“What’s your name?” she asks.
Holy fuck. Now is not a good time. Why is she even talking to me?
“Dylan.”
“Dylan,” she says, walking sideways to look at me. “Wanna know why I came over here?”
I shrug. “You wanted me to take pictures of you because they last longer. I get it. I was staring for a moment too long, wasn’t I?”
There. Gave her what she wanted to hear.
She smiles, and I’ll be damned. Am I the reason for that beautiful smile? Because it feels like I can’t breathe.
“Well, for starters, I’ve never seen you here before. I practically live here. And everyone finally has their eyes on someone else, other than me.”
I scoff, knowing that’s not true. The moment she walked in, all eyes turned to her. And up close, she’s somehow even more beautiful. I didn’t know someone could be so perfect.
“They’re not looking at me. Trust me.”
“Everyone’s staring at you,” she says, so I glance around. Is everyone staring at me? Okay. I catch black eyes, and then a guy’s head is turned, then blue eyes, then brown eyes. All facing my direction. Yep, they’re all staring.
I agree, “I don’t normally come here.”
“We established that already,” she says. “Do you want to be friends?”
My eyes flick to hers, and she shrugs.
“Could be fun.”
Someone walks past us and says, “Hey, Cecily.”
She smiles back. “What’s up, Cory? Still pushing through that pain?”
He nods. “Don’t give me that look, Ce. I’m trying here.”
She laughs, and I can’t stop staring at her. “I wasn’t going to say anything.”
Cory says, “But your eyes are doing the talking.”
She rolls her eyes. “I hate that.” She covers them. “There.”
He laughs, and I watch her light up when she puts her hand down.
Cory walks off, and then she turns back to me. Before she can get a word out, someone else walks by.
“Hey, Ce. Wanna––”
I turn around to look at who’s talking, wondering if this gym is filled with beautiful models. But the girl talking is just a plain Jane who lights up like the Fourth of July when she sees me.
“Oh my god.” She covers her mouth. Her eyes bulge. Jesus. “Oh my god. Sorry. Hi.”
“Hi,” I say, awkward and confused.
She’s clutching her chest, turning bright red. “Sorry. Oh my god. Sorry. You don’t have to, Cecily. Uh.”
She watches the girl run off, calling after her, “I’ll be there in a second!”
I turn back to her. “You’re like a local celebrity in here.” I point behind me. “Is that girl okay?”
