Page 31 of Meet Me at the Metro

“You sound close to figuring it out,” I blurt without thinking.

He jumps from his seat at the piano, and his eyes snap back to meet mine. “What the actual fuck, Nora?”

“I’m sorry, I’msosorry. I wasn’t trying to scare you.”

“Then don’t sneak up on me like that,” he bites back. “What the hell are you doing in here?”

“I had to come grab a flyer. I just heard you back here making a fuss and was coming to see if—”

“I was not making a fucking fuss,” he growls.

“No?”I check, tilting my head to the side as my eyes rake over his tense shoulders and crossed arms. “It sure did sound like it.”

“You made your point.I’m fine.” He loosens his tight fists and forces his gaze back to the music sheets.

“Really, Theo,” I call out to him softly. “Are you alright?”

“I’m.Fine.” He rolls his shoulders and allows silence to fill the air. After what seems like an eternity, he asks, “A flyer for what?”

“Piano lessons,” I mutter, cutting my eyes to the floor.

“What do you need to learn to play the piano for? I thought you were majoring in musical theatre?”

“I am.” I narrow my eyes at him. “I have to learn to play an instrument along with my studies.”

“They’re in the front,” he tells me, not giving me an ounce more of his attention as he finds his place back at the piano again.

Though his words should be my cue to leave, I’m once again stuck here at the doorway, not wanting to admit that I can’t bring myself to leave. Deep down, I’m holding on to the hope that he’ll say something more to keep this interaction from ending like it did the other night.

The air lingering between us grows thicker, and I can tell he feels the change because he finally turns back to me again. As he looks me over this time, I notice the way his eyes search my own and how they fall to my lips for a long moment. I’m left disappointed more than I would ever willingly say out loud when he jerks his head back to his work in front of him.

“You can close the door on your way out.”

“Fine,” I say through gritted teeth, slamming it as a bitter cloak of rejection settles around me.

Why does it have to be like this between the two of us? Why all of this back and forth, and never a clear answer as to what the hell either of us wants from each other? Why can’t I just ask him what’s wrong and get a clear answer? Why can’t he just tell me the meaning behind those music sheets and why they have him so wound up?

At the end of the day, I know that none of it is my business, and it unnerves me immensely that I find myself caring so damn much. It bothers me even more to feel so uncertain of whether or not, deep down, he caresjustas much. Because if he genuinely didn’t, why did he ask me to come with him last Friday night?

The walls that Evie and Harvey were talking about are as clear as day now, and after seeing the way he acted toward me just moments ago, I’m not entirely convinced that Theo willeverlet them down long enough for me to see why he’s got them up in the first place.

Stomping to the front of the music room, I put an end to my restless thoughts and quickly snatch up the flyer I came here for before hurrying back outside to Connor.

His dark eyes are playful as he greets me, “What’d you do in there, get lost?”

“Pretty much,” I fakely giggle, trying to mask how flustered my encounter with Theo made me. “It took me a bit to find the flyers.”

Liar.The flyers aren’t what kept you occupied.

I force a smile to my face. “Ready to head out?”

“Yep,” he grins, squeezing the back of my shoulders playfully. “This way, my lady.”

As we continue through the campus, he asks, “What’d you have to grab a flyer for anyways?”

“Piano lessons,” I groan.

“Why didn’t you say that to begin with? I can give you lessons, Ellie.”

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