesn't.

  "Sure do." He inhales right as being called over by Noah. The timing serves me well as just at the moment I was ready to make my getaway - I can't start flirting with him that quickly.

 "That's my queue," he mimics my line from before.

  "And mine."

  As I begin to make my way around the corner into the hallway once more, I hear Carson's booming voice, "You can't be serious about fucking liking guitars." Clearly the boys of the Lunch Club were quite invested in whatever was going on as his statement was followed by howling laughter. I glimpse back with a grin and notice him look my way. As I turn around he looks to his feet and I could feel his face blush - mine would too. The next panel will be interesting.

////

  As fate insisted, the paper with my name and seating arrangement was put right next to Wilbur. I guess the staff picked up on the chemistry we have from the years spent meeting up and going out, and they found it was an easy way to gain more attention at their events. A scheme, remember?

  Right next to him, though, was Jschlatt. How could someone not notice that bright pink hoodie.

  The panel event began and questions were asked left, right, and center, and whenever I'd look in Schlatt's direction, his gaze would be held. He wouldn't turn away but he wouldn't warm up either. The shy, sweet smile from before disappeared. Huh, that's new. Did I do something wrong?